tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715206359189371679.post5417596136898071775..comments2023-07-23T03:39:06.524-05:00Comments on Paper Fashions: So many decisions...................lfaldutohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15910868514268613148noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715206359189371679.post-2774466301185249302009-04-03T07:06:00.000-05:002009-04-03T07:06:00.000-05:00Hi Lisa- I provided home daycare for over twenty y...Hi Lisa- I provided home daycare for over twenty years so I could stay home with our children when they were young. I was once caring for a young boy who, according to the Pre-K Teachers, had trouble cutting with scissors. The paper seemed to always slip out and he had a weakness in his hands. His mother asked me to help him” learn to cut better” <BR/>Bringing out the play dough always created a few smiles at my house. The play clay available in the stores comes in bright colors with fancy (and expensive) kits and tools. My crafting skills aren’t as wonderful as yours, Lisa…but I’m pretty good in the kitchen and frugal too. I whipped up a batch of homemade playdough. Now, forget the fancy plungers and character kits sold in the store. I used a shoe box or Plastic storage box to create a special kit the kids l loved. From the kitchen drawers, you’ll be sure to find some safe gadgets to inspire creative dough play. My kit contains two small rolling pins, some rounded plastic knives, spoons, melon ball gadgets and a collection of plastic lids and cookie cutters. Boys and girls love rolling out the dough and cutting out the different shapes, gingerbread boys and animal shapes. They used the melon ball utensil to form meatballs and cut strips of dough with the plastic knives. I always searched neighborhood yard sales for cookies cutters and plastic adding to my homemade fun dough collection <BR/><BR/>Most importantly….I added some child sized scissors to the playdough kit. Next, I rolled the dough into long ropes and asked the little guy to cut them into small pieces. The idea was a good one. The child’s cutting improved; he gained some strength in his hands and most importantly, loved the activity. <BR/><BR/><BR/>If you’ve not tried it…..make some homemade play dough. It’s easy to prepare a few large batches. It works well for me because I usually have a “large batch” of kids in the yard too.<BR/>Gather these ingredients: Flour, Salt, Food Coloring, vegetable oil and Cream of Tartar<BR/>In a two quart saucepan add 1 cup of flour, 4 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 1 cup of salt. Mix dry ingredients together. Measure 2 cups of water (with two drops of the liquid food coloring of your choice added) Drop in two tablespoons of vegetable oil and stir to mix. Add the liquids slowly to the dry ingredients in the saucepan and stir till combined. Heat over medium heat stirring often until the dough begins to pull away from the side of the pan, and becomes a bit dry. Remove from heat and place on counter or board. Knead until smooth and cool. Keep cooled dough in plastic containers or plastic bags to keep soft and “playable”.<BR/>Enjoy.Gayles1https://www.blogger.com/profile/02734192189338640194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715206359189371679.post-15518747410992147492009-04-02T09:38:00.000-05:002009-04-02T09:38:00.000-05:00Haha, I remember giving Meliah Nanook, who now app...Haha, I remember giving Meliah Nanook, who now appears to be named Farfee. Personally, I think Farfee is much more original name than the cliche "Nanook" for a Husky. I'm glad she is enjoying Farfee so much, and the little androgynous pup seems to be thoroughly happy with its lovely new collar.miggyswamphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013227050247441125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715206359189371679.post-29286216658416133882009-04-01T00:00:00.000-05:002009-04-01T00:00:00.000-05:00Just wait until she gets to school and starts havi...Just wait until she gets to school and starts having "projects" come home...since my son has been in 3rd grade we have done no less than three extensive research/art/literature/diorama/creative projects. And at our school it is called a "family project" meaning that they accept and encourage family involvement as a way to learn. It has been fun but exhausting. I set the bar a bit too high I suppose with the 3rd grade solar system project. Whenever he comes home and they tell them a suggestion...like make the planets out of styrofoam balls!...I always stop him and ask him to think of something no one else will think of. So that year we did the planets out of Fimo and put it on a beaded wire (to simulate the stars) in a shoebox that folds up neatly under his bed. There certainly were a lot of styrofoam balls that year, but ours was truly unique! Now...what am I going to do to top that next year with my daughter?!?!!!?<BR/>Enjoy the day!<BR/>ErinTesoriTrovatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12771359288546654791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4715206359189371679.post-51288450036757686052009-03-30T20:42:00.000-05:002009-03-30T20:42:00.000-05:00Oh that is just priceless. . .Oh that is just priceless. . .michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17130523406399972374noreply@blogger.com