Enjoying our Spiders

Since making our spiders for our Spider toss game (click HERE to see spider toss post)

we have been coming up with sooooo many ways to play with the spiders. The games with these spiders seem endless. So I thought it was time to share some of the things we have come up with. I think the best ones are the ones the kids make up on their own! Somehow they always seem to come up with great ideas. I always try to encourage the kids to use the materials in their own ways, not just the ways I've taught them. When they do find a way to use the materials differently (whether successful or not) I always make sure I tell them that it was great! For example, I might say "that was an exciting new way to play with the spiders, you did it, kiss your brain." Now I use the phrase "kiss your brain" which is from a song from Dr. Jean , it let's them know they used their brains and accomplished something. Please do this whether it was successful or not! 

Here's our fun spider games list:

1. Spider Jumping- spread the spiders out and jump from one to the other. (kid created)

2. Spider Spoon Balance- make a line on the floor with tape (or chalk if outdoors), place spider on a spoon, have child walk on the line while balancing the spider on the spoon.

3. Spider Web Toss- Take a hula hoop and wrap with tape, hang hoop up, have child throw the spiders so they stick to the web. This was the favorite by far!

4. Flying Spiders- using a paddle (or a stick attached to the back of a plate), have the kids continuously hit the spider in the air and try not to let him fall.

  

5. Nursery Rhyme reenactments- reenact the Itsy Bitsy Spider or Little Miss Muffin using the spiders as props.

6. Pulling Spiders- place spiders in an empty baby wipe container and have child reach inside and pull them out. Add different materials in there as well and have them separate the spiders from the other objects.

7. Spider Painting- use the spiders as painting tools instead of a paint brush.

8. Spider Kicks- lay bucket on its side and have child kick the spiders into the bucket.

9. Baby Spider Kicks- attach a piece of string of desired length to each spider and attach to an empty paper towel tube and hold above baby while they kick or reach for the spiders. I used dental floss to make the string look clear like a spider web.

10. Musical Spider- play or sing "There's a Spider on the Floor" and use a spider according to song lyrics. Great for body part identification.

Sorry =( we were having so much fun we didn't get pictures of everything but I'm sure you got the idea!

Whew! I'm exhausted from how many ways we are able to reuse these diy yarn spiders! Talk about stretching your dollar =)

The worst part is my brain won't stop and I have soooo many more ways I want to use them!!! Trying to save some ideas for other DIY toys and games I have coming up! 

WooHoo for saying NO to bunnies again!

Spiders, Spiders Everywhere

With Halloween around the corner I thought it would be appropriate to incorporate some spiders into our next diy toy/game: Spider Toss. Today was a rainy day over here for us, so I decided we needed some active indoor play. Not only will it keep him moving but improve his gross motor skills. I think people tend to over look the importance of working on gross motor skills. It's an important part of a child's development. While children tend to learn to roll over, crawl, walk, and run with little assistance, we think they will automatically be good at all motor skills. Yet not only do movement activities help improve these skills, I believe children learn more when they're whole body is incorporated.
Scientists now believe that to achieve the precision of the mature brain, stimulation in the form of movement and sensory experiences during the early developing years is necessary (Greenough & Black, 1992; Shatz, 1992). 
Games that involve movement are a great way to work on their motor skills. So I scavenged my house for materials to make this happen. I found some leftover black yarn I had from a scarf I had made…PERFECT!
Time to make the spiders:

Here's the yarn I had. I was so happy it was a thicker yarn.

Then I took a business card and wrapped the yarn around it a few times (4-5 times).

After that I cut the yarn and tucked the loose end under the other yarn.

Next I cut a small piece of yarn and slid it under the wrapped yarn.

Then I tied this piece of yarn tightly, twice.

Next, I flipped the card over and cut the yarn down the middle.

And Voila, you now have a yarn spider. YAY!

I made a total of ten of these so that there would be enough for a game. 

We took a Halloween bucket to use as our basket for our Spider Toss game. These spiders can be used for all ages. Here's ways to modify for different ages:

Infants: tie a string to the spiders and dangle over baby to try and grab. Even make some out of ribbon, different yarn to have different textures for baby to touch. You can sing the itsy bitsy spider to baby with these. For infants crawling or on their way, pull the spider while they crawl to it.

Toddlers: Place bucket on floor, or hang for the child to toss the spiders into. Depending on your child's ability you can have them do different techniques such as, throw underhanded, overhanded, eyes closed, from far then near. Have them count the amount of spiders that made it in. I had my son do different activities, such as, jumping after each toss, or touching toes, really the possibilities are endless.

Preschooler: Have them attempt to throw it even higher by placing the basket up high. You can have the spiders spread out across the floor and have the child crawl like a spider to collect the spiders and once all collected attempt to shoot them in. You can make them different colors and have them only shot in a color you yell out. 

Make sure you modify to your child's ability! Every child can participate it only take some modifying (I'm a strong believer in this). 

Just try to have them be as active with it as possible and of course have 

as much FUN as possible!

Here's my son tossing his spiders while the bucket was low, but I continued to find places to put it higher for a more challenging game of toss. 

Tons of FUN! 

I can think of soooo many ways to play with these spiders, so I'll save that for another post so I don't make this one to long =)

Say No to Bunnies!!!