Water and Mud

Ok, this is how we all looked yesterday with all the mud from the rain, because...

This could happen ;)

Now, take today, it was hot, pretty dry outside and we wanted to get out and play.  

So what did Miss Michelle do you ask??
 Yes, I set the sensory table up with water.  

Can anyone say, "Bathing Suits would be good here."

I don't know what I was thinking... 

but a GREAT time was had by all!!!

Scamp poured that water on her face 50 times and each and every time had the same reaction!!
It was really to cute!!

Lil Bit did the same thing too... 

I'm not sure if she was more surprised by the water on her face or if it was cold ;)

But it DID NOT stop her from doing it again and again and

AGAIN!!!

Little Man thought throwing the water would be great fun!! 

Sometimes to the dismay of the others ;)

Almost...

That's better

PERFECT!!!

 Seeing little ones play with water is so wonderful, how can we not see the benefits of this type of hands on, play oriented learning.  Not only did the kids learn about properties of water, like temperature, sinking and floating, and cause and effect... but they also had to work together, reinforcing patience, problem solving, spatial awareness, social cues, and so much more.  Lessons don't always have to be planned and executed to get to the end result... just having fun and playing brings our children to a place they need to be, to be the well rounded students they will become!!

Windy Paintings and A Little Mud

We had fun with our weather theme today.  Although it was so windy on Monday we could have probably taken our papers outside on that day to do these paintings, but I think using the hairdryer was also a lot of fun!!!  The kids got to splatter paint on their paper and then use the hairdryer to blow it around.  The little ones were a little weary at first, but once I helped them they really enjoyed blowing the paint around.  When I turned to dryer on them and let them feel the "Wind in their hair" there was a lot of laughing, giggling, and turning of their heads.  Don't worry we kept it on the cool setting to make sure we were all sage!!!  The cool air was way to much fun!!!

"Look at me Mom!!  You'd better secure our hairdryer at home!!"

We love to end our morning outside.  It gives us a great way to discharge all that pent up energy from Circle Time and waiting our turns at the craft table.  I don't usually do such individual activities like the one we did today, but I only have 1 hairdryer in the house.  Outside it was a beautiful day, we got to run and play in our sneakers today and no mud pants.  The girls found that our turtle sandbox had some nice soft sand in it, then proceeded to dump any water they could find into the box, making a nice slushy, grimy, mud puddle.  

And of course, who should think that this would a great place to play!!!

They did have loads of fun though, I couldn't even be upset.
What's a little mud, a change of clothes will fix that ;)

A Learning Kind of Day

Starting our day is a little slow with Little Man around. We have to get him fed, changed and occupied before Miss Michelle can set up the environment with messy art or learning activities that they may need help with. Yet, once we get going, fun abounds (even for Little Man).

I took out the Kk for Kite puzzle I printed from Confessions of a Homeschooler. I have to say she has the most wonderful resources for early childhood education!! I love how everything is bright, colorful, and easy for the kids to understand. In the photo above, Princess is helping the Littles complete the puzzle. Little Miss M watched her do it twice, and then took the pieces to the light table and ....

Completed this. I never thought to put them on the light table, but I will put more of my printables on there, it looks cool.

The preschoolers also did this fun activity to reinforce the differences between Uppercase K and lowercase k. Again it I printed it from Confessions of a Homeschooler. This activity is usually done as a sorting activity, just placing the correct letters on the correct side, but I had the preschoolers practice gluing and problem solving today. They needed to fit all their K's on the paper, it was tough :)

Sprout and Little Miss M also wanted in on the "homework" as they call it... so I had these Kk sheets (from Confessions of a Homeschooler) that are usually used with magnets... but we like to use our Do A Dots, they fit perfectly in the little circles. We aren't sticklers for dotting in the appropriate circles though, it is more for fun and letting the little ones feel included.

I also had out some fun "puffy paint" I made using equal parts flour, salt and water. I then put it Colorations Liquid Water Colors. I will usually put them in squeeze bottles so the kids can make more precise pictures, but today I just set it out like finger paint. The weight and texture were a lot different than traditional finger paint, the kids noticed that it was gritty due to the salt, it was thicker, and it warmed in their hands. We didn't warm it up or cook it, but the kids felt like it was cold coming out of the bowl. After much discussion and me dropping some hints, Princess figured out that it warmed up because her HANDS were warm, "kinda like when the snow melts in our hands, right Shell."

Sprout loved spooning the paint onto the tray. She had no problems using her hands, but something about manipulating that spoon intrigued her.

The 2's really love helping with everything. It is the age of learning independence, slowly making that transition of being independent of the adults around you. Practicing these self-help skills is a daily occurrence here. We have little sweepers, cups with a water jug to get water when we are thirsty, cloths to clean up spills, and dress up clothing to practice putting cloths on and taking them off. It is a sight to see when a 2 yr old gets out the wash rag, gets it wet (ok, the drippy water isn't always easy to take, but I try) and then "cleans" the table. Usually this is followed by everyone getting wash rags, dripping water from the bathroom to the playroom, and washing everything in sight. Ahhhh, the patience of a Family Child Care Provider :)

Here Sprout is putting all that practice to work trying to get out of a dress up skirt. One of the kids wanted to help her, which was met with a resounding, "NO, I DO MYSELF!!" We all sat back and watched, then applauded a job well done.

Outside Swinging... this boy loves to fly!!

"Cheese"

(Now leave me alone!!)

I wasn't going to get another Cheese out of this one... She wanted to play, not look at my camera :)

My budding artists... they chalk painted everything insight... cars, chairs, train table... it was all I could do to make sure they didn't "paint" one another.

It was great to get back in the yard to run, jump, and play... even if it was a little muddy, that's what mud boots are for.

Water Fun for Everyone!!!

What a little WATER won't cure.

We had a trip to a Farm planned for today, my own son had to stay home from school sick today, so we had to cancel... did they mind?? See for yourself.

Outdoor Friday Fun!!

Just a few shots from our day... we have enjoyed starting our mornings out with Operation. We are learning some great turn taking skills, patience, and fine motor. The kids love to be the one to hit the patients nose when they get their piece. We didn't know that you did that yesterday, so we heard the drip, drip of his runny nose the whole time we played. Silly me, I must have missed that in the directions.


We have been doing a lot of water play outside. Today I promised the kids they could run in the sprinkler. I also got out the turtle sandbox and the outdoor water table, they enjoyed both.

The sprinkler was a lot of fun. I think Little Miss M enjoyed that the most. I was surprised my friend D loved it as much as he did... He really got wet and ran in and out of the sprinkler spray.

Of course any kind of water play at my house turns in to this!! MUD!!! The orange clay is the worst, it gets into their bathing suits and it's REALLY hard to get the orange out. It was very slippery and the kids started out just "skating" around.

Then is went on to all out mud wearing. They sat in it, they ran through it with their trucks, and painted themselves and each other with it. I wish I got more of those photos, but I was to busy watching and enjoying them enjoy themselves. One of the kids said, "Yeah, summer is really here!!" It was cute.