At the Table: Pipets, juicing, marshmallow shapes, and rice

It's always handy to have something the kiddos can do while I'm cleaning the kitchen or cooking.  These are a few activities we like:

1.  Juicing:  The boys always want to squeeze limes with a lime squeezer...not my favorite activity to supervise.  So I cut up some green sponges and let the boys fill them with water and squeeze their own "limes" into a pitcher.  Lime squeezers can be found almost anywhere...Walmart, Targets, etc.  I also give them measuring cups and bottles to practice pouring with.  We call this a pouring job (from the Montessori method).  Go into it knowing you're going to be cleaning up water and changing clothes...and it ends happy!

 2.  Color Mixing with Pipets:  Use food coloring, water, and a plastic cup or baby food jar to make each of the primary colors. Let kids explore mixing colors into empty cups. Also could try this idea by mixing colors in snow!  I've seen this idea in plenty of places on blogs, but I was too cheap to go out and buy pipets for $3 each from the hobby store.  So my frugal heart showed me a way around it.  I found some Infant Triamenic on clearance for $1.79 at ShopKo.  Then I combined that with my $3.00 off 2 Triamenic coupons.  I bought 9 things of Triamenic for $.29 a piece.  I will use the medicine too, but what I really wanted was the pipets!  Yes, I LOVE couponing!    (See other pipet activities here).

 3.   Marshmallow Shapes: discovered this by accident when we were making gingerbread houses.  S came up with his own idea by creating things with marshmallows, toothpicks, and graham crackers.  Provide the materials and let them explore!

4.  Rice and Popcorn Kernels:  Put a tray underneath to catch some spills.  Mix rice and popcorn kernels and have kids sift through a colander.  They also like to scoop with an ice cream scoop and practice transfering from one bowl to another (another Montessori job).