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Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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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…] about Origami Heart Valentines

Filed Under: art, crafts, preschool, Valentine's Day Tagged With: hearts, origami, paper crafts, Valentine's Day

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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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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…] about Reptile Pet Store Center

Filed Under: dramatic play, pets, preschool, pretend play, reptiles, science Tagged With: dramatic play, lizards, pretend play, snakes, turtles

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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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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

Set up this magical unicorn playdough tray early learners will love. The best homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

This beautiful teacup and peony sensory tray allows for practice with scissors skills and eye-hand coordination. Peony facts are included.

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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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© Annette Kaminsky January 29, 2025

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Filed Under: art, Chinese New Year, crafts, Math, preschool, reptiles Tagged With: color, Lunar New Year, paper crafts, snakes

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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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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.

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Miniature cat figurines give more opportunities for more feline exploration.

Toy cat balls with bells are an unexpected sensory and musical addition.

Gold coins and bells fit the Lunar New Year theme, and are a standard go-to.

A star-shaped snack cup and spoon give opportunities for scooping and pouring.

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All the supplies are showcased in a round serving tray for one or two children to explore.

This Lucky Cat sensory bin is bound to be a hit with your little charges.

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More Lunar New Year Activities

Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

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

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Dragon Necklace Craft

Chinese New Year Sensory Play

Chinese Money Tree Activities

Easy to do, creative Chinese money tree activities that give early learners a chance to use shiny gold coins and loose parts in art and sensory play while learning about a world-renowned celebration.

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Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

Cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise add fun to an orange-scented playdough invitation.

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Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese Zodiac Sensory Bins

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[Read more…] about Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

Filed Under: Chinese New Year, preschool, sensory, themes Tagged With: Chinese New Year, loose parts, sensory bin, sensory play

Easy DIY Black Playdough

January 25, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This easy DIY black playdough is sleek, shiny, and oh-so-easy to make. The no-cook recipe pairs perfectly with a snake theme as it is super stretchy. Using it this month also works well with Lunar New Year “Year of the Snake“ activities.

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Easy DIY Black Playdough Ingredients

Gather the following supplies for this black playdough recipe:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp black gel icing color
  • ½ tsp glycerin
  • large bowl
  • measuring cup
  • mixing spoon

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Making the No-Cook Black Playdough

This black playdough recipe can be made quickly. Here are the instructions:

  • Add two cups of flour to a serving bowl.
  • Pour in 1 cup of salt.
  • Add 1 cup of water.
  • Measure in 2 tbsp vegetable oil.
  • Drop in 1 tsp black gel icing color.
  • Add ½ tsp glycerin.
  • Stir all the ingredients together with a mixing spoon until it becomes thick. Then take the playdough out of the bowl and knead it thoroughly.

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The nice thing about this playdough is that you can play around with the ingredients and it will turn out just fine. If the dough is a little dry, add in a tiny bit more water, glycerin, or oil. If it is a little moist, add a small amount of flour. Kneading the ingredients thoroughly makes it moldable.

If the playdough looks more grey than black measure in more black gel icing color. Note: The playdough will get a little darker over time so it doesn’t need to look all-black immediately.

For additional shine, add a teaspoon more glycerin.

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Little hands will look greenish after making and using the playdough because of the intense black gel color. The gel color is edible, and hands should be their normal hue again after a few washes.

This easy DIY black playdough recipe is super shiny and has a lot of stretch. It becomes a little like slime when reused…how fun!

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Year of the Snake Playdough Invitation

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The homemade black playdough recipe makes a great 2025 Lunar New Year (Year of the Snake) or a reptile-themed activity. Add white beads, small wiggly eyes, and cardstock paper forked tongues. Then invite participants to create beautiful black and white snakes.

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Reusing the Black Playdough

This show-stopping black playdough can be used a few times. When finished playing with it, store it in saran wrap and put it in a sealed container. Place the dough in the fridge if you wish. Keep a little oil and flour on hand to mix in when you pull the shiny black playdough out a second and third time. The dough may be a little moist but will soon be pliable when the two ingredients are kneaded in.

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No Cook Versus Cooked Playdough Recipes

Cooked playdough is long-lasting if stored properly. It is delightful to use, and I love its properties.

When making cooked playdough, take note of the following:

  • You need a stove to heat up the recipe, or a kettle to heat water.
  • Most cooked recipes use cream of tartar, a rather expensive ingredient.
  • The recipe must be made carefully according to the instructions, or it will be too sticky or dry.
  • It is hard to fix the dough when it is too sticky…I haven’t had much luck with that!

But I love cooked playdough and have made it many times. It is a great choice if you are making a batch ahead of time.

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In the last while I’ve tried more no-cook playdough recipes, selecting ones that do not use boiling water. This is because:

  • It is easy to include children in making the playdough as there is no need to worry about burns from a hot mixture or stove. And children love helping!
  • If the ingredients in a recipe are tweaked the playdough will still usually turn out fine. Thorough kneading is key for this.
  • The recipes do not usually need cream of tartar, which is an additional cost and may not be an ingredient you have on hand.

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[Read more…] about Easy DIY Black Playdough

Filed Under: Chinese New Year, playdough, preschool, reptiles, sensory Tagged With: Lunar New Year, playdough, snakes

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky, a preschool teacher who loves sharing learning through play activities for young children. Thanks for visiting my site. Feel free to stay awhile!

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