At Home Ideas

With Thanksgiving break right around the corner, parents have to figure out how to keep kids busy when they are off of school for 5 DAYS!!!!  Here are some simple projects the kids will love.  They are very inexpensive to make and it will keep them busy for hours!  Parents may even have more fun that the kids :)


GAK (Flubber, Slime)

• Elmer’s Glue® (8 oz bottle of Elmer’s Glue-All)
• Borax (a powdered soap found in the grocery store)
• Large mixing bowl
• Plastic cup (8 oz size works well)
• Spoon
• Measuring cup
• Food coloring (the spice of life)
• Water
• Paper towel (hey, you’ve got to clean up!)
• Zipper-lock bag (don’t you want to keep it when you’re done?)
• Water

Here’s the easiest way to make a big batch Elmer’s Slime. The measurements do not have to be exact but it’s a good idea to start with the proportions below for the first batch. Just vary the quantities of each ingredient to get a new and interesting batch of goo.

1. This recipe is based on using a brand new 8 ounce bottle of Elmer’s Glue. Empty the entire bottle of glue into a mixing bowl. Fill the empty bottle with warm water and shake (okay, put the lid on first and then shake). Pour the glue-water mixture into the mixing bowl and use the spoon to mix well.
2. Go ahead… add a drop or two of food coloring.
3. Measure 1/2 cup of warm water into the plastic cup and add a teaspoon of Borax powder to the water. Stir the solution – don’t worry if all of the powder dissolves. This Borax solution is the secret linking agent that causes the Elmer’s Glue molecules to turn into slime.
4. While stirring the glue in the mixing bowl, slowly add a little of the Borax solution. Immediately you’ll feel the long strands of molecules starting to connect. It’s time to abandon the spoon and use your hands to do the serious mixing. Keep adding the Borax solution to the glue mixture (don’t stop mixing) until you get a perfect batch of Elmer’s slime. You might like your slime more stringy while others like firm slime. Hey, you’re the head slime mixologist – do it your way!
5. When you’re finished playing with your Elmer’s slime, seal it up in a zipper-lock bag for safe keeping.

1-2-3 PLAY DOUGH
One-cup cold water
One-cup salt
Two-teaspoons vegetable oil
Two tablespoons cornstarch
Three cups flour
Tempera paint or food coloring (adjust amount for color desired)
Mix the water, salt, oil and paint together.
Gradually work in the flour and cornstarch until you get the consistency of bread dough.

LIQUID BUT NOT!

Take a cup of cornstarch add to a bowl...
Take a cup of baking soda add it to the bowl...
Take 1/2 cup of water and add it to the bowl...
Mix with your hands-they will get messy a bit and the "Liquid but Not" will harden-- then soften --then drip while you form and play with it.
It comes off with a little soap and water! (Submitted by Anonymous)

NOTE: 'Liquid but Not' (above) and 'Slimish Goop' (below) are very similar. The first is more firm/hard. The second is similar to mucous as it goes through the fingers and hands. It's 'slimier' -- as the title denotes. (See below photo) For either activity, add drops of water as needed--to keep the consistency as desired. You'll find that for any of these 'experiments' adjustments will be needed--which is O.K. It's science!!! Be sure to remind kids that this is what it's all about...experimenting to see 'what' happens!

SLIME-ISH GOOP made with cold water... Be sure to read above 'Note'

·                                 Mix 1 cup of corn starch with 1 cup of water. Use your hands to mix it until it is a smooth texture.

·                                 You can change the texture by adding a 2nd cup of corn starch. (I added the second cup of corn starch; with just one cup-I found it too watery. If making a smaller amount with 1 cup of corn starch--start with 1/2 cup of water. Barb)
Kids love adding food color or paint to make the slime. They have fun making it resemble different icky substances and their imagination is more vivid! (Image by KidActivities)

 

Over the years, I have met many families with children who do not talk.  After the onset of speech therapy and some home suggestions, many of those same families say, "I can't believe how much my child is talking.  Sometimes it's too much."  I always say, "Be careful what you wish for."  Here are some things you can do at home to help increase expressive language.

STRATEGIES FOR EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE GROWTH

 

*Although you may not always understand what the child is saying to you, acknowledge the communication and attempt to respond  This will let the child know that communicative attempts are encouraged.

 

*When the child uses a single word such as “ball” repeat the word and add an additional thought such as “my ball” or “throw the ball.”

 

*Encourage the child to pair gestures with words.  Instead of just waving bye, encourage the child to say “bye-bye.”

 

*When the child produces a short phrase repeat it back to the child.  This acknowledges the communicative attempt and reinforces the correct production of the words.

 

*Attempt to expand utterances.  When the child says “milk” you may add on to it by saying “more milk.”

 

*Make a list of household items the child is not saying.  Try to slowly incorporate those words into daily interactions with the child.  Encourage the child to say those words.

 

*After the child shows growth and is using two word utterances consistently, begin expanding the two word utterances by adding an additional word.  If the child says, “more milk” then add something like “more milk please.”

 

*Put the child into situations where verbal communication has to be used.  Place a desired item out of reach so the child has to use the word to tell you what he/she wants.

 

*Remember that children need more time to process language.  Forcing a response in a short amount of time may significantly decrease the quality and length of the response.

 

*It is very important to communicate to the child using appropriate sentence length and rate.  If your child is using two word phrases, talk to him/her in two word phrases.  If he/she is using three word phrases, talk to him/her in three word phrases.  Using a slower rate and shorter phrases can be difficult for family members because it feels unnatural, however this is an important factor in language development and use.