tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79993203662862875992024-03-14T03:11:19.140-07:00Learning Time and MoreEvery child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. ~Pablo Picasso
“One fish Two fish Red fish Blue fish!”
― Dr. Seuss
“Be yourself and the people that don't mind are the people that matter.”
― Dr. SeussLearning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-73569600663017323792012-08-05T17:28:00.000-07:002012-08-05T17:28:02.475-07:00Activities and MoreSweetheart loves art projects. After one project is done she asks for more. I do have Halloween foamies to do. But waiting until next week. I bought a ghost for the kids. Even the 10 month old. I thought she would enjoy foamy stickers. Already did one with her. May have the kids paint theres. Or big kids use markers and Smiles paint. Smiles seemed to like the foamy stickers. Smiles loves painting and playdough. With playdough she does try and put in her mouth. I just tell her "use your fingers". She just smiles and laughs at me. I am sure someday she will not put it in her mouth. Thank goodness I have bosses who are open to messy art projects and display them as well.<br />
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Yesterday Smartypants and Sweetheart glued their flower buttons on their tree. I first told them 12 buttons. Sinse it was before nap. Though once we got on a roll they ended up doing all the bottons. Smartypants love to stack the buttons. In the end they way he stacked them looked really good. Sweetheart then started to stack as well. I am really proud of these creations. Now in the next 2 weeks the kids are making one for the grandparents. I can't wait to see how the next 2 turn out. <br />
I am thinking for Valentine's to make them again. Just have to make sure we have the sticks. As there will be snow on the ground. So, a stick collecting we will go in the next few weeks. Who knows what I will do. I want to do something. Maybe, I will paint their arms and fingers brown and then they can glues hearts of some kind.<br />
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The other day I was shopping at Michaels. My friend mentioned there are now ducktape sheets. So, next week we will do a ducksheet creation. I have a feeling this will be popular activity, I will have Smartypants trace and cut. I will have Sweetheart chose her stentils. I will have her try and trace. Then I will cut. I will even have Smiles do her own as well. Then they can put it on foamy board. I am beginning to love foamy board. <br />
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I saw this idea on <a href="http://4herreras.blogspot.com/2011/09/velcro-craft-sticks-and-bottle-lidsoh.html">http://4herreras.blogspot.com/2011/09/velcro-craft-sticks-and-bottle-lidsoh.html</a><br />
I will be posting pictures of Smarypants creations sometime in the next week. <br />
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Be sure to check out time for play on FB. Great ideas. And yet so simple. <br />
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On top of art activites i am working on some fun other activites.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-58279583074772036882012-08-05T17:27:00.001-07:002012-08-05T17:27:27.594-07:00Sandpaper and yarn letter practice Fabric and Duck Sheet CreationsI saw this idea on . <a href="http://www.amazingmess.com/2011/09/preschool-basics-yarn-sand-paper-letter.html">http://www.amazingmess.com/2011/09/preschool-basics-yarn-sand-paper-letter.html</a><br />
Be sure to check out the other ideas of letter ideas at the bottom of the page. I plan to take this one step further and give Smartypants and Sweetheart yarn and have them create a picture themselves. I will also use this time to have them cut the yarn as well. Thinking I will chose fall colors this time around.<br />
The other idea I saw and liked was having precut straws and have them glue them onto words and letters. For younger children you can do shapes and numbers. About 8 months ago I had them cut straws and this was a big hit. I will be doing this acitivity again. I am also thinking having them create a creation with colored straws. Wonder what they would create with pom poms and straws. The ideas are endless. <br />
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I also saw a familiar idea where you have premade numbers,letters shapes etc. Then use little stickers. I can't wait to try this one. This acitivity would also be good to do when I am making lunch or dinner. <br />
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I really need to find a way to keep track of all the activities I want to do. Have a list of ideas and their supplies. I think I will be investing in 5 colored bags which will represent each day of the week. In the bag will be the activity or 2 of the day.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-50527396346913675082012-08-05T17:27:00.000-07:002012-08-05T17:27:11.743-07:00Quick and easy activities before lunchIt all stated last year when I would pick up the oldest from pre-school. We would come home and the 2 older would get into mischief. So, I started coming up with activites they can do while I made lunch. One of the biggest hits was jigsaw puzzles. Smartpants loved doing 24, 48,63 and 100 pieces. Sweetheart mastered 24, 48 and 63 pieces. The $$ store has had great puzzles. I also got several at Goodwill. <br />
Another activity they loved was geobards. I found a great deal at Goodwill. I bought 4 of them at .49. Then rubber bands from the $$ store. <br />
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My new favorite toy for Smarypants and Sweetheart are biggie beads. The beads are big perfect for their fingers. There is a board to create creations. Smartpants has already made some really cool creations. Sweetheart likes to scoop and dump. There is even a pincer to pick up the beads. Which is great for eye hand coordination. <br />
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We took a break over the summer and now will start doing activites again before lunch. Since the weather has been great. I send the kids out back to play after school. I noticed Smartpants behavior change once he was able to be outside. Being in Kindergarten time outside is limited. So, now I am getting ready for rainy days and colder weather. Both kids love love new projects. Now, I am on the lookout seeking new ideas. <br />
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Stay tune for geoboard pictures. I will post once I take them out again and they make their creations.<br />
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Another fun activity is very simple. Craft sticks and velcro circles.<br />
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Smiles did her ghost and had fun. I had her in my lap and took the wrapper off. I stuck it too her her fingers. I would say put it on the ghost. She tried. I helped her a bit. Now when I say where's your ghost she will look at the window where I taped it. I should mention she Smiles when she sees her creation. So, the way I see it. If I do foamy stickers often she will be able to do it herself in the next few months. Just in time for the upcoming holidays. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2.5 yr old</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 yr old</td></tr>
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Just a few months ago my friend and I cleaned out my garage. I came across tons and tons of foamy stickers. When I am seeking foamies to my garage I will go.<br />
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I also did foamy sitckers with the kids I sit for on the weekends.<br />
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On this day Sweetheart created a flower fabric creation. She traced the shapes and I cut what she traced. She put them where she wanted. Smartypants did some tracing. Most of it was just cutting the fabric how she wanted. Then she clued them on the canvas.<br />
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here is Smartpants creation.<br />
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To mine surprize Sweetheart had no trouble at cutting. I guess she wanted to surprize me. For the last 2 weeks she has been cutting and glueing.<br />
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On the same day they both did duck tape sheets. Sweetheart traced. I cut. She put them on the foam board. She traced an apple, circle and I cut various shapes. <br />
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Smartypants cut what and how he wanted. He also did a bit of tracing as well. <br />
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I really liked the fabric and duck tape creations. I think next time, I will have more options for them and see what they can create. <br />
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remember its the process that is imporant not the product.<br />
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I am not a big fan of art creations. Where everything is precut and they are told where to put all the pieces. They are limit in the amount of glue and items they used.<br />
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I am in the process of saving milk caps and other caps from bottle. Once I have enough I plan to give them a big cardboard and let them create.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-86944230153062089572012-08-05T17:26:00.000-07:002012-08-05T17:26:06.300-07:00Tracing Stencils<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QuNLtdDW_j0/Tpsa775WI2I/AAAAAAAAAD4/7CY6hstjLBw/s1600/CIMG0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QuNLtdDW_j0/Tpsa775WI2I/AAAAAAAAAD4/7CY6hstjLBw/s200/CIMG0683.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBGSROGE5eo/TpsbBlLS6RI/AAAAAAAAAEA/FtAvKGS2QUI/s1600/CIMG0684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JBGSROGE5eo/TpsbBlLS6RI/AAAAAAAAAEA/FtAvKGS2QUI/s200/CIMG0684.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IutLACE7dM8/TpsbsABxiII/AAAAAAAAAEY/Xwcq7UVCLyc/s1600/CIMG0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IutLACE7dM8/TpsbsABxiII/AAAAAAAAAEY/Xwcq7UVCLyc/s200/CIMG0673.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8r9wFC9hOs/Tpscjpm5fkI/AAAAAAAAAEg/gcbwzJUpQ5Y/s1600/CIMG0686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f8r9wFC9hOs/Tpscjpm5fkI/AAAAAAAAAEg/gcbwzJUpQ5Y/s200/CIMG0686.JPG" width="200" /></a>Tracing and More Tracing. I found some stencils. Sweetheart had fun tracing circles, an apple, flower and a boat. The next one she traced was a sun, flower and the word flower. Then she traced circles, circles and more circles. I really liked how she overlapped them. The last picture are the markers she used. Paint markers. Just dipped them in water and paint, trace and create away.</div>
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I love rhyming books as well for kids. I am going to provide a list of top ten for each age group. I will start with infants. <br />
<strong>Infants</strong><br />
<ol>
<li>Jamberry</li>
<li>Mr. Moo Can Moo Can You</li>
<li>Tumble Bumble</li>
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This list is on going<br />
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</ol>Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-74465316339656613952012-08-05T17:24:00.001-07:002012-08-05T17:24:48.557-07:00Fun Ideas for the Pre-toddlerI have been searching ideas for Smiles. She is a pre-toddler now. I am very blessed to be able to spend lots of time with her. I plan to do several of the activites from the link below. Then I will post my thoughts as we do them.<br />
<a href="http://www.icanteachmychild.com/1-2-years/">http://www.icanteachmychild.com/1-2-years/</a><br />
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Her 2 favorite activities are playing ball. I roll to Smiles and Smiles rolls to me. Her other favorite activity is pulling scarfs and objects from a box. I bought the toy from <br />
<a href="http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/p%7CJJ909~~f%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByAgeOrGrade/018moinfant/greatgiftsforkids.jsp?cs=PDP_3_JJ909">http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/seo/p%7CJJ909~~f%7C/Assortments/Lakeshore/ShopByAgeOrGrade/018moinfant/greatgiftsforkids.jsp?cs=PDP_3_JJ909</a><br />
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Where has time gone? I am going to try and get through each of these activities and give my thoughts on each come this fall.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-61001973928598337152012-08-05T17:23:00.000-07:002012-08-05T17:23:01.081-07:00Fun Letter and More DiceWhile at Michaels I came across the small boxes. Then it clicked. I could use these. The first set of boxes have letters on them. I use the boxes when they are eating. I roll the "dice". Smartypants and Sweetheart take turns naming the letter, letter sound and coming up with a word with that particular letter. Both kids love this game. Now I want to make more with the following ideas:<br />
Rhyming words<br />
math problems<br />
name the word<br />
one with questions:<br />
tell a funny story<br />
talk about the day<br />
what makes you happy<br />
say something nice about daddy, mommy, sister, brother, nanny, yourself<br />
name a farm animal animal<br />
name a zoo animal<br />
name a vechile<br />
name a sports car<br />
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name a water vechicle<br />
name something that flies<br />
name a color<br />
name a beverage<br />
name an something that is red, orange, yellow, blue, black and white, brown,green<br />
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the ideas are endless. I even show Smiles the letter. She may not understand, however she does hear Smartpants and Sweetheart. In time she will begin to understand and participate. <br />
Let the fun begin.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-20486339588414797902012-08-05T17:22:00.001-07:002012-08-05T17:22:48.513-07:00Ghost TreeI saw following project on the following site<br />
<a href="http://www.toddlertoddler.com/halloween-ghost-tree.htm">http://www.toddlertoddler.com/halloween-ghost-tree.htm</a><br />
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I plan to change it up a bit. I will have Smartypants and Sweetheart cut their tree trunk and then use their feet for the ghost. For Smiles I will use her arm and hands for the tree and branches. Then use her feet for her ghost or 2. <br />
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I love the idea of preseving there handprints and footprints every month. Each of the kids have their own art book. so, if once a month did a handprint....priceless. May do a footprint as well.<br />
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I did not get to do this activity last yr, so I am hoping this year we will be able to get it done.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-63923350392004387572012-08-05T17:21:00.001-07:002012-08-05T17:21:25.623-07:00Tools to paint withIf I ask Sweetheart what she wants to do she will say painting. So, I am seeking all different kinds of tools to paint with or to paint on. Really anything can be used. <br />
<strong>Here is a list</strong><br />
paint brushes all sizes<br />
sponges of different sizes and shapes<br />
toothbrush <br />
q-tips<br />
cars<br />
monster trucks<br />
fingers/hands/feet<br />
plastic bottles (the bottoms...some have a flower pattern)<br />
bubble wrap<br />
yarn<br />
spatulas<br />
plastic animal toys<br />
legos<br />
wooden blocks<br />
sticks all sizes and shapes<br />
rocks all sizes and shapes<br />
potato wedges<br />
apple wedges<br />
forks<br />
any utentil with holes<br />
golf balls<br />
marbles<br />
comb<br />
brush<br />
cookie cutters<br />
eye droppers<br />
straw painting<br />
<br />
tin foil<br />
wax paperLearning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-87002987990252007982012-08-05T17:21:00.000-07:002012-08-05T17:21:13.368-07:00Learning letters, words, numbersThis was so easy and both Smartypants and Sweetheart loved this new game. I found balloon borders at the Dollar Tree. Each border has 8 balloons. For both I wrote letters in each balloon. They take a clothepin and match the letter. The clothepin has a letter to match. Using a clothepin is for their fine motor. For Smartpants I wrote "at" and "og" words on the balloon and clothpin. Smartypants matches the word as well as says the word. Sweetheart I did numbers up to 16. The first 8 she had no problem. The second 8 she did great as well. Just have to have her say the number as she puts the clothespins.<br />
<br />
I plan to do this activity again in the fall. Plus, have Sweetheart count out objects of each numbers.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-87271981411166987212012-08-05T17:18:00.002-07:002012-08-05T17:18:19.675-07:00August 2012<br />
I am now back. The kids are older and wiser. Smartypants is now 6 and a wonderful big brother and friend. He is always willing to try new activities. He also has become quite the artist. I am very proud to be his nanny. He is a math whiz and an excellent reader. This past April he learned and can name all 50 states. In June I showed him a blank map of the US and I am proud to say he can name all the states. In just over a month he will be in 1st grade. <br />
<br />Sweetheart is now 4 yrs old and quite the character. She is a kind, caring sister. She is always willing to share and she looks out for her little sister. This fall she will be going to preschool 4 afternoons a week. She is very excited to go and can't wait to do to art activities and then hang them up at home. I am looking forward to spending the mornings with her and and her sister come this fall.<br />
<br />
Smiles is growing up so fast and wants to do everything her siblings do. She is very sweet most days. <br />
Her fine motor skills are excellent. One her favorite activities is putting tooth picks into a cheese grater and putting toothpicks into a styrofoam square.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-70229856495244738722012-08-05T10:35:00.001-07:002012-08-05T10:35:34.991-07:00Fine Motor SkillsI am a huge fan of introducing fine motor at a young age. Infants, toddlers, and preschool children need to develop their fine motor skills so they are able to write, dress and play independently. <br />
<br />
I am providing a list of various infant, toddler and preschool fine motor activities and ideas to help them develop foundational fine motor skills they will need! And remember, help them have FUN doing it.<br />
<br />
I love playdough for children of all ages. I just introduced Smiles (10 months) to playdough just the other day. She loved it. Of course, her natural reaction was to put in her mouth. I just encouraged use your fingers. I let her know what I wanted her to do. I would poke the playdough and she would laugh. With time she will stop putting it in her mouth. It was homemade, so I was not as worried if she did try and eat it.<br />
I used this recipe<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #f6b26b;">Playdough Recipe</span><br />
<strong><span style="color: #ffd966;">Ingredients:</span></strong><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">1 cup flour</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1/2 cup salt</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">1 cup water</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: red;">1 Tablespoon oil</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">2 teaspoons cream of tartar</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">Food coloring by drops</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span> <br />
<strong><span style="color: #f6b26b;">Directions:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #f6b26b;"></span></strong> <br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">1. Combine all ingredients in a pan and stir. Cook over low heat, stirring until a ball forms.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">2. Add food coloring and mix thoroughly until desired color.</span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">3. Store in covered container. I used a ziplock baggie.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span class="style21">The following preschool activities support young children's fine motor development and will help to build the strength and dexterity (quick and precise movements and coordination of the hands and fingers) necessary to hold a pencil appropriately.</span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><div class="style16 style72">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="preschoolfinemotorskillactivities"></a>More preschool fine motor skill activities:</div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Rolling play dough into tiny balls</strong> using the palms of the hands facing each other and using only the finger tips.</div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Cut out shapes from cardboard </strong>(circle, square, etc.) and let your child trace them.<br />
<strong>Using toothpicks</strong> to make designs in play dough.</div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Give your preschooler pair of tweezers.</strong> Provide two bowls with small items. Challenge them to get all the items from one bowl to another using only the tweezers. <br />
<strong>Tearing newspaper</strong> into strips and then crumpling them into balls.<br />
<strong>Lacing and sewing activities</strong> such as stringing beads. <br />
<strong>Using eye droppers</strong> to "pick up" water.<br />
<strong>Play with Legos, miniature cars, small blocks, action figures, and other small toys.</strong><br />
<strong>Working puzzles <br />
Rolling small balls out of tissue paper</strong>, then gluing the balls onto construction paper to form pictures or designs.<br />
<strong>Scissor activities <br />
</strong><strong>Clapping games <br />
Connect the dots activities<br />
Trace around stencils <br />
Work on a chalkboard <br />
Paint at an easel<br />
Make crafts using scissors and gluing<br />
Finger painting<br />
Tying bows or tying shoes </strong><br />
<strong>weaving</strong><br />
<strong>geo boards</strong><br />
<strong>biggie beads</strong><br />
<br /></div>
</span>I have done many of these activities and I am always seeking more ideas. I think I will have to come up with 2 fine motor skills to use each week. Lately, it has been gluing and more gluing. Sweetheart will cut and then glue away. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I found this list of fine motor activites for preschoolers</span><br />
<span class="style21">The following preschool activities support young children's fine motor development and will help to build the strength and dexterity (quick and precise movements and coordination of the hands and fingers) necessary to hold a pencil appropriately.</span><br />
<div class="style16 style72">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="preschoolfinemotorskillactivities"></a>More preschool fine motor skill activities: </div>
<div class="style16 style72">
<a href="http://www.preschoolactivitybox.com/preschoolfinemotorskills.htm">http://www.preschoolactivitybox.com/preschoolfinemotorskills.htm</a></div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Rolling play dough into tiny balls</strong> using the palms of the hands facing each other and using only the finger tips.</div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Cut out shapes from cardboard </strong>(circle, square, etc.) and let your child trace them.<br />
<br />
<strong>Using toothpicks</strong> to make designs in play dough.</div>
<div class="style21">
<strong>Give your preschooler pair of tweezers.</strong> Provide two bowls with small items. Challenge them to get all the items from one bowl to another using only the tweezers. <br />
<br />
<strong>Tearing newspaper</strong> into strips and then crumpling them into balls.<br />
<br />
<strong>Lacing and sewing activities</strong> such as stringing beads. <br />
<br />
<strong>Using eye droppers</strong> to "pick up" water.<br />
<br />
<strong>Play with Legos, miniature cars, small blocks, action figures, and other small toys.<br />
<br />
Working puzzles <br />
<br />
Rolling small balls out of tissue paper</strong>, then gluing the balls onto construction paper to form pictures or designs.<br />
<br />
<strong>Scissor activities <br />
<br />
Gross motor activities:</strong> Wheelbarrow walking, crab walking.<br />
<br />
<strong>Clapping games <br />
<br />
Connect the dots activities<br />
<br />
Trace around stencils <br />
<br />
Work on a chalkboard <br />
<br />
Paint at an easel<br />
<br />
Make crafts using scissors and gluing<br />
<br />
Finger painting<br />
<br />
Tying bows or tying shoes </strong></div>Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-73020427868741469652012-08-05T10:34:00.003-07:002012-08-05T10:34:55.120-07:00GrandparentsOver the years the grandparents would come and visit. There have been good times and the challenges.In my current position the grandparents are the best. They compliment me all the time. Most of all they respect me as I respect them. I am been told so many times what a wonderful job I am doing. Both sets are very active in their grandchildren lives. <br />
I love the fact their is no competion between me and the grandparnets. They have their time as I have mine time. In a previous position, I felt at the end the Gma could not stand me. It was uncomfortable when she would come and visit. I strongly beleive if the grandparent is capable of caring for the children then the nanny should get the time off. I am not saying this to get more time off. I am saying because its in the best interest of the children. They want to be with the grandparents as the the grandparents want to be with them. They don't want to go by the nanny's rule's. They are there to spoil their grandchildren. They want to do things their way and I am for all this. <br />
So, I thank my current nanny family grandparents for respecting me.<br />
<br />
Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-57810458428890354702012-08-05T10:23:00.000-07:002012-08-05T10:27:10.292-07:00A Little Bit of Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A fun activity we did back in the fall. I gave the kids black paper and gave them colored bandaides and foamies. They had fun making their creations. I can't wait to do this again on the next rainy day. Not that Smiles is older she can make her own creation<br />
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Contact paper and string. The kids in the fall made a creation using contact paper and colored string.<br />
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The kids used a white foamy board. They used pom poms, colored noddles, foamys and string. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NVAlNVjiOoI/Tq3aLPK4c-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/-Zqi-b2887k/s1600/CIMG0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NVAlNVjiOoI/Tq3aLPK4c-I/AAAAAAAAAGw/-Zqi-b2887k/s200/CIMG0724.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-83625214710484106922012-08-05T10:04:00.003-07:002012-08-05T10:04:51.894-07:00Discovery BottlesThere are so many links and blogs to making a discovery bottle. What is a discovery bottle? Discovery Bottles are soda bottles filled with various items to explore a scientific concept. The mini water bottles also work well for little hands. Or you can use the 20 oz soda/water bottles. Some of the fillers can be rice, sand, cut paper, gravel, salt, etc. After you close your bottle, hot glue around the lid. I plan to make colored bottles. Then some liquid ones as well. Maybe some shakers as well. The ideas are endless. Here are some links:<br />
<a href="http://www.quality-kids-crafts.com/kidscrafts_sensorybottles.html">http://www.quality-kids-crafts.com/kidscrafts_sensorybottles.html</a><br />
<br />
Be sure to see the blog on discovery bottles for toddlers and older.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-90207215644766141882011-11-20T07:46:00.000-08:002011-11-20T07:46:56.084-08:00Fun Holiday CraftsI have been searching for fun projects to do this winter. There are many ideas I found for the Christmas tree. Plus many ideas for gifts for parents, grandparents, teachers and us nannies. I am inspired to et a small tree just for the many ideas for the oranments.<br />
<br />
These ideas were complied by Teach preschool.<br />
<a href="http://delicious.com/stacks/view/Hip5uD">http://delicious.com/stacks/view/Hip5uD</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Here are some of my favorites and ones I plan on doing <br />
<span style="color: #0066cc;"><u>Play and Learn with Dana: Fingerprint Snowman Ornament </u></span><span style="color: black;"><span><a href="http://playandlearnwithdana.blogspot.com/2010/12/fingerprint-snowman-ornament.html">http://playandlearnwithdana.blogspot.com/2010/12/fingerprint-snowman-ornament.html</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
/<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">No Mess Candy Cane Ornaments | </span></u><br />
<span><a href="http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/12/no-mess-candy-cane-ornaments.html">http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/12/no-mess-candy-cane-ornaments.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Frugal Family Fun BlogOrnament Advent Day 8:Children's Art Ornaments! - </span></u><br />
<span><a href="http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2010/12/ornament-advent-day-8childrens-art-ornaments.html">http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2010/12/ornament-advent-day-8childrens-art-ornaments.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0066cc;"><u>The Crafty CrowMrs. Wheeler's First Grade Tidbits: </u></span><span style="color: black;"><span><a href="http://mrswheelerfirst.blogspot.com/2010/12/peppermint-presents.html">http://mrswheelerfirst.blogspot.com/2010/12/peppermint-presents.html</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0066cc;"><u>Peppermint PresentsAlmost Unschoolers: Homemade, Color-Your-Own Sun Catchers, and Ornaments </u></span><span style="color: black;"><span><a href="http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2010/12/homemade-color-your-own-sun-catchers.html">http://almostunschoolers.blogspot.com/2010/12/homemade-color-your-own-sun-catchers.html</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Pocketful of Posies: Frugal Fun: Cinnamon Ornaments</span></u></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://pocketful--of--posies.blogspot.com/2009/12/frugal-fun-cinnamon-ornaments.html">http://pocketful--of--posies.blogspot.com/2009/12/frugal-fun-cinnamon-ornaments.html</a></span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trim Your Tree With This! | No Time For Flash Cards</span></u><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/12/trim-your-tree-with-this.html">http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/12/trim-your-tree-with-this.html</a></span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Mama Jenn: Craft Stick Christmas Tree Ornament</span></u><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2010/12/craft-stick-christmas">http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2010/12/craft-stick-christmas</a>-..</span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span>.<u><span style="color: #0066cc;">House of Baby Piranha: Christmas Crafts: Handprint Mitten</span></u></span></div><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://www.houseofbabypiranha.com/2010/11/christmas-crafts-h">http://www.houseofbabypiranha.com/2010/11/christmas-crafts-h</a>...</span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Little Wonders' Days: Reindeer Games, Advent Day 8</span></u><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://littlewondersdays.blogspot.com/2010/12/reindeer-games">http://littlewondersdays.blogspot.com/2010/12/reindeer-games</a>...</span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">Bead Your Own Ornaments | Make and Takes</span></u></span></div><div class="full-url"><span><a href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/bead-your-own-ornaments">http://www.makeandtakes.com/bead-your-own-ornaments</a></span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span>Have fun making oraments or whatever you may chose. No matter what the kids will have fun making oranments for those they love and who are part of their lives. As I make oranments I will post pictures to share. </span></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span>Please share your thoughts on any of the above ideas. I would love to hear what your kids thought of the ideas. </span></div></span><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div></div></span><div class="full-url"></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div></div></span><div class="full-url"><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div></div></div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div><div class="full-url"><span></span> </div></span>Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-75191751812994389802011-10-30T16:31:00.000-07:002011-10-30T16:31:58.038-07:00Glueing and more glueingThe week of October 17th:<br />
I gave Smartpants and Sweetheart their own bottle of glue and different items to glue to make creations. Today sweetheart had fun glueing pompoms. Also, this week she cut and glued tissue paper. Really anything can be glued. <br />
<br />
Today, Sweetheart made glued pipe cleaners on a foam board. I had to cut as it was just to hard for her to cut. She let me know how small she wanted them. She loves gluing. I let her use as much glue as she wants. Now I am on the mission to find things for Smartypants and Sweetheart to glue. <br />
Heres a list of things to cut and glue<br />
paper<br />
wrapping paper<br />
tissue paper<br />
pipe cleaners<br />
fabric<br />
straws<br />
foamy sheets<br />
string <br />
ribbon<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJKFdJuZ9qo/Tq3c-rYw0mI/AAAAAAAAAHY/u0r8nhdZmW8/s1600/CIMG0724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bJKFdJuZ9qo/Tq3c-rYw0mI/AAAAAAAAAHY/u0r8nhdZmW8/s200/CIMG0724.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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</div>Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-86259282470498186082011-10-24T18:48:00.000-07:002011-10-24T18:48:45.054-07:00More Fall Button TreesWe have finished the Fall Button trees for the grandparnets. I will be posting pictures soon. I love love Smartypants appletree one. Smartypants organized the red and green apples so beautiful. The grandparents I know will love their grandchildren art work. The buttons trees were a big hit by both set of grandparents. Both grandmas love all the art work all the kids do. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is Sweethearts<br />
Christmas Trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this is Smartpants <br />
apple trees</td></tr>
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My mind is thinking what to do for Valentine's Day for parents and grandparents. I can't wait to see what I may find on all the blogs.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-13190808840845250162011-10-09T19:27:00.000-07:002011-10-16T11:33:47.747-07:00Happy 1st week of OctoberI am on a role of posting some blogs. My goal in the next month is to have daily events. I will post activites for all ages. I even want to post places to go around the Twin Cities. This month I will focus on apple orchards and pumpkin farms. Plus, hay mazes. I went to one last yr at night and I can't wait to go back this year. I also want to post some favorite State Parks. <br />
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Here is the link to the hay maze I went to last year. . It was so much fun to go through at night. <a href="http://www.tomspumpkinfarm.com/2011thelastfrontier.html#moonlight http://www.aftonapple.com/corn_mazes.htm">http://www.tomspumpkinfarm.com/2011thelastfrontier.html#moonlight </a><br />
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I am going to this one <br />
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<a href="http://www.aftonapple.com/corn_mazes.htm">http://www.aftonapple.com/corn_mazes.htm</a><br />
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I am so excited about the yr long project I will be doing. I bought sketch/art books for the kids. My plan is for the next year is to have them draw in them over the next year. I can't wait to see the changes in each of the kids. Smartypants loves to draw and color. He is getting better each and every day. Sweetheart just started to draw a person. The hands and legs come from the head. The eyes are big and the mouth is small. I loved her first offical drawing. Then there is Smiles. She is just beginning stages of coloring, painting and everything in between. Even six month from now will be exciting to see the changes from all. Smartypants loves his art book. I plan to introduce different types of art materials.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-40249903948338663872011-10-02T12:47:00.000-07:002011-10-30T16:36:24.665-07:00Kids say.........I am going to come up with names of each of the kids so I am not always referring to their age. I will start with the youngest. I will call her Miss Smiles. As she is always happy. The 3 year old I will call Miss sweetheart. The 5 yr old I will call Mister smartypants.<br />
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Back in the summer though it may have been spring. I asked Miss sweetypants "I asked you 3 times to get on your shoes. how many times do I have to ask you?" Not expecting answer. She answered " 4 times". I started laughing and even since that has become our joke. When I ask "how many times" I will hear from the big kids 4 times.<br />
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I must say the Miss sweetheart can come up with some funny things. Earlier in the summer big brother called her some names. I talked to him about calling names and how it can hurt feelings. Miss sweetheart comes up to him and puts her arm around him and says " I love you, but you just can't call me names". Needless to say he felt bad. He said sorry and we went on to the next activity. <br />
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One of the activities we have been doing at breakfast, lunch or snack is reading Flat Stanley. Even Miss Smiles will smile when I show her the pictures. When we get ready for nap the big kids shuts all the doors upstairs to avoid Miss Smiles crawling in the rooms. She is pretty good when I am reading the books. I read 2-3 Miss Smiles books and then put her down. Then I read other books to the big kids. sometimes I may say all go to your room. There was a time where Miss Smiles crawled toward her room. <br />
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Ever since seeing the movie 'The Help' I have been telling the kids " you are kind, smart and important". Or I will say before closing the door "remember" and they say "I am kind, smart and important". I must say this 1-5 times a day. I hear Miss Sweetheart tell her mister smartypants all the time he is kind, smart and important. I tell them both before they go to school. All I say "remember" and they say the rest.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7999320366286287599.post-25419672042799510282011-10-02T11:48:00.000-07:002011-10-16T09:15:46.780-07:00Fun Fall Projects<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0miHTZ2ofno/ToyiDnaYQDI/AAAAAAAAAAo/vJ49NPP0wGs/s1600/CIMG0646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0miHTZ2ofno/ToyiDnaYQDI/AAAAAAAAAAo/vJ49NPP0wGs/s320/CIMG0646.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlb363zLjaE/ToyiNL1tVkI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ZzNqMJJHq4Q/s1600/CIMG0642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlb363zLjaE/ToyiNL1tVkI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ZzNqMJJHq4Q/s320/CIMG0642.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Thanks to Teach Preschool for the following idea. I had the big kids collect sticks. Then they chose the sticks they wanted and glued them on a canvas. We waited for a day for the sticks to dry. After chosing the buttons they wanted it was time to glue. I was in the middle glueing the buttons and they put the buttons on the canvas. Both of there creations turned out wonderful. I loved them so much I wanted them to create one for me. Now in the next month they will each create 3 more. I decided to have the kids make one for the grandparents. I bought different sets of buttons. So, each of us will get an unique piece of art. Posting pictures sometime in the near future.<br />
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The kids love projects of all kinds. So, coming up with new ideas can be challenging at times. Thanks to Teach Preschool on FB I am getting tons of new ideas.<br />
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Can I say how much I love Michaels. I bought white pumkins and all 3 kids painted their pumpkins with their hands. With the little one I put red and yellow paint on the pumkin and away she went. She had so much fun painting. She even managed to cover most of the pumkin. The big kids wanted the paint on the paper. From there they mixed and put on the pumpkin. The oldest drew lines on his. Each turned out great and now are diplayed on the table.<br />
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The next project the kids did was a fall tree. The oldest drew a tree and the family on the posterboard. Including me. Then from the $$ store I bought yellow leaves dollies and posterboard. From there I put paint and the leaves in a baggie and away they went mixing the colors. Sometimes the bigs kids just wanted yellow or just red. For the little one I did both. She enjoyed pushing the paint around. Once they were dried the big kids glued them on the tree. The oldest was proud of his drawings so he asked his sister to glue around the family and words. <br />
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Our ongoing project since summer has been story time rocks. More details to come. <br />
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This week I am having the kids put masking tape on a foam board. I will tell them to have fun with the masking tape. I may pre cut several different sizes and let them put as much tape as they want. Encourage them to make a picture or whatever there hearts desire. Then they paint away. When dried we will take off the tape. I am very excited for this creation. I am thinking this may be a creation the grandparents and myself may like as well. Maybe, I will wait for Christmas for the grandparents. Maybe have them stentil a Christmas theme on the foam board. <br />
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I am excited for the week. The weather is going to be really nice. I believe in the 70's. So, we will want to be outside as much as we can.Learning Time and Morehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12228122846908743220noreply@blogger.com0