Ready to explore? Let's get started, perhaps you will find an idea to share with your own kids next week…..
This is my absolute favourite photo of the week because I turned around on the verandah and had to just stop for a moment and watch children engaged and playing happily in lots of different spaces around the yard…and this is what I have been working towards with the building of our outdoor playspace.
It's still a work in progress obviously but the kids are enjoying it and that's what counts!
We had some fun with slime and mixing colours. We started off with thick slime and then added some water to make it thinner. If you want to give it a try you can find my recipe here. It's so easy to do but will always give you a better texture if left overnight to thicken.
I added a few animals and some cooking bits and pieces and there was soon lots of sensory and imaginary play occurring without any input from me!
If you put the slime into a container with a lid you will be able to keep it for quite a few more plays….very budget friendly and so many ways to explore with this resource!
It's always lots of fun to watch them scratching around and it gives us an opportunity to discuss how composting and recycling can provide us with the food we like to eat. Collecting the eggs also helps the children understand where eggs come from!
There was lots of concentration as they tried to fill the egg carton cups with water from the droppers, a great activity for fine motor skills, spatial awareness and coordination.
They also extended the activity to using the droppers to paint some of the little wooden blocks we have in the yard. They get used for so many things but they look extra special now!
There was some balancing fun on the planks and child led games including jumping into hoops they set up on the ground and throwing balls through the old birdcage stand while standing still on the planks. This game works well with beanbags too!
Tara decided to extend the activity by using some of the water from the hand washing bucket to make a little bath for the elephant and a few other animals. Lots of washing, pouring and imaginary play.
It really is amazing what can happen if you allow children the time to fully explore their play and ‘work'.
These are just a few of the favourites from our week….
Here are some more ideas from some fantastic Aussie bloggers to get you started!
- You could create some lovely Nature Art using these ideas from Danya Banya
- The Craft Train shares a free printable template to help the kids create beautiful Spring Butterflies
- Childhood 101 have been exploring adding sensory elements to playdough and share an easy recipe for Funfetti Playdough
- Open ended play materials are a must have in a child's play environment and Triple T Mum shares 14 Open Ended Materials for Toddler play to get you inspired!
- Creative Play Central has lots of fun ideas using contact to share…I especially love the Contact covered blocks
- Paging Fun Mums shows us how to make some fantastic DIY Sponge Paintbrushes I love creating things myself for the kids to play with!
- Like Montessori? You must explore this list of DIY fine motor activities from Racheous Lovable Learning
- Learn with Play at Home shares some great ideas for creating an Invitation to Paint Big!
- Want some music play ideas? Check out this fab collection on Octavia & Vicky
What a fabulous early learning play space you are providing for the children, Jode! All that hard work and planning are all coming together. His patient self is just the bees knees with all the little additions that his creative wife has come up with 😉
That looks like a lot of fun ideas. You know my sensory seeker would just LOVE it at your house.