Mothers & Babies

Learning goal: Objects have many observable properties and the ability to react with other substances. Enjoy this introduction to diaper chemistry!

• Reading= I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt, Llama, Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney, Just What Mama Needs by Sharlee Glenn and David Smells by David Shannon. Letter of the day: M is for mother.
• More favorite books: What Mommies Do Best by Laura Numeroff, My Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck, Counting Kisses by Karen Katz, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch and Does a Kangaroo Have a Mother Too? by Eric Carle.
  
• Science: Both Moms and kids will naturally be curious about the science behind a disposable diaper. Just how much water does one diaper hold? Put your diapers to the test! Experiment with a variety of absorbent materials (paper towels, sponges, wash cloths, cotton balls, etc.). Then measure how much water (colored yellow) a cloth diaper versus a disposable diaper can hold. Dissect (cut open) a dry disposable diaper to find out what’s inside. Shake its inner contents over black paper to find the hidden polymer that makes it happen. Collect the white powdery crystals in a cup and watch them expand when you add water. Finally, pour salt over the crystals to reverse the process and release the water. Wow!
• Art: Use baby wipes to make tie dye art. Roll, fold or twist a single baby wipe then secure with a few elastics. Color the twisted baby wipe with watercolor markers. Press the markers down on the wipe long enough for the ink to go all the way through to the inside. Wear rubber gloves if you don’t want your hands to get messy. An adult can cut the elastics off and the child can unfold his creation. Let dry overnight then mount and display.
• Play: Play bottle bowling! Set up 10 baby bottles in the shape of a triangle. Roll a large rubber ball to knock them down. Fill bottles with animal finger puppets or other decor to make the bottles look extra fun.
  

Fun facts: The polymer inside disposable diapers is called sodium polyacrylate. It can instantly absorb about 800 times its mass in water. However, diapers still leak when a baby’s urine contains enough salt.