Search Results for: blog easy and affordable end of summer activities for preschoolers

Pushing for Publicly-Funded Preschool

If you missed President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address five months ago, you may be wondering why his recent trip to Illinois attracted so many leaders in the world of early education. Obama spent much of his trip to Fort Knox College on Wednesday reiterating the importance of his proposal to give American children a publicly-funded preschool education. The president unveiled his goal of providing quality early education for 4 year olds in his State of the Union address earlier this year and he is not backing down on his commitment. “If you think education is expensive, wait … Continue reading →

Bug Bites Be Gone

My 5-year-old recently came home from school with a bug bite. Bug bites at the end of September? I’m not an entomologist, but it looks like a mosquito took a hit from her eyebrow. I was a bit shocked that she got bit so late in the season, but we have had an unusually warm September, so I guess the bugs have decided to stick around. Too bad. I was hoping our days of being buffet options for hungry bugs were over for the year. Apparently not. This means that I have to dig out my DEET-free insect repellent once … Continue reading →

Labor Day Road Trip Boredom Busters

Think fast: What are you better equipped to handle on a 5-hour long Labor Day weekend road trip, a flat tire or a bored preschooler strapped to the backseat of the car? Most parents would rather deal with a flat than a car full of whiny children. If your vehicle doesn’t come equipped with a DVD player or you are embarking on a tech-free vacation, then you might consider the following classic car games to keep things running smoothly: Twenty Questions This car game favorite requires one person to think of a person, place or thing, while each of the … Continue reading →

Teaching Your Preschooler About Good Nutrition

Talking to your preschooler about the benefits of eating a healthy diet will likely do little to change his view on broccoli and cauliflower. However, if you invite him into the kitchen and allow him to work on recipes with you that include nutritious ingredients, your point will probably be better received. Kids love rolling up their sleeves and creating yummy treats so why not take advantage of their enthusiasm? The following tasty recipes are easy to prepare and the best part—-they are incredibly healthy. ORGANIC CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BALLS Ingredients: 1 cup organic peanut butter 1/3 cup honey 2 … Continue reading →

Leaf Crafts for Toddlers

It’s just about fall! The older kids are heading back to school. If you are looking for crafty activities to do with your baby or toddler, here are a few fun ideas. If you have preschoolers too, be sure to check out these fun end of summer and beginning of fall ideas as well! With babies and toddlers, doing art is about getting messy, exploring new textures, and working on fine and large motor skills. Oh yeah, it’s also about having fun! Where I live, the leaves are just beginning to change colors. Go out on a leaf hunt with … Continue reading →

Fun Ways to Make Learning Fun for Preschoolers

Learning doesn’t only have to take place in a classroom. The following simple activities are designed to help educate your preschooler in a home setting. What’s more, the projects are so much fun, your child won’t realize he’s actually leaning important lessons in the process: SHAVING CREAM PAINT Materials: Shaving cream Sponges Paintbrushes Food coloring Popsicle sticks Small bowls Directions: Spray shaving cream into several small bowls. Add food coloring and mix with Popsicle sticks. Moisten sponges and paintbrushes. Allow your preschooler to paint with the shaving cream. Then, have him mix the colors and guess what the combinations will … Continue reading →

Passing Time with Preschoolers

Preschools around here open a week after public and private schools do. For parents with children in multiple grade levels the staggered start means having to keep at least one child occupied while the others are in class. If you are looking for ways to pass time with your preschooler in the days leading up to the start of his new school year, then consider the following fun and educational activities: COTTON BALL SNOWMAN Find different size plastic cups or round containers (you could also use canned goods) for preschoolers to trace. You’ll need three different sizes. On paper have … Continue reading →

More Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Preschooler Busy

Did somebody say cheap? The following activities are designed to keep preschoolers busy long enough for you to make dinner, fold the pile of clean laundry sitting on your bed, or take a shower without having a 4-year-old clinging to your legs. What’s more, they can all be done without having to spend a dime: Indoor “Snowball” Fight: Get a large stack of old newspapers or magazines and divide it up between two kids. Have them wad up the sheets of paper and start throwing. When they get bored of playing “snowball” fight, place two garbage bins in the middle … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Ways to Keep Your Preschooler Busy

You just dropped a bundle on back-to-school supplies for your older kids and now you’re scrounging around for money to purchase another box of diapers for your infant. Where does that leave your preschooler? You can show him how much you love him without spending a dime. Simply set up the following activities and have fun playing together: Beads: String some plastic beads onto a straw in an easy pattern of alternating colors. Glue the first and last beads to the straw so they won’t slip off. Give your child another straw and have him string beads to match your … Continue reading →

Simple Preschool Pleasures

I cherish the times I get to spend with my preschooler. I really do. Namely because I know in a few years she’ll be more interested in nail polish than her dear, sweet mother, who has sacrificed everything to provide her with unconditional love and round-the-clock care. But I digress. This summer my daughter and I have had the most fun doing simple activities. Sure we had a blast at the amusement park and the state fair, but the following basic (not to mention inexpensive) projects have yielded some of the most amazing summer memories: KIDDIE CAR WASH Materials: Kids … Continue reading →