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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query rolf. Sort by date Show all posts

Egypt Themed Sensory Play

Last week I read 2 fun books from our collection with Roo and Harper {Where's My Mummy and 10 Little Mummies} when inspiration hit for a fun play session.

The kids liked the stories, especially Where's My Mummy. We talked about what the mummies are. I reminded Roo about our trips to the Ohio Historical Society where saw a real mummy. We talked about pyramids and how they look like triangles.

Then I captured his attention on the subject of mummies and Egypt for days with a new sensory bin.

For about 6 weeks I held onto the Egyptian Toob from Safari LTD. I knew I wanted to involve these figures in a sensory play session, but I was stumped on what to use on the base. I knew I could use real sand, but I wanted to take it a step further and avoid a sand mess.


It dawned on me to use granulated brown sugar, Roo could touch it, smell it and taste it.


I poured about 3/4 of a bag of Domino Brownulated Light Brown Sugar in a plastic bin.


Next I added assorted Egyptian figures from our Toob.

And a few plastic palm trees.



When it was time to play I gave Rolf a spoon, a fork and a small measuring spoon so that he could dig around in the "sand". He was really interested in digging. Then he smelled the sand and said "yummy!" I told him to taste it, he was hooked... things got a little out of hand from there, he was licking his hand, sticking it in the "sand" and licking it off! Ha! He didn't make it to playing with the Egyptians...


While this sensory play session resulted in a sugared up, sticky little mess of a boy, it was fun. Rolf used his sense of touch, smell and taste... He got to dig in the sugar sand and he says he had fun... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

What is Sensory Play?

Sensory play is any activity that engages a child's senses, such as sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. It is a vital part of early childhood development, as it helps children learn about the world around them and develop important skills.

There are many benefits to sensory play, including:

  • Improved cognitive development: Sensory play helps children develop their problem-solving skills, memory, and attention span.
  • Enhanced language skills: Sensory play helps children learn new vocabulary words and develop their communication skills.
  • Improved fine and gross motor skills: Sensory play helps children develop their coordination and dexterity.
  • Increased social and emotional skills: Sensory play helps children learn to interact with others and express their emotions.
  • Reduced stress and anxiety: Sensory play can be a calming and relaxing activity that can help children cope with stress and anxiety.
There are many different ways to incorporate sensory play into your child's day.

Do your kids enjoy sensory play? I would love to hear about your favorite sensory activities in a comment.

You can find more favorite sensory play ideas here.
Sensory Party in a Bag
Rainbow Disc Sensory Bag




A Weekend In Wayne County

This post was written by my husband Adam to reflect on our visit to Wayne County Ohio. Special thanks to the Wayne county Visitors Bureau for hosting our trip!


Sara made arrangements for us to meet Marty ,with the Wayne County Visitors and Convention Bureau, at the Barn Restaurant just on the outskirts of rural Smithville, Ohio. The trip out provided us with scenic vistas of rolling hills and gentle farmlands. This in itself was a treat for our family, who are used to the more flatter regions of north central Ohio. The kid’s joy of the ride was apparent by both my daughter’s exclamations of passing wildlife as well as my son’s frequent reminders that he could smell cow poop.


I stubbornly refused Siri’s suggestions as I pulled into the parking lot ten minutes late for our scheduled rondevu (a slight that I would shamelessly blame the robotic-voiced assistant for). As is almost always the case with small children, one cannot simply arrive at a location, pop out of the car and expect to be in “touring mode”. It seems that one challenge or tragedy begets another. Today's rear-tragedy consisted of a chocolate covered little girl and a “hangry” little boy who was still sore with us for cutting into his Angry Birds time.


A beautiful walkway led us past roaming geese and ducks looking for handfuls of feed from quarter machines spaced strategically throughout the property. The path diverted us onto a small covered bridge, which spanned an equally small creek that was the early afternoon hang out of several awkward and furry goslings. The quiet waterfowl were taking advantage of the shade the bridge provided, as well as bobbing along a babbling little waterfall just beyond the span. An assertive mother goose reminded us that she was aware of our presence and would gladly nip us in an uncomfortable place (say the pinkie toe, nostril or webbing of the hand) if we got too close to her brood. We respectfully declined her bites for the restaurant's main entrance.




The Barn Restaurant is perhaps one of the most aptly named businesses in the region. It is literally an old barn converted into a charming eating establishment. Interestingly, one of the barns shorter sides sports a glass facade, which provides dining visitors with a wonderful view of a farm pond and a hilly country backdrop.






A small visitor’s center greeted us just past the main entrance. I was of the impression that this area was created with children in mind. A miniature train located near the log ceiling would cheerily begin its circuits whenever a particular red button was pushed. Of course whenever the Lehman children were in this room, said button was depressed and the train was in perpetual motion! Similar activities included a beehive display, a gigantic, community built puzzle depicting the Manhattan sky, and various antique farm equipment with interpretive signs.


We were introduce to Marty Starkey, the kindly and informative Executive Director of the Wayne County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. I cannot stress enough the importance of speaking with a representative of a local visitor’s bureau when exploring an area for the first time. Of course this breaches the protocol of manliness, particularly where asking for directions is concerned. However, and this has been our experience, you will spend way too much time driving around aimlessly and turning around in frustration without knowledge of the area. Of course a popular alternative is to cram your glove box full of brochures whilst yelling at the poor person in the passenger’s seat who is only trying to make sense of the 1” x 1” map printed on the back of these little publications. I have suffered many a wicked paper cut from my wife who has used the edge of these brochures to swipe at me in true Game of Thrones-like fashions.


If you want to envelop yourself in the culture and feel of a place, one has to be willing to seek out a local. Otherwise, you are just an automaton marching in step with other families, window shopping the sidewalks of Main Street U.S.A. For us, Marty was just that local. A walking, talking, smiling plethora of  knowledge; here before us stood a lady devoted to getting our little family a well rounded taste of Wayne county. The fun little twist of our adventures, would be that most of our stops would be a bit off the beaten path.


Our nice talk with Marty only served to enrage the beast that is my son’s stomach. After exchanging “so longs” with the Director, it was time to turn our attention to the hostess. En route, we passed the establishments famous “Old Time Salad Wagon”. As I purused the conestoga wagon of culinary options, my daughter whom I was carrying at this point murmured something resembling “Mommy” through her binkie. It was then that I noticed that Sara and Rolf were being seated, while the kind waitress gave me a patient look.   


The Barn Restaurant has a menu full of country delights. As our visit fell in the lunchtime range, the entrees included large portions served with fresh local farm vegetables. Their kid’s menu (and accompanying crayons), provided quick, fun options for our goblins who typically chant “CHICKEN AND FRIES” when we are in an eatery. Of course this chant always seems amplified, particularly when we are seeking to minimize humiliation.


The wife and I have been working on a formula that baffles us, much like a mathematician struggles with 𝛑. The enigma is this: when is it best to order a meal for your children? When the day is long and the blood sugar is low, it seems wise to “preorder” your kids food so that the torture of them having to actually talk to you isn’t as taxing. The benefits of this choice is that your little ones get their plate a bit sooner than Mom and Dad. The downfall of this system is that your little ones get their plate a bit sooner than Mom and Dad. In other words, this gives them more time to declare that they hate what you ordered. Or, in the case of my son’s favorite stunt, eat his chicken and fries as if he is a competitive eater. This is always followed up with everyone’s favorite line, “let's go now, Dad.”


Fortunately, my children ate.
After settling the bill and tip, it was time to turn our attention to the outdoor activities that we spied on our way in, Similarly, the picturesque view of the restaurant served to tease us of the fun to come.


It wasn’t too difficult to discern that the local waterfowl are fed, and well! As I was bent over Harper, elbow deep in another diaper deposit, we were approached by both a wood duck and a Canada Goose. However, there expression soon registered something resembling confusion. They wisely chose to remain a few feet away, likely in fear of being diapered amongst their peers.


We purchased feed from quarter machines and made our way around to a gazebo, a walkway of which, jutted out into a pond. The fish were as ravenous as the geese, and our little ones enjoyed the interaction. That is of course until the feed and quarters run out. Luckily, there was a toy store on the premises.


To reach Toyrifix, all one need do is put down that duck feed, and head a matter of yards across the parking lot. This was a stroll that was welcome by all. I lagged behind so as to discreetly adjust my belt one notch. In doing so, I saw in passing a farmhouse with signage proclaiming it: The Buchanan Place. This I would later read, along with an olde time confection store, The Oak Cupboard, as well as the aforementioned Barn Restaurant, served to compromise the Barn Restaurant Shops as a whole. Since we had just eaten and had no desire to chase children within a shop full of breakables, we kept stepping.




Toyrifix has a fun, museum-like atmosphere to it. Most of the toys had a sample for children to play with. A rather neat way to diminish purchase regret. Sara and I exchanged Clint Eastwood nods in appreciation. Here were toys we remembered from our own childhoods. As my son delighted in Legos and stuffed animals, Harper and I spent some time spinning a Snake Top. This throwback from the seventies features a toy serpent which disappears and reemerges from an old school wooden top. I spied my wife gleefully in the girlie aisle.


I also spent way too much time contemplating the purchase of a toy submarine. I fondly recall receiving one of these beauties in a box of cereal back in my youth. The idea is to fill the little U-Boat with a concoction of baking soda, vinegar, and approximately thirty-four other chemicals. The results were that said sub would sink and rise hauntingly in your water glass for half a minute. It was, of course, unfortunate that the craft would then live out the rest of its days amongst corn-on-the-cob holders in the dish drainer.


Of course, those weren’t the only “blast from the past” toys to assault our senses. The shelves are stocked with treasures such as the Uncle Wiggily Board Game, wooden Labyrinths, Frontier Logs, Ant Farms and Jack-in-the-boxes. The merchandise within harkened back to a simpler time, whereas devices with wi-fi connection hadn’t yet gained control over our children’s imaginations.However, it is interesting to note that a good deal of the toys within Toyrifix are scientifically themed. In other words, parents back in the day also wanted their children to have a fun playing experience, whilst learning something in the process.


In the end, our little ewoks chose a dolly and a Lego contraption as their souvenirs. As Sara squared up the bill, I grabbed the kids, gave the Snake Top another spin and headed for the door.


Overall, our experience at the Barn Restaurant Shops was good. We took some nice photos of our visit, and Rolf and Harper are (as of this writing) still fond of that Lego set and a doll baby. I could only hope that residents of nearby Wooster appreciate this little nook within their backyard.


As for the Lehmans, we were sold the minute we stepped into the restaurant lobby. As we took in the kid-friendly environment, my children were approached by the host. Until our entrance, this kindly man had been standing vigilant guard over the daily specials board. He asked Rolf and Harper if they would like to see the Queen Bee. He then proceeded to lead them to the Honeybee display, and sure enough, to the delight of our six and two-year-olds, he quickly pointed her out to us. This guy clearly did this not as a work requirement, but because he was a thoughtful person who wanted to share his knowledge with our kids. I like to think that this is a reflection of Wayne County Hospitality.


As for us? We packed up, took Marty’s recommendations and headed to the first stop on the list: Kid’s Day in Downtown Wooster. But that as they say...is another story.


The Barn Restaurant Shops are located at:
877 West Main Street
Smithville, Ohio  44677
(330) 669-2555


GPS Coordinates
Latitude: 40.85672109999999
Longitude: -81.8706656
Lehman: :{)


Our friend Martha Starkey is the Executive Director of the Wayne County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Located at:
428 West Liberty
Wooster, Ohio  44691
(330) 264-1800


GPS Coordinates
Latitude: 40.7970534
Longitude: -81.94697819999999

Lehman: :)

Glowing Night Lights (No Electric!)

These glow in the dark jars are a fun diy to make with the kids. They are perfect for a night light that comes together in one minute or less, with only 2 supplies!




 My son Rolf is 9 now. He is so curious and eager to learn. One night last week it was storming and he was worried about losing power, and how he could sleep in the dark. So we took to the kitchen to whip up some super simple glowing jars which were perfect for a night light!



This post contains affiliate or sponsored links.

I used tonic water and glow in the dark powder to create this jar. It couldn't be easier to make!
If you have a black light fixture, you can skip the glow in the dark powder as tonic water naturally glows under a black light. 

Tonic water contains quinine which absorbs ultraviolet light, causing it to glow.

Directions:
Fill a mason jar with tonic water
Add 1 teaspoon of glow in the dark powder
Stir
Replace the lid.
Allow to charge under a light for a moment and watch it glow!




Find more cool DIY Ideas here

You might also like this easy glow in the dark necklace.

Green Button Tree Kid Made Ornaments


Making a handmade ornament with the kids can be a lot of fun for the holiday season! These button trees are so easy to make and adorable for gifting something handmade from the heart this Christmas. Everyone loves a kid made ornament to display on their tree! 


Last weekend I found a great deal on dyed craft sticks! 80 for $1. What a bargain! This inspired us to make a ton of fun craft stick ornaments to share this holiday season. I am going to be bringing them to you, so that you can make something cute with your kids to share with friends and family.



These kid made Christmas ornaments came together in just a few moments. We used hot glue for instant gratification, but you can use white or PVA glue if you have patience!

You will need:
4 craft sticks, I used green.
Buttons
4" of  thin ribbon
3" of thin ribbon
One small bell
Glue

 Make a triangle shape and glue it together.
With your remaining stick, cut it in half. This will be your tree base. Glue it on the bottom.


Glue buttons on to the tree in any pattern you prefer. We used blue and green for this ornament and loved the way it turned out!


Flip the tree over. Thread a small bell on the 4" section of thin ribbon. With the bell in the center, glue it on the tree so that it dangles to the middle section of the tree.

With the other 3" of thin ribbon make the loop for hanging from the tree!

Now your button tree ornament is finished. Hang it from your tree, attach it to a wrapped gift, or share with someone special!




This was a cute and fun project to make with Rolf. We love kid made ornaments and have several other variations of this to show you over the coming weeks. From my family to yours; Happy Holidays!

Tree Silhouette Place-Mat Craft

Once school starts, I am ready for fall. Bring on the warm days and cool nights, the changing of leaves and all things pumpkin!  If my family isn't home together enjoying summer break, let's move on to the next best thing- FALL!

Mr. Sweet Silly Sara had to return to work to get the school library set up and ready for the students on Monday. Rolf has another week before he is officially in school. We are trying to make the most of these lazy end of summer days together.

Yesterday morning, the kids and I were restless. It was cool outside and the grass was very wet with dew, so we decided to savor the time and let the sunshine do its thing to warm the day up and dry the grass before we headed out to play.

To make the waiting more enjoyable we decided to get crafty and make this great tree silhouette placemat. This was so easy to make and my son did a great job on his! I knew I had to share this with you guys!



To make a placemat with your kids, you will need to gather a few basic supplies and then let your creativity flow.



Supplies needed:

2 pieces of transparent contact paper, cut to 5" wide and 8" long sections.
Assorted construction paper in the colors of your choice. We used black, pink, purple and blue.

Instructions:
Begin by having the kids tear up the construction paper into small squares and strips.


Keep the colors separated for easy application of colors.
Next, you will want to carefully peel the back off of one section of contact paper.
Lay it sticky side up.
With a few strips of black paper, make the outline of the tree.





Next, begin applying more strips of paper around the tree. We made our tree placemat to look like the sun was setting, with the colors we often see in the evening sky.



Continue to stick your strips of construction paper to the sticky side of the contact paper.



After you have filled in all of the blank space on the contact paper, peel the backing off of the other section of contact paper. Only expose a small strip! This will make it so much easier to line up.


After you have lined up the beginning of contact paper section #2 to the first section, begin peeling the backing away while smoothing the first second section onto the first. {Does that make sense?!}

Then you have an easy to wipe off and very handy placemat for your little ones!



My son loved that he MADE this place mat. It was so much more important to him than the ones we have that came from a store! I loved how it turned out! It is such a lovely work of art!

This project is great because it is affordable to make. You could make 6 or 7 of these at least for a mere $2 if you buy your supplies at Dollar Tree.

It is also a great way to get your kids using fine motor skills. They will develop the small muscles of the hand with the action of tearing paper. This later plays into handwriting skills among other things.

Asides from that huge benefit, making place mats with your kids offers them the chance to express their creativity and make something they can use and admire and feel proud of!

You might also enjoy this Lemonade Craft idea!



Fun With the Kids: The Rennaissance Teddy Bear concert Series

My family is always looking for something fun to do with the kids! Lucky for us, we live in Ohio! There are so many things to do in this state! From parks and museums; to the Lake {We have some major #LakeErieLove in this family!}; to the events that are ideal for families!

Next weekend on April 3rd we will be heading to the Renaissance in historic downtown Mansfield to see a really adorable performance with Roo and Harper! They are so excited about the Teddy Bear Concert: The Emperors New Clothes. Let me tell you a little more about this performance and why you are going to want to head into Mansfield for the event!


This show is a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series. It is the perfect way to introduce your kids to theater and live performances. This performance will feature a woodwind trio playing popular and classical selections along with an interactive puppet retelling of the Emperor's New Clothes with actors Maddie Beer and Colton Penwell. My kids are incredibly excited! 

The show begins at 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 3rd. Of course, doors open an hour before the start of the show. If you are worried about price, don't be! This show is incredibly affordable! Tickets start at $10. 

Have you ever taken your kids to a play? How did it go? We have taken Rolf to a few when he was a toddler. He did really well with sitting and watching! Harper has not been to the theater yet, but I anticipate that she is going to love the Teddy Bear Concert! 


15+ Halloween Books for Toddlers


Don't miss our Halloween reading list for little ones! Rolf and Harp hand picked most of these 15+ Halloween Books for Toddlers. These are some of the ones they remember liking the most when they were "babies". 

From colorful picture books to touch and feel titles, this list has a Halloween book for every toddler! Please be advised that I am participant in the Amazon affiliate program. If you make a purchase I earn a small advertising fee, which helps keep the site up and running!



Where Is Baby's Pumpkin? (Karen Katz Lift-the-Flap Books)
Little hands will love exploring this lift the flap book and helping baby find her very own pumpkin!


My First Halloween
With warm and friendly illustrations this book focuses on the moments that become memories for families.



Hoot Howl Halloween
It is Halloween night and the moon is bright, as your little one discovers the haunted house, they can press a button to activate one of ten spooky sounds.



Babies Love Halloween: Lift-a-Flap Board Book
This book offers a fun way to practice sentence structuring while introducing Halloween to little learners with the fun of discovering what lies under the flaps of the book!




Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
Biscuit visits the pumpkin patch. What could he find there besides the perfect pumpkin? Toddlers will love the friendly surprises that await in this book!



Little Blue Truck's Halloween
Hop in and go for a ride with Little Blue as he picks up his friends for a costume party! Toddlers will love lifting the flaps to see who is in the costumes!

Related: Paper Plate Spiders




Llama Llama Trick or Treat (Llama Llama Board Books)
Llama Llama picks out a costume, finds a great pumpkin and heads out with Mama Llama for a fun night of trick or treating!


Disney Baby My First Halloween
This board book is perfect for little ones. It has friendly Halloween images and touch and feel elements for an engaging experience.



Winnie the Pooh Pooh's Halloween Pumpkin
While walking in the hundred acre woods, Pooh finds a marvelous pumpkin. Toddlers will love what Pooh and friends do with it!



Halloween ABC
This book gives kids a chance to practice their abc's with a festive touch!





Little Cat: Finger Puppet Book 
This little book has a lot of fun hidden in the pages with a little finger puppet friend to help tell the story.

Related: Glam Pumpkins


  

Little Friends: Trick or Treat: A lift-the-flap book
Tag along with some little friends for trick or treat fun! Little hands will love to discover what is hiding behind the flaps.



The Cheerios Halloween Play Book
A snack and an activity that are perfect for Halloween fun await toddlers with this book!




Boo! (Leslie Patricelli Board Books)
This book covers all of the bases for fun with costumes, pumpkins, treats and a boo or two!




Pop-Up Peekaboo! Pumpkin
This fun lift the flap book is packed with pop up surprises. Toddlers will enjoy this friendly book.

What is your toddlers favorite Halloween book? Leave a comment to inspire young readers everywhere!