Sarah, Author at Sarah Lyn Gay

The Best DIY Sensory Table Instruction Set and Ideas for Toddlers

Sensory bins are all the rage over Pinterest right now, and for good reason. They are a great way to develop your toddler's sensory and motor skills, and they're just plain fun! It's not just for toddlers, a lot of studies have shown that these are great for Autism spectrum people and even cognitive issues in older adults like with Alzheimer's or general dementia. Just. Wow. Why is sensory play important? Sensory bin play improves children's ability to learn limit/boundary situations (I could go on for hours, but basically a child needs to be able to tell the difference between what is harmful/dangerous and what is not) Provides something for them to do with their hands when they need it. As many parents know, kids have a tendency to put things in their mouths and sensory play helps redirect this behavior at the same time it works on their fine motor skills. What does DIY mean? DIY means Do It Yourself, so DIY sensory tables are simply doing you own thing instead … [Read more...]

All About Monkeys For Kids and a Monkey Puppet Craft

by Sarah

5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed is a favorite children's story. It's a counting story and a nursery rhyme that is fun to read or sing. Add in Curious George and we instill into children how fun monkeys are at a very early age. Well known for their interactive activities, monkeys have again proven that they are one of the most intelligent species in the animal kingdom. The East African vervet monkeys have been observed cracking nuts using a stone as an anvil and a pebble for a hammer! The Diana monkey uses tools to crack open hard palm-shelled fruits like coconuts which is naturally not part of its diet. These behaviors were first observed by Jane Goodall in the 1960s. The Great Ape Project, an organization that promotes the moral equality of all great apes, including humans, states: "There is no fundamental difference between gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos orangutans, and humans." Other scientists such as Richard Wrangham have stated the same thing. This statement has … [Read more...]

Dissolving Peeps STEM for Kids: Experiment’s Design and Applications

by Sarah

What could be more fun than dissolving peeps? If you are looking for a fun STEM experiment, then this is the one! My Dissolving Peeps STEM Experiment for Kids can be used to teach about chemistry. You will need some supplies: dissolvable peeps, salt, sugar, water, measuring cups or spoons, Peeps, and other materials like bowls or drinking glasses. The materials for this project are inexpensive, easy to find, and kid-friendly. You can use multiple colors of peeps in order to create your own unique design or follow our example below. History of Peeps Peeps are a candy introduced by the Just Born company, which has been making Easter confections since 1923. In 1953, Peeps were renamed PEEPS® and became an American icon for springtime celebrations. Today there are many different flavors of PEEPS including: Marshmallow Bunny (yellow), Pink Marshmallow Chick (pink), Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Rabbit( brown) & Traditional Yellow Marshmallow Chicken (white). What … [Read more...]

All About the Mouse Life Cycle: Everything You Need to Know!

by Sarah

This mouse blog post is all about the mouse life cycle! From birth to death, we will cover everything you need to know about mouse biology. We'll talk about what they eat and their population numbers as well. If you're not sure how long a mouse lives or where they live in the world, this article has it all covered! The mouse life cycle is pretty simple - with 4 stages: mouse birth, mouse pup, mouse juvenile phase, adult mouse. The Mouse Life Cycle The female mouse is pregnant for about three weeks and then gives birth to mouse pups. The mouse pup is born blind with soft fur, weighing about 30 grams (about one ounce). They're weaned after a couple of weeks and reach sexual maturity in around six months. How many pups are in a litter? A mouse litter can have anywhere from two to fifteen mouse pups. The mouse juvenile phase lasts from the time they're born until puberty when they become an adult mouse. During this stage their coat develops as does their weight; by the end … [Read more...]

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