Saturday Scoop: Juice Box Wings

Do you ever have trouble with your child squeezing a juice box too hard and spilling it everywhere?  One solution I've seen is little plastic containers to put the juice box in so your child doesn't squeeze it.  Call me lazy, but I just don't want one more thing to wash!  Plus, I would end up forgetting it when I needed it!

I don't remember where I read this tip, but here is an easy way to avoid a juice mess!

Pull out the sides of the juice box to form handles for your child to hold!  I ask the girls to hold onto the "wings" whenever they pick up the box.  When they get in the habit of holding it that way, the mess is a lot less!

"Sheet Set" Plastic Bag Backpack

Is this weird?  I save plastic bags with zippers (like the kind sheet sets come in).  I usually put spare sheet sets in them for storage.  It keeps them together, and they stack pretty neatly.  I've also used them to store games, cookie cutters, and other random items!

Today, I had an idea to use one to make a camping backpack for Sunshine.  She doesn't have a backpack, and the other girls have been filling up their backpacks to use on their indoor camping expeditions.  The bag I found originally had a twin sheet set, so it is small enough for her.

1)  Use a hole punch to put four holes in a rectangular shape on the back of the bag.

2)  Cut two strips of material or ribbon for the backpack straps.  I used a 1.5 inch by 24 inch (approximately) strip.  Thread through holes and tie.

3)  Decorate.  We used stickers.  The bag we picked has a slot where the label was inserted, so we can put a picture or drawing in it!

Magazine and Tissue Paper Campfire

If you have a tent set-up indoors, here is an easy campfire to add to your "campsite".

1)  Roll pages from a magazine (or use construction paper).  Tape together.  Paper towel rolls would also work, but I wanted to give the girls the opportunity to practice rolling and taping (using those fine motor skills!).

2)  Place the rolled-up magazines on top of each other for logs.  We stood a few toilet paper tubes among the logs.  I taped the magazines and toilet paper rolls to the ground to be a little sturdier.

3)  Stuff with tissue paper for flames.  We used some blocks to circle the fire.  You could also add a flashlight in the middle of the logs to give it a glow!

It's a great time to talk about being safe around a campfire.  We also had fun singing songs and telling stories around the campfire!

Camping Indoors with Preschoolers

So, I really like the idea of camping...I just haven't convinced myself I have enough strength and patience to attempt it with three little ones.  I know many are much braver, but I'm just not there yet!  Fortunately, my mom humored me and let me borrow her tent to set up in the basement.  There is just something novel about setting up a tent indoors.  Plus, we can "camp" without any bugs, heat, or allergies ruining our fun!

Even though it isn't the real thing, it's a good introduction for my little ones.  I hope it will be a fun memory for them!

Camping Cake

This kicks off our "Camping" theme! 

Ingredients:

2 9"x13" cakes

Green frosting

Breakfast pastries

Chocolate candy bar

Green sprinkles

Waffle cones

Pretzel rods

Blue gelatin (made according to package directions)

Gummy fish

Chocolate candies

Candles

Pretzel sticks

Miniature marshmallows

Toothpicks

1)  Put two cakes together to form the base.  Frost with green-tinted frosting.  I used the bottom side of a spoon to "lift" the frosting up to make some texture (this is my way to hide my sorry frosting skills!).  Decide how you want to lay-out the campsite.

2)  Use two breakfast pastries to make a tent.  I put a rectangular piece of chocolate inside the tent for a sleeping bag.  Frost and sprinkle three small waffle cones for trees.  Allow the frosting to harden a little bit.  Poke pretzel rods into the cake for tree trunks, and then balance the cones on the rods to complete the trees.

3)  Using a spoon, scoop out the cake to form a stream.  Fill with blue gelatin.  Place chocolate candies bordering the stream (we used Milk Duds).  You can also put gummy fish in the stream.

4)  Form a campfire by placing several candles close together in a circle.  Lean pretzel sticks in towards the candles (leave some space, so they don't get singed when you light the candles!).  Use more chocolate candies to form an outer circle around the pretzels.  Place mini-marshmallows on toothpicks and arrange by the fire.

I added a campsite flag as a finishing touch for the birthday girl!