Buttons in a Can

Materials:

Old Buttons

A big can (or small, if you want to make it hard)

Tape (optional)

1. Put a can somewhere in or out of the house
2. Put some tape on the ground, so the kids know where to stand

3. Make them line up and take turns, take a button, and have them try to toss it into the can.
( I gave them 3 tries)
4. Leave it up all day, they liked just throwing things in there all day

**This is a really good opportunity to teach the skill of "standing in line and waiting their turn." I'm often amazed at how much these kids DON'T understand how to do this!

Paper Plate Feelings

You gotta love paper plates. So many art projects come home from school , made from paper plates.

Well, here's another!

1. Draw some faces with different facial expressions on paper plates. You don't have to be an artist - look at mine.

2. Read a book about feelings. I had this one:

(I wish I had this book : The Way I Feel by Janan Cain, I thought I did, but I didn't)

3. Show the kids each paper plate, and ask what the feeling is, then ask them what makes them feel that way. Have them make their own faces too!

For example: What is something that makes you happy? Her answer: Horses

What is something that makes you sad? Her answer: Time Outs

(My 2 year old just copied everything Ri said, but no worries, she'll get there one day)

4. Then, let them pick a plate and put it on their face, and have them act out the feeling.

We really liked this activity, we all laughed when everyone was making their "feelings faces"

Q-Tip Painting

If you don't want to buy really nice paint brushes, then have your kids destroy them -
Try this:

Cut up your egg carton, get out your q-tips, and cotton balls

Decorate this cute (giant) can to put all you paints in, and put it somewhere high, so your kids can't get to it!

Tape a piece of paper to the table - if you have kids like mine, this is a must!

Let them go to town!

Color bags

Learning colors and learning how to sort objects are pretty important for kids. This activity can accomplish both.

Clearing out toys and having kids keep busy on their own are pretty important to parents. This activity can accomplish both!

Go find random toys that are at the bottom of the toy basket, if you have flash cards, throw some of those in too. Make some "color labels" and throw them all into a Ziploc bag, 2 colors to a bag. Give a bag to your kid, and have them sort away.

My 2 year old only had the attention span to so one bag. My 4 yr old did all 3 in one sitting. They've asked to do it again too!

All About Hands

This takes about 5-10 minutes, and my kids loved it, I was surprised at how attentive they were.

I started by singing a little song we heard at the library:

I have ten little fingers and they all belong to me

I can make them do things, just you watch and see!

I can open them wide, I can shut them up tight

I can put them together, I can make them hide!

I can raise them up high, I can bring them down low

I can fold them together and place them just so. (in their lap)

(you could also do, where is thumbkin)

Then I had them count all their fingers.

Then I asked them questions about what kinds of things they do with their hands. It was really cute to hear their answers!

Next,get into your stash of colored construction paper (if you don't have any, go buy some, in BULK!)

Let them choose a color, trace their hands, then let them color them in.

Don"t forget to have them write their name at the top, or use this opportunity to teach them.

On another day do the same thing, but: All About Feet

I hung them up on the door out to our garage, and they loved putting their hands up on them and talking about who's hands were bigger or smaller.

Mini Corn Dogs

The kids loved this one! It was so easy, and the batter was REALLY yummy! I like that I can make sure to use chicken hot dogs, and I know what is going into the batter too. (I know, they're still deep fried, but we can indulge ourselves a little right)

Ingredients
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 quart vegetable oil for frying
2 (16 ounce) packages beef or chicken frankfurters

In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, flour, salt, pepper, sugar and baking powder. Stir in eggs and milk.
Preheat oil in a deep saucepan over medium heat. Cut hot dogs in thirds and roll in flour. Roll frankfurters in batter until well coated.
Fry 2 or 3 corn dogs at a time until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels

Free Choice Friday

I've heard that the more choices you give a child, the more likely he'll listen, when you ask him to do things. Its from a book called Love and Logic

Often times dinner is a fight for my kids, especially when I try something new, or when something I make has too many veggies!

So, Friday night is my new "free choice for dinner night" I'm sure many of you do this already, but I just thought about doing it last week. Basically, everyone gets to eat whatever they want! ... From, chicken nuggets to yogurt, to cereal, whatever they choose!

I love it, it means I don't have to create another completely crowd pleasing dinner!

And hopefully, they'll be more likely to EAT during the week!