Toddler Talk: Finger Painting is Fun!

As mentioned in previous posts, there are lots of items that can be used as devices for painting. To add to the wide variety of tools, there are also a few things that I like to give my tods the opportunity to paint ON!

One of which is aluminum foil....

Look how much fun they are having!!! The foil is a great palate for fingerpaint because it is so smooth, shiny and allows them to make patterns with their fingers that are easy to see! Start with a few colors and add more as they spread the gooey delightfulness all around! Added bonus is that when you are all done, just roll it up and toss it away....easy clean up! I recommend ripping off a piece that is big enough for your kiddo to stretch their arms out and not be able to touch the bare table. Tape all the sides down and let them loose!

Another take on this activity is to use Saran Wrap. Literally wrap one half of your kitchen table with some Saran (take a piece that is just a little longer than the side of the table and tape each end under the edge. Repeat again and overlap the piece that you just laid down by a few inches and secure with tape...repeat until you have the desired surface area for your painting extravaganza!) Plop some blobs of fingerpaint all around.....fun for hours and, just like the foil, easiest clean up of all time!!

Crafty Corner: DIY Art!

Sometimes I see paintings or posters in a store and think,"That would be really cute on my wall....oh, yikes....it's really expensive!"

Now I am not even talking about art commissioned by a reputable artist...just from a local store like Home Goods....it's still pretty pricy to fill your walls with stuff. And filling your walls with stuff is what makes your house a home! It allows you to show your personality and style and makes you feel happy, right?

I would challenge you to take a shot at being your own artist! If you see something that you think is pretty, stop at the local art store and pick up an inexpensive canvas.... a few colors
of craft paint and some brushes....and create your own interpretation of what you saw in the store. As we teach our preschoolers, there is no wrong answer when it comes to creating art. If you love it, then it is art! If you made it, then it is art!

I have done a few paintings for my mama over the years...replicas (well, kind of) of things we saw in shops that were kind of cool but way too expensive:

Just go for it! You may surprise yourself with the final product...or at least have fun trying:)

Crafty Corner: Ribbon Dancer

I was at World Market a few weeks ago and saw this:

I had been thinking for some time of something I could hang from the ceiling in my classroom. Something that would be colorful, something I could make a bunch of, and for cheap.

This little item would fit the bill just perfectly....except it was $5 and I wanted at least 6 of them to hang all around the room. Doesn't quite fit into the limited non-profit preschool budget for extraneous purchasing. Lucky for me, I felt this could be something easy to replicate for a lot less than that!

I headed to Joann and picked up ribbon, beads and some metal rings. Also needed: scissors, glue gun, big needle and a lighter:

First, I cut 4 pieces of ribbon (one of each color) 3 feet long each and marked the middle of each with a marker:

I took the metal ring and the first piece of ribbon and wrapped it once around an end, making sure to center it, then secured with a little dab of hot glue:

I stretched it across to the other side, pulled tight and wrapped the other end the same...securing with another dab of glue:

I continued with the other 3 ribbons in the same manor trying to space them out evenly:

Ok, this is going great! But what can make it better? A little sparkle....so I added some beads to the ends. A big needle works great for stringing them through...once it was on the ribbon, I tied a little knot on the end and used a lighter to melt the ends to prevent freying:

Final step was to add string to the top to have something to hang it from:

And done! I am pretty satisfied with the final product....although now that I am looking at it, I think I will add a few more ribbons to make it full and flowy...crafting is always a process, don't be afraid to modify as you go (I will add an updated photo when I get that extra ribbon party underway):

As soon as I hung up the new ribbon dancer in the classroom, the kids immediately took notice and gave me their little toddler approval....victory! And I was able to make 6 of these for about $1.50 each....double victory!

Sequins & Sofas: 5 Things

Some more stuff I like:

1. Trader Joes White Cheddar Corn Puffs: They are so good, I dare you to just eat a handful. It cannot be done.

2. Crest Glide Dental Floss: I know you are thinking...what kind of a nerd has a favorite floss? And is there really any difference?. Well yes, there is and this one is the best.

3. My 'Sheepy Blankie': I have had this gem of a blanket since I was a kid (along with my 2 sisters who, rumor has it, have the same affinity for theirs as well). My mom got it at a department store in the mid 80's and it looks just like it did back then. I think it is made out of magic. I wish I could find another....if you see one out there in the world, you must let me know!

4. The Revlon Perfect Heat Jumbo Waver: This iron is AWESOME! Makes soft beachy waves and is so easy to do yourself with just a little practice. I got mine at Target for under $25, worth the investment!

5. Pampered Chef Pinch Bowl Set: I use these all the time for prepping ingredients for a meal.....or mostly for the perfect little bowl to add a condiment to my plate without it running all over my other food! Who wants ketchup to touch your mashed potatoes when it was clearly only meant for your corndog? Set of 4 with lids for under $20!

Crafty Corner: Family Photo Project

It was my Dad's birthday last month, and my siblings and I wanted to do something creative to honor his special day!

Think hard, think hard! What do you get the most awesome Dad in the world?

A tie? Boring.
New slippers? Not.
A puppy? Hmmmm....no.

Then it came to me. Daddio had taken a sign language course a little ways back and enjoyed sharing tidbits of sign language knowledge with us whenever we visited up north! He is a guy who likes to learn stuff, so I thought it would be fun (and perfect) to gift him with a special sign language message from his little darlings (that's us).

I rallied the troops and described to them the vision I had for this top secret project.....I assigned them (and myself) each a word to sign via a photograph. Once they were all submitted, I had them printed and framed them up! I think it turned out great....and my Dad really liked it:

'I Love You Dad'!

It's true, I do! Hope you had a great birthday Daddy!

Toddler Talk: Music Class

It's important to myself and my fellow toddler teachers to give our kiddos a variety of experiences to learn and expand their minds! One of my favorite ways to do this is through music! Whether it be asking them which CD we should listen to (they most often have strong opinions about this) or simply turning on some 99.5 (classical music station) and listening together ("Hey, what do you hear? I hear a trumpet and a piano!"), music is a wonderful tool that has amazing power to cross language barriers and reach all age groups!

We have expanded our music experience to a once a week 'class' where we all sit down and talk music together. It usually begins with a gathering song to welcome each friend lead by our trusty djembe:

Each child gets a chance to try out the drum when we are done with the welcome and I make sure to point out the elements of their 'song'- wow, she is using two hands and is drumming very loud. He chose to just use his fingertips and it sounds quiet!

We talk about rhythm, volume and movement...how it sounds the same and how it is different.

We also have a backpack of different instruments (special only for music class) and a bag of scarves that we alternate each week....we mix it up based on the kids interests and energy level at the time! Sometimes we need a little more movement (scarves and dancing) and sometimes we are able to explore the instruments and talk about their characteristics:

My favorite part comes with our instrument flash cards:

A former staff member (thanks Chinh) put a CD together of samples (15 seconds or so) of a variety of instruments. We turn on the CD, listen and ask,"What do you hear?"

The new kids usually do not have an answer, but the toddlers who have been a part of music class for awhile can quickly identify the instrument and how you play it (fingers wiggle for the piano, hands crash for a cymbal,etc..). Coupled together with our picture cards, the kids have become little experts in the category of 'Instrument Identification'!

It is amazing to watch their capacity for learning and their growing appreciation for all things music!

We finish off our time together with a little singing time....lead by my stellar guitar skillz (ok, not that great. But 2 year olds think I am AMAZING and that's all that really matters, right?).

If you have some little toddler people in your life, I encourage you to start up a little music class of your own right at home! Don't fret about your own musical skill (or lack thereof). Just talk about what you hear, explore some instruments together and have fun! Learn to hear the music that is all around you....it's beautiful!

Film Fest 2013: Hope Community Church, Minneapolis

So, some creative and talented friends and I (Starsheep 4-eva!!) participated in our church's annual Film Festival....the awards ceremony was this past weekend and we took home the Golden Star for 'Most Creative Film'!

Our genre: Foreign Film
Required Prop: Large Suitcase
Required Line of Dialogue: 'He's a wild donkey of a man.'

Watch and enjoy:

Hope Hits en Espanol