Preschool Bead Sort

beads sorted

This activity takes some preparation and shopping, but the children will be able to do it over and over. – get some different bead necklaces and smooth rocks from the dollar store – also buy some plastic containers with lids . . . → Read More: Preschool Bead Sort

Toddler Baby Food Fun

Toddler baby food fun

Toddlers love to make a mess and they almost always want to eat any sensory activity. I like to use baby food on tin foil and let them go wild! . . . → Read More: Toddler Baby Food Fun

Snow and Ice Play

IMG_3221

Inside snow play

Why not bring the outside in!! Here’s some ways to get kids playing and learning about snow and ice inside. These activities combines sensory (feel of snow, texture, properties as it starts to melt) and science (colors combine as the snow melts).

Fill tupperware bins or buckets with snow and bring . . . → Read More: Snow and Ice Play

Indoor “Snowball” fight

Having snowball fights in playground and school yards are prohibited, so why not pretend to have one inside? First, make two teams. Each team chooses a colour of tissue paper. Then scrunch up the paper into balls. (Don’t tell the children what the game is until the last minute. This prevents over-excitement!). Once you have everything ready, you can collectively decide the rules of the “battle.” Older children can create various barricades with chairs or toys to hide behind. . . . → Read More: Indoor “Snowball” fight

Stone Soup Story Time

stone-soup

One of my favorite fables for young children is Stone Soup. Here is a link to a version of the story that you can read to the children. The best way to enhance this story is to have the children participate and “act-it-out.”

Gather up the food items needed, either fresh or plastic foods. Give . . . → Read More: Stone Soup Story Time

Winter Art

SALT_ART_SNOWMAN

Here’s a few quick ideas for winter arts and crafts: Winter Day Collage Create a winter day collage using dark construction paper as the back sheet (colours like black or dark blue to contrast with the white materials). Put out white glue and sticks along with anything white, light and feathery: lace, doilies, cotton balls, confetti, tissue paper etc. for the children to glue on the paper. . . . → Read More: Winter Art

Halloween Cooking and Baking

halloween spider muffin

It’s really close to Halloween now, here are some quick ideas of food to make with the kids that you can pull together at the last minute. Both are especially good if you are planning a halloween party. . . . → Read More: Halloween Cooking and Baking

Painting with Indian Corn

painting with corn

This is an easy painting activity that uses harvest produce that is available in the fall. I give each child a corn cob with the stalk attached and let them create. . . . → Read More: Painting with Indian Corn

“Guess the Smell” game

This is an easy and  fun sensory activity that children really enjoy.  All you need to do is collect some items, foods or spices with strong aromas that are familiar to most kids. You can, of course, make it more difficult for older children.  Put them in baby food jars or small tupperware containers with holes in the top. . . . → Read More: “Guess the Smell” game

Summer in the backyard made easy (messy fun)

Pudding Smiley face

The summer is a great time to make a mess outside;  the kids can put on their bathing suits and you can just hose them and the deck down afterwards.  Think outside the box and let them explore stuff that would otherwise be off limits due to the clean-up.

 

Messy fun with Jello

. . . → Read More: Summer in the backyard made easy (messy fun)