We've been cooped up in the house way too long. The rain seems to be sticking around for awhile so let's take advantage of it. Grab those rain boots and a few waterproof toys and head outside. Here are a few ideas of what to do:
Water
- Splash around with your hands. Is the water warm or cold?
- Stomp in those puddles and compare the splashes made by big stomps vs little stomps.
- If you have a larger puddle, see if some of her toys float.
- Absorb water with sponges. Show him how the water goes into the sponge and what happens when you squeeze the sponge.
- Measure the water with measuring cups. See how many cups it takes to fill up a bucket. When one bucket has 1 cup of water in it, is it heavier than the bucket that has 2 cups in it?
Worms
- Count how many worms you see.
- Talk about how fast or slow they move. What other animals move like a worm does?
- Pick them up, how do they feel?
- Compare sizes of different worms. Do all worms look alike?
- Talk about why you see worms after in rains.
- What do worms eat? Which animals eat worms?
Mud
- Find some mud and get dirty!
- Let your child feel the mud with his hands and talk about how much heavier it is than regular dirt.
- Build a mud castle.
- Dig in the mud to find bugs.
- Play with cars and build a race track in the mud.
As I finish this post, the sun is peeking out a little bit so hurry before the puddles dry up! Hey, is that a rainbow I see?
What are your family's rainy day activities?
Showing posts with label water play. Show all posts
Showing posts with label water play. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Mark your calendars for Bubblebration!
This FREE event sounds like loads of fun. Don't forget to bring your own bubbles and wands. To make your own bubbles, mix 1 cup water with 2 tablespoons light Karo syrup OR 2 tablespoons glycerin* and 4 tablespoons dishsoap.
*Glycerin can be found in most drug stores
For best results leave the solution standing for at least a few hours before use.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Sun Safety
On Tuesday I wrote about water play and put a little blurb on the bottom about sunscreen. But sunscreen is a big deal and deserves more of a blurb so I’ve decided to expand a little. I’m a very fair-skinned person and have had numerous sunburns over the course of my life. I hated having sunscreen put on when I was a kid and often ended up with burns so bad I got blisters. In my adult life, I’ve gotten so much better and always start my day with a lotion containing SPF on my face. I’m also in love with sunscreen in a can. It’s so easy to apply and I don’t feel greasy afterwards. (One piece of advice – make sure to apply it when you’re not in a windy area because you end up wasting quite a bit.) Even though I've determined that I like sunscreen in a can, I'm still unsure of which one to pick.
Sunscreen is a little tricky to buy because there are so many choices. There are several brands and each one advertises something different. You can choose anywhere from SPF4 to SPF100+ which come in several different forms. I began to do some research and was sent this article by WebMD from a friend. It certainly gave me some things to think about when I choose my next sunscreen. I dug a little more and found an article called Summer Sun Care for Kids, also on WebMD. It has some really helpful tips but I know you’re really busy so I thought I would highlight some great points.
Adelaide Hebert, MD, from pediatric dermatology at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston stated that for younger kids “it’s easiest to get them to wear protective clothing.” I agree with that, going shopping for swimwear this year, we found that there are several colorful options for kids to choose from. WebMD states that sunscreen and cover-ups are just as important for older kids and teens plus the “tan” look is very popular. According to Hebert the safest way to get that look is to use spray or lotion self-tanners and some even provide some sun protection, just make sure to read the label closely.
The article also lists some Rules for Smart Summer Skin Care:
Rule #1 – Stay inside or in the shade between 10am and 4pm
Rule #2 – Everyone is at risk regardless of skin color or type
Rule #3 – Dress your kids in protective clothing
Rule #4 – Use sunscreen!
Purchasing sunscreen is a personal choice because only you know your family's needs. The important thing is to be knowledgeable about your choices and to read the label.
Sunscreen is a little tricky to buy because there are so many choices. There are several brands and each one advertises something different. You can choose anywhere from SPF4 to SPF100+ which come in several different forms. I began to do some research and was sent this article by WebMD from a friend. It certainly gave me some things to think about when I choose my next sunscreen. I dug a little more and found an article called Summer Sun Care for Kids, also on WebMD. It has some really helpful tips but I know you’re really busy so I thought I would highlight some great points.
Adelaide Hebert, MD, from pediatric dermatology at The University of Texas Medical School in Houston stated that for younger kids “it’s easiest to get them to wear protective clothing.” I agree with that, going shopping for swimwear this year, we found that there are several colorful options for kids to choose from. WebMD states that sunscreen and cover-ups are just as important for older kids and teens plus the “tan” look is very popular. According to Hebert the safest way to get that look is to use spray or lotion self-tanners and some even provide some sun protection, just make sure to read the label closely.
The article also lists some Rules for Smart Summer Skin Care:
Rule #1 – Stay inside or in the shade between 10am and 4pm
Rule #2 – Everyone is at risk regardless of skin color or type
Rule #3 – Dress your kids in protective clothing
Rule #4 – Use sunscreen!
Purchasing sunscreen is a personal choice because only you know your family's needs. The important thing is to be knowledgeable about your choices and to read the label.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Water Wonders
The local weather people have forecasted beautiful weather this week. Warm and sunny weather makes me want to spend every minute outside. Visiting a local pool or lake is a wonderful idea but if you would rather stay in your own backyard, there are several ideas for educational water play.
Fill a kiddie pool or large plastic tote with water. Even if it isn’t big enough for the child to climb into, they can still have fun. Collect several waterproof materials from around the house such as: corks, non-electric egg beater, egg cartons, food coloring, funnels, measuring cups and spoons, paintbrushes, plastic dishes, empty squeeze bottles, strainer, sponges, and regular water toys.
Children can use these materials to experiment with water which will help facilitate math and science learning. They will learn about measurement when using the measuring cups and volume when trying to pour water from one container to another. Science is about asking questions and testing theories. Water play provides many opportunities for this. Children can experiment with the materials to find out if something floats and how to sink the object if it does. Encourage them to ‘paint’ outdoor items with paintbrushes or squirt bottles and see what areas dry faster than others. This is also a good time to discuss the properties of water especially the way water can change from a liquid to a solid into gas and back to liquid. Allowing kids to see this cycle during the discussion will help them to understand it.
Water play has several benefits other than learning math and science. Working with these materials will help to strengthen their hand muscles which is important when learning to write and with hand eye coordination. Experimenting with the water will increase problem solving skills and talking about their play will improve language skills.
Overall, water play is a fun-filled activity that provides several educational opportunities. Let us know your ideas for water play, we would love to hear from you!
Please practice safety during outdoor and water play. Never leave your child alone while he plays with water as drowning can occur in only a few inches and remember to apply sunscreen.
Fill a kiddie pool or large plastic tote with water. Even if it isn’t big enough for the child to climb into, they can still have fun. Collect several waterproof materials from around the house such as: corks, non-electric egg beater, egg cartons, food coloring, funnels, measuring cups and spoons, paintbrushes, plastic dishes, empty squeeze bottles, strainer, sponges, and regular water toys.
Children can use these materials to experiment with water which will help facilitate math and science learning. They will learn about measurement when using the measuring cups and volume when trying to pour water from one container to another. Science is about asking questions and testing theories. Water play provides many opportunities for this. Children can experiment with the materials to find out if something floats and how to sink the object if it does. Encourage them to ‘paint’ outdoor items with paintbrushes or squirt bottles and see what areas dry faster than others. This is also a good time to discuss the properties of water especially the way water can change from a liquid to a solid into gas and back to liquid. Allowing kids to see this cycle during the discussion will help them to understand it.
Water play has several benefits other than learning math and science. Working with these materials will help to strengthen their hand muscles which is important when learning to write and with hand eye coordination. Experimenting with the water will increase problem solving skills and talking about their play will improve language skills.
Overall, water play is a fun-filled activity that provides several educational opportunities. Let us know your ideas for water play, we would love to hear from you!
Please practice safety during outdoor and water play. Never leave your child alone while he plays with water as drowning can occur in only a few inches and remember to apply sunscreen.
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