Kloster Island

red_headed_angel · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

You guys know a little bit about my monster girl, and I am needing some ideas.

I want to get a few easy to clean-up games and activities for she and I to do (maybe the 4 yo as well).

I want to get the Colorwunder(?); it's kinda pricey, but I don't need anymore murals right now. I've always stayed away from playdough, but I don't have carpet under my table, so it wouldn't be totally out of the question.

I used to sit and play when I only had 2 kids at home, but I seem to have gotten out of that habit.

Any ideas?

I plan on keeping these things well out of reach of the kiddos, too.

jojosam · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

One thing to stay away from is Moon Sand... I think I have more in my vacuum cleaner than I do in the containers it is supposed to be in.

Things I do with my two (since you are keeping the stuff out of reach when not in use):

We actually do fingerpaint. I put a plastic table cloth on the table and give them paper plates with small amounts of each color. They wear smocks (or old adult t-shirts) to stay clean. I even give them plastic spoons and forks so they can make designs with something other than their fingers if they want. We bought a pad of fingerpainting paper at Michael's for a couple of bucks.

Stamping. Jordan received a set with cars, trucks, etc, and we have other stamps from various activity sets. Again, coat the table, spread out the paper, and let them stamp away.

We have also done the glitter glue / macaroni on construction paper activity. Alternatively, you could string different types of pasta onto yarn for necklaces, chains, etc.

I'll keep thinking.

coles1mom · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

I'm trying to think non-messy activities and the list seems to be short. Some are obvious but I'm just going to throw everything out there. Some that come to mind that Cole enjoyed are:
1) gluing(with a glue stick-not messy) the foam shapes you can get in tubs at WalMart to construction paper

2) coloring with crayons on the rolls of art paper (I don't know why this is better than regular paper)

3) stamping with alphabet or shape stamps

4) Colorwonder sounds like a great idea but the price has kept us away from us.

5) Drawing with chalk on grocery bags ( a little dusty but not too bad)

6) making greeting cards with the stickers from the Dollar Tree (you can get a whole sheet of themed stickers for scrapbooking)

7) dishpan with a bag of dried navy beans and a plastic scoop or little plastic cups (great for motor skills and for measuring for the older kids)

I use one of those flannel backed vinyl tablecloths on the floor or the deck or wherever we are to keep the mess to a minimum.
I'm sure I'll think of more later.

Lori · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

I didn't do Playdough in the house either...that's why God invented patio tables

I'm trying to remember what all Andrew and I used to do...we played a lot with blocks, we did do finger paint in the kitchen, do you have a Gymboree where you live? Not the clothing store but a tumbling place by the same company? We did that 1 day a week. Ummmmmmm, he used tell me things to draw and I would draw it...it's great that kids love us so much and don't care how badly we draw or sing, they think we're the best! We used to roll the ball back and forth on the kitchen floor and down the hallway. OH matching games, he LOVED matching games! Stickers, stickers and more stickers!!!

I'll keep thinking!

Wow, it's been longer than I thought.

jojosam · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Originally Posted by Lori

...it's great that kids love us so much and don't care how badly we draw or sing, they think we're the best!

Oddly, I have a decent singing voice, but Jordan prefers it if I don't sing. Perhaps it is because I get goofy and also dance around. Still, if he is embarrassed by me at 3, just imagine the teen years and the ways I can torture him!!! Mwa-ha-ha!

red_headed_angel · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Originally Posted by jojosam

Oddly, I have a decent singing voice, but Jordan prefers it if I don't sing. Perhaps it is because I get goofy and also dance around. Still, if he is embarrassed by me at 3, just imagine the teen years and the ways I can torture him!!! Mwa-ha-ha!

You evil thing you!

BTW, these are great ideas! And I cannot believe I never thought of the deck!! We didn't have a place at the old house or the aptment, but we have a nice deck here. Oh Wow, Thanks guys!

Tomorrow, Evan has MDO, and Cassidy and I are headed to the dollar store and then Walmart.

Oddly enough, although she likes to draw on the walls, she doesn't like to color on paper or in books. I have tried it and she got down and walked off with the crayons.

Saving-n-Va · #7 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Building blocks w/ the ABC's on them. I'm sure she would love to build then destroy the creation. Large piece puzzles (or make them from cereal boxes, cut out front, cut into a few pieces, laminate w/ clear contact paper). Sorting bears, drawing letters, numbers in shaving cream.

Just a few off the top of my head. What I like to do is look through school supply websites, catalogs and see what I can make myself. Oh, file folder "games" (matching, colors etc) once she gets closer to 3 I would think,

coles1mom · #8 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Cole definitely knows that painting is for outside. We set up on the the deck for fingerpainting ,water colors and well regular painting. Play Doh is allowed inside and he loves creating things- they're usually robots or Bakugan and they all look the same to me. It's much easier to say yes since we no longer have carpet. It left with much PlayDoh residue and a big neon yellow Silly Putty spot that I found out how to remove the week before the new floors were going to be put in. I opted not to bother.

Lori · #9 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

How about paper dolls? She might be too little for that.

WIGGLES DVDs!!! Boy did we ever watch the snot out of those things. Saw them in "concert" twice too...and Barney...and Dora...*sigh*

Is there a mall that has an indoor play place? I know Oxmoor (one of our malls) has a huge boat.

In regard to my singing voice....there's a reason we don't good crystal

manic4titans · #10 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

My little one and i love to have tea parties with plastic tea sets. Once I get her started after my cup of "tea" and cookies I l leave her to do some chores. Keeps her busy for 15-20 minutes.

I do playdough in the house and watercolors. Never had a problem although I put plastic table covering down.

Puzzles! Mallory loves puzzles. She is now doing 63 piece puzzles from the dollar tree. (strawberry shortcake, mickey, pirates of carribean) But you can get the 23 piece to begin with.

Give her a pile of washcloths to fold and refold. ha!

Oh, a lady I know gave me this idea. This is great for winter time. Fill up your small plastic pool with cheap rice cereal and let them play in the 'sand' pile. Easy to vacuum or sweep.

LadyKokoPuff · #11 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Originally Posted by red_headed_angel

Oddly enough, although she likes to draw on the walls, she doesn't like to color on paper or in books. I have tried it and she got down and walked off with the crayons.

What about giving her a bucket of sidewalk chalk and letting her do her "murals" outside?

coles1mom · #12 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008

Originally Posted by red_headed_angel

Oddly enough, although she likes to draw on the walls, she doesn't like to color on paper or in books. I have tried it and she got down and walked off with the crayons.

I found that Cole did the same thing at first until I realized it was the angle he had a problem with. I noticed that he liked using his chalkboard easel so put blank paper on it and he was fine. If you have a little table that tilts it would work as well. He doesn't care where he is now but it probably has something to do with motor skills at that age.

Lori · #13 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008

Puzzles, GREAT suggestion. Wow, I can't believe I forgot puzzles! I'm glad you remembered and again, I can't believe I forgot. Andrew and I worked puzzle after puzzle after puzzle and he still loves them. He had one wooden puzzle that taught them how to work latches, bolts, etc. He used to take that thing everywhere we would go. But we still work a ton of puzzles. Man, I'm still in shock that I didn't think to suggest them. I bet that boy has 100 puzzles and we have played with puzzles since he was probably 2.

coles1mom · #14 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008

Cole loves puzzles and blocks too. I was thinking more about arts and crafts stuff. I got him a great 200pc set of wooden blocks for christmas that came with a zippered tote for like $17 from Amazon. It has been one of his favorite things (in spells like everything else). I don't know if they still have it but it was a great deal.

coles1mom · #15 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008

Found this. It's such a good deal I had to share. This is the set that I got Cole and it's soo worth the money. I've seen many sets half the size for twice the price.
Amazon.com: MAXIM 200 piece Blocks: Toys & Games

Lori · #16 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008

I would snag that up for Andrew in a heartbeat but with him being so into Legos, I'm not sure if he would play with them or not. But WOW, what a great deal!!!

coles1mom · #17 (**permalink**) 08-20-2008

Andrew might be a little beyond blocks but Cole still likes to build things to knock down with his cars and he's so into building robots and space ships. He'll build something that's supposed to be a 'battleship' and say "watch how it transforms" then he'll rearrange the same pieces into a robot. He's so creative. (Says his mommy)