3D Shapes

Author unknown

Note from Lois: This little poem will help young children in learning 3D shapes, and memorization is a great exercise!

3D shapes are fat not flat.
A cone is like a party hat.
A sphere is like a bouncy ball.
A prism is like a building tall.
A cylinder is like a can of pop.
A cube is like the dice you drop.

3D shapes are here and there.
3D shapes are everywhere!

 

 

Two Little Dickie Birds & Bathtub Boats

FUN ACTIVITIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN
Great activities for parents to do with children, but these are also good for older children and babysitters to use with little ones!  I guarantee young children will beg for babysitters who know how to have fun with them!  

Two Little Dickie Birds

(An action poem to do with young children. 
You could draw eyes and a mouth on your index fingers before doing this.)

Two little Dickie birds sitting on a hill

   (Put fists together with two index fingers pointing up)

One named Jack

   (Wiggle the first finger of the right hand)

The other named Jill

   (Wiggle the first finger of the left hand)

Fly away, Jack!

   (Point the right finger over the right shoulder and bring back a

closed fist)

Fly away, Jill!

   (Point the left finger over the left shoulder and bring back a closed

fist)

Come back, Jack!

   (Point your right fist over the right shoulder and bring back the

right finger)

Come back, Jill!

   (Point your left fist over the left shoulder and bring back the left

finger)

Floating Bathtub Boats

You will need:

bottle cap, jar lid, bar of Ivory soap, cork or empty walnut shell

toothpicks

small dab of clay or playdough

crayons

scissors

cloth or paper

1. Draw and color a sail; then cut it out.  Put your name or a number on the sail, if you wish.

2. Poke a toothpick through the sail (in one side and back out again to hold the sail up straight).

3. Stick a dab of clay or playdough inside the jar lid or shell (not needed for the soap or cork).

4. Stick the toothpick into the clay, soap or cork and sail away!

Note: When using a cork, push a penny into a slit in the cork for balance.  The Ivory soap boat is the easiest.  This is a good activity for a swimming pool too, but be sure the toothpicks do not puncture a blown-up pool -- or your young child.

Lots of Fun Activities for You and Your Young Children: Toddle Time

by Debbie Klinect - http://alongthejourney.sytes.net - Used by permission - From Along the Journey Newsletter by Debbie Klinect & Tinea Bradley

 

Our little ones are so full of energy.  They are in constant motion and I wish I could bottle that and sell it!  Containing their energy and having things for them to do can sometimes be a problem.  The old things don’t work any more or you are just tired of doing the same things over and over again.  If you are staying in town this summer, here is a list of things for you to try with your little person.  Go to http://www.quakeroatmeal.com/toddler/games/searchresults.cfm?Section=Games  and see what things are appropriate for your child’s age group. 

 

Another web site to consider is http://www.hbwm.com/MomsAssistant/play121.htm.

 

If you are going out-of-town and need some ideas to keep you little one busy, try this web site for some suggestions: http://www.pctots.com/projects-activities.htm.

 

Whatever you decide to do, have fun with that little one.  Make sure that the things that you choose to do are appropriate for your child’s age and skill level.  Also make sure that the project doesn’t require you to have anything that can be harmful to your little one.

Dear World

by Dan Valentine

 

        My young son starts school today.  It's going to be sort of strange and new to him for awhile, and I wish you would sort of treat him gently.

        You see, up to now he's been king of the roost.  He's been boss of the backyard.  His mother has always been near to soothe his wounds and repair his feelings.

        But now things are going to be different.  This morning he's going to walk down the front steps, wave his hand and start out on the great adventure.  It is an adventure that might take him across continents, across oceans.  It's an adventure that will probably include wars and tragedy and sorrow.  To live his life in the world he will have to live in, will require faith and love and courage.

        So, World, I wish you would sort of look after him.  Take him by the hand and teach him things he will have to know.  But do it gently, if you can.

        He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true.

        But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero ... that for every crooked politician there is a great and dedicated leader.  Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend.

        Steer him away from envy, if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

        In school, World, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat.  Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone says they are wrong.  Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.

        Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon.  Teach him to listen to all men, but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take just the good that siphons through.

        Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he's sad.  Teach him there is no shame in tears.  Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.

        Treat him gently, World, if you can, but don't coddle him ... because only the test of fire makes fine steel.  Let him have the courage to be impatient.  Let him have the patience to be brave.

        Let him be no man's man.  Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself ... because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.

        This is quite an order, World, but see what you can do.  He's such a nice little fellow, my son!

 

 

Preschool Fun

HELP! I'M BORED!
Non-Stop "Cheap Fun" for Pre-Schoolers by Janine Lynn  

(Note from Lois: Many of you have school age children who have just gone off to school or are being homeschooled, and your preschoolers may have felt a bit left out.  Here are some activities that will help solve that problem!)

Is your active pre-schooler starting to drive you crazy from boredom?  These sample ideas are sure to help. Remember, busy kids are happy kids!

PUDDING PAINT
Make your favorite flavor of pudding, according to the directions.  Then, use clean fingers or kitchen utensils to "paint" pictures or designs on a cookie sheet.  Have a few licks now and then.

PEANUT BUTTER PLAYDOUGH
Mix together 1 C. peanut butter, 1/2 C. honey or corn syrup, and 1 C.icing sugar (or Graham Wafer crumbs, powdered milk, or flaked coconut).

Use a rolling pin, cookie cutters, forks, garlic press, or your fingers to make various creatures or shapes.

(Note from Lois: Children under the age of one year should never have honey because of a possibility of botulism.)

PAINTED TOAST
Stir a few drops of food coloring into 2 T. milk. With a pastry brush, paint a face or design on bread.  Toast and serve. (Note from Lois:  Rather than using food coloring on something anyone is going to eat, try mashed blueberries, strawberries or even mashed cooked carrots with very little milk.  You can still "paint" your toast, but you won't be putting artificial dyes into your child's body.  Many children have reactions to dyes and sugar, which manifest themselves in uncontrollable behavior.  By keeping a record of dyes and sugar that your
child eats in cereals, candy, hot dogs, etc., you may be able to
determine the cause and effect in your child behavior.)

COLORED MACARONI 
Sprinkle several drops of food coloring into a bowl of dry macaroni.  Mix well, and spread on cookie sheet to dry.  Glue different colors onto heavy paper to make a picture.

KITCHEN SANDBOX
Partly fill a large plastic tub with cornmeal, rice, or colored macaroni, as described above.  Then, use cups, spoons, colanders, sieves, etc. to dig, scoop, and measure "sand".

CARPET TUNNEL
Roll up a scrap piece of carpet or foam mattress to make a tunnel to crawl through.  Tie to secure.  

(Note from Lois:  Be sure the tunnel is large enough, so the foam does not smother your precious little ones.)

RADICAL RAMPS
Build ramps or tunnels for your toy cars to run down by balancing skinny boards or tubes on chairs of stairs.

WONDERFUL WET-PRINTS
Pour water into cake or bread pan.  Dip your bare feet or hands into water and make "wet-prints" on the sidewalk. 

(Note from Lois: Young children also love to "paint" the house with real paint brushes dipped in water buckets.)

BAGEL BIRDFEEDER
Sandwich bagel between plastic lids.  Thread string through hole in lids and tie a big fat knot on bottom. Hang on tree for birds to enjoy.

COUNTING CRUNCHIES
In turn, two or more players shake a dice and take that number of Cheerios from a bowl.  When bowl is empty, count your Cheerios to see who has the most.


Janine Lynn is a parent, author, and educator.  Born and raised in Alberta, she is the author of "Help!  I'm Bored! - Over 300 Children's Activities for Ages 2-12".  She wrote this book because she wanted all of her favorite teaching ideas collaborated into one book, ready to use for any occasion.  Find out more about "Help!  I'm Bored!" at: http://www.telusplanet.net/public/cscltd/page16.html
or E-mail Janine at: dale&janine@3web.net.