We have been spray painting with liquid watercolor. It has been fun and fabulous. First, we make a literacy connection by reading “Mouse Paint” by Ellen Stoll Walsh. It is great little book about three little mice mixing and stirring primary colors.
…
Little Blue Truck
I recently discovered Little Blue Truck by Alice Shertle, with illustrations by Jill McElmurry.
It is a fun story. It has a cute main character,
farm animal sounds,
…adorable illustrations, rhyming words, and more animal sounds…
But best of all, it is a story of friendship and helping others.
I plan to use this book and incorporate dramatic play with cars, animals, blocks, boxes, and toys.
Match box cars were recently on sale at Walmart for dollar each, a great find!
I used a small blanket, blue painters tape, duct tape, scissors, a wrapping paper tube, and a variety of toys that I have used over the years to make a portable community.
Blocks can be stacked to create buildings and various constructions.
Your children can use whatever action figures they have to create action in their play.
Clean up is easy. Just toss the toys in a box and roll up the blanket and you are ready to go!
Another option:
For a more washable version, I have decided to use an 8 foot vinyl table cloth, fold it in half, then sew or hot glue the edges together. This gives a smooth surface on both sides that can easily be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe. We can then use dry erase markers to draw rivers, buildings, woods, and etc. on the surface. The possibilities are endless!
Have fun together!
Children love to create. Stringing beads, pasta, buttons is a creative activity! We string a variety of items for fun, to improve eye hand coordination, sequencing, and to develop patterns.
…
Is it cold and snowy where you live? If so, this winter post is for you:
It is another snow day! Seven inches. 13 degrees. I know that isn’t much snow nor is it very cold for some parts of the world. But in our neck of the woods, school has been canceled. Making a bird feeder is perfect way to pass the time on a snowy day.
To make a bird feeder take a quick look around the kitchen and see what you have on hand. This is what I found at our house:
…
I hope you have had a fabulous Christmas! Many times we buy great, wonderful gifts and the boxes gets more play time than the toys that were inside. That’s what happened to me the other day. I went on a home visit and took a box with puzzles. My little guy emptied the box and climbed inside. He played in that box for nearly the entire visit.
Don’t throw away that left over Christmas box. Have some good, cheap fun.
All you need is: box cutter, packing tape, and wrapping paper tubes
Your children can use: crayons, markers, paper, and glue to add flowers, dashboards, hub caps, and etc…
While I have given ideas below the main point is this:
Work with your preschooler! Talk to them about what they would like to build and create. Let them guide you. Remember it’s not the product, it the process of creating the product that creates the learning.
Make an airplane.
This is a luggage box. Stand it on end and cut a flap that lifts up. Then using packing tape, tape it from under the flap, pulling it up, and fastening the tape on the top to make a wing.
Cut a fin out of some cardboard and tape it to the back.
Cut an opening for the cockpit. Cut a propeller from wrapping paper tubes, then tape them together.
Then tape the propeller to the front of the front of the plane.
You can make a jeep!
Here is another suitcase box. Lay it flat on the floor. With a box cutter, cut out the windshield.
Fold it back so that it will stand up.
Cut the doors so you and your friends can climb in together.
Using cups and plates add headlights and wheels.
Invite a friend to play.
Build a house!
This is a large box that 2 pieces of luggage arrived in; however, you can use a dishwasher or stove box.
You can cut doors windows anyway you like. We made windows with a capital-I cut, so there would be shutters.
On the back we made a large flap with a window. I like the flap so things can be easily inserted and removed from the house. It also gives light and flexibility.
Throw some pillows and books inside for a great place to read!
Your children can embellish, decorate all of the above creations using crayons, markers, paper and glue.
We had a great time on this beautiful snowy Christmas break day. Here is my excellent crew!
Have fun together!
