We see PLAY all in capital letters because it is so important to human development.

It is the vehicle children use to learn, cope, self correct and explore the world. CMoR is so dedicated to promoting play we incorporate it into everything we do.

Each week we will post on the website a new ‘PLAY of the Week’ activity for you to do with your family. It will be an unplugged activity that can be done under the dining room table, in the tub, at the park or just about any place.

February 17th, 2010

Bust a move!

Turn on some music and dance. Dancing is a great way for families to exercise together! It is fun, physical and is more than just having sweet moves. You can use dancing with your children to introduce them to various kinds of music. How do you move differently to jazz, classical or even rock and roll music?

Ready to take your dancing to the next level? Add scarves to sway and wave as props or bring back those good old fashion moves like the lawnmower. Inspired by the lawnmower or even the shopping cart , see what moves your kids can come up with in a game of dancing charades.

SNOW Much Fun!

Get out of the house on these snowy days, have some fun and create beautiful snow paintings!

What you will need:

• Squirt or spray bottles
• Food color
• Water

Mix a couple bottles of food coloring and water. Take them outside and using the snow as your canvas create a wonderful winter masterpiece! You can even build a snowman and use the snow paints to decorate your creation.

Celebrate the winter season with a homemade blizzard!

With just shaving crème and imagination you and your child can have hours of fun! This activity will be sure to bring joy, learning and giggles to children of all ages. Kids love to get their hands messy and experiment with fun textures.

What you will need:

• Shaving crème
• An old drop cloth or tarp
• A space that you don’t mind getting a bit messy (kitchen floor, table top, bathtub)
• Bowls or pans

Simply prep the area that you will use by laying out a drop cloth. Spray a bit of shaving crème out and let your imagination go! Add as much ‘snow’ to you blizzard as you wish. Bowls or pans can be used as props to play with your ‘snow’. You can even practice letters or draw pictures by tracing them into the shaving crème.

Can’t get enough of the ‘blizzard’? Simply add a bit of Elmer’s glue to shaving crème and supply paper. Allow your child to finger paint with the ‘snow’ on a paper plate, constructions paper etc. When it dries is has a puffy paint effect. This makes a wonderful keepsake for you and your child’s ‘snow day’. It is recommended to do the ‘snow’ painting activity in a controlled table top setting.

Create your own pumpkin pie play dough!

What you will need:

• 4 cups of self-rising flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 1 1/2 cups of water
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Food coloring

1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Slowly add water and mix thoroughly.
2. Add food coloring and pumpkin spice. (Orange and yellow make festive fall colors!)
3. Knead for 5-10 minutes. Little hands can knead too!
4. Add more water if dough is too stiff, more flour if too sticky.
5. Sculpt, cut with cookie cutters...

Pieces can be dried at room temperature for several days or baked at 300 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours. Refrigerated dough will last for 5 days.

Remind children that the play dough only smells good, no tasting!

Get the whole family together to create fun fall decorations!