The children collected some leaves in their wagon while playing outdoors. When play time was over, I had them pull the wagon to their table, which was prepped with scissors ✂️, magnifying glasses, 🕵️♀️ and hole punchers. What ensued was pure magic. 🌟 We enjoyed a beautiful afternoon outdoors ☀️ 🍃 while doing something educational. We’ll definitely be repeating this activity in the future…
In case anyone was wondering what we did with the extra pieces of tissue paper from our snowflake ❄️ activity earlier today (see previous post), here it is. ✂️ Use what you have and try never to miss a learning opportunity. Cutting through different textures and thicknesses gives kids a whole lot of fine motor skills practice while exploring and having fun. If you have leftover scraps laying around, you may just…
I know you all know exactly what I’m talking about. You give a preschooler a bottle of glue and if you don’t watch them VERY carefully, there will soon be glue EVERYWHERE (and not necessary where you had hoped). Teaching your child HOW to use glue is actually a “thing” and you should thank an early childhood teacher if your little one does a great job with it…
There are accounts whose elaborate play set ups should earn them some kind of parenting medal 🏅, and I both admire and respect their talent and commitment. However, this is not that kind of account. I’m all about keeping it simple and encouraging others to use what they have at home. And in this case, that’s a muffin tin, masking tape (painter’s tape should work just as well…
Sometimes I’ll fill a spot in our day with a familiar but educational activity that the kids haven’t yet mastered. Patterns are hard for them (completely normal for 3-year-olds), so I like to increase their exposure and opportunities. I pulled out the buttons and pattern mats, and B stared lacing in the most intricate way I have EVER seen her try AND be successful at it…
At the end of every 2 weeks, we have a “review” day that allows me to use up whatever activities I may not have gotten around to from our curriculum. These days also allow me more wiggle room to supplement with my own stuff, and tend to be my favorite because of the creative freedom they allow me. Today I decided the kids don’t get enough opportunities to cut…