Toddler Group Activities

Threading

Threading beads is an activity that children love and can be a great aid to learning… But why?

· Children love repetition, it’s how they learn to perfect a skill

· Threading can be an activity that grows with your child helping them to sort, create patterns, count and sequence

· The activity can help  them  to concentrate and to unwind

· It aids dexterity and improve fine motor skills

 

When can children start to thread?

Ages 1-3: Try large beads with big centre holes on a fairly thick shoelace with a plastic end that helps the threading process. Your young child may need a little help the first few times, for example, holding the string, or starting the bead on the string, but soon they will be impatient to do it themselves! Try threading other objects that have a hole in the centre such as small hoops, cotton reels, toys with jug like handles, hair bobbles, hoop breakfast cereal (lovely to eat as part of the activity)

Ages 3-5: Use progressively smaller beads, or beads of varying sizes and colours. Try a thinner twine or skinny shoelace at this age!  Introduce a bodkin type needle. Begin to create repeating patterns using different colours or shapes. Thread pasta, breakfast cereal or sweets. Count the ‘beads’ and look at counting in 2’s, and 5’s by creating number sequences.  

Extending the activity:  Use a pipe cleaner as the lace to create a bracelet , make necklaces and bracelets, make themed strings of beads e.g. snow flakes, Christmas baubles. Let your child design their own necklace. Create massive threading fun using rope and airflow balls for outside. Shop at charity shops with your child and help them find some amazing beads for their creations. Make some little party gifts by putting bead collections and thread or elastic into little bags so their friends can make their own jewelry. Try threading buttons and for a more masculine bracelet use leather threads and wooden beads/symbol beads.
 

     

 

 

 

Autumn fun

                                                         Autumn Creativity
I always think Autumn positively overloads your senses...all the beautiful Autumn colours, the sound and feel of rustling leaves beneath your feet, misty mornings, damp vegetation and smoky bonfires, bonfire toffee, chestnuts and hotdogs yummmmm! So much to get creative about and to celebrate!

Here are some activities to do with your little ones:

• Go on an Autumn walk and make a collection of signs of Autumn...create an old fashioned nature table / nature basket and with the help of a magnifying glass simply explore.
• Collect leaves and do leaf rubbings using Autumnal coloured wax crayons. If you then place them face down on plain fabric and use plenty of scrap paper to protect the iron and table you can iron the leaf rubbings onto fabric to create lovely Autumn material.
• Create an Autumn bouquet using grasses, twigs, wheat and barley, Autumn flowers.
• Make an Autumn collage either abstract or create a recognisable picture using strong glue.
• Make an Autumn picture as a transitional piece of art work...take a photo as you don't keep the picture, the pieces are used again and again.
• Use a cardboard tube to scan the countryside / park for signs of Autumn...use it like a telescope.
• Fruit printing...half apples create a lovely shape to print with.
• Create an Autumn weave using leaves, grasses etc. woven through a basic frame work created using a forked stick and wool or string.
• Make a scarecrow puppet using a wooden spoon and bits of fabric and natural materials.
• Make a simple headband using a ring of card and decorate it with Autumn leaves forming an Autumn crown.
• Memory tray game using a number of Autumn objects...take a good look, cover and remove an item...children guess what is missing.
• Cut out felt leaves using orange, brown and red felt and then decorate them, either sewing simple stitches or sticking collage sequins, buttons etc. onto the surface.
• Attached leaves to string or ribbon and hang up to form a temporary Autumn banner.
• Create a simple Autumn treasure bottle for a toddler by filling a plastic see through bottle with orange, yellow, brown and red ribbons, pom-poms, cut out leaves, conkers and acorns. Seal the bottle if your child is still at the stage where everything goes in their mouth or leave to open if they enjoy tipping, sorting and posting.

• Create an Autumn treasure box, including everything mentioned so far but also include Autumn clothes such as hat scarf and gloves, photographs of Autumn days and some autumn themed drapes and ribbons.
• Draw around leaves on coloured card, decorate them and glue onto a polo shaped ring to create an Autumn wreath.
• Make an Autumn sun catcher using a paper plate with the centre cut out. Replace the centre with clear sticky backed plastic and lay a few really pretty Autumn leaves onto the sticky surface. Hang up against a window and let the light shine through.
• Cut out different leaf shapes from strong card and simply let your child wrap them with orange, red or yellow yarn...it's really easy, good for fine motor skills and very satisfying.
• Play hide and seek with apples or conkers around the room.
• Use Vivaldi's Autumn music and let your child move to the music. They can be Autumn leaves floating, twirling, falling and tumbling around in the wind. The addition of some ribbons or my special dance bands adds to the enjoyment. I make them to match themes and they Velcro easily onto the wrist. They have even been used on wheel chairs so those using them can join in the dance fun.

• Create a simple feely bag with lots of Autumn related items inside to encourage descriptive language.
• Make Autumn shakers by filling plastic bottles with Autumn seeds, one with acorns, one with conkers...try sunflower seeds and anything you find when out and about this autumn. Use the shaker to accompany some Autumn songs...you can find lots on the internet.
• The PVA glue can add weeks to the life of Autumn leaves so they can be used long after others shrivel and collapse. It also enhances the colours...just paint each side leaving to dry each time. They will need to be thrown away after a few weeks but that's fine because Winter is on it's way as soon as Autumn begins!
• Make Autumn necklaces using conkers and leaves...an adult will need to drill a hole in the conkers prior to the activity.
• Look at the Scripture Union web site to explore an alternative to a Halloween Party...hold your own Light Party.

An Apple Project

• Visit an orchard, a fruit farm, a green grocers, the veg stall at the supermarket
• Photograph where the apple comes from
• Buy a selection of apples...are they all the same? What do they taste like? What do they smell like? Which do you like best?
• Cook apples - make apple pie, baked apple, toffee apples, apple chutney
• Look at the apple on the outside, guess what's on the inside, Cox, Russet cut it open, print with it. Look at the funny names of apples - Granny Smiths, Golden delicious, Look at the different sizes and order them from smallest to the largest
• Wonder at the way an apple is constructed/created
• Apple parts: peel. skin, stalk, core, pip, leaf, flesh -What is wind fall
• Questions to ask: Are apples red? Is an apple dead or alive, where are the pips, what are the pips,
• Investigate apples using a knife, a peeler, a juicer, a corer, a grater

Hope these ideas are enough to get you started on making the most of Autumn with your children.

Babies, Toddlers and Childrens Spirituality

Spirituality can be defined in many different ways but I particularly like the way Rebecca Nye, a prominent Christian writer,  explains it....
"All human beings are spiritual people...this is the way God made us...spirituality is something already there to be cherished, rather than something to be added on...What is spirituality? Delighting in all things. Being absorbed in the present moment. Not too attached to self and eager to explore boundaries beyond. Searching for meaning. Discovering purpose. Open to more."
I believe every baby is born with a strong spiritual aspect to their lives and this should be nurtured just as any other aspect of their lives such as creativity and physicality.
The UN Convention on the rights of every child refers to children having spiritual rights and it is the law in English and Welsh schools to encourage spiritual development in all areas of learning ensuring children gain the ability to be reflective about their own beliefs....to develop their sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them...to develop their use of imagination and creativity in their learning and develop a willingness to reflect on their experiences.
What an exciting mission for those who look after children either at home or away from their homes.
I believe children's spirituality has been forgotten by many and it is time we redressed the balance and look creatively at ways we can help children explore life in spiritual way...creativity and spirituality go hand in hand. One of the defining elements of spiritual learning is that children experience awe and wonder, develop respect for the world and living creatures, develop wisdom, learn to ask questions, reflect upon answers, trust in their own ideas and develop a clear sense of right and wrong. By developing the "whole child" including their spirituality they grow up with a firm foundation that prepares them for all that life will throw at them. Look out for my posts that encourage spiritual development.

Messy Church October 2018

Watch this space for details nearer the time or go to eastwoodparishchurch.co.uk 

 

Make this Christmas truely CREATIVE! Advent fun

 This is my first Christmas blogging so I am going to mark the occasion with an Advent Bonanza and include lots of creative Advent activities so that you can really enjoy this very special time...the time of waiting...waiting for Jesus Christ's birthday to arrive!
We all love the festivities, the gifts, the food, the drink, the decorations, parties and fun but don't forget what Christmas is really all about.

Lets start with a box that your child can use throughout advent to collect memories of all that goes on...including special cards, invitations, photographs, gift tags, party streamers, cracker prizes and lots, lots more. Let your child decorate the box however they wish...just provide lots of strong white glue and seasonal papers, sequins, stickers ...anything that makes the box look really special.
Here's mine and I shall fill it full of Christmas 2017. The only thing missing will be my older daughter and family who will be in Australia celebrating Christmas...I shall have to make do with photos of their festivities.

I found a lovely gift tag that reads: After the gifts have been opened. After the tree is gone. After the carols have faded. May the happiness linger on. It certainly will if you help your child to collect lots of Christmas memories this year and create a lovely memories box.

 

I have been asked about ways to explain the Christmas story to children...have a look at the Bible Society web site because there is a lovely video called The Greatest Story. I used it at Messy Church December 2017 ...it follows the same model as the 'We're going on a bear hunt' story.

 

I also used the most amazing book for years when I was teaching called Haffertee's First Christmas by Janet and John Perkins. It is out of print now but can be bought on Amazon for pennies. It has 10 chapters that takes you through the preparations for Christmas and is a delight to read especially to

 children aged 5 to 7 years old.

 

Lots more ideas:

• Have a clear out and donate outgrown toys to the charity shop...they could make great presents for other children. I am an avid charity shop visitor.
• Raid the pantry for canned and dried foods and donate them to the local Food Bank (supermarkets and churches often have a donation box that you can pop them in)
• Do some Christmas baking.
• Get an adult to read the story of the Nativity from the Bible ...try Luke's or Matthew's gospel. By reading it from the Bible it helps children understand where the story is from and the importance of this wonderful book.
• Explore the nativity scene, either a 3D Nativity set or a picture. Talk about the characters and retell the story in a simple way that is age appropriate.
• Make paper crowns and pretend to be the wise men visiting Jesus.
• Make sandwiches and cut them into star shapes...in fact have a STAR day and see how many star activities you can include.
• I quickly made lots of stars using different materials and embellishments...this is a great challenge and can provide lots of decorations for the Christmas tree.

Wow, I've just had the Avon catalogue pop through the door and it has a frying pan that makes star shaped pancakes and fried eggs!

 

I got a bit obsessed with stars and began to make them out of different fabric. They are just lovely to touch and would be a great addition to a treasure basket for a toddler or even to be used with the elderly who enjoy tactile experiences.

 I used these stars to accompany the twinkle-twinkle little star rhyme with our toddler group, we then fling them into the air using a beautiful blue sequin drape like a parachute!

• Have you tried painting bread with milk using a fine brush and then toasting it...give it a go. If you also add food colouring to the milk and paint a number of colours and patterns on the bread it can be very exciting...just don't make it too wet. You could paint some lovely seasonal designs on you breakfast toast.
• Make a Christmas tree decoration using lots of collage materials.
• Using an ice cream cone, some icing and little edible balls you can help your child create their own edible Christmas tree.
• Using a see through zipper pencil case put in lots of Christmas related items for children to sort...I have included 2 of each so they can be matched. A couple have a twist though such as the Elsa disks have different pictures on the back and only one gingerbread man is red on one side...spot the difference!

 

 

• Hop in the car in your PJ's and drive around to look at the Christmas lights.
• Decorate a Christmas card for your teacher or babysitter.
• Make a paper snow flake to hang in your bedroom.
• All wear a Christmas hat ALL day if you dare.
• Have a Christmas film night at home with cocoa and popcorn.
• Dance, sing and be really silly to the cheesiest Christmas songs. Make some pretend microphones and turn it into a Christmas addition of the X Factor!
• Play a board game if the children are old enough to cope...and adults are brave enough to loose!
• Make a bird seed feeder for the garden or the local park.
• Make the longest paper chain in the world and have fun decorating the house with it.
• Create a miniature Christmas grotto or Nativity scene in a shoe box.
• Get an adult to fill a sock with unusual Christmas objects and play at guessing the object simply by the sense of touch. You could try a bauble, a bell, a candle, a piece of holly, a star, a crown, a baby doll...don't forget to discuss why it is included in the collection...great to develop communication skills.
• Dress up as one of the nativity characters...if they look good take a photograph...it could make a great home mad Christmas card for Grandma and Granddad.
• Create wood block snowmen with a babies glove as a hat. I just used white spray paint and glitter, felt markers and a scarf of ribbon.
  
   
• Have you heard about Christmas Eve boxes...it seems a lovely idea to me. Fill a special box with things that will help your kids get ready for Christmas day. Here are some ideas...don't choose all of them or you will need a transporter!

New pyjamas, the Christmas stocking ready for hanging up, a letter to Santa, a special new tree decoration, a signpost for Santa so he doesn't loose his way and forget you! A magic Santa key, cuddly Christmas socks to keep those toes warm in the night, reindeer food...make some using breakfast cereal and glitter, a carrot for Rudolf and of course a mince pie for Santa, hot chocolate sachet, a candy cane straw and some marshmallows, some jingle bells, a Christmas cd for a sing along, a new tooth brush, Christmas mug, cookie cutter, bubble bath for that relaxing soak to get them sleepy and a Christmas storybook or two. Please don't forget THE NATIVITY STORY as that's what it's really all about!
Here is a lovely Christmas Eve box I bought from the Post Office (at Langley Mill, Derbyshire).

I shall continue to add ideas over the next few weeks...if you want to join in just message me, I would love to hear your ideas.



Beach magic in Wales

Had a lovely long weekend in Wales with "The Girls" and thought I would set myself a challenge to be as creative as possible with a bag of stones, shells and drift wood we collected on the beach...hear goes...

Firstly...

• Sorting....simple but very satisfying. Honey, my grand daughter loves sorting things and here is her lovely sorting pattern...she says it's a crocodile! Honey's sorting has progressed into transitional art.

 

 

• Using pebbles to count and order numbers

• Decorating stones, I use Sharpies they are amazing but be careful because 

they are permanent markers

 

• Investigating shells using a magnifying glass
• Turn pebbles into monsters with some goggly eyes and wool hair
• Shell rubbings and drawing round them
• Sea treasure bottles /jars



• Tuff spot with sea and sand exploration using the treasure from the beach, tactile fabrics and ribbons
• Blue spaghetti/sand play including the beach treasures
• Sand tray with drift wood
• Making pebble towers
• Play dough with pebbles, shells and feathers pressed in to make a picture /pattern
• Feather painting using the tip as a pen and the feathery surface as a brush



Messy Church - Water

 Every school holiday St Mary's Church Eastwood hold a Messy Church event for families with children aged up to 11 years old.
Summer 2017 theme is WATER and here are just a few of the activities on offer.

Jonah story sack
 

Collage fish

 

Sequin shell

Printing sponge fish

 

Wax resist fish

 

 

Play-dough mat

Pipe cleaner fish

 

                                       

 

Cork boat

 

Transient Art "Sea" Create a temporary art piece from loose pieces

 

 



                                   

 



Woolley jelly fish

Paper origami boat

 

Bubbles

 

 Treasure bottles

1. contains ribbons, pipe cleaners, pom-poms, toys

2. contains glue, water, glitter and sequins              

3. contains coloured sand, shells, letters and toys to

create a 'Find It' game

 

 

Kinetic sand 

 

Seaside treasure baskets

Coloured rice and sequins with open mouthed sharks

Great for filling and pouring



 

Treasure bottles, scarves and key words to talk about

Traditional sand play

 

Handmade magnetic fishing game

A novel book corner!

Sponge fish printing

Collage fish

Paper plate fish 

 

 

Transient art

Wax resist fish

 

 Can you come up with some more ideas to share with my readers?