Category: Activities

Materials
Variety of plastic colored straws cut into various lengths
Large empty Parmesan cheese container

Directions
Cut plastic straws into various sizes ranging from 2-4 inches in length.  They can be all one color if you’re wanting to reinforce a specific color, or they can be a variety of colors, which can help with color recognition.  Invite your child to drop the various straws into the holes of a clean Parmesan cheese container.  You can encourage your child to find all the orange straws, then all of the purple straws, etc.  Your child may want to count the straws as he drops them into the container.

In addition to practicing fine motor control, this activity also helps develop eye/hand coordination.

Materials

Wide strip of paper
Scissors  – Dollar Store Safety Scissors work well for young children
Sharpie Marker

 Directions

Using a Sharpie marker, make simple lines on a wide strip of paper.  Invite your child to cut carefully on the lines using a pair of child safety scissors.  Help your child place his thumb and the correct finger in the scissor handles and open and close the blades.  This is an important skill for strengthening fingers in preparation for learning to write.

Materials

1 wooden block 
Heavy twine
Gold tempera paint
1 paper plate
Tape
Blue construction paper

Directions

Begin by wrapping heavy twine around the circumference of the wooden block.  Secure with tape. Pour gold paint onto the paper plate.  Tape a piece of blue construction to the table.  Invite your child to place the block in the paint and then press it onto the paper.  Look at the fun designs that the block makes as it is pressed onto the paper.  

Ingredients

Directions

Variations

Ingredients

Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Grated Cheddar Cheese
Tongs
Baking Pan
Foil

Directions

Line the baking pan with foil. Preheat oven to 350. Invite your child to spread blue tortilla chips evenly on the baking pan.  Using a small pair of tongs, invite him to carefully sprinkle cheese over all the chips. Bake in oven until cheese melts (approximately 7-10 minutes).  Let cool for a few minutes before serving. Yum!

Ingredients
1 box of puff pastry
Small cookie cutters
Parchment paper
Cookie sheet
Melted butter
Grated cheddar cheese

Directions
Lay out puff pastry on the table and invite your child to cut different shapes.  Place the shapes onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Brush tops of shapes with melted butter. Sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and bake as instructed on the box. This makes a very fun, delicious snack that your child can help prepare. 

Ingredients
2-4 bananas sliced into 1-2″ sections
2/3 cup of chocolate chips
2/3 cup of peanut butter

Directions
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Slice bananas into bites (approximately five pieces per banana).   Place banana pieces in the freezer for about 15 minutes.  This will help the chocolate firm up upon dipping.  Melt chocolate & peanut butter in the microwave (high) for about 1 minute – stir until smooth.  Dip each banana bite and place it on the parchment paper.  Freeze for at least 1 hour. 

Store in an airtight container.

Materials
Clean tape
White powder ( e.g. baby powder, baking soda, powdered white tempera)
Black paper
Magnifying glass

Directions
Dip finger into the white powder and press it onto the clear tape. Stick the tape onto the black paper. Make prints of other fingers and/or other people’s finger prints. Examine prints using a magnifying glass. Describe the differences in the fingertips.

Materials
Large white construction paper
Black tempera paint
Various sizes of paper white circles
Paint brush

Directions
Using the paint brush, invite your child to cover the white paper with black tempera paint.  While the paint is still wet, encourage your child to place the white circles on top of the black paint. The circles will stick to the paper once the paint is dry. Display. 

Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/2 cup salt
4 tsp. cream of tartar
2 cups water 
2 Tbsp. baby oil 
Black food coloring
Googly eyes
Black and white pipe cleaners and straws

Directions
Combine the dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Add the water and oil (and color, if desired) and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture begins to thicken and forms a firm ball. Remove from heat and knead when cool enough. Store in an air-tight container.

Invite your child to create interesting creatures using googly eyes, black and white pipe cleaners, and straws. You’ll be amazed at what they can create!