Putting The Pretty In Preschool – Page 71 – Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

New Year’s Sensory Tray

January 14, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This New Year’s sensory tray shines bright with gold and silver accents. Two watch heads are the highlight of the bin, and children treasure finding them.

_______

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

_______

The collection of pieces below is all gold with a few silver parts added in. The musical instruments are black, only because the gold finish wore off in previous play! The alphabet letters are cut from “Happy New Year” necklaces.

_______

Gold and silver supplies to use in a New Year's sensory tray. Opportunity to sort and count pieces and make sets. Invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year."

_______

The base ingredient is parboiled rice, as its yellow hue complements the gold tone of the bin. The ingredients are showcased in a silver metal square-shaped tray.

_______

A square-shaped silver metal tray is perfect for showcasing the gold and silver pieces in this New Year's sensory play center.

_______

Items In The New Year’s Sensory Tray:

parboiled rice
antique watch heads set to 12:00
tube confetti
confetti party hats and stars
sequins
foil pieces
tiny balls
beads
pom poms
bead garland strips
tinsel
bells
musical instruments
alphabet letters that spell the wish “Happy New Year”
star dessert cups
spoons

_______

Safari Toob musical instruments would be a stand out in this tray.

_______

Activities To Extend Exploration

Your early learner will enjoy sifting through the sensory tray and filling the star dessert cups with treasures. A few prompts will extend learning opportunities.

_______

New Year's sensory tray with gold and silver pieces. Two antique watch heads are the highlights. This tray offers math, language and sensory opportunities for learning.

_______

Search And Find Challenges

Challenge your child to…

find letter H, Y, etc.
collect five pom poms
shake bells in cupped hands to make music
search for watch heads
find three silver stars and two gold stars
add musical instruments to a star dessert cup

_______

Spelling “Happy New Year”

Cut necklaces into “HAPPY NEW YEAR” sections. Ask your little one to find the letters that make up the New Year’s greeting.

_______

New Year's sensory tray with an invitation to spell the wish "Happy New Year". This tray offers sensory, math and language opportunities for learning.

_______

The gold and silver pieces are not precious metals, but this New Year’s sensory tray has a rich feel that is sure to be inviting.

_______

To create a similar tray, keep an eye out for baubles to recycle from Christmas events or gift openings. As an alternative, you can put together a bright, colorful bin as seen at rubberbootsandelfshoes.

_______

More New Year’s Activities

New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

New Year’s Crafts

New Year’s Countdown Activities

New Year’s Art and Math Activities

_______

[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Noodle Bin

January 10, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Sensory bins are always welcomed by little learners, and this Chinese New Year noodle bin promises to be a hit. And with this bin, you’ll be ready to celebrate the next Chinese New Year, which is on January 25.

To add interest, the noodle-based bin features the Chinese zodiac animal for the year 2020 – a rat! The rodent is a metal rat and is associated with qualities such as industriousness, quick wit, persistence, and kindness.

_______

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2019)

Year Of The Ox Sensory Tray (Chinese New Year 2021)

Year Of The Tiger Chickpea Bin (Chinese New Year 2022)

Year Of The Rabbit Sensory Bin (Chinese New Year 2023)

_______

Supplies In The Chinese New Year Noodle Bin

This bright and cheery Chinese New Year noodle bin has a "year of the rat" theme. Your little learners will love to explore it.

_______

The bin used is a square silver metal tray. The noodle base is a package of German egg pasta, selected for its gold color.

_______

Loose parts for a Chinese New Year noodle bin with a "year of the rat" theme.

_______

In addition to the noodles, the following loose parts are in the bin:

rat figurine
gold play coins
coin purse
red buttons
pink and white cherry blossoms
silver and red balls cut from garland
bead garland strips
silver bells
red tassels cut from hanging decorations
gold miniature present, bow, and drum decorations

_______

The Year Of The Rat Noodle Bin

_______

The German egg pasta is layered in the bottom of the “year of the rat” bin.

Red and gold are common Chinese New Year colors, so there are plenty of loose parts in both hues.

The official metal rat color is white. My rat is grey, as that’s the color I have handy. The grey metal tray and silver bells and beads are intended to match it.

Since rats do not have a good reputation, little learners may be hesitant to play with the toy rodent. So flowers and tassels are intentionally added to the bin to soften up the look and feel. Tassels are a staple in Chinese New Year decorations, and the flowers represent the coming of spring.

_______

For more early learning play ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

_______

[Read more…]

Happy New Year Art And Math Activities

December 30, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

In a few days, we will celebrate the beginning of a new year. If you are looking for no-fuss activities for your child to start the year with these simple art and math projects fit the bill. Offer them at home or save them for the first days back at school in January.

_______

Related: 2025 New Year’s Crafts

_______

2025 New Year Keepsake Supplies

For this first craft, gather the following supplies:

golden glitter cardstock
tan cardstock
8 ½ x 11-inch cream cardstock
gold sequins, stars, balls, and confetti
gold glitter
gold glitter glue
glue paddle
collage containers
pencil
scissors
metallic gold felt pen
glue stick
glue gun

The 2025 New Year Keepsake Craft

Trace your child’s hand on a piece of tan cardstock, or let your child do the tracing.

Help your child cut out the hand.

Add gold glitter glue and collage items to small containers.

Set the collage items, glue, glue paddle, and paper hand on a table.

Decorate handprints with glitter glue and gold stars, sequins, confetti, and glitter. A collage activity for all ages.

_______

Invite your child to glam up the hand with gold-colored collage items.

Sprinkle on gold glitter and confetti at the end for an added dose of glitz.

Let the handprint dry.

Cut a pair of number two shapes and one number five shape from golden glitter cardstock.

On cream-colored cardstock, help your child use a glue stick to tack on a number two, the decorated paper hand, another number two, and the number 5. Reinforce the shapes with a glue gun if needed.

Add the words “Here I Come” underneath the number 2025 with a metallic gold felt pen.

Glitter paper and gold collage items are front and center in this 2020 handprint art activity. An easy to make New Year's keepsake suitable for children of all ages.

_______

To introduce a simple version of this art project, trace and cut out a couple of number twos, a number five, and a hand from white cardstock. Let your child color the paper hand and numbers, and glue them onto a contrasting background.

Feel free to download this template to use for the numbers.

_______

2025 Here I Come Gold PrintableDownload

_______

For more 2025 templates, view my blog post “New Year’s Crafts.”

_______

New Year Countdown Fireworks Picture

This second activity gives practice in number recognition and counting down from 10 to 1. It does double duty as an art activity.

Supplies Needed:

Happy New Year printable (download below)
scissors
three toilet paper rolls
magenta, yellow, and light blue tempera paint
small plates or lids
paintbrushes

New Year's Countdown template to use for art and math activities with young children. Invitation to add paint print fireworks, count down from 10 t0 1 and match numbers.

_______

Download this “Happy New Year” printable on 11-inch by 17-inch paper, or 8 ½ x 11-inch paper.

Happy New Year PrintableDownload

This printable was created in PicMonkey and is for individual and one classroom use only.

_______

Paper Roll Firework Paint Project Set-Up

For this second New Year’s activity, cut fringes into one end of three toilet paper rolls.

Bend the fringes on each paper roll outward.

Pour magenta, yellow, and light blue paint into small plates or lids.

Set the paints, paper rolls, and paper on a table covered with a waterproof tablecloth.

Ring in the new year with your early learners by introducing an activity to make toilet roll and paint fireworks. Use the Happy New Year printable to count down from 10 to 1.

_______

Ask your child to dip the fringed end of each paper roll into a color of paint and make a firework print on the printable.

Encourage your child to add more prints in each paint color to the page.

Tip: Try this on a practice sheet first.

Practice making paint print fireworks on a piece of scrap paper before making prints on the Happy New Year printable.

_______

For more control, paint the fringed ends with a brush instead of dipping them in paint.

Toilet paper roll firework paint prints. For added control, paint the fringes of the paper roll and press onto the Happy New Year printable to create fireworks.

_______

A paper roll and paint art activity to ring in the new year with. Introduce this activity with your early learners using this Happy New Year printable. Incorporate math by having children count down from 10 to 1 and match numbers by adding numerical stickers.

_______

To incorporate number recognition and matching practice, ask your child to cover the numbers 10 to 1 with numerical stickers.

________

These two art and math activities are sure to help your child start the new year off on a positive note. I hope 2025 will be fabulous for you and your loved ones!

_______

More New Year’s Activities

New Year’s Eve Sensory Tray

New Year’s All Gold Sensory Activity

New Year’s Crafts

New Year’s Sensory Tray

New Year’s Countdown Activities

_______

[Read more…]

Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

December 21, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Handprint Angel Christmas craft with silver metallic leaf wings. An easy to make keepsake craft that all children can do.

_______

There are so many adorable handprint crafts, and the choices for Christmas are incredible. One of my favorites is a handprint angel. It is a cute craft that doubles as an adorable keepsake. It is also a piece of cake to make and can be whipped up at the last minute.

_______

Supplies To Collect

white tempera paint
pie plate or small tray
grey fade-resistant cardstock
cream colored fade-resistant cardstock
grey-based patterned 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock
stem with silver metallic leaves
circle tracer (juice lid size)
pencil
children’s scissors
craft scissors
glue stick
glue gun
silver glitter

_______

Making The Handprint Angel

This craft can be done independently by older children, or as an adult-child collaborative project with preschoolers.

Cut individual metallic leaves from the leaf stem with a pair of craft scissors.

_______

_______

Have your child make a handprint with white paint on grey cardstock.

Invitation to make a handprint with white paint on grey paper.

_______

When dry, cut out the handprint or have your child do so.

Invite your child to trace a circle onto cream-colored cardstock and cut it out.

Invitation to trace and cut a circle for the face of a handprint angel.

_______

Ask your child to draw a face on the circle with a pencil.

Help your child glue the handprint, face, and metallic leaf wings onto grey-based patterned cardstock to create an angel. Use a glue gun to help secure the wings.

_______

Have your child make an oval swirl on top of the angel’s head for a halo.

Invitation to swirl an oval shape above the angel's head with a glue stick for a halo.

_______

Invite your child to shake silver glitter over the glue swirl.

Invitation to add a silver glitter halo to a handprint angel.

_______

Handprint Angel Holiday Greeting

If you like, a favorite holiday greeting can be added to the craft for a finishing touch.

Handprint angel craft with the caption "Merry Christmas." An easy to make keepsake all children can create.

_______

Feel free to download this printable and use one of the holiday greetings for your craft.

Printable with the seasonal greetings "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." This printable coordinates with the Handprint Angel Christmas keepsake.

______

Holiday Greeting Printable Download

_______

A handprint angel craft with the caption "Merry Christmas." An easy to make keepsake all children can create.

_______

This handprint angel picture is made in white, cream, silver, and grey tones. The inspiration was a stem of metallic silver leaves found at a local dollar store. Traditional Christmas colors or your favorite color scheme would work wonderfully for this keepsake.

_______

For an exquisite Seashell Angel Christmas Ornament craft, view the tutorial at hellowonderful.co.

_______

[Read more…]

Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity

December 18, 2019 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Super fun Santa's beard scissor skill activity. Scissor use tips and guidelines are included.

_______

This Santa’s beard scissor activity is a fun way to introduce cutting practice. The combination of a favorite activity (using scissors) and a well-loved character (Santa Claus) is a win-win. Snipping the beard strands adds a challenge, as yarn is more difficult to cut than paper.

By participating in cutting activities, early learners grow in their physical development. They get practice in bilateral coordination: using hands and fingers on both sides of the body at the same time to do two different things. Hand muscles are strengthened. And eye-hand coordination (being able to cut with one hand while following the movement of scissors with the eyes) is improved.

_______

Setting Up The Santa’s Beard Scissor Activity

Materials needed:

threadable Santa head wall décor

white yarn

30-cm / 12-inch ruler

children’s scissors

white duct tape

_______

Preparing The Scissor Activity

Cut yarn into 60-cm / 24-inch strips using a standard ruler as a guide.

Cut strips of yarn in 60-cm/24-inch sections to string through Santa head wall decor. A scissor practice activity for young children.

_______

Thread yarn through Santa’s chin to enhance his beard.

Repurpose Santa Head Wall Decor as a scissor skill activity. String white yarn to enhance Santa's beard and prepare it for cutting.

_______

Repurposed wall decor Santa with enhanced yarn beard for cutting. A super fun scissor skill activity for young children.

_______

Add a layer of white duct tape at the back to stabilize the yarn.

Back view of Santa Head Wall Decor. A strip of white duct tape stabilizes the threaded yarn beard extensions. A scissor activity for young children.

_______

Place the Santa head on a table with a pair of children’s scissors for an invitation to trim his beard.

An invitation to trim Santa's beard with repurposed wall decor. A scissor skill activity for young children.

_______

Tip: Santa can be placed sideways on a table. Then children can hold a section of Santa’s beard with their nondominant helping hand and cut the beard in the direction away from their body with their dominant cutting hand.

_______

Choosing Scissors

Scissors offered should have blunt edges. Fiskars children’s scissors are highly regarded by teachers.

_______

Scissor Use Technique

Thumbs on each hand point up.

The thumb in the cutting hand goes in the small hole of the scissors.

The middle and index finger go in the larger hole. The ring and pinky finger curl under the scissors into the palm.

Elbows are positioned near the ribs.

Scissors are held at least 8 inches from the face and pointed away from the body.

The non-dominant “helping hand” holds the paper and moves it during the cutting process.

Tip: To help children remember to keep their thumb up, place two googly “crocodile eyes” on top of the scissors. Encourage children to “snap like a crocodile opening and closing his mouth.”

_______

Santa head wall decor repurposed as a beard trimming scissor activity for young children. The white yarn is threaded through Santa's chin to add beard extensions perfect for cutting.

_______

Guidelines For Using Scissors

Young children need supervision when using scissors. These guidelines are helpful to discuss with them:

Cut only paper or the assigned cutting materials.

Do not cut your own or others’ hair, lips, fingers, or clothes.

Do not cut toys.

No running with scissors.

When walking with scissors, hold the scissors closed and pointing down. (The need for walking with scissors should be minimized.)

_______

Scissor Skill Progression

Using scissors is challenging for early learners. With plenty of practice, cutting will improve and get less messy. Scissor skills are not fully developed until children are six years old.

_______

Alternatives To Using Santa Head Wall Decor

A yarn-bearded Santa can be crafted from a paper plate. Or a Santa to embellish can be cut from a Christmas card or gift bag.

Invitation to trim gift bag Santa's beard.

_______

A “Trim The Beard Paper Plate Santa” activity is featured on kidscraftroom.com .

_______

A Santa’s beard scissor activity can be offered before Christmas, so Santa can be “Christmas Eve ready.” Or it can be set out after Christmas Day…because then Santa finally has time for self-care!

_______

[Read more…]