BusyBags - Seeing Doubles Giveaway Winners!

Happy Happy Lunar New Year! Hope that the long weekend and celebrations had been good for everyone!

 

As promised, the winners for the sponsored stickers from Love Stick It will be announced today and they are...

 

MICHELLE TAN

 

AND

 

VELMA TENG

 

 

Heartiest congrats to both!!! Love Stick It will PM both of you at your Facebook account for your choice of stickers and address. Keep a lookout!!! For reference, the stickers you can choose from are pictured below :) Both sets have great duplicates and are awesome to use to try out this busybag :)

 

 

Cupcakes

 

 

Dinos

 

I will be back next week for a new post so meanwhile have a good CNY and catch-up with your family!

Busy Bag - Seeing Doubles :) + GIVEAWAY!!!

Another very easy to make and a colorful & fun game :)

 

Seeing Doubles - to allow the child to recognize, identify that certain items are the same and are able to group them together. This fine tune their observation skills, recognition of patterns and shapes.

 

What you need:

1) Stickers that comes in duplicates

2) A4 paper, laminated

3) Velcro dots

 

I first created a template in my computer for a table that allows placement of 10 items, 5 in each column. Next will be to select your stickers. As my child is almost three, he is able to distinguish more subtle and subdued colors and patterns. I thus choose more complicated and colorful designs such as the skating shoes and donuts shown below. I made sure that I have 2 of each designs.

 

I place one of each designs onto one column. This is how it will look like...

 

 

 

This then goes through my laminator so that it will be more durable and most importantly - waterproof! Once it goes through the laminator, you can affix the Velcro dots on the other column as shown above.

 

 

I then put through the other half of the duplicate stickers into the laminator and cut them out. I tend to leave a rather big margin so that the kids can handle it easier. You can see how it will look like...

 

 

 

 

 

I then affix the other side of the Velcro dots onto the back side of these cut out laminated stickers.

 

 





 

 

This will be how they look like from the front :)

 

 

 

 

 

Lo & behold, you are done!

 

 

 

 

 

Even though the items can be small, storage is still relatively easy for these loose pieces as I just Velcro them back onto the paper and pop them back into the bag. Another way will be to use a small ziplock bag to hold these small pieces.

 

To step up this game, I will use solid colors first and build up from there. At this point, you can try to teach recognition of colors too. Stickers can sometimes be hard to find. I get these from a webstore at Love Stick It. They are inexpensive with many pieces in one sheet which is perfect for what I use it for :)

 

When I play with my child, I will step up the game by taking turns to put the items back correctly. For young toddlers, this exposes them to turn-taking and patience. By doing so, I also step up another way when I purposely put the item wrongly and ask my child to correct it :)

 

Besides skating shoes and donuts, there can be many different ideas or items to use. I usually select items that my child can recognize which makes it a lot easier and more "relevant" to the child. You can find lots of other such stickers in the form of cupcakes, ice-cream, dinosaurs, vehicles etc at Love Stick It.

 

 

 

And to encourage you to make one of your own, Love Stick It is giving away 2 sets of such stickers to my readers! You will get to choose either a cupcake themed sticker or a dinosaur themed sticker! To enter this giveaway, just need to LIKE Love Stick it at their Facebook page or follow Love Stick it on their Instagram. Links as below:

 

Love Stick It Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lovestickit/

 

Love Stick It Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lovestickit/

 

 

The giveaway will close on 07 February 2016 and the winners will be announced on 10 February 2016. This giveaway is generously open to all my international readers too!

 

I hope that you will give this a try :) Let me know how it goes! Have fun and good luck for the giveaway!

Busy Bag - Popsicle Fun!

This busy bag is one of my personal favourite :) Not only it is easy to make, it is also lots of fun with many different angles to step up the game :) It can be used by very young toddlers, to pre-K ages which makes it a very lasting and durable game!

This is Busy Bag - Popsicle Fun! As the name suggests, it involves play popsicle and it is so easy to make! What you need are:

1) Colored popsicle (ice-cream) sticks (I found mine in a shop in Bras Basah)

2) Corresponding colored felt pieces (Daiso is good if you only want a small piece for each color)

3) Velcro - adhesive-backed (I bought mine online but it can be found in Daiso as well)

This makes for the basic bag and as your child progresses, you can easily step up the game by many different ways!

Step 1

Create a template to cut the popsicle shape. I draw freehand on a piece of cardboard and use that as a template to cut my felt pieces. I did both big and small so that I can use that as a teaching tool to differentiate size :) You can then affix the adhesive backed Velcro onto the back of the "popsicles". Depending on your Velcro, you may want to spread a drop of super glue or fabric glue to affix it more firmly as it will be taken off and on over and over again. This is how it will look like...

Step 2

Cut the Velcro into thin strips that can fit onto the popsicle sticks. Affix the Velcro onto the popsicle sticks. I usually use the rough side on the sticks and the fuzzy part on the felt pieces. Again I usually add a drop of super glue, just to be on the safe side especially if I am giving this to a young child as the Velcro pieces can be quite small (and alluring!) to a young child! This is how it will look like...

Step 3

You are actually done making the items (YES!) and next will be to teach your child how to play :)

For very young toddlers, you may want to start off with just teaching him how to stick the "popsicle" to the stick. It can be played as game of him being the ice-cream man :) This helps him learn hand-eye coordination.

For slightly older toddlers, I will start by introducing colors and teach the child to match the same colors together. Another way of stepping up here will be to include flavors of ice-cream for example, yellow = corn/banana, red = red bean, green = peppermint and blue = blueberries etc. I show my child what the actual food item look like, drawing attention to the color on the food and then the color of the "popsicle".  

A more advanced step up will be to introduce the words representing the colors. This then helps in word recognition and color association. I print and laminate the word of the color and flash it to indicate what "flavor" I want my ice-cream to be :)

This is a simple yet interesting game where older siblings can join in as well, buying the "popsicles", indicating flavors and even big or small size! We will play till he is all "sold out" where he will declare loudly "no more!" and proceed to "collect" back the popsicles :) For fun, sometimes the older sibling will pretend to get a tummy ache after eating too many "popsicles" and we all go "orrrrrr...." pointing our fingers :P

Drop me an email if you need help with any of the materials :) I will love to know how it turns out for you too if you decide to trying making it :)

Enjoy and have fun!

PS. I am thinking of making a simple card of objectives for playing and step up(s) of each busy bag. This will be made available as a free printable on my blog. Let me know what do you think of this :) Would you prefer to have a set of instructions for making it as well? Love to see your comments!

Bitten By Busy Bags Bug (Now That's a Mouthful!)

Busy Bags - a term that I have heard often but never actually paid attention. Partly becos my older kids are too old for it and I hadn't had any reason to make any, well that is till now :P With my littlest now at the age where busy bags are commonly introduced, I find myself going onto Pinterest, Instagram to get inspiration.

 

I find the idea of a busy bag refreshing. Versus a quiet book where there are pages of activities, all put together in a form of a book, it was rather daunting to me. It seem so much more manageable to put together a bag consisting of usually one or two activities rather than a whole book of it! Another plus will be that bringing these out are so much easier than an entire book!

 

I have created quite a number from when I started late last year. I enjoyed doing it and had gifted to some friends with similar aged kids as well. It was fun to make and more fun to change some things around to fit the age or interests :)

 

This post will start off my busy bag journey where I show how I create the different activities and what are the learning points. I had fun doing it and hope that by showing, you will be tempted to give it a try too! It is exceedingly satisfying to see your child playing with "toys" or "activities" that you have created with your own hands! It is more economical as well with a simple toy now easily costing an arm and a leg in the retail shops!

 

Most of these bags can "grow" with the child. Eg. they can be stepped up in terms of expansion of learning by adding something simple or by alternating the way of play. One bag, double or triple "duty" - what's not to like?! :P

 

The first of many bags to come - Color Pegging

 

Things you need:

wooden pegs

(I get mine from Daiso where you can get a bag of 30 for $2)

 

wooden tongue depressors

(I found mine in a store at Bras Basah)

 

colored paper

(Again Daiso will give u many options too)

 

glue / sticky tape

 

 

 

1) Choose the colors that you want your toddler to learn. I started with mainly primary colors. This can be stepped up to include more colors as he masters them. Cut the paper to the width and length of the tongue depressors, fitting them inside with a border. You can then glue/tape the papers to the tongue depressors. I use a wide width sticky tape so that I could sort of "laminate" the papers such that they can last just abit longer :) This is how they will look like:

 

 

 

 

2) Next will be to cut and glue the same papers to the wooden pegs. I have chosen the slightly shorter but "fatter" wooden pegs so that little fingers can handle them easily. Same logic and this is how they will look like.

 

 

 

 

3) Believe it or not, you are DONE! Next will be to show your toddler how to work the pegs. I find that my 2 year old had some difficulty initially but he soon learn the how-to :)

 

 

 

3 ways of stepping up...

a) You can introduce more colors, moving from primary to include pastels or the darker colors.

 

b) You can introduce patterns by using papers that has patterns you want to teach. Ideally patterns should be repetitive throughout, making it easily for the toddler to differentiate the different patterns.

 

c) You can introduce the names of the color and/or patterns. By printing/writing the names on a separate sheet of paper, cut them up into little slips and have your toddler match them. Most colors are sight words especially the primary colors like Red, Blue, White etc so this will be a great way for them to pick up some sight words too!

 

 

Learning Points

1) Color Recognition - "duh" I know but it is the main learning point :)

2) Hand Eye Coordination as he tries to work the pegs.

3) Pronunciation of the colors as you call out the colors he matches.

4) Learning of words for colors or patterns.

 

 

If you need help in finding the items used here, do drop me an email and I will definitely help!

 

Have fun!

 

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Email: wahmummy@yahoo.com.sg

Blog: wahmummy.blogspot.com

 

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A Year of Mornings - Inspired by the book

This had been a post long in draft. I had meant to write this when I first started on this project in January this year then was waylaid by my many other on-going projects (as usual), then I convinced myself that I should post only when I have a method to physically document it than the digital format now...blah...blah...blah... u get the drift.

I am happy to share that I did finally find a way of physically documenting it, easy and it truly just take a few minutes! 

First let me describe the digital way of documentation.

I uses an Iphone and uses a free app titled "Collect" for my digital reminder and collation of my daily Year of Mornings photos. With an easy to use interface and a calendar view of all the photos u have uploaded (or not), it serves as a reminder so that I do not miss uploading any day. This app also allows me to post directly to both Instagram and Facebook, saving me many precious minutes. The end result is a Polaroid sort for photo with your caption below :)

For months, I just stop short here. I did not entertain an idea of any physical documentation  till my kiddos commented that they cant see the photos unless they go online. This prompted me to explore and find a way of having it as a physical item. It must be an easy and non time consuming way. I am already struggling to be on time with my Project Life, I dont need any other "stressor"!

One day, I came across a post on FB about a free printing service - Printwich. Curious about its quality, I registered and tried it out. The prints arrived in 4" x 4" format with a white border. It is printed on a matt thick paper but NOT photo paper. There are also advertisements behind the photos. Though the print is quite abit darker than what I uploaded, that could easily be adjusted before I send in my prints.

The PROS

1) It is FREE, for 10 prints a month. Any additional prints are at $0.99 per piece. Normal shipping is free as well in Singapore :)

2) Uploading is simple, easy and fast :) Just click from either your photo roll or instagram :)

3) Shipping is pretty fast. I usually get my prints a week after uploading.

4) Additional 5 prints can be "earned" when a friend uses your code to order their first print. This works BOTH ways, meaning BOTH yourself and your friend will get an additional 5 prints for THAT month.

5) Quality is acceptable (in my personal opinion).

The CONS

1) Limited numbers of free prints per month. 

2) Even when a friend uses your code, the additional 5 prints is only valid for that month only. You are only allowed up to 10 additional prints a month - that means only 2 friends registering. Beyond that you will not get more than 10 additional prints a month.

3) The print out is NOT on photo paper.

4) Print quality is not extremely sharp so the camera used must be of reasonable quality otherwise the photo may turn out all blurish

5) If you do not use your free prints for that month, it will be "forfeited" meaning you cant carry forward to the next month.

I decided to try and use this for my Year of Mornings photos. I plan to only stick the photos in, journal a couple of lines and call it done. I bought a Paper Stone Journal that is undated. This means that I could start any time :)

Combining the two, this is my end result :) 

The prints are 2" x 2". I fitted 4 photos into 1 and uploaded that collage to be printed. This works well for me as the space in the Paper Stone journal arent big and  really do not need a full 4"x6" photo for this project. With 10 prints a month, I manage to get 40 photos and with it being free, this is like godsend! Like I mentioned, the prints are acceptable for me. I generally do not take any detailing photos for this project so it works well. If you are planning to print detailed photos, you may want to explore other printing services.

Verdict? 

My kiddos love to flip through it and with just a few lines of journaling, its simply a throwback sort of memory for them to flip through and have fun. 

For me? It was exactly what I wanted - a simple and non time consuming way of documenting so that my kiddos get to see them. Best of it all, the monetary investment is just the Paper Stone journal which I bought at a heavily discounted price since it was "old stock" and the time investment was just cutting up the photo, adhering them and journal a few line - Easy Peasy!           

Still with me? Interested? 
Use my code "8dd4" to get an additional 5 prints for the 1st time u order :) Remember, you must register with this invitation code then order your 1st set of prints.     

PS. I already have one set of additional prints this month, just saying :P