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2024 Gifts for Babies
It’s my favorite week of the year! I’ve got the Christmas music playing, I’m sipping my gingerbread latte, and I’m bringing you my holiday gift guides! this marks the 10th year (can you believe it?!) of these guides from Preschool Ponderings and I’ve got an excellent line up for you this year. My goal has always been to highlight products that are recommended by early childhood professionals to support development, while also being gifts that children will love and parents won’t hate you for giving. Let’s start with all of the babies on your shopping list. It can be so hard to shop for little ones who are truly only…
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Tips for Planning a Class Halloween Party
Whether you are planning a Halloween party or a Harvest Party, it’s time to start thinking about it! I know some people dread party days, but I love them. Parties are the perfect time to build classroom communities. They give the children a common event to look forward too and opportunities to bond over their anticipation, and throughout the actual party. Over the years I’ve come up with quite a few tips for making those crazy party days run just a little more smoothly. The planning makes all the difference, so consider your party details as I run through some of the questions you might want to ask yourself.
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Halloween Teacher Favorites
I’m loving that pink has become a Halloween color! This year’s list of my favorite Halloween goodies for teachers is heave on the pink and really leaning into cozy vibes. These are all items that would be fun to wear for the holiday OR to give as gifts. If you like a more traditional black and orange color palette then be sure to check out my favorites from last year. All links are affiliates. Reading ghosts sweatshirt – Is this not the cutest?! Perfect for a teacher, librarian, or anyone who loves to read. Bat slippers – perfect for a cozy weekend in or after a long day on your…
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Preschool Easter Luncheon
One of my favorite classroom memories is the year that the children begged to have a fancy Easter lunch at school. At the time we’d been exploring holidays, and as Easter got nearer we began to talk about the things that came to mind when they thought of the Easter holiday. One of them mentioned wearing fancy outfits and it took off from there. They helped us decide on “the right kind” of decorations for a fancy Easter lunch and we enlisted parents in helping us provide potluck items that were traditional for their families during this particular holiday celebration. Most importantly, the children planned their outfits meticulously. On the…
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Casual Easter Fashion and Accessories
Easter is early this year, so it’s already time to start gathering all things pastel! These are the items that’ll help me ring in spring for sure. All are affiliate links, and items that I personally own or have used. Bunny T-shirt – This tee is understated and celebrates the more secular aspects of the holiday, making it perfect for the classroom. It comes in 3 different colors, so if pink isn’t your jam you can pick blue or purple. Bunny gift boxes – Seriously, how cute are these? What an easy way to share treats that still feels super festive. They come in a set of 12, and they…
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Valentine Party Themes
You know I love a good theme party, it can really help focus the event and narrow all of the ideas to pull things together. If you’re looking for a little more direction for your Valentine’s Day celebrations, then here are some ideas to work with!
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Valentine’s Day Language Activities
Valentine’s Day has a special place in my heart (see what I did there). January can be a long, dreary month and having something fun to look forward to can really change the mood. If you’re like me – looking forward to a holiday that’s all about warmth and love – and you’re planning what this will look like in your classroom, then I have some materials that might be just what you need! Here’s my Valentine writing center: I want children to get excited about using these materials, and I do that by making them inviting – adding decorations, related textiles, and touches that create a homey and comforting…
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Printable Valentine’s Day Math Activities
I’m back with some more Valentine’s day ideas! Math centers can be tricky because we want children to enjoy the activities and WANT to do them, while also being able to use the materials independently. Here’s what’s in my Valentine’s Day math center: It doesn’t get more exciting than chocolate! This game is one that your students will definitely want to play – although you might have to monitor the game pieces or they’ll disappear. To play, children pick a candy and match the number on the bottom to the number on their mat. It can be done individually or you can print two sets and have a partner game. The…
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Christmas Coloring Freebie
I’m working on a little something new, and while that won’t be ready until after the new year, I did want to share a little sample with you! Here’s my latest freebie, just in time for Christmas. Please enjoy these holiday coloring pages, made using my very own clipart. Go download your set here (scroll all of the way down and click on the coloring page image)! If you’re interested in the coordinating clipart please explore my Christmas Bright clipart bundle, and my Peppermint Wonderland clipart bundle.
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Classroom Party Themes for the Holidays
Party themes seem to follow trends, but sometimes I like to do something a little different than everyone else is doing. If this is true for you too, then here are some fun holiday party ideas for the classroom that are a bit different! Get creative with your Christmas party themes this year! It’s fun to think up new ideas – what are some of the favorites that you’ve done over the years?
