Writing Party - add the sprinkles

 Learning to write should not be a chore.  It shouldn't be all worksheets and tracing.  Let it be a party!  With this writing activity, making letters and writing is a sensory activity and fine motor exercise (& yummy too).  I found sprinkles at my local dollar store and have had this wood try for a while. I found it in the craft section at Walmart, but any flat tray will work.

 Simply pour in the sprinkles and let the kiddos make the letters in the sprinkles.  It's that easy.  Learning should be fun and - in this case - very colorful!

 You can use salt, seasonal sprinkles, flour, so many possibilities.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Board Books - not just for babies

 Board books are works of art in the hands of children.  Usually colorful illustrations accompany simple text.  This is what makes them perfect for early readers.

 Want to encourage a toddler or preschooler to get a bath? Read a book like this where different animals get different kinds of baths and pair with an animals.  Let them take the animals into the bath with them.  Clean the animals. Clean yourself.  It's a parent win!

 Board books are great for teaching early concepts like counting and letter sounds.  One Tiger is thee perfect counting book!

 Add animals to any book for kiddos to get excited about storytime and reading.  Someday, when I decide to go get a PhD, I am going to write about how making characters from a book tangible to children helps them to comprehend and retain the book more completely.  And, hey, how cute is this Schleich Bear?  When children have props, they can later act out or retell the story.

Make the story come alive.  Preschoolers love the book Dinosaur Roar!  let them retell it with their favorite dinosaurs.

Play Dough Perfect Play

 Early childhood education will always have a special place in my heart.  I taught preschool for 12+ years and loved it so much!

 I used to tell parents, "Play isn't rocket science, but it is IMPORTANT."

 Two of the most beneficial things that parents can do with their child:
1.) Read
Read lots of books. Read all types of books.  Read all the time.
2.) Play Dough
The benefits of play dough outweigh any mess that may occur.  Child are squeezing and pinching and poking and rolling play dough.  These actions are strengthening their small muscles in their fingers that will someday soon need to be strong enough to hold and control a pencil to write their letters, their name, the next great American novel!  :)

 Play dough brings out the imagination.  This morning, in a matter of 30 minutes, Roo made a forest scene, a nest, and an ocean.

 My friend Kira @z_dough makes wonderful wonderful wonderful scents in her play dough.  This morning, we played with Blueberry, Wntergreen, and Eucalyptus.

 Did you know that smells "awaken the brain" to learning?  They do!  Why not incorporate smells (good ones!) into play?  Children will be using the sense of smell and touch when playing with ZDough.

Play is important.

Play does not have to be complicated.

Books.

Play Dough.

Splashing in water.

Finger paints.

Pretend play.

Don't over think it.  Let your child take the lead. See what interests them and play along! As I always say, the play possibilities are endless.

Have a fun and playful day!

Mel

zdough.etsy.com

@z_dough on Instagram

What is an Imagination Kit?

Simply put, an Imagination Kit is a collection of items - a couple of toys, items from Nature, and a play mat - to engage your child, spark their imagination, and encourage creative play.

Play is important. Imaginative play develops and strengthens language skills, storytelling, creative thinking, role playing, and more! If you are play alongside your child, Imagination Kits also promote strong bonds and communication skills with your child and...it's fun!

Immerse yourself in the whimsical small world play. Make up stories together. Laugh. Be silly. Or send as a gift to that special kiddo in your life.

I am the first one on #etsy to offer this concept. My background is early childhood education. Creating imaginative play was the basis for creating these Imagination Kits.

Too often kids sit in front of a tv or video game or DVD. Let's exercise their imagination. Let's remember how to PLAY and entertain ourselves. Let's make up our own stories and invent new fairytales!

Have a fun and playful day
Mel