Preschoolers and sidewalk chalk

Sidewalk chalk seems like a good way to combine getting outside and art. It helps them learn to draw and write with something really big before trying to master writing small letters on little lines.

The kids like me to write words for them especially their names or initials. Edmund usually requests I draw him a garbage truck. I like to draw decorations pertaining to the next upcoming holiday, too.

They like me to make hopscotch or even just a numbered path to jump along.

What do your kids like to do with sidewalk chalk?

Preschoolers and playdough

     I decided to get the playdough out today for the 3 year old and 5 year old. I've found playdough mats on the internet before. Today I made some shape ones myself. Some people laminate them or I suppose you could put them in page protectors. I just put them under our clear plastic table cloth. (We got tired of Edmund spilling his water and soaking the cloth tablecloth.) They're basically any type of picture that you can interact with with playdough. Some ideas are big block letters they can use as a template to make playdough letters or they could make playdough raindrops to rain on a picture.

         

     I also washed off a lid from a parmesian cheese container. Because of the circle holes on one half and the half circle on the other half, you can push it into the playdough to make shapes in the play dough (like an alien face for example).
     The kids like to make playdough circle pancakes or cookies and play with Edmund's pots and pans. Today we also made snowmen out of the cookie circles and used toothpicks for arms and legs.

What do your kids do with playdough?

Preschooler youtube channels

Youtube channels my 3 yr old likes:
Blippi
The Axel Show
Binkie.tv
Coilbook
Heros of the City
The Little Bus Tayo

Other shows and movies he likes:
Thomas and Friends
Chuggington
WALL-E
VeggieTales
Carebears
Special Agent Oso
Paw Patrol

We find a lot of them at the library.

What do your kids like to watch?

Preschooler chores

What kinds of chores do your preschoolers help with?

Edmund likes to help with unloading the dishwasher, but he can only reach the bottom cupboards and drawers.
He puts his dishes in the sink when he's done eating, but he isn't tall enough to rinse them and put them in the dishwasher.
Sometimes he helps with the laundry, but he can only barely reach the washing machine to just drop the clothes in.
He can put his clothes away in the right drawers, but he doesn't turn things right side out or fold them yet.
He likes to sweep outside with a push broom, but he hasn't mastered a regular indoor broom.
He likes to help me cook, but I worry about him being near knives and hot stoves.

How do you encourage your kids to help out and to finish instead of getting bored half way through?
What do you think about an allowance or reward system?

Lightning Myth

Lightning Myth

There are small, one foot tall beings with the power to move really fast at certain times. When the air is charged up during a thunder storm they can zip really fast up to the clouds or back down to the ground. They're so fast you don't see them, but you see a lightning trail where they went. If you ever do see one when it is moving at normal speed, you will know they like to wear red hats and green or brown tunics. They usually don't wear shoes so if you see tiny human-like footprints in the mud after a thunderstorm, they might have been made by the little lightning makers. They like to live where there are lots of trees such as a grove or forest, but they are curious creatures and will take a thunder storm as an opportunity to come see what the humans are up to. They must have enough magical power to keep themselves afloat up in the clouds until they are ready to zip back down to the ground.

Cinquains

Thomas
Furry, friendly
Sleeping, shedding, cleaning
Patient with a little boy
Kitty-Meow

I get an email from Brave Writer with a daily writing tip and today's was about cinquains.

Maria
Beautiful, shy
Sneaking, hiding, spying
Snatches hearts from a distance
Treasure

Edmund
Sweet, cute
Smiling, laughing, playing
Makes you forget his stubborn side
Bud

Nathan
Husband, sweetheart
Caring, helping, healing
My best friend
Favorite

Isaac
Tiny, miraculous
Pushing, stretching, growing
You will be here soon.
Baby

Asher
Loud, energetic
Humming, playing, moving
Growing up
Son

Asher and Bluetooth

     Once there was a boy named Asher. He lived with his pet dragon. He named his dragon Bluetooth because it had one blue tooth in a mouth of otherwise pearly whites. Asher believed this special tooth held the magic which allowed the dragon the power of human speech.
      Sometimes Asher wished Bluetooth did not have the power of human speech, because Asher had to listen to all sorts of complaining from his pet dragon. Bluetooth complained if the house was too cold, even though he could just light the fire place with his dragon fire breath. He complained if dinner was even five minutes late but never offered to help cook it.
      One day Asher sat down with Bluetooth to discuss the situation. "Sometimes, I get awful tired of listening to all this complaining," Asher said.
      "Well, it isn't my fault life is so hard," Bluetooth complained.
      "When you complain about a problem, it makes life harder," Asher patiently explained. "When you do something to fix the problem, it makes life better."
      "Hmm. I don't know about that," replied the skeptical dragon.
      "Try it for one week and see how you feel. Whenever you think of a problem try to fix it before you complain about it. You'll be happier," Asher challenged.
      "Oh, alright. I will see for one week if this helps," the dragon said.
      At first Bluetooth kept forgetting, and Asher would have to remind him. If Bluetooth complained that dinner wasn't ready yet, Asher would ask him to set the table. If he complained of a chill, Asher would ask him to light a fire. When he complained of the dusty floor tickling his nose when he was trying to nap, Asher asked him to sweep. And once when a stray chicken got into the house, Asher asked him to open the door so he could herd it out.
      But, after all the reminding, by the end of the week Bluetooth had started to get in the habit of helping solve problems instead of complaining about them.
      "Hey Bluetooth, it has been a week. How do you feel?" Asher asked optimistically.
      "Thanks for suggesting I try to fix problems before complaining. I think it has made life better around here," Bluetooth confided in him.
      "Thank you for helping out around here. It has made my life better too," Asher replied.