While learning about the letter “P” we decided to explore with pizza! Pizza is an all-time favorite food for many preschoolers, and activities involving pizza are a great way to introduce the letter “P.” Here are some of our favorite ways to explore the letter “P” with pizza in our classroom! Begin with a book We began by reading the book Pete’s a Pizza by William Steig. This is an adorable story where the main character, Pete, starts out in a bad mood. So, his dad decides to turn him into a “pizza” using things like checkers for pepperoni, and little pieces of paper for the cheese to cheer Pe ..read more

We want to share some ideas with you as you get ready to go back to school! As summer winds down and you prepare to head back to school, we wanted to share some ideas with you that we think you will find helpful whether at home or in your classroom. Calming nerves with a story For some children, going to preschool for the first time also means separating from their loved ones for the first time. If your child/ren are nervous about the first day of school the story The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is a great book to help calm their first day jitters. Separation can be hard for children, but this ..read more

Cardboard yarn creations are a fun way to repurpose cardboard and build fine motor skills! This week, we decided to explore with yarn and enhance fine motor skills as we created using cardboard canvases. Cardboard can be used in so many creative ways and is a wonderful material to keep on hand. Cardboard canvases can easily be made by cutting cardboard boxes or cereal boxes into smaller-sized canvases. Begin with a book We began by reading a children’s book called Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett. This story is about a girl named Annabelle who never ran out of yarn and was known for her knitting thro ..read more

Fourth of July is almost here! We have gathered some of our favorite ways to celebrate with young children. We love these ideas from fellow bloggers and we wanted to share them with you in hopes that they will bring inspiration to your 4th of July celebration! A festive book Books are a great way to build early literacy and cultivate a love of reading with kids in your home or classroom. They are also a great way for children to learn about the world around them. Red, White, Boom by Lee Wardlaw is perfect for preschoolers. Children will love learning about the 4th of July celebrations through ..read more

Are your kids into bugs? We have some great ways to investigate bugs in your home or classroom. Our class really seems to be fascinated with bugs of all kinds and with it being Springtime, we thought it would be the perfect time to expand on their interests with a bug investigation! Begin with a book We began by reading The Grouchy Ladybug by famous children’s author, Eric Carle. Books are a wonderful way to introduce bugs to kids and this book is always a big hit! We discussed the characteristics of ladybugs and used the book as inspiration for creating our very own ladybug books ..read more

Invitations to Draw are a wonderful way to spark creativity in young children! We are so excited to share with you the newest book by our friend and fellow blogger, Jean Van’t Hul. Jean has an impressive background in art history and studio art. She is a mother of two and writes a blog called The Artful Parent where she shares her amazing insights, ideas, and beautiful photos demonstrating simple process-focused art especially appropriate for young children. And we are thrilled to share with you her latest book release titled Invitation to Draw: 99 Drawing Prompts to inspire Kids’ Creativity ..read more

Spring is a great time to explore and plant seeds in preschool! Today was all about seeds and all things green! Spring is a wonderful time to plant seeds and watch them grow whether at home or in the classroom. Begin with a book Together we began by reading Plant the Tiny Seed by Christine Matheson. The kids loved learning about planting seeds and how seeds grow. They especially loved this interactive story as they tapped the clouds to wish for rain, clapped to bring out the sun, and more! It is also introduces counting and colors throughout and the end of the book includes some fun info on ho ..read more

Looking for fun ways to celebrate Father’s Day? We have some wonderful ideas to share with you. Father’s Day will be here before we know it! We have gathered some fun craft and activity ideas to help celebrate all of the special dads out there. Kid made coasters These kid-made coasters are simple to make, cost-effective, and would make a beautiful handmade gift! You might even be able to find some white ceramic tile samples for free at a local ReStore or Freecycle that could be repurposed into coasters.   Fabric Resist Art Pillows How fun and unique are these fabric resist art pillo ..read more

Have you been looking for a way to get your kids or students playing outside more? Do you want a way to engage them in creative, open-ended play? Build them a mud kitchen! Today, Jenny Santeramo, a fellow play advocate, mom of five, and owner of Greyson’s Treasures Play Kits for Big Imaginations, will be sharing with us how to make a DIY Mud Kitchen! Making a Mud Kitchen There are so many ways to put together this magical mud kitchen. Collect some old pallets and nail them together, simple as that. You could also look for a used piece of furniture that is child height to use for the base ..read more

Looking for fun and engaging books to grow your children's book collection? We have just the books for you! Sammy children’s books from JD Educational are a wonderful teaching tool and would make a great addition to any library whether at home or school. Children will love learning along with Sammy the dog! Explore a ..read more