Welcome!

If this is your first time to hands on : as we grow,
you may like to subscribe to keep updated with ideas to be hands on with your kids! Enjoy!

2.25.2012

Painting, Activities, Experiments & Learning

1 handprints made

  1. Some edible yogurt finger paint, let George participate in a painting activity with us!
  2. Another way to get George involved in painting? Put it in a baggy! Add something to roll around and let him have at it.
  3. A super fun, messy [but yet clean] sensory activity for both the boys! Making foam from dish soap!
  4. Some tape as roads and add blocks to build a city! Have fun!
  5. Paint a rainbow with a sponge, all at once!
  6. Tape down a maze, add some numbers and 'connect the dots'. A fun learning activity.
  7. Henry made up his own experiment, with tractors and wagons of course! How much will the wagons hold?
  8. And save your recycling! There's 34 recyclables that you must save to upcycle with the kids!

2.24.2012

I'm Proud: Writing his Name

9 handprints made
Trying to get Henry focused on writing, or really anything fine-motor related, has been a struggle. He was always about movement, full of energy. Too much energy to sit still and take time to learn such a thing as writing. 

Yes, it worried me. He didn't seem to be 'up to par' in this area. But I let it go. He's 3 and I know writing isn't something they should be able to do, it was just the fine motor area in general that worried me. 

So, when Henry started preschool this fall, the teachers had poked me about his hand grip and handedness. Once again. Worry struck. One day it was that he held his pencil too loosely, and the next it was too tight of a grip. But I let it go, thinking there wasn't much I could do about it anyway. Just modeled it correctly when I got the opportunity.

Finally, in just the last couple of months, Henry's been more and more interested in doing 'the little things'. Don't get me wrong, he's still completely full of energy and moves a lot. But he now takes time to work with his hands too. 

We still haven't really worked on writing at home [although they do at school], but a couple weeks ago, we moved our chalkboard into our office area [it previously had been hung out in the garage, inaccessible]

Henry completely surprised me when he picked up the chalk.

He wrote his name.
Completely on his own.
Left to right.
Correct order.


I'm proud.

He did start directly in the middle of the chalkboard, with the biggest H he could make. There's a conversation on the hands on : as we grow Facebook page regarding this for suggestions on how to help when they're frustration from the child when they run out of room.



Like it? Share it!


Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com : My Toy Smart



Design your own party invitations at Vistaprint.com

2.23.2012

The Last Sneak Peek of The Heart Book

0 handprints made
Only a few days left to get The Heart Book. Its only available with a donation to The American Heart Association through the end of February. Get the ebook or the printed book!

What's in the book?
See a couple of the Heart sneak peeks I've given this month.


Over 100 heart projects are in the book!
And here's a couple more of the brilliant ideas you'll find there.

Clockwise from top-left:

Make a donation of $5 to the American Heart Association
and receive The Heart Project ebook!

the heart book
US $5.00 Donation to AHA
Add to Cart

the heart book
US $20.00
[$5 of every sale of the
printed book will go to the AHA]
 


Please say "Thanks!" to CraftProjectIdeas.com for donating $1 for every book sold!
craftprojectideas.com showing the love

Or you can make a donation to the American Heart Association, without purchasing the book.
 
Like it? Share it!




Current sponsors :  Fudoo Boards  :  A Mom with a Lesson Plan  :  CraftProjectIdeas.com : My Toy Smart

Design your own party invitations at Vistaprint.com

2.22.2012

It's Playtime! Time to Recycle!

1 handprints made
I've been on the lookout for some fun ways to get some use out of our recycling.

The 34 Recyclables to Upcycle is only the beginning of what can be done with recyclables! Its so fun to see what everyone comes up with to do with stuff that most find as trash!

Above, clockwise from top-left:
It's Playtime linky party

It's Playtime is a community for play loving bloggers to share ways to play.

2.21.2012

Sponge Art: Paint a Rainbow

18 handprints made
sponge art rainbow painting

Paint a rainbow with a sponge.
I wish I could claim the idea of rainbow sponge painting, but I saw it last year over at Strong Start.

While this is a kid-friendly idea, a lot of the prep needs to be done by an adult, or older child. And prep needs to be redone during the activity as well.