Toddler Time- Sorting colors

I thought this serving plate would be perfect for my toddler's sorting time!  You could use colored bears if you had them, pom poms, or anything colored that is small enough for your little one to scoop it up with a spoon.  I love activities like this because they not only teach sorting and colors, they also work those fine motor muscles!  Always a plus!

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Painting with Balls

Oh my kids had so much fun with this one!  

Materials: 

Tray (pan, or foil pan)

paint (we used finger paint)

Paper (I like finger paint paper because it doesn't rip)

balls or marbles

I taped the paper to the tray to ensure that it wouldn't move around when the kids were rolling around the balls.  

My son got the hang of the rolling but my daughter was more comfortable controlling all of her markings.  

Results- Beautiful!!  These totally showed their personalities too!

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Toddler Time- Color sorting

One of my goals this month was to introduce colors to my daughter (21 months).  I started pointing out colors to her in everyday activities... red elmo, elmo is red! ect.. I thought that she was starting to pick up on green so that was one of the colors I choose to work with first.  With toddlers, I would only use two colors when beginning a color sorting activity.  Once they have mastered those two colors, add another and so on. Here is my sweet pea sorting green and purple.  (Note- make sure you use colors that are opposite of each other, blue and green are too similar as well as yellow and orange.)

I started with colored cups and pompoms in the middle.  (If you don't have colored cups, use bowls or just cut a piece of construction paper to put on the front of a clear cup)

Let the sorting begin!

So proud of herself!  

I added a few more colors for the big man so he could join in on the fun as well!

Here is another activity that you can do for sorting categories  

(Sorting Cars and Trains) I'm working on getting the link to this printable back up.  

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Art Activity- Paint with water and chalk

Materials needed: 


Black construction paper, Chalk, water in a jar lid or small cup or bowl, sponge or paint brushes 

Directions- 

1. Have child "paint" the black paper with water (mine thought that pouring the water on the paper was the way to go)

2. After the paper is wet, have the child draw with the colored chalk.  This makes wonderful and bright colored markings!  

Note- Don't stress to much about this activity if the child is more interested in the painting than the drawing portion.  My son was more into dropping the chalk into the cup of water and my daughter just wanted to soak herself with the water.  Remember- they are still learning and exploring even if they don't do it exactly as you'd planned :)  Also, I choose to do this outside so I wouldn't go nutso when someone spilled water or started coloring the walls but you could also do this as an indoor activity on a cookie sheet with less water.

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A year at a glance- Monthly curriculum

School will start for us after labor day.  This year, I will be working with my oldest (almost 4) three days a week since he will be attending preschool on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will also be working with my youngest (19 months) three days a week as well.

I am such a planner and need to have everything scheduled out and planned or let's just face it, it doesn't get done.  This summer, after moving into a new home, our schedule got turned upside down and if I'm being honest,  my intention was to have "school" 4 days a week and we just barely had a "throw something random together and the last minute" activity maybe once or twice a week at most!  I am vowing to really make "school" a priority this year in our home.  Every month that goes by, these kids are soaking up new information.  My goal is to help make their learning as rich and full as possible.

Currently, I am in the middle of planning out our year at a glance.  Basically, just a list of very basic goals/themes that I want to cover each month.

For example: September will look something like this...

3 year old- 
Letters- (I-Q) covering 2 letter sounds a week.  (We will also being reading a few small words)
Math- Recognizing #'s 1-12 when written, review all shapes and focus on octagon, learn time to the hour, learn to count to 20 (he has been stuck at 14 for over a year now!)
Colors- review all and practice mixing to create new colors
Theme- Friends, All about Me, Five Senses, Apples
Bible- We usually go along with the stories/verses his church class does


1 year old- 
Letters- learn ABC song and start introducing Letters threw books and magnet letters
Math- Learn to count to 10 (she can do 2-7 currently)
Colors- Red and Green
Theme- Body Parts, Five Senses, Apples 
Bible- We usually go along with the stories/verses his church class does

Here are some other great sites and examples that can help you create monthly goals for your child(ren)

Mother Goose Time 

Preschool Palace 

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