Good Clean Fun

Money is tight at our place so I’m always trying out new ways to make that dollar stretch. This week I decided to try out DIY body wash as we go through HEAPS.

You need:

* Glycerine- Cost $8 ish from the bandaid section in your supermarket

* Soap (I used Dove as I got 5 bars for $5 from Chickenfeed. It didn’t really work that well to be honest maybe because of the moisturiser in it? Next time I will use 1 bar Dove and 1 bar other soap or 1 1/2 regular bars soap)

* Cheese Grater

* Pot

* Containers to put your soap in (I used old soft drink bottles and old body wash dispenser to put in the shower)

Method:

Grate the soap and put in saucepan on medium heat with 1 ½ litres of water

Add 1-2 tablespoons of Glycerine

Heat until the soap melts

Leave for a few hours til it goes goopy. If it hardens up too much add more water and mix with a hand mixer til it’s a good consistency.

I also made baby bath wash today (as the cost of that stuff is bloody ridiculous), using 2 bars of Johnson & Johnson soap ($2 from Kmart-bargain!) and added a tablespoon of lavender oil at the end. I used 2 bars which made it go completely solid, so maybe next time I would make it 2 litres water or just use 1 bar soap.

So the cost of the Glycerine initially put me off but you only need 1 tablespoon to 2 bars of soap which make 1 ½ LITRES, so really it works out super cheap!

As my little man is an avid explorer and super commando crawler, I have to mop the floor 600 times a day (ok an exaggeration 599). I hate the thought of him near chemicals so this month I bought a bottle of lavender oil (which I also used in the soap wash) and a bottle of tea tree oil.

I use a small splash of each in the bucket and mop away. The house smells lovely and fresh and both are a disinfectant. I also use the lavender on my dusting cloth which leaves a nice smelling residue on the bed heads and cupboards.

I use the tea tree oil in the dog’s bath and a splash when I wash her bedding too, which keeps the fleas away.

Tea tree oil and Lavender are also the best head lice removers. Nobody likes head lice but unfortunately once your darling enters school, lice will be a part of your world. Don’t spend the money on the yucky, expensive chemicals from the store. Trust me, they do NOTHING!

Mix 1 cup olive oil with 2 table spoons of both lavender and tea tree oil in a plastic bottle. Smother the kid’s hair with it and leave it on for as long as they can stand it. Comb through with a lice comb and shampoo a couple of times to get the oil out. I can promise you there will be no lice or eggs left. You can also make a preventative spray using lavender and tea tree oil  mixes with water in a spray bottle. Squirt the hair each morning before school.

Next week, I’m going to make my own laundry powder and test run using vinegar and bi carb soda. 

Hope you are having a fun week too x 

Outside and Messy Play

There is much fun and learning to be had being messy and getting out in the fresh air. It can be very daunting at first but if you are prepared and organized it’s a piece of cake.

Here’s my tips...

* Plan your experience ahead. Prepare the area so you are not going to slip, trip or fall. Have all the things ready so you don’t have to leave Bubba unattended

* Have plenty of wet washcloths or a bath run for the cleanup

* Relax and don’t stress if Bubba is not into it or tries to eat the playdough etc (its going to happen!)

* If you are nervous, get a friend or partner to come over and help out. Sometimes it helps to have an extra pair of hands

*If all else fails, find a friend who’s crazy enough to do these things and join in with them ;P

Ok so here is the recipes....

Play Dough

1 cup flour

Food Colouring

½-1 cup water but only use as needed

½ cup salt

2 tbs salt

Vanilla essence or smelly  essence like orange or omit if you prefer.

Mix food colour and smelly stuff with water.

Mix flour and salt and add water bit by bit to make dough. Knead the dough until it’s soft and pliable. This lasts about 2 weeks in the fridge covered with cling wrap.

Double or triple the quantity or make lots of different colours

Homemade Finger Paint #1

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 3/4 cup cold water

Mix together cornstarch and water in a saucepan until there's no lumps. 

 1 envelope of unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

Mix together gelatin and water and set aside.

Cook cornstarch mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it boils. It'll become thick as you're stirring.

Remove from heat and stir in the gelatin mixture.

Cool and pour into smaller containers. Add food coloring for desired colors.

Homemade Finger Paint #2

2 cups cornflour

5 cups cold water

Food colour

Mix the cornflour to a smooth paste with a little cold water using a large pot. Add 5 cups cold water and stir over a low heat for about 10 mins until the mixture is thick as desired.

HINT: this also works as glue and works better for older kids for nature collage etc when mixed with a little PVA glue)

Shaving Cream Paint

Shaving cream

Food colouring

Mix and play!

Ps: If you want to use this in the bath, only use 1 drop of food colouring or you might have stained grout! Test first to be sure!!!!

Cornflour Goop

Slowly add 1 cup cold water to 2 cups of cornflour in a bowl. Stir til water is absorbed and add food colour. Make sure you do this outside on the grass as it is very sticky and hard to get off pavers. Maybe keep the hose nearby to wash hands!

Homemade Bubbles #1

1/2 cup liquid dish washing detergent
1 1/2 cups water
2 teaspoons sugar

Gently stir these ingredients until combined. Store in an air-tight container with a firm-fitting lid. It will keep pretty much indefinitely.

Homemade Bubbles #2

1 cup water 
2 tablespoons liquid detergent 
1 tablespoon glycerin 
1 teaspoon sugar

Mix all ingredients together until sugar dissolves. Enjoy!

And here is some activities to try out...

Food is Fun!

Cooked spaghetti pasta and jelly...great fun to throw, eat, squish, poke and destroy

Yoghurt, custard or tomato sauce makes great finger paint on the high chair. Just watch the tomato sauce in the eyes...ouch!

Hint: Do it outside or put a big mat under the high chair!                                                                                                     

Water play

BE SO CAREFUL! 

Watch your baby constantly with water as the unthinkable can happen very quickly and with very little water.

Splashing, adding bubbles, adding things that float and things that sink, ice and then warm water to learn about temperature, wash clothes, sponges, dollies to wash, cups and funnels to pour...so many things to do!

Picnic Fun

Grab a rug, slop on some sunscreen and pop on a hat and find a shady spot outside for a picnic. You don’t need to go anywhere special, even just out the backyard.

So much to explore... trees, leaves, bark, birds, people, grass, flowers. Perfect way for them to learn about their world!

You can also bring some exciting treasures to your picnic. Buy some fruit and put it out on the rug for your bubba to touch, taste and smell. Imagine how amazing it is to explore the smell, colours and feel the textures of fruits for the first time like kiwi fruit, passionfruit, mango , orange, watermelon...the list goes on! Then you can slice it up and have a snack!

Veges are great too (although they don’t smell as delicious) to explore. All the different shapes and textures would make for fun exploration. eg broccoli, carrot, pumpkin, squash....

Pack cars, shovels and buckets for the beach and bubbles are for a must for anytime!

Phew..that's enough for me for one night. Have fun and get messy : )

 zzzzzzz sleep time for meeeeeee zzzzzzzzzzzz

Learning through Play

I have been very slack of late but hey it's my blog and I will take a hiatus if I want to : ) 

This blog, I have dedicated to play ideas for my little man who is almost 9 month and starting to pull to stand. He is so curious and wants to touch , taste and explore everything, especially the power points ( future electrician like his Dadda).  I've found myself searching the old mind (and google) for play experiences and ideas to encourage this beautiful curiosity.

I’ve found a heap of blogs and websites with literally THOUSANDS of ideas to try out. Its not that you have to do it every day, but he really enjoys exploring AND it's fun :) 

I like providing him with activities and experiences that don’t cost a fortune and are natural or upcycled.  


Of course with everything you need to watch your bubbas..SAFETY first. If it can fit in a film canister...its too small. With all things nature, ensure the plants are not poisonous. If unsure don’t touch... coz the second you look away it will end up in the mouth!

Be sensitive to the stage your baby is in. Logan is experiencing a bit of separation anxiety (mixed with teething). He prefers to explore new things with his Mumma by his side to “touch base” with every once in awhile.  

Also, little changes are good. Big changes can be bad. Keep a few favourite toys around for comfort and consistency. Imagine if someone changed your whole house around while you were sleeping ? 
With that done...have fun Mumma’s : )

  Zones for fun

Try packing away some of their toys and just placing 6-8 out. Group them together eg. Balls all together, blocks in a bucket, soft toys in a basket.

Its amazing how they take the time to explore each individual grouping going from group to group.

I have also set up the bottom shelf of my bookshelf for Logan with his books displayed. Sometimes I stand them all up or stack them flat. Of course it has cushions to snuggle on and have stories together.

Now the man is pulling up on the furniture I have also added a small lamp table to the lounge room where I put things of interest on top. At the moment, I have my vase of Valentines Day sunflowers. I wouldn't leave him alone with them (!!!) but when he points to them and I hold the vase for him to smell and touch. Its amazing how gentle he can be and how amazed he is at the texture of the petals and the spiky stems.

Magic bottles

Recycle your old soft drink or water bottles . You can fill them with anything you can fit through the hole. This week I did googly craft eyes and sequins and a really cool nature bottle using leaves from the fern outside. Other ideas

-Rice..coloured or plain makes a great shaker

-Pasta shapes

-Dirt and a plastic toy which gets buried and rediscovered when turned

-Leaves, grass, flowers

-Hair gel and marbles

-Water coloured with food colouring and oil

-Water and dish washing liquid

-Sand and shells

-Bells, buttons, pom poms

-Pegs

-Glitter

-Sensory bottles. Drill holes in lid and put a few drops of oils such as strawberry, orange, vanilla on a cotton pad for kiddles to sniff.

 Here's the link to a great website with lots of fun ideas to try out!

http://pre-schoolplay.blogspot.com.au/search/label/disovery%20bottles

Discovery Baskets

I made a discovery basket for Logan this week and he LOVED it. Firstly I cleared away his regular toys into his toy box, except a few favourites for continuity. I then placed the basket on the floor and sat with him while he discovered his treasure.

In his discovery basket I put:

-Balls of wool in different colours and texture

-Woven fabric circles, (which i am making into a rug when i have more time to spare!)

-Plastic cup with wooden and plastic pegs inside

-Tissue Box with scarves inside

You can make a discovery basket with just about anything some ideas...

-Kitchen stuff...pots, wooden spoon, whisk, spoons, Tupperware, lids in a container

-Beach theme- shells, sand in bottles, fish toys

-Nature- rocks and pebbles, bottles filled with dirt, leaves

-Music- shakers, drums using old ice cream containers,  sticks to tap, maracas

The idea is to encourage the bubs to explore using their senses and believe me this will keep them occupied for AGES : )

This is a Montessori website. I don't necessarily agree with everything they advocate, but I take some great ideas and inspiration from this really interesting blog...

www.howwemontessori.typepad.com

 Boxes

Tissue boxes are great for hiding treasure in such as scarves (buy from Salvo’s or Vinnies. Scarves are also great for sensory play and  peekaboo!), pegs or use for posting. Logan is starting to like posting things in holes so its a great opportunity to bring out the shape sorter or simple cover some cardboard ( you can use photos or envelopes whatever is around with clear contact (because it will last longer and not be easily eaten). Cut a hole in a shoe box or use tissue box and bubs can post away. Logan likes to put wooden blocks in the tissue box and shake it to make noises.

Big boxes make for great climbing and also tunnels as well as for putting in stuffed toys or whatever they can! Boxes can be cars, trains, rocket ships, boats. Look up some silly songs and incorporate them into play!

http://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-rhymes.htm

  

Hope this provides some inspiration to keep those precious minds busy... messy play will be next : ) 

x Mumma K x