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Modern Art with a Matchbox Car

Sweet Pea is 4 years old.

From: This activity was inspired by Deborah’s description of an “oldie but goodie” on her excellent Teach Preschool blog.

Material:

Paper. Jelly roll tray. Kid’s craft paint Small toy cars. Smock or bib for your tot (optional).

Procedure:

Place a piece of paper on the jelly […]


Using Tweezers to Sort Pony Beads

Sweet Pea is 47 months old.

From: This is another activity suggested in John Bowman’s new book Montessori at Home (I am giving away a copy here.)

Material:

Tweezers (I used rounded-tip beading tweezers). A bowl of pony beads in 4 different colors 4 Small bowls.

Procedure:

Sit near your tot […]


Watercolor Resist Valentines

Sweet Pea is 45 months old.

From: Do you want to make some cute homemade Valentines with your tot? We loved these adorable watercolor resist valentines from One Inch World (featured on Teach Preschool’s excellent Tumblr blog).

Material:

Watercolor paint. (We used liquid water color, but a standard pallet of watercolors should work […]


Messy Bleeding Art Tissue Paper

Sweet Pea is 45 months old.

From: I hadn’t heard of bleeding art tissue paper until I read Valerie’s deceptively titled post “Low-Mess Mitten Painting” on her Frugal Family Fun blog. I couldn’t wait to try this new Low-Mess style of painting.

Material:

Bleeding art tissue paper. (We found a pack next to the […]


Penny Drop Game

Sweet Pea is 39 months old.

From: I was inspired by this penny drop game at Tired, Need Sleep.

Material:

10 Muffin tin liners, coffee filters or paper circles. 2 Crayons. 10 Pennies.

Procedure:

Let your tot color half of the circles one color while you color the remaining ones a different […]


Matching Color Shades

Sweet Pea is 37 months old.

From: I saw this on Giving Up on a Clean House, Crunchy and Green, and Chasing Cheerios. Also, the Montessori Color Tablets, Box #3 exercise is a somewhat similar activity.

Material:

Paint sample cards. Select 2 identical sheets for each color you want to use. Clothespins. Scissors. Glue. […]


Gem Balance on a Popsicle Stick

Sweet Pea is 37 months old.

From: I found this quick little activity on ABC and 123 and The Shafer Family.

Material:

Popsicle or craft sticks. Flat glass gems (We found ours in the floral section at Micheal’s) Bowl (to hold the gems). Tray (optional).

Procedure:

Put the gems in the bowl […]


Uppercase Do-A-Dot Letters

Sweet Pea is 35 months old.

From: Erika from Confessions of a Homeschooler often posts an individual Do-A-Dot letter worksheet when her tot is learning a particular letter (P for example), but I had trouble searching her site to find all of the letters. I also searched the web, but was surprised that I […]


Rainbow Toast

Sweet Pea is 33 months old.

From: I found this really fun idea at Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds. I had never seen something like this before and couldn’t wait to try it.

Material:

Several slices of bread. Milk. Food Coloring (I highly recommend the gel type instead of the liquid drops that […]


Clean Paint

Shannon’s Note: This is a guest post from my friend Lori, who worked as a preschool teacher for 3 years and now enjoys staying home with her daughter.

E.G. is 18 months old.

Materials:

2 Sheets Glad Press’n Seal or Contact Paper Tempera Washable Paints Scissors (for the grown-up) Q-Tips (optional)

Procedure:

Line […]