{Playing Through Autumn Day 12} Mama-Made Books for Fall

I have always loved creating teacher-made books for my students, and now that I'm a mama, I'm bringing that love home for my own little one. This year I'm really excited about the way they turned out, and the fact that L really likes them. They do take a little time to make, but it is totally worth it if that's the sort of thing that you enjoy.

The first one I made is a take on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? but in this case it's Autumn, Autumn, What Do You See? This is kind of great because thanks to Bill Martin, Jr. I don't even have to come up with my own rhyme scheme and I get to incorporate lots of photos and vocabulary concerning fall. 

To make this book, I simply divided fall-colored sheets of construction paper in half to create the pages for the book. Then I found photos on the internet of various fall items (leaf, pumpkin, scarecrow, acorns, etc.), printed them, and used doubled-sided tape to mount them onto the front side of each page.

Next I typed up the rhyme and put it on the back page of the corresponding photo, like so:

This book can really be as long or as short as you'd like, and incorporate anything relating to autumn within the rhyme. Mine ended up being about ten items.

Finally, I sent the sheet through a laminator (thankfully, a friend has one that she lets me use!), punched holes down the side, and used binder rings to create the finished product. Thanks to the lamination, it's nice and sturdy and I'm really not too concerned about it getting torn up.

L absolutely loves this book! She knows how to anticipate the rhyme and matching picture, thanks to all the times we've read Brown Bear. I also love it because it has made her really aware of the things we see everywhere we go during the fall: scarecrows, Indian corn, and the like. 

The second book I made this year is a songbook filled with songs about autumn and corresponding photographs. I made this one in much the same manner as the one above, although this one was slightly easier. I went through old resource files and preschool websites looking for lots of songs about autumn. I picked my ten favorite, found photos that illustrated some aspect of the song, and used them to create a book.

For the songbook, I used half sheets of construction paper as before, with the photo on one side, and the corresponding song on the back.

There are so many websites out there full of great seasonal songs for kids. I just googled something like "autumn songs for kids" and ended up finding a lot of really great stuff. Now L has even more photographs at her fingertips of autumn goodness, and she gets to learn a ton of new songs to boot! These are also great for a classroom setting (I have several at school) and you can make them for just about anything: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, winter, whatever you like.

Mommy-made materials are loads of fun! Do you have anything to share? I'd love to hear all about it!

{Playing Through Autumn Day 7} Easy Autumn Visual Discrimination Game

Visual discrimination is a skill imperative to learning how to read, and if you've been a reader here before, chances are you've come across this topic before. While L is really still in the pre-pre-reader phase of her existence, I like to present her with fun ways to work on this super important skill. So it was a no brainer for me to come up with a quick and easy visual discrimination game on my current (and always!) favorite topic: autumn.

For this game, I simply turned to trusty old Microsoft Word, and used clip art to create matching pairs of fall images. I just cut them out, laminated them, and boom - instant autumn fun, perfect for a rainy day!

For older kids, this could double as a memory/matching game, but for L I simply laid out one set of pictures and gave the other set to her. We do this sort of activity pretty regularly, so she knew immediately what to do. She was able to match up the pictures with no trouble, and it was a great opportunity for me to talk with her about the images she was seeing and what they mean in terms of this wonderful season.

The great thing about this game is it was so easy to create. L didn't stick with it for a terribly long time, but I will be presenting it to her again throughout the season. It was so easy to make, in fact, that I've been toying with the idea of making a set for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the like. I love working those pre-reading skills!

The Magic of Dry Erase

Recently we found ourselves in the pediatrician's office, getting L checked for an ear infection. (Seriously?! I breastfed! My kid is supposed to be immune to those things!) Anyway, while we were waiting for the doc to arrive, we began to doodle on a dry erase board in the exam room. It was an AMAZING way to pass the time! L loved it and it totally took her mind of her (should-be-non-existent) ear pain. It was fantastic!

When we got home later that afternoon, I pulled out a rather large dry erase board I had purchased some months before with the motivation of getting organized. (You'll notice I said nothing about having to take it off a wall somewhere.) L instantly recognized what it was, and was so eager to start doodling again that she could barely contain herself. Needless to say, my child is now an expert at the magic that is the dry erase board, and I have another tool in my repertoire for helping her learn through play. Huzzah!

We wrote and erased letters (okay, mostly I wrote and she erased), shapes, doodles, the names of our family and friends, numbers, all sorts of things. It was so engaging and so much FUN. We even traced a few items from the play room, which I loved because it showed L how you can integrate all kinds of stuff into your artwork. It was a blast!

What kind of non-toy toys are your wee ones digging these days?

10 Reasons Public Libraries ROCK!

The first thing I do when I move to a new area? Find the public library, of course! Ahead of even finding the grocery store or nearest gas station, I scope out the locale of the public library. Why? Because public libraries ROCK! Let me tell you all about it!

1. They're free. Or virtually free. Mine generally costs me a few bucks a month in late fees and the like, but if you're even slightly more responsible than me in this area, they are free. FREE!

 

2. They are a wealth of resources: books, newspapers, magazines, reference materials, music, movies, children's materials, even Internet access.  All right there at your fingertips.

 

3. They pretty much have any book you could possibly want. Even ones that are (sadly) no longer in print.

4. They contribute to the local community in so many ways: children's programming, book clubs, readers' circle, various other interest clubs, you name it. Libraries bring people together.

5. Even when you owe them money, they are still nice to you.

 

6. They encourage kids to become readers. Having a personal library card does wonders for getting a reluctant reader to check out some books. Literally and figuratively.

 

7. They bring in authors and other great speakers so that you can quietly hyperventilate about seeing your idol (like I do!) or you can learn something new.



8. They are air conditioned in the summer and toasty warm in the winter. (This may seem like a lame one, but when you're in the grueling heat of summer or the frigid chill of winter and you need to get the kids out of the house, the library is your best friend.) While you're in there, you may as well pick up a book or two!

9. They put together great thematic lists and compile book recommendations so that when you finish that excellent novel you're reading, they'll be right there with another title you're likely to enjoy. They also make magic happen when your kids are stuck on one subject (be it trains, dinosaurs, the ballet, what have you). They'll help your kids find other titles on subjects that interest them...just in case you need a break from reading Knuffle Bunny for the 712th time.

10. They are filled with people who love books as much as you do! From staffers to other patrons, you can always find someone who will love to talk books with you!

Also, did I mention that they are FREE?!

Wooden Letter Collage

L has been really interested in letters of late - pointing them out on T-shirts, book covers, and cereal boxes - so I wanted to find something out of the ordinary for her to do that would give us an opportunity to talk about the letters she loves. I decided to go with a letter collage using contact paper and wooden letter tiles.  This was a nice activity that satisfied L's desire to talk about letters and was a great sensory activity to boot!

I found two types of wooden letter tiles at Hobby Lobby.  I'd been wondering for some time how I would end up using them, and this was a great way to do so.  I taped contact paper to L's art table, sticky side up, and presented her with a bowl of the tiles.  I also provided some alphabet stickers as well, just to mix things up a bit and give L the opportunity to see letters in many different ways.

L really enjoyed this activity. Not only did we have lots of opportunities to discuss the letters she was seeing, but she also loved the  nice clicking sound the tiles made when they came into contact with the tabletop.  This was such an easy breezy activity that fostered letter recognition and language, and was very satisfying from a sensory standpoint. When she was finished, we just folded the contact paper in half and added it to her growing art gallery. No muss, no fuss and lots of fun!

Raise a Reading Superstar!

We are a family of readers and books hold a lot of clout in our house. I am often asked how it is that L is such a lover of books (and treats them so reverently) at the tender age of not-quite-nineteen months old. The truth is, since before L even joined us in the world of oxygen breathers, we were reading to her. One of the first things we did with her after she was born was read. We've been reading nearly nonstop ever since. When I get asked how to raise a reader, I have lots of advice to offer. Heck, sometimes I'm not even asked. I just love books and there are lots of things parents can do to raise superstar readers.  Mostly parents need to be reading superstars themselves first. Kids emulate that which is modeled for them, so if you want to raise a reader, a reader you must be.

Ways to Be a Good Reading Model for Your Kid:

Let your child SEE you reading. And read varied materials: books, newspapers, magazines, cereal boxes, anything with print.

Let your child HEAR you reading. All of the above, plus traffic signs, labels at the grocery store, letters and emails, advertisements...all types of environmental print.

Show your child that reading is a priority. Make time in your schedule for shared and independent reading. Have a family reading night in your weekly household schedule. Attend family story times at your local libraries and bookstores.

Limit screen time. TV takes away loads of time that could be spent reading. Let your child know through your words and actions that reading takes precedence over television.

Give books as gifts to your own child and encourage him or her to pick books to gift to friends and family for special occasions. Discuss what a gift reading is and encourage your child to share that gift with others.

Participate in reading programs at your child's school or at your local library.

Teach your child the value of the public library. It is a treasure trove of resources and costs little to nothing. Get your child a library card in his or her own name.

Donate books to your child's classroom in honor of his or her birthday. If your child doesn't have a formal classroom, you can donate books to gift giving organizations such as Angel Tree or Toys for Tots, or choose an organization that supports child literacy, such as First Book or Reading is Fundamental.

Get involved in a book swap (for an explanation, click here). These handy little programs can be done within a group of friends and for the cost of just one book, your child can expand his or her library by dozens.

READ, READ, READ!! This is, of course, the most important thing to do when cultivating a reading superstar. A love of reading is fostered early, and kids learn by what is modeled for them. Show them how much pleasure comes with reading a book and they will associate that pleasure with the books you share with them.

3 Ways to Use a Cake Pan (No Baking Required!)

One square cake pan + assorted magnets = easy, engaging activities that are a cinch to prepare!

As I am always on the prowl for things to keep L's little hands busy and her little brain engaged, I was thrilled beyond measure to find yet another collection of activities to add to my busy bag stash. (Click here to see some other busy bag ideas!)  I don't know if this is a general toddler trait or specific to my own little tot, but our house runneth over with magnets of every shape, size, and assortment imaginable and L finds them all fascinating.  In my quest to add to our list of boredom busters and to declutter at least one corner of my house, I had a momentary flash of brilliance and decided to pair said magnets with a square cake pan: instant, travel-sized magnet play!

L is all about the sea critters these days, and she got quite a kick out of the fact that they were all swimming around in this tiny metallic sea.

Sprinkle in a little letter learning with alphabet magnets.  We have multiple sets of letter magnets in our house, so I didn't feel too bad about sacrificing one set for the boredom buster cause.

Picture cards offer amazing opportunities for language.  These were made of photos I chopped out of magazines and covered in contact paper, with a magnet stuck to the back.  Also notice that for this magnet set, we flipped the cake pan around and used the underside as opposed to the inside of the pan.

The nice thing about the small cake pan is that it isn't overwhelmingly huge so it's perfect for tiny hands and it fits nicely into a shoulder bag or backpack.  I put the magnets into sandwich bags for storage in between uses, or at least I will once I wrestle the whole thing away from L!

How do you keep your kids engaged on the go?

3 Super Simple Sensory Tubs

When you spend your days with the toddler set, you have to be pretty comfortable with sensory experiences.  Often I find myself in the grocery store thinking, "This would be great in a sensory table!"  So today I've collected three super simple sensory tubs that have recently made an appearance at our house, and I can tell you genuinely that they are each toddler approved.


Sensory Tub #1 - Beans and Cars

For our tub, I used a nice mixture of beans of different shapes, sizes and colors. I included lima beans, pinto beans, lentils, black eyed peas, split peas, and navy beans. Please note: uncooked kidney beans are poisonous if consumed and should NOT be included in a sensory tub!!

Next I just threw in some of L's plastic vehicles and away we played! She absolutely loved this tub and asked for it every day afterward for a week.

Sensory Tub #2 - Oatmeal and Farm Animals

For this tub I used about three-quarters of a container of uncooked oatmeal, which is great because not only is it an excellent texture, but it also has a very nice smell.

We added in L's collection of farm animals (and the farmer too, of course!) and got busy. L loved to pretend that the animals were eating the oats.

Sensory Tub #3 - Alphabet Soup

For our alphabet soup tub, I added water, soup bowls and spoons (these were actually ice cream bowls I found in the dollar bin at Walmart), foam letters, and a ladle.

L quickly got busy scooping and pouring (her favorite activity!) with the ladle and bowls.  I'm not too worried about pushing the letter learning at this point, but it was a great opportunity for language and for her dad and I to point out what letters she scooped up. As she gets older, this will be a fantastic activity for practicing letter recognition.

We absolutely adore sensory play at our house! What kind of sensory experiences do your kiddos enjoy?

No Mess Finger Painting in a Pinch

Because of my work schedule, messy art projects are generally reserved for the weekends. I never want L to feel rushed while she's creating something marvelous, so usually painting on a weekday morning is not an option.  So you can imagine the thrill I felt when a friend shot me a text the other night and gave me this brilliant idea: put the paint in a bag! Still a cool art experience, but no muss, no fuss. Could it be? A quick and easy "painting" project that could be carried out without paint all over the place? What a brilliant idea, especially if you're short on time! I got to work right away.

I simply filled a Ziploc bag with a bit of tempera, sealed the top, and taped the whole thing to the top of L's art table.

I made a smiley face and left the bag for the night. I couldn't wait for L to wake up in the morning and start having a blast "painting" with my new creation. Oh, how quickly my dreams were dashed.

Illustrating perfectly that you never know how kids will react when you present them with something new, L promptly melted down when I showed her the bag taped to the table. I was so bummed that she wasn't finding this new project as glorious as I had.  Things turned around pretty quickly, however, when we peeled back the tape and she had free reign to squeeze the living daylights out of the bag and explore it in her own way.

So things didn't work out exactly as I thought they would (such is the life of an early childhood teacher!) but the activity turned out to be great fun anyway. It was a wonderful sensory experience and I have complete confidence that L will enjoy it the other way eventually.

I can also see how, in the future, this will be a great way to practice letter writing. I gave it a whirl and thought it was pretty groovy...I'll show L sometime when she's not so busy annihilating the bag!

Come and Meet the Letter People!

One of the blogs I love to visit on a regular basis is No Time for Flash Cards. I never fail be inspired by the amazing ideas I find there for integrating learning into play. One of the first (and most exciting!) posts I found illustrated simple ways to bring letter learning into everyday play and wowed me with the adorable and oh-so-easy Alphabet Peg Dolls. (You can see the original post here.) They were so fantastic, in fact, that I couldn't resist making my own!

A little painter's tape, some acrylic paint, and a couple episodes of Doctor Who later, my new little friends were ready to rock and roll...and roll...and roll! (Did I mention they like to roll?)

The possibilities for play scenarios are endless. They are fantastic for letter and color recognition, pretend play, fill and spill, and I suppose even hanging up the laundry! Clever L even came up with a different way to use them:

I love these little people so much I'm looking for an excuse to make some more!