Still Playing School: valentine

Raining Hearts Name Craft

By Devany | Labels: craft , fine motor , homeschool preschool , names , preschool , valentine 1 Comment

Valentine's Day is the sweetest time to practice names with preschoolers! They are signing cards for their classmates, reading their name on their own mailbox, and this name puzzle craft pairs perfectly with one of our favorite Valentine's Day children's books.

Create a name puzzle craft with kids inspired by The Day it Rained Hearts

Top 10 Valentine's Day Sensory Bins

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , homeschool , homeschool preschool , preschool , sensory , toddler , valentine Be the first to comment!

I love the colors of Valentine's Day plus interesting tactile sensory bin fillers really invite kids to dig right in! We love have found ten of our absolute favorite Valentine's Day themed sensory table ideas. Which one will you try first?

The best Valentine's Day sensory bin fillers for kids!

Virtual Kindness Notes from Kids

By Devany | Labels: elementary , homeschool preschool , kindergarten , literacy , preschool , valentine , writing 5 Comments

We have family all across the state so we love to keep in touch by using technology! Our preschooler loved using the computer to send virtual kindness notes to friends and family members.

Salt and Glue Watercolor Hearts

By Devany | Labels: art , craft , fine motor , homeschool preschool , preschool , valentine 1 Comment

We love Valentine's Day colors. This fine motor art technique allowed us to mix and blend watercolor hearts in the most beautiful ways!

Melt My Heart Valentine's Day Art

By Devany | Labels: art , craft , preschool , valentine Be the first to comment!

We already broke hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day but this time we're melting them! We used special paper and a heat tool to try melted crayon heart art.

We Love Nouns Kid Writing with Free Printable

By Devany | Labels: elementary , homeschool preschool , literacy , printable , valentine , writing Be the first to comment!

We've been learning about nouns and Valentine's Day is the perfect time to list the people, places, and things that we love! We even created a free worksheet printable for you to use for homeschool, as homework, or just a fun writing prompt full of gratitude.

Waterproof Sand Sensory Play

By Devany | Labels: elementary , preschool , science , sensory , valentine Be the first to comment!

I have got to say that waterproof sand (or aqua sand or space sand) is one of the most fascinating sensory materials my kids and I have ever touched! We used it to build hearts underwater for Valentine's Day!

Breaking Hearts Fine Motor Play

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , preschool , sensory , toddler , valentine 5 Comments

Do you have a little heartbreaker at home? We have the perfect activity for kids to break hearts this Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Math Busy Bag

By Devany | Labels: colors , elementary , fine motor , homeschool , homeschool preschool , math , preschool , toddler , valentine 4 Comments

We made a Valentine's Day Busy Bag that would be the perfect quiet time activity for your kids! We love hands on math ideas! This invitation to play is adaptable for patterns, counting, number order, addition, and subtraction.

Love Potions: Toddler Water Play

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , sensory , toddler , valentine , water 2 Comments

Our toddler already has me head over heels for him! He created his own love potions for Valentine's Day sensory toddler water play.

Edible No-Cook Nutella Play Dough Recipe

By Devany | Labels: dough , fine motor , play , preschool , pretend , sensory , toddler , valentine 16 Comments

We created a recipe for our very own edible no cook Nutella play dough. For as much as we love Nutella in our family we needed to find a way to play and learn with it, too!

A Heart Hunt

By Devany | Labels: math , valentine Be the first to comment!

E is very disappointed with me this Valentine's Day. I decided not to decorate just to take one thing off of my plate. Of course, this is the perfect age for her to enjoy the holidays. We still went all out for Christmas before D was born only to have to try to find time to take it all down after his arrival. There are still Christmas lights on the deck because the pack n play is blocking the door. I haven't found time to care.

To make her feel better about our house's lack of decor, we went on a heart hunt yesterday. We walked to the library and took pictures of all the hearts we found there and along the way.

And, of course, at least I decorate my kids!

Next year will be better, E. Promise.

Valentine's Day Literacy

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , literacy , reading , valentine , writing 2 Comments

Valentine's Day is a lovely time for emerging readers and writers to practice their skills! When addressing, signing, and delivering cards children are beginning to recognize some of the most important printed words: names!

Cake Mix Sensory Bin

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , homeschool preschool , indoor , sensory , valentine Be the first to comment!

We loved this sensory bin idea from Growing A Jeweled Rose: A Cake Mix Sensory Bin!

We picked strawberry for Valentine's Day. My girl loved it because it's PINK!

We added heart sprinkles for extra fun.

D was sad because he can't play yet.

Our kitchen smelled delicious!

Lesson Plans

By Devany | Labels: homeschool preschool , valentine Be the first to comment!

I'm experimenting with a new way to lesson plan for our home school preschool.

(click to enlarge photo)

Valentine's Day Play Date

By Devany | Labels: art , fine motor , math , sensory , valentine Be the first to comment!

A Valentine's Day play date was hosted by my very brave friend Megan! We met about 6 years ago when working together in an early childhood education center. Now we are both stay-at-home moms who get together regularly so our toddlers can play and create together while we recharge.

Guest Posting at Small Bird Studios

By Devany | Labels: art , grief , valentine 1 Comment

I'm guest blogging a tutorial on needle felting today at Small Bird Studios!

Small Gestures, Lasting Impacts

By Devany | Labels: art , fine motor , grief , valentine 5 Comments

A friend taught us to make heart shaped crayon valentines! She suggested we use mostly shades of violet for a subtle, crafty way to remember our sweet girl on this holiday. I love the result.

Valentine Sensory Bin

By Devany | Labels: fine motor , preschool , sensory , toddler , valentine 7 Comments

We created a Valentine's Day themed sensory bin. The contents were irresistibly fun for our daughter as she worked on both early math and fine motor skills!