Archive for March 2010
I am titling this post Daddy Craft Day but really anyone can have fun doing these, I usually buy craft kids for my husband and son to enjoy together because they come with instructions and I can leave and not bother them more than taking a few pictures! My son loves to create and my husband likes to make concrete things so kits like these are perfect! This was a gift from a dear friend for my son’s 3rd birthday and I saved it for a weekend daddy project.
- Gather your materials. You will need a craft kit- they are using Creativity for Kids Set of 3 Fast Car Race Cars
which is not recommended for kids under 3, and honestly I would not allow my child to do without close supervision until at least 6. There are many small pieces. Also newspaper to cover your tables , water and a damp cloth to wipe up spills.
- Let them dive in. They painted.
- Then we took him out of the house for a few hours, because waiting for the paint to dry was torture for a 3 year old.
- When dry they added the stickers that came with it.
- They they raced them- well they still are racing them days later. My mom came into town and my son very proudly explained that he made these with his dad, NOT his mom. So even if you aren’t the parent or caregiver that normally does creative things , grab a kit and sit down and enjoy the fun that comes from making something with your child. From my family room , I heard my son say to his dad “Daddy I like doing things with you.” That is all that needs to be said!
Books About Dad
Daddy’s Song
Piglet and Papa
by Charlotte Zolotow touched my heart. I have always been lucky to have a dad who was involved and present in my life, but this book is about the opposite. A little boy is telling his mom about what he wants in a dad, because he doesn’t have one. The book covers so many things dads do or don’t do, and while the dream dad isn’t perfect he is fair, loving and kind. I was tearing up as the book neared the end because I was wondering how the mom who was hearing all of this was going to react. Throughout the list of things the dad would do there were things for his mom too, mostly her being able to take a break and rest. Which made me feel sad that a little boy would have to worry about his mom, but I am sure that is all too common. The end pushed me over the edge, and my son who was drifting off to sleep while I was reading popped up and wiped my tears which made me cry harder because he was taking care of me. It ends with his mama saying that even though he may never have a father like that , that one day he can be a father like that. Great book for all families.
I have done many times with my son but now that he is 3 and has starting asking more complex questions, able to use information to make solid predictions it was way more fun! Using Easter eggs doesn’t simply add novelty, it add another dimension of learning, as we added more items to the eggs to see if the amount would change the result.
- Gather your materials. You will need a plastic tub, some plastic Easter egg, tape to cover the holes they have, and a range of items to pack inside. We chose a lego, some feathers, coins, rocks and dry pasta. You will also need some crayons in the same colors as the eggs, a marker and paper to make a prediction and results chart.
- Start by filling your eggs with the contents. Don’t forget to add tape to the holes so water doesn’t get in.
- Make your easy peasy chart. Draw the egg, write what’s in them and have your child decide if they think it will sink or float. Talk about how when they decide they are making a prediction. Ask them why they think each will sink or float.
- Do your experiment. Pop the eggs in the water and discover if it sinks or floats.
- Was the result what you expected? All of ours floated so we opened up the one with rocks in it added more and then it sunk. This was the best part of the whole lesson because my son figured out why it sunk the 2nd time but not the first! Since doing this last week we have “tested” many other things from a match box car ( it sunk) to a sock!
- We also opened some of the eggs up to see what would happen, and blew air on them too. Some moved some didn’t can you guess why?;) Love that one experiment leads straight to another!
What I love about teaching through experiments is that kids grasp things on their own, the true pleasure of making a discovery is obvious on their faces and it makes a mark. They remember and understand this experience much better than if we simply told them why things sink and float.
Going to the grocery store while pregnant can be dangerous, I left the store yesterday not with 1 but 2 bags of mini marshmallows. Buyers regret stepped in but then I thought I could make a fun Easter craft with them too. So glad I got both bags because my son loved this and I think the Easter egg is adorable. Whenever I do crafts with tempting treats like marshmallows I give my son a number he needs to add to it before he can pop one in his mouth! So we limit gorging and practice counting.
- Gather your materials. You will need some white and colored mini marshmallows, construction paper, glue and a marker.
- Start by drawing an Easter egg on your paper.
- Add glue along the line.
- Add your white marshmallows along the edge. We did 15 then ate one, 21 then ate one , and 17 and ate one. Yes I did help too. My son said ” Mommy I will share my activity with you and tell daddy we shared.”
- Next ask your child how many stripes they want. I caution you perhaps give them a range, my son said 8 and wouldn’t budge. I ended up doing 3 rows because 8 is a lot for a 3 year old to do.
- Add your colored marshmallows. We decided to add a sorting element by saying the lines can be any color, but it must be all one color. So my son was forced to sort the colors when adding them. Worked great! With younger toddlers I’d just let them go for it. Older children can add a patterning lesson in too.
- Keep going!
- Let dry.
I want to know YOUR favorite Easter books!
Leave a short review of your favorite Easter book in the comments and I will feature it ( and a link to you) in a reader’s favorites section of an upcoming post.
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Spring is finally here! I love spring and everything it brings from baby birds, to flowers and especially Easter candy. This sensory tub was a huge hit with my son and we have been chilling outside digging in it , filling the eggs with the birdseed and bugs and not worrying about it spilling on the kitchen floor.
- Gather your materials. You will need a plastic tub or large casserole dish, some birdseed, kid garden utensils, some Easter eggs, plastic bugs, and flower sequins.
- Pour your birdseed into the tub.
- Add your bugs, shovels and sequins.
- Add your little gardener and have fun.
Garden Books
Quiet in the Garden
Jack’s Garden
Song of the Flowers
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Sensory Tub : Coffee Grinds
Kite k
Kite K is a very classic letter of the week activity, not my most creative but my son enjoyed it. We decided on it because the wind has been strong and even caused some power outages last week in our area. So we talked all about it and when deciding on a letter craft to make settled on Kite k! If you want to make this activity last longer you can add bows along the strings, and wind swirls on the blue paper! Don’t forget to take the time when you are making this to brainstorm K words with your child. Ours this week were Key, Kick and Kitten.
- Gather your materials. You will need a 2 pieces of construction paper, some paint, scissors, some yarn/string or thin ribbon, glue and a marker.
- Start by writing a lowercase k on your paper, also make some diamonds for the kites.
- Invite your child to paint the k and the kites however they want.
- Cut the k out and glue onto the 2nd piece of construction paper.
- Cut the yarn into 2 strings.
- Add glue for the strings and kites
- Add the strings on.
- Add the kites
- Let dry.
Books About Wind
by Elizabeth MacDonald is a funny story about how everyone walking on North, South , East and West streets had their belongings mixed up by the wind! Hats , blankets and even food gets passed along from one person to the next in this silly story about a windy day. My son was entertained by this book but didn’t ask to read it again after our initial reading.
by Bruce McMillan is a charming story that is reminiscent of a folk tale, about ladies in Iceland ( with the help of their trusty chickens) who decide to plant trees to stop the wind. Unfortunately it’s not as easy as just planting some trees as they soon discover. There is some fantastic bits of humor for parents and amazing illustrations! This was a great library find that I laughed my way through.More Alphabet Crafts!
