Wicked Witch of the East Legs

 

Wicked Witch of the East

As in the classic Wizard of Oz Movie, the Wicked Witch of the East gets flattened by Dorothy's house.  If you recall the move the Wicked Witch ruled over the little munchkins and slaved them until she was flattened by the flying house. The Wicked Witch of the East was wearing some striped stockings and the Red ruby slippers and after she was squashed by Dorothy's house she wilted away and turned to dust leaving nothing but the magical slippers and the munchkins were forever grateful to their saviour.

 

Well here is our version, Dimples' magic flying cubby house landed on this Wicked Witch and flattened her. She didn't have red ruby slippers but she did have your typical Witch boots, pointy toes ugly looking and a little scary, these are too small for me now and I think were given to me years ago but will never be worn and some bright striped tights that we got for $2 at the bargain shop but you could really use any old tights that you find laying around or you always grab something cool and inexpensive at the Salvation Army or Saint Vincent DePaul 2nd hand shops.

 

It worked well and looks pretty awesome under the cubby house.

The perfect Halloween Decoration; All we did was roll newspaper into the legs of the pair of over knee socks, tie the tights together at the top and put on some boots. The stuck it under the edge of the cubby house, and Dimples (who has never watched Wizard of Oz) thought it was hillarious.  

 

 

 Happy Adventures

Balance Stumps - Outdoor Play Decor

Our Out-Door Play Area is slowly growing, its beginning to take over the yard. I love it! I am a strong believer that outdoor Play is essential and one of the fundamental ways kids learn. Particularly gross motor skills, but outdoor play also builds a kids physical confidence; it encourages safe risk taking, children get to test their ability and know their boundaries. Through this they learn what they are capable of and when they should stop. Have you seen Dimples tree house & water wall??? Click here.

These bright balance tree stumps are such as easy way to spruce up an outdoor play area.  They look fun and add a colourful addition to a play area, they could be adapted into any area or even used as a garden border. All you need is a fallen tree (or you could get a post from the hardware shop) we are lucky enough to live in the country and had a fallen tree that was in perfect condition. Adventures Dad cut it up into different lengths and Dimples had a ball painting them with me.

I used Exterior Paint, half a litre of paint in each colour did about 3 coats on each stump, the paint was fade proof and didn't require any under coat or protector. However, if your timber was still wet it may absorb the paint so you could end up needing more paint as it dries out. The other thing I was weary of was the colours, I went for bright rich colours instead of light ones, again if you picked light colours or pastels you would require much more paint or under coats to seal the stumps first.

The stumps were dug and packed into the ground using mud about 15-10 cm deep, ideally you would cement them in but a good strong pack has done good for us and they can steadily hold my weight with out any movement what so ever so I trust they are safe for Dimples.
Just to add another element to the task I placed them around in a S shape so that Dimples has to shift balance and direction, they are also at different heights.

There are many benefits of outdoor play, this type of activity helps develop a child's body strength, Imaginative play, happiness being outdoors & being active, Perseverance, Testing their own limits, Balance, Attention & focus, body coordination, Stretching, Learning what they are capable of doing, connecting them to natures, & helping them to rely on their own instincts.

Dimples has already formed a game where he is surrounded by snapping crocodiles below and he mustn't fall into the swamp below. He has learnt to have his arms out by his sides as he balances and he tends to go right foot first as he steps down, but left foot first as he goes up a step.
The colours are also fun. Dimples and his good friend Miss K chanted the colours for each other as they stepped on them and it brightens up his whole play area making it look so much more appealing.

Happy Outdoor Adventures :-)