Creative Play with Bunchems!

I've noticed a trend in the last few years where it's hard to find a toy that is both fun and encourages children to think and play creatively. Since I love to encourage my children to think creatively during craft time and play time, I'm always on the look out for new, great products to use in our home. We recently discovered Bunchems and not only are they fun but I am delighted with their endless possibility for creativity!

Merida and Rapunzel Disney Princess Spoon Dolls

I've joined together with several other bloggers in a challenge to create a Disney character craft out of household items found in the kitchen. Since I tend to always lean towards paper plates, paper bags and bottle caps, I decided to really challenge myself and come up with something different from my norm. My 4 year old daughter loves all of the Disney Princesses, especially Merida and Rapunzel, so I turned 2 wooden spoons into Merida and Rapunzel Spoon Dolls for my daughter to play with. They remind me of old times when toys were much simpler than they are now, and that makes me adore them tremendously. 

Glow in the Dark Play Dough

Welcome to another edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough. This month is all about Glowing Dough. This past week as I've dropped my boys off at school we've been able to see the moon off in the distance in the sky in front of us. The other day it was so big and seemed so close and my daughter leaned over to one of my son's and said, "I'm going to ask Mommy to get a big, big ladder and climb up and get the Moon for me." True story! It was pretty adorable! As I thought about our Glowing Dough challenge and our recent excitement over seeing the moon in the sky each morning, I decided to make Glow in the Dark Play Dough and combine it with moon and star cookie cutters to make our own pretend night sky.

Ice Cream Dough---Make a Banana Split Invitation to Play

Welcome to another edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series. This month is all about Ice Cream Dough. To keep in true form with the dough and to go along with the book we read to go along with our activity, I created an invitation to play station for my daughter to make herself a pretend Banana Split. 

Small Crab World Invitation to Play with DIY Moon Sand

Welcome to another edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series. This month is all about Moon Sand. It was our first experience making moon sand and my kids loved it! We made our moon sand into a small crab world invitation to play to go along with a book we have been reading from the library. 

Making Lemon Trees with Lemon Scented Playdough

Welcome to another edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series. This month is all about Scented Dough. We discovered a fun book at the library this past week and it inspired our lemon scented playdough activity!  

Ladybug Playdough

Welcome to the third edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series. This month is all about Edible Play Dough. We have been anxious for spring to arrive and have been reading all about ladybugs this week. As a special treat, I made a batch of edible playdough and we used some sweet things to create ladybugs.

Create a Leprechaun Playdough (Invitation to Play)

I have been itching for the end of February to roll around because I had this idea about a month ago to create an invitation to play station for my daughter with Play Dough for her to create her own Leprechaun for St. Patrick's Day. My son had a friend over this afternoon so my daughter was needing some special one-on-one attention to avoid ruining their playtime so it was the perfect opportunity to put my plan into action.    

Cocoa Scented Cloud Dough...Digging for Worms Play!

Welcome to the second edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series, all about Cloud Dough. If you missed last month's post about Foam Dough, you can check it out HERE. This week we have been having a ball learning all about Earthworms.  My daughter is pretty fearless and loves hands on learning so I decided what better way to explore worms than to let her dig for them in Cocoa Scented Cloud Dough.

Foam Dough Cupcake Making Station (Invitation to Play)

Welcome to the first edition of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Series. Each month 12 Bloggers will bring you their own unique spin on a popular sensory dough. Go HERE to read more about the series and to meet the Co-hosts and read about the spin they will be sharing each month. I intend on setting up our dough experience each month as an "Invitation to Play" and will couple our play with a children's book.

New Year's Gold Glitter Play Dough Invitation to Play

Like most children, my kids love play dough! It's one of those activities that holds their attention all afternoon, not to mention that it's a great sensory activity and one that sparks a child's imagination and creativity. If you are on the look out for the perfect New Year's Eve activity for kids I have the perfect thing! This New Year's gold glitter play dough was a big hit with my kids. I combined the play dough in a tray with different colorful and sparkly items and numbers which made a great invitation for my children to play with the dough.