Everything coloured. That is the theme in our house right now. The brighter the better. Tons of painting, with the purplest trees you have ever seen. Loads of crafting, with the wildest markers available. Since it is still so white outside, we are making it very spring-like inside.
While our first theme is colour, or second theme is keeping busy. Mind you, today we had the most beautiful day outside. Sunshine, birds chirping, and puddles (puddles!!!!!!). But all in all, it is still cold and we are still inside more than out, so we are keeping busy with lots of activities.
For the last few weeks I have been taking quiet boxes to a new level. I posted awhile ago about 54 Mess Free Quiet Time Boxes that we love. But recently, I have been making 5 different, engaging, and fun quiet boxes for my little ones to enjoy throughout the week. These have been a savior for rest time, and that witching hour as I try to make dinner too.
I have been switching them up every week, but one quiet box has remained a favourite for the past three weeks. This rainbow fine motor sensory bin.
I saw a post from Ann of My Nearest and Dearest on open ended play with buttons and plastic Easter eggs. It looked so lovely and inviting I knew my boys would love playing with it. I decided to add in some pipe cleaners and beads as well so they could practice some threading.
We were dangerously low on a few craft supply staples, so I braved our local Dollar store. I have really been limiting my visits to the Dollar store lately. I spend a ridiculous amount of money each and every time I visit. I think next time I will have to leave my cards at home and only go with cash, as this trip for beads and pipe cleaners was certainly not $2.
Regardless, I did get the crafting necessities I needed (and oodles more that I didn’t know I needed. Right … that I did not need.).
I made sure to choose the brightest colours that I could, and match them as well. So I wound up with purple, blue, pink, green, and yellow Easter eggs, buttons, beads, and pipe cleaners. Just in case my little ones had the urge to do some patterning. Or sorting.
Or make a cute little egg-puppy.
This bin has been great for both Benjamin (age 2.5) and Sammy (age 4.5). Sam likes to make complicated bracelets and patterns, and Ben loves filling up the Easter eggs with buttons. Both boys are able to use this bin independently in many different ways. Strengthening their hands, and working on the little muscles that will support future writing.
And it is oh so colourful.
I will be sharing our weeks worth of quiet time boxes later this week.
Hope you are having an early start to Spring where you live. I believe we built our last snowman today! Mind you I have said that twice now. But this time I can REALLY feel the spring in the air. I don’t think we will be making another one, and it is probably a good thing. Throughout the winter our snowmen have become less and less jolly. Mama may have made the latest one almost frowning.
I’m ready for spring.
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pretty too!!
Thanks Susen – and yes! That is an important feature!
do you drill holes in the plastic eggs? love this idea. I’m gathering ideas for my 2 littles. thanks.
Hi Mara, so glad you like this idea. The plastic eggs come with the little holes in the top (at least mine do!) Thank you for reading and gathering ideas for your little ones in this space. I really appreciate that <3