Match the Beat

I keep going back and forth on if I should post this or not.  It's kind of simple and silly but my girls absolutely love it.  It's also a great "sibling game".  I played this many times with my oldest while bottle feeding her younger sisters.  It was a great way for all of us to stay connected when we needed to.  

The best part is that all you need are a couple of sticks and something to tap them on!  

Just tap out a beat, and have your child match it.... or vice versa. 

To check out one of our games, click on the link below.  

This video is from last year.  I just never posted it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu8Txs1W0_Y

RL  

Musical Balloons

My girls love their balloons.  We've been having a blast with the luminary balloons.  Those things can get expensive, though!  I was trying to think of something different we could do with them that didn't cost so much money!  After looking back at posts from 2011 I revisited our Sensory Balloons post.  I thought I would put a little twist on it.  It led me to this...

All you need are some balloons and various objects to stick inside.  We used 12 inch balloons.  They were very easy to fill. I did set up an invitation for this that you will see below.  However, my girls had so much fun just dancing around with these and shaking them.  

After 30 minutes of dancin' and shakin' the questions starting rolling in.  "Mommy, what is inside of there?  Do you hear that?  What does that sound like?"  

The invitation

We had six balloons.  I placed what was inside each balloon in a small container.  These containers were purchased in a pack of six at the Dollar Tree.  

Top row from left to right: Marbles, bells, and lentils

Bottom row from left to right: Pony beads, sand, and water

My 22 month old placing her bell balloon on the bell container.  She was right!  My oldest had to check all the ones my 22 month old did to make sure they made a match.  There was a lot of switching going on.  LOL  I left the tops to the containers out so that they could shake the container and make a comparison.  I wish I had more pictures of this but my youngest was up.  Speaking of that... depending on what you put in the balloons, this activity is LOUD!  At least if your children are anything like mine with the shaking.  :-)  

All matched up.  

After 5 or 6 rounds my oldest asked to cut them open.  They cut them over a bin to contain what was inside.  

Watching the balloon deflate.

"Bells!!!!  I made a match!!!"

"I think this one needs to be switched.  Those are marbles"

Cheater!!!!!  LOL LOL  

My 22 month old loves the scissors now, too.  

RL

Music and Art

Music is a huge part of our day - every day.  My son loves instruments, his favorite part of parades are the marching bands and the drums that - "I can feel in my belly when they go boom boom boom".  He loves singing and playing the guitar and has requested a trombone, piano, and trumpet for Christmas.  Moving to music can be therapeutic.  It has shown to increase emotional/mental processing and relaxation.  So today we thought we would paint to music.  

His paint choices 
His fingers
His music selection
His way


Click HERE to watch the fun!

- AK

(MESE, MECD)

Action Songs

Someone asked us about music the other day on Facebook.  It is very much a part of our day, it's just hard to blog about I guess.  You definitely won't see me videotaping myself singing any time soon!  LOL  Here is a list of our top three action songs we enjoy.   I just started these with my 5 week old. However, my older two girls (3 years and 21 months) enjoy them just as much.  

If you click on the song title there is a link to You Tube to give you a better idea.  

For my 5 week old I just lay her on the ground in front of me while singing/playing.  

Creeping Creeping Little Flea

Creeping, creeping, little flea.
Up my leg and past my knee.
To my tummy, on he goes.
Past my chin and to my nose.
Now he's creeping down my chin,
To my tummy once again.
Down my leg and past my knee.
To my toe that little flea.
GOTCHA!
(Tickle child's foot)

Tony Chestnut

Tony Chestnut

Knows I love you,

Tony knows, Tony knows,

Tony Chestnut

Knows I love you,

That's what Tony knows.

While singing, point to
different parts of your body, like this:

Toe knee chest nut (head)
Nose eye
Love (heart)
You (point to others)
Toe knee nose
Toe knee nose
Toe knee chest nut (head)
Nose eye
Love (heart)
You (point to others)
That's what toe knee nose.

The Grand old Duke of York

The Grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched them up the hill,
And marched them down again.

And when you're up, you're up;


And when you're down, you're down.


And when you're only halfway up,
You're neither up nor down!


He marched them to the left,
And he marched them to the right
Then you turn them upside down.
Oh what a silly sight!

RL