hands on : as we grow: 2011-04-24

30 Moves for Excess Energy!

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Henry has always been a child with lots and lots of energy.

He took his first steps at 8.5 months.

He always runs instead of walks.

He spins instead of stands.

He climbs.

Coloring bores him.

Crafts spend too much time sitting.

Henry simply likes to move.

I am learning to ~~deal with~~ embrace the energy instead of trying to hinder it.

Here are 4 ways to move

that we've done to help with the

endless amount of energy:

Rolling (or kicking) Eggs and Ball Painting
Balloons!
Egg Hunt
Bubble Pop Road

Free Play: Rolling Eggs and Ball Painting

Build a road with Bubble Wrap and hear the pops!

There's even more Energetic Activities that we've done -- so browse around!

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Be sure to check out yesterday's It's Playtime posts for lots of ways to play.

Science@Home is featured with lots of Body Games!

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Here are 26 more ways to help out with that excess energy:

	<< Get Rolling Moving Smart Paint with your Feet >> The Imagination Tree
	<< Drive with Hula Hoops Sharin' with Sharron Tumble and Wrestle >> Sharin' with Sharron
	<< Mop with your Socks Quirky Momma Play Musical Chairs (with cards) >> Quirky Momma
	<< Indoor Activity Course Messy Kids Obstacle Course >> Imagination Soup
	<< Pretend to be Animals Toddler Approved Puddle Jump >> The Adventures of Bear
	<< Have Target Practice Playfully Learning Build a Rope Bridge >> Let the Children Play
	<< Jump Boards Kleas Play Ball >> Irresistable Ideas for Play Based Learning
	<< Hopscotch Creativity My Passion Create Big Bubbles >> Come Together Kids
	<< Fly a Kite Maya Made Run Down a Hill >> Go Explore Nature
	<< Just Get Outside I can teach my child! Go for a Ride >> Steady Mom
	<< Climb at the Playground Can you Come Outside to Play? Hop and Pop >> Inspiration Sounds Creativity Abounds
	<< Jump on the Bed Really, Are You Serious? Dance! >> Squiggle Mum
	<< Go on a Nature Color Walk Sense of Wonder Exercise Cube >> Little Family Fun

How do your kids burn off all their energy?

More collections of play ideas!

-- Henry is 3 years old --

-- George is 7 months old --

Labels: Activities, Activities for Preschoolers, Energetic Activities, preschool, Preschool Activities, roundup

It's Playtime! : Move That Body!

Science@Home had a great post linked up to last week's It's Playtime:

Body Games!

These games are played with just your body! They all really encourage play in children of all ages!

We are very active in this house

and do many of these games on a regular basis:

Running!

Wrestling!

Tickling!

Some games that I'm most excited to try:

Rolling downhills!

Leap Frog!

Clapping games!

[I'm may have to brush up on some of these first!]

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What do you do to get your kids moving?

Link up your latest or favorite post about play with the kids!

[Anything play-based and creative goes!]

It's Playtime is hosted by:

Rachel : Quirky Momma

Anna : The Imagination Tree

Rachele :Messy Kids

Jamie : hands on : as we grow

Jenny : let the children play (give a big welcome -- she's joining us in hosting our playdate!)

How to Play:

Include only posts that encourage play and creativity in children.
Link up at any of the above hosts and it'll show up in all the blogs, no need to link up on every one.
Link up as many posts as you'd like, just be sure you haven't linked it up here before!
By posting a link below, you are giving me your permission to use the link and one image to feature it in a future post. I also love to share the best play-based posts on Facebook!

Grab the button.

Invite someone to play!

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Labels: Activities for Preschoolers, It's Playtime, preschool, Preschool Activities

Exploring Baby Food

Last week on It's Playtime! I featured some baby things to do.

The pudding fingerpaint [from Girl in Air] stuck in my mind.

A friend of mine commented on Facebook about using baby food, too!

That's just what I did.

George was fussy one afternoon while Henry was napping.

After failing all attempts to make him happy [feeding, diaper, napping]

I strapped him in his high chair

and poured some leftover peaches on the tray.

I was having a snack, so I crumbled some muffin on the tray as well.

Crying instantly stopped!

George squished, smeared and smashed the food.

Exploring the textures

Stacking : Trial & Error

As we were playing the other day,

I looked over,

and saw Henry building this:

I was quite impressed!

Those are skinny blocks and they stood as tall as him!

I'm not quite sure what they are exactly, or where we even got them.

But this could easily be done with any kind of box.

The thinner and taller the block, the harder it is.

I noticed as Henry was stacking them,

he began counting them as he put them on.

Easter Egg Hunt

A few of the family kids [all boys!] got together on Easter

and did a quick egg hunt in the back yards.

It was great to get outside.

I have to 'fess up and say I didn't make the Outdoors in April challenges.

This last week has been hectic with Easter at the bakery and the boys having colds,

along with the weather being pretty crappy,

we just didn't make it outside much at all.

Here, the boys are off to find the eggs!

Photo Project 365 : [107-113]

I missed a couple photos this week...

the kids have had a little cold.

But we've still kept busy,

what have we been doing?

[106] Repeat for Saturday, April 16 I made this wedding cake! [no photo for Sunday]
[108] Monday, April 18 George loves to stand - though he's very wobbly!
[109] Tuesday, April 19 Henry took a break from one of our activities to draw.
[110] Wednesday, April 20 Cleaning up after egg dying. Super serious!
[111] Thursday, April 21 Some quick airplane flying! Henry made this airplane! [Check back later this week for the post about it!] [no photo for Friday]
[113] Saturday, April 22 Curious George? He's not a monkey, but he is very curious. [I may change that statement in a year.]