Friday, February 28, 2014

Happy Campers

This long cold winter is definitely testing my creative abilities as a mama... Rather than spending some time sewing or crafting or even writing, I find myself spending more and more time just trying to think of things for my girls to do to keep them happy. I am soooo ready for spring.

There has been a lot of painting, drawing, coloring, stickers, sensory bins (I loath water beads BTW), and many other good mess making fun. This morning however, none of those things were appealing to the pair. So I pulled out an old favorite. The trusty table tent. A couple of blankets over the table and some pillows underneath makes for some great fun. So much fun that they insisted (and I readily agreed) that they should just eat their morning snack in their tent.

 
A muffin tin snack for them to share.

 
It was a hit!
 
As I type this, Bunny is still in the tent. She hauled a few toys under there and has a great set up going. Squirrely is back to coloring at the other end of the table.
 
Since I am getting desperate for new ideas, I would LOVE to hear your favorite boredom busters for young children... Happy Friday!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Enchanted Childhood Preschool ~ The Letter M

 M is for Money, Marshmallows, Muffins
as well as Moose and Monkey!



We started off the week learning about Money!  We took a very close look at a penny, inspected both sides, noting how the color is different than the other coins, and used pennies to practice counting.
We then did some coin rubbings!





The next day, after eating a few marshmallows with our morning snack, we used them for painting!





We also made yummy muffins and decorated "muffins" with markers!




Each week we have new material in the classroom.
This week we introduced the last set of knobless cylinder blocks.






We worked on a new style of Air/Water/Land work.






We also have new fraction cylinder blocks to work with whole, halves, thirds and fourths.






And other scenes from a classroom!











Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!
Craft & Activity ShareMonday Sharing Day on FacebookThoughtful Spot, Natural Living MondayMontessori MondayHomemade MondaysMama Moments Monday {Link Up}The Gathering SpotLittle Wonders' DaysMom's Monday MingleMommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty HomeHip Homeschool HopMom's LibraryTuesday TotsKeep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in TuesdayTeach Me TuesdayBackyard Farming Connection HopTuned in TuesdayTuesday TutorialsLife Created Tuesdays, Kids in the Kitchen,  It's PlaytimeWe Made That LinkyWhat I Learned WednesdayKids Co-OpArtsy Play WednesdayHealthy 2Day WednesdayWildcrafting WednesdayAdorned From AboveFrugal Days, Sustainable WaysKids CraftsLink and LearnThrifty ThursdayHearts for Homeneedle and thREAD,Made U LookTender Moments with Toddlers and PreschoolersNatural Living Link-UpSmall Footprint FridayOur Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids FridayFarmGirl Friday Blog HopKitchen Fun and Crafty FridayRead. Explore. Learn.Creative Learning on FridayPreschool and Kindergarten Corner,Friday's Nature TableThe Friday Baby ShowerTGIF Linky PartyFamily Fun FridayCreative Friday,Friday Flair Link PartyShine on FridaysFriday FavsOutdoor Play PartyDo Something Crafty,Weekend WhateverSaturday Show and TellTot School Gathering Place, Sharing SaturdayShare It SaturdayCountry KidsLink and LearnShow and Share Saturday,Stress Free SundayThe Sunday ShowcaseThe Sunday Parenting PartyThe Homesteaders' Blog Hop, Making Boys MenMade with Love,Raising Memories


Sunday, February 23, 2014

Montessori Moments: Her Own Work


I love when children just take off and make up their own work!

Without a word from me, she headed over to the continent puzzle map.
She took out all the puzzle pieces and placed them on the "frame" of the puzzle as she has been taught.
She then got out the continent cards.
As she took a small card, she would locate the matching continent puzzle piece.
She then placed it where it belonged and put the card next to it.

 This is where she was in her work, when I notciced her.




She eventually placed the large cards on top of the smaller cards and even placed some of the name cards on top of them.

Good work, done well, I'd say!


Friday, February 21, 2014

{this moment}


{this moment} - A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama, capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

busy, busy, busy


She needs to create.  ALL DAY LONG.  There is no stopping her. 

 She often starts the minute she gets out of bed.
(The drawings were left from the night before when she had her papa hard at work drawing for her!)



She moves to various areas depending on her work.









I imagine that when she grows up she will stumble out of bed, a crazy curly mop of hair tied up, grab a warm mug of tea or coffee, and head straight to her studio to "make something".
Creating is like breathing to her.


The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf-



Monday, February 17, 2014

The Thrill of Victory....

She is one of youngest preschool children ... turned three years old  last September.
But the first to attempt to stack two sets of the knobless cylinder blocks together, in perfect order.




It was such a big deal that the others stopped what they were doing to simply watch and encourage her.


She very carefully placed the last cylinder on top.


Only to watch it knock down a few of the blocks.


Ooooh the agony!
No tears. Just a little, understandably dramatic gesture!
Bet she will be back at it next week!


Each week I join several linky parties! What a fun way to share and learn!
Craft & Activity ShareMonday Sharing Day on FacebookThoughtful Spot, Natural Living MondayMontessori MondayHomemade MondaysMama Moments Monday {Link Up}The Gathering SpotLittle Wonders' DaysMom's Monday MingleMommy Moments, Frugal, Crafty HomeHip Homeschool HopMom's LibraryTuesday TotsKeep Calm Craft On {crafting on}, Tuned in TuesdayTeach Me TuesdayBackyard Farming Connection HopTuned in TuesdayTuesday TutorialsLife Created Tuesdays, Kids in the Kitchen,  It's PlaytimeWe Made That LinkyWhat I Learned WednesdayKids Co-OpArtsy Play WednesdayHealthy 2Day WednesdayWildcrafting WednesdayAdorned From AboveFrugal Days, Sustainable WaysKids CraftsLink and LearnThrifty ThursdayHearts for Homeneedle and thREAD,Made U LookTender Moments with Toddlers and PreschoolersNatural Living Link-UpSmall Footprint FridayOur Days Homeschool Link-Up, For the Kids FridayFarmGirl Friday Blog HopKitchen Fun and Crafty FridayRead. Explore. Learn.Creative Learning on FridayPreschool and Kindergarten Corner,Friday's Nature TableThe Friday Baby ShowerTGIF Linky PartyFamily Fun FridayCreative Friday,Friday Flair Link PartyShine on FridaysFriday FavsOutdoor Play PartyDo Something Crafty,Weekend WhateverSaturday Show and TellTot School Gathering Place, Sharing SaturdayShare It SaturdayCountry KidsLink and LearnShow and Share Saturday,Stress Free SundayThe Sunday ShowcaseThe Sunday Parenting PartyThe Homesteaders' Blog Hop, Making Boys MenMade with Love,Raising Memories