Category: Activities

Materials
1 box of spaghetti
Large plastic bin
Scoops, bowls, small pans, etc

Directions
Cook a small box of spaghetti.  Drain and rinse the spaghetti with tepid water to help cool it down.  Place the spaghetti in a large bin big enough to fit your baby who is able to sit up on her own.  Add small scoops, spoons, bowls, etc. to the bin and gently sit your baby in the bin.  Your baby will enjoy exploring the  smell of the pasta, and feeling its warmth and slipperiness.  

Have fun!

Materials

Large white poster board
3-4 colors of tempera paint

Directions

On a rainy day, under a covered area, invite your child to put drops of tempera paint onto the poster board. Move the poster board out into the rain and watch what happens to the colors as the rain “paints pictures” and blends the colors together – no paint brush necessary! 

Materials

Coffee filters
Blue and yellow waterbased markers
Spray water bottle
Newspaper
Construction paper
Green paper for leaves and stems
Fringed green paper for grass

Directions

Cover table surface with newspaper.  Invite your child to color all over the coffee filter using blue and yellow markers.  Spray the colored coffee filter with water using a spray bottle.  What happens to the two colors?  What new color can be seen on the coffee filter?

Once the coffee filters have dried, cut flower shapes from the filters.  Glue to a large piece of construction paper.  Add green stems and fringed green paper for the grass.

Ingredients 

2 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt 
1 cup assorted berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, chopped strawberries) 
5 pretzel rods, halved, or 10 baked snack stick crackers 

Make It 

1. In a large bowl gently stir together the yogurt and fruit. Spoon into 4-ounce ice-pop molds or 3-ounce paper cups. Cover molds or cups with foil; use a sharp knife to cut a small hole in the foil and insert cut side of pretzel rod or snack stick. Freeze until firm. Remove foil and mold or cup before serving. 
2. Store for up to a month. Makes 6 pops.

Materials

White construction paper
White crayons
Watercolor paints
Sponge paintbrush
Cup of water

Directions

Invite your child to draw on the white contruction paper using white crayons only. Then, using a sponge paint brush, show your child how to dip the brush in water first and then into a color of paint. Brush over the top of the white paper. Observe your child’s reaction as she watches the paint resist where the white crayon was used. Older children enjoy writing secret messages on the paper. Dry and display.

Materials

Large tub of water
Cups, funnels
Colander

Directions

Invite your child to explore in the tub of water. Hold up the colander and invite him to pour water into the colander. What happens?  Feel the drops of water come out of the holes in the colander. Does it feel like rain? Is the colander like a cloud when it has too much moisture?

Materials

Pot with clear lid
Water
Hot plate or stove

Directions

After introducing the concept of a water cycle, boil water in a pan. Allow your child to see the water droplets forming on the lid of the pan. Be careful not to let your child touch the pan. See the “cloud” of steam escape from the pan when the lid is lifted? Observe the water droplets fall from the lid back into the water pan. You child will love learning about the water cycle!

Materials

Large Zip-loc baggie (1 or 2 gallon-size)
Baby oil
Water
Blue food coloring
Clear duct tape or packing tape

Directions

In a liquid measuring cup, place 1/4 cup water.  Add several drops of blue food coloring and mix. Pour the blue water into the Zip-loc baggie. Add 2 tablespoons of baby oil to the water. Zip the baggie closed and reinforce all edges using clear duct tape. This also helps secure the bag to the table. Invite your child to explore using fingers across the baggie.  Observe how the oil and water don’t mix.

Lesson Extension

Place See Thru Buttons or shapes in primary colors in the baggie. Observe what happens when blue buttons or shapes are moved on top of yellow buttons or shapes.

Materials
Sponges or art foam
Gallon Ziploc bag
Blue food coloring
Duct tape

Directions
Cut some fish shapes out of clean kitchen sponges and slip them into a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag.  Fill the bag halfway with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring.  For extra fun, add some glitter and/or shells. Seal the bag and cover the edges with duct tape to be sure it stays closed. Let your baby squeeze the fish and pat the bag while he is seated in his high chair or on the floor with you.