DIY Book Shelf | Cardboard Box Book Shelf

I am a huge fans of books, have always been since childhood and have been an avid reader and writer. I have wanted to pass on this love for reading and books to my little boy and hence introduced books to him when he was just 2 months old. He took to them immediately and has been fond of books ever since.  I try to understand his constantly changing likes and stock up on books on topics that will interest him. 

I had converted a little wooden side table as his reading corner and had stacked up his books into that one shelf. It was neatly arranged and easy for him to pick up but I have wanted a shelf where in I can arrange the books such that they are front facing and he gets to pick them up with more ease and can actually see the front cover at once glance. I understand this is the most apt arrangement of books for toddlers as it catches their attention better.

So yesterday suddenly an idea struck me and I immediately got to work! I had a cardboard box which I had saved up until I get just the right idea to use it for. This little bookshelf idea that I had seemed just the perfect project for the cardboard box! 

And as my little boy is in a 'Vehicle-Crazy' mode right now, what better way to decorate his little bookshelf other than the gift wrapping sheet I had in stock with adorable vehicles print! Super duper delighted with the way this has turned out and extremely happy to see my baby boy take to his new bookshelf instantly. 

DIY Play Washing Machine | Pretend Play for Toddlers

My son loves to help me with a few of my daily chores. I love that about him and encourage him every chance I get. Some of his favourite chores include loading clothes into the washing machine, unloading the washed clothes and passing them over one by one to me to hang out to dry. He loves these chores so much that, once or twice when I decided to wash while he naps, he woke up to find it ready to dry and got upset that he wasn't called for the washing routine! :D

So, when I had an extra cardboard box after having made the play cook-top, I knew just what I wanted to make for him... a play Washing Machine! :) I had seen a few ideas on Pinterest and combined some of my own ideas and came up with this little machine for my little guy. I wanted it to look as real and similar to as our front load machine. He enjoys opening the detergent tray to help me pour in the detergent and also turns the knob under supervision... so I had to include all these little details in his play machine!! I loved how this turned out and happier to see my little boy enjoy his time 'washing' his clothes :)

DIY Play Kitchen | Play Cook Top | Pretend Play for Toddlers

My little boy has a keen interest in vessels and the kitchen in general. He can amuse himself for a good half an hour with a pressure cooker and its lid. Trying his ways to fit the lid on and turn it around such that it locks up perfectly. Or o other days,  he would just go help himself to the idly stand and settle in a comfortable little place to sit and remove and then stack the idly trays back onto the stand! It is a delight to watch his tiny self engross himself into such activities with so much concentration! :) 

I let him do all the explorations he wishes to in the kitchen, of course making sure the drawers are not emptied out and filled vessels are not toppled over!! :D I believe that is in in everyday little activities like these that little ones learn the most.

To nurture this interest he has for the kitchen, I wanted to create a little kitchen exclusively for him, to indulge in some pretend play. I had just the perfect sized cardboard box for this purpose and so I set out to make a tiny little cooktop for my tiny little chefling! :) 

I am very happy with the final outcome and it is one of my Mini's favourite little hangouts just as I expected and hoped it would be! :)

Bottle and Cap Matching Activity

My son is obsessed with bottles. He has been so since he was around 13 months or so, probably since the time he started moving around and exploring the household items. He would firmly hold onto a bottle in his chubby little hands and using his teeny fingers, try to unscrew the cap of the bottle and then put it on. Initially of course he was unable to open and close the caps but would try and then ask us to help him. 

We had kept aside a few empty bottles for him to play with. But we were constantly worried that water filled bottles are soon going to be attacked by the mini and there is going to be water all over the home! :)

Seeing this interest he has in bottles and to keep our actual bottles safe... I decided to make an activity board for him that involved bottles! With inspiration from Pinterest, I began my project. I gathered few different types and colours of bottles with caps, with the idea of making it a matching activity too. 

This board was worth the effort as my little guy enjoyed it and spent a lot of time on it in its early days. Of course like every other toy, after a few days, he seemed bored by it. So I have actually kept it away hidden for the last few months, as part of my toy rotation plan! :) 

Popsicle Stick Drop Activity for Toddlers

Toddlers love activities that require them to intricately use their teeny tiny fingers and sharp minds. They love it when they are able to complete a required action, however simple the task maybe. It gives them an immense sense of satisfaction. It is important to nurture this feeling and to encourage them to perform more and more such tasks that develop their hand and eye coordination and motor skills.

This post is about one such super simple activity which toddler will enjoy and is easy for Mummas to put together. All we need is a plastic box or container with a lid and a few popsicle sticks, which are also called craft sticks and are easily available in craft supply stores.