Simple Spider Fun!

With winter quickly approaching, and cool weather (for some of us) inevitable, it's time to load up on indoor,  "ENERGY OUT" activities.

Spiders are something every child can relate to and web fun can supply some much needed movement as well as large and small motor coordination!

There are many ways to build spider webs with young children.  Here are three ways I KNOW are fun!!

Let Them Play is looking for "Test Drivers"

I've just recently enjoyed a new journey in life and have co-authored a book with Jeff A. Johnson from Explorations Early Learning.  The book is titled, "Let Them Play, an Early Childhood UNcurriculum" and will be available through Redleaf Press in March 2012! 

Simple and Inexpensive "Tie Dying"

I discovered a fairly simple way for young children to get a "tyed dyed" effect on fabric.  We painted pirate bandanas,  New Pirate Ideas (at least new for us!) but I would think this method would work on just about anything and is very inexpensive.

Arrrrrgh Mateys! Thar Be Treasure WHERE?!

I always seem to have pirate-loving children.  We always end up on a pirate adventure for several weeks every few months.  We've done the map thing, the treasure hunt through out the neighborhood, the pirate talk and walking of the plank. We've made  a pirate ship out of a big box and we've even written a pirate song!

This time around, I had a desire for something new.  Here is what I came up with:

1)  Treasure Playdough

The Deconstructed Calendar

Some of the "stuff" (for lack of a better term) we do with young children need to be re-evaluated and deconstructed. Take Calendar Time for example. I struggled for years through calendar time.  Why did I even do calendar time?  The 2-5 yr olds that are in my program rarely fully understood the calendar.  It was more of a routine than anything and something that ate up valuable play and discovery time.  With a simple change, calendar time has turned into an amazing learning opportunity completely lead by the children!