Deployment Box #4 - 4th of July

It is almost independence day so I put together this red, white, and blue themed box. Using my Silhouette I cut out lots of fireworks and stars. I also filled the box all red, white, and blue colored goodies. 

Included in this box is:

• Tuna salad kits and canned tuna
• Cookies
• Peanut butter
• Rice cups
• Flavored water drops
• Corn nuts
• Poptarts
• Oatmeal cups

All these items are not necessarily that red,white and blue, but their packaging worked. Hopefully he enjoys it as much as the others. 

Summer Fun #3 - Water beads

This was a fun and super simple activity to do. I ordered a bag of these little balls called Jelly Beadz. This is what came:

I added 3 teaspoons of them to a big container filled with about 4 quarts of water. They start out a little smaller than the size of a peppercorn, I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but they soak up the water and get big.

After about an hour they were already getting pretty big and looked like this. I'd compare them to the size of plump peas at this point. 

And after a full night of soaking in water...They are about the size of marble and they are super fun, bouncy and a great sensory play activity.

Summer Fun #2 - Slime!

For this craft I used:

• 1/3C - 1/2C Liquid Starch (I got some Sta-flow from Walmart).
• Clear glue (5oz bottle)
• Giant bowl
• Spoon and measuring cup
• Colored pigment (you could use liquid water colors or food coloring)

This was an easy activity. More for the parent to do then the kiddo gets to play. First I added the bottle of glue into the bowl and added some pigment. Stir till its all mixed in. Then SLOWLY add a little bit of the starch. About a tablespoon at a time, stirring super well after each addition. After awhile it might be easier to knead it with your hands. I didn't really need to use much of the starch either, it came together pretty quick.

Summer Fun #1 - Rainbow Rice

So this summer I am trying out lots of crafty, sensory play, fun things to keep us busy. First up we made rainbow rice. It was a total hit and super easy to make.
What I used:

• Pan, lined with foil
• Dry rice - (Dry beans are also in this picture we are going to try dying them too, I'll post about how that goes later)
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Paper bowl
• Spoon
• Gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Spoon
• Measuring spoon

Poor one cup of rice into the bowl. Add about 2-3 teaspoons of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring. Stir till all the rice is coated. Pour the rice onto the pan, then repeat with different colors. 

I was able to fit about 3 colors on a pan. 

I put each pan in the oven for about 10 min on the lowest temperature it would go to. I think 170 degrees. It helped dry the rice quickly. I then poured the rice into a big rubbermaid container. A couple little bowls and cups and my little one was having a blast!