This is a simple idea that we got when Aidan attended a neighbor boy’s birthday party several years ago. It was a camping themed party, and the kids played with “constellations” made by punching nail holes in a can and then putting the can over a flashlight. We recently made one for Owen, and he has had a lot of fun playing with it!
A couple of things to note – our LED flashlights did not display the constellation very clearly. Even with a regular flashlight, the constellation is not super clear, so older kids who are trying to make an actual constellation may be frustrated. However, this project is lots of fun for preschoolers! It definitely looks like stars and adds a new dimension to flashlight play!
What do we do when we’ve had NINE showings on our house (which is up for sale) and everyone is tired of cleaning and waiting and cleaning and leaving? (And full of restless energy because it’s all so unsettling?)
We do an EASY craft that quickly gets energetic boys engaged instead of bouncing off the walls!
And there’s not much simpler than a sock snake. Just find an old sock and add hot glue, googly eyes, and some felt decorations. We stuffed ours with fiber fill stuffing, but you could also recycle tissue paper or newspaper as stuffing, or maybe stuffing from an old stuffed animal. I sewed the ends of the snakes shut.
Aidan made a “hood” out of felt to make his look like a cobra.
When the snakes were done, the boys made homes for them out of cardboard boxes, and that kept them busy for another hour or so! Yay for simple fun!
With our new baby this spring and our house being on the market, I have not been as consistent with Lunch with the Composers as I would like to have been! We’ll try to fit in a couple more before taking a break for the summer. Since all of you are probably as burned out on school as we are, I thought we’d keep it fun this week!
We’ll be listening to Victor Borge perform Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Victor Borge was a Danish comedian and pianist who live from January 3, 1909 to December 23, 2000. His parents were both musicians, and it was obvious from early in his life that Victor was a prodigy. Victor Borge started his “stand up” comedian pianist act in Denmark, and then came to the United States in 1940 when the Nazis occupied Denmark. He taught himself English by watching movies, and quickly entered the performing world in America. By 1946, he was hosting “The Victor Borge Show” on NBC.
The first video is classic Victor Borge from 1968. Classical pianist Sahan Arzruni joins him for Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. My boys loved this one – especially the falling off the piano bench part! The second video (Debussy’s Clair de Lune) shows Borge’s talent as a pianist – no silliness in this one! This video is from a concert celebrating Victor’s 80th birthday.
So… we don’t have any interesting activities to share this week… Our house has been on the market for the past month, and after a slow start, we’ve had several showings in the past 10 days. Keeping the house clean with four boys is, uh, interesting! But if the house sells, we’ll be very happy to get some extra space!
Anyway, I don’t have any activities to share, but I do have some funny Owen stories! (He’ll be turning 3 next month!)
*Making pizza crust with Owen*
Owen: Us done? (putting in the flour)
Mom: No, we need five cups. We have to put in two more!
Owen: Oh dear. (pause) Me not believe this!
*Riding in the car*
Owen: Me not like green. Me like BLUE.
*Later at home*
Owen: Me do green play doh. (pause) No! Me like blue! (Puts away green play doh and opens the blue.)
*Still later at home*
Mom: Owen, what do you want for your birthday?
Owen: May 18th.
Mom: No, I mean, what presents do you want?
Owen: Birthday ones.
Mom: What do you want to be in the birthday presents?
Owen: Blue ones. Me like blue.
Mom: So you want blue wrapping paper?
Owen: Yes.
Mom: What do you want to open under the wrapping paper?
When boys have too much free time... bad things happen! This site is your source for ideas and encouragement as you amuse, occupy, teach, train, and mold the exuberant sons in your life!
This is a simple idea that we got when Aidan attended a neighbor boy’s birthday party several years ago. It was a camping themed party, and the kids played with “constellations” made by punching nail holes in a can and then putting the can over a flashlight. We recently made one for Owen, and he has had a lot of fun playing with it!
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