Toddler/Preschool Activities 3

You might be getting sick of all the recent posts on toddler and preK activities. So sorry if you are. I promise, though, my focus shall shift in the near future. It's just where my head's at right now. Between making the Toddler/Preschool Activity bags with a group of friends for this coming school year, and making plans with one friend for how we shall "teach"/occupy around 10 toddlers and preschoolers for our homeschool co-op, let's just say it's on my mind.

So here's my next installment of Toddler/Preschool Activities....

This first one is just a repeat of the last one, but taken one step further. I purchased more mini erasers ($1 for around 25) for the "I Spy" bottles. But I made sure there were 2 of each.

One set went into the jar.

The second set was glued to cardboard. Then I cut the cardboard sheet into little cards. The point of this is to have the child match what he sees in the bottle to the cards. I know I could have let the mini erasers loose and had him just match those to what he sees in the bottle, but Evan still puts everything into his mouth. So I needed a way to make that impossible (or at least less likely). I bagged them up and labeled them.

Now the next activity is one that is "in the making". They are boxes to help Evan celebrate and experience the liturgical year. I'm calling them Liturgical Year Toddler Boxes (unless I come up with a better name). I'm going to make these little boxes for different seasons/celebrations in the church year. I'll have one for Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, the Saints, and the months we celebrate the Blessed Mother. I don't think I'll get these all done this summer. I plan to create them as we go along this first year. I will paint them according to their liturgical color. Then we'll have them already established for next year, although some things (consumables) will have to be replenished.

I saw the idea for these boxes some time this summer, but I can't remember where? If I do think of it or find it, I'll post a link to it. In the meantime, just remember that this is not my idea. But I like it just the same. I bought these boxes to start:

They are small. That's what I wanted. I didn't want anything consuming a large amount of shelf space. They are 5"x5"x 2 1/2 ".

The first activity that I made is for the Marian box. It is a set of matching cards with images of Mary on them. There are two of each image. We will look at them, and discuss the titles for the Blessed Mother. Initially we'll match them while they are face up. But eventually we'll do a memory matching game.

I made these with some stickers I had on hand. I put them on light blue cardstock/craft paper and cut them out the same size. I plan on laminating them. Then I placed them in a plastic ziploc snack bag and put a decorative sticker and label on the outside.

Eventually the Marian box will also hold a rosary, a statue and a mini storybook about Mary. And I hope to print out a small coloring book of the Blessed Mother, also. If I can't find one, I'll just shrink some larger coloring pages and staple them together. We'll pray the Hail Mary "together", too, while we explore this box. I'm not sure what else. I haven't thought about it any more than that.

I'm also making these Matching the Saints card games for the Toddler Preschool Activity Bag Exchange that I'm doing with a group of friends. Basically the same as the Marian ones, but with different saints.

I didn't have any stickers, so I had to photocopy my own holy cards. Then I cut them out and glued them onto cardstock. I hope to laminate these, also. These, of course, will go into my Saints box along with some similar things to the Marian box, only with the saints as the focus. I know I already have a mini book about the saints on hand. And it should be easy enough to find a few small saint statues.

If you have any thoughts on what to put in these Liturgical Year Toddler Boxes, please let me know. I'd love to hear your ideas!

Have a restful night!

TTFN

~Tina