It's Playtime: Get Outdoors!

Rain or shine you'll find It's Playtime! pals enjoying the outdoors.  Check out these great activities sure to get you and your kids outside! 

I love Forest Tots!  What kid wouldn't enjoy an outdoor preschool/playgroup experience in the woods?  They even play in the rain!  Last week they shared Parachute Games with Water.  Bless them for not being afraid of a little rain and using it in play.  My kind of families!    

 How about some good, clean, messy fun?  Play Create Explore shared their Saving Cream Slip-n-Slide.  You don't even need a real slip-n-slide for this fantastic activity!  

Looking for something less messy or wet?  Beautiful Somehow shared their Clothesline Play which combined fine motor practice with a quiet outdoor activity.

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!)
* 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!

<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.

It's Playtime: Nesting

Nesting isn't just for the birds!  Over at It's Playtime some of our friends have shared wonderful, hands-on ideas for creating nests sure to spark learning and imagination.      

Create a Playdough and Stick Bird Nest like the one at Crayon Freckles.    

Happy Little Messes built a Blue Jay Nest outdoors.  Take your kids outside to create a nest or den in the dirt.  

Get you're kids involved in creating Bird Nesting Kits, like the ones created at Famiglia & Seoul.  The birds will thank 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!)
* 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!

<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.

It's Playtime: The Art and Play of Spring

With spring comes new life, new flowers, and loads of new ideas on It's Playtime!  Here's my features this week celebrating spring.

I generally don't think to use toilet paper when creating with the kiddos but these Toilet Paper Flowers from Let Kids Create are colorful and easy to make.  

At Home with Ali shared this lovely Fairy Princess Flower Crown.  Little fairies will love roaming the garden, dancing amongst the spring flowers wearing this creation.  

Creating spring trees is as easy as fingerpainting!  Babylandia shared how they used paint to celebrate Springtime Arriving.  

Enjoying the Journey used science to create these beautiful Flower Crystals.  

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!)
* 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!

<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.

It's Playtime: Introducing Art Concepts

While there were many cute spring and Easter ideas linked-up this past week, I came across two posts dear to my heart.  I'm from a family of artists.  My aunt Patti is a terrific pastel artist, showing her art in several galleries and a piece at the San Diego Natural History museum.  My mom paints beautiful flats and historical figures, winning awards around the world.  My dad has used his artistic talents in many ways from creating fabulous set pieces for plays and classrooms, to designing puppets and puppet theaters for he and my step-mom's ministry.  Art is in my blood.  I've dabbled in painting, drawing, and photography but loving them all so much, I've never settled on one thing, which is my down fall because I don't do much with any of them.

With art being so important in our family, I want to instill that love in my children as well.  My daughter is a budding artist, taking classes at a local studio.  She's pretty good and I can't wait to see what will become of her.  My son, well, he's a boy.  Although I promote art, he has little interest in the subject.  He's starting to draw a bit, moving from scribbles to recognizable shapes.  Occasionally he'll paint, but for the most part he'd rather be climbing trees then enjoying fine art time with mommy.

Which brings me back to It's Playtime.  Two posts last week stood out for me.  There are ways to introduce famous artists and art concepts to little kids without going over board.  I felt these posts did a terrific job of just that...

Sunnydaytodaymama shared Jackson Pollock for Children.  Kids can easily relate to Jackson Pollock 's style of abstract art and have a lot of fun attempting an inspired creation.  She also includes a short video showing the man at work.

Another way to create abstract art as well as teaching children about opening up to themselves and their feelings is through Soundscapes.  The Art Club Blog shared how playing different types of music for children can inspire different paintings.  Even with little children, try playing some classical music and ask them to paint/draw what it sounds like.  You may be surprised with that they produce.

How have you introduced art and/or artists to young children?  What concepts do you teach?

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!)
* 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!

<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.

It's Playtime: EGG-tra Special

Easter is upon us and the egg ideas are flying around the internet.  Egg crafts, egg dying, and egg hunts fill my Facebook feed.  So of course, I must join them, and feature some of my favorite egg-related activities posted on last weeks It's Playtime!  

Tape resist painting is so much fun!  I love these Tape Resist Easter Eggs from Putti Prapancha.  There are so many ways they can be designed!

We all know you can blow eggs for Easter decorations but what do you do with the innards?  Homemade Egg Tempera of course!  Tinker Lab will show you how to use rather then waste!

 Kids love hunting for eggs!  I know mine could do it all day if I let them.  But why not do it at night with this Glowing Easter Egg Hunt from Raising Little Disciples.  I know what I'm doing with my kids this weekend!

There are so many fantastic science experiments using eggs.  Check out the Eggy Investigations Round-up over at Science Sparks for 5 EGG-er-ific science ideas.

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!)
* 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!

<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.

It's Playtime: Sticky CAN be fun!

Sticky can be fun...when we're talking about sticky tape!  Fine motor activities, art, and quiet time can all be found from these great activities posted on last weeks It's Playtime.  

The Great Green Room showed us that even babies can enjoy Tape Resist Painting.  

Mama's Little Muse shared their beautiful Contact Paper Window Art.  Sticky fun, easy clean-up, and beautiful to look at.  

Tape isn't the only sticky object a child can enjoy.  Check out this activity using Post-it Flags on the Window from Having Fun at Home.   

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!)
* 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!

<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.

Building an (Easy) Leprechaun Trap

*This post contains affiliate links

Both at home and at school we've been talking a lot about Leprechauns.  My son still remembers his milk turning green last year and is hoping for it to happen again.  Several times we've read the book: 

 

In the book, the children create several different types of Leprechaun traps.  There are great illustrations to this fact.  So our preschool assignment (because we also read it there), was to create a Leprechaun trap and bring it to school to share.  My son was extremely excited about this project. Here's what we did...

 We recycled an old Cascade container.  I sized and glued green construction paper to the sides.

Michael used dot art markers and Roll-On Painters to decorate.  He also glued on (minimally) some gold stars and gold colored pasta.

I created the ladder from pipe cleaners and attached it to the sides.  Now the Leprechaun can climb in

to claim his treasure, but he can't get out!

My son glued in some gold stars to attract the Leprechaun.  He also said he added the glue in order to catch the Leprechaun.  "When he climbs in he'll stick to the glue".  

So we will see what happens at school.  Will we catch a Leprechaun and claim our pot of gold? Probably not.  But I'm sure there will be mischief, fun, and if we are lucky, chocolate coins.  

Have you built a Leprechaun Trap?  Share your creation with me on my Facebook page.