It's Playtime: Monstrous Fun

Halloween is my favorite time of year, so for the next few weeks, I plan to feature all sorts of Halloween-type activities.  This week, I begin with monsters.  For kids, monsters can be scary creatures, hiding under beds and in closets. But as parents and teachers, it's our job to take the scary away and make monsters fun.  The following posts capture the spirit and fun that monsters can be.

Sense of Wonder created some Monster Madness in their house with several monster themed activities, including magnetic monster creations and wiggly-eyed goo.  

Who says you can't play with your food?  These adorable Noodle Monsters! from playdrmom are created from rice noodles and colored glue.  Rice noodles are cheap and great for exploratory play, and it seems, make fantastic little monsters!  

More Monster Madness! can be found over at Creative Connections for Kids where kids can create their own monsters from paper plates and/or construction paper.  

If you don't want to play with noodles, then my own co-hostess from hands on: as we grow has a fantastic alternative: Yarn Monsters!  These cute creations can decorate your home as well as provide some artistic fun for your little one.  

And don't forget to check out these fabulous monster related books!

Go Away Big, Green Monster! by Ed Emberley  

If Your a Monster and You Know It by Rebecca Emberley

Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Anne Miranda

Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! by Ed Emberley

The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Do you have more monstrous ideas?  Join our linky!  

If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button." 

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeEYKQj4S7oHoLKfsA3PoeXgaNMJ5dxkdUxIphbmwXOlbFg78Gwl73-rT8AdMTgmqYmIJZrkJRYOqOEItkCbR_exui4YhZqLlwZaBHXhC5slGyqPScnxvq-zrQezw9-MdIUiecgW3fxKg/s1600/featured-messykids.jpg" width="150/" /></a>

Now, on to this weeks play date! 

It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:

* Rachele : Messy Kids (That's me!)
* Anna : The Imagination Tree
* Rachel : Quirky Momma
* Jamie : hands on : as we grow
* Jenny : Let the Children Play

How to Play :

* Link up a post about a playful learning experience enjoyed by kids.

* Give us love and pop a button into your post/blog. Invite your readers to the weekly play date!

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* Stop by one of our blogs every Thursday and add your link about play. Your link will show up on each of the blogs in the It's Playtime community.

* Each week the playtime hosts will choose favorite posts to feature. (By linking you are giving us permission to use an image and link to you, if featured.)

* Be sure to visit some of the links that catch your eye. Commenting on posts that you find interesting or inspiring is a wonderful way to develop your own playful community.