The Mom I Want to Be

Heuristic Play

Heuristic (hewr-iss-tisk) play enables children to discover and learn things for themselves. It works so well because toddlers learn best from doing and experimenting with their environment. And it is a very enjoyable free toddler game too.

Examples of heuristic play objects:

• Natural objects: shells, pebbles, driftwood, pine cones, fallen leaves, conkers, natural sponges, corks.

• Wooden objects: clothes pegs, large curtain rings, wooden egg cups, spoons, rolling pin, sanded down wooden off-cuts.

• Metal objects: Lengths of metal chain, different sizes of spoons, metal beakers, brass curtain rings, bunches of keys, metal bowls, tea strainers, whisks, empty tins, bells, muffin tins.

• Leather, textile, rubber objects: coloured ribbons, leather or suede baby shoes, flannels, empty leather purses, rubber gloves, rubber doorstops, leather glasses cases.

• Paper objects: paper bags, cardboard tubes, egg boxes, the insides of rolls of sticky tape, pieces of greaseproof paper, small cardboard boxes, pieces of wrapping paper. (Remember to take the sticky tape off so he doesn’t swallow it.)

Keep these items in separate containers for each category.

At a time when your toddler is alert and awake, create a space free of furniture and toys. Place about three categories of items in piles dotted around the room or garden. Find a few small bags, tins, boxes and baskets. You can dot them around the area or place them in another pile.

Invite your toddler to play with the objects.

Sit back and relax. 😉 Enjoy the show. Only interact for safety reasons, unless he invites you into his play, of course. After about 45 minutes or when he’s had enough, tidy up together, putting the categories of objects into separate boxes or bags. This sorting practice is another free toddler game and she will certainly consider it a game too!

Astronomy Day is a grass roots movement designed to share the joy of astronomy with the general population – “Bringing Astronomy to the People.” On Astronomy Day, thousands of people who have never looked through a telescope will have an opportunity to see first hand what has so many amateur and professional astronomers all excited. Astronomy clubs, science museums, observatories, universities, planetariums, laboratories, libraries, and nature centers host special events and activities to acquaint their population with local astronomical resources and facilities. Many of these events are located at non-astronomical sites; shopping malls, parks, urban centers—truly Bringing Astronomy to the People. It is an astronomical PR event that helps highlight ways the general public can get involved with astronomy – or at least get some of their questions about astronomy answered. Astronomy Week encompasses Astronomy Day starting on the previous Monday and ending on the following Sunday.

Children are fascinated by the nighttime sky. As the weather gets warmer, set up a couple of beach chairs in your back yard when it gets dark. Spend some time together just gazing at the moon and stars. If you are lucky, you might see a falling star! Be sure to make a wish.

Cereal Box Crafts: Notepads

• cereal boxes or other cardboard
• Mod podge (I used matte)
• Wide thin paintbrush
• 2 large binder clips
• 2 paint stir sticks
• Exacto Knife & ruler or Paper cutter
• Paper

First of all decide what size your notepad will be based on the paper you have. You can use notecards, an existing notepad, binder paper or cut up some paper from an old composition book. Using a paper cutter or an Exacto knife with a straight edge cut your paper the size you want it. Look through all of the boxes you have and then cut out the cardboard box to fit the same size as your paper you just cut. Cut one for the front of your notepad and one for the back using a paper cuter or Exacto knife with a ruler. Sandwich the paper in between your two cardboard cereal boxes you cut out. Line them up all nicely shifting them in place until the top or side edge (depending on what side you plan on gluing) is even. Place the paint stir stick on the front and back of your notepad and secure the binder clip on top. This will hold the book in place while you bind the top with glue. Remove one of the binder clips and apply an even medium coat of Mod Podge on the edge. Move the binder clip to the side your just glued being careful to make sure the top is not touching your glue. Do the other side. Let it dry. Repeat the process two more times for a total of three coats. When dry remove clips and stir sticks and enjoy! Give them as a gift or pop one in your purse for a handy way to jot down notes. Give them to your child in a restaurant to doodle.

This year for teacher appreciation week we will be giving each teacher a “days of the week” pill box filled with little treats and sayings. I found the pill boxes at the dollar store.

You may download the sayings if you like –

teacher-appreciation-sayings

teacher-appreciation-sayings

(I didn’t use the “We are lucky to have you for a teacher” saying. It would go nicely with a lottery ticket!)

Fabric covered tacks fill one of the compartments to tell them they are sharp!

I used Jessica Jones’ fabulous instructions to make the fabric covered thumbtacks

Some purchased colorful clips fill the next compartment

Next up marble magnets

These are simple to make with glass gems (floral department at the craft store), E600 craft adhesive, a 3/4 inch hole punch, 3/4 inch magnets and decorative scrapbook paper, wrapping paper and or magazine scraps. First punch out a circle and glue it to the back of the glass gem. I removed air bubbles by moving paper in a circular motion to distribute glue evenly and then pressing hard. Allow to set. Next glue the magnet to the back of your papered gem. I found it necessary to sort my glass gems to find the largest ones with no scratches or imperfections. If your glass gems are smaller try using a 1/2 inch hole punch and 1/2 inch magnets.

A measuring tape tells our teacher that they really measure up

Change for the soda machine fills another compartment

Small little post-it notes (the kind for marking a page) just fit to say, “Just a note to let you know we think you are a wonderful teacher!”

Some mints to say thank you

Wrapped all up with a little gift tag that reads:

A daily gift for all you do,
Teaching my child each day through.
Making a difference without taking a rest,
As a teacher, you’re one of the best!

teacher-appreciation-gift-tag-for-pill-box

Hopefully our teachers will feel appreciated each day!

• 1 cup of used coffee ground
• 1/2 cup of cold coffee
• 1 cup of flour (can also use a combo of cornstarch)
• 1/2 cup of salt
• Wax paper
• Mixing bowl
• Some small objects to make impressions in the dough (Shaped cookie cutters work well, leaves, stones, or impressions from plastic dinosaurs)
• Empty can or a butter knife
• Toothpicks, optional
• String to hang your fossil, optional

Stir the together the coffee grounds, cold coffee, flour, and salt until well mixed. Knead the dough together and then flatten it out onto the waxed paper. Use the can to cut out circles of the dough or use the dull knife to cut slabs large enough to fit your “fossil” objects. Press your objects firmly into the dough. When you take the object out, you have your “fossil”. If you want to hang the fossil, poke holes into the edge to hold the string. Let the fossil dry overnight (and up to two days) and then hang it if you wish. Tips:To reduce the drying time, bake the fosils for a short period of time to get the “dough” to harden.

George Washington, often recognized as exceptionally honest, was inaugurated on this day in 1789. Open a discussion about honesty with your child. Remember though, that a child of four still has some developmental limitations for processing certain things. For example, he is beginning to know the difference between right and wrong, is showing a growing ability to distinguish real-life from make-believe, and will tell tall tales, but cannot always distinguish between honesty and dishonesty. This is very normal. So, knowing this, Ask him or her to explain to you what telling the truth is and what telling a lie is. Gently correct any misconceptions. Remember that the most effective means of teaching your child to be honest is to model honesty yourself! This website has some wonderful ideas about how to teach the lesson of honesty.

Modern zipper invented by Gideon Sindback in 1917.

Zippers are not the easiest thing for a little person to tackle. Be patient as you help your little one to practice. One way to help him or her along is with a toy or book that comes complete with its own sturdy zipper to slide up and down. Check out the book Zippers, Buttons and Bows by Moira Butterfield, Peter Utton, and Karen Fung. Not only will you find a real zipper inside, but other tricky fasteners as well.

Oregon celebrates Arbor “day” for the first full week in April each year.

Arbor Day is dedicated to learning about, planting, and caring for trees. Plant a tree in your backyard with your child. Take a photo of him or her standing next to the tree each year and you will have a unique record of your youngster’s growth. You could also donate a tree to a public park or garden, or visit a botanical garden to observe a vast variety of trees, from mighty oaks to miniature bonsai. For more information about Arbor Day, go to: http://www.arborday.org/