Fall Leaves Button Snake

Here's the newest addition to my etsy shop: a fall themed button snake!  And as a special thank you for reading Baby Brainstorm, you can get 10% off anything in my shop by using code BABY10.

Blanket Training

Have you heard of blanket training? I recently was introduced to this through another blog written by a homeschooling mom. The basic concept is to train young children to play in a designated space (on a blanket) with a given toy (or toys) for a set amount of time as a way to create a safe place for the little one to play while you help another child or attend to something else.

Kind of like putting them in a play pen, but without the play pen. Sounds like a good idea to me.

From what I've read, the ideal age to start is before they can crawl, but since that's past in my house with both of my children I'll need to remember patience and persistence if we're going to get anywhere with this one. I'm hoping that having blanket time at home will help in other situations when children need to stay in a small space (such as at church.)

You can read more about blanket training here, here, and here.

Have you tried blanket training? Know anyone who has? I'd love to hear what your takes on it are!

Magnetic File Folder Games!

My sister-in-law gave me some file folder games for Christmas that are amazing, and the neatest thing is...they are magnetic! I've been wanting to post about these for a while, but the website of the company where she bought her magnetic backing has not been working. The other day I thought of trying to make my own with magnets I have around the house and a file folder game I have had for a while and never put together. Here's what I did:

-I always keep the thin magnets that come on the front of phone books (I'm not sure if this is the case everywhere) because they might come in handy sometime. I dug them out and used them for the magnets behind my file folder game. They worked great because they are so thin.
-For the detachable past of the game I used contact paper and then attached normal magnets with a hot glue gun.
-The fun thing about magnetic file folder games is that they are quiet (no Velcro attaching and detaching) and if the child gets the object in about the right place, it stays!
-Here's what "Grandpa's Garden"(a color matching game) looks like with the magnets (the first picture shows the sizes I cut to go behind the paper, the second picture shows the little magnets to hold the pieces on).

Hopefully the website that sells shim, a paper thin roll of metal, will be up and working soon. Until then, good luck making home-made magnetic file folders!

PS: The games I received were printed from a CD by Finch Family Games. You have to buy the CDs for about $15 dollars each, but they are amazing! Almost all of them are religious in nature, and teach basic skills. For example, "Time to go to the temple" has the kids match up a clock face to the typed time...something that took me a long time to learn!

It's Finished!

Okay, I probably shouldn't say that the quiet book is finished because I know I am going to continue thinking of things to add or improve, but for now, it is finished in the sense that I can wrap it up and put it under the tree. Here are some pictures of the finished product:

(I made the title My Busy Book partly because it was less letters to cut out and sew)

The handles are ribbon. I "quilted" the book with receiving blankets sewn between the pages that add a little stability to the pages, and also make the book soft and thick.

I added two felt pockets in the inside cover, one for a pencil or crayons, and the other for a small notebook perhaps?
The back cover has a pocket also, one that closes with a snap.

Quiet Book update

I've finally finished the pages of Isaac's scrapbook, and although they are not put together and I still have the cover to do, I thought I'd put up some pictures of how things are turning out so far. (I will sew the pages together down the middle when I put the cover on.)

The flowers are felt and button on and off. The animals go into the ark, which is a pouch.

The notes move on the staff. This is a dress I got for free and cut up. Once it's unbuttoned, there is a sheet protector inside (which was actually really easy to sew). The picture can be changed, and when Isaac is older, I can put a maze, etc. inside).


The hands on the clock move around, and baby Jesus comes out of the manger.

The wise men don't do anything, just lots of textures. The next page is about tithing. The pink pouch has a pig on it and there are ten coins connected to the book with string. I'm not sure if I like this page, I might make the coins Velcro on.

This is an old pair of overalls I got for free and cut up; they zip up and down. Jonah hooks into the whales mouth with a key chain from an old diaper bag (Jonah has kind of wild hair!)



For Peter fishing, the fish are felt and a few of them have snaps (but I didn't have very many snaps, so the rest don't.) The next is also off of an old diaper bag. The fruit on the Tree of Life Velcro on and off.

The petals on this flower move (it was a toy that I got for free.) Joseph's coat are different colors that Velcro on (you match the color on the coat and of the ribbon/felt.)

This is a back pocket off of the overalls, in the future I think I'll put finger puppets in it, but for now Isaac likes clothes pins, so that's what's in it. The lions are furry and fun to touch.

And there you have it! I really didn't spend much money on this project, mostly I used clothes I got for free, I bought a fabric grab bag from DI for 3 dollars, I bought a few pieces of felt at Roberts with their weekly 40 or 50% off coupons (yes, I did go different days and only buy one piece of felt to get the discount.) And then I got felt and ribbon scraps from people. Making this book has been a learning experience, especially with different stitches on the sewing machine! And it has taken LOTS of time, but it's been fun and worthwhile to me. I can't wait until Isaac opens it up on Christmas morning!

I Spy Bags

I ran across these quiet time bags, that would be great for Church! Of course you can buy them, but they're not that hard to make.

The basic idea is a bag with a window that is full of small items to find amidst a filler (like rice or polly pellets) The child must move things around to find all of the hidden items.

This web site is wonderful, with pictures (including the one on the right) and clear instructions.

I also like the idea of having a list of things to look for. Using pictures or a duplicate of each item would work well for children that can't read yet.

And if you want a no-sew project you can always fill a zip lock bag with rice and small objects. But I would make sure to seal the opening with duct tape before giving it to a child!

Quiet Book Update

I'm still working on Isaac's Quiet Book, and I've come across some more helpful sites. What I like best about them are the pictures. (That always helps me get ideas.) Here they are:

The Burke Family Quiet Book

Natalie Clayton's Quiet Book

How to Make a Quiet Book (this lady made a whole blog on how to make a quiet book!)
(And she has a few links on the right side to other quiet book pages)


Some day (hopefully soon) I'll post pictures of the quiet book I'm working on.

File Folder Games

My sister-in-law emailed me about file folder games: activities that kids can do (mostly independently, depending on their age) that are contained in a file folder. How neat! There are lots of resources on the Internet, and many cost money, but I tried to find a few that are free. If you're really into them you can find ones to purchase and print online or books also (I'd check the local library first- Provo City has a few "Vanilla Manila Folder Games for Young Children" is one). And once you look at a few you just might come up with some great ideas for your own file folder games.

File Folder Games from MormonChic: Noah's Ark, Dress the Bear, Family History, Flower Garden, and a few matching games.

FileFolderHeaven: They have free games and ones to purchase.

Positively Autism: Scroll down for a few printable games

These are just a few of the many resources out there. If you find a site you love, please let us know!

Quiet Books

I've been looking online for ideas to make quiet books, especially for church, and I found some web sites that I found helpful. This first one has pictures and instructions for things like with zippers and snaps, all related to church themes. This one has a sewn quiet book but also ideas for a gospel ABC book that wouldn't require sewing. This page has some different ideas and not as much instructions, just to get you thinking of all the possibilities.