Our Rock Collection, Accessible on the Kitchen Table

Yes, we also collect rocks. We keep our rock collection handy, on the kitchen ledge accessible to the kids. Often, especially while waiting for some sort of food service, they will grab a plastic jar and explore it's contents. We do have a fun simple activity where the kids get a plastic bowl with a little water in it, the kids add the rocks one at a time and guess and explore what will happen to the rock hen it gets wet. After a few dunks, they end up simply guessing the color change they'll see.

My older son loved the wet activity the most. Baby girl is starting to be interested, especially when we did the activity in the yard together.

And when we are out bug collecting, we come across cool rocks on the beach, or fossils along Lake Michigan, these finds come home with us. We aren't pack rats I promise. We don't walk amongst tall rows of stuff. Once a jar gets full it will probably go into our garden... Or a project.... Or something. But for now we have room to grow !

Top view, the sea shells were given to us by our then neighbors who were debating if they should move out of town, to the Sunshine State, they did. And on one of their visits back brought us some beautiful big, free, seashells.


Make Mistakes. Breathe, reflect, and Laugh.Out.Loud

Toddler Sensory Bin Busy with Ice so Adults can Talk

Toddler Sensory Bin Busy with Ice so Adults can Talk, a photo by areyousureaboutthatblog on Flickr.

We were recently at an adult family birthday party with few other kids. It was getting late and nearly baby girls bed time. But you know how it goes... You start talking, get into a great conversation and you just can't leave NOW!?!? So I went into my mommy arsenal and invented a sensory bin on the spot to quiet my cranky girl - the secret ingredient: ICE.

We were all at the kitchen table, and baby girl was sitting at my feet. I asked our hostess for a few supplies and I got together this simple sensory bin. She was busy for 35 happy minutes!

Sensory bin assembly:
- a holding place for the ice cubes, a few of them crushed from the fridge dispenser.
- tools: a small 1/4 measuring spoon, a cork, a tablespoon, a small plastic cup and a flexible whisk.
- stay dry: finally a kitchen towel as her tray, and melting ice / water basin. We didn't want her soaked either!


At the end of the activity, baby girl was tired, and thoroughly washed her hands. I took her downstairs and rocked her to sleep, where I held her while we wrapped up our evening.

Ahhhhhhh...

Make Mistakes. Breathe, Reflect, and Laugh.Out.Loud.