The nice thing about summer is that WE get to take a break from the “official” learning stuff. Now that the school year has begun and all of Munchkins friends are starting preschool, he has told me that he wants to start preschool too, but he doesn’t want me to leave him anywhere (he read a book that Mommy drops off her son at preschool and he was not too fond of that idea:)

So I have taken out playroom and changed it around a bit to make it a little more “preschoolish,” so Munchkin will feel like he has his preschool like his buddies.

I came across 2 really great websites:

This one sends your child a Jewish book once a month every year from 5 months to 7 years old- check it out and see if it is available in your area (it was not in ours:( Well, here it is: http://www.pjlibrary.org/home

And another great idea that I love and look forward to putting into practice is putting a few different activities into shoebox clear containers or onto trays and having them set out each morning with different activities inside. This gives the kids a visual choice of what to do and knowing mine, this is something that will work- here is one website with some good ideas: http://lapbooksbycarisa.homestead.com/TraysforTots.html

And these are some ideas of activites to prepare for the next day that I got from a website that I navigated away from before I got the address, sorry!

• Plastic (or cardboard) coins and chariy box- bought or home-made (Pringles can, slit cut in top).
• Playdoh with a plastic knife, rolling pin, cookie cutters, etc.
• Painting: watercolors, paint books, or food coloring in water with a Q-tip.
• Chalk on dark construction paper.
• Scissors and paper (no other objective in mind!)
• Easy-to-use paper punch and strips of paper.
• Stencils, paper, colored pencils.
• Lacing cards: Cardboard shape with holes punched around it. Attach yarn, wrap masking tape around the end.
• Plastic canvas with yarn attached, wrap end in masking tape.
• Poke holes in thick cardboard with a tack.
• Shallow bucket on a towel on the floor. Add water, boats, plastic fish, measuring cups, etc.
• Writing tray: Put a layer of rice or cornmeal in a cookie sheet. Good for spelling practice or picture-drawing or practicing ABC’s.
• Mini-sandbox: Put a layer of sand in a box the size of a banana box. Add trucks, cars, popsicle sticks. Throw a blanket over a card table or a couple of chairs. Offer clothes pins. They’ll know what to do next!
• Make a tunnel of kitchen chairs.
• Give them a crochet hook and a length of yarn. Demonstrate chain stitch a few times. This is not for everyone, but if you refuse to do it for them, you’ll be surprised at what they figure out.
• Stack cups or containers of different sizes.
• Nuts and bolts, same or different sizes.
• Scrap wood, hammer, nails.
• Bucket of water and a paintbrush-for outside painting. Works best on wood or concrete.
• Chalk on sidewalk or steps.
• Let them “wash” a few plastic dishes. Put an egg beater and baster in the water.
• A cup with non-toxic soapy water and a straw to blow bubbles. You may put it on a sheet of paper and add food coloring to the water.
• A cloth measuring tape to measure with (the metal ones have sharp edges).
• Make a necklace or snack chain with yarn (masking tape on end) and any cereal with holes: Froot Loops, Cheerios, etc.
• Arrange blocks by size, color, or shape.
• Dip string pieces in thinned poster paint. Fold a paper in half. Lay string on one side and fold over to create designs.
• Flash cards: ABC’s or whatever you may have.
• Pictures with colored glue. If you put these on a smooth plastic sheet, it can be peeled off when dry.
• Superball or small car and a paper towel or wrapping paper tube.
• Tops – bought or made with ½ toothpick and cardboard disk.
• Draw roads, houses, etc. on large paper or cardboard. Use cars and trucks on it.
• Look through the button box.
• Watch a bug! At the table, at an anthill, wherever.
• Water color with food coloring, eye dropper or paint brush, coffee filter. Once this is dry, you can iron it. Then cut the center out of a paper plate. Glue filter to it for a sun catcher.
• Pins and pin cushion.
• Beanbags and a bucket.
• Magnet and paperclips, washers, a nail, etc.
• A large box.

And Cutie is now old enough to participate in some of these activities maing it so much more enjoyable for Munchkin, so this should be a great year!