Friday's Gracious Giveaways: Thumballs

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The winner of last week's FGG winner is Early Motherhood.

Thanks to all who entered!

Good Luck this week!

This week's review and giveaway is sponsored by Thumball. What is "Thumball you ask? I can't wait to tell and show you!

Thumballs are balls that are specifically designed to stimulate conversation and energize education. To play, you simply throw the ball to someone and then he responds to the prompt on the panel under his thumb. If it lands on the Title or Shnoogie panel the catcher gets to choose a panel. Watch this short video for a demonstration.

Watch TDmonthly Video

Isn't that fun? And here's the great part ~ Thumballs come in a wide variety of designs with categories for every age and skill level. For example, Categories, ABC's, Animals, Virtues and Values, Meet and Greet, and Move Your Body. Check out the complete list and descriptions here.

For this review, I was sent the 6" Animals thumball to use with Wes. He absolutely loved it. We used it several different ways. First, I had him identify the animals. Then, I had him make the sound of the animal on the panel. I also had him identify the color of the panel. Wes had fun playing with it like a regular ball, as well. Thumballs are really soft and squishy, so they are totally safe to play with in the house.

Thumballs are so versatile. They can be used by parents with their children, siblings, school classrooms, preschools, child care centers, and homeschool groups. Anyone ~ anywhere, really! They are also very easy to clean, so you can play with them outside and inside.

For this giveaway, I have three 4" thumballs for one lucky winner. Here are the designs I have: Move Your Body, Parts of a Story, and Tell the Tale .

First Entry Requirement ~ Visit this page of Thumball's website to read about some ways that you can use these balls. Then come back and tell me about how you would use one of them.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow my blog (Google or Networked Blogs). (1 entry)

2. Subscribe to my blog. (1 entry)

3. Become a Facebook Fan (1 entry).

4. Follow MaryThumball on Twitter (1 entry).

5. Become Thumball's fan on Facebook. (1 entry)

*Make sure and leave a comment after this post for each entry so I can give you all the credit you deserve (and don't forget your email address too)! Winner will be announced Friday, October 23, and contacted by email. Winner has three days to contact me at contact@ittybittybookworm.com. After three days another winner will be drawn.*

~ If you have a giveaway on your blog that you'd like to share (or know of one you're posting about), link it up with "Mr. Linky" below. *Please read FGG rules for participating, here, before linking up so I can leave your link!* ~

This Handmade Life

This giveaway is closed.
Gabriele from The Work of Childhood is the lucky winner.
Thanks to all who entered.

One of today's giveaways is sponsored by This Handmade Life.

This Handmade Life is an Etsy shop owned by Jodi, a crafting and thrifting work at home mom. She specializes in upcycling vintage goodies into useful & whimsical items. She also sells handsewn items, as well as some of her photographic endeavors.

In addition to recycling ... This Handmade Life also gives back, by donating a portion of their sales to a different charity every month.

I found This Handmade Life while looking for a journal for my daughter. I immediately fell in love with the vintage Golden Book journals. I have always loved little Golden Books. I had a lot of them when I was little. In fact, I still have them. Needless to say, I just had to have one of these journals. It was so hard for me to choose which one to purchase. I finally decided on this one:


Jodi also makes upcycled pinback buttons made from vintage books, magazines, catalogs, and comics. I recently ordered a set of American Girl pins for my daughters. They loved them and put them on their backpacks.



Jodi has a second Etsy shop named This Handmade Supply. In this shop she sells vintage goodies, so that you can create your own "Handmade Life". Yes, I have purchased from this shop, as well. I found this vintage children's book and could not resist.


As you may have guessed, I LOVE Jodi's shops. Therefore, I am thrilled that she has offered to sponsor this giveway. Jodi is offering one lucky winner the choice of one vintage Golden Book journal.

To enter the giveaway ~ Visit This Handmade Life and choose your favorite journal. Then come back and tell us in a comment.

For extra entries:

• Visit the This Handmade Life Blog and become a follower. Leave a comment to let me know.
• Follow Jodi on Twitter. Leave a comment to let me know.
  
• Become a fan on Facebook. Leave a comment to let me know.

The winner will be randomly chosen on September 9.

Thanks for partying with us!

Dollar Store Finds: Sensory Tubs

One of the craziest times of my day is right before dinner when I am trying to cook, set the table, etc. Now that my children are a little older, I try to get them involved in the process, but when they were younger it was much more difficult. One solution I found was using sensory tubs.

Sensory Tubs are large container bins and tubs that can be filled with different types of materials. Not only do children love exploring these materials, but the exploration provides them with the opportunity to practice observation and fine motor skills (scooping, pouring, etc.). You can purchase sensory tables, but it is simple to create your own with items from dollar stores. Here's how:

• At the dollar store, choose a large plastic bin to use as the actual tub. You will want one that is large enough for the child to play in.
• Then, choose the materials with which you will fill the tub. Here are some examples that are commonly found in dollar stores: rice, small dried pasta, craft pom-poms, flour, oats, dried beans, corn meal, cereal, bird seed, and tear-less baby shampoo.
  
• Next, you will need a plastic shower curtain liner.
  
• Back at home, cover the play area with the shower curtain liner. This will make clean-up much easier.
  
• Fill the plastic bin with one of the materials you purchased. Then add measuring cups, large spoons, plastic bowls and cups, a funnel, etc. Invite your child to play with the sensory tub by showing him/her how to scoop, pour, fill, dump, etc.
  
• After a few play sessions with this material, your child may lose interest. No problem ~ simply dump the material out and add a new one.
  

*If your child puts things in his/her mouth, use only edible items.
**Always supervise sensory tub play.
***To use the tear-less baby shampoo - Fill the tub with water. Add enough shampoo to create some bubbles and a wash cloth. Invite your child to give his/her dolls or toys a bath or wash play dishes.

For additional sensory tub ideas go here!

Do you have any creative ideas for using sensory tubs? Please share!