Messy Art Project Blow up Paint Bags

We did this project in various steps and in the end we had an messy, fun, and artsy explosion!

We got the paints and the sandwich bags. Added one colored paint to each bag.

So Big Boy got to squish it, rub it and play with it.

After he played we added water.

Shake, shake, shake it!

Blow air inside of the bag.

It was neat that we discovered this heart shaped hole in the patio.

We got this idea from Play Create Explore. Thank you PCE!

Christmas/winter Sensory Tub

We used Insta-Snow, 2 trees, cotton balls and erasures that we got at the Dollar Tree store. I added two Christmas cups that we had and a penguin. He can use the spatula 

as a snowplow to make a road, etc.

This is a fun activity to do with your child. BB loves it and he is there playing as I 

write this. We may add glitter later to add to the sensorial part of this activity. BB helped with the measuring and watched as the powder turns into snow, great science experiment. For another science experiment put some of the "snow" in the freezer 

and come back several hours later to see what happened!

Note: Make sure your child doesn't put the 'snow' in his mouth or eyes. I am pretty sure it is not good*. BB is very good with not putting things in his mouth.

* Please read this Insta-snow precaution info.

Decorating a Gingerbread House

He liked decorating his house. Dec. 2011

We used a kit that we bought last year in Jo-Ann. Trader Joe's

sells them too.

This is Big Boy's Gingerbread House

Christmas activities

 We use this to build a city. We added cars and a wooden train set to complete it. With this 

activity we talk about vocabulary like "next to", "in front of", etc. With older children you could

draw a map and then us the map to build the city. (We got this ceramic buildings at the Dollar Tree store).

This is a small tree that Big Boy can decorate himself.

Stocking Christmas houses.

Best Uses of Breast Milk/Los Mejores Usos de la leche materna

There are different ways to use the breastmilk. Here are a few:

- Nurse your baby and toddler with THE milk especially created to suite your child's needs.

- Use it as a cure for diaper rush. Apply it to a sore bottom and you'll notices that by the next diaper change or the other it is gone!

- If your child or somebody in your family gets a scratch or gets cut apply it in the wound every time you remember and it will surely help it!

- Does your child has an ear infection? Put a few drops in the ear. Little Princess had a mild ear infection so I asked the doctor if I could use breast milk instead of antibiotics and she said it would not hurt to try. So I did! The night before she cried and woke up several times. So in the morning I put a few drops on hear ear and that was the end of the ear infection! It could have been a coincidence but I bet it helped!

- If your toddler stopped nursing and you still have milk don't wast it! Extract some milk and put it in the cereals instead of cow's milk or nut's milk (Don't use soy milk or any other soy products they are not good for children).

- If you have an older child and you have a baby. Express milk and use it for the cereals or smoothies!

- Some people have made breast milk cheese! I bet it tastes good!

- Use it to help cure eczema!



Leave a comment if you can think of any other use for breast milk!




Hay diferentes usos de la leche materna. Aqui hay algunos:

- Amamanta tu bebe y ni~no pequeno con LA leche que fue hecha especialmente para complacer la necesidad alimenticia de tus hijos.

- Usala para curar la cola irritada por el pa~nal. Ponele un poco de lecha en la cola del bebe o ni~no y para el siguinte cambio de pa~nal o el otro ya no estara mas!

- Si su hijo o alguien en la familia se corta o se raspa la piel ponele un poco de leche. La leche tiene antibioticos naturales que curan!

- Tiene su hijo otitis, es decir una infeccion en la oreja? Pone un par de gotitas en el oido. Little Princess tenia una leve infeccion de oido asi que le pregunte a su doctora si puedo ponerle leche en vez de darle antibioticos y ella dijo que si que no le puede hacer mal. La noche anterior Little Princess lloro toda la noche. Entonces en la maniana siguiente le puse un par de gotitas de leche y esa fue el final de la infeccion. Podra ser una mera coicidencia pero ayudo!

- Si su hijo ya no toma leche materna pero todavia tiene leche no la desperdicie! Saque leche con la maquina y usela para los cereales en vez de leche de vaca u otras leches de nueces (No use leche de soja u  otros productos con soja pues es mala para la salud de su hijo!)

- Si tiene un hijo mas grande y tiene un bebe use la leche para los cerales de la ma~nana o para hacer licuados!

- Hay gente que ha hecho queso de leche de materna! Apuesto que es rico!

- Usalo para ayudar a curar el eccema!



Deje un comentario si podes pensar que otros uso hay para la leche materna!

My Version of the Gratitude Tree

This is my version of this Thanks Giving Gratitude Tree.

I used 2 brown construction papers to make the tree and I used her leaves templates which I printed them on construction paper. I laminated the leaves so I can also use them for a leaf matching activity later.

I will use wet erase sharpies to write on the laminated leaves.

Thank you Max and Mum Kids Activities for this great idea!


This is how I'll do this activity.

Everyday I will ask my son what is he thankful for and I will write it on a leaf and we will tape it to the tree. By the time Thanksgiving comes the tree should have plenty of leaves!

Variations:

- You can have your child draw a tree or paint one;
- You can use real brunches to make the tree;
- You can have your child cut the leaves and tree;


If you have any other ideas, please share them by leaving a comment below!

Ghost Hanging Activity

The "drying line" is a folding rack I got in the 

Dollar Tree store. 

I made the ghost with felt I had at home. I made a big one

and a smaller one so I could also use it for a felt

story or matching or a size sorting activity.

 Big Boy is a bit over 2 and 1/2 and he did it easily.

Do I really need ALL the Montessori material?

The materials are there to facilitate the learning of certain skill. And there are many ways to achieve it. I believe if you are a homeschool mom/dad you don't need all the Montessori materials available to successfully homeschool using the Montessori Method.

Maria Montessori created the method with the school environment in mind and not for homeschoolers (let me know if I am wrong). The classrooms were full of children. Therefore, they needed all those hands on materials to keep everybody busy learning  let say. But at home it is different. There are not so many children and you don't need all the materials at once. There are a lot of materials you can make yourself if you can, or find a way to teach that particular skill the Montessori way.

You could use the method 100% or you can pick and choose what your child likes from various different approaches and still help your child learn that certain skill. So, for home learning I think the best you can do is to get the prepared environment at home to suite your child's needs. This is especially important for young children to foster their sense of autonomy and belonging.

Remember that the Montessori method is not only a method and it is not only the materials but a way of life.

Do I really need the dressing frames?

Today the question I had for a while was answered. Do I really need to buy the dressing frames?

I was tending to my daughter when I hear a scream " I did it!!!" It was my son that figured out how to close the snaps of the pants he was wearing. So he went on to pull them all open and he closed them again. He was happy and proud of himself. The happiness of see him so overjoyed it was enormous.

This made me realize that I don't need to purchase more frames. I had 2 that I bought from Adena Montessori and the quality is bad...The eye hook frame is far the worst. Every time you go to hook one the other one becomes unhooked. So if this is frustrating for me imagine what a toddler would feel!

You can replace the frames with clothing you may already have at home! You can use  your husband's button up shirt, your pants that have a zipper. A bra that you don't use anymore, just cut the part that you don't need and use the attachment parts and put them on a small basket...The options are endless.

DIY Easy Halloween Matching Cards

To make this cards you need:

- Halloween stickers
- Sheet of paper (Use card stock if you don't have laminator)
- Laminator

If you don't feel like cutting the paper use sticky notes and laminate!

Counting Pumpkins Song (Spanish)

Uno, dos, tres calabazas

cuatro, cinco, seis calabazas

siete, ocho, nueve calabazas

diez calabazas pasan.

Al reves!

Diez, nueve, ocho calabazas

siete, seis, cinco calabazas

cuatro, tres, dos calabazas

una calabaza pasa.

(Song of Ten Little Indians/ Cancion de los Diez Indiecitos)

Stopping by!

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to stop by and tell you that the blog has already 2012 page views! So, I wanted to thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you find it useful. I'll be happy if at least one thing of this blog helps you or inspires you.

I created this blog for you and to document what I do with my children. But since I could have a private blog if I wanted to, you are the main reason why I do it. I read so many great and inspiring blogs that I felt that I was taking and not giving so by having this blog I can also give and share too.

Hugs to you!

Monica

Halloween counting activity

Materials:

1) One halloween garland (99 cent store)

2) Paper

3)Marker

4) Scissors

Instructions:

1) Hang the garland

2) Write numbers and the words on pieces of paper 

3) Ask the child to help you count and pin the right number card under a number 

Second Part:

1) Write the words of the items that are in the garland.

2) We had bats and spiders. So I wrote bat in one square piece of paper and spider in the other.

3) The child has to help you pinning the right card under the figures.

DIY Felt Counting Pumpkins in Spanish

Materials:

- Orange and green felt

- Black fabric paint

- Scissors

-Glue gun

- Pencil

- Paper

Instruction:

1) Draw a pumpkin on a paper

2) Cut it

3) Place it on the orange felt and cut it

4) Draw a stem on paper and cut it

5) Place the stem on green felt and cut it

6) Glue the stem to the pumpkin

7) Use the fabric paint to write the numbers and the words (make sure you let them dry for 4 hours)

Done!!

DIY Halloween Meaningful Tombs and Ghosts

Why to spend many dollars at the near Halloween store when you can make your own tombs for a dollar or 2! I got foam board from the Dollar Tree store and I used chalk and 2 paint sticks. I will make more with acrylic paint that also sell in the Dollar Tree store.  So I just spent 2 dollars! One for the board that cut in half to make 2 tombs and the acrylic paint! I already had the paint sticks.

 This tomb belongs to my so so loved grandma that past away last year! I love you Clara Golobochansky!!!! We used to call her Jamela.

We are going to make Ghosts out of white poster board and I will post them soon! So check back tomorrow or so!

Window Decorations for Halloween

 October 2011

This marker work well. They seems when you start drawing with 

them to be clear or see through but when it dries becomes solid color.

My son enjoyed this activity!

Collage idea for Fall

 This is a very easy collage activity we did the other day!

 10/8/2011

Another variation of this is after gluing the leafs just paint over them! Picture coming soon!

Here it is!

Healthier living for a better quality of life

I have heard before silly things like: "We all have to die from something,""Who wants to live that long,""I rather live one year than having to give up sweets (my grandma)...The problem with all those statements is that eating healthier, avoiding plastic and taking care of ourselves is not about how long you are going to live, or choosing something to die from is about having a better quality of life.

Lets talk about the fist statement. "We all have to die from something." I've heard it many times. Is true we are all going to die one day. Whether we get run over by a car or die naturally. But our body can only take so much beating....Smoking, drinking, drugs, pollution, BPA, PVC, fluoride, aluminum, and other things hurt our bodies...Our bodies can only take so much before we start getting cancer, ulcers, asthma and many other illnesses. We are all exposed to all of this one way or another. People smoke outside and you and your children may get a whiff of it as you walk by, or maybe the guy who's driving a car in front of you is smoking....The plastic cup, your child was drinking last night may have BPA, or the toothbrush has PVC. Yes, we all have to die from something but do you really want to die from cancer? Have you ever seen your hair falling off on your hands when you brush it? I don't want to die like that...I rather make an effort to reduce all the things that may take me that road....

Someone told me "Who wants to live that long anyway." I answered, do you really think you live longer for eating healthy and living a healthier life? Wrong. It is not that you'll live longer but you live better! You'll feel much better and you will help others live good too by promoting better eating habits and living. All you are doing by eating, and making better choices about what you use around the house is to reduce the pollutants, and improve the quality of life NOT the quantity of years you live.

My grandma told me once "I rather live one year than having to give up sweets." Her dream came true. She did live one year, fighting her diabetes and eating chocolates. But her life was so miserable. She spent her last year of her life very sick to the point she was hospitalized. She lost weight. She couldn't recognize her own children and was in pain. Her body couldn't take it anymore and die in a hospital bed...So she didn't just live a beautiful one year and she suddenly died...She went through a year of hell before she passed away...I would rather live one year but happy and feeling good than go through what she went through.

I am not saying that we would all die because we drank once from a cup containing BPA or smoked once. But is the continuation of all of that that may lead more susceptible bodies to an illness. Maybe you met a 92 year old woman that smoked maybe all her life and she seems fine. Well, maybe she has a very strong body that could stand the poison. How can you know for sure that your body would stand it too? I am not going to risk it. we only have one life, one body and one chance, there is not going back.

We cannot avoid the unavoidable but we can for sure be aware of the man made poisons and avoid them as much as we can.

You heard me saying BPA, PVC, fluoride, etc. What are those things?

Here is a link I liked about BPA and what it is, where is it and how to avoid it.

Here is a link about fluoride.

Here is one about PVC.

What is wrong with aluminum? Scientific evidence has demonstrated that Aluminum is associated with the development of Alshemer's Disease.

Cancion de Halloween

I found this video in youtube. It is in Spanish.I think is great because not only I like the music you can teach about the clock and time with it. I am not planning to let my child watch it...He doesn't watch TV or videos at home but I can use the music for circle time or may be I'll make a felt story with it. ( I will post it if I make it)
Anyway, here it is:

Encontre este video en youtube. Es en Castellano. Esta bueno, porque no solo me gusta la cancion sino que podes encenar acerca del reloj y la hora. No estoy planeando dejar a mi hijo ver el video...El no mira TV o videos en casa pero podemos usar la cancion para aprender o tal vez tambien hare con ella las piesas para el pizarron de felpa que tenemos.

Halloween Creepy Crawler Craft

  We made this eyes and spiders from an egg carton. Very easy to make!
The reason why the spider is "backwards" is because they'll be hung from the ceiling.

10/5/2011

For this activity you need:

1 egg carton

Fishing line

Googly eyes

Pipe cleaners

Tempera Paint

Scissors

Push pins

Directions:

-Cut the egg carton

- Paint it 

- Once they are dried with the scissors make a small hole on the sides

- Cut the fishing line to the length you want it

- Tie the fish line to the sides

- Tie the top of the fishing line to the push pin

- Finally attach it to the ceiling!

Idea for a practical life tray

Here is another idea for a practical life tray. I don't own this idea, since I've seen it in another blog. I just used pipe cleaners instead of satin ribbons (I didn't have any).

Storage for 3 Part Cards

This is how I store my 3-Part Cards and other cards I made.

I got this in Lakeshore. But if you go to Ikea you can get the same type of thing

for a quarter of the price!

Fall/Halloween Sensory Bucket

Corn, bow pasta (don't ask me why, I just put it there!), small pumpkins (dollar tree store), a bag for filling, a sauce spoon and halloween rings (dollar tree store)

10/4/11