Bonus Scoopers!!!!

You can make scoopers from just about anything.  Following the previous post, you can also make scoopers using random plastic containers.  If you plan on using your scoopers for water and your bottle lids are similar to a ketchup bottle (squirt reaction if you squeeze the bottle), keep the lids so children can learn more about how fast or slow water can flow, or also learn about pressure.

Scoopers

This next idea is just as simple as it can get!  Children are always very curious about scooping and dumping.  It has to be one of the most easiest, yet inexpensive items to make for a child to use that will keep him or her entertained for possibly hours!  Therefore, making a scoop for them to use at home is a must!

Through scooping and dumping, children learn and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Comparing
• Measurement
• Eye/hand coordination

To make your own scoopers, you will need:

• Empty plastic containers such as milk, juice, or detergent bottles (anything that has a handle)
• Sharpie marker
• A sharp knife for carving

First, make sure your container is completely cleaned out and dry.  Since little ones will be using them, we want to make sure that there is no residue left on them.  Secondly, trace an outline around the bottom edge to cut.   

The ones I have pictured are cut at an angle, but you can make a straight cut through the bottle as well.  Once your tracing is finished, carefully use a knife to carve off the bottom half of the bottle.  After you have carved off the bottom half, you can file it down to avoid sharp edges. 

When you have completed the above steps, you now have a scooper for your child to use.  Different items that your child can scoop include dry rice, sand, dirt, and water.  If you want to scoop water, make sure you keep the lids to your containers.

Also, the scoopers don’t just have to be used for “scooping”.  Other fun activities include:

  

•  Ball Toss/Catch

• Golf - laying the scoopers flat on the ground

Do you have any other ideas of items that you can use as scoopers?  What else can you do with your scoopers?  Please share!

Musical Shakers

Making your own music shaker is a very simple way to allow children to make some noise, literally.  While making your own shakers, you can decide what you want to put inside of them.  You can place certain items inside to make softer noises, and you can also place harder items to make louder noises.  Musical shakers can easily be produced using miscellaneous items that you find around the house.

Through shakers, children learn and develop:

• Cause and effect
• The different between soft/loud noises
• Fast vs. slow
•  Rhythm

To make your own shakers, you will need:

• Empty plastic containers such as crystal light, yogurt, baby food, plastic easter eggs, butter tubs
• Items to place inside – straws, cotton balls, seeds, old buttons, old beads, rice, pebbles, unpopped popcorn
• Glue – preferably a glue gun or super glue

First, place items into your container of choice.  Next, place glue on the lip and place the lid on snuggly.  Allow to dry for a few minutes.  Once dried, you have a musical shaker!

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to use as musical shakers?  Or what have you used that might work better?

Musical Streamers

Using streamers during your music time can help children open up and complete various movements while listening to different genres of music.  Producing your own streamers is much cheaper compared to actually purchasing them from school stores or catalogs.  Plus they are actually fairly easy to make with just some simple items that you find around the house.

Through streamers, children learn about and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Space – their own and the area around them
• Rhythm
• Spatial directions
• Fast vs. slow
• Positive self-esteem

To make your own streamer, you will need:

• Plastic rings from canned pop
• Ribbons

OR

• Shower curtain rings
• Plastic ribbon tape found in a hardware store/fabric strips

First, cut each plastic ring apart to make several pieces.  Next place the ribbon onto different parts of the plastic ring tying it securely each time.  You can put as many ribbon strands on it as you want.  Once all the ribbons are secure on your ring, you have a completed streamer of your own.

Now it is your turn to share!  What are some of your favorite things to do with streamers?  Include your music ideas, as well as your movement ideas!

Homemade Blocks

Creating and building your own blocks at home is an easy solution to actually purchasing your own.  When making your own at home, you can choose what size you would like to make and you can also choose what you want them to look like.  Through homemade blocks, children learn about and develop:

• Cause and effect
• Spatial skills
• Sizes and weights of boxes 
• Eye-hand coordination

To make homemade blocks, you will need:

• Small boxes of various sizes - cereal, soap, snack
• Grocery paper sacks or wrapping paper
• Packaging tape (if you want them to last for a longer period of time)

First, stuff each box with paper to make it as firm as you want.  If you want the box to last longer, stuff it as full as you can.  Next, tape it shut on the ends and wrap it, as you would a gift, with either the grocery paper sacks or gift wrap.  The picture above is of boxes that were wrapped in white paper, but painted after to make it more colorful.  Once the box is wrapped, then continuously wrap packaging tape around the box until it is completely covered.  If the box is completely covered with tape, this allows you to be able to clean and sanitize the boxes more often, as well as making your hard work pay off and last a longer period of time.  Once completely wrapped, your homemade blocks are complete!

Share your thoughts and ideas on how you have used your blocks!

Sponge Balls

 

Sponge balls are a a great alternative to actual balls when it comes to safety.  They are very soft and versatile and can be used for numerous activities other then just using it as a ball.  Developmentally, it helps children build upon some if their skills:

• Large motor - throwing, kicking, catching
• Fine motor - grasping, picking up
• Language - discussing the textures of the ball, the colors, what you can do with it

To make one sponge ball, these are the items that you are going to need:

• 3 sponges - foam sponges work better, but you can use cellulose.  Also, different colors of sponges help to make the ball more vibrant!
• Cable ties - preferably 12 inches long
• Scissors

First, cut each sponge into three long strips and gather into a pile.  Next, when the sponges are in a pile, place the cable tie around the center and begin to pull it tightly.  Before it is as tight as it will go, move the sponges around to make it look more full.  Finally, tighten the cable tie as tight as you can, cut of the excess cable tie, and then tuck one part of the sponge over it to cover the part that was cut off for SAFETY!!  Ta-da, you have a versatile, soft sponge ball!

Other activities that you can complete with this ball include:

• Water play
• Painting
• Can toss

Do you have any other activity ideas?  Please share your thoughts and pictures with us!

How to get started...

Before I share any ideas with you, it is important that we actually have materials gathered so we are ready to make items.  It can take some time to collect some items, but on the other hand, some items are also very easy to collect.  Items that you should try to collect include:

• Empty food boxes such as cereal, granola bar, fruit snacks
• Baby food plastic containers
• Rubber bands
• Shoe box lids with old shoelaces
• Empty tissue box cubes
• Knick knak items such as buttons, paper clips, beads
• Milk jugs
• Empty plastic containers such as ketchup bottles, dish soap bottles, yogurt containers

These are just some ideas of the things that you can collect.  Overtime, it may seem like a lot is collected, but that is okay.  It is always better to have more than not enough!

For our next project, we will be making Sponge Balls.  The basic items that we will need are sponges and cable ties.  Stay tuned...