In her own words: Kylie reveals the gender and name of her pumpkin

Yesterday, I posted about Kylie's pumpkin nailing activity.  We had a great time. 


Here's a little movie clip of Kylie revealing if her pumpkin is a boy or a girl and then telling us what its name is:

To read about the entire process of our Activity, click on this link:  What a fun memory!!
http://histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com/2011/10/pumpkin-nailing-fun-halloween-activity.html

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Pumpkin Nailing - A Fun Halloween Activity

I found this idea of pounding nails into a pumpkin here and here and wanted to give it a try.

I wasn't sure how this would go.  I had visions of a mutilated pumpkin and sticky, yucky, guck everywhere, but surprisingly it was a very neat (and fun) activity.  It was also a GREAT exercise for Kylie's fine motor muscles and fabulous for working on hand/eye coordination and visual spacing. 

I love how my wee one is "working" but SHE thinks she is playing!  That is a win-win to me!!  =0)

ok, so here are the supplies we used:

*2 inch Galvanized Roofing Nails (these have larger heads so it was an easier target for her hammer)
*Hammer (child size is best)
*Pumpkin
*Sharpy Permanent Marker

We also had Kylie start the activity by wearing her sunglasses as protective eye-wear, but we found that we didn't need them.  It probably depends on your pumpkin firmness and how animated your child is with a hammer, but we quickly ditched the glasses as there were no flying pieces or any eye danger present.

We started out by drawing a face on the pumpkin (using our permanent marker).  We asked Kylie probing questions (giving her choices) to determine how our pumpkin face would look:
*Should the pumpkin be happy or grouchy?
*Should we have Triangles or Ovals for Eyes?
*Should our nose be big or little?

Then we poked the nails into the pumpkin skin and had Kylie hammer them in.  I love how she is focusing here! 

As you can see, she was having a pretty good time!! She kind of liked pounding those nails in.

Even Daddy got in on the fun! (Tools= My man's presence)

I love how her little tongue is sticking out in concentration. 

After a while, we started to push 2-3 nails into the pumpkin at a time and then she would have a choice as to which one to pound in.  She really liked having the extra choices and it made her pound harder.  I think it drove her crazy that there were "unfinished nails"

And here is the final pumpkin!!  It's a little heavy and her arms are a little tired!!

She's so proud of her hard work!!  We love making memories with our girl!!

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Glowing Pumpkin Decor and Craft idea - VERY inexpensive

If you can't tell, I am on a Dollar Tree kick!  I LOVE to save money and still participate in holidays and other events. 

I help to coordinate a Bible Study for Moms of Special Needs kids and was looking for a good craft idea to go along with an October lesson.  I was browsing through Dollar Tree, saw a clear glass candy dish and I was blessed with this idea!  =0)

I used these supplies:
*Craft paint - nothing special (I used paint that I have literally had for 10 years)
*Glass Candy Dish with Lid ($1 at Dollar Tree)
*1 battery operated Tea Light Candle (3 for $1 at Dollar Tree)
*Blue Painters Tape (There is also a green version - it would work fine as well)
*Glitter or Glitter paint
*Razor Blade

Directions:
*Use the paint tape to make the face of your pumpkin.  (cut or tear the eyes and mouth)
*Stick them on the clear glass bowl
*Paint the bowl (I used a gold color as I was out of orange)
*Paint the lid (I used a dark green)
*After the paint dries, Pain over your base coat with the glitter paint
Note: If you are using plain glitter, sprinkle it on before your paint dries
*When everything is dry, score the paint around the tape (use a razor blade.  If you don't do this step, your paint may lift off when you take off the tape)
*Remove the tape (Those areas will be clear glass.  If any paint got under the tape, just scrape it off with your fingernail or use the razor blade - it comes right off)
*Place the battery operated Tea light candle inside

*Enjoy your glowing pumpkin

What affordable, fall, crafting ideas do you have? I would love to be inspired!!

Happy Crafting
Amy

Here's How We Play - A Halloween Sensory Game

So, we have these GREAT Halloween Sensory Boxes (see my last couple of posts) and I thought it would be fun to come up with a way for Kylie to work on her counting skills while also becoming familiar and comfortable with more sticky types of sensory things.  (this will help her be more comfortable in other areas of her life such as feeding, on the playground, self-care and in crafting scenarios)

To accomplish this goal, I came up with a simple game to help her work on these skills while still having fun!

I used the following supplies:
*Standard size muffin tin (I chose one with 6 wells vs 12 so it wouldn't be as overwhelming (at first) for her.  As her skills increase, so will her endurance and then we might jump to the 12 wells so it is more challenging)

*Dice (be sure to have one for each well of your muffin tin)

*Something to hold your dice (I chose a felt pumpkin purse)

I found all these items at Dollar Tree, but most families will probably have things they can use already in their homes. 


The game is really, really simple:
-  Have your child roll one die into the muffin tin.

-  Have your child count the number of dots on the top of the dice.

-  Then have your child transfer the items one at a time from your Icky Sticky Halloween Sensory Box (we transferred the eyeballs) into that well of the muffin tin. (The other items in the box will cling creating resistance and will require your child's finger muscles to work harder to hold on to the item. This is great small motor exercise.)

Note: Give your child the option of using their fingers or tongs.  They might not be ready to actually have physical contact with the sticky items, but as they get faster at the game they may care less or have less anxiety about the textures of the items and be more willing to use their fingers.


Here is Kylie in action:

As you can see, Kylie chose to use the tongs...AND to hold one hand behind her back. 
She was NOT going to touch anything sticky!!

She tired out after 3 wells, but that is ok., even though she didn't know it, she was working hard. 
Whatever she DOES accomplish is Success!! 

She is so proud of her hard work!! 

What games do you play at your house?  I'd love to learn about them!

Thanks for sharing in our day!!

Amy (Kylie too)

MORE Icky Sticky Halloween Sensory Box Play

We are having SO MUCH FUN with our Icky Sticky Sensory Box (see my original post HERE) and things are just getting better!  Take a look at what I found at Dollar Tree today!!  Kylie and I were in Icky Sticky Sensory Box Heaven!!

They only had three packages in stock and we grabbed all three.  These stretchy body parts will go GREAT with the items we already have!!

I was really impressed with the quality of these little guys (ahem... items).  They are so detailed! 

We especially love the tongues.  They are incredibly squishy and life-like!  They have bumpy taste buds and even look shiny like they are wet!!  Really creepy but also fabulous additions to our sensory box.  We could hardly wait to get home to play.

Kylie thought she would try on the nose.  It was pretty funny!

Then she went for the eyes.

I hope you all are saying ...

Cause that will mean that we did good!  =0)

Here is the final product with the new additions.

Just can't get enough of that tongue!!  ha! ha!

Maybe the Icky Sticky Sensory Box is too much for you or your little ones.  If so, be sure to check out our other Halloween Sensory Bin.  It is great fun too!

Happy Playing!!
Amy