DIY with cardboard boxes

3 weeks ago, had DIY "roads & parking spaces" using a big cardboard box for their little vehicles. It was quite an ad-hoc idea, just pasting the roads with masking tapes. It would look better if black duct tapes were used.

Today, as I was observing their play, I have this idea of creating DIY mini doll house to facilitate their imaginative play & story telling capabilities. 

We have quite a number of empty cereal/muesli boxes (we keep all the empty boxes because we could always turn these boxes into some new toys). I'd selected these boxes with the cut-out leaves design because it could served as the windows that saves my cutting time. 

Tools used: Scissors, blade & glue

Direction: 

1) Cut out the back portion of the box, 

2) One of the side flaps might fall apart, just glue it back,

3) Using blade, slice the door or windows (3 sides, so that it could open & close)

4) Done! Time to play

Within minutes, manage to create 3 pieces (waiting for the glue to dry takes longer time than cutting). One for each of them for the time being, could create more when they are bored later (which is usually after 2 weeks).

These boxes are very versatile. We could stack it vertically looking like a tall building.

the an additional hole at the side of the box, we could add on stairs to move the people from one level to another.

 Arranging it horizontally

Or even stacking it vertically and horizontally.

However, most of the time, they might not play as how it was suppose to be.. the "house" is now a "row row boat" :)

Drawing with watercolour

It had been quite some time since our last painting session.  Should be at least 2-3 weeks ago...

Since the boys had early dinner and daddy will be home late, we could splashed up some colours and do some paintings.

Boys are very interested with colour mixing.  They would happily request for 2 colours and amazed with the results. 

Here, 3 of them with 3 very different styles & approaches, reflecting their individualistic. 

Usually we prefer to do painting on the floor as it is more spacious and less confined as compared to table. The boys could stretch out or move from one side to another to get the painting done. This could encourage them develop their big motor skill (using the whole arm). And most importantly, each of them have their own personal space to work on and less disagreement. :) 

Today, they prefer to draw instead of their usual painting-the-whole-paper-full.  Hence, I took the opportunity to guide them with changing of colours in order to distinguish the various objects in the drawing.  *very busy asking them 1by1 on the story that they are drawing, then guide him with the colours.  

They had a great one and half hour of fun learning, then proceed on with the cleaning up - the brushes & plates, the floor & lastly themselves.  

Their interesting drawings:
 (I am amazed that they could draw quite well considering for their age - 3 yrs old)

Juin & Syuen drew Dhow Boat and relate it with our recent Dhow Cruise. 

Dhow Boat by Juin
with lots of people on the boat & the left brown circle is the steering wheel

Dhow Boat by Syuen
Very sunny day. There are people in the boat, some people jumped into the sea for diving, and some people waiting (outside) at the beach for another boat. 

HAPPY Snowman by Syuen
Snowman eating Apricot from the Xmas Tree. There's a Armadillo next to the tree. Airplane flying in the sky. Faraway could see grandma's house.

Flowers by Hung
2 flowers - 1 'opened' & 1 'not yet open' (1 blossom & 1 bud), 2 butterflies collecting nectar, taking turns to collect from one flower because the other flower 'not yet open' 

Colourful Rainbow by Hung
Rainbow playing with clouds

Aeroplane by Hung
Blue airplane with lots and lots of windows. Horizontal lines on the right bottom corner representing the tiny little houses in rows when view from the plane. 

Car by Hung
Can you spot the tiny little orange wheels with lots of people in the car??

Car Park by Juin
lines representing the parking bay & tiny green cars drawn by mummy

Exploring with colours & techniques:

by Juin

by Juin

by Juin

by Syuen

by Syuen

Video Clip Sharing: Baby Talk@14mths

Was showing the boys some video clips of them when they were 1+.  They were amazed!

All of us had some good laugh.

Here's sharing one of the video of them "baby talking" when they were 14mths old (corrected age: 12mths old), hope you enjoyed it as much as we do.

Product Review: Bumprider Ride-on Board

Few weeks ago, I received an email asking if I would like to review the latest ride-on board Bumprider in Malaysia market. Since this opportunity came coincidently just few days before our ‘Balik Kampung” trip to Malaysia, so I thought “Sure, why not, we could leave our Lascal Buggy Board in Doha, and try out the Bumprider during our trip.

Product Description by Bumprider:

• Probably most universal & fitable standing board available in the market
• Designed to fit on any stroller/pram due to its universal connector that has almost endless adjustment possibilities
• Suitable from 2 – 5 years old (or up to 20kg)
• Equipped with quick release for easy mounting and dissemble from the stroller. No tools needed
• Bumprider is designed & tested in Sweden

First Impression:

   Very Compact Packaging

It has 3 main parts – connectors, board & wheels.  It also comes with a manual & strap for hanging the board at the stroller when it is not in use.  

Stylish looking ride-on board with a great variety of colours and pattern to choose from.  The telescoping connecting arms are made with durable aluminium which adds on the style. 

Colour Chart taken from Tiny Tapir Eco

I had chosen the Blue colour as it matches with our stroller.

Ease of fixing the connectors onto the stroller.

Bumprider uses the clip-on method.  I find it very easy to fasten/unfasten the connectors onto the stroller. Just pull the strap tight & push down the clip. Whereas the Lascal Buggy Board uses screwing method where I find it slightly tedious & difficult in tightening it.

Bumprider Ride-On Board

Lascal Maxi Buggy Board

Attaching the board onto the connectors:

Bumprider  uses hook-on & “click” method.  Lascal uses push-in & “click”  method. Both are easy and could be done within seconds.

Bumprider

Bumprider

Lascal 

Bumprider on a Double Stroller (Maclaren Twin Techno):

It was not easy to find a suitable spot to attached the connectors because the stroller's center frame are occupied with all the joining & folding. Initially we tried attaching higher as of Pic 1, but when we fold the stroller, the connectors were in the way.  Hence, we had no choice but to attach it just above the wheels (Pic 2 & 3)

Pic 1 - at higher position

Pic 2 - lower position

Pic 3 - lower position

When the double stroller is folded

  

With the ride-on board

Board hung up when it is not in use

Bumprider on a Single Stroller (Maclaren Volo):

Comfort & Usability

The boys were very excited to try out their new  Bumprider Ride-On Board

Ease of bringing the 3 years old boys for shopping.  They took turns to stand on the board.

Even with the board added on, we could still stand comfortably in a straight line (stroller, board, cubbyDaddy) in the lift.

Bumprider on Maclaren Twin Techno

Bumprider on Maclaren Volo

Strolling indoor (shopping mall) vs Running on outdoor rough surface (Zoo Negara)

With its superior suspension maneuverability, it is easy to maneuver even on bumpy road.  However, as we had attached the connectors at the lower section of the double stroller, after an hour of standing and pushing, the arms of the board will move slightly lower and slightly leaning on one of the wheel which affects the maneuverability of the stroller.  This problem solved whenwe attached the board onto the single stroller.

Pushing around with 1 boy vs 2 boys standing on the Bumprider

Not recommend to stand more than 1 child, there will be limited space for them to stand/hold on which high chances of falling.  And their combined weight had exceeded 20kg, it was difficult to push and maneuver the stroller.  

Not enough space for 2 boys to stand

Ample space for 1 

Narrower space between the Bumprider wheels (as compared to Lascal) makes it difficult for taller built person to walk behind the board.  CubbyDaddy had to stand slightly over to one of the side to prevent catching his toes on the wheels.  But this is not too much of a problem for me, as my legs are shorter and it is easier for women to walk in a straight line as compared to men.  And if your stroller has longer handle which will naturally force you to stand further from the stroller, then you might not face this problem too. 

  

With this narrower board, the boy who walks side by side or helping to push the stroller has lesser chance in tripping over the wheels from the board.

Storage:

Last but not least, the ease of storage in the car.  It can be kept the in the regular way, which is removing the board from the connectors before putting away the stroller.

However, it can also be put away together with the stroller without removing it from the connectors.  The flexibility of the arms allowed it to be folded and put away as shown in picture below.

   

Conclusion:

We had brought this Bumprider Ride-On Board back to Doha, Qatar together with us.  We love it and are using it most of the time with the Maclaren Volo light single stroller.  But on days that we are using the Maclaren Twin Techno Stroller, we will still be using the Lascal Maxi Buggy Board.

Where to buy:

Bumprider Ride-On Board is retailed at RM330, spare connector kit could also be purchase at RM50.  This would make the changing/switching of 2 or more strollers easier and quicker.  Bumprider Ride-On Board is available for sale through Tiny Tapir Eco 

Disclosure:

This is a personal blog and I did not receive any monetary compensation for this product review; I received this product for free in consideration for review.  All opinions are based on our personal use and results.