Tuesday 26 July 2016

Trying to be a Good Parent ~ the crafty way #5

Just popping by to tell you about a little hack I created recently to entertain my youngest at the table.  Lucy, just recently turned 1 and until now Duplo has been something to suck, chew or generally lob at people or on the floor.  I figure it was time to change this! (in a developmentally appropriate way of course!) 
We have a couple of smaller base plates so with zip ties at hand I attached one of these to the top of her highchair tray.  I then rested several bricks on the table next to her to take as she wished.  I tried filling  a bucket and attaching this but she just upended it.  



I was very close to thinking this may actually not be the best of ideas when.... all of a sudden she started to build! she discovered the bricks attached and rather than destruct-a-girl she started to construct.  

This video is of the first time she actually made something.  (please feel free to skip. I was being a bit of a proud mum and videoed far too long! (a couple of minutes seems an age when your looking back!) She actually sat and played for an hour! I was so gobsmacked that it entertained her for that long, she was completely engrossed.

)



Anyhow since the video was taken Lucy has settled on one particular style, she builds lines, she claps each time in total excitement (as little ones do)  It's so lovely to see creativity, even if it really is in its infancy.


One warning if you do this at home, make sure you wash any spills under a tap!  I found using a wet wipe around the little bumps just made more mess!

One suggestion a friend of mine made was to glue Duplo to the base of bowls or cups to keep them in place.  Think this is a fab idea (although Lucy will pull them up now and make a line with them so wouldn't work anymore).  

Well that's all from me this week. I'd better get on with all my illustrating.  Until then I will be popping by Handmade Monday as always to say hi.

Jen xx

16 comments:

  1. Lucy is gorgeous and looks so industrious with her new duplo tray! It's a great idea, love the idea of gluing the duplo to the bowls to keep them in place too, although I see your problem. I may be pinching your idea in a few months' time! xx

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    1. Ahhh thanks honey and please feel free to pinch away. It's so nice when you make something they enjoy using. Won't be too long now, how old is your little one now? Honestly my concept of time has flown right out the window. Xx

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  2. Love this and how gorgeous is Lucy?! :D #HandmadeMonday

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    1. Ahh thank you honey, she was very willing to show off lol! x

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  3. She's completely adorable and has clearly already inherited her mummy's creativeness, such a great idea Jenny

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    1. She is very creative ... as long as it is line related lol! xx

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  4. She's so sweet, what a cutie!
    I used to put duplo into those zip up net bags you can get for delicates in the washing machine and put them in the dishwasher on the top bit now and again. That worked for me. I didn't do it that often mind you, just when someone had a stinking cold or was being especially dribbly!

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    1. Such a good idea, thanks honey. I've washed all the bath toys in there before but never thought of duplo. xx

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  5. What a gorgeous little cherub! And a fabulous idea! It is so amazing when we see our little ones pass a developmental milestone. Where they attempt to do something and you see them have this light bulb moment and they power on!

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    1. It really was fab! It's so easy to miss them in the day to day stuff but I certainly got this one! xx

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  6. ;-D
    Give her a year, and she'll be redoing your blueprints on a Tablet!

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  7. Lucy is so cute and a good idea to keep her occupied

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    1. Thanks, she plays with it every morning while I get the breakfast ready, think she would get cross if I didn't give her some bricks. x

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  8. Before you know it she'll be building a house. She is very cute. Thinking about it I wonder why lego/duplo connections aren't used in all sorts of places.

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    1. They are so versatile aren't they! She has had a go at building upwards but gets cross easily. Still she will get there! xx

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