Toddler Fun | picklebums.com

August 17, 2010 | Filed in: Activities for kids,Preschooler Fun,Toddler Fun

While I helped with reading activities in the Twindaoes’ class this morning, Muski spent the time taking out every little thing from the maths manipulative shelf. After he and I had packed away all the counters and dice and quesenaire blocks we went home and were inspired to get out some of our own little bits and pieces to play with.

Not quite as impressive as the prep class’s collection of goodies, but we still managed to find a good collection of little treasures to keep us busy for a while. We sorted and then arranged the items in various patterns. We counted them together and then I tried making some simple repeating patterns to see if Muski would cotton on to the concept, which he did.

When the big girls came home they got into the fun too, making more patterns and using the testing each others addition and subtraction skills.

Who’d have thought a tray of tiny treasures could be so much fun?!? I’m going to have to collect some more bits and pieces I think.

These are some of the things we had in our collection –
Large plastic threading beads, buttons and cotton reels
Shells
Gum nuts (we need to collect some little ones too)
Small pony beads and wooden beads.
Glass buttons
Large sequins

We’d like to add some more bits and pieces too, perhaps some marbles and buttons in various shapes sizes and colours. Can anyone think of anything else that would be good to add??

It’s We Play day over at childhood101 today – head on over for some ‘freash, fun, family play ideas’.

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I had grand plans for what the Middle Boy and I would play today. Grand plans for getting out the puppet theatre and puppets and putting on a show… But sometimes grand plans get scuttled by a morning full of tantrums and tears and just needing five minutes peace to regroup… and before you know it grand plans turn into this…

It was a get every single puzzle and game out of the cupboard and spread them across the floor kind of day.

I have to confess that this kills me. The fact that he gets out and unpacks 5 different puzzles and three games drives me nuts, especially because I am the sucker that ends up sorting it all out and packing it all away. Plus, I have to admit, I am not a big fan of puzzles and board games.

The girls became puzzle crazy at about age three and Muski is no different. He’s been putting together our 20+ piece floor puzzles on his own since he was about 2 and a half and he’s now tackling some of the bigger puzzles with a fair bit of success. And there are loads of benefits of puzzles. They are good for developing and practising a heap of skills, such as problem solving, eye hand co-ordination, spatial awareness, memory etc.

Despite all of that I still can’t get excited about puzzles.
It’s a personal thing. I find them boring. Once you’ve done a puzzle then you’ve done it, there’s no new way to do it, it’s done. And board games…. kiddy board games? Snore! I know, I know, bad mother…. even more bad preschool teacher (with worser grammar).

Puzzles and games just don’t float my boat.
They float my kid’s boats though, and that’s ok.

It’s ok became Muski has spent a good hour putting each puzzle together and setting up Mr Potato heads and matching shopping items to shopping lists. Sure it’s not the puppet show I had planned, but then this isn’t about me. He’s having a great time, and learning as well…. so all that I need to do is attempt to pack up the mess with a smile on my face, if I can!

I’m joining in with childhood101′s We Play link up today – head on over for more great play ideas!

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