Name Recognition #8

Magnet Letters!

Cheap Small Cookie Sheets and a Tub of These Foam Letters is all you need.

I chose foam because it is quiet.

First I let them free play. Then we sorted by color.

 Then we spelled our names. I made cards for them to copy the order of their names. We practiced first, middle, and last names. 

Sometimes we use these for Sunday centers. Sometimes we use these for quiet time.

I have even used them for spelling words.

Another fun activity that costs less than $16 for years of playtime.

Another use for these Magnets is match the sound to the letter game.

"This letter says Oooh" 

Free Field Trip : Pet Store/Pound

My kids (minus one) love animals. Since we will never have a pet, visiting the pet store was a better option for us. I called ahead and when we got there, the owner taught my kids all about pet safety, pet care, and about all the animals she had in her shop.

She then let the kids pick one to take out and pet.

All of the cages were at their level, and the kids were able to play and enjoy the dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs, and rats.

She said all of the playing was good for the animals and good for the kids too. I would agree.

The total cost of this field trip was $0.  We were there for 2 hours and my kids wouldn't stop talking about it at dinner time.

I'd say success! 

Road Trip Games

I was recovering from road trip clean up so excuse last week. :)

Here are some things that I did with my kids to make the 19 hour drive bearable.

1) Every time we stopped for gas I switched car seats around. This gave everyone enough breathing room to stretch relax and when it was time to get back in they had a new perspective on the drive.

2) When we stopped for gas I drew something out of the EXERCISE BAG. I made a bag (like a ziploc) Put 12 different things in it, and when we stopped they had to get that blood flowin!
some examples are : 15 jumping jacks, 10 toe taps, 10 reaches to the sky and then touch the ground, Run around the Yukon 5 times, Sing your favorite song in a whisper, Spin in a circle 4 times, Jump in place while flying like a bird, etc...

3) I was very big on NOT letting them watch movies the ENTIRE trip, so some of the way we listened to a book on tape. We got through half of Indian in the Cupboard. They then "got to" draw pictures of what they were listening to.

4) Snacks. I didn't want them eating or drinking for 19 hours straight so we had special times that we would eat. Our Road Trip Food consisted of:
Trail Mix, Fruit Snacks, Whole Apples, Freeze Dried Yogurt, Dry Cereal like Kix, and the Dora Cereal Stars.  I tried to mix it up on the way back so we didn't have the same food. Licorice, Beef Jerkey Bites, Carrot Sticks, and Pringles.

5) Games. I had a lot stuff prepared and ready to play. Here is one of our favorite games.

I printed 6 and laminated them.

Here is ROAD TRIP BINGO and on the other side I printed CARS BINGO

And instead of making bingo chips - every time someone found a sign they got a starburst.

First one to 10 won a mini crunch bar!

Another Game is HERE we loved "write on the road."  

6) The last thing I did was buy Coloring Books and cut the spine out.(Kinkos will do this for you for $1.50) And then put the sheets in a folder. I bought clip boards from the Dollar Spot at Target and then when they were ready to color they got a sheet on their clip board.

My husband teases me that I over prepared, but we didn't have any crying or unneccessary stopping or even fighting on this whole trip. Which in my book with 4 kids 4 and under is a success!

Pattern Power (2)

So you need to print these puppies out...

PRINTABLE

Then get to work!

 Leave some blank and then color some clothes pins.

 Then color different patterns on the sheets.

 Then laminate them. If you don't have a laminator these are just as awesome...

Then play!

 Here is my daughter following the pattern.

 Store in a plastic bag. Then in a gallon size.

 Perfect for travel, or in this case church. Sssh!

My son made his own pattern!

We are going on a 20+ hour road trip for the first time next week and I have been working hard on different things to do on the road. I don't want my kids stuck watching movies or playing on their leapsters or any other electronic device the whole time. That isn't the point of a road trip. They are going to enjoy what they see and have fun and talk and learn things...crossing fingers.

We will be gone for 2.5 weeks, so when we get back I will post what worked and what didn't!

Have a safe 4th of July!

Pattern Power (1)

Here is a great quiet game for the kids.

First you need to print these...

HERE is the PRINTABLE!
Finally no more EMAILING!

Then cut and laminate.
I printed 3 - that made 9.

Then grab a few items to snack on.
I picked animal crackers, craisins and goldfish.
You could do fruit snacks, m&m's, and cheeze-its.
Really you could do anything that is small enough.

Then you make your own patterns and EAT!
We brought this project to a friends house.
Those cute blondies are moving away and it makes me so sad.

This is great for church, quiet time, snack time, traveling...ANYTHING!
Print a few and tell me what you think!

Teaching Shapes to Toddlers - 5

Fun Snack Idea for Toddlers. Great Idea for Restaurants too!

I made this shape match up, laminated it and then we had snack.

 See the shapes?

 Then you match and eat.  The kids LOOOOOVED this!

 

 Even my almost 2 year old was into this activity!

We have taken it to restaurants too.  I just make sure I have a snack or 2 that matches the shapes.

If you would like a copy please email me at valeriewitte AT yahoo DOT com

I would be more than happy to email you the snack matching sheet!

Secondary Colors - Toddler Activity #5

These puzzles can be found here.

I printed them out and let them have at it.  I also printed them smaller and then added magnets for our upcoming road trip. Try them!

Funny Farmers

Okay so I took 3 quick pictures...

Then I printed them out on fast print, cut the heads out and pre-glued them to the construction paper.

Then I pre-cut outfits and let them glue their own outfit to the farmer...including pitch fork and arms and hands and feet...

Here they are...

Then I ran all of the sheets through the laminator and here is the book...

All of these pages have touchy feeley things on them.  They turned out pretty cute. I hope you all liked Farm Theme, as much as we did!

Old MacDonald

So I found these in a book, and copied them and colored them.  I have written to the Author and Illustrator and they said I can't scan them in for you but if you email me I can send them to you that way.

I then covered them in packing tape and hot glued sticks to the back.

Then we sang the song.

It was fun.

Then they played themselves.

This is how I store them.

I bought these for 33 cents at Target on clearance and then put them in a notebook for the kids to flip through and decide what they want to play with.

If you want a copy email me at valeriewitte@yahoo.com I will send them right away.