Fuzzy Wuzzy Caterpillar

We had such a sucess today! We read the Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Then we made fuzzy caterpillars using bananas, peanut butter, shredded coconut and raisins. I got this idea from the book Kid's First Cookbook by the American Cancer Society.I had both Amira and Zaid each peel a banana. Then I gave them plastic knifes and had them spread peanut butter over the bananas. Zaid kept on saying that he wanted to spread more peanut butter, till it got on his hands and he said that he was done. I told him that it was o.k. if it gets some on his hands and gave him a paper towl to wipe them. Then we proceeded to the shredded coconut. Something that is totally new to Zaid. I told them where the cocnut comes from and I put some in a bowl and had them smell it first. I said doesn't that smell good? Amira said "yes, it smells wonderful!". Zaid smelled it and smiled. I put the bowl in front of them and told them to sprinkle it on their banana to make the caterpillar look fuzzy. I expected Zaid to have a hard time with this since he had such a hard time with the cheese making a pizza. But he had no problem whatsoever, success #1! Amira, who also has some Sensory Integration disorder also, but has overcome most of it through lots of theapy when she was younger actually got upset, because some of the banana got on her hands, go figure:) We then added two raisins for eyes. Amira did hers first. Zaid put one eye on and some peanut butter got on his hands. I said that's o.k. oh look Amira's caterpiller has eyes, you need to give your caterpiller two eyes also. Zaid tried again no problem. They were both so proud of their caterpillar that they ran over to their dad to show him. I then called Zaid over and said look we have some raisins left over give them to daddy. Daddy ate one and said "Zaid and Amira have one with me and give one to mommy also, so we can eat like a family" and Zaid ate one! Success # 2. Zaid didn't want anymore after that, but he ate one which is more then we could ever have expected. So we are so happy!