Bambino Academy: Help With Tricky Puzzles

::: Simple Ideas For Your Bambino :::

~ Surfer Dude is 39 months ~

I wasn't sure what to title this post. We have a couple of wooden puzzles like this one that are a little fiddly to put together, especially for little fingers.

My plan was to take a photo of it completed that he could use as a guide, then I had a little light bulb moment!

I placed it straight on to my photocopier, colour copied it and ran it through the laminator. This was definitely an easier and better option, than photographing.

Not only does he now have a finished puzzle to look at whilst working on the real life one, and since it is the exact size of the puzzle pieces..

He also has a template he can build the puzzle directly on top of. Very happy with that and such a simple thing that has really helped with 'getting this puzzle'.

Don't forget you can see my other Bambino Academy posts, broken down into ages, under the Home School drop down menu up above.

Check out the Linky Parties that I have shared this with.

What's In A Name Part 2

: : : Simple Ideas For Your Bambino : : :

This was a hit and oh so simple.

Write the child's name on a chalkboard and have
them paint over it with water!

How easy is that.

Why not take it outside on the driveway and write huge names to paint over.

Also check out:

Sand Art Names

Bambino Academy: Using The Telephone

 ~ C is 35 months ~

It wasn't that long ago that we needed to pretend role play in order for young children to learn how to use the telephone. 

Playing with phones and talking on phones is something that C has loved doing since he was able to hold a phone. Now I highly doubt that the fact that he sees his dad on the phone alot would of had anything to do with, but I'm just saying you know!

In recent months he has been picking up the receiver and talking to it and wanting me to pretend with his old (broken) mobile phone that he loves dearly. Being the obliging mamma that I am, I decided to take this play up a notch, grabbed my mobile and called him.

C Upon answering the phone: "Yes mum, watch doin?"
Mum:"What do we say again when we answer the phone, remember it won't always be mummy here talking to you"
C: " Hello, C speaking"
And we proceeded to have a running commentary about the bird outside our window, amongst other discussions.

Well consequently we have done nothing all morning except chat on the phone to each other. He's rung dad, dad's rung him...wanted more. He rang Nan, no one home...wanted more, he rang his Aunty had a little chat.

Finally I was able to coax him outside to play some.

I can see us doing lots of more this over the coming weeks, mmmmmm best not teach him anyone's phone numbers just yet, oh to think of the phone bill!

Bambino Academy - Handprint Flowers

: : : Simple Ideas For Your Bambino : : :

~ C is 33 Months ~

We made these adorable Handprint Sunflowers, well technically they are just flowers due to the colours C chose, but they certainly resemble sunflowers don't you think, for Mother's Day. They are so cheerful and pretty though that I'd love to fill a large vase with a couple.

So simple too, steps we followed are:

Choose large sheet cardboard

Paint hands 

Stamp handprints, should get at least 2 stamps before you need to reapply or change colours

Allow to dry

Whilst drying paint paper plates for flower centres

Allow to dry

Cut around hand prints and inside circle of paper plates

Glue handprints to the paper plates

We chose to attach sticks to ours. This really makes these a fabulous gift that is so easily transported to the particular loved one. 

Ever have those times where you have made something only for it to be crumpled and squashed by over loving little fingers whilst on the way to give the gift?  With a stick to carry there's no need to worry about that.

This post is linked at ABC and 123 Show and Tell

Don't forget to vote for my blog over at Circle Of Moms. 

Just click the image above once a day, every day between now and May 11th.

Bambino Academy - What's In A Name

: : : Simple Ideas For Your Bambino : : :

~ C is 33 Months ~

Having loads of tactile fun painting experiences this year with C is something I have already mentioned. Apart from lots of fun with paint, learning to recognise his name is another item I had on the list for him to accomplish this year.

A few weeks back I printed in large font his name and stuck it to the wall above his little desk. So of course he can easily tell me what that says. But can he recognise his name in other places? No! There is no way on earth I want this to be a boring exercise for him and in fact learning to recognise his name in many ways is really just a by product of the creative fun we are having together.

I have lots of ideas stashed away for name recognition and we'll slowly work through some or maybe many of them depending on C and where he takes this.

For this name recognition craft you need a piece of card, pencil, PVA glue and coloured sand. Write your chosen name on the card. (for the sake of the blog we will always complete two of these, one for C and one with Mummy on it)

Paint PVA glue over the top of the written name and start sprinkling with loads of coloured sand. (I recommend to have your mummy do the glue painting for you so that each letter is recognisable, I'm just saying you know)

When you are certain that all of the glue has been covered with as many different colours as possible leave it to dry, whilst you go for your afternoon nap.

After a lovely refreshing nap, take your name art work outside and brush away any excess sand to reveal a beautiful rainbow coloured name. Hang your work of art on the wall, being very careful to place 4 small balls of blu tack exactly in each corner and then punch them as hard as you can just to make sure it is really stuck to the wall and stand back to admire your work.

Make sure that when your dad gets home from work you immediately grab his hand and show him your coloured sand name and explain the process in full detail to him, just in case he doesn't understand and wants to make his own name with coloured sand.

Linked To:

Tot Tuesday
It's Playtime 

Our First Big Achievement For 2011

We're barely into the new year and already we have a huge accomplishment in the house.

C has been using his potty!! YAY!!

This is a huge step forward for him (and me, my baby disappearing before my eyes) considering he has known what to do in this department since he was just 12 months old.  During that time he could tell me constantly when he was 'weeing' and 'pooing' but I could never persuade him to use the toilet or the potty. And (maybe a little gross for some point coming) could wee in a cup or similar device in the shower.

No big deal, we don't really do 'toilet training' here anyway, they all end up going on their time, we big folk really have no control over that and why should we? All toilet training does is cause stress for both parties I think.

I'm not a fan of potty's, I think they are pretty disgusting really. B used one when he was first learning (he was close to 3.5 before he got it), but K never did (she was 2 and caught on it so quickly I can't even remember the process), it seems that C will also be a potty user for the time being anyway. We have 2 of them and with our recent sunny days and frequent use of the pool I thought I would leave them out near the pool area. As we all know, with any 2 year old there is always loads of weeing going on after swimming....the perfect opportunity to suggest the potty.

On this particular day (just after new year) he made the suggestion super easy on my behalf when he came to me whilst swimming to let me know that 'poo poo' was coming out. Oh superb! Getting him out of his floatation device swimmers is a mammoth feat in itself let alone when you are trying to rush because a poo is coming. We made it, with only a small smothering on the swimmers and the remainder in the potty, including two more wees later that day.

Finally he was able to tell us that he doesn't want anyone watching. Was that all the problem has been all this time!! Why aren't children born talking? I'm damn sure half our battles would never ocurr if they could just express themselves. Ok so he doesn't want us to watch, fine, we don't particulary want to watch either.

He much prefers to stand when weeing, which is equally fine, but the potty he prefers is relatively shallow as far as potty's go, hence a good deal of wee splashes over the edges and onto the floor. He is not bothered by this at all and will quite happily grab some toilet paper to help clean it up.

After the 3rd wee this morning, and he and I using nearly a full roll of toilet paper cleaning up the splashes, I casually suggested that we really need to try and keep the wee in the potty and his response, "But I can't Mum"! all I could do was agree with him and laugh on the inside.


Potty training for him is not awful, scary or a time when he gets in trouble for making a mess, it is a time of change, growing up, learning new things and growing towards independence (even if deep down I want to keep him as my baby forever).

He is so proud when he comes to tell me that he has 'finished' and after the clean up and the hand washing he's on his merry way, with a smile on his face, as he always has.

Looks like it is going to be a great year ahead.

Bambino Academy Basics: Washing Up - Sensory and Practical Life Lessons

Our little bambino's are never too young to begin the fine art of washing the dishes. What's more, they actually really want to do it and at times will beg to do it.

I know some you are probably freaking out about all of the mess and the water and bubbles everywhere and granted, that is going to happen, but just look at his focus, he was so into this and did a really great job at it too.

Save all of the non breakable easy to wash items from the day and whilst you are preparing dinner, get the toddler set up at the sink. Don't forget that their little fingers can't tolerate the water as hot as we can, add plenty of bubbles for that fun factor, a chair or stool to stand on and let them at it.

When they are done, they will no doubt be soaked through, great time for a bath (unless of course dinner is ready hehehe) and the floor will be a huge puddle. Well it needed mopping anyway and you don't even need to fill the bucket.

• Flower Arranging

• Colour Recognition and Sorting

• Dry Pouring

Bambino Academy Basics: Dry Pouring

Dry Pouring is a favourite activity around here at the moment. This simple, yet effective work keeps him busy for a very long time....well a long time when you are only 2 that is!

It took me so long to find something that I could actually use to set this work up. Maybe I was just being picky I don't know but I literally spent months scouring second hand stores and came up trumps every time.

In the end I purchased these little tiny milk jugs from a kitchen supply store.

We are using larger items to pour with and always pouring on a try, as that means much less clean up and C can do the clean up himself, especially when we he can pick up the items, such as macaroni, kidney beans and sometimes popping corn (good pincer grip practice too), although that is getting slightly smaller. Eventually we'll progress to rice and sand before tackling wet pouring.

I am led to believe that I should also keep my eye out for pouring implements that have different sized spouts. Which I will do but since I had such a hard time finding these little gems I won't be holding my breath.

The tray is presented very simply, with the jugs ready for him to pour with his right hand into the left jug. I have shown him to swap them around after he has finished pouring to ensure he is always pouring from his right. Obviously the aim with this is build the coordination so that the child can pour effortlessly, wet or dry, independently. An important skill for practical every day life.

• Flower Arranging

• Colour Recognition and Sorting

Bambino Academy Basics: Being A Part Of The Home School Day

Whilst I posted a few weeks back and then again just recently with some of the ways I keep C busy and entertained during the times I need to be available to the older two children, that does not mean that he is not included in the 'school' part of our day.

I'd decided that when K was getting ready to learn to begin handwriting practice that I would purchase a height adjustable desk for her. I had always known the importance of having a desk that was the right height. However B missed out on this, since we had only just begun homeschooling I chose not to rush out and buy desks and things. He just used the kitchen table or the kitchen bench most of the time.

Whilst out shopping for an inexpensive, height adjustable desk the thought crossed mind about purchasing something for C. A little place to call his own. We already own a plastic children's table and chairs but it generally gets used for messy art and crafts and is too big for the space I was thinking of to place it in.

Strolling the children's department we stopped by and browsed the desks. If I remember rightly I paid $50 for the desk and the chair (we only needed one). I chose to purchase the plain, unstained timber desk because it was the least expensive and it would unobtrusively fit nicely into our home office/library/sometimes school room area.

Whilst this was a purchase, that in all honesty, I wasn't 100% sure of, I can now say that is has been one of the best investments I have recently made. C was literally jumping with excitement once B had finished assembling it and we told him it was for him. He was adorable, rubbing his hands on the desktop like he'd just won the best prize in the world.

I covered the top with clear plastic just to keep it looking nicer for longer and you know, this little desks gets used at least 3 or 4 times a day, easily.

By having this space C feels important and a part of our day. He does his 'school' right there in the same room along with his big brother and sister.

He really is a part of our 'school' day and loves the importance we have given him by having a place that is just for him.

Vote for us. One click is all you need!

Bambino Academy: Flower Arranging

Children of all ages love this simple activity and you can make it really easy for toddlers to do.

Next time you are the lucky beneficiary of flowers be sure to keep the tray and the flower foam. (you could also just go and buy some, most 'cheapy' stores sell this)

As you can see, ours is nearing the end of its life span, it has been well used. Having this makes flower arranging very simple.

I purchased three bunches of different flowers from the $2 shop, pulled them all apart (leaving the stems in tact) and B pushes them into the flower foam.

Simple, fun and looks fabulous when they are done.

Vote for us. One click is all you need!

Bambino Academy Basics - Eggsellent Egg Trays - Recognising Colours

This information has moved. It can now be found here - TODDLER COLOUR SORTING ACTIVITY