Day: February 1, 2019

Break Open the Bubbles

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Break Out Bubbles (5)

It’s been so long since Travis was in the bubble-loving phase of toddlerhood that I almost forgot about this classic with Veronika! So today, it was time to break out the bubbles.

I sat her up in a comfortable infant seat, and simply started sending them her way.

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She went from slightly confused to amazed!

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Travis remembered the fun and wanted in on the action, too!

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There’s no need for anything grandiose here; at this age, simply letting the bubbles waft down is enough, and will captive your baby. As they get older, get ready for the reaching and popping to begin!

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To continue the fun, we made sure to check out the bubble room at our local children’s museum. Travis was a great helper making huge bubbles for Veronika to marvel at, whether with wands or pulleys.

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Happy bubbling!

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Go to a Children’s Museum

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Museum (1)

In my ongoing list of places you can take your baby right from the start, don’t rule out a children’s museum. Now that Veronika has had her first round of shots, I’m less leery of taking her to places like this that are full of other kids (and their germs). That said, do exercise good judgement in places where every kid touches everything; make sure big kids, little kids, and parents wash hands; wipe down any surfaces you’re unsure of; and otherwise, have fun!

You might not think an infant will get much out of a children’s museum, but think again. First, many museums have a designated area just for the littlest of the littles, so that’s where we headed first.

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Veronika had free reign in the “baby bathtub” over big trucks and cars, and big bright blocks. Big brother Travis loved making towers for her!

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Beyond this special space, her eyes were wide and amazed watching the big kids play, whether make-believe…

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…or with bubbles…

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…or with instruments.

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Sound exhibits are especially great for babies, since they will benefit from the experience without needing to manipulate anything. Travis and I had fun showing Veronika around a special sonic exhibit at our local museum.

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In sum, infants get in free, get to see and hear tons of new things, and will profit just from soaking in the atmosphere. What’s your favorite thing about your local children’s museum? Please share in the comments!

Homemade Body Paint

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Body Paint (6)

Some kids love face paint the moment they see it, but it took Travis a long time to warm to the idea of having his face painted. A recent fascination with all things superhero and supervillain has gotten him past the hesitation, and I was so proud of him when he dared to have character paint at a recent party. To continue the fun, I suggested we make this  DIY paint at home to amplify his superhero play!

Cooking the paint is half the fun. First, we scooped 1 cup cornstarch into a pot.

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We added 4 cups water, 6 tablespoons sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt.

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I cooked the mixture over medium heat, whisking frequently, until just before boiling – it will look like pudding. Travis loved watching from a little distance away.

Make sure you let the paint cool completely, at this point!

When it was cool, we divided among cups and added about 4 drops of food coloring to each cup. Travis new exactly which colors he needed for his game.

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He didn’t hesitate one whit before painting all up and down his arm. Is that a blue Spiderman I see?

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Mommy got to be Green Goblin.

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Travis was a bit disappointed that the paint didn’t dry, meaning he couldn’t keep it on an extended time period, but this was still great fun. Next time I think we’d do it right before bath, to fully enjoy a mess before a cleanup. The paint would also be great outside in warm summer weather!