Easter Fun!

Easter is always a great opportunity to add some art and craft time to your long weekend schedule.  I've compiled some fun ideas from some awesome sites for you!

Visit the Disney Family Fun website for loads of great ideas,

Enchanted Learning will keep you busy for a while,

Kaboose is also packed with ideas!

We made a cute little cotton ball lamb for an Easter craft:

I found the idea here.  They have a great step by step tutorial.

You will need:

Toilet Paper Roll

Glue ( I would recommend craft glue and not a glue stick like we used)

Black Felt

Black Pom Pom

Felt in any other colour for your bow

Black Pipe cleaners x 1

Scrap Paper

Wiggly Eyes

Cotton Balls

I pre constructed part of the lamb by inserting the scrap paper into the tube, adding the face with black felt, the eyes and ears as well as the pipe cleaner legs.  Just wrap the pipe cleaners around the tube.

I then covered the tube in glue and while holding it, Mouse stuck the cotton balls on.  Lastly we glued on the pom pom for a tail as well as the blue bow.  I trimmed the legs a bit to add a bit of stability.

She is very impressed with the lamb and very proud of how it turned out!

Hope you have a wonderful Easter long weekend!

Trudie xx

Making Science fun!

I had science as a subject in high school, I can still remember studying for my final exam - I even had some formulas and important facts on a piece of paper in a plastic sheet in the shower!  I enjoyed science, but it didn't come naturally to me at all.  Chemistry was fine, that was something you could study, but Physics was an entirely different matter.  I believe that we as parents can introduce certain science facts and principles now at an early age to our children, this will not necessarily make them science geniuses, but if it can help them to pass that dreaded Physics then it is a win win situation!  I also believe that we can make certain things fun for them now, thus, when they are older and sitting in school they will still have that wonderful fun feeling around a subject.  Making learning fun is what it is all about!

 Here are some fun ideas and activities to introduce your child to science:

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Floating Egg experiment:
 Normally an egg will not float in water (except if it is a very old egg!), but adding some salt to the water will make your egg float! For tiny tots - just show them that the egg will sink to the bottom of the container, add some salt and then show them that the egg will float.  For older children explain that the salt makes the water denser, therefor the egg cannot sink to the bottom.  Note:  you need to add loads of salt - at least 6 - 7 tablespoons in a normal drinking glass of water.

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Oil and water experiment:

Does oil and water mix?  The two liquids have different densities and therefore the oil will always float on top of the water.  This is a fun experiment for little ones, you need a container with a lid (see through container), oil and water.  Pour some water in the container and then gently pour some oil on top.  Close the lid and ask your child to shake the pot, now watch what happens - the oil and water will separate.  They will love this! For some added fun you can add some food colouring to the water.  For older children you can even take the experiment a bit further - add some dishwashing liquid to the mix!  Explain that the soap forms an emulsion between the water and oil, the same principle enables mommy to wash the dishes.

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Making sugar crystals:

This will for sure be a huge hit!  It does take a bit of time though - at least 4 weeks to get a good size crystal, but it is worth the wait!

You need:
1 cup water
3 cups sugar
Clear glass jar
Food colouring of your choice
Skewer
Clothes pin

Clip the clothes pin around the top of the skewer, place the skewer in the jar, not touching the sides or bottom of the jar (keep it about 3cm from the bottom). Balance the skewer by placing the clothes pin on top of the jar (lying flat on the jar top).
Boil the water and add the sugar slowly until all the sugar is melted (Please this mixture is super hot!  Only mommy and daddy may handle this, please be careful at all times and don't let your little one handle the sugar water mixture.)  Let it cool for about 8 - 10 min.  Add the food colour of your choice, a little goes a long way!  Don't overdo the colouring otherwise you won't be able to see the crystals form.  Now slowly pour this mixture into your prepared clear glass jar.  The crystals should start to form in 3 - 4 days time.  Science behind this:  hot water can hold more sugar molecules than cool water.  As the saturated water cools and evaporates the excess sugar molecules clings to the skewer, forming the sugar crystals.

Hope you enjoy these fun experiments with your little one!

Trudie xx

Valentine's Craft projects

Valentine's day is just around the corner and we have some art and craft inspiration for you!

 You can make some super cute heart shaped light catchers.  Simply cut out a heart shape from a piece of construction paper.  Cut out a center heart as well - leaving just a heart frame.  Add some contact paper to the one side and place sticky side up in front of your little one. 

 Let them decorate the contact paper with some glitter, this will be messy!

 Once they are done with their artwork, cover the glitter side with another piece of contact paper.  Punch a hole in the top, thread through some ribbon and hang in your window!

 We made these little plaster hearts using plaster (mix it thickly) spooned into a heart shaped cookie cutter.  Leave to set for a few minutes then remove cookie cutter.  Once dry you can paint them.

 Make a cute Valentine's inspired threading game for your little one.  I used some pink craft foam, cut out a heart shape and punched holes around the edge of the heart, give your little one a shoelace and they will have loads of fun!

 We created these fun cards with some bubble wrap, paint and construction paper!  First apply some paint to the bubble wrap, stamp on the paper and then you can paint some heart shapes on top.  Will make great cards!

 You can also do a red themed sensory box.  For this box we used some bran, feathers and some containers.  This was a huge hit!

 Why not try a red themed mosaic box?  We used feathers, pipe cleaners, paper and contact paper.  Cut two pieces of contact paper, place one sticky side up in front of your little one.  Let them decorate with the art supplies, then cover with another piece of contact paper.  Huge fun!

Make a extra special Valentine's gift for daddy.  Use a store bought canvass, paint little ones hands with non toxic paint and let them stamp their little hands on the canvas.  This is such a special gift!

Enjoy and we hope that you will have a lovely Valentine's day!

Trudie xx

Happy Holidays!

We at CKC would like to wish all our subscribers and readers a wonderful, blessed festive season!  May you have loads of happiness, love and fun during the holidays.  We will be back just after new year.  Enjoy!

Holiday fun ideas

The December holidays are around the corner and you will need loads of fun ideas to keep the little ones busy!  Here are some fun ideas to keep them entertained:


1. Make some blow-painted silly faces

Mix some paint with water to make it extra runny.  We used paper plates and drew some fun faces on them before adding some drops of paints as hair.  Use a straw and blow the paint into streaks to form some silly hair!  For older children:  ask them to blow without a straw first, then blow with a straw, when you blow out air normally the air spreads out and loses pressure quickly and you cannot make streaks with the paint.  When using a straw the air is forced through the narrow gap increasing pressure and you can spread the paint easily.

2. Slimy fun!

Mix half a glass of cornflour with a quarter glass of cold water, add a few drops of foodcolouring too!  Stir using a metal spoon, then mix thoroughly with your hands.
Now for the fun part!  punch the slime in the bowl, roll it into a ball, hold the ball and see what happens!
The slime will feel solid when you punch it or squeeze it, but runny when you hold it.  When you hold it the little pieces (particles) that makes up the slime spreads out and the slime turns into a liquid, when you squeeze it or punch it you apply pressure and the little pieces (particles) forms a solid.


3. Window decorations

We absolutely love contact paper, it is such a wonderful versatile medium!  Stock up on some this December holidays for loads of fun.  Create a fun window decoration by cutting two pieces of contact paper.  Stick one onto a flat surface, like a table top, with some press stick, sticky side up.  Give your child some mosaic items, for example - feathers, tissue paper pieces, coloured rice, cut pipecleaners, pieces of paper, glitter or any other fun item that you can find.  Ask your little one to create a mosaic with all the items on the contact paper.  Once finished cover with the extra piece of contact paper to seal the master piece!  Now you can stick the finished art work in the window!

When using items such as tissue paper you can explain to an older child why light can be seen through the different items, highlight terms such as see through, transparent, translucent, opaque.

4. Bubble wrap painting

Save those pieces of bubble wrap for bubble wrap stamping fun!  Simply let your child paint the bobble side of the wrap with some paint and then turn it over onto a piece of paper to create beautiful stamps!

For older children you can explain that the raised edges of the bubbles are the only piece in contact with the paint and paper.

For more fun activities why not subscribe to Clever Kids Club?  Will make a great "stocking filler"  for Christmas!

Maths and your toddler

I am a firm believer in making maths and learning fun from an early age.  This does not imply that you should push your child into doing complicated maths, but rather foster an environment where learning is fun and your child enjoys doing maths.

Important factors for your 2 - 3 year old:

• They should learn through play and routines (keep it fun!)
• They can recite simple counting rhymes, but have no understanding that numbers have values
• Most 2 year old toddlers knows the numbers 1 and 2, and can distinguish between 1 object and 2 objects, but will refer to anything more than two as many.
• The average 2 year old will be able to match shapes
• Most 2 year old toddlers are able to build puzzles with interlocking sides (anything from 2 - 10 pieces, 8 being the average)
• The average 2 year old can sort items into groups, for example farm animals, wild animals, hard toys, soft toys, etc.

Important factors for your 3 - 4 year old:

•  Most 3 year old toddlers are able to count to 3 and know that there is a value / quantity attached to the number
• Most 3 year old toddlers in the second half of the year will be able to count up to 5 and be able to identify 5 objects placed in front of them by using one to one counting.
• Some 3 year old toddlers will be able to identify and name a specific number if asked, you need to name some numbers before, for example:  What comes after 1, 2, 3, 4 ?  Without this start only a very few toddlers will be able to name a specific number between 1 - 9.
• Some 3 year old toddlers will be able to learn to read one number digits, for example identify the number 3
• Most 3 year old toddlers are able to build puzzles with interlocking sides (anything from 4 - 15 pieces, with 10 being the average)

Important factors for your 4 - 5 year old:

• Most 4 year old toddlers are able to count to 4 and know that there is a value / quantity attached to the number
• Most 4 year old toddlers in the second half of the year will be able to count up to 10 and be able to identify 10 objects placed in front of them by using one to one counting.
• Some 4 year old toddlers will be able to identify and name a specific number if asked, you need to name some numbers before, for example:  What comes after 1, 2, 3, 4 ?  Without this start only a very few toddlers will be able to name a specific number between 1 - 9.
• Some 4 year old toddlers will be able to start counting backwards from 10

 Remember these are only guidelines, every child is different and will develop at his / her own pace!  We also need to teach our children critical thinking, there are more than one answer or solution to a question / problem.  Teach them to think.

Practical tips for making learning maths fun:

• Make or purchase some numbered bean bags.  The possibilities with these bean bags are endless.  Place A4 sizes of paper with numbers on each on the ground (for example 1 on a sheet, 2 on another sheet,etc.)  Ask your child to throw the corresponding numbered beanbag onto the sheet of paper.  Name the number each time and it is also a good idea to have some items handy that they can count, for example some apples.  If your child needed to throw the number 3 bean bag onto the number 3 page, name the number 3 and count the corresponding number of apples out with them.  For more ideas or where to purchase these sets email me on admin@raisingcleverkids.com
• Complete both size sequencing and other sequencing games with your child, click here for a free download for a fun game.
• Draw some shapes on a sheet of paper, count the sides of each shape, name the shapes, count the number of angles each shape has, etc.
• Calender time is super important, it teaches days of the week, number of days per week, etc that will help with certain math concepts later in life.  Contact liesbet@kinderwerf.co.za for details on the awesome Kinderwerf calender.
• Save all your milk bottle tops!  They make excellent counting pieces!

Ask your child to place the corresponding number of items on each top, for example on a top numbered 1, add one of the objects

• Always start teaching your child counting from zero onwards, this will help with math concepts later in life.  I made this easy set from craft foam, great for matching, counting, etc.
• Most off all, all children need loads of love and loads of hugs!  Praise throughout and enjoy your little one!

Have a wonderful math filled November!

Trudie

Reward chart

Still looking for a super cute reward chart after reading our post on Reward charts and Ideas?  We have the following super cute reward chart for sale for only R20.00!

Practical list of daily chores that needs to be done with a week by week tick box system to make everything run smoothly and make it easy to understand for little learners.  This is a digital only version and you will receive it via email. Simply print and use!  Remember you buy this little chart once and re print it as many times as you want!  You can also laminate and use dry erase marker on it to prolong the use of the chart.

More ideas for your Lubi the Dragon reward chart:

•  the daily chores section is not just for physical chores - use it to encourage developmental milestones as well.  Examples:  sleeping through the night, potty training, learning to put on own shoes, etc.  
• daily chores can also include eating all your veggies, playing well with siblings, tidying up after play, getting ready for bed and brushing of teeth
• remember that kiddos can help with house hold chores from an early age, my 3 year old "makes" her own bed, yes, I need to remake it afterwards, no I don't force her to do it, but she at least knows that someone has to pull the duvet up!
• draw small pictures next to the actual wording of the daily chore for non readers
• use colourful stickers or another coloured dry erase marker to clearly mark off the achievement boxes, let your little one count the amount of stickers, etc each day - sneaking in some maths!

What chores can you expect a normal 2 - 4 year old to do?

• help with dusting
• help make bed
• help to set the table
• clean up after play and putting away of toys
• help to feed pets
• help to put dirty laundry in laundry basket
• mop and sweep - with help!
• wipe up messes

What chores can you expect a normal 4 - 7 year old to do?

• help with dusting
• help make bed
• help to set the table and clearing the table
• clean up after play and putting away of toys
• help to feed pets
• help to put dirty laundry in laundry basket
• mop and sweep
• wipe up messes
• water plants
• help to load the dishwasher or do dishes
• help to water the garden
• help to put away shopping
• cooking and preparing food
• taking out of trash

Remember that you need to show them how to do each chore and help them in the beginning until they are able to do it on their own.

If you would like to order a CKC reward chart please email us on admin@raisingcleverkids.com.

Have a blessed day!
The CKC team :)