Using Buttons to Make Decorative Bowls

Last week we took out our Sensory Button Tray and made decorative plates and bowls using buttons and Model Magic (this would work with Salt Dough or any air-dry clay as well).   Here's what we did ...

What We've Been Up to

I can't believe I haven't blogged all week, but work has been really busy lately.  On one hand I would love to go back to being a stay-at-home Mom without the stresses of a full-time job at the same time, but I think right now the (financial) benefits of being able to earn a paycheck while staying home with my kids are pushing me to keep at it.  Although I haven't been blogging, the kids have still been having a lot of fun this week.  Here is what we've been up to...

Big Green Pocketbook - Dramatic Play Activity

One of my kids' favorite books is The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Random and Felicia Bond, which I found when researching Before Five in a Row (BFIAR) literature-based curriculum.  It's a story about a girl who goes out to run errands with her mother and fills up her purse with little tokens from each place they visit.  Around Christmas, I found tiny green mini-purses, and we've been acting out the story since then...

Interviewing 2 Year Olds

A while ago, I read another blog where a mother interviews her children every year and records their responses (sorry, I can't find the link now).  I thought that was a really cute idea, and wanted to give it a try with the twins (32 months old):

Five Minute Teddy Bear Cape

Today we read Corduroy, the classic story of a bear who goes in search of his missing button.  In less than 5 minutes, I put together some capes for their stuffed animals, so they can practice their buttoning skills...

Sensory Play with Buttons

One of the stories in the book Frog and Toad are Friends is about Toad's missing button.  He looks everywhere for it and keeps finding buttons, but they are not his button (one is the wrong color, another the wrong shape, a third has the wrong number of holes, etc..).  This story inspired me to do a sensory play activity with buttons today for my twins...

An Attempt at Writing Letters - T

The twins (32 months) meet almost all of the Kindergarten readiness skills, except being able to write their names, so last week I started teaching L and E to write letters.  The plan was to work on writing at least one letter a week, starting with the ones that are easier (straight lines), and then going through until they can write the entire alphabet.  We started with letter 'T'.  First I asked them to form the letter (both uppercase and lowercase) from craft sticks, then we went on to some worksheets:

Egg-tivities

We celebrated Spring this week with a couple egg-themed activities (because nothing says Spring like plastic eggs, right?).  I didn't have a lot of time to spend planning the egg-tivities, so they were basically things which were put together in the spur of the moment.  The kids still had a lot of fun.  Here's what we did...

A Day in My Life

When I was recently searching through files on my old computer I found where I recorded one full day's activities when the twins were only babies.  Life was a bit simpler back then with two babies who were not yet mobile and no job, but it was so much fun to read.  Yesterday I tried to record a typical day in my life, so I'd have something to look back on to see what things were like at this stage of motherhood for me (L and E are 32 months old, Baby H is 6 months).  Here goes...

Jesse Bear Dramatic Play Activity

One of my kids' favorite books is Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom.  I stumbled on this book when researching the Before Five in a Row (BFIAR) literature-based curriculum.  The twins (32 months) ask for "Jesse Bear" repeatedly, and Baby H (6 months) smiles and kicks his legs when I read it out loud.  One of the go-along activities we do for Jesse Bear is to act out the book using dollhouse furniture and Calico Critters Bear Family.  The book goes through a typical day for Jesse Bear in which he does everyday kid things like putting on clothes, playing outside, eating lunch, taking a bath, and going to bed.  The girls love stories where they can relate to the characters.  Check out these pictures of some of the scenes from the book we recreate:

Ten More Early Learning Math Games - Number Line and More

If you enjoyed my post on Math Games and Activities for Preschoolers, you'll love these ten new early learning math activities.   The other day I made a number line for the kids using cards taped to the floor using painter's tape.  Seeing (and interacting with) the numbers in sequential order helps kids understand many math concepts in a new way.  Everyone from toddlers to elementary-age children can enjoy learning math this one.  Here are some of the activities we did...

Cooking with Kids: Deviled Eggs

For our weekly Cooking Day this week, we made deviled eggs.  The process is a lot of fun and uses some wonderful Montessori practical life skills...

Draw Along with Harold and the Purple Crayon

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson is a very cute story about a boy who literally draws various adventures for himself.  The girls like drawing along with the story as I read it to them.  The amounts of paper this activity took up used to be a lot, so we've switched to using a free drawing program on my Kindle Fire (you could use an iPad instead), where we can easily erase the picture and start again on every page...

Threading Beads Fine Motor Activity

I made a little beading activity for the kids using various plastic, foam, and felt beads and buttons.  They set to work right away and had such a good time making their own necklaces...

The Great Rice Incident

My husband and I have an ongoing debate on the subject of what types of activities kids should do.  My opinion is that kids should be given as many opportunities for sensory exploration as possible; That splashing in water, digging in sand, and painting with their fingers (and feet) are an essential part of early learning.  My husband's opinion is that kids should not be given anything that could end up messy until they are old enough to play with it 'properly' (without making a mess).  One source of contention is the rice box...

10 Hula Hoop Games for Preschoolers

When I saw some kid-sized hula-hoops at the craft store, I couldn't resist getting them for the girls.  I'm glad I did - they've been the source of hours of entertainment.  Here is a collection of some hula hoop games and activities we've tried:

Making Bagels (i.e. playing with dough)

A couple days ago I made gluten-free bagels (from Pamela's mix).  Since the recipe didn't require any eggs (I don't like the kids touching raw eggs because of Salmonella), I could let the twins help me out.

Plastic Egg Painting (and washing)

One activity L and E absolutely adore is painting their plastic toys and animals and then giving them a bath.  This week we switched things up a bit by painting plastic Easter eggs.

Plastic Frog Habitat and Games

One activity the kids are especially fond of is a little habitat for their plastic frogs.  I fill up a plastic tub with water add a log and some Lilly pads out of craft foam, and voila - hours of fun play ensue!

Nature Walks and Outdoor Exploration

Now that the weather has been getting nicer, we've been taking the kids on nature walks.  My little scientists love exploring all things big and small in the great outdoors.  I put together little explorer backpacks for them: