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 3, 2013

What is a color game that my toddler and preschooler can play?

With all these color games I’ve been making for Smiley Man, I knew it was only a matter of time before I made some color puzzles. They are finally finished and I think they turned out very well. I really like them because of how age versatile they are. I can use them in lots of different ways for Smiley Man who isn’t even 2. Plus it is going to be part of my tot school with Smiley Man! However, since they have the color words on them, these puzzles are also perfect for Little Bear who is well over 4 ½.

To use these color puzzles, first print them in color (or print out the black and white version and color them) and then cut on all of the black lines. You will end up with 12 puzzles that have 3 parts each. I also laminated the puzzle pieces, but that is purely optional. If you want more durability, you could also print the puzzles on cardstock or cover the pieces with contact paper or packing tape. So far, we use these 3 part color puzzles in lots of different ways. Here are several ways to play for your toddler or preschooler:

Sorting

Put all of the puzzle pieces into a pile and have your child sort the pieces by color. With Smiley Man I only put the pieces for 2-3 color puzzles in the beginning pile. When Little Bear plays this game, I put all of the pieces in the beginning pile.

Matching

Put all of the puzzle pieces in a pile. When I play this with Smiley Man, I only include 2-3 colors in the beginning pile. Pick up one puzzle piece and name the color. Ask your child to find another piece that is the same color. Continue until all the pieces from the pile are gone. When I play this with Little Bear, all of the puzzles pieces for all of the colors are in the beginning pile. I pick up a puzzle piece and Little Bear has to name it. I then ask him to find both of the pieces that match that color. Continue until all the pieces from the pile are gone.

Color Find

Put the puzzle pieces in a pile (for Smiley I only include 2-3 colors, for Little Bear I include all the colors). Ask your child to pick out a red piece (or whatever color). Continue asking for specific pieces until all of the pieces from the beginning pile are gone.

Put the Puzzle Together

Have the puzzle pieces out and have your child put them together. For Smiley Man, I only put out one color at a time. I put all three pieces for one color in a pile and I allow Smiley Man to put them together correctly. When he is done, I give him all the pieces for the next color. When Little Bear plays this, all of the puzzle pieces are in a pile. Little Bear sorts the pieces by color first, then he completes the puzzle.

This is the preschooler version:

Write the Color Words

This game is for preschoolers only. After your child has put together all of the puzzles, have them get a blank piece of paper. Have them pick out a crayon that matches one of the puzzles, then have them practice writing that color word on the blank piece of paper. Continue until your child has written all the color words with the correct color of crayon.

This has been a really great color game so far and I love that Little Bear can do so much with the color puzzles. He knows his colors really well, but he still enjoys practicing them. I just want to mention that I do not in any way expect Smiley Man to recognize the name of the colors. These puzzles are giving him exposure to letters, but I do not expect anything beyond that. Be sure to print off your 3 part color puzzles and don’t forget to check out all of my other color games!

Check out 1+1+1=1 for even more tot school ideas!

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

December 28, 2012

What is a color game using paint chips that I can play with my toddler?

If you haven’t seen them already, this is part three of our Color Games for Toddlers Series. Normally they will be posted on Thursdays but with the holiday this week today’s post is a day off.

Paint chips seem to be inspiration for everything these days. I have seen them used for cutting practice, paint chip coasters, paint chip calendar, paint chip baby mobile, paint chip art and paint chip matchbook notebooks. Today I am going to show you how to use them for a color game for toddlers.

I started with the paint chips that have 4 colors on them. Choose 7-10 different paint chips, all with different colors. I chose red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and brown.

You only need to have two squares for each color. I chose the bottom two squares for each color. Cut out the two squares for each color and put them aside. Don’t forget to recycle the extra squares using any of the ideas above. I’ll probably have Little Bear use them for cutting practice, and then maybe I’ll make a calendar with them.

Next, I laminated the squares that I was going to use. I have a Scotch laminator that I bought for $30. I bought lamination packets from Sam’s Club (200 sheets for $20), but you can also buy Scotch lamination sheets (100 sheets for $15) which is still a pretty great deal. Of course, laminating is purely optional, but with two messy boys, it sure is nice to have have my activities laminated.

Now you will need to find an object to stick half of the squares to. I used a shoe box lid because we had one lying around, but really, any sturdy surface will do. Choose which squares you want on the sturdy surface (the lighter shades or the darker shades). I chose to put the lighter shades onto the shoe box lid. I glued them on using a hot glue gun.

Once that is complete, you can add some Velcro to the top of the squares that are on your sturdy surface, and onto the back of the other squares. I opted not to do this because I don’t currently have any Velcro on hand. I think I may go back and add some though because it is hard for Smiley Man to make a match when using something as slippery as laminated paint chips. You could also add magnets instead of Velcro, but if you do, be sure to supervise your child while they are playing this game. Magnets are very dangerous if swallowed.

To play the game, set the shoe box lid covered with paint chip squares in front of your child (or on their lap). Point to each color and name it. If your child is learning the color names or knows the color names, have him say the names with you.

Next, pick up one loose square at a time. Name it (or have your child name it), then have them place it on top of the same color square that is on the shoe box lid. You may or may not decide to talk about how the colors are not exactly the same shade, but they are still the same color.

To store this game, put all the loose squares into a ziplock bag or an envelope and staple it to the back of the shoe box lid.

Be sure to take a look at all of my ideas for color games for toddlers!

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