Colorful Writing/Sensory Play

Colorful Writing/Sensory Play

I decorated a transparent tray with Window Crayons. I wasn't sure what we were going to put inside, but figured it would be fun for a writing activity. I think this one turned out to be more of a sensory play experience since I chose to add colored rice.

With colored rice, on the light table.

She wrote letters, and then dug right in with her hands:) 

It was pretty and fun! 

Get up and Learn; it's Valentine's Day!

Get up and Learn; it's Valentine's Day!

Carrots are Orange and No Time For Flashcards had some great get-up-and-move ideas for Valentine's Day. 

I began by writing the alphabet on some foam hearts we have had for over a year (I could never find the right thing to do with them).

 

On the other side, I wrote different actions such as, "Do a silly dance, or walk on your hands and feet."

We picked a bunch of letters with actions, and placed them in a circle, letter-side up. 

I started the music, and the kids hopped from heart to heart. 

When I stopped the music, they stopped on the heart they were on. 

They would tell me the letter, and then I'd help them read the action. 

S is doing the silly dance - the dance is so much sillier if you stick out your tongue while doing it! 

Looks like someone had to hop up and down, and the other had to walk on all fours! 

D is yelling out "F!"

Here is the game that just blew me away with I-Bell. We started by placing all of the letters out on the floor. I would say a letter (used only the letters that I-Bell needed to work on from the Paper Towel Tube Letter Search) and they would have to find it. 

To challenge S, I started to saying a word, and they would have to find the letter that it begins with. I found that I-Bell is retaining letter sounds too. I didn't realize until now how much we say letter sounds when we talk about letters. This is just awesome. Best of all - they loved it!

Paper Towel Tube Stamping for Valentine's Day

Paper Towel Tube Stamping for Valentine's Day

We did this activity last year and the girls loved it. I just formed the cardboard tubes to look like hearts/lips. I couldn't wait to see if my 21 month old could do it too.

Well, of course he was able to do the activity in his own way (I did the stand-alone heart stamp to help demonstrate). 

The best thing, that I didn't understand until I had one of my own, is no matter what your children do with their artwork, you'll always think it's adorable!

 And the only thing that matters when it comes to an art craft is that the kids enjoy the process!

Paper Towel Tube Letter Search

Paper Towel Tube Letter Search

Today we did a couple activities with paper towel tubes. The first one was for letter recognition/letter search. Not only great for identifying letters, but fine motor and hand-eye coordination too. However, none of that matters to little I-Bell as this activity was just pain old fun to her!

I wrote the alphabet on a paper towel tube and then wrote it again on stickers.

I-Bell would find a letter she knew on the tube, and then locate the matching sticker. 

And then she'd place the sticker over that letter. 

She had so much fun with it, that we'll be doing it again tomorrow! This activity was very helpful for me to narrow down the letters that we need to work on. 

She has 4 left to master. 

Fun with Window Crayons

Fun with Window Crayons

Those Window Crayons looked so fun, I wanted the girls to use them more today!

S and her flowers ... 

This was right after D kissed the mirror. I missed it because of my horrible camera. 

I-Bell drew "A sunshine and some flowers." 

Turning it around to draw some more. 

OK ... Look at this little person watering the flower. Can you believe that watering can? She's already a little artist. (The bugs are butterflies.) 

That's all folks:) 

Perfect wintery, rainy day activity.

Magnetic Letters and Numbers

Magnetic Letters and Numbers

I-Bell was looking for an activity to do this afternoon during our quiet time. I just purchased a magnet set from The Learning Shop which included two wands, some magnetic chips and magnetic balls, so I got it out for something new.

She covered some bubble letters with the chips. 

And had fun cleaning them off with the magnetic wand! 

The balls were fun for counting. I just took a sheet out of our book and put it on a cookie sheet. Again, the balls are magnetic, so they were fun to pick up and stick where you wanted them. 

We got some magnetic buttons out and a muffin tin just for fun. Nothing structured here. She stayed busy!!

Frosty Writing Practice

Frosty Writing Practice

I purchased a can of fake snow from the Dollar Tree two weeks ago. I've been holding on to it until I could think of, or find its use in a craft for the kids. I came across this Frosty Writing Practice post by Crayonfreckles, and I cannot wait to try it!

Here she goes (using Crayola Window Crayons).

 I think this activity is so cute! I've never seen or used Window Crayons before.

She thought it was fun. I don't think they have ever used these before.

Again, very proud of herself. There are very few letters that she is having difficulty recognizing. 

S could not wait to join and color on the door! 

S drew a flower. I-Bell drew herself in her mommy's tummy (must be because I'm due in 5 weeks, but who's counting). Then they drew the entire family.

Love these girls♥

Writing Letters in the Sand

Writing Letters in the Sand

I set this activity up for the two of us to do together during D's nap time. Pink sand with a paint brush and our letter book. I would point to the letter, she would say it, then she'd write it in the sand.

Practicing the letter before writing it in the sand. 

The sand was so pretty on the light - it sparkled. 

The letter "A!" 

So proud of her letters! 

She noticed them on the wall when we got to "H."

When we got to "Z" I got out some gems for a change. She started to make letters out of gems, and then .... D woke up. He took the shortest nap in nap history. 

For another day ... 

:)