Halloween is a time to celebrate things that go bump in the night. It's a time of candy, costumes, imagination, excitement, and all things scary. But, if you have a child like I do, it can be a time that is exciting and terrifying all at once. My daughter is thrilled about her costume, but less than thrilled about all of the spiders, ghosts, ghouls, and other things that are brought to life continue reading...
Mini Fall Lacing Wreath: TP Rolls and Ribbons
When I was teaching preschool, I loved to come up with ways to use ribbons. Perhaps my favorite way to use ribbons was to encourage lacing through our chain link fence. I remember watching a large group of girls, who didn't normally play with one another, swarm to the activity. They thread the ribbons through different chains and, when they tried to take them off to use them in a new way, they continue reading...
Giveaway Coming Soon!
Pair Books with Play: Pete’s a Pizza and Lemon Herb Play Dough!
I have to say that my husband's homemade pizza is the best! It inspired us to read the book, Pete's a Pizza. Have you read this book? It is a favorite of mine. The book is about a little boy named, Pete, who is sad that he can't go outside to play because it's raining. As a way to cheer him up, his parents decide to turn him into a pizza! They knead the dough by rolling his body back and continue reading...
Herb and Lemon Peel Play dough
My husband is an amazing bread maker. As I looked at his new baby (his whole wheat sourdough starter), I wanted to make some new, interesting dough for Lil and I to play with. Plus, my soon-to-be-moving son, will certainly be eating play dough that falls on the floor, so I wanted to make something safe for him as well. I have had to repeatedly explain to my sweet daughter that we aren't going continue reading...
Invitation to Play: Sand Tray and Loose Parts
Have you heard about invitations to play? I use sand trays as my go-to invitation! These invitations are about putting together thoughtful materials to spark interest and to encourage play. It's not complicated, but it is purposeful. That was the key that I learned as a preschool teacher: be purposeful and be thoughtful when planning activities for kids. Throwing out some legos on a table continue reading...