Hey guys 😍
This year we started to work on Winter Theme really late, I didnt get the chance to download (and sort) the photos I took with my phone lately (I mainly write on my blog from computer).
And before sharing our last learning activities, I thought share with you some of the things we've been doing in the last two years that I didnt share these yet on my blog. How does it sounds for you?
Christmas Tree made out of Crêpe Paper
Kids using a glue stick & crêpe paper means Fine Motor Skills on work. And this is why I actually gave him this task. Nothing fancy and easy to follow.
Caleb was almost 3 years old here.
Just cut ahead some crepe paper in small squares, ready to be used by your little one when the time comes. Or if you work with older children, they can cut the paper as well. If I'll do this again with my son, which is super in love cutting all kind of objects, I'll add this task too.
Gingerbread Man coloring and Story telling
You can draw the picture or you can paint it. You can also use some glue and paper, make it the same way with the Christmas tree above.
We colored it and read the story about the Gingerbread Man. And I think this was followed by gingerbread making together, as we do every year.
You can find online all kind of worksheets on Gingerbread Man theme. I think I'll do some of those this year. My kid loves this story and I still can't understand why. He's always afraid and hiding when we get to the part the Gingerdread Man is eaten by the fox but he still wants me to read it for him. He's always asking questions about it and always empathize with the little GB Man.
Snowflakes
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Little snowflake falling from the sky.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake.
Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling,
falling, falling, falling, falling.. falling on my head.
.
.
Falling on my head.
Falling on my nose.
Falling in my hand.
Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake..
We love this lullaby. I used to sing to my kid to around 3 yrs old. He still loves songs (and stories).
This activity usually is meant to develop creativity, fine motor skills and dexterity, problem solving.
We used braided wire and beads. I only showed him once how and what to do, then I let him create and do all the work. I just helped in if he asked to.
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Christmas Sensory Tray
Caleb was almost 2 yrs old here. I started with these Sensory Trays really early. He was in love with them and I start to regret that in this last year we didnt make any (or at least very very very few). Somehow I considered he got over it but I might think I'm wrong. We'll see. It happens I have one in mind and maybe I'll set it up for him, see how it goes.
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Sensory play is something wonderful for small children.
Sensory bins are a great way to introduce children to a variety of textures in a fun way. Usually, in a sensory bin you can find colored rice, pasta, beans, lentils, corn, pieces of wood, leafs, grass, rocks and pebbles, flowers, different fabric txtures, water,& pretty much anything you can think of! Just name it! You need a bit of imagination and it's all great. I like to combine sensory materials with toys to create a fun and interesting learning activity
This is my first post talking about Sensory Play, read it HERE if you're interested.
For this Sensory Bin I used colored green and red rice (rice, vinegar and food coloring) and some Christmas ornaments I had at home and thought are good for Caleb to use.
I provided him with some transfer tools: baskets and jars, spoons. And I let him play freely.
Because caleb was not even 2 yrs old, you can imagine how mess comes after this. So I placed a white sheet on the floor before starting. Haha
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Snowflakes Finger Painting
Well, I had a big cardboard and had the idea of coloring some Christmas Trees. My son helped with Snow coloring on the ground, you can see in the pictures.
And then, together we used our fingers to create some snowflakes. The result was quite beautiful. It's not much of a learning or educational activity, but painting has its well known benefits like creativity and imagination development. So that was exactly I what I had in mind with this activity.
I cut a kitchen sponge into small circles, as best I could and used it to create the snowflakes and globes.
Caleb was 2 yrs old at that time, it's very easy to notice this from the picture below.
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Playdough Christmas Trees
This was another fun activity we did back in the time! I think we'll do it again tmr. cause I consider it so good looking and playful. Caleb loves playdoh, really really loves it! SO why not?
Again, he was not even 2 yrs old when we did these Christmas trees together.
He helped with anything he could at that time. This means attempts to roll the plasticine well and use the Christmas tree shapes as correctly and efficiently as possible.
And then comes the part where creativity and imagination kicks in! Some fine motor skills as well but overall it is such an integrative activity to work on many fields with toddlers!!
We had beads, sequins and colored pasta available to decorate these beautiful trees.
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So what do you think?
I really hope that from so many ideas that I have shared with you here, you will find something that you can try at home with your little ones.
Playdough Fun
Coloring
Painting
Sensory Play
Snowflakes
Christmas Trees
Crepe Paper
Wishing you a blessed time with your family 🎄
love, Missdeli 💚