Monday - Reading

MONDAY - READING

Today is READING day.

We LOVE LOVE LOVE to read. My 3yr old has always loved reading. We read everyday during the day, and every night before bed. We go to our local library every week to get out 7 new books - one for each day (although we always end up reading them all on the first day, then re-reading them for the rest of the week). I set up a lovely little reading corner in our playroom next to the bookcase (we also LOVE Half Price Books!), so the kids have the perfect spot for some quiet time to read their favorite books.


The love of reading is something so easy to encourage and is so rewarding to your kids. Start by reading to your baby when they are first born, babies love to hear the sound of your voice, and simple pictures will capture their attention. Make reading part of your daily routine, whether it is during the day before naptime, in the morning, or the classic bedtime story. My 3yr old has entertained herself for long periods of time (when she needs some quiet time by herself) by just sitting in her chair and "reading" her books.

Today we are going to make a simple book. Using basic craft paper, we are going to write a little story, authored by my very own 3yr old. This should be interesting!


We fold three pieces of color craft paper in half to make our book.


My 3yr old then dictates her story to me. Today's story is all about a favorite subject at the moment, HOT DOGS!


We give our story a title...


And then add in some pictures...





To put the book together I firstly tape the spine on each page to reinforce it.


Then I fold it at the top and hole punch it, and do the same at the bottom so you end up with four holes.



Then thread some ribbon or yarn through the holes and tie, and Wella! your very own book!

Now you can both sit back, relax and read all about the "Hot Dog Cake" or whatever your little one comes up with. Have fun!

Weekly Bus Schedule

Bus Schedule - Week 3


Monday - Reading

Tuesday - Kindness

Wednesday - Communication

Thursday - Colors

Friday - Days, Months

Looks like a fun week ahead!

Friday - Music

FRIDAY - MUSIC

Today is MUSIC day.

Tomorrow is Grandpa's 75th birthday, so today we are practicing singing "Happy Birthday" and making Grandpa a "Happy Birthday" Banner.

My little one loves birthdays, not long ago we celebrated baby's 1st birthday, so we know what it is all about - presents, presents, more presents and balloons and fun stuff to eat. I think she had more fun than the baby. And in a week's time it will her 3rd birthday - exciting stuff - we are counting down the days!

So let's get busy decorating our banner as we sing!

We are using craft paper, color pens, stickers, glue and glitter sprinkles, and string to hang it up with.



For our banner I am constructing 4 sections to hang up individually, as I'm not sure yet where they can be hung up at the party. So, firstly, I taped two pieces of craft paper together, with the tape on the back.


Next we drew on our "Happy Birthday Grandpa" message. Now it is ready for some toddler & baby decorating!


We used stickers, pens, crayons, glue, glitter sprinkles and paint (hand prints of both the girls) to decorate the banner.



I think it turned out beautifully! And our singing improved slightly. :)

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear Grandpa
Happy Birthday to you!

I'm sure Grandpa will love his special birthday "card" - my little one is so excited to give it to him tomorrow - just one more sleep! Have fun!

Thursday - Physical Ability

THURSDAY - PHYSICAL ABILITY

Today is PHYSICAL ABILITY day. We are doing an obstacle course combined with a scavenger hunt - my 3 year old and 1 year old LOVED this activity!!

I have a tunnel, but we also used a sheet over a couple of chairs and one over the table to create a series of tunnels and fun places to hide and explore.



In some of the areas I put a few toys (animals today) for my 3 year old to collect. I gave her a list of what she had to find. Each time she found one she has to bring it back and put it into the bucket. I also put a few extras in their for my baby! This is a very simple game guaranteed to produce lots of laughter and fun!




Away she goes!



After the scavenger hunt was completed I gave my 3 year old a flashlight so she could go and explore the "caves"! She loved it!

Simple games like this are often the best memories of my childhood, so it is so much fun to be able to share them with my kids. Have fun!

Wednesday - Time

WEDNESDAY - TIME

Today is TIME day. Hmmm, this is a complex concept to teach a little kid, so we will start with something easy, like night and day.

We are doing two pictures - one night-time, and the other representing day-time - using craft paper, glow-in-the-dark stars (from WalMart), scissors, glue stick, heavy card for the backing, and I have added in some scrapbook pretty paper for the bird and some butterfly stickers.


Trace moon shape with large circle object, then trace another circle inside original one to get the crescent moon.



Stick the glow-in-the-dark stars onto the page - kids love stickers! I bought this pack from WalMart - it was cheap for a lot of stars (we still have tons for other future projects). And using non-toxic kid safe glue stick, stick on the moon.


We put an owl in our picture since owls are nocturnal. We are using brown and orange - just trace out an owl shape on one color and the eyes, nose and tummy on another color (NOTE: I redid my eyes and nose so it was all one piece - easier to cut out and easier for the little ones to use the glue stick on).





We then decorated our owl, adding in eyes and circle around the eyes, border around the tummy and some dots on his tummy. We also cut out a basic tree limb for our owl to sit on and then stuck everything onto our page.



Then we stuck our page onto the heavy cardboard.



Next was our Day sheet. We traced out the sun using a yogurt container (which I love to keep for painting days for paint).


We cut out some clouds and glued them on.



Next we selected out some pretty paper for our bird.




I also had some butterfly stickers and thought they would be perfect for this project so we used a couple from one sheet.



Once we had everything finished and stuck down I put both pictures under a pile of heavy books to get everything to dry flat.


Once it was dry I stapled the drawings together (backs together) right at the very edges at the top and bottom. I also stuck a piece of ribbon in between the boards and stapled the ribbon and boards together at the very top. This is so we can hang it up once completed (to admire, of course!).



Next I glued some ribbon on the top and bottom edges so as to hide the staples, and look pretty! :)


And finally - completed project. As we were constructing this project we talked about the moon and the stars and how they only come out at night, and about the sun - when we see the sun it is day time! We now hang up our completed project in our playroom and change it over when it is night, then when we get up in the morning we will change it over to the day time picture.


Got a little carried away with my trimming and trimmed too much bird away - oh well - still looks cute! Have fun!