When I was little, I remember spending hours in the backyard with my friends...and one of my favorite activities was making Dandelion Curls. I just adored watching those stems curl up and seeing what cool spirals they made.
So, today, on our way back from the little convenience store across the street, LBB and I found a dandelion that still had all of it it's little floater seeds on it. I showed him how to make them fly (towards the parking lot...we don't need to spread the dandelions any more than they do on their own) and then just as I was about to tell him to put the stem back in the grass, I instantly remembered dandelion curls.
We raced back to the apartment, and LBB got to experience Dandelion Curls for the first time. Now, just in case this would be your first time, here's how to make them:
Start with some lovely dandelion stems:
Pluck the heads off. (Sounds gruesome. Ew.) Then peel the stems. If you want thicker curls, peel the stems in half. If you want thinner, than peel as many times as possible. Thicker curls take a bit longer to curl than their thinner counterparts, but they are still cool nonetheless.
Next step? Simply let your toddler or small child drop the stem peels in a bowl of COLD water, and watch them curl! It is really simple, and yet so fun.
And once they curl? Well, you've got nature's springs...and apparently little toddler guys ADORE this.
Just a note...I knew that our lawn hadn't been sprayed yet for weeds. If by some chance you're unsure, you could always wash the stems before you peel them so your little one doesn't get any nasty chemicals on them. And a quick handwash after nature play is never a bad idea. :)
