Glitter Art

In AR's school they made them memorize the hadeeth "Tahabu Tahadoo" "Give gifts to one another, and you will love one another." He took gifts for his friends and he got lots of gifts as well. One of our favorite thing he got was this....

It was a sticker sheet with glitter on the side. He had to peel a sticker area and then spread the glitter. All three of us enjoyed it a lot. 

DIY Children's Easel

We have been wanting to get the kids an easel, but haven't found one that we an get here for a reasonable price. So I decided to designate a wall space for them as an easel. We put an old table cloth on the floor to catch any spills and drips from their masterpieces. Alhumdulillah they're enjoying their DIY easel.

Kids love paints and painting, it give them a creative outlet and also encourages imagination. AR loves talking about his artworks, and we love displaying them. They also make wonderful gifts and gift wraps!

Welcome spring art

We made a spring art piece with water bottle bottoms and caps. AR really enjoyed it alhumdulillah. We talked about how Allah swt brings one season after another, and how we feel cold at on time and hot at another. We talked about Allah swt for a while, and also how he changes different season and what they are. It was very informal.

We watched this 4 season time lapse video. 

We got this idea from, MPM School supplies.

Straw Painting

Okay so today after a normal routine stuff we had some great paint fun! We did straw painting! AR loved it but got REALLY tired since it required a lot of facial muscles for blowing in the sttraw reall hard to get the paint to spread.  It was a very creative type of painting and of course lots of fun He was very fascinated by how the colors were blending. He then suggested if we could use a dark color paper and use white paint...I added some purple to it too...It turned out beautiful! Definitely a keeper! My friend suggested on getting the keepers laminated...I am really considering that since he really enjoys painting and paints.

After the colors were all dried! I love it! Such a master piece!

After the kids went to sleep...in my "ME" time I pulled out my canvas paper and did the straw painting myself. I have always really enjoyed painting so it was a lot of fun after a LONG time! Alhumdulillah!

Mama's Masterpiece. Doing this reminded me old times!

Learning names

Prophet Muhammad (saw) said "Keep the names of the noble Prophets, Allah loves most the names Abdullah and Abdur Rahman. The most truthful names are Harith and Humam, while the most disliked are Harb and Murrah (war and bitter)."


Well considering this hadeeth we decided to name our son Abdur-Rahman. MashaAllah it really suits him <3. 


I have to add that its been a challenge to teach him his names spelling. So these are some things we have done to make learning his name fun learning experience.

I made these to togehter with AR, we spelled the names  and stuck them on the foam boards.

He loves hand and foot prints (I let him do them but i personally don't find them too educational). We did this one on a black construction paper with white (non-toxic) water acrylic. Ad the end I added hi name and we spelled it out together a few times.  

This one was a lot of FUN! I printed his name out in ful and with it I printed each letter of his name separately. First he glued his full name (we sang the spelling of his name). Then under it he had to glue the letters by looking at the full name... first 'a' then 'b' so on.

Had some glue and glitter fun.

I am doing more things with him, I will be adding about it.

Steer the Wheel!

AR and mama made a HONDA CIVIC steering wheel. This was something that made him really happy b/c he loves cars!

What you will need:

1. A solid paper plate ( I used Dixie) 
2. Scissors or a carpet cutter (we used the carpet cutter, I like use it)
3. Some pictures of car logos (we cut out some from his car magazine collection)
4. Glue
5. Old baby stocking in black, grey or beige color. (we cut it and glue gun-ed it on)
6. Glue gun

Car Paint Toddy

H car painting... mashaAllah she had a blast!

Great for Preschoolers too, I have done it a few times with AR...for him it like his SPECIAL treat!

Ball Painting

This Ball painting was another great hit with AR. He really enjoyed banging the ball in the Tupperware. Its very easy to prepare for and lots of fun for the kids,. It makes a great toddler activity as well.

Line Tupperware with paper.

Put some paint on it

Get a good size ball.

Let the child shake it.

Ta daa!! 

Beautiful Ball art Masterpiece!

Yogurt Painting

We did yogurt painting! both the kids loved!! It was initially suppose to be for toddler activity for H but AR really wanted to do it too so he did some too.

Four teaspoon of yogurt with a drop or two of food coloring 

What you will need:

1. Yogurt
2. Thick paper, cardboard or bristol board
3. Food coloring
4. And some cute toddler hands!!

This is a wonderful activity for the toddlers and its safe, they can lick their fingers!

Homemade play-dough

We made play-dough at home with AR's helping hand, he enjoyed making it a lot and also playing with it. I really like play-dough for AR because he has very delicate fingers and playing with play-dough, kneading it and making things out of it helps him strengthen his finger muscles and fine motor skills. Alhumdulillah he loves playing with play-dough!

Even our daughter H loves playing with it and sometimes EATING it! Alhumdulillah it's non-toxic so no worries... but it still has lots of germs!! She will get use to not eating it.

Play-dough recipe for those interested. Why buy those toxic play-doughs when you can do-it-yourself at home!

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup salt
• 4 tbsp cream of tartar
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• Food coloring

Instructions

Combine the flour, water, salt, cream of tartar, and oil in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the play-dough begins to form a ball, it's cooked. Cool for five minutes and then knead in food coloring. 

I divided the dough in 4 balls and then added vanilla essence, mango essence and coco powder with the food coloring.

Learing and playing

We used  play-dough to learn letters and to learn the shapes of the letters.

we used fridge magnets to imprint the letters in play-dough.

 My letters kept getting stuck in the alphabet frame, so AR taught me how to press it in gentle and lift slowly!

We made letters out of play-dough

We also wrote letters on a ziplock which I filled up with hair gel and added a few drops of food coloring. Initially it took him some time to learn how to press on the gel to make letters or shapes. We also used the decor crystals to trace the letters we had made by pressing on the gel filled ziplock.

 

Transportation Theme

Another all time favorite of AR...transportation. We were not able to take that many pictures but here is a list of things we did.

• We have a really nice Discovery Children's Encyclopedia that we used to learn different ways we go from one place to another.
• learned about different vehicles
• we divided his transportation toys in the 4 categories  
• In the Air    
• on the road
• on the track
• on the water
• his all time favorite...... CAR Painting!! 
• we used his cars and made tire tracks on play dough
  

origami airplane

We made a wooden boat toy his dadi had given him when he was a toddler. I had saved it to use it when he was a bit older and now was the perfect time.

We made a origami boat

He made a pretend neighborhood on a carpet his phoopoo(aunt) had given him, using different vehicles he had in the right places.

This was something really new for him that Hospitals have helicopters of emergency...he was amazed to learn that.