Play dough video

One rainy day, Averie and I woke up and decided to make our own play dough.  We used the following recipe:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup salt
• 2 Tblsp. oil
• 1 Tblsp. cream of tartar
• Add all ingredients to a large pot and cook on low heat, stirring constantly with a strong spoon until mixture clumps and stiffens and turns into a ball.  Knead dough on a piece of waxed paper. Separate into four parts and make a little well in each.  Add five or so, drops of food colouring to each well and knead into dough.

While Averie was playing with his dough, he began mixing colours and made little balls that we decided would make great gifts for our little loved ones.  We gathered the following reusable items lying around the house:

• twist ties
• plastic wrap and produce bags (cut up into 4×4 squares)
• plastic tubs with lids (for storing left over play dough)

Averie and I decided that the little rolled rainbow balls looked like candies, so we went with that theme when we wrapped them up.  Each ball was wrapped in a square of plastic and added coloured twist ties to each end.  As we went along, we made a list of all of our cousins and friends who might like one for Christmas.  (We also decided that we will make these again to add to our treat bags that we hand out to friends who come to our birthday parties.)

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Sweet Cheeks Covered in Cloth

PookaPants cloth diapers are sew easy to use and care for, you’ll start to wonder why everyone doesn’t jump on the cloth bandwagon!  I prewash the fabrics before the sewing process begins, and I live in a smoke/ pet free home; however, I recommend pre-washing them yourself before use.  They can be handled in the shop a few times before they reach your sweet baby.

Step 1:  Place baby in diaper, adjusting snaps or velcro to give your growing baby that perfect fit.

Step 2:  Cover with a pair of lanolized Wool-Agains soaker, longies, or footies.  Other conventional diaper covers will also fit over Pookapants.  (We’ve tried them all!  We just love the look and feel of cozy wool!!)

What to do when it’s time for a change?  Keep your diapers in a bin until laundry time.  We use a regular old 5 gallon bucket with a lid.  (Hardware store, $5 investment.  A bit rugged, but we’re happy with it.) No need to add water or any other liquids to the bucket.  If you must add something to keep that ammonia smell down, I’d recommend a sprinkle of pure baking soda between diaper layers.  We go through about 10 a day and usually wash that load at the end of the day.

Yeah, yeah, pee diapers are easy.  What about Poo?!  Well, get ready to learn even MORE about your tiny tot.  Nothin’ says lovin’ like leanin’ over the toilet elbows deep in pooey water.  Yes, you’ll have to swish and scrub the poo into the pot.  Just remember all the benefits that come from Cloth Diapering (did you read that blog??).  Go to your happy place, sing yourself a song, and it will soon be over.  Throw rinsed off diaper in the bucket.  Close the lid.  Flush the toilet and wash your hands (and elbows   thoroughly.  Continue singing song until you feel well again.  Seriously though, I have to say that I’ve learned a lot about what my baby can and cannot digest while cleaning out his diapers.  And I’ve learned where all those missing crayons ended up!

Wash your diapers on a hot cycle, using a baby mild detergent.  An extra rinse cycle is recommended.  Toss them in the dryer for 10 minutes to fluff, and hang on a sunny clothes line.  The sun is our cloth diapering friend because it naturally rids the diapers of bacteria and urine smells.  Not to mention, its natural bleaching powers.   On cloudy days, it may take a tumble or two in the dryer to get them completely dry.  We keep a drying rack next to the heater to save on bills.  Heat the home and dry diapers overnight!  Sun is always best, but I like to throw mine in for a tumble for a bit of time at least.  It prevents them from turning into stiff cardboard diapers.  Averie doesnt like stiff cardboard dipes!

**Never use fabric softener or dryer sheets with cloth diapers, as it prevents absorption!**

Scout is a one year old; toddling and tinkering with all he comes in contact with.  He can now use his hands to reach and manipulate objects.  His fine motor skills are unfolding and developing in so many ways.   He has mastered moving with reflexes, can combine and coordinate simple movements, and is on his way exploring complex movements.  He cannot yet make nor expand complex movements.  Children in Scout’s age group demonstrate an increased proficiency in motor skills, which shows physical and motor competence.  The California Department of Education’s Child Development Division uses the Desired Results Development Profile-Revision (DRDP-R) to make an assessment on a typical child’s development.  The Infant/Toddler Instrument measures a child’s development from birth to 36 months of age.  Seeing that Scout is one third of the way through the age requirement for this instrument, it is wonderful to see his competency lies near the mastery end of the developmental continuum.  It could be said that he is above average in his development, compared to a typical child in his age bracket.

Moving with Reflexes

Responding with Reflexes

When Scout was five months old, he came to my Yoga Tots class with his momma.  It was here that I took this simple photo of him lying on his back, holding his hands in fisted position.

Combining Simple Movements

Interacting with Objects in His Environment

Here is Scout at 13 months, opening and closing his hands as he is exploring the magic of nature in the park.  On this occasion, Scout came across sticks, leaves–both soft and crunchy, grass, and rocks; all of which were thoroughly gone over between both hands and his mouth.  He really took his time exploring nature with all of his senses.

Coordinating Simple Movements

Adjusts grasp to size and shape of toy

On Scout’s first birthday, he tagged along the back of this ride, grasping the fender with fists.  This reveals competence of making adjustments to different shapes and sizes of objects.

Exploring Complex Movements

Using Index Finger and Thumb

Scout pulls apart a crispy leaf and crumbles its bits between his index finger and thumb, while grasping the leaf itself between the index finger and thumb of the other hand.

Mastering Finer Motor Skills….

Scout still has a bit more to learn in the areas of making and expanding complex movements before he can move up to the next level for DRDP-R assessment.  He must learn how to manipulate objects using both fingers and wrist on one hand, while stabilizing an object with the other hand.  Pulling a zipper up, twisting a cap, or putting beads on a string require competency at this level.  The ability to do a task like these using both hands is necessary for developing the task of expanding complex movements.   When Scout can button a large button or turn both knobs on an Etch-A-Sketch, with both hands, simultaneously, he will be on his way to mastering his fine motor skills at this developmental level.

♥♥♥♥