Callaloo Soup

Toddler Time | Drawing and Stamping on the Floor

Usually when Kieran and I do art projects we will sit at the big dining table that was made by his great grandfather. Earlier this week, I felt like changing things up a bit, and giving him a bigger canvas to work with. With Kieran's "help", I taped two large pieces of our drawing paper onto the plastic tablecloth we use for protecting surfaces, and spread it out on the floor.

We got out the markers, crayons and his new set of stamps and went to town.

I drew some streets so he could add his car stickers.

Being able to work on top the canvas is so freeing!

We also did outlines of our feet. You can see him colouring one in above.

He really enjoyed this art session. It's definitely one we will do again!

How do you enjoy art with your children? Tell us in the comments below!

Toddler Time is an occasional series where I feature activities that Kieran and I do together.

Toddler Time | Life Sized Me

Kieran and I did a fun activity over the last week: a life sized cut out of himself! I got the idea a couple places: it was one of the activities they did at playschool, but they told me that he didn't want to do it when they asked. Then a few days later I saw it mentioned in this big list of toddler activites and thought I'd try it out with him.

Just like at playschool he didn't want to lie on the paper so I could draw around him. Then I had the brilliant idea to try it out with one of his teddies. At which point he wanted to do it himself! (This is a recent trend, he wants his stuffed toys to do everything he does and vice versa)

 

 

Once I cut the shapes out it was time to decorate! We got out the markers, crayons and stickers and he went to town.

 

 

 

 

 

He finished the teddie that day.

 

 

A few days later we finished up the life-sized Kieran

 

 

Then it was time to put him in the gallery with teddie.

 

 

The finished products.

 

 

This wall is at the top of the stairs and I am planning to turn it into Kieran's art gallery, similar to this one.

And funnily enough, later that day when I dropped him off at playschool, I asked if he'd every done the silhouettem and indeed he had! So I brought another one home. I think we will put that one in the kitchen somewhere.

In the end he really enjoyed this activity, and now he points at the cut out and says "Kieran" every time he sees it.

Toddler Time is an occasional series where I feature activities that Kieran and I do together.

 

 

Toddler Time | Sticker Fun

I recently bought Kieran a couple of sticker books that looked interesting. The books are set up with a sheet of stickers in the middle, and then on each page of the book you're supposed to put the stickers that match the pictures. The idea is that this teaches words. I certainly didn't think he would use them this way, I thought he would have fun with just pulling the stickers off and playing with them.

When I took one of the books out however, he totally wanted to put the stickers in the right spots. I was pleasantly surprised, and we spent 15 to 20 minutes working on finding where to put each sticker.

He would choose a sticker from the sheet, we'd say the name, then turn the pages looking for the matching image.

These photos are from the second time we did this. The first time the book was in English, this time in French.

I was really surprised how focused he was during this activity. He also insisted that each sticker be put on perfectly straight, no crooked sticking for my boy!

And once all the stickers were correctly placed it was time to colour.

Toddler Time will be an occasional series where I feature activities that Kieran and I do together.