So yesterday I went to spin some lettuce and my salad spinner busted, to the point of no repair. BOO! This morning as I stood staring at my dish rack, contemplating unloading it, I saw that spinner bowl and inspiration struck: bean bowl!
With a wicked head cold underway, Turkey is currently fussy, flinging snot and generally bored. He doesn’t feel well, but well, he’s still a toddler who wants to have fun. I’ve learned that providing a variety of simple, somewhat meditative activities is the perfect cure.
Bean Bowl (adapted from Meg’s Tub o’ Beans)
- Beans
- A large bowl
- Little cups
- A towel
- Optional: small objects (we used small wooden animals, purchased here)
I’ll let the pictures do the explaining.
Again!
This went on for about 20 minutes.
When he started to get bored I plunked in little wooden animals, covered them with beans and we played “Where did fill-in-the-blank animal go?”
Super fun, super simple, super cheap.
And here are more project ideas that YOU have inspired me with:
Nichole’s Bea, Bread, and Butter
Danielle’s Do This: Bean Bag Toss
PS – Yes those are the first pair of Big Butt Baby Pants that I sewed for him. And yes they are getting too small. And yes, that makes me sad.
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14 Responses to “toddler activity: bean bowl”
That looks like great fun (I’d quite like to do that myself some time actually!). Thanks for popping by and for leaving your lovely comment.
Have a happy Easter
Kate
Oh yes, sticking your hands in beans is fun at any age I think. Thank YOU for stopping by!
Jude uses my salad spinner bowl to “cook” while I fix dinner – this is genius. I saw Meg’s tub o’ beans and gave up because I’m not a member of costco and it seemed like tons of beans! A bowl of beans, that I can do! Also, the inside of a salad spinner makes an awesome bath toy holder.
Thanks so much for the sandbox mention! Sorry your little one has a cold
Carla recently posted..Deluxe DIY Sandbox
Sweet! Thanks so much for the re-purpose idea! I was thinking it would make a really fun toy at the beach since sand would spill out the sides. I really, really like your idea as well!
I did this with oatmeal for Ash last winter. So much fun. I think, now that you’ve reminded me of how much the kids enjoy this kind of thing, that I’ll do one with rice. I don’t trust my youngest with the beans just yet.
Oooh…rice is a good idea as well! I bet all different kinds (forbidden, wild, brown, jasmine, etc.) mixed together would be neat. He definitely has to be supervised at all times with the beans. Tonight he started pretending to put them in his ears, nose and mouth to get a reaction. Awesome.
Even though I don’t have a turkey of my own, I really enjoy these posts. It’s fun to see and learn about the different stages of development and what types of activities apply to different ages and how they develop motor skills etc.
Felicity recently posted..Lost and Found
Oh good Felicity I’m glad to know this! And my have I been thinking of you lately! I’m so glad you stopped by.
Looks like he is finding ways to serve his needs! How incredible it is to be able to watch a young toddler literally, take steps each and every day to develop himself.
Thank you for linking me up on your blog today! I’m so glad you enjoy reading about our little bread making tales…:)
It is an amazing journey each and every day.
Thanks for stopping by!
I don’t know what it is with little kids and beans but we do bean art projects all the time and my daughter just can’t get enough!
So fun.
Such a great idea! I know that I love the feel sticking my hands in a bowl of beans…I don’t know what it is, but it just feels so darn good!
Carolyn recently posted..Built By Carolyn
They grow so quickly don’t they.
I wish I could just bottle it all up.
Looks like ya’ll had fun!
on September 10th, 2011 at 4:26 pm #
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