Bugz Week

This week was Bugz week at my house. I love bug week!

I picked up some crickets from the pet shop since it's too cold for an outdoor bug hunt. We searched the house for spiders to no avail. I guess that's a good thing, but I was a little disappointed.

 

The crickets were a hit! They were closely observed and joined us during story time, to bathroom breaks and even ate with us (lovely..)

 

 

Each day included circle time with songs about bugs including:

The itsy Bitsy Spider, Little Miss Muffet, Lady Bug Lady Bug (edited by me to Ladybug Ladybug fly away home. It's suppertime and your children are hungry.)

Poor little fly on the wall, the corner store (with verses about bugs), There was an old lady who swallowed a fly, and I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee.

 

Our story time included books such as:

 

These books are all available on Tumblebooks.com which is accessible for free through the Ottawa library's website.

 

 

We had fun doing buggy crafts too. My group is made up of 1-2 year olds but these crafts could be expanded on to match different ages and levels.

 

The Spiderweb threading craft

 

Needed: Paper plate, black paint or paper and glue, white yarn, hole punch, yarn needle or toothpick and tape

 

Have the kids paint the plate black or cut out a circle of black paper and glue it on.

Once dry, punch holes around the edges. Make sure they are not too close to the edge or they will rip (like ours did)

Cut pieces of yarn and loop them through the needles or tape them to toothpicks. I cover the ends of the toothpicks with tape to make them less pointy.

Tie one end to a hole and show the kids how to lace it through the holes.

 

Bumblebee Craft

 

We talked about colours and patterns, antennae and stingers. I cut out the pieces and the kids glued them on.

 

Lady Bug Craft

 

For us it was very basic. We painted paper plates red and glued on black dots. I let the kids try cutting out the dots but they weren't quite there yet (but still had fun cutting slits in the paper).

 

 

Another method for older kids is to paint a paper plate totally black and one totally red. Once dry, cut the red plate in half and paint dots on each side (Add a lesson in symmetry if you'd like!). Next add a splitting pin to the top between both top corners overlapped. Cut out a head from black paper and attach it to the top.

 

(PHOTO TO COME)

 

Firefly Craft

 

This one is very cute! Have the kids decorate coffee filters using washable markers. Then spritz them with some water and let them dry. Next take a plastic Easter egg and put a small glow stick inside. I glued them shut with a glue gun. Fold the filter in half and glue it on. add googly eyes with a glue gun. These are too cute and the kids loved playing with them. We played hide and go seek with them in the dark after making them.

 

 

 

Aren't they adorable?

 

 

 

Our sensory activity this week was pretty simple. I made green pasta (add food colouring to the water before boiling the pasta in it) and added little plastic flowers from a broken necklace of my daughter's. I wanted to put little plastic bugs in, but I couldn't find any so I made some out of shrinky dinks. When they found them, they got to put them on a tray to shrink them down to bug size. It was an extra little bit of excitement in the game. I used this mini sensory box as an early riser activity for the kids who woke up from nap earlier than the others.

 

 

We had a fun time searching for bugs and we altered the song "We're going on a bear hunt" to "We're going on a bug hunt". We just made up the verses as we went along and played a sort of follow the leader around the playroom during our bug hunt.

 

Another game we played this week was a game of tag where I was the spider and the kids were bugs (my dinner). I put little wings on all of them and turned around,counted to 10 and went and found them all. As you might imagine, 1-2 year olds aren't great at hiding but they had lots of fun being caught in my web! I used a dollar store fuzz spiderweb Halloween decoration and threw it onto them to catch them. In the past, with older kids, I actually used a can of silly string and chased them around trying to spray them with it. If it clung to them, they had to sit down until someone freed them from my webs. It was a lot of fun and we went through many cans of silly string. I wish I had a picture.. I will have to re-create this some time.

A bug! A bug! I see a bug!

Caught ya!

Fun and Learning with Fruit Loops

I love using Fruit Loops in kids activities! The kids love it even more.

 

This week we are focusing on colours. The littlest ones are learning to match colours and learn their names, while the more advanced toddlers will learn about mixing colours, pattern making, and using colours in art.

 

Today we played match the colours. I cut out circles of different colours and glued them on the paper. Then I poured some glue on each dot and put out a bowl of the cereal.

 

I placed a fruit loop on one circle and asked: Are these two the same colour? How about these?

 

They took it from there:)

 

 

When they grew  bored of that activity, I brought out some pipe cleaners and we worked on some fine motor skills. It took a while to get the bracelets full because the kids kept eating them!

These are a few of my favorite things...

Now, before you get too excited, let me remind you that I am NOT Oprah and, unfortunately, you will not be gifted these things.. But they are all great investments if you have a home daycare or if you just have a large family.


1- Apple peeler/corer/cutter

This little gadget is a huge time saver. My daycare provider actually used to use one when I was little! I can peel, core, and chop 5 apples in 5 minutes or less! Its amazing for making apple crisp or apple pies. It's even awesome for making applesauce or baby-food! The apple is cut like a slinky and the kids find it really fun! For the babies, I use this and then chop them up with the slap chop. Its so easy and quick! It's not supposed to be dishwasher safe. But I have been sticking it in there for 3 years with no problem!

2- Summer Infant Gate

Before getting this gate, I was climbing over room dividers. We have 2 of these: One upstairs and one downstairs. They are a bit tricky to open and close, but the fact that it is a walk-through, is amazing!

3- Phil and Ted's Sport Stroller

I love my stroller! It was a pre-baby gift from my dad and step-mom, and I had researched strollers like crazy before deciding on this one. I wanted something that I could use for my daughter alone, but that could also convert to a double for when I have a daycare child or when I have my second baby. I also have to climb over snowbanks with the stroller during daycare hours to get to bus stops, playgroups, etc. so I needed a 3-wheel sport model. This one was perfect! The second seat is a small flat piece when it is not in use and you would never know it is also a double stroller. The front wheel could lock to allow for jogging or getting through thick heavy snow or even sand. The handle bar adjusts so it works very comfortably for both me and my husband. It could recline for nap times (though not as far with the doubles kit in it) and it also can be a travel system with our Graco safeseat carseat- AMAZING! When it is being used as a single stroller, the under stroller storage isn't too bad either. As far as a double stroller goes, it is pretty small. It folds very compactly.

There are a few drawbacks to the stroller, but I think the benefits outweigh the cons. It is tricky to unfold. The tires are not the strongest. We have had to replace ours a few times. However, I contacted the company and they sent me new wheels even though it is no longer under warranty. So, I am impressed with their customer service. All the accessories are sold separately (ie- doubles's kit, rain cover, travel system adapter, etc). They are pricey. The stroller itself, is not cheap, though. I will have to replace the hood since one of the wires is poking through. They sell all the individual parts on their website, so at least it will be easy to replace. Also, when there is a second child in the stroller, there is very little storage room since their feet go in the under-stroller basket.

But overall, we have gotten so much use out of this stroller. I use it every day for daycare in the rain, snow, and heat. It has travelled through forests, over grass, through mud, puddles, and even stairs. It really gets you through any challenging terrain. I have used it on the city bus, and on cruise ships (it doesn't fit through cabin doors, but it is fine everywhere else on the ship and off. It also folds small enough to fit in the stateroom closet to store when not in use.)

I would totally recommend this stroller to others!

My daughter (back) and nephew (front) going for a walk

Serenity relaxing in the stroller while we explore the Mayan ruins in Mexico

4- Slap-Chop

I have an 18 month old little girl without any teeth. She's too old for baby foods, and she can't properly chew raw veggies, hard fruits, meats, etc. This is the best thing ever. I can make just one snack and stick Serenity's portion in the slap-chop and its small enough for her to eat without choking! Awesome!

It isn't super-easy to clean, though. But, I still love it!




5- Walking Rope

I first saw something similar to this on "Jon and Kate plus 8" and I thought it was amazing! I had to get one! I finally found one that was perfect. We use it with the older kids (2 years and up). They each have their own animal and know where to stand in line. It holds up against the elements and is comfortable to hold. I totally recommend this to anyone with 4-12 kids in their care.

The link listed is the American site: Lakeshore. I went through their sister-site: Wintergreen which is Canadian. I was just having problems locating the item on their website.

6- Sensory Bin

This simple plastic storage bin has gotten so much use in our house! All sorts of things go into the sensory bin. The kids get so excited when they see it coming out! All you need is an under-the-bed storage bin that is short and wide. Fill it with anything that the kids can safely play with!

7-  Play Kitchen

Any play kitchen will provide hours of entertainment from toddlerhood

8-  Laugh and Learn Playhouse

This is a simple idea. Its a door! The door opens and closes. It has a doorbell, a light switch, and all sorts of fancy bells and whistles that make noise. The kids all LOVE it! It surprisingly entertains my 1 year old just as much as the 7 year old I watch!

9- Angel Care Monitor

This gave us a huge piece of mind. There is a sensor pad that sits under the baby's mattress which senses movement of any kind. It is so sensitive that it can detect the smallest little breaths. It went off once or twice when Serenity was little (She was very little at 5 lbs 9oz) when she stopped breathing. We were able to go pick her up right away when this happened and she started breathing right away again. It allowed us to sleep easy, and that is priceless! The receiver is also noise-free. It only turns on when there is noise in the room, otherwise it is silent. No static! There is a little metronome that ticks (either out loud or silently) as you child breathes. It helps the extra paranoid parents like me to see it ticking away in the night.

The drawbacks of this product are the false alarms. They happen more often now since Sera moves around the crib a lot. If she is on the far side of it, occasionally it cant detect her movement. I would take a few false alarms any day, though, to catch the true ones. One other thing about it, is it's lifespan. The receiver doesn't seem to last longer then the 1 year warranty. I have heard other people say that theirs broke right after a year as well. I have contacted the company to see if they could replace it. Ill update and let you know how that goes.

10- Ice cube Trays

This seems like the simplest of things. But, I get so much use out of my ice cube trays, and I am not using them for making ice! I use them for sensory play, to freeze baby food, to create soup chillers, for counting exercises, sorting activities, as food dishes for toddlers, and all sorts of other things.

Cute Snack from yesterday

Bunny Molded hard boiled egg with flower-shaped red peppers and cucumbers, and broccoli with Ranch dip (chose hummus for gluten/dairy/soy-free)

Kid quote of the day

"Your a good cook! My mom can't cook unless she buys a box from the store"

LOL! Little compliments like this make my day!

Chocolate Raspberry Oatmeal muffins (Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free)

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup of quick oats
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1 1/4 cup of flour
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 1/4 cup of water, rice milk, or apple juice (or milk/soy-milk)
1 banana (mashed)
1/2 cup of cooking oil (Grapeseed works best!) OR margarine OR butter
3/4 cup of raspberries (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup of chocolate chips (more or less depending on how much you like chocolate) *see below for allergy-safe brands of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Mix ingredients until smooth
Grease muffin pan or line with muffin cups
Pour mix into muffin pan
Bake for 25 minutes

This one is a winner! I love it and the kids love it too!

* Allergy-friendly chocolate chip brands:
PLEASE check ingredients every time. They could have changed or made a batch that may not have been safe. Always check before buying and again before using the product.
 PC decadent chocolate chips (dairy-free, nut-free)
Enjoy Life (dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, egg-free) 

Lemon Blueberry Muffins (Dairy-free, Nut-Free, Egg-Free, Soy-Free)

Still tweaking this one.. But here's what I have so far:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup of water/rice milk
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 egg (or egg-replacer)
2 tsp vanilla flavouring
1 banana- mashed
1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
Line muffin tins with paper muffin cups
Mix all ingredients in bowl. Add the blueberries last.
Mix until smooth
Bake for 25-30 minutes

Hand Washing

At my daycare, we do a lot of hand washing. At first it was to protect the kids with food allergies, but then it became a habit.

We always wash hands: Every time we enter the house, before and after eating, after using the bathroom, before nap time, after crafts, before and after cooking (and during if those fingers make their way into noses, mouths, ears, etc).

I love to use foaming soap for my daycare kids. It makes hand-washing more fun and more effective. The foam covers their hands a lot better and I feel like it gets more of the germs off.

At first I was buying the kandoo brand of soap but it got super expensive. Especially with very excited kids who used WAYYYYY too much (or painted my walls with it!) . However, I love the bottle since it is easy for little kids to dispense from. I was thrilled to find out that it's easy to make your own!

Now what I do is: Pour a little bit of hand soap into the bottle. Maybe fill it up about an eighth of the way with this. Then add 4 drops of food colouring (optional). Next fill it very slowly with water, just until it reaches the fill line. Close it and give it a little shake, pump some out until it changes colour. If its still not colourful enough, add more food colouring. Just don't add too much or it will stain everyone's hands. and Voila! The same stuff at a fraction of the cost!

Another thing we do when washing hands, is sing a version of "Twinkle twinkle little star" that I found online at: "http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/schools/twinkleprint.pdf"
They also have great posters to print off!

"Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Look how clean my two hands are
Soap and water Rub and Dub
Get those germs off scub, scrub, scub
Twinkle twinkle little star
Look how clean my two hands are"

5 chemistry experiments that even toddlers will love!

I have always loved science. I was never really any good at it in high school, but I still really enjoyed my chem classes! I love to do science experiments with the kids and the ones who appreciate it the most are the little ones toddler-kinders. Here a few for pint-sized Einsteins:

1- Good old Vinegar and Baking Soda:

They may not understand (or care for that matter) why it happens, but they LOVE the way the vinegar and baking soda react together. I like to put the vinegar in smaller containers (ice cube trays work great!) and let the kids spoon baking soda into it. The activity lasts a bit longer this way. Another cool way to do it, is the opposite. Fill a shallow but wide bin (like a sensory box) with baking soda and let them pour the baking soda into it.

For groups of kids- a sensory box with ice cube trays or small containers with vinegar works great! Have a bowl of baking soda or 2 for the kids to spoon from.

For one of two kids, put one small bowl inside a larger bowl to catch the overflows.

2. Sensory Bottles/ Wave in a bottle

Use a clean, clear, re-closable bottle. Add beads, glitter or small plastic toys to the bottle. Pour in some food colouring and fill it half way with water. Fill the rest of the bottle with cooking oil. We used vegetable oil since it was inexpensive and we have lots of it on hand. It is also non-toxic in case of spills or leaks.

The water and oil won't mix. The kids love shaking the bottles and watching the mixture separate again or making waves with them.

3. Goup:

Mix cornstarch and water (more or less- twice as much cornstarch as water) and you have a solid liquid! Hours of fun! Warning- This is a messy one! If you don't mind stained hands, you could add food colouring to the water before mixing it in.

4.   Kitchen Chemistry:

My monkeys love this one! You find a bunch of different little bowls and fill them with different kitchen ingredients. I usually use flour, baking soda, baking powder, instant oatmeal, cornstarch, tapioca flour, cornmeal, etc. Then fill a bunch of little cups with: water, juice, lemon juice, vinegar, milk, etc. Spread out a garbage bag or tablecloth, give the kids some mixing bowls and spoons and let them take the lead. Close supervision is required of course and I am usually ready with a wipe in my hand to avoid things getting into eyes.

 

5. Milk "Fireworks" 

Fill a shallow bowl with milk and add a single drop of different food colouring colours. Put a small dab of dish soap (sunlight works great!) on the index finger of the child and then have them touch the milk. The colours will "explode" away from the finger and mix all together. Its very pretty and the kids love it!