I’m not sure if Erin had Halloween on her mind when she was making this one – it’s pretty evil looking..

Pasta faces are a simple and cheap activity requiring little effort and a lot of fun, I didn’t do this one with her, Daddy did, perhaps that’s how it’s taken on such a sinister look!

Update: I just showed Erin the picture of her plate on the ‘puter’, apparently the face is Daddy!

You will need;

Pencil/Pen

Paper

1. Draw a scribble onto paper. Get your partner to make a drawing out of that scribble, it could be an animal, a mode of transport, an object. Take turns of being the scribbler and then the drawer. Alternatively the parent makes the scribbles, and the kids spend hours doing the drawings (hours is perhaps wishful thinking!)

Photo by flickr user prettywar-stl

The best way to ‘teach’ toddlers is to provide stimulating activities. When I worked at the nursery, we would focus on one topic each week and provide various activities that the children would enjoy and learn from.

Shapes

I would stick to the basics, circle, square and triangle.

Art & Craft

A Shape Collage – Pre-cut shapes from coloured paper, let your toddler stick them down onto a piece of card.

A Shape Mobile – Cut large shapes from thick card, punch a hole and thread with string.

Traffic Light Picture – A traffic light picture (black card, three circles painted in red, yellow and green) combines shape and colour.

Toys

Balls – Play catch or make your own ball pool.

Building Blocks – Build towers and interesting shapes.

Shape Sorter Toys – Shape sorter toys include the light and sound variety as well as the wooden block style. We have both and they are equally good.

Games

Make your own cards, cut 12 cards, make 4 for each shape and play snap.

Books

My First Jumbo Book of Shapes looks like a good pick, I haven’t read it but it does have a good write up and it is age appropriate, it also says that it is ‘wonderfully interactive’ and young children *love* to get involved.

We had fun last week doing chalk drawings, it’s one of the easiest activities for Erin’s age group going. It’s simple to set up, only requires chalk and paper, and is pretty tidy too.

As easy as it may seem, as you can see it takes the ultimate in concentration.

Click on either photo to see more photos of chalk drawing.

This is a picnic with a difference though because all the food has to have a summer theme.

Summer Picnic

Ideas for your picnic;

A yellow iced biscuit for the sun

A breadstick with a slice of cucumber makes a tree

A square of wholemeal bread with peanut butter is a sandpit

A bit of cress for bushes

Iced gems for flowers

A baby tomato for a ball

A gingerbread boy for you (that’s you kid…not you!)

1. On a chopping board or plate arrange your summer picnic picture, take a photo, and then eat it all up….don’t forget to wash it all down with some pond (water!).