Jump Into the Swimming Pool this Winter!

Who said outdoor swimming pools were just for use in the summer time? I know that up until this year, we only used our pool outside in the summer.

After a great workshop from Dan Hodgins, I learned that you can use swimming pools outside in the winter too:

They make great winter sleds!

Their size gives children a great opportunity to work together.

We are still in the "testing" phase with this wonderful idea! So far, we have learned that the pools work best when the trail is made from really compact snow. The pool does not slide as fast as some of our other sleds.

Our "butt" slide is much steeper than the hill we sled on at the park, and the pool works much better on the "butt" slide.

Have you ever used a pool as a sled? If so, we'd love to hear your recommendations as we continue to test and perfect our pool sledding technique :).

Comments

Let the Children Play said…

Oh man, you guys are having way to much fun in that snow of yours :)

January 9, 2011 at 4:57 PM

Scott said…

Now that looks like a lot of fun!

January 9, 2011 at 7:29 PM

Amy A @ Child Central Station said…

Yes, we have been having quite a bit of fun in the snow.... But, we have to! We have snow for many months out of the year :). (Sometimes as early as October, and sometimes into April!) It has even snowed in June before....... Not regularly, but stranger things have happened ;). Sledding is always a big hit! The swimming pool idea was genius from Dan Hodgins. If you have not had the opportunity to hear him speak and he happens to be in your neck of the woods- GO! He is a dynamic speaker with all kinds of experiences and knowledge to share.

January 9, 2011 at 11:57 PM

A Few Ideas With Marker Caps (As Promised)

Yesterday, I hope I convinced you not to throw away your markers that "don't work." Today, I will share with you a few ideas for what to do with all of the caps. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here are a few of our recent creations: 1) A Leprechaun/Fairy Ladder/Rope Ladder: 2) #1 if not permanently secured can also double as a rope bridge: 3) #1/#2 can also be made into a train track for your homemade trains :). (No photo available) 4) You can use them as beads for a necklace: 5) You could make them into a wind chime. (No photo available). 6. You can use them as small manipulatives to count, sort, and make patterns with. (No photo available). 7) You could use them as playing pieces in your own homemade board game. (No photo available). 8) You could put them on a wire and glue them in place to make a twirling whirly-gig. 9) You could top them with a lid from a milk jug to make tiny tables or toadstools. 10) You could make them...

Easter Egg Caterpillars!

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"The Markers Don't Work!"

How may times have you heard, "Ms. (fill your name in here), this marker doesn't work!" I know I hear it all the time. Sometimes it is because our little friends forget to replace the caps, and sometimes the markers have just been "all used up!" What do you do with all those markers that just don't work? Please don't tell me that you throw them out, try this instead: First, sort your markers out. Put the caps in one container ( save those too, I'll show you what you can do with them in tomorrow's post) and the markers in another. I have a box for the markers that "don't work" for the children to place them into every time they run across one. You can also have the children help you test the markers periodically to sort out the ones that need to be removed from the "working set." When it comes time to use "the markers that don't work," we use a small sponge paint roller to roll water onto our card...

Ms. Amy's Blog @Child Central Station

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