5 Fun Ways for Kids to Play with Stuffed Animals

1.     Throw a Party Have your child gather up all of the same kind of animal (teddy bears, for example) and create a pretend birthday or tea party!

2.     Go on Safari Have a sibling or parent hide some jungle stuffed animals in one area of the house. Give the child a list (in pictures or words) of animals to find. The child then checks off each animal on the list as it's found. Dressing up like an explorer and wearing binoculars adds even more fun to this pretend play game.

3.     Play School Get your stuffed animals seated and start today's lesson. (Stuffed animals make excellent students!)

4.     Play Veterinarian Your child is the vet, and there are so many animals who need help today! Bring each animal into your child's “office” and have the “doctor” treat each patient. Use bandages, gauze and other household items to make the pretend play more realistic.

5.     Play Jungle Family Your child can pretend to be the mother or father of a favorite stuffed animal. Make the room look like the animal's habitat by adding some pictures, and build a “nest” or “cave” from blankets and cushions.

10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!

Bring the Joy of Snow Indoors for Toddlers & Preschoolers!

Supplies Needed: Snow, Towel(s), Plastic Container (a cookie sheet will work in some cases). Everything else is optional (You may want to put gloves or mittens on their hands).

10 Fun Ways for Toddlers & Preschoolers to Play with Snow Inside!

1. Ice cream shop
   Fill a large plastic container with snow. Add an ice cream scoop, some spoons, and plastic or paper bowls. Use paper cups as "cones". Sprinkles can be coffee or sensory rice.
2. Make "snow" cones
   Fill a few small plastic container with snow. Add a different color food coloring to each container. Add an ice cream scoop and paper cups.
3. Play construction zone
   Fill a large plastic container with snow. Add construction vehicles. Add some coffee grounds for gravel and a nice sensory addition.
4. Snowballs
   Add a few drops to the water to make it good packing snow if necessary! Then, make some snowballs. Pile them high, make a 3-d pyramid, add food coloring, store them in the freezer...it's endless.
5. Build a mini igloo
   Fill a large plastic container with snow. Have an additional container or cookie sheet to build on. Turn a plastic bowl upside down and pack the snow on top of it until you have an igloo. Or, build your igloo freehand. Use a crayon to etch the "brick" lines. Add some play figures.
6. Make a snow volcano
   Fill 1 large plastic container and 2 smaller containers with snow. Use an additional container or cookie sheet to build on. Use food coloring to have a green (food coloring) landscape. Then build a black (food coloring) volcano atop it, and cap it off with red (food coloring) lava! You can add coffee to this one too if you want the look of soil :)
7. Make a penguin or polar bear habitat
   Freeze some water in small plastic containers to make icebergs Color some with food coloring for learning fun when the colors melt together! Fill a large plastic container with snow, leaving a large center area free of snow. Drop the "icebergs" into the empty space. Add penguins, polar bears, or other cold habitat animals!
8. Bake it up!
   Snow makes great cookies, pies, and cakes! Use your candy molds, muffins tins and other baking containers to mold desserts! Add food coloring for added beauty. Remember the spatulas, spoons, measuring cups, and dishes so your little baker can properly prepare and serve his treats!
9. Buried Treasure
   This can be done so many ways. My kids usually take one type of figure like
   dinosaurs and one of them buries a bunch of them in the container of snow. The other child has to try to find them all using tongs or a spoon -- no dumping out the snow! Great for fine motor skills :) You can do this with animal figures, action figures, rocks, and any other plastic thing your child collects.
   
   *An alternate way to play is to bury all the "treasures" so that they can be seen through the outside of the bin. Then, one child describes a specific treasure while the other child tries to guess which "treasure" is being described. Great for building vocabulary, language skills & social skills. Also helps children understand similarities and differences between objects
10. X-Game Car Races
    Fill 1 large plastic container with snow. Have child create a ramp by building up one side. Smooth it out. Use vehicles to have races down the slope! For this one, the bigger the container, the better so the cars can really roll at the end!
    
    BONUS #11:Build a mini-snowman! Decorate your mini-Frosty with jelly beans or other candy. Try a baby carrot for the nose :)

NO SNOW BY YOU? Many of these activities can be done using potato flakes, shaving cream or cotton balls! Try some sensory fun today!

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Sensory Bin in Holiday Colors!

Sensory Bin from dried beans: cool, smooth feeling running through your hands!  Very relaxing!

for Ages 3 years and Up with Adult Participation and Supervision

Supplies Needed:

• Large Shoe/Boot Box OR Large Plastic Tub/Bin
• Bags of Dried Beans (we picked based on color: tans, greens, and dark reds)
• Various measuring, scooping and storing containers
• Play figures: bugs, dinosaurs etc.

Time Needed:  

• 5 Minutes to set up

What To Do:

1. Open each bag of beans and pour into box/bin.
2. Add measuring, scooping and storing containers.
3. Add play figures: bugs, dinosaurs etc.

This has been one of the most popular bins we've ever made. I find that when my son gets very upset and I offer him this bin to play with he becomes very calm and happy! It's truly amazing! I suggest that you put a large towel down under the play area. Even when your child is being careful some of the beans will spill onto the floor.

Using fine motor skills to get the tiny beans into the container opening.

We added a foam paint brush to stir our beans.

Some play kitchen accessories made nice sounds when the beans were poured into them

By far the most popular item in the bin. My kids liked the challenge of filling these tiny containers, how colorful they looked when full, and the sound they made when shook if they left it a little bit empty!

We also made a funnel from construction paper that quickly became a very popular item. They really enjoyed experimenting with it!

Don't forget the play figures!

Time to start over again :)

Don't Forget to Take a photo of your finished project and share it with us on the GummyLump Facebook Fan Page

For Children with Special Needs:  Any child who enjoys sensory activities will be interested in exploring this bin!

Try this sensory craft too: Sensory Dinosaurs Craft

Turkey Craft for Kids from Toilet Tissue Tube: Thanksgiving Kids Craft

Turkey Craft for Kids from Toilet Tissue Tube: Thanksgiving Kids Craft

 

Supplies Needed:

• 1 Toilet Tissue Tube for Each Turkey
• Construction Paper
• 2 Googly Eyes for Each Turkey
• Child Safe Scissors
• Glue

Time Needed:  

• 20-30 Minutes

What To Do:

CAUTION: When cutting with scissors is required a parent or adult must supervise. If the cutting is too intricate the adult can do it for the child

1. Cut out a square of construction paper about 8" x 8"
   My kids chose their favorite colors for this project. Use whatever color(s) they like!
2. Fold square in half diagonally so it looks like a triangle.
3. Fold accordian style, like a fan.
4. Glue to inside of toilet tissue tube. Let dry.
   One of my kids glued it with the point up, the other with the point down. Do it however you like!
5. Cut a circle for the head and glue onto tube.
6. Glue eyes, triangle nose, and wattle to face.
7. Cut out a pair of feet and wings and glue those on.
8. Allow to dry completely!
   
   Don't Forget to Take a photo of your finished project and share it with us on the GummyLump Facebook Fan Page!

Why We Love Crafts for Kids:
Art develops creative thinking, provides means of communication and self expression, increases self understanding, strengthens self concepts and confidence, serves as an emotional release, provides decision-making opportunities, develops appreciation for the individuality of others, aids physical coordination, develops work habits and a sense of responsibility, heightens aesthetic awareness and sensitivity, and generates joy!  

For Children with Special Needs: 
Assist your child as much as needed - but allow it to be his project.  Art projects are great for fine motor exercise, and using creativity. If your child has a limited attention span, have all supplies ready before having him begin the project.This opportunity for hands-on learning with no wrong choices is ideal to foster self esteem as well.  

Kids Art Supplies  
Construction Paper 
Scissors for Children

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids

Toys for Special Needs

Turkey Kids Craft from Handprints: Thanksgiving Craft for Kids

Turkey Kids Craft from Handprints: Thanksgiving Craft for Kids
for Ages 3 years and Up with Adult Participation and Supervision 

Supplies Needed:

• Contructions Paper
• Child Safe Scissors
• Crayons
• Glue or Tape

Time Needed:  

• 20 Minutes

What To Do:

1. Trace each of your child's hands onto a piece of construction paper.
2. Adult or Child (depending on age and ability): Cut out each hand print.
3. Draw and cut a pear shape for the turkey's body.
4. Color/Draw eyes, beak, and turkey wattle (red thing hanging).
5. Draw and cut out 2 turkey legs/feet.
6. Color in each finger on the hand prints. These will be the feathers.
7. Tape or glue turkey parts together to complete the turkey.
8. Hang and admire :)
   

Don't Forget to Take a photo of your finished project and share it with us on the GummyLump Facebook Fan Page!

Why We Love Crafts for Kids:
Art develops creative thinking, provides means of communication and self expression, increases self understanding, strengthens self concepts and confidence, serves as an emotional release, provides decision-making opportunities, develops appreciation for the individuality of others, aids physical coordination, develops work habits and a sense of responsibility, heightens aesthetic awareness and sensitivity, and generates joy!
 
For Children with Special Needs:  Assist your child as much as needed - but allow it to be his project.  Art projects are great for fine motor exercise, and using creativity.

If your child has a limited attention span, have all supplies ready before having him begin the project. This opportunity for hands-on learning with no wrong choices is ideal to foster self esteem as well.  

Kids Art Supplies  
Construction Paper 
Scissors for Kids

Mummy Halloween Kids Craft

Mummy Halloween Kids Craft

Crafts for all abilities!   

for Ages 18 Months and Up with Adult Participation and Supervision  

Supplies Needed:

• DIsposable Cup (paper or plastic)
• Double-sided Tape
• Toilet Tissue
• 2 Googly Eyes

Time Needed:  

• 10 Minutes per mummy

What To Do:

1. Place a long strip of double-sided tape from the bottom of one side of the cup, over the closed end of the cup, and down to the bottom of the other side. Younger children may find it easier to do this with smaller pieces of tape.
2. Turn your cup upside down.
3. Take a long piece of toilet tissue and wrap it around the cup, beginning at the bottom of the open end. Continue wrapping the toilet tissue until your mummy is "wrapped."
   NOTE: If the toilet tissue separates or rips just add more tape to the cup and continue.
4. Tape the end of the toilet tissue onto the mummy.
5. Use a piece of double-sided tape (or glue) to add the googly eyes.
   

Don't Forget to Take a photo of your finished project and share it with us on the GummyLump Facebook Fan Page!

Why We Love Crafts for Kids: Art develops creative thinking, provides means of communication and self expression, increases self understanding, strengthens self concepts and confidence, serves as an emotional release, provides decision-making opportunities, develops appreciation for the individuality of others, aids physical coordination, develops work habits and a sense of responsibility, heightens aesthetic awareness and sensitivity, and generates joy!

For Children with Special Needs:  Assist your child as much as needed - but allow it to be his project.  Art projects are great for fine motor exercise, and using creativity. If your child has a limited attention span, have all supplies ready before having him begin the project. This opportunity for hands-on learning with no wrong choices is ideal to foster self esteem as well.

Kids Art Supplies