Pom Pom Learning Activities

 

Now that we are finally getting into the swing of being a family of four (five if you count my crazy, toddler-like dog), I am finding a few moments here and there to update posts and add some new fun stuff to the blog. Bear with me, as its a very gradual process, but we'll get there, haha!

 

With that being said, in order to keep my almost-three-year-old busy at all times while I am feeding or changing or entertaining her baby sister, I have created some activities to occupy her hands and mind. As a teacher and giant arts and crafts nerd, I had an overabundance of pom poms in a variety of sizes and colors that I decided to use for some of those activities. Here are the activities that were simple to put together and promote academic AND fine motor skills...

 

 

Using three rectangular pieces of construction paper in different colors, I laminated the pieces and placed them in a bag, along with five of each color in corresponding pom poms. Perfect for a color sort activity that is easy to store.

 

 

 

Using another piece of construction paper, I drew a line across the middle and labeled the top "BIG" and the bottom "little," also providing a visual of a big and small circle as a frame of reference. The paper was laminated and placed in a large Ziploc with an assortment of big and little pom poms and Voila! (Note-you could also add a "medium" section when you think your munchkin is prepared) A fun and hands-on way to learn and differentiate size!

 

 

A final idea (and I'll add more as I think of them and as time allows, haha) is to create dots randomly on a piece of construction paper. Using glue and small pom poms, the child uses his or her fine motor skills to pick up the pom poms and glue them onto the dots. This is such an easy task to put together and little ones love any excuse to use glue. As a side note, if you're hoping to make this activity even more independent or avoid potential mess, use foam stickers so that the child can simply pull of the backing and stick them on the dots.

 

 

To be continued...

 

 

 



Number Recognition and Counting Activities

It is so hard to believe that we are half way through summer break (at least over here in Pennsylvania)! Prepare your little ones for their upcoming preschool and early elementary years using these fun and simple ways to identify numbers, put them in order, and begin to count!

Label Legos with numbers 1-20 (or as high as your little munchkins can go) and have your child stack them in order!

Use a cookie sheet (aka-instant magnet board) and write numbers 1-10 using a permanent marker. Match magnetic numbers found at your nearest dollar store with the written numbers for number id fun!

Use any type of envelopes labeled with numbers 1-10 to have your child count the correct number of popsicle sticks to place inside them!

Use a basic sorting tray marked with various numbers and encourage your child to sort index cards by number.

Activities like these are perfect for summer learning, as they are so simple to put together and super quick and fun for munchkins to complete that they won't even realize they're educational! Happy rest of summer!!!

Shape Recognition Activities

Teaching your child shapes? Here are some non-traditional ways in which to do so and have fun in the process...

Using multi-shape links purchased at my local dollar store, I sorted them in cups and created index cards for students to imitate the pattern drawn by linking the matching shapes.

Draw various shapes on clothespins that children can clip to corresponding shape pictures placed on index cards and laminated

This file folder activity allows children to match shape manipulatives to their corresponding shapes on the folder

Using foam shapes purchased at a local, craft store, children place them into a sorting tray by shape.

Activities like these are ideal for on-the-go munchkins. I also use them for some of my students with developmental needs who tend to benefit from tactile learning. Stay tuned for more hands-on activities that address other great concepts...