Toddler Times
Push Pins + Pumpkins = Toddler Sculpture
My two-year-old has a special fascination for everything small and for anything sharp. Until now, my pincushion has been one of her favorite household items. I let her transfer pins from one pincushion to another when I’m working at the sewing machine. And she fully believes it is her job to remove the pins from the fabric as I sew. I keep a close eye on her, of course, but she hasn’t poked herself yet (and a small poke from a pin wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world).
This is all to say that when she came across a box of push pins in the studio the other day, she was in a tizzy of excitement. As I quickly tried to think of a productive way to channel her engagement with the push pins (I didn’t really want them all over the floor), I thought of our Halloween pumpkins still sitting on the front porch. This simple activity kept my little one happily engaged over two days and my older daughter got in on the action as well. Here are some photos:
If you want to try this, all you need is a box of push pins and a small pumpkin (perhaps from Halloween or from your Thanksgiving decorations). A winter squash or potato might work fine as well, and then you can just bake and eat it afterward. You know this, but supervise your toddler carefully.
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For another surprisingly engaging toddler activity, see what you can do with a simple balloon!
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2 Comments
Vegetable Gardener, Cook, Homesteader, Miser, Homeschool mama commented on Nov 18 11 at 11:14 amWhat a great idea! My son will love this. :)
MaryAnn F. Kohl, art book author commented on Nov 27 11 at 12:50 pmThe push pins in the pumpkin are so much fun!! I think push pins in general in whatever will be a lasting favorite activity. Each time they try the pins in a different background, they learn something new about how materials behave and how things are different or the same, how they feel, how they resist, and so on. I love repeating activities in new ways. Repeating gives kids new skills and new learning. It’s nice that you don’t have to think up something new every day. Repeat! Repeat! Each time the child learns and refines!!!
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