Activity Bag #2

Well we have been doing activity bags for about three weeks and we love it. I normally keep it in the car and have used it frequently on long drives and mostly at restaurants. Once we even used it to wait in the passport line and all the other kiddos were jealous and wanted to join in. We have exhausted most items so it's time to rotate in some new fun items (mostly found at the dollar bin at Target). He wants to play with it now but he has to wait for a time when I really need it --come on parents you know when I mean!

The newest activity bag

(still kept in his green canvas bag he decorated with his name):

All the goodies in one place!

Target $1 Mickey Grab-N-Go back with coloring book, stickers, and crayons

Mickey Paint Chips: I have two of each to play memory or I thought we could use to markers and a mini boggle thing to play a made up came that involves counting forward and backwards.

$1 Target Putty: I don't know how this will go or just be a complete mess. It's about being a kid right!

Target Halloween Stamps $1 and Frankenstein Monster notepads also for $1

LeapFrog Explorerer. I hate video games but he it was xmas gift. He loves it and it has great educational games.

These are left over from the last activity bag: Little Kids mag (my fave for preschoolers) and sight word Go Fish cards.

A small wooden tractor puzzle (part of a 4 set made by Melissa and Doug)

Four See and Spell Wood Cards that have CVC words on them and the letters (also by Melissa and Doug)

Is it bad that I want to play with it too?

Games to Get You Moving!

If you are like me you have an active child. It's very tempting to try to calm the little beasts. We want them to sit still for dinners, stories, crafts, learning, etc. Sometimes it's nice to encourage the craziness! Not only is it great exercise but it let's children who are active be themselves-both of these are confidence boosters. So I propose two homemade games that you can do anywhere.

The first is game is Active ABCs. We have printable ABC exercise cards that we got from Homeschool Share when we did our Human Body Lapbook. We instantly loved the fun exercise ideas like "I is for act like an inchworm" and "Z is for run in a zig-zag". It dawned in me that they are doing no good stored away in the lapbook but should be pulled out. They would be great to bring along on road-trips! I decided to make a game by putting ABC letter stickers on Bingo Markers I had lying around. The first part of the game is having your child lay out the ABC cards in order (a little alphabetizing lesson). Then put the markers in a bag or hat. Have a person draw a letter and match it to the card. Then you have to do what the card says. Take turns until you are done. Trust me laughing will ensue and your kids love to see you doing the exercise activities almost as much as doing it themselves! This is a great way to teach exercises, ABCs, Matching, Phonics, etc. Love it!!!

U is for lie down and pretend you are riding a Unicycle.

The second game is one my son and my mom made up. This is so simple you won't believe it. Put activities on strips of paper and put in a bowl. Each person rolls one dice. Who ever has the highest (we have also played the lowest) draws a strip and does what it says.This is a great way to mix both learning and exercising together. It also teaches number recognition and telling highest and lowest.  The ideas really are endless. Some ideas:

• Find an item that is red (or any color you put)
• Pat your head and rub your tummy
• Sing ABC song
• Count backwards from 10
• 10 jumping jacks
• Dance as you sing your favorite song
• 5 sit-up
• Say a nursery rhyme, tell a joke, or say a tongue twister
• Stand on a chair
• Spin around 3x fast
• Say Pledge of Allegiance
• Find something that starts with the letter S
• Hop like a bunny

A little out of focus but you get the idea

"A" dancing with his "Disco Beads"

This is his favorite thing to add to the slips (scoot across the floor on your bum-just hope you don't grab it)

 They are both store so easily and are perfect for rainy days, activity bags, and just when you know you child needs to get some wiggles out. Trust me if you play it with them you will laugh your head off as you make fools of yourself!

Ready to grab and play!

Activity Bag #1

Yesterday my husband took the boys to get the tires done and he asked "A" to bring something to do as he waited. I was laying in bed (my sleep in morning) and heard the lil stinker say he didn't know where any books were? What? What? WHAT?!? First off we have a basket of library books in the living room, a book shelve just for him the the bedroom, two new magazines for him by the front door, and that doesn't include the tub of learning activities in ziplocks waiting to be used! Something had to be done. I have seen activity bags or busy bags throughout the blogging world. I have always kind of done that on long road trips but I have decided to have a bag with 6-7 things in it by the front door at all times. That way if we have a doctors appt, have to wait at the tire shop, go to a restaurant he can never claim he doesn't have anything to do. I think I will change what is in the bag every 6 weeks or so...depending how often it got used. That way he won 't get bored. As "B" gets older I will most likely make one for him too. As of this moment there is no excuse for boredom when he is out!

Let me introduce to our first activity bag:

Activity Bag #1's goodies!

The bag (with name blocked out). Bag was $1 at Michaels and then painted with fabric paint and sponge stamps.

The Activities:

A few cards from Rivers, Roads, and Rails game and transportation counters. The game is a fave of "A's" that he has wanted for a long time and I just got it for $3 at Goodwill-what a find!!! I figured he could put the counters on the roads.

Another use for the counters. I found these cards at Learning Palace. The teach sorting, counting, and patterns.

A bag of markers, hidden picture book, and our Little Kids Magazine (subscription a gift from Grandma-WOOT!)

Memory Match game I made from Disney paint samples

Number match with clothespins. Wheel found at 1+1+1=1 although I don't know the exact post.

Melissa and Doug opposite cards (I only chose 5 sets for this month). Got at Goodwill for $2-yay!

Another Goodwill find for $2-Number Dominoes

Sight Word Go Fish cards that I made. I only did three of each word (instead of traditional four).