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Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

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loose parts

Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play

January 23, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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The weather is super snowy and cold in my part of the world right now, and this Snowflake Café dramatic play center fits right in. The center incorporates many loose parts, which little learners love to use in imaginative ways.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Snowflake Restaurant Supplies

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The following supplies are in the snowflake café set up:

  • acrylic snowflakes and gems
  • white styrofoam balls
  • felt, foam, and wooden snowflakes
  • ice cream play food
  • iridescent bead necklaces
  • snowflake-themed bells
  • metal trays, cookie pans, and muffin tray
  • frosted disposable goblets
  • disposable plates
  • clear spoons and forks
  • play coffee machine and cups
  • play money
  • restaurant signs and menu items
  • table and chairs with a vase of flowers

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The Snowflake Cafe

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The color scheme for the winter-themed Snowflake Café dramatic play center is blue, white, silver, and gold.

Snowflakes in various sizes and materials make up a large part of the play food. In checking my supplies and scouring stores in our area I found them in felt, foam, acrylic, and wood.

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The wooden snowflakes are painted with gold, silver, or shades of blue acrylic craft paint to match the color scheme.

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Including play spaghetti in my dramatic play centers is so fun. In the café iridescent necklaces cut into strips are the noodles, and small snowflake-themed bells are the meatballs.

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Styrofoam balls are snow cupcakes or muffins.

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Disposable frosted goblets and silver trays add elegance to the center.

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Little learners love to mix and match supplies in the snowflake café and use their imagination to decide what play food the loose parts will be. They relish in preparing food, serving it to customers, and handling play money.

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Variation Of The Snowflake Cafe

Below, the loose parts and clear tableware in the Snowflake Cafe along with a few additional supplies set the tone for an inviting dining experience on the light table.

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Related:

Winter Pretend Play Tablescape

Lemonade Stand Dramatic Play

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[Read more…] about Snowflake Cafe Dramatic Play

Filed Under: dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, sensory, winter Tagged With: dramatic play, loose parts, snowflakes

Christmas Small World on the Light Table

December 14, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Transparent Christmas trees are the inspiration for this whimsical Christmas small world on the light table. They illuminate beautifully and pair with a variety of loose parts for creative and imaginative seasonal play.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Light Table Small World Supplies

The following supplies are included in the Christmas small world setup:

  • transparent Christmas trees in green, red, pink, and clear colors
  • clear acrylic deer figurines
  • clear acrylic snowman figurine
  • acrylic clear nativity decoration
  • pink transparent pebbles
  • small wooden shelters
  • wooden peg dolls painted red, green, pink, and white

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The Christmas Small World

In this Christmas small world, transparent trees in red, green, pink, and clear hues set the color scheme.

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Wooden peg dolls painted with acrylic paints in red, pink, green, and white colors complement the trees.

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Clear acrylic deer and a snowman are beautiful ornaments to explore.

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Transparent pink pebbles are a soft touch.

A simple nativity decoration enhances the Christmas small world theme.

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Making Your Own Transparent Trees

An alternative to purchasing transparent trees is to create your own.

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The trees above are made from transparent page dividers and paper rolls. To make them, cut paper rolls into two-inch cylinders. Next, cut a one-inch slit into opposite sides of each paper roll section. Then cut triangular trees from transparent page dividers.

Feel free to download this template to create the trees.

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Paper Roll Tree PatternDownload

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Slide the bottom of the trees into the paper roll trunks and set them on your light table or another tabletop. These DIY trees also illuminate nicely.

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More Christmas Activities

Christmas Peppermint Sensory Bin

Paper Bag Christmas Ornaments

CD Case Christmas Craft

Plaid-themed Christmas Rice Bin

Christmas Sheep Craft

Christmas Treasure Blocks

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[Read more…] about Christmas Small World on the Light Table

Filed Under: Christmas, light table, preschool, pretend play, sensory, trees, winter Tagged With: light table, loose parts, snowmen, trees

Turkey Playdough Tray

November 5, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Turkeys are a big part of fall, and this turkey playdough tray celebrates them. Three rich fall playdough colors are featured, along with turkey-themed loose parts.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Turkey Playdough Ingredients

All three playdough colors in the tray are made with my go-to basic recipe, with an icing color added.

For the orange playdough, gather the following ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • orange icing color
  • 3 tablespoons oil

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How To Make Turkey Playdough

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To make the orange playdough, start by adding the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mixing them together.

Next, mix a half teaspoon of orange icing color in two cups of water, stirring well. Then blend in 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the oily, colored water to the dry ingredients and combine.

Afterward, heat the pot on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Then scoop the dough onto a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding one tablespoon more oil.

Finally, store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

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Gold and Copper Playdough Colors

To make the gold playdough, stir a generous amount of buttercup yellow icing color into the water before mixing it with the oil and dry ingredients.

To make the copper playdough, stir in copper icing color instead of orange or yellow.

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Turkey Playdough Loose Parts

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Including loose parts in the turkey playdough invitation adds interest and offers more opportunities to develop finger and hand strength. The following loose parts are in the tray:

  • turkey game counters
  • life-like turkey figurine
  • pioneer and turkey cookie cutters
  • turkey wooden beads
  • turkey ring and cupcake topper
  • orange, red, and yellow spherical beads
  • yellow, orange, and red feathers
  • spotted brown feathers
  • small wiggly eyes
  • red and tan pipe cleaner sections

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Turkey Playdough Invitation

The orange, buttercup yellow, and copper playdough hues are complementary colors, so they go well together.

The turkey and pioneer cookie cutters are on point with the theme.

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Little learners have the opportunity to craft a turkey using playdough, feathers, and wiggly eyes. Cut and bent pipe cleaners work well for creating turkey feet and snoods.

The turkey counters and life-like turkey figurine provide models for creating playdough turkeys and are great for incorporating counting activities.

The fall-hued beads, turkey ring, and cupcake topper add interest to the manipulative play invitation.

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Besides being appropriate for a Thanksgiving or turkey theme, the beautiful playdough colors in the tray are perfect for any fall theme.

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More Turkey Activities

Paper Plate Turkey Craft

Turkey Sensory Tubes

Coffee Playdough Turkey

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[Read more…] about Turkey Playdough Tray

Filed Under: autumn, fall, farm animals, playdough, preschool, Thanksgiving Day Tagged With: farm animals, loose parts, playdough, Thanksgiving Day, turkeys

Apple Playdough Tray

October 15, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Tis the season of all things apple, and here’s a tantalizing apple playdough tray to add to your rotation of fall activities. It features playdough in three different scents and colors. The aromatic apple-themed sensory activity also works well for a nutrition or fruit and vegetable theme.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Recipe

Gather the following easy-to-find supplies for this silky apple-scented playdough recipe:

  • apple-scented hair conditioner
  • cornstarch
  • large bowl
  • green food coloring
  • measuring cup
  • spoon for stirring

To make the simple no-cook recipe, first scoop 2 parts of cornstarch into a large bowl. Next, add one part apple-scented hair conditioner and mix it with the cornstarch using a stirring spoon. Then knead the scented dough ingredients together to make a smooth dough. If the dough is a bit crumbly, add a tad more hair conditioner. If it is a little slimy, add a bit more cornstarch. A playdough recipe couldn’t be any easier to make.

Apple themed playdough invitation with apple cutting board, ice cube tray, cookie cutters, leaves, and gems.

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Optional: Mix in a generous amount of green food coloring with the apple-scented hair conditioner before adding it to the cornstarch to get a light green color of playdough. You can also add the food coloring at the end. In this case, the playdough will look marbled with green at first and turn an even shade of light green after it has been used in a playdough invitation.

While you are making this recipe, it may not look like it will form a smooth playdough. Be assured that it will.

This dough becomes more mouldable as it is being handled. Round balls and other shapes are easy to form once it is warmed up a little with little human hands!

When using the dough for a second or third time, set it out and let learners add a tad more conditioner to their dough. If it gets a little mushy, have them work in a bit of cornstarch. They will love doing this.

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Apple-Scented Playdough Variations

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Since many apples come in varying combinations of red, green, and yellow hues, you can use other conditioner colors such as strawberry hair conditioner with red food coloring added to make red dough, and coconut hair conditioner with yellow food coloring added to make yellow dough.

Color mixing is a favorite activity for little learners, and they will relish the chance to mix all three colors of playdough together.

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Apple Playdough Tray

This apple playdough tray is easy to set up for little learners. Three colors of playdough are featured, but little learners would be more than happy to use only one scented playdough variety for the activity.

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In the tray are:

  • red, green, and yellow playdough
  • apple cookie cutters
  • alphabet letter wood stamps
  • leaf pie edgers
  • red, green, and yellow acrylic apple gems
  • green, red, and yellow apple counters
  • yellow, green, and red beads
  • brown pipe cleaners
  • drinking straws

Scented hair conditioner is an effortless ingredient to use in playdough, especially when only one or two other ingredients are required. Checking for it at dollar stores is an economical alternative.

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Having a bulk container of cornstarch ensures that there will be enough of this ingredient to make the playdough for a group of students. Using one cup of cornstarch to one-half cup of conditioner makes a recipe big enough for one or two children to share.

Loose parts such as yellow, green, and red apple counters, acrylic gems, and beads add interest to the tray.

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Pipe cleaners cut in half and wrapped around a pencil make curly caterpillars. Cut straws can be used to poke holes in the playdough and represent how caterpillars dig holes in apples and burrow inside.

Lowercase alphabet letter wood stamps offer an opportunity to spell the word apple.

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More Apple Activities

For more apple-themed activities, check out the following blog posts:

Apple Theme Activities

Watercolor Apples With Markers

Apple Print Activities

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[Read more…] about Apple Playdough Tray

Filed Under: apples, autumn, fall, preschool, sensory, trees Tagged With: apples, loose parts, playdough, scented playdough, sensory tray

Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

July 28, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This circus pretend play tablescape adds a whole lotta color to and fun a circus theme. Many interesting loose inspire imaginative play.

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It’s all about the food in this circus pretend play tablescape that is sure to be popular with your little learners. And there is plenty of colorful loose parts to spark the imagination.

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Circus-Themed Tablescape Supplies

Bright and cheery loose parts add plenty of color to a super fun circus pretend play tablescape your little learners will absolutely love.

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Bright, colorful décor is a good fit for a circus play tablescape. Here are the featured supplies:

  • popcorn play food set
  • play food hot dog set
  • play food chips
  • cookie pan
  • metal bowl
  • clear storage containers
  • clown-themed cookie tin
  • heart-shaped mini storage containers
  • circus-themed party plates
  • play cutlery, cups, and serving utensils
  • flowers in a vase
  • container with blue, red, and yellow pompoms
  • nesting cookie cutters
  • magnetic toy spinners
  • gold bead garland
  • painted wooden beads
  • yellow tablecloth

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The Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

In any theme, having coordinating accessories in a dramatic play center facilitates interest in the topics introduced, and allows for many learning through play opportunities.

Circus party plates guide the color scheme for this tablescape. The hues of the other supplies chosen coordinate with the plates.

This circus pretend play tablescape adds a whole lotta color and fun to a circus theme. Many interesting loose inspire imaginative play.

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Note: Animals are not used in many circus shows anymore, something I highly support. These plates had been in my circus theme box for many years, so I decided to use them for this reason.

Hot dog and popcorn play sets, as well as chips are some of the play food choices on the table. Bead garland cut into strips makes good pretend spaghetti and red pompoms serve as the meatballs.

Magnetic toy spinners bring a whole lotta color and make great pretend cookies or pancakes.

Other multicolored loose parts are nesting cookie cutters, heart-shaped storage containers, painted wooden beads, and pompoms.

A clown-themed cookie tin, another prop I had saved for a long time, adds an element of fun to the table décor.

A sprig of orange artificial flowers set in a vase rounds out the cheery supplies on the tablescape.

Bright and cheery loose parts add plenty of color to this super fun circus pretend play tablescape your little learners will absolutely love.

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Variations Of This Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

Many of the supplies in this tablescape can be used in a circus food stand, another dramatic play center little learners would absolutely love.

The supplies can be set in appliances and on shelves in a pretend play kitchen center instead of being arranged in a tablescape display.

And … even adding just a few of the circus dramatic play supplies listed would add interest to an activity center and spark new play ideas.

What would you add to this circus pretend play tablescape? Share in a comment below.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Related:

Circus Playdough Tray

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

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[Read more…] about Circus Pretend Play Tablescape

Filed Under: circus, dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, sensory Tagged With: circus, dramatic play, loose parts, pretend play, sensory play, tablescapes

Space Restaurant Dramatic Play

July 18, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Metallic silver and gold parts shine in this space restaurant dramatic play center your little learners will love to explore.
Metallic silver and gold parts shine in this space restaurant dramatic play center your little learners will love to explore.

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A space restaurant dramatic play center is one of the most fun pretend play activities you can offer your little learners. Loose parts shine in this center, offering a plethora of opportunities for creativity and imagining.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Break out all the metallic silver and gold loose parts you have for this shiny, inviting dramatic play center. The following are ideas for supplies to gather:

Gather a variety of metallic silver and gold loose parts to set up a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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  • aluminum foil pie pans, tart pans, and storage containers
  • silver muffin pans
  • metal pitcher, tongs, bowls, and trays
  • disposable clear stemware, forks, and spoons
  • reusable star-shaped ice cubes
  • gold and silver bead necklaces and garland
  • clear discs
  • gold star-shaped stickers
  • round silver and gold gem stickers
  • metallic silver pipe cleaners
  • juice lids
  • styrofoam balls
  • large silver or gold bells
  • foil alphabet letters and spray centerpiece
  • silver tablecloth
  • glue gun, scissors, and painter’s tape

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The Space Restaurant Dramatic Play Center

In this out-of-this-world pretend play center, the words “Space Restaurant” are tacked on a wall with painter’s tape, and aluminum foil pans and storage containers are displayed beneath it for decoration and ambiance.

SIlver foil letters and aluminum foil containers and pans taped on a wall add ambiance to a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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A space-themed dining table is set up by adding a metallic silver tablecloth and a foil spray centerpiece.

Table settings include aluminum pie pan plates and transparent cutlery. Clear, disposable stemware glasses are decorated with gold star stickers to fancy them up.

Gold star stickers positioned on clear stemware add flare to a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Dainty teacups are created by gluing metallic silver pipe cleaner handles to aluminum foil tart pans, and then affixing them to metal juice lids.

DIY aluminum foil teacups for a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Shiny, metal serving trays and star-shaped dessert cups add elegance.

Large silver or gold bells make great pretend muffins and add a musical element.

Large silver ingle bells are repurposed as muffins in a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Clear discs are repurposed as space pancakes.

Clear discs are repurposed as pancakes in a space restaurant dramatic play center.

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Pretend play chocolate chip cookies are created by adding round silver and gold gem stickers to juice lids.

Round adhesive gem stickers added to juice lids make great chocolate chip cookies in a space restaurant pretend play center.

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Styrofoam balls are muffins or snowball-themed desserts. They can be painted with silver or gold acrylic paint to add glitz.

Gold and silver bead necklaces cut into strips are spaghetti noodles, and larger bead balls cut from bead garland are the meatballs. The play spaghetti can be stored in a big silver bowl and served with metal tongs.

Metallic silver and gold loose parts make great play food for a space restaurtant dramatic play center.

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More Space-Themed Play

For additional space-themed ambiance, a colored light can be positioned to illuminate the restaurant table.

A professional stage light adds flare in outer space pretend play tablescape set up.

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Early learners may be inspired to add loose parts from other activity centers to the space restaurant. Below, participants included crater-filled yellow “moons” and large diamond crystal gems to the spaghetti play food.

Bead necklace and garland spaghetti with added loose parts make great space restaurant play food.

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The supplies in this post can also be included in a space-themed play kitchen setup.

What would you add to this space restaurant dramatic play center? Share your ideas in a comment below.

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Related:

Space Father’s Day Craft

Scented Moon Playdough

Salt and Glue Moon Art

White Lilacs and Black Playdough

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[Read more…] about Space Restaurant Dramatic Play

Filed Under: dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, sensory, space, themes Tagged With: dramatic play, loose parts, pretend play, sensory play, space, spaceships

Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

March 27, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Set up this super colorful spring bunny play tablescape in minutes. Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in the setup.
Set up this super colorful spring bunny play tablescape in minutes. Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in the setup.

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Bunnies are a symbol of spring, and can easily be spotted hopping around neighborhoods at this time of year. They are associated with abundance, rebirth, new beginnings, and fertility. And just as these four-legged garden lovers are prevalent outdoors, bunny-themed accessories are easy to snag in stores at the moment. Here’s a collection of accessories featured in a spring bunny play tablescape.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Spring Bunny Tablescape Supplies

Bunny-themed loose parts for a spring dramatic play tablescape your little learners will love to play in.

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The following bunny-themed supplies are featured in the colorful pretend play setup:

  • paper plates and cutlery
  • clear disposable goblets
  • serving bowls
  • carrot-shaped treat holders
  • bowling pins
  • bunny builder construction toy
  • large pompom balls
  • erasers
  • foam beads
  • squish bunny party favors
  • cookie cutters
  • miniature stuffed bunny
  • fillable bunnies
  • hopping bunny and basket game
  • artificial spring branch

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The Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in this super fun Easter bunny dramatic play invitation.

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The list above shows the possibilities for collecting accessories for this vibrant dramatic play invitation. Just a few of the supplies will keep a play kitchen center interesting and engaging.

Game pieces and fillable treat holders work wonderfully as play kitchen loose parts.

Early learners will use their imagination to turn these loose parts into muffins, cookies, candies, and other kinds of food.

During the spring season, these kinds of supplies are prevalent at dollar and discount stores, and in the seasonal section of most grocery stores.

A super fun bunny pretend play invitation that is quick and easy to set up. It's perfect for an Easter or spring theme.

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This bunny-themed play tablescape works well during the Easter season and can be offered as part of a spring theme.

A super fun bunny dramatic play invitation that is quick and easy to set up. It's perfect for an Easter or spring theme.

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Related:

Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Lemon-Inspired Play Kitchen

Watermelon Dramatic Play

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Penguin Pretend Play Tablescape

Chinese New Year Tablescape

Valentine’s Day Pretend Play

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Set up this super colorful Easter bunny play tablescape in minutes. Bunny-themed loose parts take center stage in the setup.

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[Read more…] about Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

Filed Under: dramatic play, Easter, preschool, pretend play, sensory, spring, themes Tagged With: bunnies, dramatic play, Easter, loose parts, play kitchen, pretend play, spring, tablescapes

Spring Bunny Rice Bin

March 26, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Usher in spring in fashion with this bunny rice bin. A long-legged bunny and green and white eggs and loose parts are in the bin.
Usher in spring in fashion with this bunny rice bin. A long-legged bunny and green and white eggs and loose parts are in the bin.

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We’re ready for warmer weather, and this spring bunny rice bin is definitely helping to usher it in. The green and white seasonal color scheme is inspired by beautiful bunny-themed eggs discovered on a shopping run.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

This spring bunny loose parts tray features green and white bunnies, eggs, and loose parts.

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For this calming rice bin, gather the following supplies:

  • stuffed Easter bunny
  • decorative Easter eggs
  • Easter basket
  • shredded Easter grass
  • bunny erasers
  • marbles
  • container caps
  • transparent triangles
  • bendable bunny figurine
  • Easter grass
  • glutinous rice
  • bus tub

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The Spring Bunny Rice Bin

The bin of choice is a white bus tub. It is large enough to fit a variety of contents and is suitable for 2-3 children to use at once.

The base for this bin is white glutinous rice. It is my absolute favorite base because it showcases the supplies in a bin so well.

The sensory bin theme is inspired by decorative green and white eggs snapped up at a dollar store on a routine shopping run.

This green and white bunny-themed rice bin gives you all the feels. Loose parts coordinate with the bunnies and eggs in the bin.

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It took a little while to find a matching stuffed bunny, but eventually, I discovered a unique one at another dollar store. The sprawling bunny adds character to the bin.

Green paper Easter grass adds texture to the glutinous rice base.

An Easter basket, bendable bunny, and bunny erasers all in green come from my Easter theme storage tub.

And green transparent triangles, marbles, and container caps picked from my loose parts collection round out the supplies in the bin.

This green and white bunny-themed rice bin gives you all the feels. Loose parts coordinate with the bunnies and eggs in the bin.

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Any color scheme will work wonderfully for this spring bunny rice bin. Selecting two or three feature colors for the bin makes setting it up that much more fun.

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Was this post helpful? Share in a comment below.

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More Bunny Activities

Easter Bunny Sensory Bins

Silhouette Bunny Art

Spring Bunny Canvas Art

Bunny Rolling Pin Art

Bunny Candy Art

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[Read more…] about Spring Bunny Rice Bin

Filed Under: Easter, preschool, sensory, spring Tagged With: bunnies, Easter, loose parts, sensory bin, sensory play, spring

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

March 16, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This St. Patrick's Day playdough tray will help children celebrate the special day. Two no-cook homemade playdough recipes are featured.
This St. Patrick's Day playdough tray will help children celebrate the special day. Two no-cook homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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It’s nice to have a new clump of playdough for every theme, and this recipe is my pick for St. Patrick’s Day. It is an easy-to-make, no-cook playdough that keeps well. In this post, the dough is showcased in a St. Patrick’s Day playdough tray.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Recipe

Shamrock leaves add interest to a St. Patrick's Day playdough invitation. Two homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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The white playdough in this post is a fantastic homemade no-cook variety. I discovered the recipe for it on The Artful Parent website. The green and yellow playdough varieties featured are a result of minor tweaks to the recipe.

For the deep green playdough, gather the following ingredients:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon green gel food color
  • 1/4 teaspoon glycerin (optional)
  • 1 cup boiling water

In a large metal bowl, measure the dry ingredients and mix them together.

Make a well in the center and add the oil, gel food color, and glycerin.

Boil water in a kettle and immediately add the liquid to the dry ingredients.

Stir the mixture well until all the ingredients are combined.

Let it sit for a bit until it firms up into a dough.

If the mixture is still a bit goopy after you have given it a few minutes to thicken, add a little more flour and stir again.

When cooled, knead the dough into a smooth ball and place it in a sealed bag.

Three different colors of playdough are featured in a St. Patrick's Day playdough tray for early learners to explore.

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To make the vivid yellow playdough, substitute yellow gel color for the green.

Glycerin is optional in the recipe but adds a little shine to the playdough.

Note: I’ve made the plain white no-cook playdough recipe several times, and never had to add more flour. But adding a little more flour at the end worked well for me this time when including gel food color in the recipe.

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The St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Set out this fun St. Patrick's day playdough tray for your little learners to explore. Three different colors of playdough are featured.

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Collected for this fun playdough invitation are:

  • rainbow, shamrock, and leprechaun hat erasers
  • green buttons
  • metallic and wooden shamrocks
  • small shamrocks and gold coins
  • gold beads
  • green necklace garland
  • shamrock cookie cutters
These St. Patrick's Day-themed loose parts are perfect for a playdough tray or a sensory play experience.

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All the shiny loose parts, from the large shamrocks to the tiny coins, are cut from St. Patrick’s Day necklaces.

Themed erasers are always a great addition to a playdough tray, as are a variety of buttons.

Setting the playdough and loose parts on a party tray is an eye-appealing way to offer the St. Patrick’s Day playdough invitation.

Set out this fun St. Patrick's day playdough tray for your little learners to explore. Three different colors of playdough are featured.

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If you have a shamrock plant available, snip off a few leaves to add to each participant’s playdough experience.

Shamrock leaves add interest to a St. Patrick's Day playdough invitation. Two homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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More St. Patrick’s Day Activities

Shamrock Paper Plate Lion

Shamrock Rolling Pin Art

Scissor Skill Shamrock Collage

St. Patrick’s Day Sheep Craft

Sweet sheep craft perfect for St. Patrick's Day or spring.

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St. Patrick’s Day Painted Shamrock

Crayon Resist Watercolor Shamrock

St. Patrick’s Day Sensory Tub

Leprechaun Sensory Jar

Gotcha! The mini trickster is caught in this leprechaun sensory jar.

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St. Patrick’s Day Woodland Sensory Bin

St. Patrick’s Day Jewelry Bin

Leprechaun Sensory Play

St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Blocks

St. Patrick's Day treasure blocks featuring a leprechaun and shamrock themed craft supplies and coins.

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St. Patrick’s Day Light Table Tray

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

St. Patrick’s Day Activities

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This St. Patrick's Day playdough invitation will help children celebrate the special day. Two no-cook homemade playdough recipes are featured.

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More Playdough Recipes and Activities

Apple Playdough Tray

Edible Playdough Turkey

Scented Playdough Activities

Invitation to create apples with scented, two-ingredient playdough, toothpicks, and apple leaves.

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Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

Chocolate Mint Playdough

Christmas accessories and glitter add a festive touch to this chocolate mint playdough activitiy.

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Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Valentine’s Day Playdough Activities

St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Easter Playdough Tray

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[Read more…] about St. Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray

Filed Under: playdough, preschool, St. Patrick's Day, themes Tagged With: loose parts, playdough, shamrocks, St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play

March 15, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A green and gold St. Patrick's Day pretend play tablescape filled with themed play kitchen accessories to explore.
A green and gold St. Patrick's Day pretend play tablescape filled with themed play kitchen accessories to explore.

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A play kitchen is a must-have center in an early learning classroom and is a favorite place for little learners to play. Adding seasonal items to a play kitchen keeps it interesting and inviting. In March, a St. Patrick’s Day pretend play center is a perfect fit.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies Collected

Green and St. Patrick's Day-themed accessories for a dramatic play kitchen center your little learners will love to explore.

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For this center, I gathered mostly green items, with a few yellow and gold items added in. Included are:

  • St. Patrick’s Day disposable plates
  • cutlery
  • play food
  • stir sticks
  • reusable shamrock ice cubes
  • clear glasses
  • baskets, serving bowls, and ice cube tray
  • felt “pretzel” shamrocks
  • sheet pan with felt shamrock “cookies”
  • wooden shamrock “candies”
  • shamrock-shaped serving tray with buns
  • ping pong ball “buns” in a muffin tin
  • St. Patrick’s Day erasers
  • jar with coins, beads, and garland strips
  • large gem pebbles
  • leprechaun and bear table decorations
  • artificial flowers in a vase
Green and St. Patrick's Day-themed accessories for a dramatic play kitchen center your little learners will love to explore.

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The St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play Center

In this post, most of the supplies are set on a play kitchen table. These supplies can also be arranged in the appliances and on the shelves.

A green and gold St. Patrick's Day pretend play tablescape filled with themed play kitchen accessories to explore.

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There are a variety of green and St. Patrick’s Day-themed loose parts in the table display. Little learners will use their imagination to incorporate the loose parts in their own ways.

The themed supplies are set on a gold tablecloth. In an earlier post, I showcased similar supplies on an orange tablecloth. I also featured them on a green table-a natural fit!

Many of the play kitchen accessories seen here are useful in other centers as well. They can be used on a light table, in a water table, or on a rice sensory tray.

A super fun, easy-to-set-up St. Patrick's Day dramatic play activity. Themed loose parts are the highlights of the pretend play set up.

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More Pretend Play Tablescapes

Easter Pretend Play Tablescape

Spring Bunny Play Tablescape

Lemon-Inspired Play Kitchen

Watermelon Dramatic Play Center

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

Pumpkin Tablescape Pretend Play

Thanksgiving Tablescape Pretend Play

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Tablescape

Penguin Pretend Play Tablescape

Chinese New Year Tablescape

Valentine’s Day Pretend Play

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[Read more…] about St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play

Filed Under: dramatic play, preschool, pretend play, St. Patrick's Day Tagged With: dramatic play, loose parts, pretend play, tablescapes

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Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. I am a preschool teacher who loves to share easy and fun early learning activities. Thanks for visiting my blog. Feel free to stay awhile!

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