February 4, 2013

What are some Valentine’s Day tot trays I can do with my child?

Smiley Man is loving these tot trays so much! He really likes that he does his own school work. I really like that he is engaged while Little Bear is doing his preschool stuff. My biggest problem is explaining to Smiley Man that he can only do his trays during school time. :) Even Little Bear likes to do some of Smiley’s tot trays. The tot trays for the next two weeks are Valentine’s Day themed.

Here are the tot school trays in more detail:

Sweep small hearts into a big heart

Use the mini broom and dustpan (dollar store) to sweep the small plastic hearts (also dollar store!) into the heart made from masking tape.

Valentine’s Stamps and Paper

Play with Valentine’s stamps using stamp pad and paper.

Matching Stickers

One sheet has 2 rows of stickers. Smiley Man draws a line to the matches. The second sheet just has stickers and there are some stickers on the tray. Smiley Man gets a sticker from the bag and puts it next to the same sticker on the paper.

Styrofoam and Toothpicks

A heart shape is drawn on the sytrofoam and Smiley Man uses the toothpicks to cover the heart shape.

Counting Hearts

There are three clear cups on the tray. Each cup has a number attached to the front of it (1, 2, 3). There are 6 heart picks (dollar store) on the tray. Smiley Man puts the correct number of hearts into each cup. I started this tray with only 1 cup, and then added the second cup after a day or two. I haven’t actually added the third cup yet. I’ll add it when I think Smiley is ready.

Color Game 5 and Color Game 6

Each color game is only on the tray for one week. The rest of the activities are on the trays for two weeks. That means I go through two color games, but only one of all the other activities. Here is Color Game 5 and Color Game 6.

Valentine’s Day Tot Book

I read this book at least once during the time that these trays are out. If Smiley man uses this tray while I am working with Little Bear, he can color the pictures or just look at the pictures as he turns the pages. I do not in any way expect Smiley Man to learn how to read by looking at this book. This book is simply for exposure to words and letters and concepts of print. I usually make these books in black and white, but since the book is about the color red, I decided to make a color version, too. We used the black and white version.

Printables

Color Hearts, Pompom Magnet page

Featured Toy

Shape Sorter

Themed Books

Do You Want to Be My Friend?, Officer Buckle and Gloria, Valentine Friends, Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse . These books have a theme of love and/or friendship. They are not necessarily Valentine’s Day books. Here are a few Valentine’s books if you looking for those:

• Happy Valentine’s Day, Mouse!
• The Day it Rained Hearts
• The Biggest Valentine Ever
• Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink

Tissue Paper Hearts

Cut out a black heart outline. Place it on a piece of contact paper. Be sure that the contact paper has the sticky side up. Put small pieces of tissue paper next to the heart outline. These can be very small pieces so no tearing or cutting is required, or you can have bigger pieces so your toddler has to cut or tear the pieces before putting them on the contact paper. Your child will put pieces of tissue paper on the sticky side of the contact paper. When the masterpiece is finished, cover the tissue paper side with another sheet of contact paper. Cut off the extra contact paper before displaying the heart. Make as many as desired.

Tearing Paper

On the tray are a few different pieces of construction (red and pink) in different sizes. Smiley Man tears the paper to his heart’s content. This one is always a favorite!

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

January 14, 2013

What is tot school and/or tot trays and where do I start?

Last week I posted about my very first time doing tot school for Smiley Man! I’ve had a few people ask some questions, so I wanted to give you some great websites that explain the basics of tot school and that give you lots of great ideas for tot school.

First off,  I got my actual trays from Oriental Trading. I also bought 6 cookie sheets from the dollar store because I anticipate wanting to do some magnetic activities. Once I had 12 trays (6 food trays and 6 cookie sheets), I spray painted them all the same color (this is an affiliate link to the color of spray paint I used). I love the color and I especially love how they look on my black bookshelves. Unfortunately, one can of spray paint did not cover all 12 trays. I used 2 cans of spray paint and now all of my trays are covered. Also, spray painting outside in 5 degree weather does not make for the best drying results. ;) Now, more information and ideas for tot school and tot trays.

I am pretty sure that Carisa over at 1+1+1=1 was the first person to coin the phrase “tot school” and “tot trays.” She has so many amazing resources on her website to get you started with tot trays. Here is her original Behind the Scenes – Tot Trays post. She has ideas by ages, Tot Books and Tot Packs, and a great Tot School FAQ page.  If you want to get started with tot school, I would definitely check this blog first.

The Princess and the Tot has some really creative tot trays that she does for tot school. Her tot is a boy and she has some really fun trays with boyish activities. Her son is much older than Smiley Man so I have to go back pretty far in her blog’s history to find any tot trays that would work for Smiley, but her ideas are great.

This website has some pretty awesome ideas for tot trays. They even have a website that sells learning kits.

Playing House in Maryland is another one of my favorite websites for tot trays. She has so many ideas that I will definitely be using for inspiration.

Train Up a Child has some fantastic tot tray ideas that are much more crafty and artistic than others. I’m not exactly the most artistic person in the world so I need all the help I can get when it comes to artsy tot trays.

This website has SO many tot tray ideas. Her daughter is quite a bit older than Smiley Man so I do have to go back a ways to find ideas that I can use, but there are so many ideas.

Be sure to demonstrate to your child how to use each tray before letting your child use the tray.  Demonstrate one tray at a time. Start by showing your child how to pick up the tray and carry it to their work table or a rug. Demonstrate how to use the tray step-by-step.  Demonstrate how to clean up the tray and then demonstrate taking the tray back to the bookshelf. Remember to include carrying the tray to and from the bookshelf as part of the instructions because otherwise, you will have chaos. I demonstrate how to complete each tray during the weekend. I only demonstrate a few at a time so that Smiley Man doesn’t get confused. I show Smiley how to complete each tray, but he may not work on the trays except during school time.

Hopefully this information and these websites will help to answer some of your questions about tot school and tot trays. Hopefully they will give you lots of ideas for tot trays. If you have any specific questions, please email me at momshavequestionstoo@gmail.com and I will happily answer as best I can. Don’t forget to check out Smiley Man’s winter tot trays. Good luck with tot school!

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

January 10, 2013

What is a fishing game I can play with my toddler that will help with color recognition?

Colored Fishies! Okay, I know that this idea has been around forever, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? ;) This idea isn’t new, but I did add a fun little poem to help with color practice and to turn it into more of a game.

To play this color game, you will need the following materials:

• Colored fishies and colored “sand” mounds printable
• Fishing pole
• Paper bag (decorated as a boat, if desired)
• Blue poster board, blanket, or large sheet of blue paper to represent water (optional)

To make the fishies and their colored sand mounds: print off these color fishies. If you don’t have a color printer, you can just cut fish shapes and circles out of colored construction paper or cardstock. If you want the fishies and sand mounds to be a bit more durable, cover them with contact paper or laminate them. Next, put 1-2 paperclips on each fish or staple each fish 2-3 times.

To make the fishing pole, start with a plain pencil. Tie some yarn to the eraser end of the pencil. Make the “fishing line” as long as you want it, then cut the yarn. Get two small magnetic squares with a sticky back. Place the two magnetic squares on the very end of the yarn, with the sticky backs touching each other.

Now that your materials are ready, it’s time to play the game. We start by putting all of the “sand” mounds on a blue poster board so it looks like they are in the ocean. Then, we put the fishies in the ocean in random place. The fishies should not be on their sand mounds yet.

Next, have your child get ready with the paper bag next to him and with the fishing pole in his hand. Tell your child that he is going to try to catch some fishies and if he catches any, he can put them in the “boat” (paper bag).

Have your child point to the fish that he will try to catch with his fishing pole. Say this little poem:

A yellow (or whatever color your child chose) fish went out to play
He (or she) saw a hook and swam away.
Will the hook catch the fish?

Now have your child move the fishing pole around to try to catch the fish, while you try to swim the fish back to the “sand” mound.

If your child catches the fish say:
The yellow fish says, “Oh no!”
And into the boat he will go.

If you get the fish back to the sand mound before your child catches it say:

The yellow fish is safe and sound,
He sits upon his sandy mound.

Continue this game with all of the colored fishies until they are either in the paper bag or on the “sand” mound. If you want, count the number of fishies that your child caught.

Next, switch places and have your child try to get the fishies back to their home before you catch them with the fishing pole.

This game is wonderful because you name the color of the fish two times during the rhyme. It is also great because your child has to color match when he is trying to put the fish on its sandy mound. If the fish goes on the wrong sand mound, he is not safe.

You could also use these fishies to play the traditional fishing game. To do this, put all of the fishies in the paper bag (or a box or a plastic tray, etc.). Have your child fish. When he catches a fish on the fishing pole, have him name the color of the fish. If he gets it right, he can put the fish to the side. If he gets it wrong, tell him the correct name and have him put it back in the paper bag. Continue until all the fishies are gone.

Be sure to check out all of my other color games for toddlers! This is just one in a series of twelve that I will be doing!

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

January 9, 2013

What are some activities my kids can do with snow play dough?

Play dough is always a fun activity for my boys. They both love the feel of it and all the fun things they can make with it. This winter I wanted to make some snow play dough for Little Bear and Smiley Man. (Play dough recipe and directions to make snow play dough included in link) They loved it! They played with it for about an hour non-stop. They also loved helping me make the play dough since the only play dough they have ever played with is store bought.

Well, I know my kids well and I know that next time they play with the snow play dough, they will still be excited, but Little Bear will only play with it for 15 minutes or so. I wanted to make something for him that would keep him busy with the snow play dough so I made some snow play dough mats.

These play dough mats are made specifically for snow play dough, but they will still be fun with any color of play dough. I printed these off in color and laminated them. However, I know from experience that a play dough mat printed off in black and white and covered with contact paper or even packing tape is still just as fun. Little Bear does like the colored play dough mats a bit more, but he still likes the black and white ones I’ve printed in the past.

Little Bear’s favorite play dough mat is the snowflake one. We talked about how every snowflake is different, then we looked up some pictures of snowflakes. We also talked about how a snowflake is always 6-sided. He really likes coming up with a unique snowflake design, and then smooshing all the play dough together so he can make another one. I was surprised by his fascination with snowflakes, but it’s probably just because of the snowflakes pattern blocks templates he has been playing with.

Smiley Man also really likes putting play dough on the mats because he felt like he was doing “work” like Little Bear. Of course, his designs had nothing to do with the mat, but he just likes feeling like he is doing the same thing as Little Bear. :)

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me

January 4, 2013

What is a pre k activity or a toddler activity that uses pattern blocks templates?

I recently made these snowflake pattern blocks templates as part of a new “school” system I am going to do with Smiley Man. Since Smiley Man is still pretty young (20 months), I don’t think he will be able to use these pattern blocks templates the “regular” way. However, he loves to play with pattern blocks and he likes having a template to put the pieces on.

I did make these templates specifically for Smiley Man, but they also make a great pre k activity. Little Bear loves working with pattern blocks templates and so do most preschoolers. I decided I should let Little Bear try them out and I am really glad that I did.

I have been teaching Little Bear that every snowflake is unique. He didn’t believe that could be true, so I was able to pull out these snowflake pattern blocks templates at just the right time. I showed him how they all have the shape of snowflakes, but they all look different. He was fascinated.

Since Little Bear loved these snowflake pattern blocks templates so much, I decided to do a few extension activities with them. First, I had him make one of the snowflakes on a template by looking at the template and putting the pieces on a table, rather than straight onto the pattern blocks template.

Then, I had him trace all of the individual pieces. I showed him that he just made his own template for pattern blocks. He thought that was really cool.

Next, I had him make his own unique snowflake. We talked about how it had to have 6 points. Little Bear was really excited about this and enjoyed making his own snowflake.

Once he made a snowflake that he liked, he traced all the pieces. Then, he gave me the new snowflake pattern blocks template that he made and I had to put the pattern blocks on in the right place.

Finally, Little Bear colored the new pattern blocks template. He loved these extension activities. I think there will be more pattern block activities for us in the future. I am so glad these pattern blocks templates turned out to be such a fabulous pre k activity. I know Smiley Man will also love playing with these templates when it is his turn, but I am glad that I let Little Bear play with them and I am extra glad that we found so many extension activities. These snowflake pattern blocks templates are sure to bring your toddler and your preschooler lots of fun.

We've found some fun people with great linky parties. You might just see this post linked up on one of these amazing sites! Link and Learn from No Time for Flashcards Sunday Showcase from Train Up a Child Share it Saturday from Teach Beside Me Tot School Gathering Place from 1+1+1=1 Montessori Monday from Living Montessori Now Tuesday Tots from In Lieu of Preschool Show and Tell from ABC & 123 For the Kids Fridays from Sun Scholars Finished Friday from All Our Days Weekly Kids Co-op from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails Preschool & Kindergarten Corner from Homeschool Creations TGIF Linky Party from 123 Homeschool 4 Me