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How to Make Peanut Butter Play Dough

2013
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We love homemade play dough recipes!  Homemade play dough is a lot less work to make than you would think, lasts a really long time, and can be customized to fit your kids’ needs and preferences. 

For example, if you have a toddler you may have asked yourself, “How can I make play dough that is safe for kids to eat?“  As long as your child has no allergy to peanut butter recipes then peanut butter play dough would be a great choice!

How to Make Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough

Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough Recipe

1 cup of creamy peanut butter

3/4 cup of nonfat powered milk or 1 cup of powdered sugar

3 tablespoons of honey

Kids can help with this edible play dough recipe since no cooking or heating is required.  They can measure and add the ingredients and help mix it up.  If the play dough is too sticky or oily just add a little bit more of the powdered milk or sugar.

Edible Play Dough Invitation to Play with Food

We had some semi-stale candy in the pantry so I set up an invitation to play with food for the kids! 

Homemade Peanut Butter Play Dough

 They had lots of fun creating bakery items and marshmallow creatures.  When they were done we put the peanut butter play dough in the fridge for another day.  They plan on making peanut butter cupcakes and monsters next time!

More Play Dough Fun:

Red Hot Play Dough

Gingerbread House Play Dough People

Linking to:

After-School-Link-Up

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Frog Jump: Measurement and Gross Motor Activity

2013
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We have have been having fun learning about frogs and the frog life cycle.  On a recent day I decided to extend the frog learning with a measurement and gross motor activity…Frog Jump!

Frog Jump! A math measurement and gross motor and activity for preschool.

To play I marked a starting line with painter’s tape on the floor and gathered a frog cut out and a measuring tape.

The kids took turns standing at the line and jumping forward as far as they could.  I had my oldest demonstrate how to bend her legs and jump and then we marked the spot where she landed with another piece of tape.

Frog Jump Non Standard Measurement Activity

Then they measured how far she jumped with the frog. 

Using something other than a ruler to measure an object or distance is called non standard measurement.  It’s a great way for young kids to begin to understand the concepts of length, width, and height. 

Frog Jump Math Measurement Activity

After we determined how many “frogs” she jumped we then measured the distance in inches with the tape measure. 

They took many turns jumping and measuring and got in lots of gross motor and math practice!

Frog Jump Preschool Math Activity

When the floor was covered in tape pieces the kids pretended the pieces were lily pads.  They were quite engaged in their pretend play adventure and had lots of fun!

Looking for simple ways to add movement and learning into your day makes it much easier to accomplish!  Kids can practice non standard measurement almost anywhere with whatever you have on hand, like sugar packets at a restaurant or crayons in a doctor’s office.

More Frog Themed Activities for Preschoolers:

Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Frog Life Cycle Books for Kids

Art Activity for Children: Frog Foot Prints

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Frog Life Cycle Books for Kids

2013
3 Comments

We are having fun learning all about frogs at our house!  The kids have loved learning about the life cycle of a frog and have been pouring over the nonfiction books we checked out of the library.  It has been so cool to see them grab a frog life cycle book to look up a tadpole or frog fact while they are pretend playing!

The Frog Life Cycle Books for Kids

There are tons of frog children’s books out there, but not all of them teach about tadpoles and the life cycle of a frog.  If your kids or class in interested in understanding how the frogspawn turn into frogs and seeing awesome photos and illustrations then here are 5 books for you to check out!

Frog Life Cycle Books for Kids

(all photos below are affiliate links)

 

A Frog’s Life by Nancy Dickmann was a favorite for the clear, large photos and the simple text.  This was one they reread many times.

 

 

Starting Life: Frog by Claire Llewellyn has fun, different-sized tabbed pages so you can quickly turn to whichever stage of the frog life cycle you desire.  This one contains a lot of interesting frog facts and information and has beautifully detailed illustrations.

 

 

The Life Cycle of a Frog by Bobby Kalman is another one with great photography.  The text is written in paragraph form and reads like an elementary school textbook.  This would be a great choice for young students who are doing a science report or project.

 

 

 

Scholastic Reader Level 1: From Tadpole to Frog by Kathleen Weidner Zoefeld is a great non-fiction early reader.  It has simple texts and close up photographs and is another one conducive to repeated readings.  My oldest reports this is also a favorite in her first grade classroom.

 

 

 

The Life of a Frog by Claire Hibbert is well organized and easy to peruse.  It packs a lot of info into each page and makes easy to read with graphics and text boxes.  My kids must have looked at the wheel-like illustration of the life cycle of a frog at the beginning of this book dozens of times.

 

 

 

I’d recommend all of these books about frogs for anyone interested in studying the life cycle of a frog.  Are there any other frog life cycle books you would add to the list?  Leave them in the comments for us to look for!

If you are studying the life cycle of the frog then you may also be interested in our Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin  Frog Jump: Measurement and Gross Motor Activity and Art Activity for Children: Frog Foot Prints.  They are great, hands on activities for kids!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Kids Craft Acts of Kindness for the Earth

2013
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In honor of Earth Day, on this week’s Acts of Kindness for Kids series we shared kids craft and project ideas that double as act of  kindness for the Earth!

Acts of Kindness for the Earth: Fun Kids Crafts

This week’s guests were +Carolyn Elbert from The Pleasantest Thing, +Erica Momandkiddo from What Do We Do All Day? and +Jackie Higgins from Ready-Set-Read.  I loved their kids crafts so much we already have plans to make them all this weekend.

Check it out!

For more information on the Earth Day crafts for kids in the video make sure to visit the links below!

Make Your Own Regatta from The Pleasantest Thing

How to Help Birds Build Nest from What Do We Do All Day?

DIY Garden Markers from Ready-Set-Read

Upcycled Soda Bottle Planter from Coffee Cups and Crayons

So grab your supplies (or dryer lint!) and get crafting! 

Kids crafts are a great way to do acts of kindness for the Earth!

Linking to:

Filed Under: Acts of Kindness, Crafts Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Easy Kids Craft: Upcycled Pencil Holder

2013
4 Comments

Looking for an easy craft for kids this Earth Day?  Then try this upcycled pencil holder made from supplies you can find in  your recycling bin!

Easy Upcycled Pencil Holder Kids Craft

How to Make an Upcycled Pencil Holder:

1.  Look through your recycling bin or craft stash for a plastic or glass jar and a newspaper, magazine, or catalog.

2.  Cut the catalog into small pieces.

3.  Apply the paper pieces to the jar with watered down glue and a paint brush.  Brush a layer on the jar, stick the paper pieces on, and then paint over the pieces with more of the glue mixture.

4.  Let dry and fill with pencils, markers, toothbrushes, or whatever you would like!

Some of our very favorite kids crafts are made with materials you can find in your recycling bin.  Here are three more easy upcycled crafts that are easy enough for kids to make!

Upcycled Soda Bottle Planter

Egg Carton Jelly Bean Game

Upcycled Gingerbread House

Linking to:

After-School-Link-Up


Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Caterpillar and Butterfly Finger Play Songs

2013
9 Comments

It’s spring in the northern hemisphere and that means it’s time for caterpillars and butterflies!   My former students and own kids love to sing and act out caterpillar and butterfly themed preschool songs, they are perfect for circle time at school or play time at home.

Caterpillar and Butterfly Songs for Preschool

 

Where Did My Caterpillar Go? Finger Play Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

Where, oh where, did my caterpillar go?

Caterpillar go, caterpillar go?

Where, of where, did my caterpillar go?

Oh look! It’s a butterfly!

As the students sing the beginning lines of the song they cup their hands around their eyes as if they were looking for something. When they sing the last line of the song they point their fingers up to the sky at the pretend butterfly.

Caterpillar and Butterfly Hand Motion Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Are You Sleeping?)

Caterpillar, caterpillar,

In my hand, in my hand,

Soon you’ll be a butterfly.

Soon you’ll be a butterfly.

And fly away. Fly away.

The kids cup their hands and swing them gently back and forth in front of their bodies while singing about the caterpillar. They hook their thumbs and flutter their fingers like wings during the third and fourth line and then move their butterfly fingers up into the air for the last line.

Caterpillar Life Cycle Song

by Megan Sheakoski

(Sung to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)

A caterpillar has 12 eyes

Has 12 eyes, has 12 eyes,

A caterpillar has 12 eyes

So that he can see!

A caterpillar chews on leaves

Chews on leaves, chews on leaves,

A caterpillar chews on leaves

To get some energy!

Now he rests in a chrysalis

A chrysalis, a chrysalis,

Now he rests in a chrysalis

And becomes a butterfly!

Singing and acting out finger play songs is a great learning activity for kids. Preschoolers and toddlers can practice following directions, using memory skills, and learn about the life cycle of a caterpillar while singing and having fun.

If you are studying about the caterpillars and butterflies you may want to make our 12 eyed caterpillar puppet to go with the life cycle song!

Linking to:

 

Edventures with Kids
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No Bake Dog Treats Book and Cook Activity

2013
12 Comments

This month’s Virtual Book Club for Kids author, David Shannon, was completely new to us so we went to the library to check out of bunch of his books.  Good Boy, Fergus! was the house favorite and we had a lot of fun doing a dog themed kids activity to go along with it.

Homemade Dog Treats: Good Boy Fergus! Book and Cook Activity

The kids really enjoyed Fergus, the canine main character, because he reminded them of our dogs and how they sometimes act…especially out in public!

We love book and cook activities and decided to make our dogs some homemade dog treats for when they are “good girls”!

Homemade No Bake Dog Treats Book and Cook Activity

No Bake Dog Treats Recipe:

1/2 cup of dry dog food

1 c of oats

1/2 c of creamy peanut butter

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of honey

Mix the first three ingredients together and then stir in the cinnamon and honey.  Once everything is blended roll into small balls and place in the refrigerator for an hour to chill.  Makes about 14.

The treats smelled so good that my three year old kept wanting to try one and the dogs loved them!  We’ll have to make some again soon!

What is your favorite David Shannon book?  Do you have a post about it?  Make sure to link up to the blog hop!

There are a few rules for this blog hop so make sure to read them:

  1. Link up only posts inspired by David Shannon that share children’s book inspired crafts, activities, recipes, etc. Any other posts will be deleted.
  2. Visit other blog posts on the linky and comment on or share the ones you love!
  3. Add our Virtual Book Club button to your post if you’d like.
Here’s the button you can grab if you are participating!

Linking to:
After-School-Link-Up

Filed Under: Food, Reading Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Egg Shakers and Song for Preschoolers

2013
2 Comments

My kids LOVE playing with egg shakers!  They’re so much fun, easy to make, and (surprisingly) last for a long time.  I was just making a bunch for my son’s preschool class and realized that not everyone has made them before!

So here’s a quick “how to” along with our favorite preschool song to shake to…

How to make egg shakers

How to Make Egg Shakers:

  1. Put a scoop of rice, pebbles, granola, etc in the bottom of a plastic egg
  2. Line the rim of the bottom with glue
  3. Click the egg together and wipe away the excess glue
  4. Hold together for 15-20 seconds to set
  5. SHAKE!!!!

Egg shakers are good for older preschoolers who don’t put toys in their mouths, but even the big kids will still need to be supervised since the glue is only so strong.

 
And now for the best egg shaking song….

I Know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner!

(affiliate links)

According to her website the song was “developed out of an improvisation with the kids. They were playing with egg-shaped “shakers” and I needed a song to go along with it.” 

And the song she came up with is perfect–it gets kids moving and shaking and is so much fun!

I Know A Chicken Amazon download

I Know a Chicken iTunes download

What are your preschoolers’ favorite spring songs?  My kids also love Eggbert the Easter Egg and our Eggbert Puppet!

Linking to:

Tuesday Tots Link Party

Disclosure:  The amazon links in this post are affiliate links. 

Filed Under: Crafts, Easter Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Gruffalo Party Food and Movie Night

2013
4 Comments

We have been having so much fun with The Gruffalo and the Virtual Book Club for Kids this month!  Our friends at The Gruffalo North America sent us a copy of The Gruffalo DVD (affiliate link) to watch so we decided to invite some friends over for a Gruffalo Movie Party!

Gruffalo Party Food: Cupcakes, Brownie Bites, and Popcorn Mix!

I came up with three Gruffalo themed snacks for the kids to try while they watched!

Gruffalo Cupcakes from Coffee Cups and Crayons

The Gruffalo cupcakes were just chocolate frosted cupcakes with candy on top.

The horns and teeth were cut up marshmallows
The eyes were orange M&Ms with gel icing
The ears were Raisinets
The nose was part of a Dot candy

Quick tip:  Use your kitchen scissors to cut your candy to shape.

Gruffalo Footprint Brownie Bites

To make the Gruffalo footprint brownie bites you can just make brownies in a mini muffin pan…or just buy them from the bakery section at the grocery store like I did!  Then just pipe white frosting onto the top to look like his footprint and they are ready to eat!

Gruffalo Popcorn Mix

And since it was a movie party I made a Gruffalo popcorn mix for the kids to munch on!  The mix was made of popcorn, orange M&Ms, Raisinets, mini-marshmallows, and peanuts.

Once all the food was ready it was time to watch The Gruffalo!  My kids had been waiting all week so were super excited and they were not disppointed–the movie was a hit!  The kids loved the narration and graphics and I appreciated how true to the book it was while still keeping us interested enough to see what would happen next.  We definitely recommend it and have already watched it twice!

Head on over to The Gruffalo YouTube channel to watch a sneak peak of the movie!

For even more Gruffalo party inspiration check out:

The Gruffalo Facebook page

The Gruffalo on Pinterest (there are TONS of fun ideas on their boards!)

Toddler Approved’s Gruffalo Crumble

Eats Amazing’s Gruffalo Themed Lunch

Mama Pea Pod’s Adorable Birthday Party

Linking to:

VirtualBookClub

Disclosure:  The Gruffalo sent us a copy of the DVD to review but did not sponsor this post in any other way.  All opinions are my own. :)

Filed Under: Birthday Parties, Reading Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Chalkboard Easter Eggs

2013
11 Comments

I have been loving all of the fun egg decorating ideas for kids I’ve seen this year!  One of my favorites was this idea from Super Mommy where she dipped her eggs in chalkboard paint.  I wanted to try it with my kiddos, but I was worried that we wouldn’t remember to get them back into the refrigerator.

Chalkboard Easter Eggs for Kids from Coffee Cups and CrayonsSo instead of chalkboard painting eggs we used egg-shaped rocks!  Genius, right?  Now they can stay out year round and be used in any way the kids can imagine!

Chalkboard Easter Egg Supplies:

    1. Egg shaped rocks–we found ours in the backyard.
    2. Rust-Oleum 206540 Chalkboard Paint (affiliate link)
    3. Colored Chalkboard Chalk (affiliate link)

Chalkboard Painted Easter Eggs for Kids

 How to Make Chalkboard Easter Eggs:

  1. Paint the rocks with chalkboard paint
  2. Let dry
  3. Decorate with colored chalk

What fun new ways have you decorated Easter eggs this year?

Linking to:

Tuesday Tots Link Party

Filed Under: Crafts, Easter Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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