This blog is a way to examine my many adventures as I try to make the most of this life, and teach my boys how truly magical every moment can be. We may have ups and downs, but either way we are learning through exploration. My job is to try to make learning enjoyable so they always have a thirst for it.
This week I have attempted once again to start up Tot School. As I have mentioned many times before my tot is behind in speech and some other cognitive development areas due to his Sensory Processing Disorder. Previously, I would print out tot school pages and suggested activities and it just brought to light all that he couldn't do and not what he good. It made me feel frustrated and grieving the fact he wasn't where other kiddos were at. I am going to do things I know he can succeed and like-period!
A is for Apple Color sheet from Twisty Noodle with our color of the week RED!
Going on a red hunt. I had these in a basket for the week. I had to help with this because he has a hard time sorting and matching. That is why we are staying on one color and trying to saturate him with it!
Montessori-open and closing containers with different trinkets inside. This he excels at and loves it!
Apple prints. I put a corn on the cob holder in the apple so all he had to do was stamp it.
Another thing he recently learned to do and enjoys is stickers.I colored the tree for him.
This week was his first time using a glue stick. He LOVED it but had some difficulty.
He did the bingo paint plotter. We both loved it and will keep doing it. I definitely had to model it by guiding his hand for the about half of the sheet.
He tried apple bobbing after watching brother. Then we did an apple tasting. He has trouble chewing so this was a sensitive activity but he did great under TONS of supervision.
A red collage-Mommy precut the pictures and he helped put them on the page.
Matching-this is REALLY hard for him so it took about 3 days.
All that he achieved in his first week. A lot to be proud of!!!
We used the awesome Aa is for Apple pack from Allfordays. We will be linking up with Tot School at 1+1+1=1. She is the go to for anything and everything tot school related and such an inspiration.
"A" has been asking me for months what different colors mixed together make. Which is funny because we have worked on primary colors in the past, but its good to relearn things to help aid recall and build schema. This week I drew some circles on a piece of paper and wrote the names of some colors under them. Then "A" would paint the two colors and then after mixing the two tell me what the new color they made was. I got the idea for this from kirarts blog. Here is "A" working on it:
I wanted to include more than the first three traditional color mixes.
If your child likes computer games there is a Curious George game that is great for color mixing and exploring color. There are only four colors to choose from and you have to pick when colors and the amount. George mixes it up and you can paint a coloring sheet. It took me some time to figure out how to make the color for Curious George himself but I did it. To play Mix and Paint go to PBSkids.org.
"A's" finished picture (all painted using only white, blue, red, and yellow)
Then because "A" loves water play so much I broke down and let him play with water glasses & food dye. I totally let it be kid-directed and let him have at it. This is so hard for me to do (especially because he used almost ALL of the dye). When he was done with the mixology I gave him some syringes so he could work on filling them with liquid and then squirting tit into one of our silicone ice trays. This was great fine-motor skill work for him and encouraged him to remain focused.
We got the tray from Ikea for about $2.50
After the ice cubes were made we did a little ice painting. The "paint" is very subdued and similar to watercolors. Since this was such a sensory activity I could have "B" participate. He wasn't in a mood so he only played with the ice a short while, but I popped them back in the freezer for another day. I am looking forward to more "messy play" with "B" as I learn more about his diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder. I was happy it was an activity that the whole family could participate, instead of leaving poor "B' out to watch big brother.
Aren't they pretty!
One of the ice painting masterpieces
Lastly, I wanted to show you a cute book we found by Melani Watt (one of our most favorite children's writers) called Leon the Chameleon. It has a great color theme-along with other important themes like feelings and friendship. This book in particular encourages critical thinking. Why would a chameleon be afraid if they turned into the opposite color of what they were standing on? To hear my 5 year-old read the first few pages watch the video. So proud of my reader!!!!
I am a huge science nerd! Growing up I was led to believe that because math was difficult to me, science would be as well. I avoided science like the plague. When finally, I was forced to get my lab science credits in college I was shocked to find that not only was I good at science but that I loved it. Science is such a great subject for children because it is all about exploration, wonder, manipulation, and amazement. It ties in so nicely to the concept of being playful! Those are all things I want to encourage with my boys and students, so I was more than tickled pink to find this amazing website (PreKinder.com) that is chocked full of science centers and experiments. This website has so many terrific ideas that my head is literally spinning! One particular experiment caught my eye because it uses Skittles. Skittles are "A's" favorite candy, but I have also read it is the worst candy for people on the market (healthwise). This being the case the only time "A" gets Skittles is as a special treat from Grandpa, and most certainly not from me. As a special treat I thought I would ease up a bit and do a Skittle science experiment and give him a few extra to eat-boy was he blown away!
The Floating S experiment, as it is called at the PreKinders website, is super easy to do and hardly any cost at all. The only materials you need is three different color Skittles placed S face up in a white disposable bowl (found in picnic area of supermarket) and a class of water. Place the skittles around the edge with some space between the three (think like a triangle). Pour enough water to cover the Skittles. Then observe. It is important to have the experiment take place where it is not shaky. The website has a printable to record observations too.
Some cool observations:
The colors bled in an outer ring. When the colors met each other I thought they would start to mix (the red would meet the yellow and start to form orange). This didn't happen! The colors stopped when they met and decided to travel inwards.
The red color traveled the fastest, then the green, and the yellow was the slowest.
The white S floated to the top. You have to observe it quick because the S starts to break down to white floating stringy stuff.
"A's" prediction, experiment observations and picture of what he saw happen
At the end the scientist was rewarded with some of his favorite candy (NO-not the boxful but a handful)
It is time for a new sensory basket for my little one. I change out the tot sensory basket faster then the older kiddos sensory bin because the attention span is so short. I am going back to work on colors. I loved the letter B and fully plan to continue with the alphabet when "B" is older. Honesty, he doesn't need to know that concept quite yet. I think I will focus on shapes and colors. The red basket was a huge hit so I thought I would try green. I tried something new so I hope you like it (I am still on the fence).
The Basket:
The Items:
Shapes: cookie cutters, plastic bendable bracelet, ring, and tubberware lid
Bow & Beads (from last basket), cardboard lacing card, and wooden beads strung onto a pipecleaner
Things that go: metal tractor, hard plastic truck, train, boat, soft plastic garbage truck, and wind-up dino (he loves it)
Trees: Felt and plastic. The palms rotate so that is fun
Blocks: Wood and Plastic
Stuffed frog, teether, plastic horse, Mr. Potato head hat, and binkey
Noise Makers: whistle, ball snapper, snake that rotates, and a pretend level (makes a rattle sound)
Sensory bag: shaving cream and food dye (taped shut) I put green confetti items as a search and find option. Not sure if I like this or not. We will see! Definitely provides a different texture than he is use to.
Playtime:
Wooden beads were his favorite
Exploring the sensory bag
Trying to figure out how the beads got into the level (see brother on his head in the back ;0)
Obviously the train needs to go on the garbage truck
It's time for a new tot sensory basket. I have only just begun and am beginning to run out of ideas. If you have any suggestions please leave a comment. I decided this month to do all things RED! I think "B" really liked the vibrant color.
