Preschool Activities with Teach Me Mommy » summer

Bagel Bird Feeder

Wendi — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:01:59 +0000

Many craft stores have bird feeder kits that you and your preschooler could paint or decorate yourselves. Pet stores and other big stores will sell bird feed. It can be a fun activity to glue together and paint the "nicer" wood bird feeders from the store. However, it is also great to make your own at home.

What you’ll need:

Bagel or stale bread (or even a paper towel roll)
String
Honey or peanut butter*
Birdseed

What to do:

Smear honey or peanut butter on all sides of the bagel or bread.
Dip or roll the bagel in the birdseed.
Tie string to it and hang it up for the birds to enjoy.

So your kids can enjoy the birds that come to eat, try to hang it near a window they can watch from inside.

* Keep in mind that honey is fatal to hummingbirds so do not use it when feeding these birds. Also corn meal or lard should be added to peanut butter to keep the birds from choking on it.

Popsicle Stick Ice Painting

Wendi — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:10:38 +0000

I don’t know about you, but where we are it’s still hot, hot, hot! So, here’s another fun painting activity you can try with your preschooler.

What you’ll need:

Water
Ice cube tray
Popsicle sticks
Powdered tempera paint in red, yellow and blue
Spice shaker containers
Shiny freezer wrap paper or finger painting paper
Red, yellow, blue, orange, purple, green and black crayons

What to do:

Fill the ice cube tray with water.
Lean a popsicle stick in each hole and freeze tray.
Cover your work area with a plastic table cloth or newspaper.
Have your child rub an ice cube all over the shiny, freezer wrap paper. Sprinkle dry paint on the wet paper.
As the ice melts into the paint, use another popsicle stick or ice cube to make designs in the colors.

The Quick Fun Fan

Wendi — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:33:12 +0000

Can it get any hotter? Here’s a quick craft activity to help you cool off during these dog days of summer.

What you’ll need:

a paper plate
Tongue depressor
Glue, tape or stapler
decorations

What to do:

Make a fan by attaching the tongue depressor to the back of the paper plate with glue, tape or stapler (if using glue, be sure to allow drying time). Decorate as desired and enjoy the cool breeze it creates when fanning yourself.

Water Painting

Wendi — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:34:37 +0000

Two of my preschooler’s favorite things are water and painting. One of my least favorite things is washing faces, hands and clothes after he paints his masterpieces. One idea, as a break from the cleaning up, is to water paint.

What you’ll need:

Large paint brushes (4" or bigger make it that much more fun)
A tote or bucket full of water
A few outside surfaces to "paint"

What to do:

My kids love to pretend they are painting the garage, the sidewalk, the swing set and their bikes. It also keeps them cool, as inevitably they "paint" each other. And best of all? Apart from some possibly wet clothes, there’s no mess to clean up!