This new fall fine motor activity has been requested over and over again! We have been using the alphabet as fine motor practice with fall jewels. I love pulling these jewels/gems out each fall. We use them for so many activities -- a discovery bottle, math practice, and now this literacy activity! This is part of a fall blog hop, so find 16 more ideas at the very end of this post! Looking for View Post
Story Stones with Free Printable
I have been wanting to make story stones with some of our favorite stories. I am including a free printable of the ones we made so you can join in the fun too -- without tearing a book apart. We have loved playing with brown bear, blue horse, purple cat, and more! This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you have never made these before, rest at ease! It's pretty fool View Post
The Girl who Tattled
There is a little girl who is near and dear to my heart. She was sweet and kind by nature, but there was another side to her. The tattling side. She tattled when she saw someone take another child's toy. She tattled when someone wasn't following directions. She tattled when someone said something she didn't want to hear. She was, as some put it, "a tattler." This post contains affiliate View Post
Crayon Alphabet
Make your own crayon alphabet! It's great as a movable alphabet, for coloring, and hands-on fun and learning. We made this one very warm day while trying out this beautiful crayon process art activity from Happy Hooligans. I realized that it was definitely hot enough to melt crayons completely, and that's when the experimenting began! We did this on our deck, a place where in the middle of View Post
Feels Like Beach Sand Sensory Play
This ocean themed sensory bin feels just like beach sand! If you are doing an ocean theme or beach preschool theme, this has to be on your list of things to do! Beach sand is one of the softest, most inviting textures I have ever laid hands and feet on. Unfortunately, we don't live close to any to play in. I do happen to know of a sensory play recipe that feels like beach sand that I View Post
Preschool Name Writing Practice Ideas
I love teaching children to write their names. It's a skill they will use for the rest of their lives, and it is so exciting to help them with this milestone. Writing doesn't have to be hard or stressful though, so I have put together easy ways to help children write their names. I remember a day in preschool several years back where there were crayon markings all over one of our block center View Post
Magnetic Play Activities and Ideas
Magnets are incredible tools for learning. We have tons of magnets around here, and all of them promote different yet very important skills. Since we use and love magnets so often, I decided I would share our favorites. As I started going through our magnetic activities, I kept finding more and more and more! Apparently I am a magnet hoarder. And I even want more -- I may need a magnet View Post
No-Rust Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Magnetic Discovery bottles are a perfect science and sensory activity! The problem is that they rust when you add water. Thankfully, I have found a solution! Now you can make long-lasting discovery bottles that don't rust. Here's our new and improved no-rust magnetic discovery bottle. Therapists have told me that they love these sensory bottles because it has so many benefits! Just like any View Post
The Perfect First Calendar for the Home or Classroom
Calendar time can look so cute, so perfect, and so inviting for learning and... completely flop. Actually, that can happen with anything we present to children! In an effort to help children understand the days of the week and the months of the year in an age appropriate way, Jamie (from Play to Learn Preschool) and I came up with this calendar. It's a perfect first calendar for the home, and of View Post
DIY Name Stamps
Name recognition is a staple to my preschool curriculum! If the children learn only one thing from me (but let's hope it's waaaay more), it is how to identify their names. For today's back to school themed blog hop, I decided to try out this DIY Name Stamp. Sometimes the first week of school is intimidating, and the only thing a child wants is familiarity and acceptance. Hopefully this will View Post