Putting the Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

Christmas

Christmas Tree Decorating Center

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This festive Christmas tree decorating center for early learners features mini trees and child-friendly, nonbreakable decorations.

This Christmas tree decorating center has been a staple in my preschool classroom for many years. I introduce it every year in place of setting up a large Christmas tree. The center is effortless to put up, and the supplies store in one tub. During the festive holiday season, decorations on the tree get put up and taken down by little learners on a regular basis.

In preparation for this tactile center I purchased a variety of small Christmas trees one year just after Christmas Day. They were deeply discounted…around $5.00 Canadian per tree. Now every December I place them on a table covered with a soft white tablecloth and add child-friendly decorations.

Setting Up The Christmas Tree Decorating Center

After arranging the branches on the Christmas trees, I gather small baskets and fill them with non-breakable Christmas decorations.

Baskets of child-friendly decorations for a Christmas tree decorating center.
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Christmas Sensory Play

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Christmas-themed sensory play with festive loose parts in a rice based tray and a water tub.

With a host of seasonal loose parts available to purchase in fall, Christmas sensory play experiences are easy and economical to put together. These two festive tubs are sure to delight your little learners.

Christmas Rice Sensory Tray

Glutinous rice is the base for this tray. The word glutinous means glue-like; the rice does not contain gluten. The grains are super white, showcasing the loose parts in the tray. But any kind of rice would work well.

Christmas-themed rice sensory tray.

Pour a layer of rice into a tray or plastic tub.  Add loose parts from the list below, or substitute accessories you have available. Invite your early learners to explore the tray.

Loose parts:

red, green, and white buttons

ice cube stars, snowmen, and trees

acrylic gem snowflakes and lights

metallic snowflakes

foam Christmas shapes and alphabet letters

candy-striped straws

red bowl and spoon

Christmas-themed loose parts tray for sensory play.

Additional containers for pouring and filling could be included.

Christmas-themed containers for sensory play.
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Beet Science And Sensory Activities

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Beet science and sensory activities. Beet washing station, ordering beets by size, and growing new greens and roots. Links to two festive recipes.

This fall at a greenhouse a display of golden beets caught my attention. They weren’t on my list to buy, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them after I got home. So on my next visit to the garden center, I purchased golden beets and a red bunch too. The showy vegetable inspired beet science and sensory activities that can be introduced on the fly.

Beet Washing Station

Set one or both kinds of beets in a tray with water and a vegetable brush. Invite your early learner to scrub the beets to make their color shine.

Beet washing station with red beets.
Red and golden beets in a beet washing station.
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