Sorting Colors

A simple but fun activity for all ages. The younger kids work on taking the lids 

off and on while the older kids sort the colors into the correct container. 

Sometimes pretend play emerges from this activity too! Soup anyone?

The containers that I used for this activity came from empty milk containers my daughter got with kids meals at several different restaurants. I then cut strips of paper into the right size to fit in the the bottle along with a piece of paper that would fit around the bottle for a label. These pieces I laminated to make more durable. Cut a circle to fit the lid and then used modge podge to attach it to the top. 

There you go, simple, yet hours of fun!

Family Style Dining

Family Style Dining is an important way for children to learn many skills 

while doing something that is very routine... eating! 

We sit at the table together and the children help to pass out the dishes.

Children work on one to one correspondence by placing one plate or one spoon at each chair for each child. Many times as children are passing out items the other children are counting along to make sure we have enough for everyone.

We pass each item around the table so each child can take one spoonful and place it on their plate. While doing this the children are encouraged to say please and thank you.

The children take great pride in placing their own food on their own plate. They also are working on motor skills as they scoop food onto their plate.

 Pouring milk is a task that takes lots of concentration! Older children are able to do this on their own while younger children need an adult to help guide them in pouring their milk. Spills do happen but the children learn to clean the spill up and try again.

Painting Outside

I have been trying to figure out how to paint on a easel outside for over a year. 

The only solution that I could find was to bring our easel from inside outside. The 

indoor easel is heavy and hard to get outside, except for right out side the door. 

Thanks to Teach Preschool, my problem was solved! I took 2 pieces of plexiglass 

from Lowes and taped it together at the top with clear box tape.

I put the easels in the grass and let the kids paint on the plexiglass. You could also attach paper right to the easel with tape. Even the youngest ones loved taking a minute to see what they could do with the paintbrush!

When the kids were done painting they took a piece of paper and pressed the paper onto the wet paint.

MAGIC! 

The kids were very impressed with the 

image that appeared on their paper.

When we were done the kids took a spray bottle with water and watched their picture drip away.

Learning Centers

Our environment here at Lighthouse Learning Center is 

carefully set up into different learning centers so the children 

can learn by doing what they do best, PLAY! 

Take a look at what children are learning in each learning center.

Sidewalk Chalk Paint - Part Two

We love painting with chalk paint outside!

This is one of the best homemade recipes that I have ever tried!

Mix Together

1 part cornstarch

1 part water

a little bit of food coloring

I use 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup water to make a larger amount of paint for each color. Then I store the paint in recycled containers to use over several days. After the paint sits the cornstarch does settle and need to be stirred before each use.

I found this great divided tray at the dollar store. It works perfect! When we are done painting and there is leftover paint all I have to do it line up the containers of paint and I can pour back all 3 colors at the same time. Well, most of it gets back into the container!

Many times when painting with young kids I give them colors of paint that can be mixed together without getting all yucky! It also gives kids a chance to figure out how to make new colors other then brown and black. Opps! I was excited to take a picture in action of the kids bringing nature into their art that I didn't notice one little guy painting his hand!

That's the fun of being outside on a nice day! An art activity can turn into a sensory activity. Then a little squirt of water and they are good to go inside again. Sometimes it takes lots of water but the memories and experience lasts a lifetime! When else do you get a chance to paint your hands, feet, legs, rocks and leafs?

Sidewalk Chalk Paint - Part One

We have been loving experimenting with Chalk this summer. Play Create Explore gave us a wonderful idea that took zero planning. Everything was ready to go in the garage!

Items Needed

Chalk

Hammer

Cup

Water

Box

Paint Brush

Step 1: Take the hammer and crush a piece of chalk on cardboard box.

Step 2: Mix chalk dust and water together in a cup. Adding a little bit of water at a time until all chalk is dissolved.

Step 3: Paint Away!

This was one of our favorite outdoor activities all summer. The kids loved painting one day then spraying their pictures with a spray bottle the next. We also painted the cars and then had a car wash. Not to mention all the fun we had writing letters with chalk paint on the driveway!

Welcome

If you are reading this post then you must be one of the very first to stumble upon my blog! Thanks for reading! I have the privilege to be able to stay home with my little girl along with teaching and caring for a wonderful group of kids for the past three years. Early Childhood is my passion and I love sharing ideas with others but it has been hard to do so here at home. I hope this blog will be a great way for me to share what we are doing here at Lighthouse Learning Center with families who have entrusted their children to me along with other childcare providers.

I am so thankful to have a loving husband who supports me in doing what I do everyday! If it was not for him Lighthouse Learning Center would not be possible!