Toddler Friendly Tattooed Pumpkins

It's the night before Halloween and maybe, just maybe you are looking for one more way to decorate your pumpkins.  Something that doesn't require paint, knives, glitter, or glue.  Something you can do with your little one, as well as an older child.  If you are, then I have the pumpkin decorating idea for you!

What you need:

1. A pumpkin (smoother ones work best but minis work too, as you can see from my picture)
2. Temporary tattoos of choice
3. Paper towels or a wash cloth
4. Water

If you've ever placed a temporary tattoo on your child, you know what to do, except place them on the pumpkin.  It's that easy.  If you've never used temporary tattoos, here's what to do

 
Pick out the tattoo you'd like to place on the pumpkin.  Depending on what you have, like a sheet of designs, you may have to cut around the one you want.  Others come as individuals or with perforations that allow for easy tearing.  Make sure you remove the plastic before placing it on the pumpkin. Place the picture side on the pumpkin with the paper backing facing towards you (see Picture below).

Get your wash cloth or paper towels wet.  Not dripping, but pretty wet, and place over the tattoo, holding it on for about 30 seconds.  Afterwards, carefully peel the paper away from the pumpkin's surface.  If you don't hold the wet cloth on long enough or are too quick to pull the tattoo paper away, some of the picture may tear away.  That's O.K,  you can always wipe the tattoo away and try again.  Or leave it as I did with my daughter.  She was proud to do it on her own so I let it be.  If the tattoo is bunched a bit, simply use your wet cloth to gently rub and flatten the tattoo.  And again, if your toddler is "helping" and proud of what they have done, it's O.K. to leave it as is.  It's about the experience, not the finished product.    

This project can take as long as you allow or as long as your toddler/preschooler is interested.  This was a great mommies group activity and while some of the kids chose to play (while their moms enjoyed pumpkin decorating) a few of the kids (my daughter included) couldn't put enough tattoos on their pumpkin.  Once the pumpkin had enough, my daughter moved to her arms.

Sometimes it's the simplest decorating ideas that inspire us the most.  I've been absent to the blogging world for about 2 years now but it's time for a return.  I hope I can continue to bring you fun and engaging activities for your children and family.  Thanks for joining me again!    

*This activity promotes fine motor skills and counting.  If you have different pumpkins in your house, you could also talk about differences/opposites: Large, small, smooth, bumpy, etc.

It's So Easy, It's Playtime!

Welcome to the weekly It's Playtime link party!  This week I'm featuring two simple ideas for play with items I'm sure you all have laying around the house.  So check out the features, join in the fun, and browse our linky for your next super fun play or art idea.

If you don't have TP laying around the house, well then, you're in more trouble then entertaining a bored preschooler.  Mess for Less shares their towering math game brought to you by Charmin or the TP of your choice.

How about Q-tips and a Colander ?  If you have those two items then you have some simple fine motor play shared by our friends at Fantastic Fun & Learning.  

Ok, after looking over this post, I swear I didn't share these two play ideas just to promote my Amazon account.  I really didn't!  But if you really want to buy a colander, well then, by all means, you should!  If you don't have TP, then I suggest running to the store because you shouldn't wait two days for Amazon to ship it to you.    

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>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* 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.

LOVE to Learn on It's Playtime

It's amazing to me that It's Playtime is almost 2 years old and we still get over 100 links each week!  It's so much fun to go through all the posts each week, looking for a theme and discovering new ideas.  With Valentine's Day approaching I wanted to share ideas that not only followed that theme, but promoted education and exploration.  Here's what I found:  

Literacy:

Carrots are Orange shared their educational letter game, Learning Sounds with Movement.  Not only does it promote letter sounds but also letter recognition.  A simple game, perfect for home or preschool.

Did you know you can purchase blank Conversation Hearts?  Mess for Less shares how you can use them to make a Valentine themed Sight Word Matching Game.

Reading Confetti shared their post of 10 Valentine's Day Literacy Activities which includes Songs, Books, Writing, and more.

Math:

Counting can be fun and pretty with this Valentines Day Diamond Count from Timeless Adventures.  

How do you celebrate Valentine's Day?  Share in the comment section below.  

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>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* 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.

Math Fun on It's Playtime!

I never enjoyed math much.  I always managed good marks in the subject but I simply didn't like numbers.  Maybe if I'd been introduced to math through activities like these, posted on It's Playtime, I would have excelled.

Maro's Kindergarten shared two fun activities last week: Winter Play with Numbers (picture above) and Penguin and Fishes Number Game.

 Have a bunch of Pom Poms you don't know what to do with?  Check out Math & More with Pom Poms!! from Preschool Powol Packets.  Included are some fine motor skill and exploration activities.

For older kids, head over to An Idea on Tuesday for their Maths Fun games centered around a die you can make yourself.

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>

These activities plus more can be found over on the It's Playtime Pinterest Board.  Happy Pinning! 

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!)
* Rachel & Holly : Quirky Momma
* 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!

<a href="http://messypreschoolers.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VWLA7lm_Fqc/TaNHGpGSuVI/AAAAAAAAEX0/DGSvqIT7fyU/s320/RED-itplaytime.jpg" width="150" /></a>

* 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.

Resolutions and the New Year

Sure it's the 2nd week in January, but it's not too late to celebrate the New Year with your preschooler.  It's a time to teach your kids about starting fresh, making promises, and....counting backwards!

Resolutions

My son's preschool class talked about resolutions (making promises) in the New Year.  It was something they could work on to be a better person.  First though, they had to make a face:

1. Give your child a flesh colored square.  Use a crayon or marker to round the edges, then help them to cut on the lines.  
2. Next, they glue on a triangle party hat.  My son chose orange because it's his favorite color!  If your child is able (or you want them to have the cutting practice) allow them to cut the triangle shape.  
3. Once the hat is glued, they can draw their face.  Talk to them about 2 eyes, 1 nose, and a mouth.  Help them with the placement if necessary.  It's important at this age that they begin to understand facial features and their placement.  Give them a mirror to view their own face.  But most important...don't push!  Sure you want them to have two eyes, instead of 3, but we learn through our mistakes...or maybe your child simply wants to be an alien that day.  It's OK to have creative license.  They won't draw themselves that way forever!  
4. Write a resolution.  Talk about promises and how a resolution is a promise we make to ourselves to be a better person.  It's OK to give examples: help mommy, be nice to sibling, pick up toys, etc.  Then, have them tell you their resolution.  Write it on a piece of paper that can be attached to the party hat.  If they don't know, let it be.  As you can see, my son has no resolution.  He said, "I don't want to talk about it right now."  Okie dokie.    
5. If you want. let them staple a blower to their character.  Our teacher added them when she hung them on the wall, but if you are doing this at home, your child can help you.  
6. Hang it for them to see.  This way you can remind them of their promise.  Sure, they are still going to fight clean-up time, but it's about the learning process....and being a broken record...which lets face it, is what you have to do with preschoolers.  

The Big Countdown

 Kids love to countdown, especially if you have a cool ending like, "blast off!"  Why not celebrate the new year with a special, messy, countdown?  I assure you, your kids will ask to do this all month long!  

1. If you are in a classroom**, hand 10 children a number (1-10), then call their number (beginning with 10) so they can line-up.  
2. Give the kids on the carpet noise makers.  When the class shouts "Happy New Year" it's their job to make as much noise as possible.  Assure those in the number line that you will do it again so they have a chance to make noise too.   
3. Call out each number, beginning with 10, and have the child holding the corresponding number hold it up (best they can).  This will be a slow countdown, but just go with it.
4. When you reach 1, the kids can shout, "Happy New Year" and you (and any parent helpers) throw confetti (chunks of paper are easier to clean-up then hole punches).  Yes, I know, but the kids will love it!  
5. Repeat, shifting the kids on the floor with the number holders.  

**If you are at home, you hold the number cards, flashing each number as your child(ren) call them out.

Of course, afterwards, have a clean-up contest.  Maybe the "winner" lines up first????  Often, simple encouragement is enough.  I use, "Wow!  Look at Jonny go!  And Susan, you are so fast!"  

Additional Ideas:

1. Use the New Year theme to talk about noises.  Quiet noises and loud noises.  Try the New Years count down in quiet voices and see what happens.  Use musical instruments to make soft and loud sounds.  Play quiet and loud music and talk about the differences.  
2. Make a Bubble Wrap Noise Maker
3. Make an Easy Noise Maker (from plastic cups, beads, and tape)
4. Read a good book (or many!)