Are your pennies magnetic?

Do you have a jar full of pennies? Ever wondered if they are magnetic? Magnetic pennies? Wait a second… pennies are made of copper which is not magnetic. Why are we talking about magnetic pennies?

Because some of them… wait for it… are!

Yes, some pennies are magnetic.

Which Pennies are Magnetic?

Some years for pennies and even some random batches within years have been made with more steel than copper which means those pennies are magnetic and will stick to a magnet.

Want to try it?

Grab a handful of pennies and run a magnet over them. See what sticks.

We found that it wasn’t consistent which pennies stuck and even which years would stick. Of our Canadian pennies, approximately half of them were magnetic pennies.

Make a Penny Chain

Can you make a chain of pennies? In other words, find the magnetic pennies and see how many you can dangle in a chain off your magnet. Does the magnet size and strength make a difference? Can you spin some of the pennies in your chain?

How about you? Do you have some magnetic pennies hanging out at home?

For more penny fun, check out this post on how to clean pennies.

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Find out if and why some of your pennies are magnetic. Hint: Copper isn't magnetic. http://t.co/sBV8ZpQG

— Jean Oram (@KidsPlay) September 28, 2012

Who doesn’t love balloon animals? No. Really. Do you know anyone? I don’t. Because…

Balloon animals rock.

First, there are a few things you need in order to make successful balloon animals.

1. Balloon animal balloons. Those long, skinny things that are impossible to blow up using your own lungs. Especially if you buy the cheap balloons like I do.
2. Something to blow up the balloon. No, not ‘burst’ them… put air into them. Should clarify. Especially since I recommend the following for blowing up balloon animal balloons: air compressors, bicycle pumps, and those awesome air pumps that come with those big exercise balls. (Yes, I bought my ball for the pump.) Oh, and there are fancy pumps made ‘specially for these balloons. But that takes the challenge out of it. What’s a balloon animal without bursting your ear drums with the pressure before looking around the house to see what else can do the job?
3. Special fingers for tying knots into the ends of these balloons. Although if you buy your balloons somewhere other than the dollar store this may not be an issue. But in our family, I have the special skill fingers. That’s right. Come to me. I will fill your balloon tying needs.
4. An imagination. Or a book of instructions. Or a willingness to experiment and not be bothered by the fact that you have run out of balloon by the time you get to the fourth leg of that dog you were creating.

While I’d love to give you instructions on how to make that lovely three-legged dog… that would take the fun out of you figuring out how to make one yourself. Besides, maybe you want a giraffe. Or a bird. Or a snake. I’m good at making balloon animal snakes. (Just blow up the balloon and you are done! If you want to get super fancy, take a marker and draw a cute little face on one end.)

How about you? Any crazy balloon animal stories to share? (And do your kids do like mine and line up for half an hour to have someone make them a balloon animal at fairs? Mine do. There’s just something special about a balloon animal made just for you.)
Enjoy. And play on my friends.

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1) On your friend’s back, slowly and gently draw a big ‘x’ with your finger.
While doing that say: Criss Cross

2) Then slide a hand slowly and gently down their back.
Say: applesauce

3) Walk your fingers up their back, one by one.
Say: Spiders crawling up your back.

4) Tickle their left side, then their right side.
Say: One here, one there.

5) Run your fingers around on their scalp (head).
Say: Spiders crawling through your hair.

6) Give them a little squeeze.
Say: Tight squeeze

7) Blow gently on their neck.
Say: Cool breeze. Now you’ve got the shiverees.

They might get goosebumps all the way from their toes to their nose!

Make this a family activity: Give everyone the shiverees!

This activity promotes tactile awareness.

To shoot an elastic, hook one end over the end of your right thumb. Pull the elastic back by grabbing it with your left hand. Let go and see where the elastic goes!

Make this a family activity: Target practice together!

This activity promotes aiming skills, predictive skills, and fine motor skills.

Make this a family activity: Take turns giving each other crazy hairdos.

This activity promotes creativity and grooming skills.