Sometimes, to have REAL fun, you've got to get dirty. Don't be afraid to try some of these very fun activities at home...even if it makes a bit of a mess, it will also make a permanent memory in your child's mind. It's ok to get dirty sometimes! Hands can be washed, floors can be vacuumed, and countertops and tables can be scrubbed...so let go of your inhibitions and HAVE A BLAST! 
CONSTRUCTION TIME Get all of your scoopers, pourers, loaders, dumptrucks and backhoes together and get ready for a great time! Any substance can be used for filling and dumping but with younger kids I like to use cereal and edibles! Here we used cornflakes. It was so much fun to scoop, pour and drive the trucks around. Clean up was a breeze because we did the acitivity on a blanket.
Think this activity isn't for your little girl? THINK AGAIN! ALL kids will love to do this activity. What are we learning here? Problem solving, measuring and pre-math skills, cooperation, and even spatial development. Do expose your little girl to activities like this to help her work on these skills!
Rainbow Recycled Crayons
Have a ton of broken and discarded crayons rolling around the bottom of the art box? Try this fun activity!
You'll need:
-Some play hammers or perhaps a meat tenderizer (mom needs to help a bit on this one)
-two long sheets of wax paper
-broken and discarded crayons
-muffin tin
Set your oven on a low temp, around 200 degrees or so.
Remove ALL paper bits from discarded crayons. Break crayons into smaller bits. Hammer for extra fun! Peices can be large and small--variety is fun with this project! Do not break peices any smaller than the size of a fingernail, for lack of a better comparison.
When you are done, fill muffin trays and place in oven. Kids can help choose special color combinations they might like! WATCH CAREFULLY! You don't want the crayons to melt all the way--too high of heat or too long in the oven will produce a completely melted wax, which ruins the rainbow effect. Similiar to a chocolate chip cookie, you are looking for the different color peices to have just melted together.
Remove from oven and let cool completely. When cool, disc shaped recycle crayons will pop out from muffin tin! Tin will need to be scrubbed well with soap and hot water before using for food again.
Crayons will make neat rainbow colored marks on paper! Easy for young toddlers/preschoolers to use and earth friendly! :)
Bird Seed Table
Don't forget about sensory play! We have a homeade water table (search my blog for how to make one of your own!!!), but you don't need that--all you need is a tub, large pan, or even box! Fill with bird seed or another substance like cheerios, popcorn, or colored macaroni (see recipe below). REMEMBER: These items will be a choking hazard for children under 2 1/2, or those who are still "oral".
Colored Macaroni
Here's how to make your own colored macaroni--for sensory table play, sorting or art projects. It's great to have on hand for a rainy day!
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Materials:
uncooked pasta (macaroni or other shapes)
rubbing alcohol
food coloring (drops or paste)
In a ziploc bag or bowl, pour in enough rubbing alcohol so the noodles are lightly covered but not soaking (about 2 to 4 Tbsp)
Add a lot of food coloring to each bowl Use a separate bag/bowl for each color
Add the desired amount of macaroni (this depends on how many kids/crafts you're making).
Mix them up (or shake the ziploc bag) and let sit a couple of minutes.
Once the noodles have reached the desired color, remove them from the baggie or bowl and lay them in a single layer on tinfoil or waxed paper to dry.
Making the colored noodles is messy and food color doesn't come out of clothes well... the shaking part can be done by kids (if you use a ziploc bag), but the rest should be done by an adult.
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Channy's tips on this one:
-Crack a window, this gets stinky! Haha!
-Drying on paper towel is ok, as long as you place on cookie sheet or something else. Don't place these noodles on a paper towel to dry on your counter...because they WILL most likely stain it.
-Find neat pasta shapes, like wagon wheels, in the ethnic areas at your grocery.
-Browns, blacks dark blues and purples can be tricky...don't make you dye too dark. One thing I've learned from dying lots of pasta over the years is that green, red, yellow, orange, turquoise and pink always come out beautifully! A lighter dye is usually more successful.
Once you've made a large stash, you won't need to for quite some time again. Colored noodles are actually quite beautiful and vibrant...perfect to keep on hand for jewelry making, art or many other purposes! Enjoy!
