Spectacular sensory bins

These are so cool!

The Imagination Tree has some really delectable sensory bin contents.

Go check out their amazing ideas for so many fun ways to play and learn!!! 

Here are the sensory bins I want to replicate:

Christmas Sensory Tub from The Imagination Tree

Flowers and Fairies Sensory Tub from The Imagination Tree

Sensory Overload and Sensory Delight at Christmas

Christmas comes with a variety of sights, smells, sounds, and social interactions that can be pleasant for some and overstimulating for others.

But here are some things I think my sensory kids would really like to visit.

(1) A swinging Christmas

Racho Siempre Verde Christmas Tree Farm in the San Francisco Bay area brings out the kid in all of us and focuses on nature's delights. 

They have free activities that include GIANT swings from their giant trees, straw bale forts to explore, a giant xylophone to play up on the hill, and all the roasted marshmallows you can make and eat by the fire.

You can make your own wreath using their array of supplies and materials from nature for $7-$10.

Oh, and you can buy a Christmas tree.

Xylophone



Tree Swings

swings @ tree farm from laura copeland on Vimeo.


(2) A singing Christmas

Brown's Christmas in Mason Michigan features a musical light show set to music that can be enjoyed with the car radio. This year's display features a special tribute to the Michigan State University Spartans.

Easy to make Felt Shape Sorters

Here is a fun craft to make for little ones learning colors, shapes, and sorting.

This set includes 5 sorting containers and 5 squares, circles, half moons, triangles, and rectangles; one in each color.

Step 1: Gather materials

10 sheets of felt, 2 sheets of each each color
1 spool of thread for each color of felt used
Fiberfill
Sewing machine with zig zag stitch (or needle for hand stitching)

Use 2 sheets of felt for each container and coordinating shapes

Step 2: Cut the first sheet into (1) square for the container and (1) strip for a rectangle

First sheet of felt

Fold the rectangle sheet of felt diagonally into a right triangle

Use this fold as a guide to cut the felt sheet into a square

Save the remaining strip of leftover felt

Fold over the strip to form a rectangle shape to sew

Step 3: Cut the second sheet into the remaining sorting shapes

Second sheet of felt

Fold the second felt sheet in half. 
When you cut out shapes you will end up with 2 of each shape.

Make patterns for tracing and cutting full circles, half circles, squares, and triangles.
These are in addition to rectangle left over from first sheet.

Cut out remaining shapes so you have 2 of each: full circles, half circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles.

Step 4: Sew sorting containers

Using large square from first sheet fold diagonally

Sew from top to bottom of the corner using a regular stitch
If no sewing machine is available hand stitch with running stitch

This results in a "pinched corner"

Repeat this step 3 additional times for 4 "pinched corners"

Cut off the triangle section alongside the stitch

This results in a square with sides

Flip inside out to form sorting container

Step 5: Sew shapes with zig zag top stitch

Switch to zig zag stitch
If no sewing machine is available hand stitch using blanket stitch

Layer both pieces of shapes on top of each other (of the same color)
 Using a zig zag stitch, sew around the outside of the shapes, leaving a small opening for stuffing

Stuff fiberfill into the shapes leaving enough fabric flat to fit under the presser foot

Continue sewing the shapes closed using the zig zag stitch

Repeat the process with all the colors of containers and shapes

Kidscaping and Natural Playgrounds: 10 Sources for Design Inspiration

Kidscaping at Hoffman Hoopla

I've been introduced to lots of folks (lots from Australia!) encouraging "Natural Playgrounds." (Thank you Facebook!)

Instead of (or in addition to) commercialized play structures these natural play spaces encourage interaction with nature and reliance on natural, rather than "man"-made structures.

This is something many play and child development specialists are advocating, especially in light of increasing autism spectrum disorders, childhood obesity, and early and extensive use of technology by kids.

Google Search "Natural Playscapes"

Here are some great resources for inspiration:

1. Natural Montessori Playgrounds. This includes an overview and checklist of potential materials to include in a natural playground.
2. Dwell. Features a step-by-step slide show tutorial on how to build a natural playscape.
3. Let the Children Play. This blog features ideas and photos from amazing schools that are implementing natural play areas.
4. Rusty's Blog.  Author and owner of Earthplay, Rusty shares photos and ideas for incorporating natural features into kids' play.
5. Hoffman Hoopla Kidscaping Projects. Please visit their blog to see all the amazing features they've incorporated into their backyard!
6. Childscapes (AU). Company specializing in natural playscapes.
7. Natural Playgrounds (US).Company specializing in natural playscapes.
8. Earthplay (US). Company specializing in natural playscapes.
9. Google "Natural Playscapes" and select images. You'll be lost daydreaming for hours!
10. Library.  Check your local library for these inspirational design books:

Books for more ideas:

Pumpkie Pie Playdough

Moffatt Girls Blog photo

I don't know why I hadn't thought of this!

We've made coffee playdough, mint playdough, chocolate playdough and of course kool-aid playdough, but never this.

Pumpkin spice playdough recipes:

No Ordinary Moment Blog
The Moffatt Girls Blog
Disney Family Fun Website

**UPDATE**

Pumpkin pie playdough turned out great.  We wanted to make some additional fall color playdough but didn't have kool-aid.  So to add to the pumpkin color/spice playdough we made plum vanilla and pickle green!

Controlled burn: Safe ways for kids to enjoy flames

Happy Moon Festival Lantern for our walk

Yes, I'll admit it.  My son likes fire. 

He craves the intensity of the flame and is enamored with the ability of substances to change states when exposed to heat.

It's chemistry on steroids. And it is highly relaxing to him.






As a two year old he found matches in my purse and tried unbeknown to me to light them.

• I'm just really happy we lived through those intense years of sensory-seeking, failed industrial strength childproofing, and only painful bits and shards of sleep.
• I'm guessing there are other mothers of sensory-seeking kids who can relate. It appears to be a fairly common passion among children with ADHD or autism spectrum tendencies.
• I always figure Einstein and Edison's mothers had it much worse than I do and I take comfort in that!

GO WITH IT

I'm always one to follow the principles of jujitsu and martial arts...give into the energy and work with it instead of fighting it.

Do it safely and teach respect.

So we have times of controlled burns and our kids know the dangers of fire and use it safely.

*** Do not try these without responsible adult supervision! ***

OUTDOOR CONTROLLED BURNS

• We use the stone firepit
• We have the water hose ready
• We have supervision
• We review safety rules
• We have long sticks for catching a temporary flame with hand sanitizer
• We squirt hand sanitizer on the end of a stick
• We the stick into the flame while held over the firepit
• It burns a cool color and is generally extinguished when the sanitizer is burned away

Opportunities to use the lighter safely

Here are also 3 crafts that involve flames or fire you might want to try with supervision.







INDOOR CONTROLLED BURNS

• We put tin foil on the table.
• We get out lots of tea light candles (Thank you IKEA!) and some really really long skewers.
• We have cups of water nearby for extinguishing rogue flames should there be any.
• There are tin cans for disposing of matches and burnt skewer bits. 
• There are also plastic cups for dumping the liquefied wax for fun and for potential reuse.
• We have a source flame from which everyone lights their skewers to carry the flame to the tea light candles.
• After using the skewer the kids know to grind down the used portions into the tin can so there aren't any loose charred parts hanging that could accidentally start a fire.
• We also fill large size tin cans with rice and put birthday candles in the tin which can be lit with the skewers.

And I am happy to say we've only seen the fire trucks at community festivals and have not needed them at our house!!

8 Fabulous Blogs for Play-based Learning and Messy Sensory Activities

Our daughter has become quite an expert in making her own sensory experiences. 

Our creative sensory girl

I loved her spontaneous sensory table play with her collection of beads and buttons.

She gathered various utensils and containers from around the house to add to her play. 

She also made up several games with the beads like bead bowling, bead fishing, and pattern matching.

As you might imagine there was a bit of a bead mess at a certain point.

Thankfully she initiated making her own "contraption to make cleaning up more fun." [Insert mom shout of joy here!]

Instead of grabbing the camera I decided to help her in the clean up efforts since she was working so hard.

She picked up the minuscule beads from everywhere and put them in a soup ladle.

She poured the ladle contents into into a small measuring cup and poured successively into bigger measuring cups and containers until finally returning to their storage bin. It was a hoot!

Blogs to Follow for Messy Sensory Inspiration:

Let the Children Play - water and sand tables
Sand and Water Tables - entire blog devoted to sensory tables
Messy Kids - need I say more?
Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning - Sensory activities
The Imagination Tree - Sensory activities
Hands on as We Grow - Sensory activities
Let the Children Play - Sensory activities
Filth Wizardry - Messy art and play

Sensory Table Tips:

Goodwill Hunting - DIY sensory table
The Crafty Teacher - 107 things to put in your sensory table
Crayola - 101 uses for play sand

3 Ways to make your own tree block tree houses

These tree houses made from real tree branches are so much fun!  They involve a lot of imaginative play.  These tree house blocks are available commercially and featured in popular catalogs such as Magic Cabin.


We got a set similar to this one for our then 7 year old son.

The thing I love most about this set is that it is sturdy AND interchangeable.

The log pieces come with dowel rods that allow them to be attached to the flat "landing" pieces or other logs.

So it doesn't tip over when you are playing with it. Then the whole thing can be disassembled and repositioned for play or for a *much* smaller storage space!







We purchased a set similar to this (sans dolls and furniture) for our then 3 year old daughter, thinking she might enjoy the creative aspect of building, but we invested more into her wooden doll house thinking she would prefer that. 

It turns out she *really* likes to play with this set. 

The only problem is that we found it hard to keep the pieces balanced long enough to really interact and play with the structure. 

They tend to tip and wobble.  Perhaps some thicker taller pieces of wood could help. But still she likes to play with it.




The commercial sets can be very nice.  But in all honesty you can really make these things on your own now that I've seen them up close and personal.

Here are some wonderful hand made sets using regular tree branches which can be sanded and varnished if desired.  (Some people with allergies prefer the branches without bark.)
 
In these examples they used hot glue to permanently attach the structures.  Some bits of string and screws can be added for more features.

Check out the additional instructions and photos at these websites:

Childhood 101 Treehouse

Irresistible Ideas Treehouse

Stitch Craft Tutorial

5 Tutorials for Making your own Waldorf style Dolls

Dolls handmade in the Waldorf tradition can be a tremendous delight to children with their ability to carry any emotion or dream of the child.

Made with love and quality materials from nature, they can also be a sensory delight.  Instead of wool stuffing, my friend Susan stuffed hers with millet and lavender.

Surprisingly, these dolls are not extremely difficult to make!

Here are some wonderful tutorials and patterns.

Echoes of a Dream
Tiny Twist Creative
Crafty Sheep
Toureasy47201
Make Baby Stuff

Lina doll from Crafty Sheep

Boy doll from Echoes of a Dream

3 ways to make art out of office supplies

You know I'm always excited to find ways to turn ordinary things into works of art.  I love finding these amazing talented artists who do just that!!

(1) Pencil nibs into jewelry

Karolin Felix Jewelry at Ecouterre

Karolin Felix makes and sells these unique pieces of art from embellished colored pencil nibs and is featured at Ecouterre. 

I can just imagine a charm bracelet made of these.

I think I would want to make sure the pencils are shellacked though.  Otherwise I would be likely to mark up everything I touch.






(2) Paper clips into lampshade

Can you believe these chandeliers are made from paper clips? 

These creations are featured on Dollar Store Crafts. 

Patterns for these chandeliers are available for purchase from etsy.








(3) Post it notes into wall art

Rachel T Robertson Image

I love the super simple post-it note art featured in the current IKEA catalog.  See page 144 of the 2012 IKEA catalog. 

So I tried to google the image and tripped over this.

Just try to google post-it note art and you'll be busy for a while. 

This artful selection is from Rachel T Robertson and featured at colour lovers.

Teaching circuitry safely with playdough: Squishy Circuits

There was a TED talk that took the world by storm with the concept of squishy circuits. 

Using different types of playdough, LED lights, and electric gizmos kids learn about circuit design.

When I asked the author, Ann Marie Thomas, she said lessons plans would be coming soon.

My local hackerspace group pointed me to the lesson plans which are now online. Thanks, Conan!

TED talk video

Kids and parents will both enjoy using Squishy Circuits Lesson Plans!

If this sounds too complicated you can always use these popular and kid-friendly learning toys. Yes, Snap Circuits are so fun they can be considered toys even though they are really educational products!

4 Fun games with Halloween candy

The good thing about unschooling is that everything in life becomes a learning opportunity.

The bad thing about unschooling is that everything in life becomes learning opportunity!

At least I'm pretty sure that's what my kids think some days.

They're starting to realize that all those games we play are actually "school work." Mwaaahaaa! My evil plans. LOL.

Here are some of the games we played with the Halloween candy:

(1) Candy Store

First she had to organize the candy. (A woman after my own heart!!!)

She organized her candy by type. 

Then she gave me some play money that she made and asked me to buy her candy. (But not for keeps!)

We added, grouped, and multiplied candy prices for a while and had a great it of fun.





(2) Kid Candy Burrito

My tuckered-out son fell asleep as soon as he was done trick or treating.

But my daughter was ready to literally roll around in her candy loot.

She wanted to be an ice cream burrito with candy sprinkles.

"Kid burritos" offer an amazing calming experience for a lot of kids. And it helps to get centered for learning activities.

Lots of kids (but not all!) like to get wrapped and rolled up tightly in a blanket. It's a great sensory tool for kids with sensory processing disorder, autism, adhd, etc.

(3) Candy "I" Spy

This was my favorite game. It was fun and had lots of literacy and numeracy aspects to it.  We heaped the candy in a pile in between us.

We closed our eyes and mixed up the candy. 

Then we took turns calling out what kinds of candy to look for when we both opened our eyes. 

We each tried to be the first to find these kinds of things:

Can you find a candy with a number in its name?

Can you find candy with two syllables in its' name?

Can you find candy whose name starts with the letter S? R? K?

Can you find candy whose name has two of the same letters in a row?

How about candy with 2 pairs of the same letters in a row?

Can you find something on a stick?

Can you find something you don't chew and swallow?

Can you find Square candy?

Rectangle candy?

Circle candy?

Something that is 2 of a kind? 3 of a kind? Full house? LOL.






(4) Venn Diagrams

Similar to the last game this helps classification skills.

On the dry erase board we made two intersecting circles.

In each of the circles where there was no overlap we put candy that had one of the two desired attributes. e.g., Square or Red.

In the area of overlap we put candy with both attributes. e.g., Square and Red

Outside of the circles we put candy that had none of the attributes. e.g., Not square and Not red.

Have fun with your candy!    What games do you play with Halloween loot?