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Managing Challenging Behaviors
I promised you some real solutions to the tough stuff that you have to deal with everyday, and the number one thing on that list is challenging behaviors. These are the kinds of things that can derail the entire class and make you feel like nothing you do will make a difference – I’ve been there. I’ve put together a resource that will help you understand, manage, and change these difficult preschool behaviors step by step. I’m also giving you a FREEBIE so you can try it out right away! Behaviors are so tough because we aren’t always able to understand exactly where there coming from, and even if we…
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Loose Parts for Valentine’s Day
There’s something about tiny little pieces of pretty much anything that little ones just can’t resist – and I’m here for it because it keeps their attention forever! When it comes to Valentine’s day, I dive all the way into the red, pink, and glittery. Here are some of the loose parts that I love for a Valentine provocation: I put them all on a heart tray, and that helped make them even more enticing – don’t you want to play with all of this?! Here are some of the beautiful images that we created with these pieces – After I made a heart with a necklace that became the…
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A Blog Post about Blog Posts
I know that’s quite the title for a post, but it’s the best way I can think to describe what I want to share here! I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can use this space to support those of you are serving so many different roles in the early care and education field – especially those of you who are childcare professionals. I love sharing fun posts about activities, projects, and printables – but these are the easy things. There are so many great ideas already available, and to be honest I know that coming up with things to do with children isn’t the hardest part of the…
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Seasonal Numbers for Math Activities
When I pulled out my valentine materials I remembered how much I love using the large number sets! I also realized that I only have a set for Valentine’s day and St. Patrick’s day – it was definitely time to change that. One of the things that makes these so valuable is that they can be used so many different ways by children learning a variety of different skills. Take a look at the valentine set: Each number has a corresponding number of hearts on it. These can be counted and covered by small objects or clothespins to build one to one correspondence and cardinality. Each number also has a…
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Using Amazon Idea Lists for the Classroom
It’s safe to say that online shopping is one of my favorite past times – I’m sure that says A LOT about me! There’s a tool that I’ve been using recently to help organize my wish lists and favorite purchases and it can be used in so many different ways. I’ve got to share what I’ve been doing with Amazon Idea Lists for the classroom. An idea list is an excellent place to keep all of those items that you’re thinking about, looking for, or really loving. These lists are easy to share with others so that you can collaborate. This makes planning classroom or school events something that can…
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Valentine Crafting for Kids
We had a snow day this week! As a teacher, that’s always welcome – as a parent it’s a bit of a scramble to find things to keep my girl busy all day. I had a good feeling that this particular snow day was coming, so I tried to plan ahead. Art projects are always a good option! After working on some of my own projects on Tuesday, I put my leftover supplies (along with some others from our craft stash) together so that they’d be all ready for some Valentine’s Day crafting. I started with this tray. It’s been one of my all-time-favorite purchases – it’s a heavy melamine,…
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Easy DIY Valentine Wreaths
There are so many beautiful wreaths out there, but I have such a hard time paying for them. Here are a couple of easy, inexpensive DIY Valentine’s wreaths that would be perfect for gifts or decorations for your home or classroom! These two are the same, but I switched up the yarn around the wire wreath form, so one is pink and the other is red. Wrapping yarn around this frame is the perfect activity for while you’re watching TV – it’s mindless and you can totally zone out. You can also decide how thick you want the yarn to be. I kept these pretty thin, but I did another…
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The Year of the Homemade Gift
I shared my word for the year at the beginning of the month, but I haven’t let you in on another intention that I set for 2023. I’ve decided that this will be “the year of the homemade gift.” I’m challenging myself to make things for every gifting occasion this year and I’ve had just as much fun planning what I want to make and give as I know I will putting it all together. January is a big birthday month for our friends and family, so here are a couple of the gifts that I’ve already created and given: A bright, sunshiny quilt for a happy little girl A…
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Healthy Valentine Snack for School
I signed up to bring a healthy snack for my daughter’s classroom Valentine Party, and knowing how class parties go I had a few requirements in mind. Here’s the healthy Valentine snack for school that I ended up with! First, I wanted to make sure that this was something easy to transport since my kindergartener will have to carry it into the building herself. Second, it needed to be prepackaged so that no one has to worry about allergy concerns and ingredients. Finally, it should be something that doesn’t make a mess or require her teacher to do anything other than pass it out. With those conditions in mind, I…
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Easy Preschool Valentine Gift
I love to make a nice gift for families on Valentine’s Day – but after the chaos of trying to finish Christmas gifts quick and inexpensive are my main requirements! Here’s an idea that meets those characteristics and is super fun too. Try this easy preschool Valentine gift with your class this year. I started with a thin wooden heart from the Dollar Tree – they come natural and you could definitely leave them that way, but I used a couple of coats of old house paint to paint mine white. I also removed the twine hanger. When these were dry I took some washable Crayola paint (affiliate link) and…
