Homemade Finger Paints
Posted: June 19, 2011 Filed under: Art & Healing, Child Centered Activities, In the Kitchen 1 CommentA great recipe I found online – with my own tweaks added in:
2 TB sugar
1/3 C cornstarch
2 C cold water
1/4 C clear liquid dish soap
food coloring or food gel
Mix sugar with cornstarch and slowly add water. Cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until mixture thickens and becomes semi-translucent. Once cooled, add dish soap (helps keep colors from staining – though still take precautions with clothes, etc.), then portion into desired containers and mix in the colors. In addition to fingers and paintbrush, collect some non-traditional tools (feathers, sticks, Q-tips, etc.) for your little one to explore with.
Five Weeks Later (see May 10th posting)
Posted: June 13, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs 3 Comments
Snap Peas
Arugula
Onions
More arugula to the left, snaps up top and carrots in center
A little green thumb inspects her first carrot tops
Some tomato starters from Farmer Martha
Strawberry Moon
Posted: June 12, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm Leave a commentWith the full moon coming on the 15th, the strawberries are getting big (this photo taken at Farmer Martha’s). Soon we go picking!
Our Garden is Growing
Posted: May 24, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs 1 CommentOnion starters in foreground, snap peas mid-way and mixed greens and arugula at far end!
Planting Seeds
Posted: May 10, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs 2 CommentsThis weekend we planted spinach, sugar snap and carrot seeds and transplanted our mixed green and arugula sprouts. In another month or so we will plant cucumber, patty pan squash, brussel sprout and pumpkins seeds along with tomato starters. Farmer Martha has some extra eggplant starters so we’ll add those to the collection. Our little one walked around saying “Good hepper (helper), good hepper”.
Building Our Garden Together
Posted: May 2, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs 1 Comment
Taking turns making marks
Working together to turn the soil
Prepping the wood to raise the bed
Picking up yard of compost
Working the compost into the soil
One more yard of soil and we’ll be ready to plant seeds
The Chicks Are Growing!
Posted: May 1, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm Leave a comment
Day 11- arugula and mixed greens
Posted: April 28, 2011 Filed under: Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs Leave a comment
Compromising
Posted: April 26, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities 1 CommentMy toddler likes the sound of ripping paper. It took me quite a few book burials to realize this. However since my epiphany (several melt downs later) we have turned our attention to a strongly loved freezer box in the middle of her room. After we took delivery of a chest freezer, the box became a playhouse. We made a door, cut windows, stuck stickers, and made marks. Next E, our daughter, decided it should lie on its side. This worked for quite some time, allowing her access from more than one spot. Soon most of her toy and stuffed animal collection could be found in there.
Once on its side, the box also worked as a slide. Such fun! Well, the poor structure is nearly collapsed as the slide phase pretty much wore it out.
E’s latest desire to rip and shred has helped us identify another use for the box while also addressing how books are for reading. Now we stop our talk and listen to the sound of the paper as it separates and tears. What happens when the box is shredded? I guess we’ll figure that out when we get there – together.
Breaking Ground
Posted: April 25, 2011 Filed under: Child Centered Activities, Farming off the Farm, Little Green Thumbs Leave a comment
an Art Farm 