Checking off the bucket list: Splash Pad

It's not often in Minnesota that you need to be in the water before noon, but today was an exception.  In fact the last week and the up coming week are exceptions.  It feels more like North Carolina weather honestly.  When we left the house the car temp. read 85 degrees, and by the time we arrived, it had shot up to 91 degrees in just 20 mins and it's only going to get warmer!  But no complaining here, we love the hot weather and being outdoors at places like the Prairie Park Splash Pad.

This was one of the things on our Summer 2012 Bucket List.  I almost didn't go after our weekend of being in the sun, but after seeing how much fun JV had, I'm glad we didn't miss this opportunity.  Here are a few pictures from our very 1st splash pad trip...



Having a little water between sprinklers:



"Holler!"  His newest espression when he's excited:

"Wash your hands." Another favorite activity of JV.

 JV isn't afraid of water even the slightest.  Here he is pretending that its "raining."



Farm Week 1

During nap time, aka, break time for MamaRach, I found this website: Everything Preschool .  It has a few sample lesson plans and lots of ideas.  I was so thrilled that I attempted to follow their lesson plans titled "Farm Week".  I made my own changes since my charges (nanny kids) are on 1.5 years old. 

Little People Barn and Farm Animals

Above:  The boys LOVED these!  I was lucky enough that there were 2 barns.  Even with both barns there were times that we had to work on sharing and 'gentle hands'.

Coloring a farm picture

We also worked on fine motor skills through artwork.  Here, I had the boys color a picture of a farm.  As they colored we talked about the the objects in the picture and the sounds each animal made.

It snows on the farm too!

Too cold to play outside?  Bring the outside in!
Honestly, I had high hopes for this but it just didn't work out as well as I had hoped.  Although my oldest charge (5.5 years old) loved it!  The plan however was to have the boys play in the snow with the Little People animals.  Next time I will set up cookies sheets with snow.  The little guys (1.5 years old) just couldn't reach the animals in the tub.

Painting a horse

Don't interrupt.  He's very focused!

I love texture play, and the easiest way to do that is with paint.  Dump a little paint into a bowl.  Give the kids paint brushes, a picture to paint and you have an instant master peice!  (This is also good for fine motor).
*tip: Use painters tape to hold pictures in place

'P' working on his puzzle

Little Man working on the puzzle with 'P' there for support.

These Melissa and Doug puzzles from Target proved to be a big hit.  I specifically like that the are thick for little hands and have the picture on the puzzle board.  It only took one or two times of working with the boys before they started figuring it out on their own.  'P' was able to complete a whole puzzle by himself!

Mama Rach



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