Children learn that when the “do” something, they “get” something. This is the “do-get” theory. It works both ways. When they do something well, we praise them, get excited for them. Hang their art work on the refrigerator. They learn that by “doing” that particular action or activity, they receive positive reinforcement. It encourages them to continue doing that activity and doing it well. They … Continue reading The “Do-Get” Theory
We all know that children love stuffed animals and usually have a collection of them. How about having a stuff animal circus? Make a tent (drap a sheet over a table) where the animals can perform circus acts. You can even use a pillowcase at the doorway to create a “curtain”. Use the stuffed animals for story telling. Have them help act out a story that … Continue reading Toddler Play Ideas: Stuffed Animals
Do you remember the Mad Hatter from Alice and Wonderland? He was always singA very merry unbirthday to you, to me! A very merry unbirthday to you, to me!. What a wonderful idea to do. Host a unbirthday party for you and all your friends. You can make your own unbirthday hats with construction paper rolled into a cone shape. Draw a picture for pin-the-tail-on game. (ex: Draw … Continue reading UnBirthday Party
Rook No. 17 has a great Halloween Scavenger Hunt Eighteen25 has a free printable of 31 activities and a Halloween countdown. Clever Classroom has a free Halloween Vocabulary printable. (you will need to create a free account.) Like a Pretty Petunia has a tutorial on how to make these! Better Homes and Garden has 25 different crafts for Halloween. Craft Interrupted has many printables for decorations. … Continue reading Halloween Activities and Crafts!
Babies start learning from the minute they are born. Over the course of their first year they learn so much, there are a lot of activities that you can do with infants to help with development. Below are a few activities for ages 3-6 months: What’s Cooking?: Whenever you are in the kitchen, talk about each thing you do. Let your baby play with kitchen utensils, bowls, pots and … Continue reading Activities for Babies: 3-6 Months
Have you ever made butter? Think it was too hard? Here is an easy way to make butter! What you will need: .5 cup of heavy cream 1 tbsp sour cream lidded jar spoon saucer Directions: Pour the cream and sour cream into the jar. Cover jar and shake it hard. Shake it until you notice a lump of soft butter at the bottom of the … Continue reading Butter in a Jar
Do you remember playing this game as a child? It is also a great way to teach your children to be safe outside! Once your child understands that RED means STOP and GREEN means GO, you can just shout RED or GREEN to get them to stop or go. This way they will find it fun and you will be able to keep them safe! … Continue reading Red Light, Green Light
Make Bird Feeders for Spring time Spread large pine cones with peanut butter and sprinkle with birdseed. Tie a pipe cleaner at the top and hang on tree Slice oranges or grapefruit in half, take out the inside fruit, fill with peanut butter, birdseed, cranberry or blueberry mixture. Make holes on opposite sides of fruit and tie with year to tree. Continue reading Kids Korner: Bird Feeders
Wow, I can’t believe how fast the year is going. Can you believe that it is going to be July next week? Man does the time fly fast! It isn’t too late to get some 4th of July crafts and activities for next week. Craft: Take a large piece of blue construction paper.Cut red and white streamers (or tissue paper) into long strips (@ 12″).Have … Continue reading 4th of July Crafts and Activities!
At the age of seven, my oldest son asked me to settle an argument in which he claimed the Easter Bunny was not real. I told him he was correct. A few minutes later he came back asking, “Does that mean that Santa Claus isn’t real either?” When I answered positively, he couldn’t believe that all those present really came from us (after all, we … Continue reading Moms to Moms: Dealing with the Santa Question
ART with Angela DiCicco, The Italian Grandmama's Guide 