Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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Outer Space Pretend Play

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Shiny, metallic loose parts are the highlight of this outer space pretend play tablescape your little learners will love to explore.

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This outer space pretend play tablescape is one of my absolute favorites. It has lots of shiny, metallic pieces that are perfect for an out-in-space dining experience.

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Supplies To Collect

The following supplies work well in this space-themed pretend play tablescape your little astronauts will love:

  • small metallic silver star-shaped dessert bowls
  • juice lids
  • gold and silver adhesive gems
  • large silver bells
  • silver bead garland
  • gold bead necklaces
  • star-shaped reusable ice cubes
  • aluminum foil tart baking cups
  • silver pipe cleaners
  • metal serving bowl
  • silver tongs
  • clear cutlery
  • small silver tray
  • grey muffin tin
  • styrofoam balls
  • clear plastic stemware
  • metallic silver or gold tablecloth
  • metallic spray centerpiece
  • aluminum foil pie pans

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The Space Tablescape Pretend Play Set Up

A shiny, metallic silver and gold color scheme transforms the play kitchen into an outer space pretend play area.

Shiny, metallic loose parts are the highlight of this outer space pretend play tablescape your little learners will love to explore.

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Aluminum foil tart baking cups glued onto juice lids along with silver pipe cleaner handles make cute space-themed tea cups.

DIY metallic silver tea cups created for an outer space pretend play tablescape for little learners.

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The addition of gold star stickers is an easy way to have stemware fit the outer space theme.

Just add star stickers to transform a goblet into an outer space pretend play accessory.

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Silver-edged clear plastic stemware glasses add elegance to the table display.

A silver-edged goblet with resusable star ice cubes co-ordinates well with a space-themed pretend play tablescape.

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Large silver bells serve as muffins, white styrofoam balls are buns, and aluminum foil pie pans are dinner plates.

Stryfoam balls and large metallic silver bells add interest to an outer space play food table display.

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Gold bead necklaces cut into strips make great pretend spaghetti noodles. Silver balls cut from garland are the meatballs.

Cut metallic bead garland and necklaces make the perfect loose parts for an outer space spaghetti pretend play meal.

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Silver and gold adhesive gems added to juice lids make tasty chocolate chip cookies.

Just add gold and silver gem stickers to juice lids to create outer space chocolate chip pretend play cookies.

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A metallic silver tablecloth, reusable star ice cubes, and a silver bowl, tray, muffin tin, and pair of tongs round out the supplies in this glittery outer space pretend play tablescape.

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Lighted Outer Space Pretend Play

For added flare, include a metallic spray centerpiece and shine a professional stage light on the outer space pretend play tablescape.

A professional stage light adds flare in outer space pretend play tablescape set up.

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Related:

Scented Moon Playdough

Space Father’s Day Craft

Salt and Glue Moon Art

White Lilacs and Black Playdough

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Tea Party Sensory Play

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Easy-to-set-up tea party sensory trays for water or rice bin play. Miniature tea sets are the highlights of the sensory play.

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These tea party sensory play ideas provide possibilities for easy, affordable, and fun learning through play. Only a few low-cost supplies are needed for the activities.

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Tea Party Sensory Play Supplies

Here are the supplies for easy-to-set-up, engaging tea party sensory play:

  • toy tea sets
  • measuring cup
  • container for water
  • low edged trays
  • toy fruit counters
  • fruit-themed reusable ice cubes
  • play food cookies, cupcakes, and squares
  • rice
  • waterproof apron
  • spill proof tablecloth
  • water supply

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A black, red, and white theme sets the tone for a super inviting tea party water play sensory invitation.

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Preparing For Tea Party Sensory Play

To prepare this sensory activity, first, cover a table with a spill-proof tablecloth.

Next, select a toy tea set, a container for water, and a few play food fruits or desserts and set them on a tray on the table.

Then fill the container and teapot with water.

Now this tea party play invitation is ready to explore. Setting up for a sensory activity couldn’t be any easier!

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Tea Party Sensory Play Variations

Larger and smaller tea sets and fruit and dessert play food are options to add variety to tea party sensory play.

This black and white diagonally striped placemat enhances the visual appeal.

A black, red, and white theme sets the tone for a super inviting tea party water play sensory invitation.

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A silver-edged, gilded mirror tray exudes elegance.

This silver-edged, gilded mirror tray is paired with a dainty miniature tea set for super inviting tea party water play.

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A shiny aluminum foil pizza pan is an inviting alternative and the larger tea cups have more room to hold fruit.

Toy fruit counters add interest to this easy-to-set-up tea party water play sensory invitation for early learners.

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The dainty miniature dollar store tea set below is super affordable and little learners love to handle the tiny pieces.

Tea party water play is extra inviting with a miniature tea set on this silveredged gilded mirror tray.

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For more variety, offer a tea set and accessories in a rice bin or tray.

Dessert playfood and a toy tea set are inviting to play with when set in a rice-based sensory bin.

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Dessert playfood and a miniature toy tea set are inviting to play with when set in a rice-based sensory bin.

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Eye-hand coordination, practice with self-help skills, exploring capacity, language development, and just plain fun are goals for these sensory activities.

Tea party sensory play is perfect for Mother’s Day or any time of the year. And it works fabulously for outdoor playtime.

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Related:

Strawberry Hot Chocolate Bin

Strawberry Lemonade Sensory Bin

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Paper Plate Easter Basket

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This bunny-themed paper plate Easter basket is easy to make and makes a great party favor or gift idea for your little learners.

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This paper plate Easter basket craft is inspired by an Easter purse spotted on a shopping trip. I wanted to make one for each of my preschoolers as part of their Easter party favors, and here’s what I came up with.

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Supplies To Collect

There are only a few supplies to collect for this bunny and carrot-themed craft. Gather the following items:

  • paper plates
  • green dot markers
  • orange and green construction paper
  • stuffed bunnies
  • scissors, ruler, and pencil
  • glue stick and glue gun
Stuffed bunnies cut from garland and paper carrots are highlights of a paper plate Easter basket craft that is sure to please.

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Making The Paper Plate Easter Basket Craft

The first thing to do in making a few of these paper plate Easter baskets is to cut out sections of paper plates to create half-circle openings and handles. There are different kinds of paper plates, and I recommend choosing a sturdy version.

This bunny-themed paper plate Easter basket is easy to make and makes a great party favor or gift idea for your little learners.

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Next, give two of the plates to each child who will get a basket, and ask the little charges to decorate the bottom half of their plates with a green dot marker.

Note: Instead of using dot markers, participants can decorate the basket sides with crayons, paint, and/or Easter stickers.

Afterward, cut carrots from orange construction paper, and carrot tops from green construction paper. With a glue gun or glue stick, adhere the carrot tops to the carrots.

Just insert Easter grass and a few chocolate eggs into this paper plate Easter basket. It is sure to be a big hit as a party favor.

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Cutting and putting together the paper carrots take a little time. When this task is done, the basket sides will be dry and ready to be assembled. Use a glue gun to carefully adhere the decorated half of each pair of cut plates together so that the openings and basket handles match. Leave the handles unglued.

Then glue two carrots on each side of every basket. Make sure the carrots on one side of the baskets align with the carrots on the other side.

Next add a small stuffed bunny to each basket. My bunnies are from a disassembled Easter garland snapped up at a party store. Fortunately, it was easy to remove each bunny from the garland, and the yellow, pink, and blue stuffies are safe to use in the paper plate Easter baskets.

Before handing out the baskets to your little charges, add Easter grass and wrapped chocolate eggs to them. The children will be delighted with the craft and treats!

Just insert Easter grass and a few chocolate eggs into this paper plate Easter basket. It is sure to be a big hit as a party favor.

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To help make this craft, feel free to download this basket, bunny, and carrot template to use as a guideline. Happy crafting!

A free Easter basket template to make a paper basket with carrot decorations and a bunny inside.

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Bunny and Basket PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Related: 

Spring Basket Cupcakes

Bunny Candy Art

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Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

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Simple and economical Chinese New Year DIY decorating ideas using themed stickers. Ornament and play tablescape ideas are included.

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Stickers are an easy and economical way to dress up cups, plates, and serving bowls for themed pretend play. They also work well for crafting ornaments. When I spotted festive stickers on sale over my Christmas break, I knew they were perfect for Chinese New Year DIY decorating.

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Chinese New Year DIY Ball Ornaments

Make these sparkly Chinese New Year-themed ball ornaments using gold glitter and themed stickers.

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To make these sparkly decorations, you need:

  • clear unbreakable ball ornaments
  • gold glitter
  • Chinese New Year stickers          
  • a funnel

After collecting the supplies, start off by adding gold glitter to clear fillable unbreakable ball ornaments. Use a funnel to insert the glitter. Add just enough to cover the bottom of each ornament and then put the tops back on. Shaking the balls afterward moves some of the glitter up the sides.

Then decorate each ornament with Chinese New Year sticker designs. Hang up the festive balls for display.

Make these sparkly Chinese New Year-themed ball ornaments using gold glitter and themed stickers.

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Chinese New Year DIY Tableware

While out and about our city, I always admire clear patio tableware with design accents. An economical way to replicate them for little learners is by using themed stickers. Adding stickers is also an option if you cannot find tableware suitable for children’s play in the theme you are currently working on.

To do this, gather clear unbreakable plates, cups, and bowls and add sticker designs to them. How simple!

In addition to the ornament, below is a cup and a serving bowl with themed Chinese New Year stickers added on. Both were dollar store finds. The decorated tableware goes over well in a play kitchen or sensory tub.

Decorate clear unbreakable tableware and ornaments with Chinese New Year-themed stickers for a cultural vibe.

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These Chinese New Year DIY decorating ideas work in any theme you can find coordinating stickers for. I am looking forward to trying them in a sunflower or butterfly theme next.

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Simple and economical Chinese New Year DIY decorating ideas using themed stickers. Ornament and play tablescape ideas are included.

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Related:

Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

Chinese New Year Tablescape Play

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

Chinese New Year Money Tree Activities

Dragon Necklace Craft

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Jelly Bean Theme

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A few weeks ago, I set out to make an Easter display that would work for a wall art tree. I thought of incorporating the “Jelly Bean Prayer,” and wondered if there was such a thing as a jelly bean tree. To my delight, an online search revealed a variety of references to “jelly bean tree,” and provided inspiration for other activities. So in addition to changing up the display, I came up with this fun and tasty Jelly Bean Theme. The post includes free printables and a few facts about the colorful candy.

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10 Jelly Bean Facts

  • Jelly beans are bite-sized candies with hard, crunchy shells and soft, chewy centers.
  • These sweet candies are associated with Easter in Canada and the United States.
  • Part of the appeal is their egg shape and tiny size. This makes them terrific Easter egg fillers.
  • There are eight basic colors and flavors, which often have a fruity taste.
  • Over time, jelly beans were created in many different color schemes, often matching seasonal celebrations.
  • Jelly beans became popular in the 1960s.
  • The most common order for eating the candies is: red, purple, green, yellow, and black.
  • Jelly beans are used as an art medium, and there are mosaic art pieces made with them.
  • President Ronald Reagan liked them a lot, so artist Peter Rocha made a jelly bean portrait of the president.
  • There is a National Jelly Bean Day (in the US) on April 22.

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Jelly Bean Theme Activities

There are a number of easy, educational jellybean activities to do at home or school.

Tasting Jelly Beans

Give participants jelly beans in the colors red, purple, green, yellow, and black. Chart the order each child eats the jellybeans.

What order would you eat these jelly beans in? Try this candy tasting activity and record the results.

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Incorporate language and math sequencing by describing color and taste, and using words such as first, next, and last.

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Jelly Bean Sorting

Invite children to sort jelly beans by color. This flower-shaped paint palette is perfect for individual color sorting.

A flower-shaped paint palette makes the perfect tray to sort jelly beans by color.

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Candies On Display

Jelly beans look attractive stored in mason jars. The filled jars could be part of a tablescape display or food table.

Store jelly beans in jars for a tablescape or food table display. Have a "Guess The Number Of Jelly Beans In The Jar" contest.

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How Many Jelly Beans Are In The Jar?

Fill a jar with jelly beans, and have participants guess the number of candies in the jar. Then count the jellybeans together. For early learners, a baby food jar or small bottle would be a good size to use.

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Cupcake Liner Easter Party Favors

Add pipe cleaner handles to sturdy Easter-themed cupcake liners. Fill the liners with Easter-colored jelly beans and hand them out as Easter basket party favors. Or fill plastic Easter eggs with jelly beans.

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Jelly Bean Prayer Wall Display

Over-sized paper jelly beans for a "Jelly Bean Prayer" tree display. Download the free printable for art, book-making, and display opportunities.

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Download this free template for a Jelly Bean Prayer tree display. I used it to cut out large jelly beans from different colors of cardstock paper. Then I wrote a line of the prayer on each one and added them to a tree theme wall display.

Download this oversized jelly bean template for art, book-making, and display use.

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Jelly Bean PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Jelly Bean Art

Use this same printable for children to paint or color and cut out gigantic paper jelly beans.

Or have children dictate or write a page for a jelly bean storybook, and then decorate the background.

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J Is For Jelly Bean Craft

Invite children to glue jelly beans onto a paper letter J. How fun!

"J Is For Jelly Beans" in this tasty craft. Reinforce the letter J sound with this fun and easy activity.

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Jelly Bean Tree Craft

Print copies of this tree template on white cardstock paper. Set them on an art table along with white glue and jelly beans. Invite children to glue jelly beans on the tree.

This could also be a transient art activity offered in a tray.

How fun! Decorate a tree template with jelly beans. Glue the tasty candies on for a finished project. Free tree printable available.

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Jelly Bean Artists

There are artists who work with jelly beans as a medium, or as a subject in their art. Who knew?

Peter Rocha and Kristen Cummings are two notable jelly bean artists. Their creations can be viewed on the Jelly Belly Company’s “The Jelly Belly Bean Art Gallery” web page. Their candy art can also be viewed on my Pinterest Board Jelly Bean Kids Activities/Jelly Bean Artists.

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Storybooks Incorporating Jelly Beans

The flavorful candies make an entertaining subject for storybooks. Here are a few books incorporating jelly beans:

Arthur’s Jelly Beans by Marc Brown 

Arthur and his friends participate in a “Spring Fling” party, which includes a jelly bean hunt of course!

Jellybean Mouse by Philip Roy

Happy the mouse isn’t excited to go on a laundromat errand but discovers a jellybean machine once there. The day’s adventure becomes just the excitement the spunky mouse is seeking.

The Jellybeans And The Big Dance by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans

A group of girls with different interests meet at a dance studio, and slowly become friends. They eventually discover that just as jellybeans come in different flavors but go well together, they get along great. They decide to call themselves “The Jellybeans.”

There are three more books in this friendship and team-building series:

  • The Jellybeans and the Big Book Bonanza
  • The Jellybeans and the Big Camp Kickoff
  • The Jellybeans and the Big Art Adventure

Jelly Bean Tree by Toni Yuli

This story isn’t about jelly beans, but the main character, a giraffe, is called Jelly Bean. It’s reason enough to include the colorfully illustrated, endearing story in the theme.

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