Sometimes, to have REAL fun, you've got to get dirty. Don't be afraid to try some of these very fun activities at home...even if it makes a bit of a mess, it will also make a permanent memory in your child's mind. It's ok to get dirty sometimes! Hands can be washed, floors can be vacuumed, and countertops and tables can be scrubbed...so let go of your inhibitions and HAVE A BLAST! 
CONSTRUCTION TIME Get all of your scoopers, pourers, loaders, dumptrucks and backhoes together and get ready for a great time! Any substance can be used for filling and dumping but with younger kids I like to use cereal and edibles! Here we used cornflakes. It was so much fun to scoop, pour and drive the trucks around. Clean up was a breeze because we did the acitivity on a blanket.
Think this activity isn't for your little girl? THINK AGAIN! ALL kids will love to do this activity. What are we learning here? Problem solving, measuring and pre-math skills, cooperation, and even spatial development. Do expose your little girl to activities like this to help her work on these skills!
Rainbow Recycled Crayons
Have a ton of broken and discarded crayons rolling around the bottom of the art box? Try this fun activity!
You'll need:
-Some play hammers or perhaps a meat tenderizer (mom needs to help a bit on this one)
-two long sheets of wax paper
-broken and discarded crayons
-muffin tin
Set your oven on a low temp, around 200 degrees or so.
Remove ALL paper bits from discarded crayons. Break crayons into smaller bits. Hammer for extra fun! Peices can be large and small--variety is fun with this project! Do not break peices any smaller than the size of a fingernail, for lack of a better comparison.
When you are done, fill muffin trays and place in oven. Kids can help choose special color combinations they might like! WATCH CAREFULLY! You don't want the crayons to melt all the way--too high of heat or too long in the oven will produce a completely melted wax, which ruins the rainbow effect. Similiar to a chocolate chip cookie, you are looking for the different color peices to have just melted together.
Remove from oven and let cool completely. When cool, disc shaped recycle crayons will pop out from muffin tin! Tin will need to be scrubbed well with soap and hot water before using for food again.
Crayons will make neat rainbow colored marks on paper! Easy for young toddlers/preschoolers to use and earth friendly! :)
Bird Seed Table
Don't forget about sensory play! We have a homeade water table (search my blog for how to make one of your own!!!), but you don't need that--all you need is a tub, large pan, or even box! Fill with bird seed or another substance like cheerios, popcorn, or colored macaroni (see recipe below). REMEMBER: These items will be a choking hazard for children under 2 1/2, or those who are still "oral".
Colored Macaroni
Here's how to make your own colored macaroni--for sensory table play, sorting or art projects. It's great to have on hand for a rainy day!
__________
Materials:
uncooked pasta (macaroni or other shapes)
rubbing alcohol
food coloring (drops or paste)
In a ziploc bag or bowl, pour in enough rubbing alcohol so the noodles are lightly covered but not soaking (about 2 to 4 Tbsp)
Add a lot of food coloring to each bowl Use a separate bag/bowl for each color
Add the desired amount of macaroni (this depends on how many kids/crafts you're making).
Mix them up (or shake the ziploc bag) and let sit a couple of minutes.
Once the noodles have reached the desired color, remove them from the baggie or bowl and lay them in a single layer on tinfoil or waxed paper to dry.
Making the colored noodles is messy and food color doesn't come out of clothes well... the shaking part can be done by kids (if you use a ziploc bag), but the rest should be done by an adult.
________________
Channy's tips on this one:
-Crack a window, this gets stinky! Haha!
-Drying on paper towel is ok, as long as you place on cookie sheet or something else. Don't place these noodles on a paper towel to dry on your counter...because they WILL most likely stain it.
-Find neat pasta shapes, like wagon wheels, in the ethnic areas at your grocery.
-Browns, blacks dark blues and purples can be tricky...don't make you dye too dark. One thing I've learned from dying lots of pasta over the years is that green, red, yellow, orange, turquoise and pink always come out beautifully! A lighter dye is usually more successful.
Once you've made a large stash, you won't need to for quite some time again. Colored noodles are actually quite beautiful and vibrant...perfect to keep on hand for jewelry making, art or many other purposes! Enjoy!
St. Patricks Day fun!
I'm an irish gal born the day before St. Patty's day...so I love the holiday! :)
It can be so much fun with young children!
I'd like to share some early childhood ideas that I've used every year in my classroom and with my son!
__________________
Shamrock Shakes:
Make your own shamrock shake with milk and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. Blend in a blender and for extra color add a bit of green food coloring!
Minty Water Play
Water play is always fun...but it is especially arousing for the senses when you add essences! In a tub or bowl of water, add a few drops of mint oil and allow your child to play with their favorite water toys or measuring utensils.
Pot Of Gold
It is so much fun to collect rocks outside and spray paint them gold for counting. After gold paint has dried, mark nuggets with permanent marker (1, 2, 3) or with black colored dots for a fun, St. Patty's day inspired math activity!
Blue and Yellow Make Green
St. Patrick's day is a perfect opportunity to discuss colors! Try squirting yellow and blue tempera paint on paper, or a smooth surface with shaving cream, and allow your child to smear them together to understand this effect on their own!
Suggested Reading
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Leoni
The perfect book for a precursor to discovering green...and one of my favorites! A story of two "color friends". :)
Green Pepper Printing
Cut a green pepper directly down the middle to make a shamrock shape! Place on a shallow tray of green paint and make Shamrock Pepper Prints!
Lucky Charms Sorting and Counting
Buy a box of lucky charms and sort all of the different marshmallow shapes. Count and graph them! Older kids will LOVE this activity.
Two Cute St. Patty's Day Songs
Song for St. Patrick's Day:
To the Tune of The Bear Went Over the Mountain
We're wearing green for the Irish We're wearing green for the Irish We're wearing green for the Irish On this St. Patrick's Day
We'll dance a jig for the Irish We'll dance a jig for the Irish We'll dance a jig for the Irish On this St. Patrick's Day
Me Mither and Fither were Irish Me Mither and Fither were Irish Me Mither and Fither were Irish And I am Irish too
We kept a pig in the parlor We kept a pig in the parlor We kept a pig in the parlor And he is Irish too.
And if you like the leprechaun concept...
I'm a little Leprechaun
To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot
I'm a little leprechaun dressed in green
the tiniest man that you've ever seen.
If you ever catch me so it's told
I'll give you my pot of Gold!
Large Motor Idea
Get some exercise and gross motor practice--great for any age! Trace green footsteps on paper and tape to the floor. Use for a treasure hunt, or just to walk and follow. Toddlers learning to walk will have so much fun following the prints. Older kids can "dance a jig" and follow more advanced footstep directions!
Better yet and if you dare...
Stretch out a large sheet of butcher paper, paint or stamp feet green, and dance to irish music. Make sure to display your fancy footwork afterward! :)
EXTRA RESOURCES
Printable St. Pat's maze for your older child
Maze
Lots of St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages
Coloring Pages
I hope you've enjoyed these activities and have fun with your little one on St. Patrick's Day! :)
Your Preschool and Daycare Questions Answered!
Hello everyone!
Almost all of us with young children have questions concerning daycare and preschool! I've compiled some forum member's questions to help address some common issues. Thanks for your responses and questions!
Q. "I am having potty training issues with daycare. I don't know how to ask about it though. Basically when Ky started in the toddler room they said that when I decided to start PTing they would help. Well Ky is nearly fully PTed at home (minus night time) and has no problem. But with 11 other kids to play with and take turns using the potty with, they seem like they are too busy to help her PT. I keep getting "oh well she'll start asking us eventually, she's still so young yet". I know WHY she doesn't tell them at school, but what are some ways I could get the daycare teachers to help me? There's only 2 other girls in there that use the potty at school! So it's not like ALL 12 kids are needing to be asked if they have to go potty or needing extra potty trips. I want them to work with me but they don't seem to be. They let her try to use the potty at every diaper change, and she typically pees in the potty, but still has a wet diaper. So basically, I want to know how I can get the daycare to help me and how I can help Ky recognize and be more vocal about pottying. NONE of the kids there are completely PTed. Most of them are under 2.5 yrs except for 2 of them. Any tips and tricks??"
A. From working in a toddler room, I know firsthand that potty training can be hard. Children are at different levels, and different systems at home. This is a typical concern from parents and it's very normal to see children doing better with PT at home--not only because parents can give more individual attention, but also because children are distracted at school and wait/choose not to go, so they won't miss something!
My suggestion would be to change the system. Not just at daycare, but at home. This way Kyliana will know exactly what to do. A great way to do this is to buy or find two kitchen timers that are exactly the same. You can almost always find them at the dollar store!
Set a time limit that is realistic. Teachers won't have time to ask Ky every thirty minutes, nor probably each hour. I think every 90 minutes-2 hours is a reasonable request, beyond the normal potty times/diaper changes they are doing at school.
When the bell rings, say, "time to potty" or use the sign for bathroom. Do the exact same routine every time. As Kyliana gets older and better with holding it, the time inbetween asking can be elongated until the system isn't needed at all, and she self regulates.
Write this system down, and bring the second timer into the daycare. Explain how it is working for you at home, and that you would really appreciate it if you would help with consistency.
Finally, from a daycare/preschool teacher's perspective, doing this while watching 12 other toddlers really is hard work! If your teachers are willing to work with you and you see improvement, make sure you "grease" the wheel by offering a heartfelt thank you or maybe even a quick thank you card or note. Hope that helps!:)
Q.
What kind of questions do you ask when you are going to veiw a daycare?
A. There are so many! I'll cover a few of the main ones, and offer a few good printable links that you may want to bring with you when shopping for a daycare.
1. Is this center licensed? Unless you have a family member or other arrangement made, this answer should be yes--even if it is a home center!
2. Are teachers and staff first aid certified and trained in CPR? What are their educational requirements? In most states, centers are required to have a certain number of staff (including lead teachers and the program directer) educated with, minimally, a child development associates degree (cda) or an early childhood development bachelors. There are several different forms of degrees but the minimum is usually a two year degree.
3. Are lesson plans and classroom events made available to parents? Where can parents access this information and learn about what is being taught to their children? This is often a joint effort. Sometimes when parents don't ask, they don't recieve--although in my opinion, a good teacher will work hard to make these things very accessible.
4. What is the staff or caregiver ratio, per child age group? The answer to this varies by state, but you can visit goverment websites or call your local family indepence agency or children resource network to ask about local licensing centers. They can give you the numbers per age group. When asked, ALL staff should know the answer for the age group they work with.
5. How is discipline handled? This is important. Ofcourse, we always want to know that corporate or physical punishment is never used. This is especially important to ask in home settings where it may not be as obvious/public what is being done to discipline children. But beyond that, as a parent, I like to hear that redirection and positive guidance are used. Do some reading on what you believe is right, and make sure your daycare complies with that!
Other things to ask about: The food program, how children are discharged, how holidays are handled, etc! Check out these great resources for more answers:
Daycare QuickTips
Daycare Qs
Q. Is preschool absolutely necessary?
A. Well...in a nutshell....no. But what kind of stimulation will you provide for your child? Be honest with yourself and ask yourself these questions:
For at least a year or two before kindergarten starts, will I provide ample time for my child to socialize with other children and adults, so they may build social skills?
Will I provide regular stimulation through reading, art, sensory, science, etc. at home?
Will I teach my child self help skills (one of the most important things pre-k) such as how to dress, put on shoes, follow directions, and listen?
If you know that you may not have time or the drive to do these things with your child (which doesn't make you a bad parent! Maybe you are a working parent, or you are unclear as to what you should be doing), then preschool is probably a great option for you, should you be able to afford it!
If you answered yes to all of these questions, then preschool probably isn't necessary. Would it still benefit your child tremendously if you enrolled them in a quality program?
YES YES YES!
Kindergarten teachers won't expect your child to have serious academic skills when entering kindergarten. But they will be expecting social and self help skills, and some basic other things as well.
I am 100% a full advocate of preschool at an early age--a part time two's program, and 2-3 day per week 3 and 4 year old program.
So, as you can see, this topic is quite complex! But I hope I've helped shed some light. :)
Q. Meredith has started going to Sunday school now that she is old enough, in fact today was her first day. I wanted to sit in on a couple of classes just to observe and see how Meredith behaves around the children and everything. The teachers were suggesting I leave so that she can get used to being in the class alone and won't get distracted. Today she didn't even notice I was there, I don't think she looked for me once. I think it would be okay for me to watch from behind, but they seemed insistant that I leave. Do you think it's a good idea for me to sit in or should I just leave the room every sunday? I know it is good for her to be separated from me every now and then so she can get used to it, but if she doesn't know I'm there then I don't think it really matters. What do you think?
A. I personally don't think you observing a few classes is anything that will cause ill effect, especially if your daughter is uninterested that you are there!:)
Teachers need to remember that seperation is hard for the parent too. Your teachers should work hard to provide you with comfort and knowledge about how your child's day will go, and observing is all part of that process.
I've always had an "open door" policy with parents. I think it is a good thing. Ofcourse--there is a flip side. If you always wanted to be there, and it became a habit--yes, that would be negative for your daughter because it might distract her, but also, might make teachers feel uncomfortable an unable to do their job. A constant observer makes us all a little uneasy at times.
Perhaps what you are really craving is more info on what types of activites Meredith will be engaging in, and how the classroom in general is run and operated. Ask your teachers about this and hopefully, they can produce something for you to help you understand more about their program.
Ultimately in Sunday school, daycare or preschool, the object of the game is parent/teacher communication. If that is constantly a problem, it may be time to check out some new facilities. Hope that helps to answer your question.
Thanks again everyone for your great questions about childcare. I will look forward to another Q&A style blog in the future!:)
Play Area Suggestions
Quite often I get messages from members asking what I suggest they put up in their play areas to help facilitate their child's learning. I decided to put up this blog with a few suggestions on how you can create an enticing play area for your child without buying much of anything at all, and some important tips to keep things organized and safe!
*As an example I'd like to share a photo of my son's play area in his livingroom. It is one of a few in our house including a large motor area in the basement, and his bedroom play area. The Q & A style article below talks about the different elements here.
PLAY AREA IDEAS AND THOUGHTS
Q. What is the purpose of creating centers--why not just push toys up against the wall or put them in a toy chest?
A.When toys are in a toy chest, they are hidden away. Many times kids will create a gigantic mess just to get to the one toy they wanted, which ofcourse, was at the bottom! For this reason, I'm not a big fan. I don't mind having toys out on display because it actually keeps an area cleaner in the end, and looks better, all while teaching children better organizational skills and care while cleaning up after their toys.
So, why not push the toys up against the wall? Well, that's great for a large motor area. But for an area with centers and or limited space, it's definitely a bad idea for toddlers. Open space=running space. If you'd like to create a play sanctuary for your child that they will play in, and not just run wild like a monkey in, then you might want to consider adding some interest by creating centers, or themed "nooks". Not only does it look more attractive but it really does help create focus in certain areas, while the child is playing. The goal is to break up the room with toys and shelves in a way that prevents excess running but never impedes your view of the child for safety.
Q. Should I cover the walls in posters and learning materials?
A. No. Some is great--too much will be overstimulating to your child. Think minimal when it comes to wall hangings, posters, etc.
Q. What are "centers", and how can I create them?
A. Centers are themed learning areas. In my son's play area, I created an area to use manipulatives and blocks (the corner table), a transportation area (the rug area which contains a transportation rug, climb on driving toys, and buckets of transportation toys), a dramatic play area (the shelf which contains play pirate ship, plastic container full of play figures, puppets, etc.), and a large motor section on the opposing side of the shelf which has scooters, push lawn mower toy, tunnel for crawling through, and a ball pit.
Also pictured is his felt board, which is currently a transportation theme. I change it every month or so for something new.
Because my son is only 15 months old, the centers are very basic. His room is very similiar although he has different centers there--a reading area, a science area on his little desk, etc.
We've also created a "book nook" in the living room for our son so that he can relax and read while we relax on the couches. He uses this area very often!
OTHER PLAY ROOM IDEAS:
-Floor space is learning space too! If you aren't afraid to try it, masking tape on the floor can be fashioned into a road to drive cars on. Or, perhaps just a shape to walk along, like a straight line for example! It's great exercise to help your toddler balance on this line and serves as an opportunity to really imagine wonderful things. ("We're walking on a tight rope now!!!")
I like to put shapes on the floor and I use them in many different ways. To stand on, or to place objects on, to sort shapes with, etc.!
-Get creative and use the element of surprise. Plan ahead and know that you will be most succesful in creating a new area for your child while they sleep at night and not while they are awake during the day, LOL! It is so much fun for them to be surprised in their play area the next day. Make a tent area by draping scarves, or a "cooking" area on a small table.
-Change themes often, or add new items.
-Add seasonal items to your child's play area. We remember to do this with our decorations, but no so much our child's toys--and often, the child isn't allowed to play with the seasonal things they covet with all their heart.:)
Try something new and you can't lose! By taking some time to create a learning environment for your child, you are taking the most positive step in preparing them for preschool, and "big kid" school.
Easy to make feltboards, spiders and more!
Because the Halloween season is upon us, I'll kick it off with the spider crafts!!!!:)
Paper towel or toilet paper tube Spider Prints
To make these quick and cute spider prints, all you need to do is take a tube and cut it into eight segments, and then fold the "spider legs" out, so that the tube becomes a stamp when dipped into paint! Emmett and I did black paint on white paper and added a glitter web, although white paint looks great on black as well! He enjoyed helping to stamp the tube in the paint and on the paper, but ofcourse this is a "parent pleaser" and is fun for both parent and child. Older kids can go crazy on their own! After stamping a few spiders with me, I gave my son a sheet of paper and allowed him to fingerpaint all over, which was what he really wanted to do. Haha!:)
OTHER SPIDER PROJECTS:
Marble Web Painting--place a black piece of paper in a tray with a marble dipped in white paint, and roll back and forth to achieve a spider web! Infants and toddlers can do this project a little more safely if you cut a circular peice of paper and put it into a tin with a lid. That way they can shake it and let the marble go crazy without fear of the choking hazard popping out! Older kids will enjoy controlling the web, and it is a great exercise for large motor and hand/eye coordination.
Double handprint spiders--place handprint facing left, then another handprint directly next to it facing right. The two thumbrints become the spider eyes, and then you have eight legs! Especially cute when you glue googly eyes on the thumbprints.
FELTBOARD AT HOME! 
This is one make at home project that I highly recommend having! The felt, or flannel board, is so much fun and a wonderful teaching tool!
I made this one by taking some blue burlap and covering a large square of cardboard. (You can also use felt or flannel material.) I then stapled and taped over the back of it, and taped it to the wall at eye level for my son. He likes to stand at it and take the shapes on and off.:)
You can cut out lots of felt shapes or make seasonal themes (like pumpkins, Christmas trees, etc.) I will add felt board activities here from time to time now that I have posted how to make one! They are a great way to illustrate stories, sing songs, or just have fun naming shapes and colors. Easy for little hands to do, although older kids enjoy them very much as well!
CHEAP FELTBOARD TIP #1--the shapes you see on my feltboard are actually cut from pot scrubbers! I get them in a multicolor pack, five for a buck, at the dollar store! They are made from an industrial material that sticks to felt. It feels quite similiar to felt/burlap. I think you will find what I am talking about if you take a look in the stores!
CHEAP FELTBOARD TIP #2--You can also laminate paper shapes and glue or staple a piece of felt, or the scratchy side of a velcro strip, to the back to make it stick to your feltboard! This is great for acting out characters from a story because you can simply photocopy pages from a book!
FOLLOW ME--A fun large motor footprint game!
Cut out and tape colorful footprints to the floor! Early walkers or crawlers will enjoy a straight line, while older kids might enjoy an elaborate pattern that takes them on an adventure where they may need to turn, walk backwards, etc. As you can see, this was a hit with my toddler!
And finally....
Quick and Easy Play Tip--Cardboard Shoe Box Garage!
Trust me, to the child it is just as cool as an expensive one from the store! Kids will love to drive a car in and out of a shoebox with a simple hole cut out of it.:)
