Bakery Bath Time

 We set up a bakery themed sensory bath. My little girl was delighted. She had so much fun.
While I was running the bath I added a bath bomb which made the bath water turn pink and bubbly.

I cut up carrier bags to make confetti to use as sprinkles. (I used the holey lid that goes on top of  the children's bucket and spade set  to catch these in when I emptied the bath)

I used a empty ice cream tub and filled it with Baking soda mixed with a dot of food colour and a little splash of water to use as icecream or cake mixture. It dissolves as you add more water so it does not clog up the drains) 

I threw in a few bowls and plastic cooking utensils and silicone cake cases.

I mixed shaving foam with a dot of food colour to use as ice cream or cake mixture

I also filled a hand wash bottle with a mixture of water and bubble bath to use as a topping.

I made some ice cream bath stickers out of sheets of foam and stuck them on the side of the bath.

She spent the next hour making cakes and ice creams in her little bakery :)

Sensory activities  build on cognitive development. This is a mental process that includes memory, making decisions, problem solving and understanding language. It is the part of our brain that helps us process information and apply knowledge.

Maths can be applied to count, size, match and sort items into groups. They can grasp a better understanding of full and empty, more or less, and whether things float or sink.

Science concepts are used when predicting outcomes and experimenting with materials such as cause and effect. Children have the opportunity to explore and build a better understanding of gravity and speed.

English and language can also be improved. Children build their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills which are used for holding a pencil to learn how to write when pouring stirring, whisking and manipulating the materials. The activity gives a child a sense of self awe which they want to share. It gives them something interesting to talk to others about because each child will use the materials differently. It builds on their vocabulary as they try to express and share their ideas.

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Construction site bath play

The bath is a perfect place to set up messy sensory play activities. Today we had a construction themed bath. I ran a bath and added a little yellow food dye to the water to make the water look like a murky construction site colour.  I threw in some bricks and plastic tools and some toy trucks for little man to play with. 

Foam sticks to the bath and tiles when wet so I used sheets of foam to make some brick bath stickers.  

We used a stool as a play table and squirted the top with shaving foam for him to play in.

Sensory activities  build on cognitive development. This is a mental process that includes memory, making decisions, problem solving and understanding language. It is the part of our brain that helps us process information and apply knowledge.

Maths can be applied to count, size, match and sort items into groups. They can grasp a better understanding of full and empty, more or less, and whether things float or sink.

Science concepts are used when predicting outcomes and experimenting with materials such as cause and effect. Children have the opportunity to explore and build a better understanding of gravity and speed.

English and language can also be improved. Children build their hand eye coordination and fine motor skills which are used for holding a pencil to learn how to write when pouring stirring, whisking and manipulating the materials. The activity gives a child a sense of self awe which they want to share. It gives them something interesting to talk to others about because each child will use the materials differently. It builds on their vocabulary as they try to express and share their ideas.

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Traditional St Patrick's Day badges

Here are pictures of  Traditional St. Patrick's Day badges from the early 20th century photographed at the Museum of Country Life in Ireland.

We got our glue sticks out and made our own badges :)

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Red Nose Day Biscuits

We made some giant Jammy Dodger style biscuits for red nose day. :)

I found a fab recipe on the BBC website click here

If you would like to make a donation or sponsor someone on the Red Nose Day website click here 

Volcano Busy Bags

Last week Mount Etna erupted so I decided to do a little volcano activity with the children. I like to use real life events for inspiration for craft projects. It gets the children involved in what's going on around the world and gives them some general knowledge along with all the fun stuff.

I found some videos on You Tube showing the volcano erupting. The kids found them  fascinating.

We made a volcano Collage using tissue paper for lava.

My little boy loved decorating the volcano so I decided to make him a Volcano busy bag.

Firstly I stuck a volcano on a piece of white paper

I then shredded some orange tissue paper and cut out other scenery shapes that can be used to decorate his volcano. I found an old biscuit tin to store them in so he can put them away and get them out to play with whenever he likes.

Here is little mans first creation. 'There's lots of fire, its HOT HOT HOT' he shouts. 'That's why there is lots of smoke'

 'Watch out Mr Dinosaur the lava is coming to get you' 

Add a few more sceneries and items to your box. They can come in handy when you need to occupy them for five minutes or to keep them quiet while you answer the phone :)

Here are some other Volcano projects we have done :)

http://amazinglittleminds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/erupting-paper-mache-volcano.html

http://amazinglittleminds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/mountvesuviuserupts.html

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St Patrick's Day Snacks

It's St Patrick's Day on Sunday, why not give these little rainbow cakes a try. You could  even make little leprechauns to put on top or add some chocolate coins.

http://amazinglittleminds.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/rainbow-cake.html

You could also make some magic rainbow drinks. Pop two different coloured ice cubes in a clear drink and the kids will be amazed as they watch their drink change colour. Add some finishing touches by letting teh children decorate straws in rainbow colours and shamrocks :)

http://amazinglittleminds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/magic-icecubes.html

Rainbow Cake

First of all whip up a batch of basic cake mixture and divide between six bowls.


250g butter
250g caster sugar
250g self raising flour
4 eggs
tbsp milk
drop of vanilla (or flavoring of your choice)


Beat together the butter and caster sugar. Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Sieve the flour into the mixture and stir.

Add a few drops of red, yellow, and blue food dye to the first three bowls. This is also a good chance to talk about primary colours.

Then use the remaining three bowls to mix the colours together to make a green, orange and purple mixture. 

Using a different spoon for each different colour put a blob of mixture into a cupcake case, layering the colours on top of each other. 

Pop them in a preheated oven at 180 degrees and cook for about 10-15 minutes. 

Omnomnom

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I love bottle tops

Milk tops make fab little pots to hold glitter or sprinkles :) 

A day at the vets

My little boy loves animals so I thought it would be fun to set up a little vet play area.

                               

We set up a veterinary table where he could give his teddies a check up, a spoon of (pretend) medicine, a plaster, and a sticker for being well behaved :) 

Checking Mr Rats chest

giving Mr Rat his medicine 

 I gave him a empty box, a sponge, and a towel so he could bathe his patients. Here is Mr Dinosaur getting cleaned up before his check up :)

We set up a feeding area. I filled a tub with porridge oats and gave him some yogurt pots to use as feeding bowls. He used a spoon to fill the pots with food for his teddies. 

I also cut out some cardboard bones and we decorated them for his pets to play with :) 

While we were out shopping we had a look in our local pet shop and talked about all the things you needed to look after animals and had a look at the toys you could buy. Some time this week I will be getting the recycling box out and the gloopy glue for them to design and make their own animal toys (not intended for real animals) 

Mickey Mouse getting his temperature checked 

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