Preschool Reading, Writing, 'Rithmetic, and more

Sorting Cards
Number Matchup
Draw a Map
Puzzles
My Name

Daily Activity: Number Matchup

Items Needed:
Index cards
Pen or marker
Old magazines (optional)
Scissors (optional)
Glue (optional)

Make two sets of index cards. On one set write numbers from 1 to 10, or higher. On the other set, draw (or cut out from magazines) pictures of objects that correspond with the numbers.

We already had a set of counting match- up cards. I just lay them all out face up and put the pictures of objects on one side and the numbers on the other side. I'll then ask D to pick a picture and then count how many objects are on the card. Then I'll ask him to where the number is.

Whenever we play with this puzzle he likes to play with two others that we have. 

Moms and Babies match-up, and opposite pairs. 

When we play the Moms and Babies we take turns picking and making matches. I'm trying to teach D how to share, take turns, etc. I also will mention the animal him or I am looking for. For example if I pick up a cow I'll say, now I need the calf. Then I'll ask D what the baby cow is called so he can learn the proper names for baby animals. 

Some of the matches are:

penguin, chick

goat, kid

zebra, colt

pig, piglet

rabbit, kit

With the opposites puzzle we also take turns making matches. He likes to help me find the proper match even if it's my turn and I'm supposed to find it. I love that he's so eager to learn and be helpful.

Some of the matches are:

front, back

together, apart

in front, behind

hot, cold

day, night

old, young

Source: The Preschooler''s Busy Book

Daily Activity: Sorting Cards

Items Needed:
Deck of cards

Pull one red card and one black card to start a pile. Give your child the cards and have them practice sorting them into the red and black piles.

I then had D sort them by suits or "shapes". He does really well with the color sorting but he didn't quiet understand the black suits at first. He started to understand when I was comparing the spade to the club. Then he started to refer to the piles as his (closest to him) or mine (which was closest to me). Then I'd simply ask if the card in his hand went in my pile or his. He'd get so thrilled when he'd put them in the right piles.

Source: The Preschooler''s Busy Book

Toddler Rainy Day Play

Highchair Fun
Bubble Bottle
Clothespin Drop
Clothespin Poke
Ice Cube Bags
Inside/Outside Voice
Basket Toss

Preschool Rainy Day Play

Ones we plan to do but have not yet have an * by them... COMING SOON!
Night at the Movies
Washing Windows
Setting the Table*
I Love You Because...*
Who Loves You?*
Newspaper Golf*
Sewing Practice*
Fun with Weights*
Pillow Throw*
Doll Closet*
Sorting Socks*
Sort the Laundry*
Hotter/Colder*
Living Room Picnic*
Tell Me a Story*
Balancing Board*
Make a Tape*
Follow the Leader*
Bean Bag Toss*
Shoe Trail*
Indoor Treasure Hunt*
Play with Boxes*
Basket Toss
Whose Ear Is This?
Play with Matchbox cars
Read books
Shadow Puppets
Play a Board Game or Card Game

Washing Windows

Items Needed:
Spray bottle
Water
Vinegar
Cleaning cloth

Fill a spray bottle with water and 1/4 C White Vinegar. Let your child help you clean the windows, mirrors, bathroom counters, or kitchen appliances.


D had so much fun with this! He cleaned his bedroom mirrors, then went on to clean my bedroom mirrors, (the boys LOVE to touch them and look at themselves) the kitchen chairs, T's highchair, the stove... EVERYTHING HE COULD. I think the cloth is going to be soaked by the time he's finished. :] He even keeps saying "I'm a good cleaner", "It's sparkly clean now."

Preschool Kids in the Kitchen

Flour Drawing
Happy Face Sandwich

Daily Activities: Puzzles and Flour Drawing

Awhile back I made an activity can with popsicle sticks. Each popsicle stick has an activity on it and I've sorted them by Indoor, Outdoor, and Crafts. I'll post about it in a later post... Until then, yesterday we chose two sticks and we pulled out Puzzles, and Flour drawing.

We store our puzzles in an empty diaper box. I have yet to make it a cute box. 

We've done flour drawing before, awhile back and D didn't do much with it. This time, however, he enjoyed it more. :] He played in this while I cooked dinner so it was worth the mess. :]

Here's D drawing in flour the first time we tried it out!

Source: The Preschooler''s Busy Book

Busy Bag: Cupcake

Items Needed:
Felt
Scissors

Made these for D. He was playing with them as I was cutting them out. After I was finished so was he. I'm hoping he'll want to play with them some more. T on the other hand just wants to eat them. :]

I made him two choices of cupcakes, chocolate and vanilla. Also two flavors of frosting, buttercream, and chocolate. The toppings are marshmallows, chocolate chips, and cherries.

I think they turned out so cute! They even make me want to bake some!

Here's the download for the cupcakes. 

*Part of our Busy Box

D's milestone!

D can cut paper now with scissors.

Concentrating so hard. :] I'm so proud of him. He was pretty excited also!

Busy Bag: Pom Pom Stuff In

Items Needed:
A clean container
Pom Poms

Poke a hole in the top big enough to barely fit the pom poms through.

T couldn't figure out what to do at first, of course, so I showed him how to push his finger onto the pom pom and it'd go through the hole. He caught on pretty quickly after that. I tried varying it up by taking the lid off to see if he'd just like to drop them in, however he kept picking the lid back up and trying to put it back on, so he likes it on. :]

Then he figured out an even better idea... TO EAT THEM. So, sadly I had to take them away and it ruined his fun. :( I hate making the boys sad by removing something that they enjoy. (i.e. leaving the park, etc)

Showed D this and he LOVES it also. He has been dumping and filling for a bit now. He has even come back to it after hours have gone by doing something else. 

D says it's volcano and the pom poms are getting hot. ;]

*Part of our Busy Box

Source