Clothespin hanging

It's snowing today. 

My toddler is stir crazy and I'll go crazy if I have to hear Caterina say "meow meow" one more time on Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. 

Sal likes to play with these plastic clothespins I bought for less than a dollar. I keep a few stashed in my diaper bag to keep him entertained during long restaurant waits and airplane rides. He usually pins them on our clothing and has fun removing them and replacing them elsewhere. 

I got them out to play with this morning and just as I did so, Carla started speaking the language of her people in an all out screamfest for food. The girl can eat, folks. Sal still isn't sure of her (mostly  only when I'm nursing now) so I was hesitant to have him climb all over me to put clothespins on my clothes with her in my lap. 

Instead I tied two lacing strings together and strung them between the legs of our coffee table. I gave him a can of pins and he went to town hanging them, removing them and replacing them. 

It's a great fine motor activity, quiet, and clean. Thought I'd share it with my fellow parents of toddlers because we all can use a few magic tricks ip our sleeve for those days when attention spans are short and energy is high. 

Pompom transfer activity

Yet another pompom activity. 

We have an overstock of pompoms around here. 

Among our favorite pompom activities are stringing pompoms on thread to make garlands for the holidays, pushing pompoms into an old Parmesan container and shaking them back out, stuffing a silicone ice tray with different sized pompoms and the ultimate favorite--throwing pompoms all over the living room. 

I saw the idea of using tongs to transfer pompoms into a small container on Pinterest and we gave it a go this morning. 

Thirty minutes later and he is still transferring pompoms, announcing them by color. 

Winning. 

Vroom

I've mentioned a time or two that Sal has an affection for all things car related, and has even started making car sounds.

We love it.



(Note: turn the volume up)

It's really neat to watch him develop an imagnation--or at least we would like to think that's what's happening, as he spends up to an hour racing them back and forth, and up and down the sofa.