Behavioral and Learning
Morning Routine
We have a really great morning routine that i'd like to share. We start with my 3 year old doing his chores. We've made a chore chart that he can flip and he gets paid with a quarter at the end of the day. Some chores he completes daily and some are as needed like emptying the dish washer.
Here's the chore flip chart:
We made it using sparkly scrap book paper, magnets and a Cricut cutting machine. We followed someone else's idea that you can find here .
The daily chores are 'get dressed', 'make bed', 'feed cat', 'get mail', and 'pick up toys'. The weekly ones are 'water plants', empty dish washer', and 'wash windows'. He really enjoys doing his chores and flipping the chart. This idea would also be good for a night time routine that I may make in the future. It would have things like brush teeth, bathe, read books, pick up, and say goodnight.
In the morning we also do circle time and exercising. First, after breakfast and goodbyes to Daddy, we do our warm-up and workout. It is very simple and short. I found two books that are fun and interactive to use for morning exercises.
Here are the two books:
From Head To Toe by Eric Carle and Barnyard dance by Sandra Boynton
Using From Head To Toe we do our 'warm-up'. On each page an animal is doing a movement and asking the child if they can do it. For example: "I am a gorilla and I can beat my chest. Can you do it?"
Next we use Barnyard Dance to get moving for a few minutes. The book has directions for a square dance it has the child do a movement with the animal and includes making animal sounds. For example: " Hop with the bunny. Strut with the duck. Spin with the chickens now cluck cluck cluck."
Both books are available on Amazon or lucky me I found them at the neighborhood Goodwill!
From Head To Toe here and Barnyard Dance here. The kids have so much fun and get a tiny workout! We still try to get outside for our Play60.fueluptoplay60.com/
After a break we have our circle time. We use a few different things to make this happen. We have a calendar, days of the week and shapes and colors wall. I also use a dry erase maker to write what my son is learning in school. This week it was the number 5, the letter D, and the shape triangle.
We purchased this at JoAnn fabrics. I added velcro to the backs of everything so we can change the date and color/shape area. After teaching and sharing we do flash cards. My older child 'helps' my younger with her flashcards and then he has a set all his own where she 'helps' by repeating what he says. We start with the alphabet and numbers using Kumon Write and Wipe cards.
Next are picture flash cards, more for the almost 2 year old. We got a set of photo cards from Lakeshore Learning. I chose one section of 5 cards and rotate. There are farm animals, people, emotions, furniture, etc.
They are available in store or online and you can add cards. Here is the link to purchase online on Lakeshore Learning.com
For my almost 4 year old I got some sight word flash cards. We do the same 3 for the entire week or more if he's struggling. He's barely old enough for this but he's having fun and eventually it'll pay off! I was lucky enough, again, to find some at Goodwill but you can get them anywhere even the dollar store.
These ones are available on Amazon here.
That's our morning! After this is either preschool or learning videos. Youtube offers tons of videos for kids with music.
Behavior Chart
When my son turned 3 we began having some behaviors that needed to be corrected. In order to dissuade him from negative behavior and reward good behavior we made a chart and reward system. I got the idea for the chart from a mommy friend. Here's the chart:
To make it I cut strips of construction paper in rainbow colors and added stickers or pictures to represent the negative or positive behavior. I put a sticker on a small chip bag clip to make a movable tab, Lightening MaQueen of course.
To use it we begin at 'Good Morning' and as behavior changes Lightening MaQueen moves up or down and a reward or punishment is given. At the end of the day if Lightening is at 'Sticker' he gets a sticker on a separate sheet of paper. If he fills a row with stickers he gets a big reward like going to the park or eating out.
Kids Crafts
Tissue Paper Sun Catchers
We make these a few times a month and follow holidays and seasons for inspiration. This is our summer theme. We made a whale, sun, and a flower. I got the idea here. I cut the shape out of construction paper and placed it on a sheet of laminating paper. We added our color tissue paper then put another sheet of laminating paper on top. Cut around your shape and put on the window, easy and fun!
Easy and fun for the kids to play with and of course safe in case of ingestion! Make the dough, paint it, mold it, or put stuff in it. We are doing summer crafts right now so we collected shells from the beach and made paper weights.
The formula for salt dough is:
For instant gratification you can microwave your art for 3-4 minutes. Since every microwave is different cook it in 1 minute intervals so you don't accidentally burn it. You can also let it air dry or cook it in the oven for 2-3 hours at 200 degrees. For gifts and extra special keepsakes I recommend the oven.
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