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Today I’m sharing a play idea for baby — just right for older babies with Mom sitting alongside.
I bought these power magnets for my older boys without intending to let the baby (14 months) near them. I cringed at the price, but bought them anyway. It was a purchase well made. Not only have my older kids enjoyed making all sorts of patterns on baking sheets, not to mention practicing their letters…
(page from Confessions of a Homeschooler)
but I also discovered that they are super-fun for the baby too. It had been a rough afternoon with the little guy. Gone are the days when he would play contentedly while I did some learning with the older boys. Now he knows full well he is being left out. And he lets us know that he knows it! So without planning to, I strapped him into his high chair, pulled him up to the table, and gave him some magnets on a baking sheet.
He was beyond excited! He kept picking them up and sticking them to the baking sheet.
He examined the tiny magnets…
and was fascinated by how he could stick them together.
He was busy opening and closing these magnets for a long time. (Remember I’m talking baby attention span here 🙂 It was maybe two minutes!)
Since these magnets are tiny, this is something my little guy did with me right beside him. It was fun for me to watch him learn, and I talked about what he was doing as he did it. This is something I’ll be pulling out again!
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annageig
Yes, they’re really great. They do cost a bit much, though :P. I’d love to find out if there’s a cheaper source than Amazon.
Kirstylee
Those magnets are so cool. We just use pompoms with magnets hot glued to the back which are definitely not as sturdy. If I let a baby play with those, they’d be broken in a second. I might have to invest in these magnets if we ever have another baby in our house.
annageig
Hi, Jackie!
I’m glad you stopped by! I hope you find other ideas you can use as we go along. My youngest is just about your little one’s age, so we’ll be moving along the same timeline for a good while!
Leah
Why am I the only person who does not have a single magnetic cookie sheet? (I have at least 7 and not a one magnetic) Where did you find yours?
annageig
Oh, that’s interesting… maybe yours are greater quality. Mine are just cheap cookie sheets from Walmart or Menard’s.
Georgina @ Craftulate
Magnets are such fascinating things for little kids! Popping over from Sun Scholars linky.
annageig
Yes, it’s fun to see their little minds work. I just left a comment on your blog about your face parts game. GREAT idea!