There are only so many times a day you can say “No. Go play.” to your child without having a pang of guilt. Whether you are on zoom calls all day with work or trying to fold the laundry, if you have a child, you are multitasking. When you find yourself with a half hour or two to actually engage your child in an activity, you might as well make it exciting. And there is no better way to make memories than to make a mess!
Cue shaving cream. Who needs shaving cream anyway? It’s totally worth the waste. Your husband has secretly wanted to try the hipster beard. Why not give him a jumpstart! Throw him a flannel shirt and an IPA and he will start going with the flow. But these are tips for another blog. Back to your kids.
IF YOU HAVE A BABY (6 mos – 1 year)
Mess Level – 0
Put some shaving cream in a ziplock bag. Add a drop of food coloring. Seal the bag and use painters tape to secure the bag to their high chair table. They will love the feel of rubbing the bubbly cream under their fingers. Add a piece of paper to the ziplock bag and make some art.
IF YOU HAVE A TODDLER (2 – 3 years)
Mess Level – 10
Put some shaving cream on a cookie sheet. Do this on the porch for easy clean up. This is as simple as it gets. Please supervise them as shaving cream could end up EVERYWHERE (including their mouths) if you are not paying attention. They will have a blast.
For an added bonus, add some bath toys. Hide them under a pile of shaving cream and have your child do a treasure hunt.
IF YOU HAVE A PRE-K KID (4 years but might be suitable for 3 years)
Mess Level – 5
This activity actually has a lesson component. You can teach your child about how rain happens. The basic idea is that when clouds get too heavy rain happens.
Here is what you will need:
A clear glass or jar
Food Coloring
Water
Syringe (like the one you give your child medicine from)
Shaving Cream
Here is how to execute this:
Fill your glass container up about half way.
Squeeze a bunch of shaving cream on top of the water while saying “this is your cloud!”
Take a second small cup of water and add a few cups of food coloring. Fill a syringe with the colored water.
Hand the syringe to your child and have him/ her slowly add the water to the top of the cloud until the cloud is “full.”
Watch the rain come down into the glass.
BOOM! You are Mr./ Mrs. Wizard PLUS your kid will never forget this cool little science moment.
Once this is over, have your child draw a picture of what they just did. This way you can sit next to them and answer some emails. Barb wants to know why you didn’t fill your time card out right…again.
Good News Of The Day
It’s not news, rather a thought. It’s brought to us by a random Facebook post that originated in Tennessee but applies to us as well. It’s been forwarded and there is no original author. But I don’t think they would mind if I shared.
“Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this (quarantine). Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education…
But what if…
What if instead of falling “behind,” this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this? Hear me out.
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing?
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own backyard and sitting near a window in the quiet?
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower?
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organize their space, do their laundry, and keep a well-run home?
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home?
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the every day?
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place?
What if among these children, a great leaders emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
What if they are AHEAD?”