backyard therapy: the VERY messy nest!

 

 

Materials:

 

• Peeps
• Chocolate Chips
• Pretzel Stix
• Foam Bowls
• Microwave & Microwave Safe Dishes
• Stirring Utensils
• Super Delicious Cute-y Kid(s)
• Mommy and/or Mommy’s Helper (this craft works best when mommy is well relaxed and caffeinated! )

 

 

 

Targets:

 

• Fine Motor Development (breaking pretzels, stirring, etc)
• Math (counting pretzels, peeps and chocolate chips)
• Science (birds are Science-y, right?)
• Colors (yellow peeps)
• Receptive & Expressive Speech
• Following Directives
• Attention Span (Trevy worked on this for about 10 minutes. IN A ROW!) 

 

 

Start by having your Munchkin break the pretzel stix over foam bowl.  I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that the bowl is Peep’s nest. 

:: smile ::

You can work on Math by counting the pretzels and comparing sizes. Receptive Language by giving simple one (or two, if you’re brave) step directions.  Example:

 

Break the pretzels, Trevy

 

Put pretzels in the bowl, Trevy

 

Stop munching the pretzels! 

 

 

Next, have your little one help you pour chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl.  Microwave just until melty.  Stir. 

 

This may require some Hand Over Hand assistance. 

 

 

And if your Monkey thought the pretzels were yummy…

 

 

just wait til’ they get a lick of melty chocolate chips! 

 

 

Pour melted chocolate over pretzels. 

 

Stir. 

 

 

 

Add your Peep(s).

 

 

And ENJOY! 

 

 

 

This is where I fess up and admit that while I supplied an extra set of hands, this craft was Miss. Home Based Therapy’s.  She also supplied most of the ingredients.  Gosh, I love her!