This year it feel like our family won the teacher lottery. Goose is in school 5 days a week now with a fantastic Montessori teacher while Nugget goes to a twice a week preschool with staff that love him like their own. It can be […]
We’ve all been there .. you’re strolling through an art museum and you see something that makes you say “Hey, My kid could do that!” Of course, any artist would tell you that the creative process only looks easy because they are so talented. But […]
Can you believe it’s already almost Valentine’s Day?? This year the holiday completely snuck up on me and I found myself scrambling at the last minute to come up with the perfect treats for Nugget and Goose to exchange with their friends, classmates and teachers. […]
I admit it, I can be a perfectionist and that isn’t always the best trait when it comes to children and craft projects. There have been more times than I can count where I struggled to resist the temptation to tell my boys the ‘right’ way to do a project. One way that I found to give Nugget and Goose the freedom to create on their own terms is a ‘Creation Station’. This is simply an intentional collection of themed items that encourage kids to be creative. Today’s Valentine’s Creation Station is an invitation to create valentine’s cards and artwork and my boys have had so much fun with it!
What to Include in Your Valentine’s Creation Station:
Like any good Creation Station, I began by gathering a large assortment of materials that I felt could be used creatively for Valentine’s Day cards. My Station included the following:
Crayons in shades of pink, purple, and red (with a house full of boys every card would be camouflage otherwise!)
A variety of Valentine’s themed stamps with red and pink ink pads
Pink & white heart shaped doilies
Assorted Valentine’s cardstock
Heart & Valentine’s themed stickers
Markers in shades of pink, red and purple
3D lovebug embellishments
Assorted plastic gem stones
Small foam conversation heart stickers
Glue & glue sticks
Scissors
The most important thing was to set the tray out and then let the boys choose their own paths for card making. It would have been easy to attempt to guide them into a more traditional card style, or even to demonstrate what I determined to be the ‘proper technique’. This really would defeat the purpose of a Creation Station. The idea is to encourage creativity which means there is no wrong way to do a project.
Project Review:
After 2 weeks, this Valentine’s Creation Station is still a huge hit! Most evenings while I cook dinner the boys use the Creation Station to make cards. I love seeing the focus and effort that they put into each card – and the pride when they complete their work!
Word of warning: introduce ink pads with care! I thought Nugget had it under control … until he didn’t! He decided stamping is more fun for faces than cards *eek!* Fortunately this ink is VERY washable.
Looking for some books about Valentine’s Day? Click Here!
There is no greater gift that a parent can give to their child than love, but love can be a tricky concept to explain. Generally I try to teach my boys about love as much through my actions as through my words but that isn’t always enough. So just in time for Valentine’s Day I have this fantastic list of 65 Books About Love for Kids!
Wow! That is a lot of books! I really hope that this list helped you find just what you were looking for. If there is a book about love that your family has enjoyed together please share it in the comments below!
Happy Independence Day! Are you going to celebrate the holiday by watching fireworks? My boys are completely terrified by the loud noise of fireworks, so the entire weekend has been one long cry fest as our neighbors celebrate (over… and over… and over!) Luckily we have had lots of educational 4th of July fun of our own. If you missed all of the patriotic activities I posted about last week, be sure to check out 4th of July Tot School: Part 1!
Montessori Tonging Tray
Tonging is a funny name for a really fun Montessori-inspired activity. As the name implies, children use a set of tongs to transfer objects. Similar to spooning and pouring activities, tonging develops hand strength and muscle control necessary for writing.
For this activity I used a set of star shaped plastic ice cubes that I picked up from Target last year. I found a set of small tongs at Bed, Bath & Beyond, although this set from Amazon looks similar. Initially I introduced the activity as a simple transfer from one dish to another, then as Goose mastered the tongs I increased the difficulty by adding a color sorting element. As a surprise I didn’t mention that the stars are intended for freezing, so after working with them at room temperature several times Goose was shocked to find them frozen one day!
I also allowed Nugget to handle the frozen stars in a basin of water one day for some patriotic sensory play.
Red, White & Blue Bead Stringing
Our next Tot Tray featured a dish full of red, white and blue pony beads and a selection of pipe cleaners. The task was simple: string the beads on a pipe cleaner to make a bracelet or necklace. The mechanics of stringing alone were complicated enough for Nugget, while I encouraged Goose to design a pattern and stick to it. They both had so much fun with this simple activity and were eager to wear their ‘fancy beads’ at the 4th of July parade.
Independence Day Learning Resources
Our Tot Trays were augmented with a wide selection of historical and geographical learning materials that I have picked up over the years. Some are a bit advanced for Goose but he and Nugget both seemed to enjoy looking at the pictures as I read them different facts. Hopefully they each picked up some of the basics, at least.
The Story of George Washington by Patricia Pingry. This book is part of a fantastic series of board books about historical figures. We read the story of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin. The series also includes the story of America’s Birthday, Gettysburg, the Star Spangled Banner, Rosa Parks and more. I hope to add the rest of our collection soon.
Fandex Family Field Guides: Presidents. This guide is something I picked up last year at a consignment sale on a whim, and it turned out to be a valuable resource. Each page shows a portrait of the president and offers a brief bio. The stories are short enough that even Goose could follow them, and he delighted in picking the funniest looking presidents so I could read their stories. Even I have a hard time keeping some of the more obscure presidents straight (I’m looking at you John Tyler and Millard Fillmore!) So I don’t know how much Goose will really remember but if nothing else he is learning that history can be fun and that lesson alone is valuable.
Famous Folks of America (by Reading Discovery) and U.S. Presidents Flashcards: both of these materials along with the dry erase US Map came from the Dollar Spot at Target last year. The book is written at a 3rd grade level, and features short stories telling about key moments in US history. I didn’t have high hopes for it, but the stories proved enjoyable and the kid-friendly illustrations helped keep the boys’ attention. The flashcards have lovely portraits of each president but the facts were dry and my boys just aren’t ready to benefit from them beyond looking at the pictures. Really the flashcards were a little redundant with the Fandex so if you get that, you probably don’t need anything else for a while.
Montessori Salt Writing Practice
Salt writing is a wonderful way for children to practice early writing skills. All you need is a small wooden tray lined with a piece of brightly colored paper, and a little salt. I have seen people use sugar or sand for this activity but in my experience salt works best at discouraging children from sticking their hands in it.
I let Goose use a chopstick to trace out letters in the salt, and then give the tray a quick shake to clear the writing and start over. (It’s like a primitive etch-a-sketch!) It can be helpful to provide some degree of direction so I like to use our Montessori Cursive Alphabet Flashcards. (Click the link to learn how to get your own free copy!).
Free Do-A-Dot Flag Printable
This free printable is designed for use with Do-A-Dot markers. The download includes 2 versions, one with letters denoting which colors to use, and one with blank circles. This simple activity is a fun and easy way to work on letter recognition, and fine motor skills.
Do I sound like a broken record going on and on about fine motor skills? They really are vital to so many higher level skills that children need. Sadly kids today are losing their fine and gross motor skills at an alarming rate, so these are the types of activities that they need more than ever.
My final 4th of July Tot Tray was a punching activity using this old star-shaped scrapbooking punch. I provided strips of red cardstock and a tray to catch the stars and let Goose go wild. The punch requires a good amount of hand strength so this was an ideal way to let him feel like he was playing while still increasing muscle control. We did this activity at Christmas last year using gold paper and I was pleasantly surprised to see how far his hand strength has come in the last 6 months.
Simple punches like this are an easy addition to any tot school unit, because the design makes it difficult (though probably not impossible) for a child to injure himself. Traditional office-style hole punches are a bit more prone to pinching skin so I would save those until you feel confident that your child can handle it safely.
Happy 4th of July!
I hope you have a wonderful holiday full of family and friends! Do you have any secrets for helping your little ones tolerate noisy fireworks? Comment below. I need all the help I can get!
Can you believe that it’s already July?! It feels like this summer is just flying by. Next week people all across the United States will be celebrating the 4th of July, and for different people that means different things. It might mean fireworks, a trip to the beach, or a backyard bar-b-que. For me, it means all of those things PLUS an excuse to do a new red, white and blue themed tot school unit. My family loves the 4th of July so we always go all out and this tot school unit is no exception. Keep reading for crafts, Montessori trays and lots of free printables!
Popsicle Stick President: Abraham Lincoln
Seriously, who doesn’t love Honest Abe? I designed this fun popsicle stick craft to honor our 16th president and provide a jumping off point to talk about our country’s history. This is a simple art project that could easily be modified for even younger children. Simply replace the paint with washable markers, and maybe provide a little help with the gluing.
Supplies:
7 Plain Popsicle Sticks
Glue
Acrylic Paints (black, brown and pink)
Paint Brushes
Instructions:
Begin by laying out 6 popsicle sticks side by side, then glue your last popsicle stick horizontally about 2/3rds up to make Abe’s hat brim.
Once the glue has dried, paint the stovepipe hat black, including the brim.
Use brown paint to paint Lincoln’s beard.
Finally, add a face using black paint for his eyes and mouth, and pink cheeks. (This would be a great step to sub in a fine tip marker or even some googly eyes.)
Flag Fine Motor Activity
My boys had so much fun with this activity! I actually did it with Goose last year, and then brought it out again this year. Even though it is much less challenging now he still enjoyed the activity quite a bit. The best part is that it requires almost no prep work!
All you need is a package of toothpick flags (Mine were sold as cupcake toppers!) and a square piece of floral foam. That’s it. See, I told you it was easy! Now let your child poke each toothpick flag into the foam. There is just enough resistance from the foam to build hand strength, which is vital to develop the muscle control necessary for writing.
Patriotic Nomenclature Cards
This set of nomenclature cards features 18 patriotic vocabulary words. There are basics like ‘Fireworks’, ‘Statue of Liberty’, and ‘Bald Eagle’ as well as a few more advanced concepts like ‘Declaration of Independence’ and ‘Revolutionary War’. Of course, as a parent it’s always up to you to decide just how much information your child is ready for. I hope that this free download will help with whatever way you wish to teach your children about the history of Independence Day.
You can download your own free set of Patriotic Nomenclature cards from my Digital Resource Library. Sign up below to get the password!
Montessori Bead Spooning
I continued to work on my boys’ fine motor skills with this easy Montessori spooning activity. I presented a tray with 2 dishes, one of which was full of assorted red, white and blue beads. Then I carefully demonstrated for Nugget how to scoop up a spoonful of beads and pour them into the adjacent dish. He spilled plenty, but he also surprised me with just how well he did. The really wonderful part was when Goose came over and began helping him. Brotherly love at its finest, and it just melted my heart!
Easy Star Clings for Early Tot School
Some of the activities I have listed today are better for slightly older children, so I wanted to include something for the younger siblings as well. I found this set of 4th of July gel window clings in the Dollar Spot at Target. They are VERY sticky and stretchy, so I introduced them with a child-sized cookie sheet (I think it came from this Melissa & Doug cooking set). The primary activity was to peel the star clings off of their backing and stick them to the cookie sheet. As it turned out, they were so sticky that it turned into great sensory play.
I think that a child as young as 6th months would enjoy touching and interacting with the sticky texture if you placed them on a cookie sheet yourself. As always, watch your child to ensure that they don’t try to eat them (and if it were me, I would wash hands after handling, who knows what chemicals are in these things – eek!)
Free 4th of July Decorative Printables!
After so many activities for the littles, here is something for the Mamas! This download features 3 separate 8×10 designs, perfect for framing or adding a patriotic touch throughout the house. Visit my Digital Resource Library to get yours, and have a Fabulous 4th of July!!
Father’s Day is three days away. That means that if you don’t have your gifts yet it’s time to get your fanny in gear. Not to worry though, I’ve got a great card idea and a cool looking mug that will be perfect for Dad, Grandad, or any other special someone who deserves a little recognition. These two fun father’s day crafts should be just the thing to kick off Father’s Day – but if you need more you should check out my post on how to make a ‘Hot Wheels Back Massage Shirt’. Intrigued? You should check it out!
“You Mean the World to Me” Card
Dads are amazing aren’t they? Always ready to step in and kill that spider or open that pickle jar. What would we do without them? Show Dad that he means the world to you with this crafty card!
Supplies:
Clear Contact Paper
Blue and Green Tissue Paper
Construction Paper in two colors (I used black and orange)
Scissors
Instructions:
Use 2 plates or bowls (or stencils if you are so prepared) to trace 2 concentric circles on a sheet of construction paper, then trace the larger circle on a piece of contact paper.
Cut out both circles, including the inner circle on the construction paper. You will have one large circle cut out of contact paper and a ring of construction paper.
Peel the backing off of the contact paper and stick the construction paper ring to it. This will leave a sticky clear circle in the middle.
Cut or tear small squares of tissues paper in both colors. This is a great chance for your preschooler to practice cutting with some safety scissors!
Let your child stick the tissue paper squares to the contact paper to make their very own ‘earth’ design.
Use your accent colored construction paper to trace your child’s hands and cut them out.
Tape or glue the hands to the back of your world and use them to write your message to Dad. Here are a few ideas to get your started:
Dad, you’re out of this world!
You mean the world to us Daddy!
Pops, my world would be lost without you!
Colorful Father’s Day Mug
If you have kids, you probably rely on your morning coffee to survive. Unless you’re my hubby who has somehow managed to reach the ripe age of 40 without developing a caffeine addiction. I can’t decide if that’s admirable or just insane. Either way, this coffee mug craft can easily be adapted for your favorite friend or family member. It does require permanent markers though so it might be best to save for preschoolers and older children. Or even make one yourself – they’re easy and fun!
Supplies:
One White Mug (I found mine at Walmart for $0.87!)
A set of letter stickers – the color doesn’t matter so feel free to use up some ugly ones that are laying around the house.
Assorted Sharpie Oil-Based Paint Markers
An Oven
Instructions:
Clean the mug thoroughly, wiping with rubbing alcohol if necessary to remove any oils and residue.
Use stickers to spell out the name or message that you wish to show on the mug. In this case I spelled out ‘Grandaddy’.
Let your child use the markers to decorate the mug, be sure to color over the letter stickers thoroughly.
Once finished allow the mug to dry for 24 hours, then carefully remove your stickers. If they don’t want to peel right off, a shot of hot air from a hair dryer seems to do the trick.
Set your mug on a cookie sheet and place in a COLD oven. Allow the oven to heat to 400 degrees with the mug inside so that it is gradually warmed. Then set timer to 30 minutes. After 30 minutes turn off the oven and let the mug cool inside. If you absolutely must remove it early, use oven mitts – it will be very hot!
Enjoy your mug! I have read that oil based sharpies will survive the dishwasher but I have chosen to hand wash mine with soap and water and it is holding up nicely. I believe this craft could easily translate to use on a plate or serving dish but I am not sure how food safe it would be. You should be fine with your markings on the outside of your mug though.
How did your mug turn out? Did the recipient just adore it? Tell me all about it and show me a picture in the comments!
Is it just me or is this year just flying by? I can’t believe that June is already halfway over – where has Summer gone? Father’s Day is right around the corner, and I have the perfect easy gift to make for Dad. This shirt is perfect for those lazy parenting days when you just can’t quite adult but the kids still want to play. Lucky for you all it takes is one quick Walmart Run and 15 at the ironing board and your Father’s Day gift will be good to go!
Supplies:
2 Sheets of Light Colored Iron-On Transfer Paper
1 Light Colored T-Shirt
An Iron
A Hard Surface to Iron On (not an ironing board)
A Printer – or a helpful friend who will let you use theirs!
How To Make Your Father’s Day Shirt:
Visit my Digital Resource Library to download the iron-on template. Don’t have an access code? Just sign up below and one will be sent to you – it’s totally free!
Print the image on your iron-on transfer paper. Note: this image is sized at 11″x17″ and is designed to be printed across 2 horizontal sheets of 8.5×11 paper. Depending on your printer’s settings you may need to do a test run before you waste your iron-on transfer paper.
Follow the instructions that came with your iron-on transfer paper to apply the image to the back of your shirt. I used Avery brand paper and was instructed to use firm pressure with a hot iron on a hard surface (I used a wooden cutting board).
Wrap your awesome gift and pat yourself on the back. You have officially made a gift that Dad and kids will both enjoy!
Edit: A few readers have mentioned having issues getting the images to print properly. If your printer is having issues with formatting, I recommend visiting the Acrobat print dialogue to select Page Scaling, Tile Large Pages (or Tile All Pages). Set Tile Scale to 89% and overlap to 0″.
Happy Father’s Day!
I hope the Dad in your life enjoys this gift – and that whoever ends up wearing it gets what I am sure is a much deserved break. (And maybe a Hot Wheels induced back massage??!)
Do you guys have any other exciting plans to make Father’s Day special? Let me know in the comments!