Snow Dinosaurs

Here's another simple (all our activities are simple) 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.

Gross Motor Skills Development with DinoBall.

My "20 Dinosaur Activities" 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.

20 Dinosaur Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

We have been playing with dinosaurs for many months now. Has it been a few years? Hmm... Yes, I think it has!

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:

Easy DIY Cardboard Project: Castle

This cardboard castle was made mainly 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; he does. 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 make beautiful and fun pieces with the simple materials on hand and you don't have to buy everything.

 

 

Preschooler Art: Making Valentine's Cards

Our 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.

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.

 

More 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.

Theatre 2.0. Cardboard Mini Theater upgraded to an optional "Shadow" setting.

So, yesterday we played with our cardboard theater. This morning we continued and had lots of fun. Later on, tonight, we turned our theater into a shadow one.

Dinosaurs' 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.

Danino Bowling and Preschool Math

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!

Digging 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.

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!

Countdown to Christmas Activities. Day 15. Danino Santa

This activity is a double shot: a dinosaur activity and a Christmas one! Santino will do anything if it involves dinosaurs.

Active Fun at Home. Dinosaur Mini Golf.

Now that the winter is here with its snow, cold weather and sniffles and coughs (I got these), I find it is important to allow Santino play actively at home as often as possible. Active fun helps him spend his energy, develops his gross motor skills, and gives us something to do together.

I try bringing him to the pool once a week, we walk and play outside every day, but on the days when I'm feeling not 100%, something needs to be done at home. Something fun.

Dinosaurs to the rescue! We set up a tiny mini golf course using some of our toys. Here is what it looked like.

Countdown to Christmas Activities. Day 11. Playdough Sparkly Snowflakes.

So we missed one day with our countdown activities, but now we are back.

This was a painting activity. We used our playdough, which I made a couple of weeks ago. (And yay!, I made my own playdough and it worked! For a while I couldn't do it. I had a playdough block, so to say.) Anyways, we've been playing with this playdough, rolling it, smashing it, leaving it to dry overnight and throwing it in the garbage. All kinds of fun! And here is a Christmas activity. Snowflakes!

Messy Play. Finger Painting Dinosaurs.

This was a failed countdown activity. I thought we will sit and make palm prints and make reindeer and Santa and other Christmasy stuff. Only today Santino decided what he wanted to do, so he included his friends, the dinosaurs.

Christmas Countdown Activities. Day 6. Dinosaur Christmas "Habitat".

Here is a fun installation we came up with today. Well, we first decorated a couple of cones with glitter and pompoms. I actually found some old hair gel with glitter. I let Santino squeeze it all over the cones, and he enjoyed it, squeezing away.

Artzooka's Recycling Challenge: Pencil Case, Glue Caps, Sprayer

Santino was watching TV this morning, and we stumbled upon Artzooka program (CBC). I remember seeing it once or twice, but it didn't stick with us, as Santino was probably too young. Today, though, he was really interested, and when the program was finished, he immediately wanted to make a fire truck (as it was shown on the TV, made out of a pencil case, a pen cap and a bottle sprayer).

I found these items, but our art challenge ended up being.. a dinosaur, of course!

I started with the body and the head, and Santino finished it up with the legs, feet and the tail. I was impressed how he himself decided to make dinosaur feet with the caps (glitter glue caps).

Here it is!

"Countdown to Christmas" Activities.

As I've been told multiple times by multiple people, it is normal for the little boys not to be interested in art, creative activities, painting, gluing. I still encourage Santino to do something creative every day. Even if it is just a few strokes on the blackboard. Something!

Making wreaths or any other kind of Christmas crafts is a challenge here. Well, not the "making" per se, but the interest in such activity. Santino only wants to play with dinosaurs (anything related to dinosaurs) and silly wreaths had nothing to do with them. Now they do!

A field trip to the Canada Wonderland

This is not something unusual for us. After all, I did buy a season pass, so that we could go as often as we like, thanx to my friends Devin and Joana who drive us.

Play Dough Again. Another Recipe.

A few days ago I decided to cook up some more play dough, as the one I made before had dried up. I looked up another recipe and it turned out great!

Easter basket of mini "dinosaur" eggs

Santino hasn't been very co-operative lately, very uninterested in any sensory activities, art or crafts. I have set up a table with a comfortable armchair in his play room, covered with large sheets of white construction paper, put all the art supplies in his reach and encourage him to draw at least a little. We have colored a few coloring sheets, but that was it.