Preschool Basics: Sticker Numbers

This little activity works well for identifying numbers and also developing fine motor skills.

Supplies:

• Index cards
• Marker
• Small stickers

 

1)  Write the numbers you want to practice on index cards with a marker.

2)  Outline the number with stickers.

My middle daughter extended the activity by creating patterns with her stickers on the outline.  You could also put the number cards with a sheet of stickers in a plastic bag and use them to occupy your little one at a doctor's appointment, restaurant, or other outing!

Preschool Basics: Yarn (& Sand Paper) Letter Practice

I saw a version of this idea last month in FamilyFun magazine, but I decided to adapt it to give the girls an opportunity to practice forming letters!

Supplies:

• Sand paper
• Yarn
• Scissors

1)  Cut several pieces of yarn in various lengths.  I cut four longer pieces and two short pieces.  Then, I just cut a few random sizes!

2)  Ask your child to make various letters on the sand paper.

You could also use this to review numbers or shapes or just give your child a bag of yarn scraps and let her create whatever she wants!  I'm thinking this would make an excellent Learning Bag...and you could also take it with you to a restaurant, appointment, etc.

Learning Bag: Apple Tree Number Game

It seems like all the activities I've wanted to do with the girls have been focused on apples lately, and I thought this would make a simple learning activity.  You can store it easily in a plastic bag.

Supplies:

• White paper
• Green paper
• Brown paper or bag
• Scissors
• Glue
• Marker
• Notecards
• Red pom-poms

MAKE IT:

1)  Cut a sheet of white construction paper in half.  Make a tree (we used green paper for the top and a paper bag for the trunk).  Glue it to the white paper.

2)  Write numbers from 1-10 on notecards.  On the back of the notecards, draw corresponding dots for each number.

USE IT:

We play this as a game.  One person draws a card and puts the number of "apples" (pom-poms) on the tree.  The other person turns the notecard over and places each pom-pom from the tree on a dot to check for accuracy.

You can also use this as a single person activity -- just have your child put the number of apples on the tree, and then he can check his own work by putting the pom-poms on the dots!

FREE FlapJack Magnet Mat (How We're Using It)

Currclick is offering a free download of FlapJack's Crayon Color Magnet Mat this week. I thought this was a wonderful idea -- I've never thought about making a "magnet mat". 

Instead of laminating it, I adapted it like this:

I printed the pages.  Then, I used a two-pocket folder with fasteners and inserted four page protectors.  I glued the magnets to the paper "mat" and slipped the page into the protector! 

Next, I added a magnet to the crayon pieces (you can cover them with packing tape if you want to make them more durable).

I also put the other pages into the protectors, so we can use dry erase markers to practice handwriting and match the color name with the crayon!

The set also includes a book about colors, so my middle daughter cut it out and put it together.  We stored it with the crayon pieces in a page protector!

I thought the magnet mat idea was fabulous, and I just wanted to share how we changed it up to fit our needs (mainly because I didn't want to laminate anything)!  It makes a great independent learning activity.

Babies and Toddlers: Egg Shape Sorter Box

I'm watching my niece today...and we had out our Easter Eggs, so I decided to make a quick little activity for her!  You could easily decorate the box and make it look a little nicer, but simple is the word around here!! 

Supplies:

Shoebox or tissue box

Knife

Plastic eggs

1)  Cut a round hole large enough for the eggs to fit through.  Cut a few more shapes.  Make them small enough the eggs cannot fit through them.

2)  Show the older baby or toddler how to put the egg in the correct hole.  Let them give it a try!! 

I was surprised, but my four year old loves this!  She used the egg-coloring tongs to put eggs into the hole!  So, I guess it is an adaptable activity!!

Linked to It's Playtime at Messy Kids!

Learning Basket: Scissor Skills

One of our "learning bags" is dedicated to the skill of cutting!  This is an easy way to practice!

Supplies:
Old magazines or paper 
Scissors
Plastic box or plastic bag

1)  Cut 1/2 to 1 inch strips from the pages of a magazine or other used paper.

2)  Show your child how to cut these strips into small pieces.  Allow them to practice!

I store the scraps in a plastic shoebox.  After they can easily cut across the strips, make thicker strips or have them cut around pictures/items in a magazine or grocery ad.

Simple Coin Sort

After exploring coins, this easy activity gives little ones a chance to improve their sorting skills -- and the older children can begin to associate monetary value with each coin.

Supplies:

Paper

Marker or pen

Coins

 1.  Draw four circles on the paper.  Label with 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, and 25¢.

2.  Demonstrate how to sort the coins.  Discuss the value of each coin.  Allow your child to practice!

Valentine Match Game (Using a Deck of Cards)

I was looking through the closet, and I found this old deck of cards from a kid's meal (somehow we always seem to be missing a card or two or more from each deck)!  I remember seeing this idea maybe 10 years ago (I have no idea where -- so if it is your idea, let me know), and I thought this would be a fun Valentine's game!

1)  Separate the hearts from the rest of the cards.

2)  Cut the cards in half.

3)  Have your child match the cards!  For a more difficult game, turn the cards over and play a variation of Memory!

Learning Baskets

Learning Baskets (or Bags or Boxes) are something I started when my oldest was a toddler!  Just recently, I've discovered a whole system called the Workbox System by Sue Patrick.  I still mainly use my Learning Baskets the way I originally did, but I've added some aspects of the Workbox approach. *Update:  I tried this for a while, but this approach didn't work for me -- so I just do learning baskets the way I've always done them!

A Learning Basket is simply a basket (or box or bag) with a learning activity in it!  I have acquired many various activities appropriate for preschoolers, so I rotate those through the baskets.  I generally have 4-6 different baskets available during the morning.  I let each girl pick whatever baskets she would like to do!

I also have a Book Basket on top of the bookshelves for each girl.  I usually put books about our weekly theme in the basket, and I also include easy readers (for my older daughter) or alphabet books (for my youngest daughters).

Some ideas for Learning Baskets include:

Puzzles

Melissa and Doug "See and Spell"

Shape Sorter

Coloring Books

Stacking cups

Cotton Balls in an Ice Cube Tray

Magformers

Clothespin Basket

Rice Bin

Craft Stick Puzzles

Lacing cards

Learning Pallette

Magnet Books

Sticker Books

Jigsaw Books

Pattern Blocks

Name Activities

This approach really works well for me, because it forces me to have activities planned for my preschoolers!  I try to sit down the weekend before, look through my master list of activities and ideas, and plan the baskets for each day of the next week. 

Here is a sample planning sheet for the learning baskets, but I'm just using a teacher's planner I found at Target for $1!!

Let me know if this is helpful for you and/or if you would like more details.  Please, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me!