Our local Art Center hosted it’s Preschool Family Days this weekend. This fun event was focused on the under-five set. Tor was extra happy to finally be able to play with the big kids, and the olders, well… they’re always up for a bit of fun.

One of the projects was to make Rain Makers. So, so easy to do at home, you’ll be certain to have everything you need handy. Here’s how:

• Tape two empty toilet paper rolls end to end (or just use one, or use a paper towel roll… whatever you’ve got wasting away in the recycling bin)
• Decorate a sheet of paper.
• Glue your artwork around the rolls.
• Tape a small paper cup or sturdy paper to one end.
• Fill with a cup-full (or however much you feel like) of dried beans.
• Seal the other end by taping another cup to it.
• Shake, shake, shake!

Enjoy!

Update: One of my brilliant readers suggested a great alternative to this that I think would be loads of fun for older children. Check out Christine’s tips for making a more authentic rain sound:

I remember making these by using rice and inserting pins (the small
metal flat headed type) into the paper towel rolls and then securing
them by wrapping tape all around. The pins slow the rice down as they
fall to the other side of the tube and make a beautiful soft rain sound.
-Christine.

Maggie gets very upset with me when I haul out the recycling because in it she sees endless possibilities, countless projects just waiting to happen. One of her favorites is Marching Band. Brothers get recruited as workers or audience members, and if they’re really lucky, they get to march as well. She makes all the instruments: maracas, shakers, tambourines, drums, bottle flutes, and guitars.

To make her Box Guitar all you need is a box, some rubber bands, tape or a stapler, and an empty paper-towl roll.

1. Cut out a square(ish) on the front of the box, and a hole big enough for the roll at on end.
2. Tape or staple rubber bands across the open section on the front. They should be pretty taught.
3. Stick the tube in at the end and tape to secure it.
4. Strum!

I was surprised at how well this worked, while not exactly the most musical of sounds, it definitely made different pitched plinks and plunks when strummed.

Next time, I’m thinking I’ll break out the tempera paints, and glitter glue so she can properly decorate her oeuvre, and make it her own (dub Tim Gunn voice-over here). As is this photo feels a bit too much like product placement for me . At least this time, she chose a soda bottle for her flute instead of the usual wine or beer

With the Olders both getting into their music so much recently, Tomas has begun introducing them to the Fab Four as part of their fundamentals of musicology education. This weekend he taught them to play "In my life," by the Beatles on guitar and piano. Both children have added their own twist to the classic, and have arranged their performances to their liking. When Tomas isn’t around, it’s my job to find lyrics, and to sing along so they can catch the tune (this is not to say that I can actually carry a tune, but I do my best). My Mamma’s heart just about bursts (sometimes with laughter) when I listen to them sing and play.

Last night was a family movie night. After an upside-down dinner of saussage and scrambled eggs, we all piled into bed with pillows, and comfy duvets to settle in and watch a flick on the computer monitor (’cause there ain’t no TV no more). Keeping to the Beatles theme, we watched A Hard Day’s Night and the kids LOVED it. I never expected them to react so strongly to it, but by the end of the viewing they were sleepy, but oh so happy, and both commented on how much they liked the movie with BIG smiles on their happy faces. What a perfect way to end the weekend and head off to bed.

On a mother’s group I recently joined, someone posted today asking for advice on how to entertain 12 under-fivers during a Super-bowl party. I figured I’d share my edited response here:

This is going to sound uber anal of me, but I write up a list of things to do as a reference. I rarely need to look back at it during the party, but it helps get rid of those "what was I thinking???" jitters. Even worse! For my kids’ birthday parties, I make up a time-line of what will (ideally) happen when.

Babies will be taken care of by their parents, so no need to have anything ready for them other than a quiet place for naps & nursing, and some whole milk.

For the olders:

*** Don’t bring everything out at once, but bring them out slowly, as needed ***

Ask each parent to bring their child’s favorite CD to share with the other kids. It’s also a nice way for parents to discover tunes they haven’t heard a zillion times. I’m in a Very Small Apartment, so I designate bedrooms as play areas. My kids always like to have dance parties in their room (it also helps keep the noise away from the game).

You can recruit the four and five year olds to help "care" for the littler ones — they love the responsibility and take it very seriously.

• Set up a table with printables. Pre-school aged kids really like doing "homework."
• Coloring pages (also from the web) are also a good thing to have for kids (who don’t eat crayons anymore). I’ll usually print ‘em up following a theme like Jungle, Zoo, Elmo… whatever they’re into these days You’ll need several of each design to prevent water works.
• Crayons, safety scissors, glue sticks & stickers. Only set out markers if you aren’t worried about ink getting on things. It will.
• Play D’oh is also a good thing to have handy.

For outside play you can have activities ready to go, but don’t feel you have to lead too much — kids know how to play. They’re pros at it

Bouncy balls & sidewalk chalk are always a hit. Sidewalk chalk is especially fun if you add a bit of water & don’t mind a bit aof mess. Anything you have for your toddler will be just fine for the older kids (they’ll love playing "baby")

You’ll want to have kid friendly snacks like juice boxes, bottled water, mini pizzas, chicken nuggets, fruits & veggies. I bring these out a bit at a time.

Do you have any suggestions I should send this Mom’s way?