I can't believe how many bloggers, teachers, and mom's share with us each week! Over 150 posts and growing. Thank you It's Playtime participants! So this week I've simply chosen my 3 favorite posts from last week (which I bowed out of due to an overwhelming number of activities that came up in and around my family) to share with all of you. I hope you find them inspiring.
You have to check out these Alien Bubbles from Familylicious! They are awesomely simple and a fantastic outdoor science idea.
Inspire Imagination Through Creation shared their funtastic Glove Painting.
Does your little one like music and/or banging on things? Then recycle your old tin cans and create a Tin Can Music Station like the one over at Growing a Jeweled Rose!
If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."
Now, on to this weeks play date!
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:
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."
Now, on to this weeks play date!
It's Playtime is a community and Thursday link-up hosted by:
Learners in Bloom shared how a $1 Plastic Mesh Baskets=Hours of Fun. They include 3 great ideas that are not only fun, but develop fine motor skills and coordination.
Getting Messy with Ms. Jessi showed us that Ribbon Dancing is way more fun then regular dancing. She also explains how simple it was to make these lovely streamers (no sewing!)
If you were featured this week, don't forget to grab your special "featured button."
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:
Give your child a flesh colored square. Use a crayon or marker to round the edges, then help them to cut on the lines.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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:
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.
'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. 
