Come see how we set up our classroom for the St. Patrick’s Day Theme! I bet you never thought of using a salad spinner at the art table, am I right? Many years ago I somehow found out about using this nifty kitchen tool as a color mixing activity. I can’t recall when. (Because that’s what happens when you’ve been teaching for a couple of decades.) But we have used this process a lot....
Inside: Put together a winter sensory table that involves lots of scooping and pouring, strengthening those little hands to get them ready for writing! Scooping a pouring is a favorite with 2 and 3 year olds and is important for building fine motor skills. Gather accessories with different textures, along with pom poms, scoops and cups, and invite your children to explore. Add some snowflakes to give it an extra winter feeling....
Inside: Read about the importance of preschool play for children’s development, including the different developmental stages of play and important benefits to note. Early education specialists agree that play is the center of growth and learning. As Jean Piaget once said, “Play is the work of childhood.” Because of this, a large part of our roles as parents and educators is facilitating enriched play. The concept of play may seem largely unstructured and undefined, but in fact, there are so many styles of play that each benefit the child in different ways....
Inside: Toddler and preschool outdoor play is an important part of our curriculum, so it’s always fun when we get new toys. We love our new Simplay3 Cottage View Garden and Kitchen! Outdoor play is a very important part of the toddler and preschool day. We go outside in rain or shine (and where we live, it rains a lot), and depend on quality toys to encourage hands-on play while also using our large motor skills....
We love the apple theme and look forward to it every fall! When putting together circle time activities for my two and three year olds, I decided to use visual props while singing Way Up High in the Apple Tree. Not only do I have a prop to hold, but the children each have an apple prop to move around while singing! Supplies Way Up High In the Apple Tree Props from our shop (Tree and Five Numbered Apples) Apple Props for Children to Hold (Freebie) White Heavy (Cardstock) Paper Velcro Tabs Jumbo Craft Sticks Laminator and Laminating Sheets Wide Packing Tape Optional: Way Up High In the Apple Tree Song...
We love books are read a variety during our day. Our toddlers and preschoolers especially love rhyming books and request them often. I thought I’d share 12 favorite rhyming books that young children love. They are fun, they have nice illustrations, and they are meaningful. Rhyming books are fun for grown-ups to read aloud to young children, too. The change in their voices as they repeat similar sounds helps children focus on the sounds in words....
15 Nature Activities for Toddlers CLICK HERE to get your free nature scavenger hunt printable! As we transition into the nicer weather of the spring and summer, sunshine calls for spending more time outside with the toddlers. We spent months stuck inside during the rain and cold, so we have to take advantage of the outdoors while we can! This makes now a great time for exploring nature with your preschoolers, and even bringing some of it into the classroom with you....
Inside: An entire year of preschool lesson plans: 20 themes for young children! Well, we’ve done the work for you! All the activities in our lesson plans books are FUN. Every activity has been tried, tested and approved by our children. The activities are based on play, inviting your children to explore and learn through their senses. You will be able to see how they are building their skills through play....
Every year our toddlers and preschoolers make ornaments for their families. And because the theme is handmade, they make their own gift bags and cards to go with it. I love that every part of the gift is made by the child and I’m pretty sure the recipients do, too. This year I came up with a bright and cheerful Christmas card that involved putting “lights” on the tree and then gluing the tree onto a folded piece of paper....
Dip the fire trucks into the containers of paint and then roll them across the paper. Looking for an art activity that even the busiest toddlers will love? Fire truck painting! Remove all the chairs so that the children can stand – and even move around – as they roll their vehicles through paint and then onto the paper. Easy and fun! Especially toddlers who are on the go what feels like all day long....
Inside: Learn about the many ways to introduce toddler process art through this compilation of simple preschool activities. Process art provides an amazing opportunity for toddler development in such a fun way. This style of activity allows toddlers to discover new sensory experiences and begin to interact with ideas such as color mixing. This is because the defining aspect of process art is that it does not focus on the end product....
Around this time of year, I receive a lot of questions about what winter-themed activities to incorporate into the preschool classroom that do not revolve around the holidays. If you live in a colder climate, you may be sick of the snow already, but for those of us who don’t see as much of it, incorporating snow and ice into the classroom in the form of a science activity is great fun!...
More Alphabet Ideas 16+ Playful Toddler Alphabet Activities You are at home with your toddlers and preschoolers. You are wondering how you can expose them to the alphabet through playful ideas. Well, you are going to love this collection! There are over 20 different ideas that you can try at home that will not only work on letter recognition, but will also keep your children busy so you can maybe get a few other things done around the house....
Inside: This easy applesauce recipe is so easy for preschoolers to make, and goes well with the classroom apple theme. The secret is using a rice cooker! The apple theme is one of my favorites for fall. We explore them in science and math, create apple art, sing apple songs, read apple books … well, you get the picture! After all that, we make applesauce. Because our class is only 3 hours long, we needed a quick and easy applesauce recipe....
When we create the printable packets that are in our shop, I don’t just think of my two and three year olds. These packets are also used with the three’s class and the pre-kindergarten class, and I love to share how they use them! However, this preschool pumpkin counting activity can be used for two year olds, too, in a much simpler way. Like I’ve said before, I love anything that is versatile and can be adapted for different age groups!...
Inside: Young children like to move, and this toddler fall action art is a hit with them! Grab some mini pumpkins and/or gourds, our free printable, and paint and get started. Whether you have busy toddlers and home or in the classroom, this painting activity is all about movement and are the perfect addition to your pumpkin theme. This toddler fall action art is all about the process with lots of movement!...
We love to add sensory exploration to our activities, and that’s exactly why decided to try marbled painting with our toddler valentine art. Some toddlers love to get their hands involved in the process, while others are a bit more hesitant. Even if they decide not to touch this marbled paint, we have an alternative method that they will love. Plus, this is super easy to assemble and only requires 2 ingredients!...
Using sponges and water droppers is a fun way for toddlers to work on building fine motor skills, and it’s hands-on fun! This farm animals activity is simple to put together. All you need are plastic farm animals, a tub of soapy water and your toddlers will be busy scrubbing. When finished, dry the animals with a towel and they are ready for more play! Plastic farm animals Small scrub brushes Liquid soap Small towels and a tray Container with water Water droppers (optional)...
Inside: Winter Bear Art for Toddlers – roll paint onto bubble wrap to make these fun bears while also strengthening fine motor skills! One of my favorite art tools for toddlers is the brayer. It’s the perfect size for small hands to hold. The entire arm and should are moving while the brayer is rolled back and forth. And, it’s just plain fun! Combine the brayer and bubble wrap, and you have a real winner....
Inside: Brilliant Circle Time Strategies When Kids Can’t Sit Still. Wonder why 2 and 3 year olds can’t sit very long at circle time? Then read on, my dear teacher friends! You planned your circle time to the minute. First you will read a book. Then talk about some activities you’ll be doing during class. You might even start a second book, or teach them the words to a finger play....
