Still Playing School: May 2014

Sand Drizzle Sculptures

Sand Drizzle Sculptures are relaxing. soothing, and a bit addictive to create! They are also fantastic fine motor practice for kids!


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Dirt Sensory Bin

Playing in the dirt is a classic childhood activity! We filled a sensory bin with dirt to see what it might inspire!


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Ladybug Doubles Addition: DIY Math Game

Ladybugs naturally lend themselves math lessons! We made our own ladybug counters to create a DIY math game for kids!

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Sunny Summer Suncatcher

We welcomed summer by making a sunny day smiling sun suncatcher! It looks so cheery in our window!

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Hula Hoop Venn Diagram Sorting

Venn Diagrams are a visual way to sort items into sets. Using hula hoops to great a Venn Diagram is a hands on way to introduce this graphic organizer to kids!

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Puffy Paint Cake Decorating

We created a pretend bakery by inviting my preschooler to decorate a cardboard cake with puffy paint icing! She loved this art activity with fine motor work involved.



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10 Ways to Play with IncredibleFoam

We had the opportunity to review Discount School Supply's IncredibleFoam Dough by Colorations. We have played with it every single day since we've received it and we are still finding new ways to play and explore with this unique sensory dough! 

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Homemade Glitter Chalk Paint

A friend mentioned how much her daughter loved the store bought glitter chalk the other day which immediately had me wondering about making my own version. We've made sidewalk chalk paint in the past but everything is better with glitter right? We created homemade glitter chalk paint!

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Mirror Play for Babies

One of the simplest yet most enriching tools you can give your baby is a mirror. From social interaction to self recognition here's the when, how, and why of baby mirror play. 



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Repurposing Baby Items for Play Beyond the First Year


Parents spend so much money during their baby's first year. It's great to be able to reuse and repurpose baby toys and supplies into other learning activities for your children as they grow!
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Fine Motor Slingshot Play

A slingshot is perfect for fine motor practice for kids! We got creative to make it safe for indoor and outdoor use!

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What to Expect at Well Baby Visits

So much change occurs in your baby's first year. She will have frequent doctor check ups or well baby visits to keep tabs on her rapid development. You should also see these appointments as time for you to seek support from your baby's health care provider. The following is what you can expect at your baby's first pediatrician appointments.

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The Best Baby Food Recipe Books

Making my own baby food from the start is one of the most fulfilling choices I've made as a parent. I love saving money, knowing exactly what is in their food, and cooking creative recipes for them to try! I scoured the internet and our library until I found the best baby food recipe books!


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Moon Sand Syllable Smash Game

We've mixed up homemade moon sand before but this time we needed a literacy twist for the 12 Months of Sensory Dough series! We decided to practice syllable segmentation with a Moon Sand Syllable Smash activity!

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How to Plan a Meal Rotation for New Parents

By Devany | Labels: , 5 Comments
Meals are one of the most loving gifts you can give to someone during a life changing event. Friends have brought us meals during the good times and the bad so from those experiences I've written my top tips for making meals for others to show your love and support. 


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Vet Office: A Pretend Play Prompt

We explored the work that happens at a vet office using real x-rays on a light panel for our latest pretend play prompt. The kids loved this invitation to imagine as they came up with creative diagnoses and treatments for their animals!

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Mom to Three: Two Here, One in My Heart

I'm a bereaved mother. It's a very important part of who I am but it doesn't define me. And yet when someone asks that seemingly innocent question, "How many children do you have?" I always pause before deciding what to say. This Mother's Day I'd like to answer it in a different way.

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Fine Motor Cherry Blossom Tree Artwork

Achoo! The trees are blooming around here and so are our allergies! They are so pretty, though, that we were inspired to make Fine Motor Cherry Blossom Tree Artwork!

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Moon Phases on the Felt Board

In our outer space science unit we are discussing the planets as well as our own moon. Our DIY moon felt board demonstrates the moon's phases with pieces children can move through the cycle in a hands on activity!

DIY Moon Phases Felt Board teaches kids the science behind the moon's changes in a hands on science activity!


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Plastic Lid Planets

Inspired by our plastic lid Earth craft we created a solar system of recycled plastic lid planets! We've just launched our solar system and space preschool science unit and we love to craft with recycled materials.

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Candy Shop: A Pretend Play Prompt

A kid in a candy shop is a simile for a reason. What could be more motivating and fun than a pretend play candy store with real candy? 

Kid experience math, writing, and fine motor skills through this pretend play candy shop dramatic center!

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