Fun Large Motor Games
Can’t wait to try these with my preschoolers!
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Some move into the new year with enthusiasm and excitement. Others start the year kicking and screaming. These are the teachers I’m talking about here! Welcome back to school everyone!
These are some of the books we’ll read with this theme.
We start the year with simple art projects that involve a few easy steps. Our room has a huge bulletin board so we turn it into a road and pin up school buses personalized with each child’s picture.
Drive your bus through a puddle…of paint. Use any color you like. Now make tracks on your bus! We’ve always stuck with black but I might try giving choices this year. I’ll update this with colorful pics if it goes well. If it goes poorly you’ll never know! lol
Put the wheels on the bus. With a dab of glue. This is many children’s first experience with glue so expect come big puddles.
Now add the driver to the front of the bus. Each child adds their photo to their bus.
Here’s a fun (Dubstep Remix) version of Wheels On The Bus By DJ Hans Solo
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We’ve all at least heard of the “terrible two’s” many parents have experienced the phenomena first hand. Whining, refusing to eat; sleep; or cooperate in general, and temper tantrums are all characteristics we associate with 2 year olds. Many toddler’s first an favorite word is “no” which can continue the negativity.
Well what if it doesn’t have to be like that? I’d like to help parents learn how to defuse some of these situations when they come up. Even better I’d like to help parents prevent these behaviors all together. Let’s end the notion that two year olds are terrible!
The new section of this blog called My child won’t… is designed to help parents understand where some childhood behaviors come from. With an understanding of developmental milestones parents can work through issues more confidently.
First some background on toddlers. Two year olds are not small adults, they are still developing their understanding of the world. Reasoning with a 2 year old isn’t advisable! Certainly parents should explain things to their toddler but long explanations will not help you get the desired behavior.
Toddlers are just realizing their autonomy. They are beginning to understand they’re parents are separate entities from themselves. Infants and very young toddlers operate from the notion that you are somehow attached to them.
With this new found autonomy also comes a sense that they can control their environment, and maybe even you mom and dad! You will be smart to allow your toddler much control during this time. You’ll also be smart to set a few wise limits and stick by them.
As a former toddler teacher (currently teaching preschool) I’ve listened to many parent say “My two year old won’t clean up their toys at home.” I’ve advised countless parents to use the same techniques we use at school. I’ll share some of those techniques with you below.
There are several ways to approach clean up time with your toddler. The tasks should be fun and easy. Approach your toddler with a daunting chore, and you’ll likely get your two to be terrible.
Here’s a great video of how cute it is when toddlers clean up.
Napping can be effected by the same developmental milestone (autonomy) that can effect a two year olds’ willingness to clean up toys. Toddlers are just learning that they can have control over their own bodies. This autonomy can make them try to control you too! Children this age need grown ups that can hold their ground on the family expectations and rules.
Again I can tell you that teachers at thousands of child care centers get groups of 2 year old children to nap every day. Of course not every child sleeps everyday and that’s an important point for parents to remember at home.
Finally, a key factor in getting any child to nap is tiredness. If a child sleeps in late, and sits idle all morning passively watching TV, a nap might not be possible, or at least not until late in the day. The take away here is to get your toddler up and active early in their day. These tips might help with a child who won’t take a nap.
Right around the second birthday most parent introduce the big kid bed. This can pose new problems for parents including safety hazards. Let’s address safety first. If your home isn’t “child safe” you’ll be smart to make it so before introducing the new bed. Even if you’re home is safe for your child during the day, while you’re awake, can you be sure your child would be safe wandering around the house while you are sound asleep? If that sounds a little scary there are some solutions to consider.
Some tips for parents introducing the big kid bed.
See how these parents get their toddler to bed in this cute video.
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Two sets of Dollar Store erasers make a great matching game!
Haunted houses are fun when you add stickers and a white crayon.
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Every child tasted all 3 types of apples.
This is our apple tasting chart
? I’m a little apple tree, all my apples grow on me. I mustn’t sneeze, I mustn’t cough or all my apples will fall off! Aahh-choo! Aah-choo! (Catch you sneeze in your elbow) ?
Crimp 3 paper towel tubes. One for each color apple.
Dip ends into corresponding colors.
Red, green, and yellow apples! Teacher or kids can add details like stem and leaf.
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