BOY TRAPPED

Where the inside of my mind leaks onto the screen.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Activity Jar


Our schedule around here runs pretty consistently.  It has to or one of two things happens:

  1. People are late to school or
  2. Mommy goes crazy

I get up at 7:00 to squeeze in a 20 minute workout before the rest of the house stirs.

Dylan wakes up at 7:30, and while he drinks his bottle, I begin my dedicated one hour of cleaning.

By 8:30, the other two are generally up, and I make breakfast.

At 9:00, the kids get dressed while I double-check school bags, diaper bags, purses, etc. to make sure everyone has everything they need for the day.

At 9:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dylan goes down for a nap, and I make the final preparations to get Alex off to school.

But as Dylan goes down on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, it's the hour the older boys look forward to most:  THE ACTIVITY JAR.

The activity jar is filled with strips of paper on which are written various activities including crafts, games, and storytime.  As per the request of a facebook friend, here are some of the ideas:

  • Hungry Hungry Hippos
  • Mario Party 8
  • Write a letter to friends
  • Storytime
  • Sidewalk paint (cornstarch, water, and food coloring in muffin cups)
  • Twister
  • Wii Fit Plus
  • Playdoh
  • Finger paint
  • Salt trays (small amount of salt in a cake pan, kids can draw in it)
  • Dance party
  • Puzzles

Each MWF, the kids get to draw an activity out, and together we play for about an hour, unemcumbered by baby brother, who truly does mess up everything.  And the kids love the activity jar so much, we can also use it for weekend bribery.  "If your chores are done by 10:30, there will be time to do the activity jar before Dylan wakes up..."

Here's the highlights of the first paper slip chosen: sidewalk paint.  (Thanks to Sarah's blog - shown in the background - for the great idea.  Sorry guys, can't link it... it's private.)

2 comments:

coryshay said...

What a great idea! About how much corn starch do you put in to the sidewalk paint? I know Jocelyn would loooooove to do that!

Sarah said...

Glad that the "kid activities" from my typing are getting put to use. If something helps another mother fill those times during the day, I love to pass the info along! Sorry that my being private means no link...but the cute picts of your boys having a great time definately holds their own charm!