Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Page 3 – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Pink Shirt Day Necklace Craft

February 20, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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While paging through a small book with elephant facts, I realized that elephants are a glowing symbol of kindness. And since kindness is a theme of Pink Shirt Day, this Pink Shirt Day necklace craft was one of my activities for last year’s annual anti-bullying day.

Pink Shirt Day

Pink Shirt Day is held on the last Wednesday in February every year in many countries. It originated in Canada in 2007 when a boy was teased in school for wearing a pink shirt. In response, two other boys bought a host of pink shirts and gave them to classmates. The rosy t-shirts symbolized anti-bullying, and since then many people have worn pink shirts on Pink Shirt Day. Last year more than 110 countries celebrated the anti-bullying themed day.

Elephants Are Kind

Elephants are a symbol of kindness. They are super smart creatures and seem to have feelings similar to ours. They exchange hugs with their heads and trunks. They spread their ears wide when walking with their young, making sure they shield them from danger. They help other elephants who are sad, sick, or hurt.

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Supplies to Collect

Along with pink shirts, a pink elephant necklace craft to symbolize kindness makes a great addition to Pink Shirt Day activities. To assemble the simple elephant necklace, collect the following:

pink craft foam sheet or cardstock
elephant template
adhesive gem stickers
necklace cord
scissors and pencil
hole punch

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Pink Shirt Day Necklace Craft Directions

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To make this kindness craft, start by tracing and cutting an elephant from pink cardstock or a sheet of pink craft foam.

Next, cut off a 26-inch strip (or longer) from the elastic necklace cord.

Then punch a hole in the upper middle of the elephant.

Loop the cord through the hole.

Then decorate the elephant with adhesive sticker gems.

Finally, securely tie the ends of the necklace cord, adjusting the length of the cord if necessary.

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Elephant Facts Printable

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To complement the kindness elephant necklace craft, here is a free printable to download. At preschool, I sent the handout home with the jewelry craft.

Elephant Facts PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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My preschoolers loved this necklace craft and were eager to wear it. One little boy wore his necklace many days during the remainder of the school year. Will you give this craft a try?

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Related: Pink Shirt Day Dramatic Play

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[Read more…]

Origami Heart Valentines

February 9, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! If you need a festive paper craft with plenty of charm, consider having your little charges make origami heart valentines. The simple craft is showcased in two different designs so everyone can experience success.

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Supplies To Collect

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Gather the following supplies for this Valentine’s Day paper craft:

origami paper
craft ribbon
metallic confetti
yarn
lace
buttons
white cardstock
markers
glue stick
white glue or a glue gun

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Making the Origami Hearts

The first thing to do is select paper for this craft. You can use origami paper which comes in a square shape. Or pick out any kind of colored paper and cut off the ends if necessary to make squares.

There are two basic ways to paper fold a square into a heart. The first design is the easiest to create and is the best one for little learners to try. Here is a link to an excellent blog post by green kid crafts with clear instructions for making it.

Easy Origami Heart

This paper folded heart is the bigger of the two. If using a 6-inch x 6-inch paper square, the finished paper heart is 4 inches wide and 3 ½ inches tall.

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Once children master the first origami heart, they may wish to try a second method of paper folding a heart. An easy-to-follow YouTube video by EZOrigami shows how to make a beautiful heart with a few more paper folds.

Origami Heart (Folding Instructions)

The finished paper heart is compact and keeps its shape nicely. It is a little smaller than the first design. When using 6-inch x 6-inch origami paper, the heart is 3 inches wide and 2 ½ inches tall.

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Decorating the Origami Heart Valentines

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Once the origami hearts are completely formed, they are ready to be decorated to become valentines. Craft supply scraps are perfect for decorating since you only need a few bits and baubles to fancy up the hearts.

Use white glue, a glue stick, or a glue gun to

fashion string and craft ribbons into bows and adhere them to the hearts.
add bits of lace or metallic confetti to the paper folded shapes.
add paper-punched shapes or buttons to the crafted hearts.
use markers to write messages and adhere them to the hearts.

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The decorated origami hearts make sweet valentines, but can also be used in garlands and mobiles. And they make pretty bookmarks or gift toppers.

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More Valentine’s Day Crafts

Woolly Sheep Valentine’s Day Craft

Dinosaur Valentine Craft

Heart Doily Gnome Valentines

Ladybug Wand Craft

Valentine’s Day Owl Craft

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[Read more…]

Reptile Pet Store Center

February 7, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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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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[Read more…]

Paper Chain Snake Craft

January 29, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This paper chain snake craft is a perfect hands-on creative activity. It helps young children develop fine motor skills, recognize colors, practice measurement, and make patterns. The activity suits a reptile, jungle, or Chinese New Year “Year of the Snake” theme.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following basic supplies you probably already have on hand to make this slithery chain-link friend:

light cardstock paper
ruler and pencil
wiggly eyes
scissors
tape
glue stick
glue gun

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Steps to Make a Paper Chain Snake Craft

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To start making a paper chain snake select a sturdy paper in two or more colors. Construction paper or light cardstock is a good choice because it isn’t too heavy to curve into a loop and holds up well for display.

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Next, cut the paper into strips. To make the strips the same-sized width and length, use a pencil and ruler to draw light lines on the paper first. My strips are about 1 ¼ inch wide and 8 ½ inches long. You can make yours shorter and thinner or longer and wider depending on how big you would like the snake to be.

Afterward, form a loop with one paper strip and tape or glue the ends together.

Then add the next link by threading a paper strip through the first loop. Form it into a loop and tape or glue the ends together.

Keep adding paper strips in the same way to make the chain the desired snake body length.

Then draw and cut out a snake head and tail from cardstock. Fold both pieces in half leaving a little section in the middle.

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Afterward, draw a forked tongue on a contrasting color of cardstock and glue it to the bottom of the snake head.

Then glue two wiggly eyes to the head.

Finally, use a glue gun to affix the head to one end of the paper chain snake body and tail to the other.

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Inspired By Chinese Culture

The paper chain snakes in this blog post are inspired by colors spotted in Chinese festivals and artwork. Turquoise, orange, and yellow are hues seen in lion dance performances.

Blue and white color schemes are popular in Chinese ceramics, with flower motifs being common. So as a finishing touch, this next snake is embellished with paper-punched flowers.

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Red and white decorations are feature colors in Chinese New Year celebrations. Red symbolizes celebration and white provides a nice contrast. White paper flowers enhance the snake below too.

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This Chinese New Year signifies “The Year of the Snake“, and the snake craft fits in well with the theme.

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Benefits of The Paper Chain Snake Craft

This slithery snake craft has many benefits for young children. It helps them

develop fine motor control and finger muscle strength as they tape or glue paper strips into loops.
recognize colors and make patterns.
observe and/or help use a glue gun.

The snakes can be measured with a string or a long ruler. They make great pretend pets for little learners.

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More Activities With Snakes

Chinese New Year Chickpea-based Bin

Black Playdough Snakes

Reptile Theme Activities

Reptile Egg Science

String Painting Snake Art

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You may also like:

Unicorn Playdough Tray

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Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

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Don’t forget to share this post on Pinterest or your favorite social media channel. Sharing is caring!

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Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

January 26, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A smiling cat is popular in Lunar New Year décor. This cheerful cat decoration originated in Japan and is an ornament displayed all year round there. In Japanese it is called “maneki-neko”, meaning “beckoning cat”. The joy-filled cat has become popular in Chinese New Year celebrations, often called “Lucky Cat.” This Lucky Cat sensory bin incorporates the festive feline in a super fun early learning tactile activity.

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Lucky Cat Sensory Bin Supplies

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This playful Lunar New Year sensory bin contains the following supplies:

dyed chickpeas
Lucky Cat stuffed animal
miniature cat figurines
toy cat balls with bells
star-shaped snack cup and spoon
gold coins
gold bells
serving tray

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The Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

Many of my Lunar New Year sensory bins have a rice base. Rice fits the theme perfectly as it is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often eaten at all three meals.

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Chickpea-based sensory bins are also a favorite. Chickpea dishes and snacks have become more popular in China in recent years. Most importantly, chickpeas are easy to dye red, a common Lunar New Year color. This Lucky Cat sensory bin features rows of chickpeas dyed in a few gorgeous colors for added beauty.

Note: To find out how to dye chickpeas view the blog post Unicorn Theme Sensory Play.

The joyful jingly Lucky Cat stuffie is the highlight of the bin. The cute character is the motivation for putting the sensory invitation together.