SOFT! Unplug Your Kids Theme!

This weeks Unplug Your Kids theme is SOFT! I had to consider an activity which would appeal to all my 3 boys and their different ages - ANSWER : FOOD!! 'Soft Food = Marshmallows'
With that in mind I headed down to our local and bought a bag of regular sized bag of marshmallows and another bag of mini marshmallows (often found lurking in the cooking aisle!). Oliver was SO excited when he saw me put them in the trolley and I discussed our project! He asked me every 5 minutes when we were going to make things with them..and more importantly eat them!
We started off making stars. Use 5 small tooth picks and thread on about 5 small marshmallows on each one and then stick them into a large marshmallow to make a star. Oliver got right into it! At 3.5 yrs he was able to count out the amounts and discuss patterns using the pink and white colours! Luckily for him - his favourite colour is PINK! So he was very happy!
Here he is proudly holding up his star! Then the fun part began - eating it! He was very good and only ate half - the other half he put in the fridge for after dinner!
Harry - woke up from a 3 hour nap - very keen to get into the marshmallows and we made a star - he sang "Twinkle Twinkle" (favourite song!) Then we made a "Marshmallow Man" using the toothpicks and different size marshmallows!
When Lachlan arrived home from school he made his own version - "Star on a Stick". He was very careful about making his and automatically used patterns with his colours. It also includes counting out required amounts (so a bit of maths hidden into the fun!!) All three boys really enjoyed both the creating and eating of this activity. I think I ate more then helped.. and felt quite sickly afterwards - so I recommend a nice cup of tea to wash it down for mums who 'actively participate" in this one!
Best of all - they all ate their dinner straight down and emptied their plates - so they could finish eating their 'works of art' (ahh bribery - alive & well in our home!) After they had eaten their 'creations' they used their toothpicks to make all sorts of designs out of grapes & strawberrys.

Such concentration..