Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

pets

Reptile Pet Store Center

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A reptile pet store is an engaging dramatic play center young children heartedly embrace. It gently introduces children to scaly, cold-blooded wild animals like snakes, lizards, and turtles. The animal-themed center offers many educational benefits.

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Reptile Pet Store Center Supplies

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The following supplies are included in this simple reptile dramatic play center:

  • snake figurines
  • turtle figurines
  • lizard figurines
  • crocodile figurines
  • animal carrying cases
  • storage trays
  • cash register
  • gold coin play money
  • grocery stand play set
  • storage shelf

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The Reptile Pet Store Center

This super fun reptile pet store dramatic play center is quick and easy to set up.

A grocery stand play set is the feature piece of furniture. It holds the cash register, a tray of gold coins, and bins with snakes and lizards.

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A see-through shelf holds storage trays with snakes, turtles, lizards, and crocodiles.

Animal carrying cases and a tray with frogs and insects (reptile pet food) are also on the shelf.

Signs on the wall show animals featured in the pet store and a price list.

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Benefits of the Reptile Pet Store Play Center

This reptile pet store center gives young children opportunities to:

  • sort reptiles by type, size, or color
  • count animals and play coins
  • name colors of the reptiles
  • learn about foods snakes, turtles, and lizards eat
  • take turns being a shop worker and a customer

Books with information about reptile characteristics, habitats, and life cycles would complement this exotic pet-filled dramatic play center nicely.

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Pet-Themed Playdough Tray

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An inviting pet-themed playdough tray featuring dogs and cats. Three long-lasting playdough recipes are included.

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This fun-filled pet-themed playdough tray is bound to engage your little learners for a nice chunk of time. It will inspire meaningful conversations and imaginative play, and strengthen little fingers.

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Pet-Themed Playdough Tray Supplies

An inviting supply of cat and dog-themed playdough accessories. Links to three easy-to-make playdough recipes are included.

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Supplies in this playdough added, pet-themed loose parts tray:

  • cat and dog cookie cutters
  • cookie cutter bones
  • dog erasers
  • eraser bones
  • dog-themed buttons
  • miniature pet dish
  • lattice with bell cat toys

The supplies were gathered from a variety of places. The exquisite cookie cutters were purchased from a store with a generous baking supply section, and the jingly lattice balls and teeny tiny dog-themed buttons from dollar stores. The round dog erasers were salvaged from a book club promotion, and the miniature eraser bones came with a set of Valentine cards.

Super popular with my preschoolers, the dog and cat figurines were gathered from pet sets and a pet adoption game.

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Playdough Recipes

Three long-lasting and easy-to-make playdough recipes with cat and dog accessories.

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Warm, earth-toned playdough colors work well with this pet-themed playdough tray.

My preschoolers used the loose parts with a red-orange pumpkin spice playdough, as it was still pretty fresh after our October pumpkin activities. Just to make sure the color was fit for this second topic, I did a quick online search for “orange cats,” and “orange dogs.” Lengthy lists of orange tabby felines and ginger canines came up, so I knew the spicy playdough could have a second life.

View my post “Pumpkin Playdough Activities“ for this aromatic recipe.

You could also offer a batch of my all-time favorite basic playdough or a tangy orange jello dough. And setting out all three hues would provide opportunities for creating patchwork pets, or patterned tabby cats.

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Pet-themed Playdough Play

Invite your early learners to make cookies, bury bones, and create textures and imprints with playdough and pet-themed loose parts.

Cat and dog playdough supplies that encourage creativity and imaginitive play.

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You could swap out or add additional supplies for pet-themed creation. Buttons for animal spots, cut pipe cleaners for whiskers, rope for collars, and wiggle eyes are some suggestions.

Can you think of other accessories to include in this tray? Leave a comment below.

This pet-themed playdough tray is filled with cat and dog supplies little learners will love to imagine and create with.

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More Playdough Recipes and Activities

Coffee Playdough Turkey

Circus Playdough Tray

Unicorn Playdough Tray

Set up this unicorn theme playdough tray in minutes. The best playdough recipes are featured.

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Gingerbread Playdough

Chocolate Mint Playdough

Orange-Scented Playdough Invitation

Christmas Playdough

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Winter Playdough Recipe

A soft, easy-to-make winter-themed playdough.

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Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

Easter Playdough Tray

Scented Moon Playdough

White Lilacs And Black Playdough

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Paper Plate Ocean Drum

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This DIY paper plate ocean drum can be personalized with a picture of a family member and/or pet.

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Ocean drums are versatile musical instruments that imitate the soothing sound of gentle waves hitting the shore. Your early learner can help create a paper plate ocean drum to make water sounds and will be able to use it in many other ways. The drum can be personalized and will look awesome displayed.

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Supplies To Collect

  • two 9-inch paper plates
  • 9 x 12-inch white cardstock
  • transparency film or clear file folder
  • photo of a child, family, or a pet
  • small beads
  • cinnamon candy hearts
  • alphabet letter beads
  • adhesive gems
  • scissors
  • glue gun
  • glue stick or glue tape

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Making The Paper Plate Ocean Drum

Steps to create a personalized paper plate ocean drum.

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Cut out the middle part of one paper plate.

Print a favorite photo onto cardstock paper. Or use a picture from a vintage calendar or magazine. Trace a 15.5 cm / 6 1/8 inch circle around the part of the picture chosen for the drum. Cut the circle out and use glue tape or a glue stick to paste it on the center of the second plate.

Cut the same sized circle from a clear file folder or sheet of transparency film.

Use a glue gun to attach the clear circle to the cut plate.

Sprinkle cinnamon candy hearts, letter beads, and small round beads onto the photo-enhanced plate. Alphabet letter beads that spell love or the name of a child or pet would work well.

Glue the edges of the two plates together with a glue gun.

If desired, decorate the paper frame of the drum with adhesive gems.

This paper plate ocean drum can be personalized with a picture of a family member and/or pet.

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Playing The Ocean Drum

The crafted drum can be played many different ways, creating a variety of sounds:

Tilt the drum in all directions by rolling your wrist slowly while holding the instrument by its frame. The encased beads and candies will roll over the bottom and mimic the relaxing sound of waves lapping the shore.

Stop and start playing the instrument suddenly to make the sound of crashing waves.

Hold the drum over your head and tilt it.

Move the drum around your body.

Tap the drum gently with a drumstick.

Scrape the drum.

Use the percussion instrument as a shaker.

Make loud, soft, fast, and slow sounds.

Tap or shake a pattern of sounds.

This paper plate ocean drum can be personalized with a picture of a favorite pet.

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