Day: August 9, 2016

Paper Bag Whale

2 Comments

Whale (5)

On the heels of our jellyfish, Travis and I wondered what other sea creatures we could make at home. Would it be possible to turn this plain brown bag into a … great big gray-blue humpback whale?

Whale (1)

The first order of business was to stuff the bag with crumpled newspaper – a sure hit for any toddler. Leave a little room at the end of the bag so you can cinch it closed, tying it shut with string. Give the “tail” a slight rip so it looks even more like a whale’s tail.

Whale (2)

Travis didn’t quite understand what we were aiming at while stuffing the newspaper, thinking he was helping with the trash, but once I presented him with the closed bag and paint, he was so excited to discover we were making a whale. I set out one cup of white paint and one of black, and together we produced a wonderfully gray “humpback.”

Whale (3)

This was by far the largest surface Travis has ever had to cover with paint, and he loved every moment, especially seeing how the white and black interacted.

Whale (4)

I took us off to the park, knowing he’d be impatient for the whale to dry. Once we were home, Mr. Whale had quite a lot of swimming to around the apartment!

Whale (6)

Between the whale and the jellyfish, we’ve certainly had a lot of sea creatures in the house! To continue the fun, I staged a “deep sea dive,” placing blue blankets across two stools as the ocean.

Deep Sea (1)

Underneath, I set up his various bath and beach toys in the shape of sea animals – and then Travis was the scuba diver, diving in to see what treasures he came up with! He was very proud to surface with a fish:

Deep Sea (2)

And, of course, whale. This makes for a great game on summer days when you can’t make it to the actual beach!

Deep Sea (3)

Rainbow Couscous Salad

Leave a comment

Rainbow Couscous Salad

This vibrant summer salad features nearly ever color of the rainbow. Have fun finding the colors while your child eats!

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium zucchini, chopped
  • 1 cup corn kernels
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon agave nectar
  • 1 cup uncooked Israeli couscous
  • 1 cup chopped baby spinach
  • 1 (15-ounce) drained and rinsed can chickpeas
  • 1 cup quartered grape tomatoes
  1. Combine the zucchini, corn, and canola oil in a baking dish; bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together the dressing: combine the olive oil, lemon juice, and agave in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. To cook the couscous, bring 1 and 1/4 cups water to a boil. Add the couscous, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes. In the last minute or two, add the spinach to wilt it slightly.
  4. In a large bowl, combine the zucchini mixture, dressing, couscous mixture, chickpeas, and grape tomatoes, tossing to combine Serve at room temperature.

Toothpick Drop

Leave a comment

Toothpick Drop (5)

This game couldn’t be easier, but is fantastic for developing fine motor skills. It sounds almost too simple to be true, but I promise it will fascinate your toddler. Are you ready for the easy instructions?

Dump a pile of toothpicks on the floor, preferably in a variety of colors:

Toothpick Drop (3)

Give your child an empty spice jar (or any lid with small holes) and show him or her how to drop the toothpicks through the holes.

Toothpick Drop (4)

All cleaned up? Remove the lid, dump out the toothpicks, and start all over again!

Toothpick Drop (2)

If you have colored toothpicks, the game is a great way to talk about various colors as well, or make a game of finding a blue one, etc. Do make sure to supervise this one closely, since toothpicks are sharp!

Toothpick Drop (6)