Time for Christmas Cheer

Finally we can play in the snow with our little ones!  I hope you are all ready for Christmas and any other celebrating you traditionally do this time of year.  I just wanted to let you know that we LOVE working with your family and your little one!  You are what makes our job fun and worthwhile.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Homemade Toys for Kids

This is a re-post from last year.  Kids can find joy in the simple things.  We don't need to have every light-up, push-button, noise-making toy on the market for our kids to learn and have fun.  The most effective toys are the ones that we can enjoy with our children.  So look around and think outside the boxstore for some fun, developmental toys for your little ones this Christmas.

This post is taken from Happy Hooligans blog at http://happyhooligans.ca/70-awesome-toys-make-kids/.  These are all simple, yet amazing ideas of homemade toys for toddlers and little ones.  If you are looking for ideas for Christmas presents, these are great!  They may take a little time to make, but none require batteries (my #1 rule for toys for kiddos).

All of these toys are fairly easy and inexpensive to make.  Some are knock-offs of brand name toys, and some of these toy ideas are truly original.  One thing is certain – they’re all perfect if you like to give kids handmade gifts at Christmas, birthdays or any day!

 Homemade Lacing Toys:

These simple lacing frames are easy to make and great for helping little ones develop their fine motor skills.  - Babble Dabble Do

Shaped foam lacers are easy for little hands to grip and a fun way to practice threading skills.  - Powerful Mothering

I adore this all-natural, stick threading game by Mini Eco.

Homemade Felt Toys for Toddlers:

Here’s a soft and colourful way for toddlers to explore the alphabet: stuffed, hand-sewn felt letters by Buggy and Buddy.

Make a no-sew, alphabet pocket chart to help little ones learn their letters. – Lalymom

I see countless hours of creating and re-creating here with this gorgeous potato head felt set. – jocelynandjasonblogspot

DIY Activity boards for the playroom or classroom:

Babies and toddlers will LOVE exploring all the textures and gadgets on these awesome sensory boards by Fun at Home with Kids.

Make a latch board like Domesticesq did with random bits and bobs from the work shop or hardware store.

My boys would’ve LOVED a life-sized dashboard  like this one made from used parts. – And Next Comes L

Upcycled Homemade Dollhouses:

Got cardboard? Handmade Charlotte shares 6 ways to make a dollhouse out of a cardboard box. 

Mama Papa Bubba shows you how she and her daughter made this simple but beautifuldollhouse from an inexpensive bookshelf. 

Check out how Roadkill Rescue turned an old dresser into a larger-than-life Barbie house. Handy storage drawer in the bottom!

Upcycle the drawers from an old bedside table into this adorably charming dollhouse by Semi Proper.

Homemade Stamps:

6 ways to make homemade stamps for toddlers using common household items. – Happy Hooligans

Help your little one learn to spell his name with this simple homemade name stamp by Mama Papa Bubba.

Decorate homemade cards, wrapping paper or fabric projects with this spring flower wine-cork stamp.  Happy Hooligans

Kids can make imprints in play dough with these rustic tree block stamps by Two-da-loo.

Toys from upcycled furniture:

I adore this workbench/tool station that The Frugal Granny made from an old bedside table.

How about this AMAZING upcycle?  A deluxe play kitchen made from an old tv/entertainment cabinet! – Giggleberry Creations

Fresh Crush transformed a night-stand into a play kitchen for about $30 using cast-offs and inexpensive accessories.

Homemade toys for babies:

Turn your recyclables into a variety of colourful, fine-motor toys for babies and young toddlers. The Imagination Tree

Crafts on Sea has a homemade tag blanket that will delight babies with its crinkling sound and soft, satiny tags.

Childhood 101 shows you how to turn your family photos into a cloth baby book for your little one to enjoy.

Homemade Sock Toys:

Attempting Aloha transforms a sock into a glamorous hobby-horse that any little rider would love.

Turn a sock into an adorable baby rattle with some stuffing and a few simple stitches. – Homemade by Jill

Toys from the Recycle Bin:

An empty plastic bottle + 3 basic kitchen ingredients = a mesmerizing “ocean in a bottle”. – Happy Hooligans

Kids who love to build will enjoy this homemade construction set made from a few pieces of sturdy cardboard – Happy Hooligans

Teach shapes, colours, letters and numbers with this cardboard box turned drop box.  The kids have been using ours for years.

Homemade Toys for Outdoors:

It would be so dreamy to spend an afternoon reading in one of these Hula Hoop Hideouts. – Alanna George

Ok, I totally want to hang out on this DIY water blob by Homemade Toast.  Bonus:  It’s leak-proof!

Check out how Dyan turned a few dollar-store shower curtains into this awesome toddler parachute. – And Next Comes L

Homemade Quiet Books:

A quiet book is perfect for those times when you need to keep your kids busy… and quiet. I lovethis no-sew version by Powerful Mothering.

This busy book by Mouse House has “pages” of colourful quiet activities to keep little hands busy and learning.

Homemade Activity Boards:

Turn an inexpensive oil-drip pan into a gigantic magnet board for the playroom or classroom. – Mama Miss

Make an outdoor easel for your kids to get artsy and creative with in the backyard. – Fantastic Fun and Learning

See how Mama Papa Bubba quickly turned an inexpensive frame into a homemade felt board.

*Want to know an easy way to cut your own felt pieces for your felt board?  Check out this awesome felt-cutting tutorial by Juggling with Kids.

Homemade Doll Toys:

Make a fabric doll sling for your little one to carry her babies around in. – Mama Smiles

Check out this whimsical family of wooden spoon dolls decorated by Jess Quinn.

Paint up a set of wooden alphabet dolls for play and learning. – No Time for Flashcards

This really is the best-ever play dough!  It keeps for months, so it’s perfect to make ahead and give as a gift.  - The Imagination Tree

Did you know you can make your own silly putty? - Coffee Cups and Crayons shows us how.

Homemade Indoor Hopscotch:

I had fun making this homemade cardboard hopscotch.  Laying the tiles out helps the hooligans with their number recognition and ordering skills.

Make a new-sew hopscotch mat that you can roll up and tuck away when not in use.  There are games on the reverse side too!  - A girl with a Glue Gun

Homemade Forts and Tents:

Set up a 5-minute teepee in the backyard!  What a magical place for a little one to spend a summer afternoon. – Mama Papa Bubba

For those of you who like to sew, Cakies shows you how to make a simple A-frame tent for the kids to use indoors or out.

Homemade Puzzles for Toddlers:

Adventure in a Box shows you how to make a wooden name puzzle for your child.  You’ll have this lovely keepsake for years.

Turn a set of wooden blocks and some family photos into these nifty, interchangeable people puzzles. – Meaningful Mama

Homemade Toys for Gross Motor Development:

See how Hello Wonderful turned a skateboard deck into homemade balance board to help develop core and large-motor strength.

Build a set of simple wood block stompers.  They can be used at two different heights depending on the age of your child. – I Can Teach My Child

This bucket and rope contraption was free to make, and it’s provided hundreds of hours of open-ended play here in our backyard.

Homemade Coloured and Textured Blocks:

Fun with Kids at Home shows us how to easily add a pop of vibrant colour to a set of plain wooden blocks.  So gorgeous!

Babies and toddlers will love exploring the colours and textures of these homemade sensory blocks. – Fireflies and Mudpies

$3 bucks, a trip to the dollar-store, and some hot-glue will get you this fab set of coloured light blocks. -And Next Comes L

Fine Motor Toys to Make for Kids:

A colourful button snake is easy to make and helps little ones develop their fine motor and buttoning skills. – Happy Hooligans

Put together a sewing basket  filled with lots of goodies for a preschooler to explore and practice early sewing skills with.

I just love Crayon Box Chronicles’ homemade geo board.  Little ones can sharpen their fine motor skills while learning about shapes and geometry with rubber bands or fabric loops.

Stones for Play:

Make an adorable stone tic-tac-toe game to match your child’s favourite colours, like this one from Eighteen 25.

Paint up a set of non-traditional, rock dominoes for the kids to play and learn with. – Childcareland Blog

Story Stones are fun and easy to make, and great for narrative play, and developing story-telling skills. – Happy Hooligans

Alphabet stones are perfect for a game of outdoor “hangman” or to simply teach your child their letters through open-ended play.

Homemade Toys for Car-Loving Kids:

Turn your old jeans into fabric roads!  Easy to make, and to stash in the diaper bag when you’re going out. – Lil Mop Top

Visit Picklebums to get these free, printable roads.  Your kids can build a whole city!

Buggy and Buddy painted up a set of simple wooden roads and ramps for her son.  Think of the hours of fun these would provide.

If you love to sew, this amazing car mat would be a super project and keepsake to make for your child or grandchild. – Homemade by Jill

Homemade Play Kitchen Toys:

And Next Comes L has some great felt food ideas that you can make for your child’s play kitchen.

Turn a package of inexpensive kitchen sponges into colourful foam cakes and cookies like the ones Inner Child Fun made.

LOVE this!  Turn a plastic storage container into a pretend cook-top.  Store the baking instruments inside! – And Next Comes L

Make an inexpensive, portable light box using a kitchen storage container and an LED light.  Store the toys inside!

And Next Comes L shows you how to turn a basic pegboard into a light bright game for your home or classroom.

Want a full-size light table for much less than it costs to buy one? Check out this step-by-step tutorial from And Next Comes L.

More homemade blocks to make:

I love these colourful magnetic blocks that You Clever Monkey made for their magnet board.

How inviting are these Waldorf-inspired nature blocks that Adventure in a Box made.  What a lovely way to build and create.

And last, but not least:  take your block building into a new dimension (literally) with a set of these homemade velcro blocks by Chasing Cheerios.

December Activities to Enjoy

December is here with all the fun it brings.  Enjoy the opportunities to get out in your community and celebrate with your family.  Here's what's happening!

Centerville:
*Festival of Lights on December 7th at 6:00 pm at Founders Park.  Christmas Carols, Santa, Hot Chocolate and Cookies.

*Christmas at Whitaker Museum on December 8th and 15th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  Enjoy stories about Christmas past and a treat.  You can also purchase a picture taken with Santa.

Clinton:
*Christmas Sing-A-Long on December 5th all day at the Civic Center (2300 North 1500 West)

*Annual Lighting of Luminaries on December 17th at 6:00 pm at the Clinton Cemetery (750 West 800 North)

Farmington:
*Santa Visits Farmington Community Arts Center on December 5th from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.  Free event with photos, crafts, and refreshments at 120 South Main.

Farmington Station:
*Family First Monday on December 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  The theme for December is Nite Lights and Laughter.

Fruit Heights:
*New Years Eve Celebration on December 31st from 6:00 to 10:00 pm at Davis High School.  Kids Carnival and other events.

Sunset:
*Santa on the Firetruck on December 12th at 9:00 am

West Bountiful:
*Christmas on Onion Street on December 7th at 6:30 pm.

West Point:
*City Hall Lighting Ceremony on December 7th at 6:00 pm (3200 West 300 North)

*Cemetery Luminary on December 18th at 4:00 pm (40 North 4000 West)

Also remember to attend the December Community Early Intervention Activity that you have signed up for (or if you didn't sign up, you can just show up!)

Layton ELC Activity at 1010 Emerald Drive in Layton (Parking at the park next door and at the church across the street)
    December 3rd at 10:00 to 11:00 and 11:00 to 12:00
    December 7th at 10:00 to 11;00 and 11;00 to 12:00

Bountiful ELC Activity at 9 East 400 North in Bountiful
    December 8th at 10:00 to 11;00
    December 10th at 10:00 to 11:00

Tri-City Nursery Open House at 395 Deseret Drive, Kaysville
    December 5th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm
    December 7th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Layton Hay Rides (Layton Commons Park - meet at the Bowery at the north end of Constitution Circle) on December 9th at 5;15.  If you get there at 5:15 and sign in you will be able to move to the front of the line with other Early Intervention families.  The Hayrides for non-early intervention families begins at 6:00.

Christmas Shopping

Early Intervention Service Providers often get asked questions about which toys families should buy for their little ones for Christmas.  This post provides guidelines for finding good toys for kiddos.   This is one situation where less is more.  Children can be easily overwhelmed by the number of toys they have to choose from which can lead to an inability to learn to play. Remember, you are the best toy for any child!  Take time to have fun with the little ones!


This information is taken from a workshop by Cari Ebert called The Power of Play: Effective Play-Based Therapy and Early Intervention.  Cari is a Speech Language Pathologist who works in the field of Early Intervention in Kansas City.  Her passion is to "empower parents and pediatric therapists who want to gain an appreciation of the power of play in the development of young children."  Consider these criteria as you look for Christmas presents for your little ones.
Top 10 Criteria for Choosing a Good Store-Bought Toy

1. Select toys without batteries.  The more the toy does, the less the child does.  battery operated toys limit creativity and imagination.  We want the child to provide the power and the imagination.
2. Choose simple toys that can be used in a variety of ways.  These toys are more likely to grow with the child.  For example, nesting cups can be used to stack, to nest, in the tub or sand box, to match like colored items, as a hat, etc.
3. Look for toys that encourage active play instead of passive entertainment.  Is the toy entertaining or does it have actual play value?
4. Select toys that are safe and durable.  We want toys that are constructed well and will hold up to lots of use.
5. Choose toys that can be easily manipulated.  We want the child to be successful during play time while challenging his abilities just enough.
6. Seek out toys that are made of natural materials. Children need a break from cold, hard plastic toys.
7. Select toys that are interesting to your child, but expose him to new toys as well.  
8. Look for toys that allow the child to learn naturally through exploration and encourage problem solving.  Avoid toys that force-feed academics.
9. Select toys that spark the child's imagination.
10. Choose toys that are interesting to the adult too so cross-generational play can be fostered.

Traditionally Recognized Good Toys for Toddlers

Blocks                                       Stacking towers                  Balls

Wooden puzzles                      Shape Sorters                      Pegboards

Pounding sets                          Activity Boxes                    Lacing Beads

Musical Instruments             Push-pull toys                     Ride-on toys

Chalk and Chalkboard           Art supplies                         Fisher Price Barn

Toy Vehicles                           Toy tools                              Play figures

Household objects                  Puppets                                Toy food and dishes

Baby doll and accessories      Stuffed animals                   Books

Cari's Favorite Toys for Toddlers

Velcro Food                                                         Muffin tins                           

Empty bottle and wooden clothespins            Hot Wheels cars and a wrapping paper tube

Basket and balls                                                 Container "blocks"

Small cookie sheet and magnets                      Mickey Mouse paint samples from Home Depot

Random objects/manipulatives                       Tub of dry beans, lentils, macaroni, or rice

Toy animals                                                        Large cardboard boxes (big enough to get inside)

100 piece cookie cutter set & play dough       Any activity based on the premise "put in, dump                                                                               out and do it again"

Toys with multiple identical pieces                  Car ramps

Memory Game cards and mailboxes              Empty containers (Huggies wipes, yogurt, etc.)

Crocodile Dentist game                                     Bubbles

Tunnel and Parachute                                      Magna Doodle

Puzzles with doors                                             Board books with flaps

Soft blocks                                                          Wooden blocks

Buckets                                                               Non-plastic toys

Dollhouse                                                            Flashlight

Mirror

If you still have questions or want more ideas, check out toysrus.com/differntlyabled.

From Your 2 Year Old

I am 2
I was not built to sit still,
Keep my hands to myself,
Take turns,
Stand in line,
Or keep quiet
All of the time.

I need
Motion,
Novelty,
Adventure,
And to engage the whole world
With my whole body.

Let me play.
(Trust me, I'm learning)