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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Spring/Summer Activities?! In A Rut, Need Ideas!!
momneedscoffee 01:05 PM 05-16-2016
So, winter is finally over here in North Dakota! This was my first winter doing daycare and it was loooongggg. Got lazy and fell totally out of routine. Watched too much tv. Outdoor play never lasted long at all. Well now that the weather is good, I want to get in a better routine with more activities! I'm stuck on ideas tho! My group consists of 2 three yr old boys, a just turned 2 yr old girl, a 15 mo old and a 7 mo old. We will do a wading pool and water table when it is hot out for sure. Walks to the park down the street and we also have a nice playe set in our yard. Other than that I don't really know! So please please please throw ideas at me! I need to keep these kids entertaned!
Thriftylady 01:09 PM 05-16-2016
Hmm 2 and 3.
Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, body painting outside, an "obstacle course" made of household and yard items to go over, under, around, etc. Let me keep thinking lol.
ETA: Paintbrushes and water to "paint".
Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, body painting outside, an "obstacle course" made of household and yard items to go over, under, around, etc. Let me keep thinking lol.
ETA: Paintbrushes and water to "paint".
Blackcat31 01:11 PM 05-16-2016
Originally Posted by momneedscoffee:
So, winter is finally over here in North Dakota! This was my first winter doing daycare and it was loooongggg. Got lazy and fell totally out of routine. Watched too much tv. Outdoor play never lasted long at all. Well now that the weather is good, I want to get in a better routine with more activities! I'm stuck on ideas tho! My group consists of 2 three yr old boys, a just turned 2 yr old girl, a 15 mo old and a 7 mo old. We will do a wading pool and water table when it is hot out for sure. Walks to the park down the street and we also have a nice playe set in our yard. Other than that I don't really know! So please please please throw ideas at me! I need to keep these kids entertaned!
YOU don't need to keep them entertained...they need to learn to do that on their own So, winter is finally over here in North Dakota! This was my first winter doing daycare and it was loooongggg. Got lazy and fell totally out of routine. Watched too much tv. Outdoor play never lasted long at all. Well now that the weather is good, I want to get in a better routine with more activities! I'm stuck on ideas tho! My group consists of 2 three yr old boys, a just turned 2 yr old girl, a 15 mo old and a 7 mo old. We will do a wading pool and water table when it is hot out for sure. Walks to the park down the street and we also have a nice playe set in our yard. Other than that I don't really know! So please please please throw ideas at me! I need to keep these kids entertaned!
You just supply the opportunity and the environment.
As far as winter...you are lucky yours is over. We had snow on Saturday. Blanketed the entire yard. Then on Sunday, I mowed.
Gotta love living in climates like this huh? Seriously though I would turn off the TV until Sept and play and then play and play some more. Rotate toys often so they aren't bored and maybe toss a craft or two in now and then. Sign up for a couple ECE blogs and the ideas will come weekly... I just scan them weekly and snag a few things that look fun.
We have a regular routine all school year so summer here is just play and nothing else.
If you need a few ECE blogs to get started with, let me know and I can share a few of my favorites.
momneedscoffee 05:10 PM 05-16-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
YOU don't need to keep them entertained...they need to learn to do that on their own
You just supply the opportunity and the environment.
As far as winter...you are lucky yours is over. We had snow on Saturday. Blanketed the entire yard. Then on Sunday, I mowed. Gotta love living in climates like this huh?
Seriously though I would turn off the TV until Sept and play and then play and play some more. Rotate toys often so they aren't bored and maybe toss a craft or two in now and then. Sign up for a couple ECE blogs and the ideas will come weekly... I just scan them weekly and snag a few things that look fun.
We have a regular routine all school year so summer here is just play and nothing else.
If you need a few ECE blogs to get started with, let me know and I can share a few of my favorites.
Yes, I would love a blog list! Haha I guess I phrased that wrong. I just need things for them to do to keep busy! Otherwise my son gets naughty and everyone just drags stuff around without really playingYOU don't need to keep them entertained...they need to learn to do that on their own
You just supply the opportunity and the environment.
As far as winter...you are lucky yours is over. We had snow on Saturday. Blanketed the entire yard. Then on Sunday, I mowed.
Gotta love living in climates like this huh? Seriously though I would turn off the TV until Sept and play and then play and play some more. Rotate toys often so they aren't bored and maybe toss a craft or two in now and then. Sign up for a couple ECE blogs and the ideas will come weekly... I just scan them weekly and snag a few things that look fun.
We have a regular routine all school year so summer here is just play and nothing else.
If you need a few ECE blogs to get started with, let me know and I can share a few of my favorites.
AmyKidsCo 07:50 PM 05-16-2016
I do a single broad theme all summer. Last summer it was "Bugs" and the summer before it was "Water." We did ice in the sensory table, sprinklers, bubbles (made with water) rain-theme activities, etc. Pick a broad theme and Google "preschool activities (theme)" - you'll get a ton of ideas! Or simply "summer activities for kids"
Blackcat31 07:55 PM 05-16-2016
Originally Posted by momneedscoffee:
Yes, I would love a blog list! Haha I guess I phrased that wrong. I just need things for them to do to keep busy! Otherwise my son gets naughty and everyone just drags stuff around without really playing
Are you on Pinterest? I have a whole board of fun blogs. Yes, I would love a blog list! Haha I guess I phrased that wrong. I just need things for them to do to keep busy! Otherwise my son gets naughty and everyone just drags stuff around without really playing
My two favorite are:
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/
Great for sensory activities that entertain even the youngest kiddos!
And
http://www.totschooling.net/
Awesome for fun math and cognitive activities. Lots of easy printables!
MrsSteinel'sHouse 09:29 AM 05-17-2016
opportunities to explore-
tub with dirt, pots, shovels... if you want to give them some seeds and let them scoop and put seeds in them (get cheap packs of pots at Dollar Tree)
I have a patch of dirt that they dig in looking for worms. I have added some rocks, wood discs, shovels, trucks etc
pic- https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...61&oe=57D1489A
My kids have been having fun in an old little tykes sand/ water (no water just sand in it) that I got for $5 at a yard sale. Anything "new" like that and they are good to go for days!
I "hide" some animals out around the patio for when they find them. They love playing with animals outside. I do not put them in the backyard because of lawnmowing (my dh already complains that there is "stuff".
Wet sidewalk chalk- they love it when it is slightly gooey. They mix the best colors.
Nature "stuff"- rocks, leaves, flowers etc and some big magnifying glasses. Paper to draw what they see. I keep this type of stuff in my "outside classroom". here are a couple of pics-
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7a&oe=57E77ECC
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...91&oe=57D2DCC9
Boxes to stack and knock over. They love to build with them on the patio. (diaper boxes, water boxes etc)
Collage materials- I have a great bucket of collage materials. They love digging through it and selecting what to glue. A lot of it is "leftovers" from other things. Gift bag- cut it up and throw it in, scraps of construction paper, ribbon, beads, eyeballs, pom poms etc. Keeps them busy for a long time!
Tissue paper cut in strips in a plastic pool. They love being in it! Sometime I hide fish cut out of foam sheets of circles with a letter written on it. https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e10&oe=579FCD2
I have a "math bin" that the kids LOVE-
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...eb&oe=57A7BF51
Ocean trays
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...02&oe=579B1718
ocean bin (but I don't put rice outside so this was an inside bin)
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...28&oe=579E4D24
A specific color day- I only have out that color toy, paint, crayons etc. It is a lot of fun
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4b&oe=579CD226
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...d1&oe=57D803C7
ok just go look through my photos. I use to be really good about posting. This year though I have had 3 under a year! Life changed a bit... but hopefully at some point I will get back at posting regularly because I like having that "journal" of all that we do! https://www.facebook.com/MrsSteinelsHouse/photos
tub with dirt, pots, shovels... if you want to give them some seeds and let them scoop and put seeds in them (get cheap packs of pots at Dollar Tree)
I have a patch of dirt that they dig in looking for worms. I have added some rocks, wood discs, shovels, trucks etc
pic- https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...61&oe=57D1489A
My kids have been having fun in an old little tykes sand/ water (no water just sand in it) that I got for $5 at a yard sale. Anything "new" like that and they are good to go for days!
I "hide" some animals out around the patio for when they find them. They love playing with animals outside. I do not put them in the backyard because of lawnmowing (my dh already complains that there is "stuff".
Wet sidewalk chalk- they love it when it is slightly gooey. They mix the best colors.
Nature "stuff"- rocks, leaves, flowers etc and some big magnifying glasses. Paper to draw what they see. I keep this type of stuff in my "outside classroom". here are a couple of pics-
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7a&oe=57E77ECC
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...91&oe=57D2DCC9
Boxes to stack and knock over. They love to build with them on the patio. (diaper boxes, water boxes etc)
Collage materials- I have a great bucket of collage materials. They love digging through it and selecting what to glue. A lot of it is "leftovers" from other things. Gift bag- cut it up and throw it in, scraps of construction paper, ribbon, beads, eyeballs, pom poms etc. Keeps them busy for a long time!
Tissue paper cut in strips in a plastic pool. They love being in it! Sometime I hide fish cut out of foam sheets of circles with a letter written on it. https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e10&oe=579FCD2
I have a "math bin" that the kids LOVE-
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...eb&oe=57A7BF51
Ocean trays
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...02&oe=579B1718
ocean bin (but I don't put rice outside so this was an inside bin)
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...28&oe=579E4D24
A specific color day- I only have out that color toy, paint, crayons etc. It is a lot of fun
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4b&oe=579CD226
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...d1&oe=57D803C7
ok just go look through my photos. I use to be really good about posting. This year though I have had 3 under a year! Life changed a bit... but hopefully at some point I will get back at posting regularly because I like having that "journal" of all that we do! https://www.facebook.com/MrsSteinelsHouse/photos
Josiegirl 09:41 AM 05-17-2016
Adding to the ice cubes in the water table idea...you can put things in ice cubes or freeze water in bigger containers to fit dinosaurs or polar animals.
We spent over an hour this a.m. digging out an area for our much anticipated green bean teepee. We had one last year and the dcks loved it. When the beans get to really growing they'll grow all over the bamboo poles we stake together then it comes perfect hideway to play fairy garden or whatever.
Plus in digging we found lots of worms which was our main goal because we made our own version of a worm farm. I had the dcks think of questions I could google, all about worms. They came up with some cool ones. But the first 2 out of this group was 'how do worms poop?' 'How do worms pee?'
But I have 3 dcgs who are in love with anything critterish so until we can depend on more consistently nice weather for butterflies, worms will keep them engaged.
Anything science related, planting sunflowers is a great summer activity, bugs bugs bugs, paint rocks(you could do smaller ones for bugs or bigger ones to put in a flower/veggie garden), paint sticks and hang them from the trees.
Sprinklers are the dcks' favorite thing when they get all sluggish with heat. Then there's mud.
We've taken shaving cream outside and gotten a little crazy, mostly what they do is glop it all over the play toys then everything gets rinsed off.
We spent over an hour this a.m. digging out an area for our much anticipated green bean teepee. We had one last year and the dcks loved it. When the beans get to really growing they'll grow all over the bamboo poles we stake together then it comes perfect hideway to play fairy garden or whatever.
Plus in digging we found lots of worms which was our main goal because we made our own version of a worm farm. I had the dcks think of questions I could google, all about worms. They came up with some cool ones. But the first 2 out of this group was 'how do worms poop?' 'How do worms pee?'
But I have 3 dcgs who are in love with anything critterish so until we can depend on more consistently nice weather for butterflies, worms will keep them engaged.Anything science related, planting sunflowers is a great summer activity, bugs bugs bugs, paint rocks(you could do smaller ones for bugs or bigger ones to put in a flower/veggie garden), paint sticks and hang them from the trees.
Sprinklers are the dcks' favorite thing when they get all sluggish with heat. Then there's mud.
We've taken shaving cream outside and gotten a little crazy, mostly what they do is glop it all over the play toys then everything gets rinsed off.
Josiegirl 09:46 AM 05-17-2016
Last summer we made fairy dough, I think someone posted the idea on here. I know it took toilet paper, maybe shredded bar soap and some water, not quite sure. Everybody got heavily involved with it! Then when it was just the right gushy mess it was supposed to be, they all ran around gathering bits of flowers, leaves, grass, to make fairy dough soup. Just good ole-fashioned kid fun. It doesn't have to be perfect or an exact learning experience. IMO everything is a learning experience but YKWIM.
Wow, everybody's got some great ideas!!!
Wow, everybody's got some great ideas!!!
Unregistered 10:52 AM 05-17-2016
Happy Hooligans is one of my favorite blogs!
Unregistered 10:56 AM 05-17-2016
Oh, we've made flower soup. It came from the Happy Hooligan blog! I set up bowls of water, empty spice bottles, spoons, etc. a few rocks too! I had Flowers and they mixed and stirred forever!
Blackcat31 11:06 AM 05-17-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Happy Hooligans is one of my favorite blogs!
Happy Hooligans is one of my favorite blogs!
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Oh, we've made flower soup. It came from the Happy Hooligan blog! I set up bowls of water, empty spice bottles, spoons, etc. a few rocks too! I had Flowers and they mixed and stirred forever!
Here is the link for Happy Hooligans so others can follow too!Oh, we've made flower soup. It came from the Happy Hooligan blog! I set up bowls of water, empty spice bottles, spoons, etc. a few rocks too! I had Flowers and they mixed and stirred forever!
http://happyhooligans.ca/