May's Treasure Basket - Bugs

The weather is warmer and we are seeing life happening around us.

On our daily walks we spot a variety of bugs, all new to this little one.

Perfect time to put together a basket of items about bugs.

I included a bug house, magnifying glass and a net.

 

And of course bugs!

I was excited to show her the worm in the basket and we pulled out the Grumpy Bird book.

A worm is what Bird offered his friends for snack

and we hadn't seen a live one yet.

Her favourite item in the basket are these little bug holders.

She loves opening and closing them.

Especially after she puts a bug inside.

We found this great book called "big bug" that is all about big and little.

 It is about perspective.

The book starts with a big bug but on the second page it becomes a little bug on a big leaf.  Then the next page is a big flower and a little leaf.

This continues till they reach the big sky then it reverses back

to the little bug.

Later we went outside to catch some bugs.

We managed to capture these teeny tiny bugs in her net.

When mom and dad got home we shared the basket and showed them how we caught the bugs.

Tapioca as a Sensory Experience

Our first outdoor sensory bin was made from tapioca and water.

Tapioca is a starch that is used to make puddings.

When mixed with water it makes a fine, smooth, gel like material.

So I thought it would be a great product to use for a little one who is still interested in tasting what she is playing with.

She was tentative at first, not knowing what it was.

 But began to explore and enjoy the wet slippery feel.

Frog hopped out and started hopping away.

We went over to the grass and found some natural materials, like clover and sticks, to entice frog back into the bin.

Playing with the Twins

 Our youngest daughter gave birth to twins in December and it has been wonderful to watch them grow.

 They borrowed some of the ideas that was used for our older grand daughter.

Like this PVC pipe stand to hang rattles, and such, to attract their attention, or accidentally hit and make noise.

We started reading books to them early too.

A mirror was set up for tummy time so they could look at themselves and each other.

And of course we sang lots of songs to them.

 And lately I introduced play trays.

Simple cookie sheets placed in front of them to hold items that may be easily grabbed.

At first they just looked at the items,

but as they developed more movement in their arms they brushed against the items and watched them move.

Items were added, like the tin foil plate, to add more sound when it was hit or moved.

As they continue to grow their coordination improves and they begin to grab some of the items.

April Brought Spring

I found this wonderful board book to share with our little one about Spring.

It inspired us to look for signs of spring while we were out on our walks.

We began to see little flowers in the grass.

A lot more birds.

And we could see the wind move by the leaves dancing by.

It was wonderful to watch this tree bud out.

Each time we walked by we stopped to see what was different.  Then one day we noticed the shells of the pods on the ground,

the blossoms were beginning to emerge.

Then one day they were big and beautiful.

Another day we stopped and picked the petals, that had fallen from the tree, up off the sidewalk.

There were days that she wanted to take her basket so we collected bits of nature.

Like this big stick.  Will it fit in her basket?

No, but lots of other things did.

Of course she found lots of puddles to stomp in.

Lately we've started to see bugs, like this pill bug (roly poly, wood bug, whichever you call it)

ants on the sidewalk and bees in the flowers.

A snail is living just outside our front door and we check on it everyday.

Yesterday we spotted our first mushroom.

Oh and the dandelions are very attractive to the little one.

Her Opa showed her how to blow wishes with the seeds and she is still practicing.

Little fairy wishes waiting to sail away.

What will we see next?