Archive for February 2011

Some 4 year olds love video games, some love playing catch , mine loves to pretend. Almost every moment that my son is awake he is pretending to save someone , catch someone or just be someone, Lately one of his favorite things to pretend to be is a super hero and so when I asked him what letter we should make he suggested Batman and when I suggested he could make his own super hero S he was game.

  1. Gather your materials. You will need 3 pieces of different color paper, paint, paint brush, marker, scissors, glue and 2 googly eyes.
  2. Start by writing a large upper or lowercase S on one sheet of the construction paper.
  3. Ask your child what their super hero has as a costume. We made a cape, a chest button and mask. Draw them or have your child draw them on a light piece of paper.
  4. Paint the costume pieces. 
  5. We goofed and added the letter to the chest plate after painting. Have your kids do this before they paint .
  6. Cut out the s while they paint, or if your child is able and willing have them cut it while it dries. Mine wasn’t.
  7. Add glue. My son loves tracing the letters with glue which is wonderful letter practice too.
  8. Add the s to the final sheet of paper. Paint if the mood strikes!
  9. Cut out the costume pieces and add them to the s.
  10. Add the googly eyes on top of the mask. 
  11. Let dry.

Remember that kids learn as they play.  By using their favorite playtime activities for the more directed activities that focus on things like numbers and letters you enhance both their play and their learning . Have fun with it!

Ack! I almost forgot to post this! I was mopping my kitchen before church when it hit me, I haven’t posted the linky! I love this linky and can’t tell you how many great blogs I have found. Your creative ideas, kids and writing blow me away week after week. If you are reading this and have a blog please link up, the more the merrier. The only rule is for you to show off your best post of the week. Show us all how brilliant you are! Have a great week.

Nothing makes you feel like a horrible parent faster than that little voice in your head saying “  I am so sick of that book, maybe he’ll want to watch TV instead”.  Please tell me I am not the only one who thinks that sometimes. Some books are just bad and for whatever reason kids find the worst in the bunch and fixate on them. To avoid that mishap read great books, like these from author/illustrator Melanie Watt that will make you and your kids giggle.

Have I Got a Book for You! is really tongue and cheek! It’s like an infomercial but on paper, complete with a salesman wearing plaid pants. After I skimmed through it I wondered if my 4 year old would get it, since it’s humor while appropriate for young kids might be over their heads. He thought it was hilarious and the little twist at the end was a huge hit too. I don’t want to give it away so I can’ say more but trust me this is a fun and silly read aloud to enjoy.

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach is so funny. I love books like this that have absurd humor thrown in. Before you even read the story on the inside flap you will notice a blurb that ends with “This story is not suitable for pirates” it just makes me giggle! The story follows the most anxious squirrel you’ll ever encounter as he tries to make his own beach, only to end up at a busy one! What I love about this book are the details, the small asides will have you laughing and the main story will keep even young ones totally entertained. My son loved it especially the part about the pool being the ocean and the flashlight being the sun, even at two he was trying to tell the squirrel how wrong that was. Super fun and a great message about overcoming fears as well.

Scaredy Squirrel at Night I love Scaredy Squirrel. is crazy anxiety, tendency to play dead and hilarious facial expressions never fail to make me laugh out loud while reading.  I love this installment because it talks about something very topical in many preschooler’s life – nighttime anxiety. I was expecting a funny book but it was also really touching and useful in regards to conquering fears. I must say for any new parent the bits about sleep deprivation will hit home, trust

scaredy squirrel makes a friend

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend is hilarious! I laughed  from start to finish, my son who was 18 months old didn’t get the humor at all but laughed at me laughing! Older preschoolers will get most of the humor though and like my son, will love the pictures ! Here is my favorite line : in very small print on the inside cover it reads ” * Caution: this story not suitable for walruses. ” Oh how I laughed ! The dry humor aside, the book follows an anxious squirrel looking for a friend , but one that is safe and won’t bite! Of course the message is about taking risks and kids will get it! I love this book!

We love to pretend! Dramatic play isn’t just practice for future actors it’s practice for future adults. It gives children a chance to play out scenarios , engage in cooperative play and even problem solve. It also gives the imagination and kid’s natural creativity a great outlet !  This camping play is so easy and offers lots of  situations to act out, from traveling to the camp ground, hiking, fishing for dinner and telling bedtime stories. Of course those were just our ideas your child will come up with their own.The campfire craft is a great opportunity to drive home fire safety rules and procedures  too !

Campfire Craft

  1. Gather your materials. You will need a long paper roll or a few shorter ones. We used a roll from wrapping paper. Also some orange , red and yellow tissue paper, some double stick  tape , scissors and a brown marker. You may also want some clothes pins.
  2. Start by coloring the roll.
  3. Next cut in 3
  4. Rip your paper. Random ripping works best. We were out of red so I cut some red cellophane that I had.
  5. Add tape to your rolls in the middle and have your child add the paper. This is why I like using double stick, that way I can place the tape and it’s sticky and ready for him to add the flames.
  6. Next tape the rolls together. This is where I used the clothes pins. I used double stick tape then held it together with the clothes pins for 30 minutes before playing.

While that sat we made some snacks for the camping trip!

We made some trail mix ( cereal, dried cherries and pumpkin seeds)

Then we packed some other favorites into our “cooler” aka my son’s lunch box.

We popped a sheet in a back pack, grabbed a lantern and made a car out of the kitchen chairs.  Packed our stuff in the trunk and got buckled in. Then drove for 51 hours to the campsite.

Unpacked.

Got settled with a snack

Then told ghost stories by the fire.

Time for bed!

It took 5 minutes of gathering items to have a fun morning of pretend!

What is your child’s favorite pretend play activity?

We do 90% of our art projects in the kitchen and sometimes we like to use kitchen tools for art even using food as a supply from time to time.  Here are some of our favorite kitchen art projects.

Salad Spinner Painting

Yogurt Painting

Turkey Baster Painting

Sweet Potato Finger Painting

Cookie Cutter Printing

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