tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43789619008268568622024-03-21T16:46:25.841-04:00My Life with PipidinkoLiferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-16602712926390947632014-03-15T02:35:00.002-04:002014-03-15T02:56:14.644-04:00Playing with our Cardboard Theater: Ocean and RenovationWe've done so many activities around this cardboard theater this time! Its been actually a few days of various types of playing. We've done art, reading, role play, play do.... Check it out:<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgxvXJS3bNyTvE3AtRYmVsmyninf06rx00rVJDTM7QgbPibp7gEvRu44xzNwOjkyvKStWE2JhiimQ49uwoJTKG-gGUapU5K_ZGjFP_L_hhGANzlGsV4yTbKY7kedm384J5BG5br9QjJjQ/s1600/theater-main.png" /> </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Santino's favorite book these days is "<a href="http://books.google.ca/books/about/Swimmy.html?id=El_LngEACAAJ&redir_esc=y" target="_blank">Swimmy</a>". I noticed that he has a tendency to fall in love with an element in a book, and then just project it everywhere. In one of his previously favorite books (actually, he still loves this one) the "<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zacks-alligator-shirley-mozelle/1102343908?ean=9780064441865" target="_blank">Zack's Alligator</a>", the alligator bites a mail truck tire. Santino talks about this particular moment all the time. When he plays with his trucks or cars, one of the tires always gets "bitten off" by an alligator.<br />
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In the "Swimmy" book, Santino loves the tuna fish. Since we don't have a fair size fish toy (except for a plush Nemo), Santino asked me once to make him a tuna fish with play do. I made a tuna fish, taught him how to make a snail, showed how to make a star fish, we also made an octopus and a clown fish. These were followed by all kinds of other different fish. We've been practicing how to roll the play do, how to squish it between the fingers, how to cut shapes out of it. This has been Santino's favorite activity in the past few days.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80XpK2y3Zca3VkQup-BN0HnDy5oJD4yuxykUe84FmKiQWwdUb9XJntF-Uw5XwzkbUWuG205Fx-hEFxG6FhKEJNxEn3pV-eIaV2PH_LcRTCM0JY8QviuXBM86jM868I37t13YE4O7vTQTM/s1600/theater-ocean-1.png" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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Then I suggested we play with all those fish we made. I pulled out our <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4378961900826856862#editor/target=post;postID=5778033189679695776;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=25;src=postname" target="_blank">theater</a> from the back of the room, and told Santino, that we will make another scene, an ocean backdrop. So we took down our volcano, and made a new decoration. We used various pieces of construction paper, previously ripped or cut by Santino (I save those... you never know when you might need ripped colored paper). We glued those pieces on a blue sheet, arranging them so they pretend to look like coral reefs, jelly fish and sea weed. Santino helped me gluing everything in place. </div>
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I glued some see-through glass beads for air bubbles. I also tried making a ship wreck, with a open chest standing next to it, flashing its gold. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzvKif8JKnoXn1BlQeiGyp1pM_dJKfHMNoeR7SiN9-fbs69OlFvpbOddbFAu9axwSFQUini_yFcjb8OXR-oIin3kvxHJZIDjMio2mkNO-n0BoE_lECMlI1r0pVxWbB3PBe1-7efjtdCBN/s1600/theater-ocean-6.png" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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Meanwhile, we decided that our theater was due for renovation. I painted the outside walls, cut off the top flaps, sanded the ragged edges a bit. Santino glued some stickers on the walls. We made a clock with a plastic lid and a pipe cleaner. Then I made some stars, a moon and a sun (hmph... didn't actually <i>make </i>the Sun and the Moon, I simply cut the pictures with my scissors :) ), and Santino glued them on the front of the theater. I even made the comedy-tragedy masks, to make sure that our box looks more like a theater. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUoBtYhjGV8D4PAls0CtPLYICRecCcfqQ4ytVk44C3QdncbzXZK2ksx3x0r3klN8ebY7_F_JmVEcFyEHGR_j5JRl3uwvxtBBrBXisliMti2PMQO7qRJgP67pDV-EoJozLBpROHsz0Ama_J/s1600/theater-ocean-10.png" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFOmSv-MiE_TvjUgUSpk_0DwF5_lSZ4T2dRKeANSlAD0JRDEecFiekU5Mv66pJoxr4ovA0fdOMD0YDklZL3aFGQBElOrUqqdNwKmjnlZXIzqRYQxJHjcoBp8I7oLd-T9wk9N70pfkTRQH/s1600/theater-ocean-5.png" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-r5PJraYkFXTvqN2rJZuhku77MJiGPMoEi335_TKcb7uDYhj7bxll3SJb9BeX9GvSb_OLZrrPVwgE8-IJ78dCxf2O3YZEAXvtDc_3dzTl5jI1xm203fVHADsDkdeP9YNi2nS92_CHaqe/s1600/theater-ocean-7.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Then we found all ocean-related (and not so much) toys that we have, and Santino enjoyed quiet play time. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWGDm7qxLTeqVJ-AgzfBaf578wirPI8dZfQXngoyB4FDcVI7TX48b45UppIfFsASYDJ4pIaI9LAVeESDBDDNExtkqPqH-BpDw95mUW_Lq3DwmWEMGxV9EfMqPebdaLoytPCwnxM1AKS0h/s1600/theater-ocean-8.png" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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Meanwhile, I drafted a couple of work-sheets by hand (I don't have a printer). Santino connected same words written in capital with those in lower case letters. He also practiced writing letters, by connecting the dots, as well as making a fish picture. He then put together a small fish puzzle which I made for him out of cardboard. Basically, all this was done without any special plan, just as I felt, that Santino would be interested this time.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm proud, how Santino recognizes the 'sh' sound. I just noticed, that he also connected the two 'sh' in two different words.</td></tr>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-50252466518409194872014-03-15T01:13:00.000-04:002014-03-15T01:13:03.299-04:00Santino's Wildest Dream Comes True: He Holds an AlligatorWe visited a Reptilia Zoo at the Upper Canada Mall today. I loved this idea. Kids couldn't get enough of all the lizards, frogs and snakes.<br />
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Santino fell in love with a few snakes and a caiman, a tiny little crocodilian. But the pinnacle of this visit was the alligator! Santino held it, and touched it, and all he could talk about after that was that he wants to have a big crocodile at home.<br />
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Oh, I just hope he forgets about this idea soon.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santino's love at first sight: alligator</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touching shed snake skin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRQlfRbJTQGoj1xHpb9s-dTYIHQseuKhjop1JW1w8c-j4V1qqiBBFbHe8nHKpZVvW_FkodaFdXxAf_tuDn5eg2wJIpLeG4HYvucoWcAjpib6mByKU_qATZ0GwNFoKktRSHd-ZM4qmVuyR/s1600/reptilia-zoo-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRQlfRbJTQGoj1xHpb9s-dTYIHQseuKhjop1JW1w8c-j4V1qqiBBFbHe8nHKpZVvW_FkodaFdXxAf_tuDn5eg2wJIpLeG4HYvucoWcAjpib6mByKU_qATZ0GwNFoKktRSHd-ZM4qmVuyR/s1600/reptilia-zoo-4.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Telling the python handler about the alligator</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to be a caiman. This little crocodilian didn't move for the time we were there. Santino enjoyed simply staring at him.</td></tr>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-87461470459366044212014-03-12T23:02:00.000-04:002014-03-12T23:02:19.221-04:00Mommy's momentI think i want to add more of my own thoughts to this blog. They are mostly short, little brainstormings/ideas, things I come up with, while washing dishes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santino makes the best photos of me</td></tr>
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My way of dealing with my extreme EXTREME irritation with my son. </h4>
So our life with Pipidinko isn't always fun and games, not always perfect, and I am not an angel, so I do get irate. This usually happens after a 12-13 hour-long <i>'shift'</i> with Santino, as he doesn't nap. In the end of the day all I wish for is some quiet time, and that means sleeping time for him. <br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />He has never been the easiest child to put to bed, but we've dealt with this issue and came to a compromise. I don't force naps, but the bed time has to happen at 7:30, otherwise I don't get to do my work or go to the gym. Or clean. Or chill and relax.<br /><br />
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After the daylight time change, Santino won't fall asleep easily; 9 pm has become the earliest now. Today I got really irate after he came out of his room for the 100th time with another complaint like "there is a ghost in my room", "I don't like my bed", "turn on the light", "turn off the light". I was on the verge of screaming. Now, there's something you should know about me, I am very mellow. I don't scream, I don't argue or talk a lot. When I want to scream, this means I am very annoyed.<br />
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So, to deal with this issue (this is my issue, so I shouldn't be putting it on my 3 year old son), instead of screaming really loud, like I wanted to, I whispered instead. The louder I wanted to scream, the softer I forced myself to whisper.<br />
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This worked! instead of putting my child in tears, I made him relax and he finally stopped fidgeting in his bed. <br /><br />This one is hard, because it took all my will not to let the irritation out loud. I was so happy I didn't! He is finally sleeping, and I have relaxed enough and ready to do some work. Yes, it is 11 pm, but its the only time mommy gets to do anything for herself :)Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-14744121658021273552014-03-10T02:49:00.000-04:002014-03-10T02:55:33.674-04:00Snow DinosaursHere's another simple <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/20-dinosaur-activities-for-toddlers-and.html#.Ux1hyIVFClA" target="_blank">(all our activities are simple)</a> dinosaur activity. We had some unbelievable amounts of snow this winter, mountains and mountains of snow everywhere. What's frustrating, is that this snow won't pack. I've tried to show Santino how to make a snowman many times, but the snow always crumbles up in my hand like dry sand.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Nevertheless, we figured out a way to build with it. We just pile up as much snow as we can and then dig out a shape. I built a snowman this way. Granted, it turned out to be mostly a pyramid, rather than a couple of spheres piled on one another, but it was a snowman! We added a small carrot, eyes, mouth and a small bucket for the hat. <br />
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We made a couple of dinosaurs the same way. We just make this long mound of snow, shape it in a sleeping dinosaur, with a long neck and a long tail. One of these dinosaurs got covered with ice after the ice storm back in December, and it kept its shape for a while. Santino got to ride it a few times until it got covered with more snow.</div>
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Another dinosaur that we made recently was destroyed by Santino the moment after we finished building it. He yelled that it was a big Godzilla and started throwing snowballs in it. (Not the real snowballs, rather chunks of clumped up snow). Then he "finished it off" by kicking it with his feet and then his shovel. I asked Santino to pose for me by sitting on this Godzilla, so you can see the "remains" now.</div>
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My point is: another dinosaur activity! And your kiddo can even ride it! If you have no snow, I betcha you can build one with the sand. Same idea.</div>
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Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-31027398831504669442014-03-08T20:13:00.000-05:002014-03-10T09:54:13.024-04:00Toilet Tissue Roll Craft for Kids: StorybotsWe love watching Youtube channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/KidsTV123" target="_blank">Kids TV 123</a>, Santino has been watching it since before he even turned 2 years old. We've watched other countless channels, too. Recently, though, we have discovered another channel, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/storybots" target="_blank">Storybots</a>, and loved it a lot! <br />
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As we were watching these fun videos after breakfast this morning, Santino sadly stated, that he doesn't have a robot. Hey, recycling craft to the rescue! We crafted these fun <i>storybots</i>-looking characters.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nNUwiT2jNBG1pEGO5vrPBzqkCD-5b4M4vzVwFontuPxFKT_f6R_zqk5BOSER-WJ37_G43qtHDZLPFyMuN6bc_6NZQEAGIdc_CFU9pXFtGIwZ2AO2em9a-uM4_kD7xPC17CLrElAh5qpV/s1600/storybots-main.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRs05kzYDN7AfPy1cpZOb962gYCNuYVqaNNz1n9M7FnMTTESw6WOSA58J_9-ywNOlwCEgK7QCH7Ta82PsUgciuidH9ExcJElGr4AI_lBcgzuDvNYQDN-XYOLqpsvCYw7evmRKlnun5OXs/s1600/storybots-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I immediately imagined, that these <i>storybots </i>look kinda sorta like the toilet paper rolls. For the rounded head tops, I used a cap from the small spices bottle and 2 halves of Santino's plastic apple shape from his play-do collection.<br />
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Here is the complete list:<br />
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<i>- toilet tissue rolls;</i></div>
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<i>- plastic spice bottle caps (or other rounded shapes); </i></div>
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<i>- pipe cleaners;</i></div>
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<i>- googly eyes;</i></div>
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<i>- jingle bells, pompoms, beads.</i></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfN4Zx2MQApLuFLdakhIUoeThuXSmpFvp1cvDA6_5SQD9W6hOf5cG5IdW4E5nyqAw-D_9SVUj4uvdiVQMICMFjm5BKCAZUSzVZPTIa-ifIPLQE1nOSQkT2oNZRseXsOqb9NBqDTc0SeGft/s1600/storybots-1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Then I gave Santino some paint, a brush and suggested that he paints the bots however he likes. And he did so, quite nicely I must admit. <br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEZD54friopaS4K4wHXpNH4H8p-8oGETdF8Q3C7_NT5nYSNe49Ao2BdmeK8BmobMfqqu9HonNf3m0kKvME_4mOWln4qxIeqoxFOGwXWsG2bpOgVv9-r43rBVhKVlOBqs13jv-ZdNNbAuH/s1600/storybots-2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Now, this is a party! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BzlkWIAyR_8kbUNViU9QpBqpv2q1tzMsxCQiccdWR8KZuzJe3Jm2kN8Lq0K9kpWHzKW3Il0FuZe1vK2hcOIEAkKMACE-wqLb4wcKWA3gbjJi1lZbNv66yrjXEHp86MWr6WjeOYHcJMn_/s1600/storybots-4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-30723268800155688382014-03-08T00:21:00.003-05:002014-03-08T22:09:52.436-05:00Cardboard for Kids: A Toy HouseIts not that my son loves playing with toy houses. We've never had one, and when we go to the Early Years Center, he rarely pays attention to the doll house there, even though there are lots of various dolls, dressed like different professionals (doctor, policeman, etc.) and a great variety of furnishings and utensils. <br />
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My idea for this project was to utilize the cardboard boxes, that I had collected for Santino to play with. I thought he would want to build towers or walls, but he never does. So I decided to re-purpose them. I wanted to build something "cool" like a fire station or a castle, but got side-tracked thinking how to decorate the insides of the rooms.<br />
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I came up with the idea to cut out photos from some interior design magazines, that I was about to throw out, and glue them to the floors and walls.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5vcMZBzYVi-pzQYWo6w9Vl3Csk48brJTIYHqH59e4NXSxBdUd16WKSywfHuG9Wr797-vjWbTxAMgheiTrrPlPr_Lfbwc9qZmUztY8zAA-7osKytAwJxdFAFm9vNZS_UO80_R2UQ1dpaYE/s1600/playhouse-main.jpg" /> </div>
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<a name='more'></a>For this project:<br />
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a few cardboard boxes (popcorn, kleenex, juice, etc.)</div>
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a couple of design magazines</div>
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scissors, paper glue, dolls/characters, whatever tiny furniture or props you have</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuLOkQCLFKO3Fx0G-Hz8NlKH41BeINCRK1zMAskrAkz2ucSw_ykp1l_ubjaUtP4xY4JtNqoiR1Owg9xI14hHL2t88DsRGoqh63X2mIfU7Tfvzmd9l-e6xkKxxHEcM092oUY6Qhf2Lb-fJ/s1600/playhouse-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZuLOkQCLFKO3Fx0G-Hz8NlKH41BeINCRK1zMAskrAkz2ucSw_ykp1l_ubjaUtP4xY4JtNqoiR1Owg9xI14hHL2t88DsRGoqh63X2mIfU7Tfvzmd9l-e6xkKxxHEcM092oUY6Qhf2Lb-fJ/s1600/playhouse-1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I glued the boxes together, trying to keep those of the same height on the same level. Then I cut out the fronts, painted with brown paint, making it look like bricks, and started decorating.I even glued some brick wall photos on the side of the house.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjYOzaEk1f-DT1VI1I6p5qY8LcCuSZeL7kdFn1HnSCkS80dYMT94wD59llWHAvsPwvDWFRmZQN_CHnVHtrpnHJrj5mmONjzoqgG8-I3Vn9xR5YZAv6jGSF3RC3OS22VQKFXyKUsPvm3kb/s1600/playhouse-4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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As I mentioned above, I dropped my original idea of making a fire station. This doesn't mean I am not going to make it later, but today I made a house. There is really no special design style here. I simply used those pics that would fit in the space and would have the correct angle. Some of them worked really well, even I when looking at my own photos here, get a feeling of 3D decorations and space.<br />
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I also attempted to make my own furniture out of cardboard cutouts, as we really don't have any. It didn't really take long, but when I saw how great magazine pictures worked, providing the feeling of the furniture, I decided not to do it.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx5QwvqNUefBQgNIJMTDrWlfpHzLnUS198CwiCJRdC4WAaSuMvyvflqSTXcppWxh1y6_hu3peUgQ6OU-SgoVENXL2B0rdqN39fou7_WJ2h6TZmwwD5qW-rcevadnltcxg9fZNRd5q9AN1/s1600/playhouse-8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /> </div>
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As cool as this doll house may seem to me, I doubt Santino would be playing with it as actively as he played with my <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/cardboard-garage.html" target="_blank">cardboard parking lot</a> or <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/easy-diy-cardboard-project-castle.html" target="_blank">castle</a>. If he does, I'll update this post. he he</div>
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Update: He loved this house! He played all morning, knocked it down a few times, put the dragon in the washroom and on the roof, and role played with the characters. The cardboard furniture didn't survive this play, but otherwise, the house is still a functional toy!</div>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-45110481685674943682014-03-03T22:17:00.000-05:002014-03-03T22:18:55.607-05:00Cardboard Project: A Knight's ShieldSantino has a foam sword and a rocking horse, that he likes to sit on, waving the above-mentioned sword. I've been thinking about making a shield for him, especially after we've read "Franklin is Messy" book a hundred times in the past week. In this book Franklin makes his own sword and his own shield. Santino just can't get enough of this story. Today we finally did! We made a shield for Santino.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3n2TIc1QYgPWDlJydaOhw6oy9BOtEXa8_Y06Zf0MwYSHM5kwy2KWOBV6JD51KR6HM_NSghjChqK9z4TOEJXR7KkIvaSS70pvXieyCza6s_OT113U2aEEbH51yAneVaipO3yIqhgoxytn/s1600/shield-main.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3n2TIc1QYgPWDlJydaOhw6oy9BOtEXa8_Y06Zf0MwYSHM5kwy2KWOBV6JD51KR6HM_NSghjChqK9z4TOEJXR7KkIvaSS70pvXieyCza6s_OT113U2aEEbH51yAneVaipO3yIqhgoxytn/s1600/shield-main.png" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>I cut out a shield of a cardboard box. I also cut out the same shape out of a white poster-size construction paper, just about an inch smaller on all sides. Then I told Santino, that we will glue the white paper on the shield and he will decorate it however he likes.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-7eiNNePjpJ984_rnPOxgejVDkKToVn1b6Vxo-DJbjfQ41azk7-fb1o2hba9IPVBdq7569uy8FRPEhhGBjXQHeMI0NaLvKc5Lz4CpVAZg89sdJx4MNaPqDLqCQcZQCKd9GL3BbeNWis2/s1600/shield-9.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Later I glued a cardboard handle to the back of the shield, which I cut from the same box. <br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDr7RdU0poXoW2OXHZrP7Ezam5fl86HW5l1RrtwPDM1yuW2vmDccu2x3uEH3unXkmJ7BuSSJn1Rre7UeSNxuga-pPlfHEVl4MJaQGeC2cO2xsBPNnaBxe0AMAAPrXo-TujGA9Bl9Bodv8y/s1600/shield-3.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Before attempting this little craft, I did a little bit of reading on what elements shields could have, but in the end I decided to make it easy. Santino decided what would go on the shield and where.<br />
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He glued some shapes and popsicle sticks and painted something with watercolors. Then we wrote "Sir Santino" with a marker. We actually had a little argument about where the words need to go. I insisted on keeping them together, while Santino wanted to scatter them everywhere. I won this one, and Santino got upset, even put his shield in the closet, refusing to play with it.<br />
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Later he warmed up to it again and we enjoyed a fun dragon-fighting game. Santino was a knight, and I was a two-headed or sometimes a three-headed dragon. Soooo much fun!<br />
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-41053721912748574362014-02-27T22:33:00.000-05:002014-02-27T22:33:42.425-05:00Santino's Art: a Dinosaur, a Dragon, and a Rocket Ship<br />
I found, that encouraging Santino to draw is much easier, when I give him a project, a task and then explain how to do it. Maybe he is not as creative at this moment to enjoy scribbling random lines and zigzags, but he definitely gets more excited and tries to draw after he knows exactly what to do.<br />
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I instruct him how to draw a dinosaur: a head, a neck, a body, 4 legs, a tail, eyes, jaws. He is pretty good in putting everything where it is supposed to be. He is not very elaborate on what those parts look, but yay! he draws them!<br />
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Here's a dragon, drawn following the same formula: a head, a neck, a body, legs (2 legs), a tail, wings, eyes. We read an <a href="http://www.starfall.com/n/chinese-fables/draw-dragon/load.htm?f" target="_blank">online book</a> recently about drawing dragons with eyes, so eyes became a rather important part of our art. A big, big step in this one: multiple colors! For the first time in a long long time.<br />
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I have a book, that instructs how to draw some objects or animals and we tried to draw something out of it. Rocket sounded interesting. We followed all the steps, decorated, and voila! A rocket! With stars and planets around. Do you see Saturn?<br />
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So my conclusion: don't get discouraged, if your little one doesn't show much interest in drawing or talent. Just give them what to draw, tell how and you might be amazed of what they are capable of.Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-57878006066694590862014-02-26T22:39:00.000-05:002014-02-26T22:52:02.243-05:00Gross Motor Skills Development with DinoBall. My "<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/20-dinosaur-activities-for-toddlers-and.html#.Uw6yD4VFClA" target="_blank">20 Dinosaur Activities</a>" blog post became a very popular one, getting lots of shares. I decided to add another activity to this post to replace the "Canada Wonderland" one. I realized, that not many people live in a close proximity to a place with a live-size dinosaurs on display, so to be true to the number 20, I am adding this activity.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I think the name makes it more or less self-explanatory: we play a soccer-like table game with dinosaurs. Take this as an idea, and build on it. This is what we did:<br />
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<li><b>players:</b> 2 dinos (not shown here, as I was playing in the beginning; we switched to the one-dino later);<b> </b></li>
<li><b>field:</b> a table with boards (we are lucky to have this table, thanks to our ever-sharing neighbor Lyse, if you don't have one... table that is, you can play on the carpet, or on a bed, basically, on any surface with some sort of covering, so the balls would have better traction);</li>
<li><b>net:</b> in the beginning we just used the sides of the table, later when Santino played on his own, we used a tin can;</li>
<li><b>ball:</b> a plastic ball. </li>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0YHMoXtDqDfsAMzhsjQWYiz2M9NprKG2PjC3kgf04q98-T2IQVpPJmhz_cWqD3KiNZf0qRczVolUu2uDybp_TMj9PV5e22lJACt2lk3UqLRZo7g0hjoP8MSTnhXJlzzBSK_BbZ4m6gDK/s1600/dino-ball-2.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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Game 1. We each tried to score a goal by kicking it with our dinosaurs. Santino actively commented and cheered with loud roaring. This was fun for a while.<br />
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Game 2. Then I stopped playing, and grabbed my camera to take a few pics. I suggested Santino and his dinosaur tried scoring in the tin can by shooting from the other side of the table.<br />
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He really enjoyed the scoring and the cheering parts. He loved that at the beginning there were 2 dinosaurs involved and that they got to "fight" to get the ball. After he got that out of the system, he could concentrate better on the calmer activity: putting the ball in the tin.<br />
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Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-15380596601458589172014-02-24T21:57:00.001-05:002014-02-24T22:16:30.626-05:00Preschool Science: Inflate a balloon without blowing in it.To be honest, this is not totally "preschool" science, but my preschooler loves this experiment. He loves all science activities we've done in the past, but this one is by far his favorite one. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>Recently I came in to possession of a wonderful science activities kit, complete with science measuring spoons, science tubes, density balls and a bunch of other science items, plus a book with 15 science experiments, which not only guides how to make cool science tricks, but also explains how they work.<br />
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The box states it is designed for kids of 9 years old and over, but my 3 year old loves science experiments, so once in a while we sit down and make some scientific magic happen with balloons, vinegar, density balls, syrup and other household items recommended in this guide. I have a few other books, which we've also tried, but this one became our favorite.<br />
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The trick with balloon has become Santino's favorite. We have done it so many times, that I already ran out of balloons once (the kit comes with 3 balloons included, and we used and re-used them all up), so I bought a bag of balloons just for this activity.<br />
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This is what the activity is about: pour about half a cup of vinegar in a plastic bottle, then put the funnel in the balloon, and add about a teaspoon of baking soda. Once the soda is in the balloon, put the balloon on the bottle, lift so that soda drops in the vinegar, and watch the balloon inflate. Actually, this looks pretty cool even to me, no wonder my son loves it.<br />
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Today Santino asked for a balloon, then he went to the kitchen, got a spoon, a funnel, and said to me: "get me some soda please; and vinegar". Once I got him what he asked for, he proceeded to pouring soda in the spoon, and tried adding it to the balloon. I helped him with that a little, but he did pretty well. I also showed him how to tap the funnel lightly with a spoon for the soda to go through the narrow neck. It gets stuck there.<br />
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I poured vinegar in the bottle, and after twisting the neck of the balloon, I put it on the bottle.<br />
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I let Santino un-twist the balloon and lift it for the soda to fall in the bottle with vinegar. And he just loves how the balloon starts growing! This is his moment! He gets very excited, and wants to repeat it again and again.<br />
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I guess, this is the child's way of learning, but I only repeated it 3 times today. At the moment it felt right, but now I feel guilty. I should've obliged and let him have his experiment as many times as he needs to see it.<br />
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Maybe tomorrow?<br />
<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-778421558017288612014-02-23T22:17:00.002-05:002014-03-10T02:54:35.304-04:0020 Dinosaur Activities for Toddlers and PreschoolersWe have been playing with dinosaurs for many months now. Has it been a few years? Hmm... Yes, I think it has!<br />
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I collected quite a variety of dinosaur activities, and I think now I am ready to combine them all in one post. Here they are:<br />
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1. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/08/dinos-colors-and-sponge.html" target="_blank">Drawing dinosaurs with water.</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/08/dinos-colors-and-sponge.html#.Uwqo3YVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/08/dinos-colors-and-sponge.html#.Uwqo3YVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNww3DY8QEO5uPyj5bTjSS0JxAQ4-qQxqigo2ugnmtBVZAAVZYeTAt2b739rUHRhMcakzKIkFsD-l1aqF4VX4pVdL01ThBwoHhBisfbDdOoL7Nj5Gfwy4Fj6mJ1EOq2KNxJMYZ5t_y8NrN/s400/dino_colors7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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2. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/12/homemade-playdough-fun-dinosaur-fire.html" target="_blank">Making dinosaur foot steps in homemade play dough</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/12/homemade-playdough-fun-dinosaur-fire.html#.UwqpV4VfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2012/12/homemade-playdough-fun-dinosaur-fire.html#.UwqpV4VfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3vyJ6YuzOrjz6SFx0GsqJbfEnrL1i2zsKgluZxTtAMRuLNNWI_1Hno0tQgmcYxQ4yHl6LATVYltB3hLpVGYPbMJqwBeDisroW4ps-IVeGtBqJIr1nVfn4pttRUEm4nC24eMmWo3kKxPC/s400/playdough-8.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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3. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/playing-with-coffee-grinds.html" target="_blank">Messy play with coffee grinds</a>. And <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/04/toddler-science-messy-coffee-grinds.html" target="_blank">another one</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/playing-with-coffee-grinds.html#.UwqpoYVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/playing-with-coffee-grinds.html#.UwqpoYVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD6tWbrb-TcBUuhpOW5lLmAdBbDAUfkU19E6H7whSxAFof_lVAiHJsRIuuiGGklji7_XhY6ozCXfAHBcSMJjWR9324QhhjbSEEQyNjUZMDaeZuJ5XntqB0l1jELegbJkvi0kANg4wyTfJU/s400/messy-play-coffee-grinds-2.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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4. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/race-car-painting-dinosaur-footprinting.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur foot printing with finger paint</a>. And <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/messy-play-finger-painting-dinosaurs.html" target="_blank">another one</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/race-car-painting-dinosaur-footprinting.html#.Uwqp74VfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/01/race-car-painting-dinosaur-footprinting.html#.Uwqp74VfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHSUUxZjlNphdOFuYEyyI7UpIC69txlJjpihyphenhyphenHB2i3LNAKu8qxjtXQg7qUjayHfHPMVOQrE_CJvOY_X44hBsYPNKMBe_ND6jVL6_GI8E6FlF6LEj40CFtKX8qU-SG92z80F04O2j8oSL4/s400/messy-finger-painting-4.png" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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5. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/03/easter-basket-of-mini-dinosaur-eggs.html" target="_blank">Making a basket of dinosaur eggs.</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/03/easter-basket-of-mini-dinosaur-eggs.html#.UwqqL4VfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/03/easter-basket-of-mini-dinosaur-eggs.html#.UwqqL4VfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKVAGtdWKzUfSv4le31RmL8xOOCEo5oLr4euCghiQ_BrwFJ6zXT8tguKl7LRpCQSh5FtqXBdT_iOKOaAXT-uCCQWgYIdeGoqxdOZCryfsMNCm_rjWHMUg3Qzt9VOGxZWmymWzTOwrSdvb/s400/blog-easter8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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6. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/06/santinos-favourite-lunch-dinosaur.html" target="_blank">Eating Dinosaur sandwiches.</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/06/santinos-favourite-lunch-dinosaur.html#.UwqqfoVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/06/santinos-favourite-lunch-dinosaur.html#.UwqqfoVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgi4JxjLj7bs9HM26YZjJrB2mbyxobjCQsdYAzBolipdrDM0P5neCWGGpIDgLd3G-5KiAM5I4vBzpsVNkw9WftA-10tW16YDOdzNhAyRd6ZdgBCilxzlstJ6tyaqA4dhDLk3DZ_CFJcELs/s1600/dino-plate.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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7.<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/gross-motor-skills-development-with.html#.Uw6za4VFClA" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank">Playing Dino-Ball</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/gross-motor-skills-development-with.html#.Uw6za4VFClA" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/02/gross-motor-skills-development-with.html#.Uw6za4VFClA" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0YHMoXtDqDfsAMzhsjQWYiz2M9NprKG2PjC3kgf04q98-T2IQVpPJmhz_cWqD3KiNZf0qRczVolUu2uDybp_TMj9PV5e22lJACt2lk3UqLRZo7g0hjoP8MSTnhXJlzzBSK_BbZ4m6gDK/s1600/dino-ball-2.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/06/a-field-trip-to-canada-wonderland.html#.UwqqwYVfT5w" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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8. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur Christmas wreath.</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities.html#.Uwqs3IVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities.html#.Uwqs3IVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlUAOwonTSGwh5VZLV-a0ayQrFfmmQ_9esCUXfcEN_d8rjEqNaofmhnpkNPWUlVQQEnezTr9Hyzs06qZeBRyByIobk14XVHWTORDxVE3G9GJfYNAJLqmugAGdROToFu5dTLfdlewtJIQr/s1600/dinosaur-wreath.png" height="350" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities.html#.UwqrKYVfT5w" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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9. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/artzookas-recycling-challenge-pencil.html" target="_blank">Making Dinosaur out of recycled materials</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/artzookas-recycling-challenge-pencil.html#.Uwqrc4VfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/artzookas-recycling-challenge-pencil.html#.Uwqrc4VfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cUZrLw2P0GUalrKZ_BELCPduvoTHSDXEz7geNSMMbom50CK89h_9i4kfm1Yb-uwHqflo9xuqhVzZiCSm9kES-zLl_5atqre1UFKSuvh0dMq3gfhQwKHgz1zCoFb_vPG4rFRfjyjVNJ3a/s1600/artzooka-challenge1-half.png" height="290" width="400" /></a></div>
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10. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-countdown-activities-day-6.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur holiday installation</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-countdown-activities-day-6.html#.Uwqt4oVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/christmas-countdown-activities-day-6.html#.Uwqt4oVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijdyKB2KCO4wZJxx3gvSiNr7Jcyy_9Qn2aTdnDvIKfVf3TYLWWDs1oDWaYhI1sb1HE1g7c8W6_z_zaz5B7VQT7e6AT6KBt_y3uZ7KiKwiKfjig6mRQO4HZKOi9CFrZFVA20Jt6Ntnod_wB/s1600/advent-calendar-activities---day-6.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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11. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/active-fun-at-home-dinosaur-mini-golf.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur mini golf at home</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/active-fun-at-home-dinosaur-mini-golf.html#.UwquGIVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/active-fun-at-home-dinosaur-mini-golf.html#.UwquGIVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW7Eg2aXXesaTdTD_S5Rn_TJSWTX8sECBHc9qdpBmLp5eaU2uKnm1nwLzM5aJ1sRUAFv2jtE_yYIgfN8ryos-9eNCVxNDcqMHWTHADjg4GCfMCEmHdJm3A0zx8aw9LdsXlnsPItB6SwpOu/s1600/dinosaur-mini-golf-1.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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12. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities-day_16.html" target="_blank">Danino Santas</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities-day_16.html#.UwquloVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/countdown-to-christmas-activities-day_16.html#.UwquloVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhYTLyJNMk19vqZnsN21Xv7AK-IVzSxwCwJqtWcnlz94_QXJ1KMpIjy5DDaTBqvbKzJZH0E1ESsIaS78foGz_H8oEVFzbdP1cgvdH8I-UzlREqzlwRcZRyGyZyWkLT4tauEyK8Z1TOHeQ/s1600/advent-calendar-activities---day-15.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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13. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/ice-digging-for-dinosaurs.html" target="_blank">Digging ice for Dinosaurs</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/ice-digging-for-dinosaurs.html#.Uwquz4VfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/ice-digging-for-dinosaurs.html#.Uwquz4VfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ0R24KGrYkcIRs8foMooWcq1KlcSq6byhuH1Dn2dI5ApzYZB9G13rnIknJAqMZlhXdvd0i0Nd_Ady_em2ErCohG9799WweEdW8-6i8BdB1LmY-876wmBUM9TdxYZf-bSxy23knZaNZUN/s1600/dinosaur-dig-4.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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14. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/dinosaurs-cardboard-mini-theater.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur mini theater</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/dinosaurs-cardboard-mini-theater.html#.UwqvIIVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/dinosaurs-cardboard-mini-theater.html#.UwqvIIVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpQd_-pJByw-_52Gu0h6-3F26sl0yU4gMuzb6pgSS3tgTvbPKiR5yDQBSgx_cHzI9wCq-30GOCNKINgKKz1XDJYqlCfrVRtgXGgPFxm8mVqJtuG4M-tGAUcPHVtBxDtTupSpVoynwT2aX/s1600/mini-theater-15.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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15. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/theatre-20-upgraded-to-optional-shadow.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur shadow theater.</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/theatre-20-upgraded-to-optional-shadow.html#.UwqvwIVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/theatre-20-upgraded-to-optional-shadow.html#.UwqvwIVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWP3efTR5dgios5aGAnjTi8mrSzxin6PHgCaHrJNukgroeBKUw5Inw5qBumoKNTvWP__WUl7pmvDpxPaDrGqjBc9A-2vED8r8xhvqrk9e7lSGyj90Z79OS1tgN96ZCO-9vSaAOE2g8v7zg/s1600/shadow-theater-6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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16. <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/01/more-dinosaur-activities-art.html" target="_blank">Creating Dinosaurs with stamping and magnetic letters</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/01/more-dinosaur-activities-art.html#.Uwqv-YVfT5w" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/01/more-dinosaur-activities-art.html#.Uwqv-YVfT5w" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU1OVC0CTJs_WMoXwnLcXl1tsJ4XjGdMnp2aZR5G9DxL8S_6MF_YAYzuou_WQ40l0iMCjWMeQq5M5vNQuf7UZneKEidAoo57NMWZwz7G8Wo9eoMFxNZi6e2D8PTetYBEd3wpJsHk8rLz2/s1600/dinosaur-art-double.png" height="400" width="285" /></a></div>
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And here are a few more <a href="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" target="_blank">dino-rriffic activities from the playdate</a>, that we attended a few weeks ago.<br />
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17. Completing dinosaur art with various means: markers, pencils and pasta.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" border="0" src="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/dino-playdate-3.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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18. Making dinosaur masks.<br />
19. Connecting similar dinosaurs on a work sheet.<br />
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<a href="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" border="0" src="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/dino-playdate-4.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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20. Sensory box: digging through the pompoms for dinosaurs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" target="_blank"><img alt="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/the-dino-rrrrific-play-date/" border="0" src="http://blog.lifewithababy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/dino-playdate-8.png" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Meanwhile, I am adding more activities to my blog. I just basically describe what we've been doing. Check this one out:<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/03/snow-dinosaurs.html#.Ux1gp4VFClA" target="_blank"> A Snow Dinosaur!</a><br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/03/snow-dinosaurs.html#.Ux1gp4VFClA" target="_blank"><img alt="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2014/03/snow-dinosaurs.html#.Ux1gp4VFClA" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MvyPpsJ9iduxn9BlDzQ1fFge3vW0wRV8YFmAgKigg1Aa8xRHj2MYOIOnj7PfHfZLhNgp4IEYbSXuCBKt-WJLbgQW91MZHFEHYOl-lua6r3XCNEDNYmU4LOlTeLs8f7CIXXCElVSn6shq/s1600/winter-8.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-16960552421078318342014-02-23T13:14:00.002-05:002014-02-23T13:14:44.277-05:00Easy DIY Cardboard Project: CastleThis cardboard castle was made <strike>mainly </strike>by me. Santino is not coordinated well enough yet to cut cardboard or hot glue the pieces. And its not like he doesn't have a castle to play with; <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/active-fun-at-home-dinosaur-mini-golf.html" target="_blank">he does</a>. I made this castle because I was inspired by a nice cardboard box, and because I want to instill in Santino's mind, that you can <i>make </i>beautiful and fun pieces with the simple materials on hand and you don't have to <i>buy</i> everything. <br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9gQs63lMWYAbqc_UnPV7gXV5rgm82nq0tEUY-KUOJhu1B2aW6TVY9gRtCyyFtqxD_MU80zcE8rVvxtpcxUDBxq7XHtgTL9iEXr7m9c-Vv9AkuxUT2l5exyl8ZU7x0EyQyIOwg5872KDD/s1600/castle-main.jpg" /> </div>
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<a name='more'></a>Stuff I used for this project:<br />
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1 cardboard box</div>
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4 toilet tissue rolls</div>
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1 sheet of red construction paper</div>
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1/2 thick wooden dowell</div>
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scissors, hot glue, paper glue, marker, some figures/props for playing </div>
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I often keep the toilet tissue and paper towels rolls for projects like this one, but discard large cardboard boxes, just because I don't have much room to store them. This time instead of throwing the box out, I decided to make something out of it. I <i>googled </i>and <i>pinterested </i>some ideas, and decided that I will make a castle. I saw a similar project once on TV. </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtH7BlGrGd9cMnkCVWp1hOnIlHydGWkZaC4J7g9DM-x9TUaw_X1pKM-zuERJTOe86ryM-kc88-biMQW2O7l4i7Jnh7qN2KKL7VBU7Q5eCTDn68gu03QWeaAYDA_IHhGB37_JUNyaaAWrH/s1600/castle-7.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<br />So, I took the box apart, then hot glued it back together inside out, for solid color on the outside. I then cut out the battlements and installed the towers. I made the towers with the toilet tissue rolls, topped with the construction paper, rolled into cones and glued on the top.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O6745A-I_zooZmP2lDgvYnFJFtMAJSe8RVyAm3Md1lXa2LHp35V4FxsU9YEQaLhCZ_gj9eMEstqwogHU-wmIpMQQVgkHXIGLEw9rzeId2RilJjor5qBGKjArmAZ7ipSjulieC0f7ee_t/s1600/castle-4.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDEgZxBgmBP7fETWQaI8hHMXrrqIio0MsSgTN4D56Y8mdfXlY6MdGio3IuIxTgj6bO6RyZ3AESPs5ob3l-1La184MLBKguAt9JJnSm_DeK_Z-Wc6y01bgjzw_zwGFqmMRCpLwJD58z6oj/s1600/castle-6.png" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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I roughly sketched the stones and windows with a marker and cut out the gates.</div>
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Later I got an idea to decorate the inside. I cut out and glued the walkways and even stairs, supported by a dowel. </div>
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<br /><br />Then I added a king and a horse. I really need a princess, I think, as I have a huge dragon, hovering around the walls of my castle. </div>
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Our dinosaur obsession started shifting a little bit towards dragons (not without my help). I have shown Santino "How to train your dragon" movie, it became his favorite in the past weeks. We also watched Shrek, and Santino's favorite part is the first one, with the castle and the dragon.<br /><br />So, I am hoping, that dinosaurs, who are still fully present in our lives, will slowly but surely retire... ummm... by summer? Is it so selfish of me to get tired of my son's preference and manipulate him into liking something else?Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-88625441058585547152014-02-10T12:41:00.002-05:002014-02-23T19:14:45.720-05:00Preschooler Art: Making Valentine's CardsOur days have been filled with dinosaurs (and now also dragons! yay! at least some change) activities, sensory boxes and books. I haven't been pushing art on Santino, since lately he is not interested in any art activities at all. I do take out paint and brushes almost every day, and ask him to make me a picture, doesn't matter what. Something. Usually he wants to draw a dinosaur, and if he is drawing anything, I'm happy with it. Stamping doesn't help either. I just hope that some day it will change.<br />
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This Valentine's cards project has been going on for a while, too. Every day I encourage Santino to do a little bit of stamping, or writing in these cards. The project is still in the making, but I am quite happy with the results.<br />
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I got this idea from one of the art books I have. I cut out the bases for the cards, a heart, a bug, a snowflake (my own idea and take on this project). Later on Santino inspired me to cut out a dinosaur foot.</div>
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To involve Santino, I squished some paint and brought down a couple of sticks of celery. Once cut, the celery makes a great heart shaped stamp. This didn't start as I planned, because as soon as Santino saw the celery, he exclaimed "oh, food!" and ate my art supply! I had some mixed emotions. On one hand, I was happy and proud that he loves his veggies so much, on the other hand... why can't he accept that it can also be a heart shaped stamp? Oh, well. I had more celery in the fridge, so I could easily replace the eaten ones. </div>
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Once Santino figured out how to stamp, he happily stamped away, making a lovely mess on the cards.</div>
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He got bored with the hearts though, and made an improvement. He brought in his dinosaur, and made a few foot stamps. That was more his style. He was much more interested!</div>
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This inspired me to cut out another card, with a dinosaur foot! A little unconventional, indeed, but this represented Santino in a much better way, than a heart ever could. This one is really special. He said it will be for Devin, my friend, who's son was Santino's best friend until they moved to Vancouver a few months ago.</div>
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I suggested that he picked which card would go to which girlfriend. Then I scored the names on the cards for him to practice following the lines. This activity needs more practice. Santino just isn't interested, and sometimes he follows the lines, and sometimes just scrambles away with no particular aim. </div>
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Once all the cards are signed, they can be folded and inserted in an envelope. </div>
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I think this is a very cute project, a great exercise in art and a good way to practice writing. I found it easier to involve the reluctant preschooler when his obsession (the dinosaurs) came into play.</div>
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P.S. I am adding a couple of more photos of these cards. Our task was to prepare 13 valentine cards for Santino's nursery school Valentine Party. I cut out 13 cards, and managed to persuade Santino to decorate them all. He did a good job, I must say! My persuasion did include bribery, though. Santino can't co-exist near freshly baked cookies, he simply feels that he must eat them all. I made and decorated a batch to attach to the cards, and Santino really wanted to eat "just one more" and "a little one more, please".<br /><br />So, my motto "first you do the art, then you have a cookie" really sunk in his mind. After the project was done, I heard him playing with his dinosaurs: "First you do the art, then you have a cookie" and showed a foam heart to the dinosaur.<br />
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-86901169875749920972014-01-23T21:33:00.000-05:002014-01-23T21:33:02.534-05:00More Dinosaur Activities. Art. Here is a short post. Just a photo of more artistic ways to create a dinosaur! Santino is loving this. I am proud of his development and how persistent he is in pursuing his love for the dinosaurs. He is creative in finding ways to make another dinosaur shape. Magnetic letters and sponge stamps, for example.<br />
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Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-37311706867846343472014-01-10T00:45:00.000-05:002014-01-10T00:45:12.494-05:00Winter Fun. Snow Maze.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdmfICT-MR7CxMf7Q3o1yILVicYju4qr1A870ybc9aMot9D-H16HNzlr72gRSDcuXxBw-Uij7yhlNf_czisXkomVdkRyADw53WhkirpzmD6eM8qPx-XpU1Hl-mPwiAM4x2Bn6cq1SghQA/s1600/winter-maze-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We've had waaaaaaay too much snow this season. Waaay to much!<br /><br />It snowed, then the ice storm came and froze everything solid. Then more snow came. And more. And more.<br />
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<br />We came outside today to enjoy the beautiful sunny and relatively warm day, when the temperature didn't drop down to -40C. Santino tried playing on our lawn, but kept falling through the thick cover of snow. So I took out my friend, the shovel, and dug out a small labyrinth for Santino. Just pushed the snow aside, leaving hard ice-covered floor to walk or run.<br />
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He loved it. He ran through it a few times, played with snowballs, hiding in the corners. The easiest snow fort I ever built!<br />
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-25019813566226831052014-01-05T23:33:00.001-05:002014-01-05T23:41:37.108-05:00Active Fun At Home plus Some Science: Sticky Tape Spider Web.I have a preschooler, and he needs his active fun every day. Our "witching hour" is right after dinner before bath time and subsequently bed time. This is when he wants to play, run, jump and burn his energy, enjoy the moments before sleep.<br />
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We play soccer, <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/now-that-we-have-collected-enough.html" target="_blank">bowling</a>, <a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/active-fun-at-home-dinosaur-mini-golf.html" target="_blank">golf</a>, basketball (using a cardboard box as a basket). Sometimes Santino just runs in circles or jumps on the little trampoline we have set up in his room. Today we set up a "spider web" and threw "flies" into it.<br />
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I found this idea a while ago on the<a href="http://handsonaswegrow.com/halloween-activity-a-sticky-spider-web/" target="_blank"> Hands On as We Grow blog</a>. Back when I found it, Santino was still too little for this activity, we tried it with no success. Today, though, it worked!</div>
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Well, the idea worked, that is. The spider web didn't work at first. We really tried, threw clumped balls of paper from various distances, but they wouldn't stick to the tape. I admit, the tape I used wasn't much of a tape, some cheap dollar store stuff. I guess, in this case a quality tape would have worked better.<br />
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After Santino ran back and forth for a while, throwing and picking up paper, coming back and throwing it again; we switched to another activity. This one was more of a scientific experiment: "What will stick?"</div>
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We tried all kinds of little and big objects: paper, pencils, big cars and little cars, Santino's dinosaur floss (he uses them as toys, big mistake for buying!), even me and Santino himself!</div>
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We found out that heavier objects will fall and lighter objects will stick and hang longer. I encouraged Santino to predict, which object will stick or fall. I explained several times the weight words like "heavy" and "light" in both English and Russian.</div>
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I asked Santino, if beige and yellow pencils stick, would a different color stick as well? His answer was grabbing several handfuls of my pencils and sticking them all to our "web". They all stuck! (Not shown here, in all excitement I forgot to take a picture.)</div>
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I love our little physical activity sessions. I think Santino learns best while moving (if he cares to listen). I've tried giving Santino worksheets, but at this time they are not as much of a success, he prefers videos, books, songs and practical usage like counting jumps, hands-on experimenting, and repeating new words.</div>
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Next time I will try with a better tape, Santino already asked for it!</div>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-999630434068650982013-12-31T22:29:00.000-05:002013-12-31T22:49:51.990-05:00Theatre 2.0. Cardboard Mini Theater upgraded to an optional "Shadow" setting.So, yesterday we played<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/dinosaurs-cardboard-mini-theater.html#.UsOLyLQTj9M" target="_blank"> with our cardboard theater</a>. This morning we continued and had lots of fun. Later on, tonight, we turned our theater into a shadow one.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAACriycL3-HXqaIKPfa6l3Pa4iFDjQWEnFgHWCso-mGHfi_WTUSf4qdSQkzJntYTy1ugqohvfx37BcRTY6wCqlxXj57hiJ5FuYihBsGOyE6bnVy-tu9el1jXcoXVTLlU0u5Nj2-eJDqw/s1600/shadow-theater-main.jpg" /> </div>
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I made two thin slots on two sides of our box, put a light inside, covered the top with a white paper sheet. The upgrade is done!<br />
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I cut out a couple of dinosaur shapes out of black construction paper and taped them to the plastic straws. I also used a few cute shapes of a bird, Santa and a snowman I took off a Christmas card we received earlier.<br />
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The slots don't look very nice, they are rather rugged, but they work! Santino didn't really care how they look, but he complained a couple of times that the shapes don't fit there. They do, actually. I just help him to slide them in. Maybe I need to widen the slots a little bit.<br />
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Like I said, we simply covered the top with a sheet of white paper, but I also experimented with a plastic container. It worked great, but Santino preferred paper.<br />
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What a super-simple and a super-fun dinosaur activity! Santino can't really cut out dinosaur shapes yet, but he really tried. He just needs more practice.<br />
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-57780331896796957762013-12-31T00:24:00.000-05:002014-01-01T23:27:20.090-05:00Dinosaurs' Cardboard Mini Theater. Here is how I made an impromptu mini-theater today. Simple, simple, simple! I used just a cardboard box, an old T-shirt and a thin rope. It took me a while to hand stitch the curtains and I spent some time thinking how to set up the curtain pulling system, but otherwise, it was a quick project.<br />
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Santino received more dinosaurs from Santa on
Christmas. He had destroyed a few T-Rexes and never actually had a stegosaurus, so we got him those. He is a very happy boy these days! He only wants to play with
dinosaurs, completely forgot about his trucks, and ... constantly wants me to play
with him. I don't mind playing dinosaurs with my son, but I need to
have a game to play, something to do with those dinosaurs, not only
roaring and scaring each other. I'm a girl, you know.<br />
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I cut out a square in one of the sides of the box, leaving the "roof" open. Now we have a stage! We made a quick backdrop for our play, setting up a dinosaur scene. </div>
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The curtains were tricky. First, I don't have a sewing machine, so I had to hand stitch them. I measured and cut very carefully, so that they would fit perfectly in the box. I used a wooden dowel to hang the curtains and a thin rope, more of a string, to set up the opening-closing system.The system works, and my curtains open together, going in 2 different sides, and then close together. I am very proud of myself for setting this up.</div>
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When I was making this theater, I didn't know what we were going to perform there, but then I got an idea to re-enact a simple story from one of Santino's books about dinosaurs. The book is called "Bobbing for Berries" and tells a story about a short dinosaur who couldn't reach for berries on a tree, and a long-neck dinosaur, who helped him get those berries. Then a short dinosaur got to help his friend, too. Basically, a simple story about sharing and helping each other.</div>
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This story was perfect! Santino got to play with his stegosaurus, it and the other dinosaur fit perfectly on the stage (although Santino preferred taking them out and play on the table.) I also remembered I have a Ukrainian necklace and earrings that look like berries. We used those as props, and they were perfect to hang and separate into "a cluster of berries" (earring) for the Steggy to enjoy.<br />
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Later I also added more decorations. I cut out two slots on the sides, and slid cardboard strips. These are the holders for the removable stage decorations, like trees or rocks. I just stick them with a sticky tape, easy to remove.</div>
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The backdrop, of course, is also removable and replaceable, in case we want to make another play.</div>
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We loved our theater! Santino has been to a theater already, so he understands the concept. Although, he kept calling the stage "the movie".<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4CiwhF421DS_maJXK4q70ReUyKN53YZ8dc8-S5g2tzU-cPnN9Qo9Yawy91L0oevxKaurEaR_fDGXJv05SAYqP8hG5LcrvjJqH7OXaYW-Wrb1FlCXP-XYXYO6HIO0zgDs8U2M-_CbAriI/s1600/mini-theater-8.jpg" /> </div>
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I even pulled out a small flashlight, that Santino at first put on his head (it has a special band for that), but then we just hung it in the corner, pretending it was our sun. Otherwise the stage was kinda dark.</div>
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This was a great activity! I was so happy that Santino participated 100%, was very active, played a role and improvised. I am also looking forward to setting up other plays with other scenes, not only dinosaurs, but also animals or trucks, queens and dragons. Yay, mommy is excited!<br />
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<a href="http://pipidinko.blogspot.ca/2013/12/theatre-20-upgraded-to-optional-shadow.html#.UsTqErQTj9M" target="_blank">Check out the extension of this project, a shadow theater!</a>Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-2083605811860786522013-12-19T16:08:00.000-05:002013-12-19T16:48:40.311-05:00Danino Bowling and Preschool Math<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, that we have collected enough Danino bottles, we could finally set up a game of bowling. We used 6 for this game, but I guess any number works. This game turned out so "well rounded": Santino got to run, work on his gross motor skills, have fun and practice math!</div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXd1u7hTCO9WwXGk0QkylFu0kNxflBtNbneQtk-NVIc6OU4DCP-9VjkLB411cEfla0e3M0bY_09ETUT8U0XSuKgtAtiNkef6TbDUsbSqGkxgxJu4B3DTSW6NBeMGcZBV5n4qR1lSzWfHnr/s400/preschool-math-bowling-1.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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As Santino got better after every shot, he was able to knock them all down pretty soon. That was fun! Plus, he didn't stop running, back and forth, back and forth. Energizer bunny.<br />
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Then he started arranging the pins in a straight line instead of a triangle, and that gave me an idea. I got him to sit down for a minute, to concentrate on the new rules. It is not an easy task, you know, to get a 3 year old boy to sit down in the middle of running! Even then, it took me a few times to repeat myself for him to hear what I was suggesting, as he was too excited, yelling and screaming "my bowling ball!".<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANzRFvDhci7scn4uyfVaYA50sMasy1X65jG9g0ld5CACQYqchKw1bUAsgC-wz-KXic8236xZCYGBpszTTL0U9W93eD3gjeqxZ9bxRl-sUrC4N43vIqP7OrQwZ6Cr3uecmJH_q6DI8p-mU/s400/preschool-math-bowling-4.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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I managed to get through my new idea: I said, let's count all the pins first. We counted them together, and found out there were 6 pins. Now, I said, go shoot the ball, and we will count how many pins you knock over. So, he made his shot, and got 3 pins down.<br />
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We counted how many fell, then we counted how many were left standing. I said "we had 6 pins standing, now 3 fell down, how many are left standing?" We counted them and found out there were 3. "So, I said, six minus three equals three."<br />
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It took us more tries, more counting the same scenario, over and over. If he knocked over 1 or 2 pins, or 4 or 5, it was always the same: how many pins do we have, how many fell, how many left standing? I realize, it is probably an advanced activity for a little guy, but he got it! <br />
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The "zero" concept was still beyond him. Even though I explained many times, if he didn't knock over any pins, "how many pins fell down? If none, then it is zero". He just wouldn't remember this. I am not sure why. Maybe his mind was too busy having fun and running back and forth, or maybe he was getting it, just didn't bother telling me, whatever it was, he didn't get the "zero".<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLohDzMib6yXmpJFT6WHjbIh5IMXT8C7qU8j7K7_lG-iFAk5VCYj-hX6bAN4l6nZDifNfXii-vUr0UIUE8FTYxiUAm-NJSRObV4U4HPPZmmaoSwQld12KI_t5mzHseFKsak8EoZ82C_iV/s400/preschool-math-bowling-7.jpg" width="400" /> </div>
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After we got comfortable counting pins by ones, I showed how to count them in twos, or pairs. This was easier for him, as it is not a completely new concept. We did practice counting in pairs and fives and tens before. I noticed, that Santino often doesn't show that he is registering my explanations, but spits them out later like he always knew them.<br />
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So, there you have it. A game for exercising both body and mind. Now I am looking for another active game idea!Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-34672905824190922442013-12-19T11:34:00.000-05:002013-12-31T11:35:51.933-05:00Countdown to Christmas Activities. Day 19. Fire Starters Craft.Pinterest is an ideas gold mine. Here is another craft I found there: <a href="http://afewshortcuts.com/2013/12/diy-crayon-wax-and-pine-cone-fire-starters/#_a5y_p=1113480" target="_blank">Fire starters</a>. We don't really plan to start fire with them, actually, but they look beautiful near the Christmas tree.<br />
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I let Santino pick the crayons and crash them with the meat tenderizer. He is pretty good with that and didn't put his fingers under the hammer. Maybe this part is not applicable to all kids, but mine is ready.<br />
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I melted the crayons in the oven, and we then admired the beautiful swirls the colors created.<br />
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I dipped the pine cones that we collected earlier this year and stored them "just in case", and we arranged them in a tin jar and a pale. They look beautiful and decorative. </div>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-8625663097483836922013-12-18T22:12:00.000-05:002013-12-18T22:13:23.141-05:00Christmas Countdown Activities. Day 18. Christmas Concert, Santa, and more Salt Dough PaintWe had a busy and fun morning today. Santino's preschool held a Christmas Concert for the parents and relatives, followed by the potluck.<br />
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I decided against posting pictures from the concert, as I didn't want to post other kids' photos without their parents' permissions, and I don't have them. To describe the concert in a few words: Santino again ran off the stage after the second song, and sat with me for a while. He didn't sing, didn't open his mouth once. On the bright side, he also didn't cry, like last year. <br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJevLmxkqGtYSKjt0nOqEe0MwSHuRx1KnRNqkkjxWySz8rYJG5gBK-7QfEr1TRMTGQbog0CUBOAQiHZ7DDQESQJeL05J_9sOGxA-jbg2mj3t1CCk_DyX96FkBKi-I66oY2tdWZXWLcFE5X/s400/advent-calendar-activities---day-18-concert-1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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I gently led him back on the stage in the end of the concert, and he had a chance to grab the jingle bells and shook them proudly for 2 songs! He was not the only boy, who didn't sing. 2 out of 3 other boys didn't sing either. Girls, on the other hand, sang away! Loud and proud! Thanx to them we actually had a concert!<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9gqZkpvBXvpraOJWCgvHY8JtYHfS8_2eE4XBu9M-Zm_04iz0Leg0DSm5UaGmW2R0fE_E5UckLBKjK6kMEjVmS0jOvYJhWFmWgOiPtuSAP_YSuQXZFTwquBfk78aE9qKytQR_EoM81yU7/s400/advent-calendar-activities---day-18-concert-2.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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After the hard part was over, Santino relaxed visibly, stopped saying he needs to go home and looked around. The small church that hosts this school's concert had nice, cozy decorations, including this native scene. Santino walked over, looked at it for a while, then informed me where is the roof, where is the nest under the roof, and that all and all, this is a house! <br />
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Then Santino met Santa! He didn't like him at first (Santino didn't like Santa, that is), but after I promised a candy cane if he goes and gets his present from the big man with white beard, Santino ran there. He was complemented on his nice suite, then Santa asked him what would he like for Christmas. Santino kept this a secret, didn't say a word. </div>
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After that daunting task, Santino felt much better, and enjoyed the rest of the party. He played with his friends from the class, had multiple cookies and a slice of pizza (red stains all over the suite made mommy sigh upon return home).</div>
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And later tonight, after the building the snowman, shoveling the driveway, playing with dinosaurs, reading a Dr.Seuss' book (Santino's new favorite is "There is a Wocket in my Pocket"), driving a bed like a car with daddy, playing bowling (more about it in the next post), driving Dinosaur Train in the kitchen, watching Curious George on TV ... yes, after all that and more, we did a little bit more art. </div>
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We had some paint leftover from yesterday activity, and today I decided to use more of it. I cut up a cereal box, cut out a nice stiff cardboard sheet, and drew a snowman with a pen. Then I suggested Santino would fill it with the color. I thought he would take white, but he chose red. A strange color for a snowman, but the selection was poor.</div>
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He was very good at tracing the lines of my picture, I was rather impressed! He didn't want to fill them with any color, even though I showed how. He wanted the picture to stay traced and not filled, and that is how it stayed.</div>
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-63856434339020920342013-12-17T21:18:00.001-05:002013-12-17T21:40:44.653-05:00Digging Ice for Dinosaurs.Dinosaurs, dinosaurs, dinosaurs... If a little boy wants to play exclusively with dinosaurs, but the only game he really knows is roaring and hitting dinosaurs with each other, mommy really needs to come up with more dino-ideas. I feel, that it is essential that I come up with more games, so that Santino sees other opportunities and possibilities apart from roaring, so that he involves his imagination more, experiences playing with somebody in a more co-operative way.<br />
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So here's another one! Not necessarily Christmas-y, but very winter-y. I loved the combination of science and sensory experiences in this activity. And what determination my little guy showed, trying to free his dinos!<br />
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I froze a couple of Santino's dinosaurs in the bowls with water overnight. Just basically left them outside. In the morning I suggested we dig for the dinosaurs. I brought a couple of tools, some random stuff, like a spoon, a fork, a nut cracker. I don't really have a mini pickax at home, this would have been a great tool!<br />
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First, he tried those "tools" and found out that ice is very strong, you can't just pick it with a spoon or a nut cracker. Then I offered a bowl with some salt and a bowl of water.<br />
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Santino's way of experimenting, is to just dump the whole thing at once, so naturally, that's what he did. He dumped salt over one ice block, and then poured the warm water over the other. He didn't wait long enough to notice how salt started working through the ice, making it slushy. The warm water started melting the ice right away, so Santino immediately asked for more water.<br />
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To slow down the process, I gave him his favorite tool of all - the turkey baster! I also added a little bit of color to the water, in an attempt to see how this water penetrates through the wholes that salt makes. (You can't really see the color on these pictures, as I forgot to take pictures, being so involved in the process! I also had fun!)<br />
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We poured water, picked the melting ice and scrubbed it to retrieve frozen dinosaurs. Along with the dinosaurs, I also froze some "caterpillars". Santino freed one, and was very proud of it!<br />
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I explained to him that ice is frozen water, so when it warms up, it melts and becomes water again. Then I asked a tricky question: when the snow melts, what does it turn to? Santino's answer was "ice". Well, at least he understands that these substances are all connected. I told him that snow is also water.<br />
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Next time I'll show him how the steam works.<br />
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Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-11330664530691206352013-12-17T14:56:00.000-05:002013-12-18T14:56:58.753-05:00Countdown to Christmas. Day 17. Salt Dough Puffy Paint.We've done puffy salt dough paint before, but I was inspired by this <a href="http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/11/candy-cane-activities-candy-cane-puffy.html" target="_blank">blog post </a>and decided we can do it again! I didn't add peppermint essential oil, as I don't have it. So we just stuck to the salt, flour, water and paint.<br />
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I showed Santino how to create designs by squeezing the bottles. He loves squeezing, and will squeeze any bottle he can lay his little hands on. So we squeezed and created "art" at the same time. A great activity for the hands development!<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkgSLnt-7rCKMYCSaH99Fp2unqqdHAtAeQvH4DOfGElYXF7Rl_dvtTGsrffPgySH0Nk0NIF_7PP8nLNa02AcprSGqRNLq_XqPvRJZ3Zgvynb4M3ncxT25zj2o8rt01u_vWDYMqhtg5VsP/s1600/advent-calendar-activities---day-17-2.jpg" /></div>
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I also gave him a cookie cutter, to fill with the paint in order to create some snowflake designs, but he was more interested in his own "vision".<br />
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<br />Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-79472250270308201562013-12-16T14:28:00.000-05:002013-12-18T14:29:10.308-05:00Christmas Countdown Activities. Day 16. Baking cookies for a Pot Luck.Santino's preschool had a Christmas concert with Santa, gifts and potluck. Our contribution were Italian cookies, called "pizzelle". (<a href="http://goobergang.blogspot.ca/2012/11/yummy-mummy-cookie-exchange-party-at.html" target="_blank">I wrote about this recipe last year, find it here</a>).<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLNXrQpPKoyVDqJUcZli6FvAKROC3_9d-SleeJt-IJvbBy2D_ulkiAcbSpgbRHE-mUVkiIqwKqA1a9RLJam3YnaAAwZ_1JVAW03SAqB6MgY0R4V14kGWoX-iB5hruvKE__fUgpWHGAL5j/s1600/advent-calendar-activities---day-16-1.jpg" /></div>
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<a name='more'></a>We've baked cookies many times, but I think this activity is worth mentioning in our Countdown Activities list.<br />
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Santino's favorite part is breaking the eggs in the bowl. Then we measure sugar, oil, and other ingredients, and Santino is eager to mix it all. He is very careful, trying not to spill the dough. It takes him a while, but he does mix it quite well, I only have to finish it with a few strokes. He loves watching how all the ingredients blend together, lose their texture and disappear, becoming one substance. <br />
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This time Santino decided to help with adding the ingredients, and added some baking soda (a lot of it) when I turned away. I didn't realize how much he added, until we baked the first 2 cookies, and couldn't eat them. They tasted terrible! I used this opportunity to explain, that too much of anything can turn out being bad. Always use a little bit, in moderation.<br />
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After the first batch went in the garbage, we made another batch, and baked enough cookies to share and to have at home.<br />
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I rolled one of the pizelles in a tube and Santino gave it to one of his long-neck dinos to wear for a few minutes. Then he ate it.Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4378961900826856862.post-34523905317250012292013-12-15T20:45:00.000-05:002013-12-16T20:46:40.706-05:00Countdown to Christmas Activities. Day 15. Danino SantaThis activity is a double shot: a dinosaur activity and a Christmas one! Santino will do anything if it involves dinosaurs.<br />
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I save the Danone bottles after Santino drinks the yogurt. They are small and cute and shaped like dinosaurs. First I was saving them for a mini bowling game, but thought they would make a great addition to our Christmas Countdown Activities. I had an idea to make Santa Clauses out of them. <br />
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I cut out one section out of cotton pads, rolled short strips of red construction paper (for the hats), set glue on a flat plate, sea salt in a small bowl, prepared googly eyes.<br />
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I showed Santino how to glue a cotton pad in a place of a beard. He did it really well! Then I showed him how to dip the red construction paper cones in the glue and then in the sea salt. (Just like a Margarita, yes!) Santino glued the cone on the dinosaur's head, and we had a Santa!<br />
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He genuinely tried gluing the googly eyes, but paper glue didn't hold them too well. So I fixed them up with some hot glue.<br />
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Then Santino sprinkled our Santas with some glitter and we glued white cotton pieces on the tops of the hats. I prepared mini pompoms, but there was no real space for them after all our work.<br />
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\And Dino Santas are ready! Happy Rooarring Chrismas! Liferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688225243868217342noreply@blogger.com0