Christmas Playdough Ideas

With my love of sensory experiences for children, this is a must-see/ must-try link to a variety of scented Christmas playdough fun. You may want to take some time to explore the site overall. I've already linked to it a few times. Many fabulous learning activities.

http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/11/26/montessori-monday-montessori-inspired-christmas-playdough-activities/

Blankie Story Time

Blanket Colors
I once had a blanket.
It was fluffy and new.
I once had a blanket.
And its color was______ blue
I once had a blanket.
The prettiest I 've seen.
I once had a blanket.
And its color was ______ green.
I once had a blanket.
Soft as a pillow.
I once had a blanket.
And its color was _____ yellow.
I once had a blanket.
At the foot of my bed.
I once had a blanket.
And its color was _____ red.
https://mail.lis.illinois.edu/hypermail/public/pubyac/11158.html


Fuzzy Wuzzy Blanket

(Tune: Oscar Meyer Weiner song)

Oh I wish I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket
That is what I’d truly like to be
‘Cause if I were a fuzzy wuzzy blanket
Everyone would snuggle up with me!
http://bookbesottedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2011/11/warm-and-cozy-storytime.html

Dance Your Fingers Up
Dance your fingers up, dance your fingers down
Dance you fingers to the side, dance them all around
Dance them on your shoulders, dance them on your head
Dance them on your tummy, and put them all to bed
Credit: Best Kids Book Site

Going to Bed
This little child is going to bed (point to self)
Down on the pillow he lays his head (rest head on hands)
He wraps himself in a blanket tight (hug yourself)
And this is the way he sleeps all night (snore)
Credit: Best Kids Book Site

Here is a Baby
Here is a baby (index finger)
Ready for a nap
Lay her down in her mother’s lap. (place finger in palm)
Cover her up so she won’t peek; (curl fingers around index finger)
Rock her till she’s fast asleep. (rock)
Credit: Perry Public Library

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said:
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"
Four little monkeys jumping on the bed...
Three little monkeys jumping on the bed...
Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...
One little monkey jumping on the bed...
No little monkeys jumping on the bed
None fell off and bumped his head
Momma called the doctor and the doctor said
Put those monkeys back in bed!

Top Toys for Infants and Toddlers

On this Black Friday edition of Book Nibblers Child Development Friday, I thought so many people will be thinking of shopping for Christmas. I was impressed with this list of toys for open ended play from The Imagination Tree. It includes wonderful items for purchase as well as some home-made items I love.

http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/11/top-toy-list-for-babies-and-toddlers.html

http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/11/top-toy-list-for-2-6-year-olds.html

Blocks of Fun!

Block play is probably second in my heart only to sensory play... which anyone who reads my blog knows I mention often. This website is worth the time to scroll through. Not only are there activities for classic blocks, but also unifix cubes, and legos. Everything from fine motor skills to math skills to early literacy is explored. Best of all it gives a wide age-range of ideas - from babies to beginning readers and spellers.

As Christmas draws near, blocks are a great addition to any home because of their open-ended play possibilities that grow along with children.

http://handsonaswegrow.com/2012/03/lots-of-blocks-activities/

Owls at Book Nibblers

Owl Hokey Pokey
You put your right wing in
You put your right wing out
You put your right wing in
And you flap it all about
You do the owl pokey and you fly yourself around
That’s what it’s all about! Hoo, hoo!
(left wing, right claw, left claw, beak, whole self)

Credit: Ms. Hegna’s Storyroom 

If You're an Owl and You Know It
tune: If You're Happy and You Know It
(follow actions)
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."
If you're an owl and you know it then your hoot will surely show it
If you're an owl and you know it hoot like this "Hoo(t), hoo(t)..."

continue with other lyrics:
Flap your wings (flap wings)
Blink your eyes (blink eyes and open and close hands to help mimic the movement)
Turn your head (turn it from side to side!)
Source: Librarian Lisa

Flap Your Wings and Fly Around

Tune: London Bridge
Flap your wings and fly around, fly around, fly around.
Flap your wings and fly around, just like an owl.
Open your eyes big and wide, big and wide, big and wide.
Open your eyes big and wide, just like an owl.
Land on the ground and hop along, hop along, hop along.
Land on the ground and hop along, just like an owl.
Turn your head and say "Hoo! Hoo!"
Say "Hoo! Hoo!"
Say "Hoo! Hoo!"
Turn your head and say "Hoo! Hoo" just like an owl.
Words by Joe Stover

Five Hoot Owls

Five hoot owls sitting in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three, four.
Four hoot owls sitting in a tree
One flew away! How many do you see?
One, two, three.
Three hoot owls… etc.

Wide-eyed Owl

There’s a wide-eyed owl (circle your eyes with your hands)
With a pointed nose (make a beak with your fingers)
Two pointed ears (make ears with your fingers)
And claws for toes (wiggle your “claws”)
He lives way up in the tree (point way up)
And when he looks at you (point to children)
He flaps his wings (flap your wings)
And says, “Whoo! Whoo!” (say “whoo whoo”)

Mice are Nice

(Please note a special treasure with this week's post. Many of the songs link to video which shows the rhyme being sung in case you forgot how it goes.)


Boing, Boing, Squeak
(Bounce child in lap; gently squeeze child on "squeak")
Boing! Boing! Squeak!
Boing! Boing! Squeak!
A bouncing mouse is in my house
He's been here for a week.
He bounced on in from nowhere
and quickly settled in.
I'm glad he came alone..
I've heard he has a twin.
He bounces in the kitchen, (lean to one side)
He bounces in the den, (lean to the other side)
He bounces in the living room,
Look! There he goes again!
Boing! Boing! Squeak!
Boing! Boing! Squeak!
A bouncing mouse is in my house,
He's been here for a week.
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/Boing!_Boing!_Squeak!


Hurry, Scurry Mousie
Hurry scurry mousie (touch baby's toes)
Starts down at your toes.
Hurry scurry mousie (walk fingers up body with words.)
Past your knees he goes.
Hurry scurry mousie
Past where your tummy is.
Hurry scurry mousie
Gives you a mousie kiss. (kiss fingers.)
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/Hurry_Scurry_Mousie

The little mice are creeping, creeping, creeping;
The little mice are creeping through the house.
The little mice are sleeping, sleeping, sleeping;
The little mice are sleeping in the house.
Shhhhh... (finger to lips)

The old gray cat comes creeping, creeping, creeping;
The old gray cat comes creeping through the house.
The little mice go scampering, scampering, scampering;
The little mice go scampering through the house.
Whew!

Children can act out this song, taking turns to be the cat and chase the mice.
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/Little_Mice_are_Creeping

Five Little Mice
One little mouse, with a nibble and a chew
Called for a friend…squeak
And then there were two.
Two little mice, quick as quick can be
Called for a friend…squeak, squeak
And then there were three.
Three little mice as they scampered round the floor
Called for a friend…squeak, squeak, squeak
And then there were four.
Four little mice, with another to arrive
Called for a friend…squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak
And then there were five!
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/One_little_mouse

Rickety, Rickety Rocking Horse
Rickety, rickety, rocking horse,
Over the fields we go.
Rickety, rickety, rocking horse,
Gitty up! Gitty up!
Whoa!
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/Rickety_Rickety_Rocking_Horse

Tiptoe, Tiptoe
Tiptoe, tiptoe, little mouse
Tiptoe quietly through the house.
Be very still; don't make a sound
Shhhh! Little mouse, the cat prowls around! (lunge like a cat)
http://wiki.kcls.org/tellmeastory/index.php/Tiptoe

Little Mouse
“Little mouse, little mouse, are you hiding in the _____ house?” Name a colour or solicit colours from the children. Repeat as time and the children’s interest allows (my experience is that time rather than interest usually ends this game). While it rhymes with mouse, I haven’t noticed children miss the rhyme with ie a cat? They love the guessing and participation.

Productive Parenting Ideas

This website is a treasure because not only does it have activities outlined by age group, but also provides information about what skills your child could learn through the activities.

Follow the link below to see more information about the baby above playing in corn meal. Great ideas!

http://www.productiveparenting.com/aspx/Activities.aspx?aid=247

Birthday Bash Photos

Bobbi and Cambree Martin work on the
cake color match.

Eliana Wall and Jaxson Emerson find birthday party
props in confetti.



Sabrina Offutt and Ryker Argo
weigh birthday matierials against
candles on the scale.