Guessing Game

Kleenex Box Guessing Game

Ages: 3- 8+ years

Time to complete: 3-8 minutes This game allows children to use their sense of touch and build their descriptive vocabulary
What you need: empty facial tissue box , various objects of different shapes that will fit into the tissue box (such as a toy car , sunglasses , a sock , a comb , a spoon , a cotton ball , a coin , foam bath letters)
Instructions:Without your child watching, put an object into an empty tissue box. Have your child put his or her hand into the box and, without looking, guess what the object is. Encourage your child to describe the way the object feels using words like soft, hard, bumpy, smooth, squishy. etc. For an older child try putting foam bath letters or real coins into the box for an added challenge.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2860540490/

Suds Bubble Fun!

Good Clean Fun: Playing with Suds

Ages: 1- 3 years

Time to complete: 30 minutes All the fun of a bubble bath without having to get wet!
What you need: wash tub or large non-breakable bowl , water , bubble bath , baby-safe kitchen utensils (spoons , measuring cups , etc)
Instructions:In a sink, run water with bubble bath to create a lot of suds. Next, scoop the suds (but not the water) into a bowl or washtub. Let your toddler have some good, clean fun playing with the suds on the kitchen or bathroom floor. Give him or her some measuring cups and spoons to scoop with and show him or her how to sculpt the bubbles into mountains. When your child tires of this activity let him or her help use the suds to wash the floor!
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2853380475/

Tear & Glue Canister

Tear and Glue Canister

Ages: 2- 6 years

Time to complete: 30 minutes Your child will be proud to keep her toys in this hand-decorated container
What you need: oatmeal can or other clean container , glue , water , small bowl , paint brush , colored paper or tissue paper
Instructions:Have your child tear colored paper into small pieces. Mix glue with water in a small bowl and have your child paint the glue onto the canister. Cover the canister with overlapping pieces of paper and paint another coat of glue on top. Allow the glue to dry and use the canister to store toys or markers.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2854456462/

I Spy Clean Up Game

I Spy Flashlight Clean-Up Game

Ages: 2- 4 years

Time to complete: 10 minutes This activity makes cleaning up a messy room into an interactive game for young children and their caregiver.
What you need: flashlight(s)
Instructions:For the game, each child (and, optionally, the parent/caregiver) should have a flashlight. If you can only find one flashlight, you can share! Take turns saying, ?I spy a ______! Who can find it and clean it up?? Then the players try to find the object and shine their flashlight on it. Once they have found it, they should pick it up and put it away. Continue until the room is clean.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2853615705/in/photostream/

Lacing Cards

Homemade Lacing Cards
Ages: 2- 5 years
Time to complete: 35 minutes

No need to buy lacing cards when you can easily make these at home. Your preschooler will practice fine motor skills while doing this quiet activity.
What you need: sturdy cardboard , long shoelaces or yarn (with tape or glue on the ends to discourage unraveling) , magazine pictures , hole punch , scissors
Instructions:To make a lacing card, start by finding a fairly large picture in a magazine of something that you think would interest your child. Glue this picture to a piece of cardboard. Cut the cardboard out around the edges of the picture. Punch holes around the edge of the picture (about an inch apart). Tie a shoe lace or piece of yarn to one of the holes. Show your child how to weave the lace back and forth through the holes.
See full activity here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21239569@N05/2877920804/in/photostream/

Play dough Activity

Make Your own! Kids can help!

(from "Feed Me I'm Yours" By Vicki Lansky

No-Cook Playdough:

1 cup white flour 1 tsp alum

1/2 cup salt food coloring

2 Tbls vegetable oil 1/2 cup water

Mix first four ingredients. Add food coloring to the water. Gradually add small amounts of water until mixture attains the consistency of bread dough. You may not use the entire 1/2 cup (I did and it was a little too wet, but just barely less than 1/2 cup would probably be better). You can make different colors by mixing them in the water. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It lasts a long time.

Stove-Top Playdough:

1 cup whi9te flour 1 cup water

1/4 cup salt 2 tsp vegetable food coloring

2 Tblsp cream of tartar 1 Tblsp oil

Mix flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a medium pot. Add water, food coloring, and oil. Cook and stir over medium heat 3-5 mins. Mixture will look like a globby mess and you'll be sure it's not turning out, but it will. When it forms a ball in the center of the pot, turn our and knead on a lightly floured surface. Store in an air-tight container or plastic bag. Edible but not very tasty.

Peanut Butter Playdough:

18 oz. peanut butter nonfat dry milk

6 Tblsp (or milk plus flour to the

cocoa or carob (optional) right consistency)

Mix. After shaping, decorate (try raisins) and eat!

Another edible playdough can be made from one can of frosting, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter.

Valentine's Day Thumbprint Heart

Instructions:Make this fun keepsake on Valentine's Day! Supplies: paper or blank note cards sponge red or pink paint frame if desired child's hand or feet Instructions: Sponge paint onto child's thumb. Press down on paper/card. Repeat with other thumb, overlapping the bottom of the thumb to create a heart shape. Frame if desired. Makes a great gift for parent or grandparent or wonderful Valentines Day cards. (From their website.)

Paper Snowflakes Activity

Instructions:This is a simple and quick craft and very effective and long-lasting. You can make a huge stock of these in no time and they will last for ever! You can hang them on the Christmas tree as ornaments, tie them into garlands or mobiles. Lacy white paper doilies Scissors Clear contact paper (Silver or white thread) (Paper punch) (Silver or white glitter, or tiny pearlescent stars) Instructions The size and shape of your snowflakes will depend on your paper doilies. Aim to cut out parts of the doily to create snowflakes varying in size from about 1inch to 3 inches in diameter. Use contact paper, arrange the snowflakes on the sticky side of one piece as above, decorate with glitter if required, then carefully lay a second piece of contact paper over the top. If you are going to use the snowflakes as window decorations, all you have to do now is cut around them and attach them to the window. If you would like to use them as hanging decorations, punch a small hole with a hole punch and thread each snowflake with a short length of silver or white thread. (From their website)

Little Hands Wreath

Instructions:Make an adorable wreath from your child's handprints. Supplies needed: green construction paper A piece of red construction paper or ribbon Pencil Scissors Glue Optional: Glitter or glitter glue Trace the child's hand on a piece of green construction paper. Cut out the hand print. Make about 10 paper hands for each wreath. Glue the hand prints together in a wreath shape, with the wrists overlapping a little bit. Glue on a red ribbon bow (or make one from red construction paper). Optional: Decorate your wreath with glitter or glitter glue. (From Enchanted Learning Website)

Five Little Snowflakes Activity

Still need a rhyme, but could go to 5 little monkeys?

Instructions:Bring a snowflake story to life with this idea from Shelley! --HERE'S HOW-- Shelley (a viewer) sent in this great rhyme and I put together a few templates to go with. You can use the rhyme with the templates a few ways. Shelley suggested giving each child one of the templates and letting them hold theirs up at the appropriate time in the rhyme (you can tape a straw or popsicle stick onto the bottom to make them like puppets... the kids seem to like waving puppets around more than just holding up pieces of paper). You could also make the templates as felt board characters. Simply glue a small piece of coarse sandpaper or felt onto the back of each template so it will hang on the felt board. Place the pieces onto the felt board as you do the rhyme. OPTIONAL: cover the templates in clear contact paper (bought as a roll from your local office supply store for under $5) to make them last longer. The kids can help make it!! :D See the pictures for templates! :) Good Luck!

Ice Cube Racers

Instructions:Ice Cube Racers Use food coloring to make different colors of water. Place the colored water into ice cube trays. Set up an ice cube race track by placing a smooth board against a chair diagonally. Set out the ice cubes. Let the children choose their ice cube, put it at the top of the race track and watch it race down to the bottom. Place newspaper at the bottom, with a large tray to catch the ice, or it is possible to do this outside, using a board against a bench. The colored ice cubes would especially show up in the white snow! This is a great activity to do with toddlers.

I'm a Little Snowman Song

Instructions:I'm a little snowman, Short and fat. Here is my broom (pretend to hold broom handle) Here is my hat (pat top of head) When it's cold and icy, (hug self and shiver) I will stay. But when it gets all hot (wipe brow) I melt away! (shrink down to floor) Sing this to the tune of "I'm a little teapot".

Different Sounds Dance

Instructions:This is a great way to engage your toddler in music and movement on a wet winter day. Play favorite snatches of music that lend themselves to particular actions...something with a big, loud beat so your child can stamp like an elephant, or something quiet so she can pretend she's tiptoeing past a sleeping lion. Marching to music is also great fun and easy enough for most toddlers to manage. These games will stretch her imagination and develop her sense of rhythm.

Winter Nature Walk

Instructions:Nature walks in the winter can be quite different from walks in the summertime. Talk to your toddler about the winter seasons. Point out bare trees, ice or snow, wet plants, etc. On your walk together, take a bucket with you. Collect small objects that interest your toddler like stones, leaves, pine cones. Your toddler will want to carry the bucket, but don't be surprised if he also dumps its contents and starts again. Toddlers this age love to fill containers just so they can empty them again. Meanwhile, he's practicing his hand movements and developing dexterity.

Christmas Tree Garland

Instructions:What you will need: *Yarn *Fruit Loops Cereal *Masking tape Cut a length of yarn as long as you would like your garland. Put tape around one end of the yarn to make a "needle". For little ones it is easiest to tape the other end of the yarn to the table. Have the children lace the fruit loops onto the yarn. When the yarn strand is full tie it off at both ends. Hang the garland on your Christmas tree. **As a bonus: Once Christmas is over you can take the garland outside and hang it on the trees because the birds will eat the cereal. After the cereal is eaten you can go out and cut the yarn into small pieces and hang it back on the tree. The birds will be able to use it for their nests.

Jingle Bell Project

Instructions:What you will need: *paper cup *aluminum foil *Small Jingle Bell *String or Ribbon Very Simple Project! Wrap a paper cup in aluminum foil. Poke a small hole in the top of the cup and tie a jingle bell inside the cup with either string or ribbon. Can be used as simple decoration or as an ornament.

Learning Placemats

Instructions:With holidays and birthdays come lots of presents - and lots of cards filled with well wishes. Put those cards to use by creating a placemat with your child that can be used daily and then put away for a wonderful keepsake. Also makes great gifts! Materials * Sheet of poster board * Birthday cards and photos * Glue * Scissors What To Do: Cut the poster board to your desired mat size. Cut, place and glue the cards to the poster board on both sides. Have the mat laminated at a local copy store. When you put it in front of your child, talk about what your child sees on the cards and who they are from. What color is Grandma's card? What animal is on Aunt Dorothy's card? Take this idea one step further and make placemats out of other things. Wondering what to do with all that artwork Baby makes? Whether it's a finger painting, a collage or crayon scribble, you can laminate these pages and make placemats for year-round use, or gifts for friends and family.

Indoor Fishing...

Instructions:Young kids will love catching fish in the comfort of your home! This fun activity requires: plastic fish bowl or small tank sponges fish net fish bath toys that squirt towels!! Cut the sponges into fish shapes. Fill the bowl or tank with water and put the sponges and toys in. Kids will see some items sink and some float! Give them the net and encourage them to catch the fish. Squeezing out the sponges and squirters adds to the fun! Make sure you keep towels close by because this can get messy!! Close supervision is required when playing with water.

Flour Drawing

Instructions:Materials: Cookie Sheet Flour Sprinkle surface of the cookie sheet with flour and then show your child how to draw letters, faces and words in it with his fingers. You can also have him "follow the leader" by having him draw a repeat shape of whatever you make.

Paper Garden

Instructions:Paper Garden in the Winter Straws, scissors, construction paper, tape, vases(I use old starbucks cups, which I have many) or flower boxes, markers to decorate the 'vases'. My son likes to chew on straws so I started making little flowers/animals/bugs on the end of them, which gave him visual stimulation, a chance to chew! The garden was filled with all sorts of fun stuff! And the animals/bugs/flowers can be used as puppets. All of this made him laugh!