I’ve been really hunting ideas of what to do with Ara. I’ve started to teach her letters which she loves. But I’m also looking for more games that don’t cost or are too hard for a two year old…not much luck so far but this site has a few ideas for the future.

Creative Kids

I’ve often been asked to put a “baby” in a wrap for Ara so she can carry it round the house or round the property while we go for a walk or do some work. I diddn’t really find using a wrap untill Ara was about 10 months old so she was getting quite big but I still managed to get a lot done with her ‘on’ me. I’m sure the next one (some day) will spend a lot of time in a wrap or sling as I’m racing round after this one.

What a great game and I didn’t even think of it before…kick myself.

We worked this game out at Nana’s. Using a walk-a-bout phone that has a page button on it. Ara sits with Nana in the kitchen so as not to see me rush around Nana’s rooms and hide the phone. Ara got the game straight away and just kept wanting to play more.

I hid it in my shoe, under Papa’s seat, under the news papers, under Nana’s seat, under the table…Nana started helping her on the first one but then left her on the next.

Now she’s tuckered out and asleep

I’ve had a few failures…but this one really takes the cake. So Dave made it into Paint…thank goodness for the weekend and a long time for clean up with two people.

Ara has managed to get it not only in her hair but Davids as well…and under the kitchen bench and on the floor…but also on the paper as well which was great.

Then there was water play to clean up with…and probably a shower to get the rest later. This is NOT a stress reducing idea…unless you like flinging things round yourself.

BUT my final microwave playdough did work and VERY well. I’m so excited as this means a heap less mess of sticking to pots and spoons.

Ingredients

1 cup of salt                             

2 cups of flour

2 cups water                                       

3 tbsps cream of tartar

2 tbsps oil                               

food colouring

Once the dough has been cooked add a few drops of Vanilla (as the cooked recipe says…its great)

Method

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a container, then add oil, water and the food colouring, stir until the mixture is smooth.

Cook on high for 3 minutes. Kneed the dough for about a minute then return to the microwave and cook for a further 2 minutes. Knead the dough for about a minute.

I’ve been at playcentre twice this week and have started to get into the course. We don’t have a cook top so I’m starting to look at other ways. I tried the uncooked…and its not so great…Dave is just going down the road for milk and cream of tartar so I can experimint.

Some days I just wish for a few minutes to sit down and not do anything. For a long time Ara has had to have us with her doing what ever she is doing. But now as she gets older….and thanks to Warren, Aleisha, Great Aunty Sue and Great Nana and Great Papa we have Duplo. Ara is really enjoy’n making ‘cities’ houses and places for Griffin to sleep and calling each animal by its name…Baa Baa…Cough Cough – Cow…Prrripp – Cat

Thank you Dad for picking up these finger paints. It took a little while before Ara got into it…don’t think she liked the feeling of the paint on her fingers. But as the “Team Up” web site says its a great way for children to express them selves.

I was looking for photo’s of animals…and came across this web site of fisher-price

We don’t get the idea that each key is different yet but the mouth was open with a smile.

We’ve had another rough night with teeth again…one has come through but she’s still chewing hard out on her fingers.

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 tsp cream of tartar 
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbsp oil
• Drop or two of Food coloring
• Combine dry stuff in saucepan then add wet then stir until smooth. Cook the lot over medium heat until nearly play-dough is nearly set.

Towards the end add 1 tsp imitation vanilla extract stir until vanilla is blended, then remove and knead when cool. Store in an air tight container.
Why vanilla…I don’t know but it really seems to make it feel nice…and smell.

We were suposed to be off for a walk down the beach with Jane this morning when Ara pointed to the bench and I understood that she wanted to play with some dough…but we’d throwen the last lot away as it was just too yuck! I tried the uncooked play-dough but it really was not all that great. Was still very damp feeling, sticky and I used up a lot of flour with that recipe. Ma was saying that the cooked stuff was better…I really must agree that it is. She also suggests putting a bit of dishwash in to stop the kids eating it but we’ve not had that problem yet so we’ll just keep on with the recipe we’ve got now.