Hummingbird Feeders

After being in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado with my family, I realized that I was missing a HUGE opportunity for my kids to be a bit closer to nature here in the Chicago burbs. Why not let them help me fill the hummingbird feeders!!!!!

Awesome opportunity to give them an understanding of how birds find food, give them new vocabulary words with meanings, and let them practice colors, mixing, watching sugar dissolve, and of course helping our local bird population!



There were so many little birds dive bombing us, it was amazing. If you were patient enough you could get one to perch on your finger. My husband's amazing aunt has my daughter showing her the hummingbirds up close!!! So Cool!!!!

I use a 4:1 ration. 1 cup of water to 1/4 cup of sugar.
We heated the water in the microwave for about a minute - not boiling - just hot enough to dissolve the sugar.

I let one kiddo add a few drops of red food coloring and the other got to stir. They loved watching the drops take over the entire container.

I showed my two kids the funnel. Now that's a fun word to get a 2 1/2 year old and 15 month old to say. We giggled more that got it out but it was fun! I let the little one hold the funnel and asked my son to pour the red sugar water into the feeder.  We talked about how red and other bright colors attract birds and bugs as well as what birds eat. It was a great conversation!


       

We have the most amazing bay window that the kids can sit inside. This is the best place to watch our little feathered friends. Now its not the best place to attract them so I need to get a few placed around our garden. We do have amazing flowers planted by the previous owners to attract hummingbirds, so we have a good start!!!

I made a second batch to keep in the fridge as a refill - this is what I could take photos of as my hands were helping prevent spills the first go around :)

Window Blocks - Window Clings

I loved finding this idea!!! I wish I could remember which blog I saw it on first! - Totally snagged this one and it's a KEEPER!

I found foam sheets in rectangles and circles at the dollar store. I picked up one pack of each totaling $2. 

I know an expensive activity ;) 

This is going to be my next busy bag contribution at our next exchange (not scheduled - but too easy to pass up!!!)

When foam is wet it sticks easily to windows and walls, like window clings. We have two little ones that LOVE their water table and playing in the kiddie pool. Dipping and splashing in water is always a plus. I set them up outside, let them dip and splash all they wanted and it didn't matter if they were getting the windows or themselves wet. 

We call this Window Blocks. 

Cut into various easy shapes. I did this during nap time one day in about 4 minutes. I didn't worry about making cuts perfect or look beautiful. Didn't think it matter very much.

Use a small container to dip the foam pieces in to get wet and make the stick to the window.

Have fun! Build towers, castles, houses, trees, etc....

Sort by shapes

Sort by colors

Just stick them on and build. It doesn't matter, have fun!

Practice giving your little ones words to add to their vocabulary. Talking with your kiddos and explaining what they are doing and with what they are working will always help your child grow.

Store them how you wish, zlip-loc, a sak, a plastic container. They dry VERY fast in the sun. I leave them out for a minute and then gather them up for the day.

Painting Pasta

This was an AWESOME and cheap activity to do with the kids. It was so easy to put together and little man loved creating painted noodles with me.

I found a box of noodles on sale.  I didn't think it mattered if the noodles were nasty as we were only going to be silly with them. I think I ended up paying $.78 for the box.

We talked about cold water and boiling water. "How do we know when the water is boiling?" It was a great intro to steam and evaporation. Now little man talks about my coffee being hot when he can see the steam.

Cook the noodles until al'dente. This way they suck of the color and don't fall apart in your little one's hands.

drain - use right away! pasta as you know can get sticky and not as easy to work with

The kids and I (really my 2 1/2 year old) decided with what colors he wanted to play. I split the pasta into four bowls.

Add some oil to keep the noodles from sticking together. '

I only added a splash to each bowl.

Use your favorite food coloring and get creative.

I wanted brightly colored noodles and have an abundance of food coloring so I opted to use quite a bit. Use what you have.

Use a fork to get you started mixing the colors, because the noodles are still hot. You can rinse them in cold water first to make mixing easier, HOWEVER, it stops the cooking process and then they don't suck up as much coloring.

Because we love noodles in our house, I found little man eating them several times. Nothing wrong with it - other than a blue and green mouth afterward :) Use a cookie sheet to keep your table a bit cleaner and the oily pasta in one spot.

Have fun playing with textures, picking out only certain colors, practicing dexterity - one noodle at a time, and just spreading them around and mashing them together. 

We made little birds' nests, then talked about the types of birds that we have in our yard that may use our colorful nests.

Squish!!!!!

If you have ever read "I love you Stinky Face", then you may recognize the "slimy swamp monster that CP turned himself into. If you haven't read the book, it is a must in our house! It's super adorable and just sweet to read at bedtime.

Get a few days of life out of the pasta by keeping it in an airtight container. Since it's only in oil, it's ok to keep on the counter but it will spoil after some time.

Inside Garden from Tomato Containers

Indoor Easy Garden

As my little man and I created these little indoor gardens, I become more excited about summer coming and having him learning about gardening, plants, and growing. 

We were invited to the neighbors for a dinner party and there was no way I was showing up empty handed. I created an easy and DELICIOUS tomato and olive salad that was a HUGE hit. 

I rinsed the cherry tomatoes and realizes I NEEDED to keep these containers for something and it me later to use them as a little terrarium or mini green house.

 

I purchased little violets and used some extra dirt from the backyard. I had little man join me in the backyard to gather the dirt. It had just rained and he wasn't too thrilled with the 'mud' aspect. 

   

Conversation during this activity was all about how plants grow. We got to see the roots of the violets and spent time feeling how small and thin they are. It was cool to talk about how the roots soak up water and nutrients (I related it do plant food) to help the plant grow strong and beautiful. I showed him that trees are plants, too. We discussed plants are large and small but they all have roots. 

 

We have these in the kitchen window. I would love to put them in the play room on their art table however, the dog would love to help redecorate our home with these. :)

 

I love reusing containers. Anything works. Get Creative on your own terms. 

Remember: Every activity is an opportunity to help build your child's vocabulary. Don't worry about talking 'above' there head as long as you connect it to something they already know and can give them a visual. 

Dyed Pasta Busy Bag Activity

Our Mommies' group did a busy bag exchange. 

It was wonderfully successful!

 

One fabulous mommy (I was able to join up with a great group of mom's who are all extremely helpful, supportive, smart, and all absolutely fabulous!!!), spend so much time dying pasta and cutting colored circles for muffin tin sorting.  

Great site to get instructions on dying pasta for kids activities :

http://www.manylittleblessings.com/how-to-dye-pasta-for-kids-crafts/

 

Cut colored circles to match whatever colors you decide to die your pasta. 

Tape or glue them on the bottom of a muffin tin. 

  

 Spend time sorting colors. Talk about colors. Discuss how different noodles can have the same color even though they are different shapes, sizes, widths, or lengths.

 

The mom who created this busy bag for us also gave us cups with each type of pasta attached (hot glued) to the top for sorting types of pasta.

 

Again: This is an opportunity to increase your child's vocabulary. Discuss how the same pasta can be different colors. Practice sorting styles, see if your child can focus both colors and type.

 

I also let my 1 year old (oh my goodness, she just turned one, where did the time go!) also play with noodles, however, she is a mouther so I have an eye on her constantly. She does love to feel the various textures and spread them around her tray. 

Clean Mud/Play Snow

This is something that I have had the supplies for after seeing on a Pinterest post months ago.
I have seen it labeled Clean Mud or Play Snow

1 Bar of Dove
1 Roll of Toilet Paper
about 1 Cup warm Water


1. Grate the soap with a cheese grater. (It makes it dissolve more quickly) Grate it into a 9x13 pan. Makes for easy clean up and a "one pot wonder"

2. Let the kids tear up toilet paper! It's a blast!!!!

3. Pour the warm water over the soup and allow to melt for a minute

4. Put the torn up paper over the soap and water mixture and massage/kneed/mix the paper in, make sure the paper is torn into smaller pieces as it will dissolve a little quicker. 

5. Mix and enjoy! 

We brought it out after dinner so my husband and I could clean up. It was a blast. Our son then went straight to the bath. It made for a few happy campers. :)

 

Keep it in an air tight container to use later.