Baby Sensory Play: Gel Bag

I've been trying to do more sensory play activities with Archer, which is challenging since EVERYTHING goes in his mouth.  Last month I shared the window paint bag we did. This was an adaptation.

I used a freezer bag and filled it with cheap hair gel.  I added some pony beads for interest.  Then I taped the top closed and taped it to the window.  You could definitely use it on a table or the floor, I was just trying to prevent Archer from trying to eat it. 

Which didn't work. 

While he enjoyed playing with the bag, he also saw the tape as a fun challenge.  He spent a lot of time trying to get it off the window.  Oh well, still good fine motor skills!

Books on the Shelf: Electricity and Magnetism

Here are last week's Books on the Shelf. Xander had been asking about electricity one night at dinner, so it seemed like the perfect time to pull out our books on electricity and magnetism.  I know he didn't read every book in its entirety, but I did see him reading a few of these throughout the week.  Since the whole goal is to increase the amount of our nonfiction he reads, that's enough to make me happy.

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11.5 Month Learning Shelves

Here are the learning shelves we had up for the last couple of weeks.  Archer was 11.5 months.

First, we had a little basket with shape beanbags.  The beanbags say the name of the shape in English on one side and in Spanish on the other. Both boys had fun throwing these around. Archer thought it was funny if I tossed them to him one at a time while I said the color and shape.

One shelf had this wooden mailbox.  This was one of those amazing garage sale finds, because it held Archer's attention for so long.  He liked putting all the stamps in and watching them fall down into the door.  He also likes opening and closing the door, and taking everything out of the mailbox.  As he gets older, it'll be easier for him to sort the letters.

Another shelf had our Treasure Basket.  It has lots of random objects with different shapes and textures.  Mostly he chews on them and throws them around the room.  Some things he tried to put in the mail box.

Another basket had these little shape sorting turtles.  Archer can't put them together yet, but he likes taking them apart.

I hadn't gotten out our little hedgehog in a while, so that was on another shelf.  I am never quite sure about this one, but Archer always really enjoys it.  He likes to take all the little spikes out.  He also likes to chew on them or just carry one around with him.

I also had out our disk sorter (this one is similar but much nicer). He liked taking all the disks off, but not actually putting them on.  I also found disks in random bins or shelves throughout the room.

When you're too tired to sit up but still want to play.  He just stayed on the floor pushing the disks behind himself.

The bottom shelf (I've learned not to put puzzles up high), had his house knobby puzzle.  It hadn't been all that long since we had it out, but this was the first time he was actually able to put some of the pieces in.

He also just held on to pieces while cruising around the room.

Finally, we had this Animal Talk book  and some Toob Animals to match.  This book has been a favorite for both boys.

 

Books on the Shelf: Birthday Week

With Archer's birthday being today and his party last weekend, last week's books on the shelf were birthday related.  I also threw in a few books on shapes, just to fill out the shelf.  I was glad to have a shelf a little more geared towards Archer, since most of our books are better for Xander.

Two of the books were from the Meet the Sight Words Readers.  The rest were just picture books we had. The Rookie Toddler book was from the library.

Hide the Cheerio

Archer is still a little young and fiercely independent so it is sometimes hard to get him to play games. However, he is incredibly food motivated, so this simple "hide the Cheerio" game worked perfectly for him.  I gave him a couple of different containers and hid a Cheerio inside (you could also hid a puff, or any other small food).  

Some containers were definitely easier than others.  This yogurt drink one was hard for him, because it was slender with a skinny mouth. 

I love watching him try to figure things out!

Books on the Shelf: Rain Books

Last week, I shared that I have been trying to find ways to pull out more books from our wonderful homeschool library, so that Xander will read them.  Here is what has been on the shelf for the last week.

Since it seemed very appropriate for our area, I pulled out books on rain and flooding. Most of the books were way above Archer's level, but we read or looked at pictures in those we could.  Most were non-fiction, but three were just rain related.


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