Diggin' Dinosaurs!

We've all entertained the perspective of those who believe toys and interests should be "gender-nonconforming" - i.e. traditional role reversal that introduces little ladies to the mechanics of fire trucks, their brothers to doll house keeping. Nope. I've tried. Doesn't work for me here. When offered a choice, grandsons grab for snakes and granddaughters glom onto butterflies - 100% of the time! And since social-psychological analysis is well above my grandma pay grade, that's all okay with me! 

I'm not surprised, then, when eyes that ignite like fireworks belong to the boys when dinosaur activities tumble from the mysterious confines of my grandma bag. Sisters enjoy the artsy aspects of each project, but brothers are the ones who linger for follow up research in picture books and ask the most questions. They're the ones who can identify an Apatosaurus. They're the ones diggin' dinosaurs! 

We tested our skill and explored the species on recent drop in visits!...

A stack of appealing books whets the appetite for what's ahead. Pop-ups are always a favorite, especially when fun facts accompany each reptile. This is where we discuss herbivores and carnivores, noting size, speed, habitat, and defense capability. It's where we choose the beast we'll learn to draw and paint!

The giant Brachiosaurus was our unanimous choice to immortalize in tempera and collage. We sketched in basic shape building technique: large horizontal body oval first, smaller vertical leg ovals next, etc. I used an out of print Usborne title as a guide, but Art Projects for Kids is an excellent resource for teaching kids this method. Use that blog link to see a curvy Diplodocus come alive before your very eyes, and then let art teacher/author Kathy Barbro lead you to other prehistoric era friends, plus many, many more subjects to successfully draw and paint! You'll love this site!

Now back to the studio!....

Completed critters needed spotted texture and a careful cutting out. At age just-three, little guys need grandma's aid for the latter. That skill is developmental, so we're working on the proper way to manipulate scissors. It helps when I hold paper in place while he chomps away until two-handed competence is achieved. 

Deep blue background paper was selected with a purpose in mind. Why not let our family of Brachios dwell in the swirling, twirling world of Van Gogh's Starry Night? Why not let the kids begin a learning journey into art history as well, combining that adventure with science facts and crafting skill? 

For that purpose, I employ a nice deck of Usborne cards, available at Amazon. The sturdy set of 30 depicts a significant number of fun-to-know famous paintings. We talk about this artist and the way his technique brings the canvas alive. Then, we reach for construction paper in yellow and orange, tearing orbs that mimic his turbulent night scene......

SUCCESS!

Doesn't this finished work just dance with the same energy as the original starlit sky?  

I like the tearing technique. Kids know results aren't supposed to be perfect, thus eliminating the anxiety of precise cutting on the lines. 

One more thing!

Can't get enough of being busy on Planet Dinosaur? Here's an easy way to keep a three year old anchored to a chair, enjoying an activity that's 100% done by him/herself. Offer a bright background sheet, scraps of contrasting paper for tearing, a glue stick, and a sheet of dino stickers. 

What a world of possibility lies within this deck of fine art! 

Munch's The Scream is dying to inspire a vivid Halloween painting! I see a little study in perspective there, too!

We might have to go wild outside with brushes and buckets of paint to capture the feel of Pollack's Number 6, (although I never could figure out the accolades afforded that guy and his mess of gloomy drippings!) 

When it's time to draw portraits the right way, (no eyeballs in the middle of the forehead!) we'll take a look at Picasso and da Vinci for comparing and contrasting. 

We'll employ soft pastels in study of Degas ethereal ballerinas, and "paint with scissors" the way Matisse described his work in collage......

Lots of learning fun ahead! Promise you'll come join us?

Notes: 

If you seek "go big or go home!" dinosaur activities, you might enjoy past posts of mine. "Hunters and Gatherers" details the dino egg hunting experience I hosted for my two oldest grandsons when they were four years old. Star of that show was a 9' home made paper mache T-Rex! This one brings us back to a more recent time when eight hunters stormed the woods, following clues to giant personalized eggs crammed with goodies! 

The pop-up book I've pictured above is the Dinosaurs title from a series of Sounds of the Wild volumes by Maurice Pledger. It is out of print, but National Geographic sells one I'm tempted to buy. The Dinosaur Museum features a huge T-Rex face that bursts out at book center! Great reviews, too! 

This is not a sponsored post. I share my purchases with readers only because I've been personally pleased with them. 

Fly Eyes, "Candy Grab!" and More Crazy Fun!

Crazy times, crazy stuff!

It's been hard on everybody. In all my grandmotherly years I've never known disruption of this magnitude. But making the best of things is a talent that lies within each one of us, particularly those who answer to the name of "Grandma!" 

After several long months of pandemic distancing on all branches of our family tree, it was decided that limited in-person contact would be acceptable. What a joy to pack my big bulging "grandma bag" and head on over for quality time with two families of locals - six kids total - to tackle my version of the ABCs  - academics, baking, cooking, and crafting! 

Important: I relied heavily on Amazon purchases to create the experiences we enjoyed, but this is not a sponsored post. I earn no commission from products you might choose to buy at my suggestion. I do, however, have a favor to ask of you that's related to Amazon, and I've outlined it at the end of this post. Hint: 😺😺😺!

Now, let's get on with the fun!

Sessions with grandma begin with heartwarming, robust doorway greetings. Accompanying me are all the ingredients needed for what's ahead. That's important. Mommy deserves a break from her daily grind of playing fetch! If I need something too awkward or impractical to bring over - like a large mixing bowl - I ask her to have it out in advance. That's appreciated!

We begin in the kitchen....

Eager little bakers gather around, awaiting their turn to measure, pour, or mix. They carefully crack eggs and accurately use a measuring cup. The items we make are either for immediate consumption - such as English muffin pizzas or deviled eggs (bring them pre-boiled and peeled!) - or for later on - such as banana bread, ice cream (electric appliance), or slow cooker mac and cheese. 

We retire to the dining room next, the place of my biggest challenge. The oldest of three sibs in each family is a girl. At ages seven and ten, they're independent and academically focused. Younger brothers are eager new learners at five, and a final pair of squirmy little delights checks in at three. Interests, abilities, attention spans, academic levels - they're all over the map! What's a grandma to do? 

Well that's easy!

I sit the kiddies down for some academic pencil work on math facts and phonics from colorful, appealing Usborne workbooks. (See a favorite pictured below.) Dollar Tree offers a selection of early elementary topics that serve well, too. Kids get right down to business because they know that in "Grandma World" there's always a reward for diligence!.....

CANDY GRAB!!!

Don't ask me how I came up with this one, but it's an oft mentioned hit! At table center, I sprinkle a dozen wrapped chocolate mini-size goodies. Here's the rules: We go 'round the table, luxuriating in the fact that it's our choice alone when to break suspense with a lusty yell of "CANDY GRAB!" With squeals of joy, we reach for a piece, evenly divided so no one ever comes up short. Silent busyness is a requirement for participation, and the loot must be saved for post-quiet time enjoyment at mommy's discretion once grandma has departed. A welcomed side bonus has been the new absence of "tomfoolery"* during that daily respite! 

* "tomfoolery!" SUCH a grandma-era word! 😂  

Now back to the books......

So, what's the buzz about those sporty "fly eyes" modeled above? Well, just a bit of hands-on fun for that little guy and his pizza-making cousin. Those two require one-on-one attention while older sibs complete workbook pages. This week, it's a session on bugs! Who they are, what they do, and how they see the world! It's all there in this little gem of a very attractively priced book** showing page after page of "normal" bugs (caterpillars, fireflies, grasshoppers, dragon flies) your kiddoes mostly already know and love. Full page color pictures draw us in, and the boys and I enjoy fun facts on each page about those critters. When we emerge, we know that spiders are not "insects"...they're eight-legged arachnids! We know that those "roly poly" bugs under backyard rocks are crustaceans! And finally, we see for ourselves why flies are so quick on their feet and hard to swat because the multi-lenses in their eyes watch us coming from every angle!*** 

**The Backyard Bug Book for Kids by Lauren Davidson   ***Fly Eyes by Play Visions 

But WAIT! There's MORE!

Beyond the bug info in Davidson's book, a handful of related activity pages allow a three year old to feel part of the schooling gang. Matching, counting, tracing....a spider web maze....we complete a few each time we meet. My little entomologists don't know it yet, but there's a fun reward waiting for them when they graduate this book!...

Folkmanis is a treasured name in puppetry. And it doesn't disappoint when it comes to being "cute as a bug!" Each firefly finger puppet is approximately 5" long. With slight pressure, tails light up in a comforting greenish glow. Perfect little companions to take to bed and communicate with while easing into slumber, dreamily recalling the day's fun with grandma! (Oh, had to have that roly poly, too! Just couldn't resist!) 

Winding up.....

Crafting and art projects are looked forward to the most at each visit, so we save the best for last. This time, we tear strips of green construction paper and glue a grassy habitat for the ladybugs we paint in bright tempera red. Black spots are the product of finger tip printing, and six legs (only six!) are carefully drawn in marker. Mixed media ventures employing multiple skills are my favorites, and the kids enjoy them, too.

Next time, we'll learn step-by-step dinosaur drawing, paint them in texture, then cut and glue them into a habitat that recalls Van Gogh's Starry Night masterpiece. Art history, too, is on the agenda! Please come join us! 

And finally....a favor!

If you're an Amazon customer without an "Amazon Smile" account, I'd like to invite you to create one to benefit a very worthy cat rescue, Crash's Landing and Big Sid's Sanctuary. This free roaming shelter and adoption center cares for cats plucked from the streets in all states of trauma, abuse, and neglect. An all-volunteer staff, including the beloved founder, a veterinarian, responds to each need with medical care and lifelong security. Here they are on Facebook! 

Signing on for "Amazon Smile" is a simple procedure from your account page. It costs you nothing but does so much! A 0.5% credit will benefit this charity every time you make a purchase. 

THANK YOU! 😺😺😺!