Scissor Practice (+bonus activity)

A fun activity for those beginning cutters to do. 

Instructions:

1. Print the worksheet on colored or white paper/cardstcok.
2. Cut out the long rectangles to make each scissor activity
3. You could also print an additional set and laminate to use for a tracing activity for the little ones.
4. Allow child to cut using child safety scissors, you may have to guide their hand the first couple of times but soon they'll be sipping along on their own.

Counting Objects 1-5

This is for older toddlers (3-4 years old), but a fun activity none the less, and even one you can work on with your 2 year old to begin learning counting basics. 

Instructions:

1. Print the counting game out on a colored printer (you can do black and white but it's not as much fun). One page will be for your board the other for the cards.  To download the worksheet, click the link below the picture

2. Cut the sheet containing the numbers to create cards.

3. Laminate the cards and the "board" (heat laminating works best)

4. Use adhesive Velcro dots to attach the cards to the sheets.

5. Allow to set for about an hour (full adhesiveness will not take effect for 24 hours)

6. 3-hole punch the sheet at the side (if you're going to put them in a 3 ring binder) 

7. Allow your little one to play. 

 Counting Objects 1-5 

Coloring Books are EXPENSIVE (this is how you can REUSE them hundreds of times)

My daughter may only be 23 months old but she LOVES to color, and can go through an entire coloring book in one afternoon, and she only likes to color "name brand" ones (Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Spongebob, etc) which can range from $2-$8 each (and even if you print coloring pages, once you take into account the cost of ink and paper it can get up there as well). Well I discovered a way to save A LOT of money by buying one of each of her favorites and reusing them hundreds of times and all you need is:

3-ring binder

Page Protectors

Dry Erase Markers/Crayons

It's super simple. Break down the coloring book into individual pages or print off your favorite online coloring pages and place them in page protectors in a 3-ring binder. If you get one with the cover plastic you can place the cover of the coloring book in there and have a separate binder for each book (you can get 3-ring binders for $0.97 at Walmart, or $1 at Dollar Tree). VOILA!! You have a completely reusable coloring book. 

This also works great for those activity books because the kids can do the activities over and over again. It also allows for erasing mistakes. 

If your child is super proud of a picture you can just take it out of the binder and display it on the fridge in the page protector, and even take a picture of it to keep longer. 

Doing it this way will allow one coloring book to last years and even through multiple children. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Toddler Learning Activity: Simple Sorting Activity (Busy Bag)

With how much my daughter loved her Animal Matching worksheet I wanted to make her something that would take her longer to complete. She also LOVES Umizoomi so I used a picture of each of the characters from a Google search to make some cards and sorting boxes Since the images are copyright protected I am not sharing the sheets I used, but if you pick your favorite pictures (from Google, clipart, or ever family pictures) and just Right Click-- Print -- then choose "Contact Sheet (35)" they come out the perfect size for both a fine motor activity and a sorting one. The sorting box was SUPER simple to make, I used 3 jewelry boxes I had lying around, stapled them together and glued a copy of each picture into the bottom. Then I put all the other cards into the baggie. She prefers to dump them out and sort, but it takes her about 20 minutes to get them all done.

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.

Toddler Learning Binder: Animal Matching

I'm so excited to share these sheets I've made with you, and they are completely FREE to download. The instructions are SUPER simple, but will bring TONS of educational fun to your little one. 

Instructions:

1. Print 2 copies of each Matching game you want to create. One will be for your board the other for the cards. 

2. Cut one sheet to create cards.

3. Laminate the cards and the "board" (heat laminating works best)

4. Use adhesive velcro dots to attach the cards to the sheets, try not to cover the pictures as this will make it difficult for your little one to match them up. 

5. Allow to set for about an hour (full adhesiveness will not take effect for 24 hours)

6. 3-hole punch the sheet at the top (if you're going to put them in a 3 ring binder) 

7. Allow your little one to play. 

While playing identify each animal, make the sound and try to get them to mimic it as well. Some of the sheets that will be coming out later will also have the words incorporated to help them begin to identify the word with the animal, and then later still we will have just the words to match the animal. The great thing is you will only need to create new cards as the board can be reused with each set. To download the worksheet, click the link below the picture.

**UPDATE: I have built the pages below to now include the picture, the pictures with the words, and then a final sheet with just the words. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Animal Matching Page 1

Animal Matching Page 2

 Animal Matching Page 3

Animal Matching Page 4

Cleaning Out Your Closet

Ever wonder what you should donate when you're going through your closet? Have clothes you tell yourself you're going to wear, it's just the wrong season? Well, the easiest way to see what you really wear and what you don't is to turn all your clothes hangers backward and then after 6 months any that are still facing forward should be donated as they haven't been worn. 

If you start on January 1st, then by July 1st you have hit 3 seasons and should have worn everything you would ever wear. Maybe add it to you New Years Resolutions since the new year is only 111 days away. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.    

Toddler Learning Binder Series Introduction

I am beginning a wonderful series entitled "Toddler Learning Binder" that those of you with babies, toddlers, or those that are teachers won't want to miss. Today's will be just a short entry to prepare you for what is to come. 

Just a few things I have lined up are:

Simple Matching Pages
Advanced Matching
Letter Matching
Number Matching
Play Dough Play mats
Letter Writing
Number Writing
Shape Drawing 
And MORE... 

The binder will be set up to be able to be used over and over again with the same sheets, by using things like laminating sheets, page protectors, dry-erase markers/crayons, etc. 

Things to have ready:
1-2" 3-ring Binder
3-hole punch
Page protectors (light weight work, heavy weight are better)
Laminating sheets (and laminating machine if you choose heat)
Scissors
Self-adhesive Velcro dots (can be found in the sewing section)
Printer (and colored ink for the best outcomes)

For a sneak peak of what's to come check out this link:

Animal Matching

Lots more to come. I will continue to post a fun, new, addition to our Toddler Learning binders each time I come up with one. Make sure you're rotating out the items so that your child doesn't become bored with the activities and they stay fun and interesting. 

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Homemade Hanging Bar

My daughter LOVES to hang on things & people. She will hang on the playpen, the refrigerator, guests, anything she can get a grip on. So we created her a hanging bar that is safe, sturdy, and cost us less than the replacement handles on our refrigerator would have.

The dimensions and strength is based on my 32" 24lb daughter. You may need stronger/longer pieces depending on the size of your child. I take NO responsibility for any injury that may result from building this device, this is not an instruction guide, but merely an explanation of how I did it.

 




Supplies

3/4" schedule 40 PVC
          7 pieces - 18" long
          2 pieces - 35" long
          6 - 90 degree
          2 - Ts
PVC glue
Sandpaper
Sand

I cut all pieces, and scuffed up edges.

Once completed I glued together all the base pieces except 1 - 90 so that I could fill the base with sand.


I then glued on the last 90 once it was full. Next I glued on the riser pieces and filled them 1/2 way with sand, gluing on the final 90s and hanging bar. I allowed it to dry for about an hour before letting her play with it.

It is currently unpainted because the glue was barely dry when she claimed it as her own. Going to try to paint it one night this week once she's in bed so that it's dry by morning. 

 She LOVES it!!!

 Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.

Mini-Pizzas

My husband introduced me to what he called "Poor Man's Pizza" which was sauce and toppings on a hamburger bun baked. Well he & my daughter love them so much I wondered how I could do it on a mass scale for cheap, because every penny matters right? 

Ingredients:

Rolls

Pizza Sauce

Cheese

Toppings

Take all your rolls, (I bought a HUGE bag of 48 rolls from Costco, baked fresh for only $4, this means 96 pizzas) and cut them in half length wise, then toast them, I like to use my electric griddle. Toasting stops the sauce from soaking into the bread creating a ball of mush.

 

Once you have them all toasted, add the sauce cheese and toppings.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place as many as you can on a cookie sheet. Bake for 3-4 minutes, you want the cheese to BARELY melt, this keeps everything on the bread for storage.

Once they're parbaked, allow to fully cool and then place on a tray/plate with saran wrap in between layers to freeze.

Once they're completely frozen you can transfer them to large ziploc bags and store in the freezer. 

To reheat, we use our NuWave oven and cook at 400 degrees for 4 minutes. Or you can cook them in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the cheese/edges turn golden brown.

 Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all. 

Homemade Pizza Rolls

My family LOVES pizza rolls, they're quick and easy and as much as I hate to admit it, very yummy. Since I am not a fan of preservatives for many reasons, I was on a quest to make my own. I succeeded so I just had to share with you.

Ingredients:

Egg Roll wrappers

Pizza Sauce

Block of Mozarella cut into 1/8" cubes

whatever other toppings you would like. 

cup of water for sealing the edges

oil for frying

Cut the pizza roll wrappers in half (you can cut them in 3 or 4 but it gets to be a bit bothersome since they're so tiny.  

Fill with your sauce and toppings... make sure you add about 2-3 times the amount of sauce you want because it evaporates.

Once you have it all in add water to the edges all the way around and roll.

Just set them aside in a bowl while you prepare them. Preheat oil to 350 degrees.

What my cheese cubes look like.

 My husband loves pepperoni so I took the mini pepperoni and cut into 4s

Used my homemade sauce too from my "Frozen Pizza" post.

Once oil is preheated, pop a few in, allow them some room to move.

Cook until golden brown, place on paper towels to drain and serve. YUMMY!!!

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.   

Patternless PJ Pants

I LOVE a good comfy pair of PJ pants... how about you? Great news, With little to no seewing skills, you can make a pair just like the your favorite pair.

Tools:
~1.5 yards of fabric (If you're a novice seamstress I don't recomend stretchy fabrics until you have done a couple pairs. I'd start with a basic cotton or fleece.)
~1 yard of 1-inch elastic
~Iron
~Sewing Machine
~Matching Thread
~2 Safety Pins

Instructions:
1) Fold your fabric so there are 2 creased pieces on top of one another. Like this:

2) Grab your favorite pajama pants and fold like this, laying it on the fabric. Be sure not to place it on the side with raw edges.

3) Cut out two shapes that look just like your pant leg, but leave about 1 inch extra down the side, 2.75 inches extra at the top, and 2 inches extra at the bottom. This way your new pants won't be too small after you sew the seams.

The pieces will look like this:

4) Sew the inseam of the crotch on the front and back. I like to do a french seam to make it prettier and keep it from fraying. To do this you sew it once on the right side of the fabric only 1/8-1/4" in then you trim close but not through the stitches. Flip the pants inside out, and sew the seam again ensuring you encase the entire original seam within in the other. ALWAYS press your seams after sewing. 

5) Now do the same for the inseam of both legs starting at the cuff to ensure the legs are crisp.


6) Flip your pants inside out (if they're not already) then roll your hem for the cuffs. I do 1" then 1" again, pressing after each fold. Stitch around the edge.

7) Create an elastic casing by making a seem that is 1.5 inches wide (flip then flip again). Leave an open hole of at least 2 inches to insert elastic.

8) Wrap the elastic you bought around your belt line so it is snug but comfortable. Add 1 inch to that measurement and cut.

9) Pin one end of the elastic to the center front. Attach a large safety pin or button to the other end. Use the closed safety pin or button to feed elastic through hole and around waist of pants.

10) When elastic has been fed all the way around, overlap the edges of elastic and stitch them together, reinforcing it at least once. Make sure the elastic isn't twisted inside the casing. Close the waistband and your pants are complete.

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.   

.

Food Book - Speech Therapy Tool

My daughter starts speech therapy soon and to prepare we were asked to make a Food Book for her in order to help her communicate with us what she wants to eat rather than going through a yes/no check list. I created mine and thought I would share in case any other mommy's are needing to make one as well.

Tools:

Chipboard (I save all mine from the inside of frames, so I reused some 8x10 stuff I had)

Patterned Paper

Printed pictures of all the foods they like

White Card Stock

Glue

Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Laminator

Laminating sheets

Zutter Wire Binder

I began by printing all my daughters favorite foods on white card stock, to ensure she was aware of what they were I had her sit with me and Googled the name and asked her to tell me which it was, i.e. I Googled Macaroni & Cheese and asked her to point at the image of Macaroni & Cheese (there were about 30 on the screen) the first one she identified as it is the one I saved. All my images were printed "Wallet" size and not fit to frame. I also printed each items name to help her begin to identify written words as well as categories (Drinks, Snacks, Meals).

Once I had all the pictures I needed, my daughters diet is limited so it was quick, I covered the pieces of chipboard with pretty paper. Cut out each of the food items and glued them down along with the name of the item.

Once this was complete I used my YourStory Binder to Laminate all the sheets to prevent damage, then I bound it together using my Zutter Wire Binder. 

It works wonders. She grabs her book and tells us what she wants to eat... having it spiral bound allows us to add pages as she discovers new things that she likes to eat.

Just remember, with planning and organization, you CAN do it all.