Letter Turkey for Preschoolers

My preschooler has been making turkeys one after another this year and we are teaching him letters and simple sight words. Combine letter and word recognition with this classic thanksgiving craft and VOILA! You've got your self a game!! 

SUPPLIES:

Paper bag

Construction paper

Scissors

Markers 

Google eyes (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut out a beak and 'gobble' for your turkey. Have your child glue them on and draw eyes. 

2. Meanwhile, cut out feathers and write the letters of the alphabet on each one. You could also do common letter combinations like -sh, -th, and -ch. Make sure you have all the letters for your child's name and doubles of the vowels and more popular letters like R S T L N E.

 

3. Have fun with your letters. Make words, have them find words you've written for them, have them write words they've made, practice rhyming, make silly words with mixed up letters. 

DIY Nursing Tank {Pintrest Craft Success}

I saw these on Pinterest and immediately added them to my sewing to-do list!!! Such a fabulous idea --- when worn as an undershirt the tank top provides coverage for your side and stomach so your top shirt can be lifted without your whole side hanging out.

To nurse your baby just leave a small gap between your shirts for your baby to latch on. With practice it is able to nurse uncovered (GASP!) without the entire world seeing your chest. :)

 

1. With spaghetti strapped tanks, start by clipping the strap from the back of the shirt. Leave the front of the strap intact. 

 

2. Sew a small loop 3/4"-1" where the front straps start just over the chest of the shirt. Trim the strap. DONE! 

TO WEAR: 

Hook the loop over the flap of your nursing bra before clipping closed.

If you haven't seen the Luv's Breastfeeding Commercial --- its worth it! Love breastfeeding my babies and strongly believe every mom has the right to nurse her child however she feels comfortable wherever she feels comfortable. Can't say I am bold enough to show as much skin as this mom though. These tanks give me a sense of modesty even when I choose not to use a cover.

 

Invitation to paint

During nap time spend a little time setting up this fun painting experience for your little ones that is unexpected and will encourage creativity.

SUPPLIES:
Butcher or packing paper (found mine at the PO)
Paint
Random supplies to explore/paint with (cotton balls, feathers, qtips, plastic forks and spoons, sponges, etc)

SET-UP:
Tape a large sheet of packing paper to your kitchen table or floor and place dollops of paint in the center. Set painting supplies alongside and allow your child to explore freely.

{Bountiful Baskets} Hidden Veggie Recipes for Kids

Here are some recipes and inspirations for you to help your kiddos to eat more veggies!!

THE PRODUCE
Bananas
Mango
Strawberries
Mini Watermelon
Pineapple
Red Potatoes
Green Onions
Broccoli
Celery
Tomatoes
Romain Lettuce

INSPIRATIONS
Strawberry Banana Kabobs

Watermelon Wedges on a Stick

Roasted Potato Shapes

Mashed Potato Volcano

 
Stoplight Celery Sticks

Celery Bugs

Pretzel/Celery Butterflies

Gone Fishin'

Celery Trains

Lettuce Boats (stuffed with taco meat, meatballs, BBQ chicken strips...)

RECIPES
Fruit Leather
Real Fruit - Homemade Fruit Snacks
Homemade Yogurt with Real Fruit Purée
Pizza Salad with Tomato Vinegarette
Hidden Broccoli Mac & Cheese
Broccoli Pesto
Broccoli Cheese Soup
BLT Stuffed Tomatoes
Homemade Tomato Soup (serve with goldfish crackers)
Loaded Potato Fries

MORE SNEAKY IDEAS {Mix finely diced, shredded or puréed veggies into...}
Pasta (Spaghetti, Lasagna, Ravioli...)
Casseroles
Burgers
Sloppy Joes
Taco Meat
Quesadillas
Mac and Cheese (even the boxed stuff)
Meatballs
Meatloaf
Pizza (under the cheese)
Muffins & Sweet Breads

A FEW MORE TIPS
Serve them with something to DIP (Ranch, cheese, etc)
Make them FINGER FOODS
Let the PLAY with their food by serving them in a creative way
Set a GOOD EXAMPLE - if mom and dad eat veggies, they will too (eventually)

PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD {Crafts from the Scraps}
Potato Stamps

Celery Rose Stamps

Celery Science

Simple Earth Day Craft for Preschoolers

Here is a quick and easy Earth Day craft for you and your child today!!

SUPPLIES:
Heavy white paper
Green crayon or pastels
Blue water color
Cotton balls
Glue

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Draw a large circle for your child. Have them draw and color large odd shaped circles and ovals inside the circle for the land of the earth.
2. Have your child paint the entire circle and white space with the blue water colors.
3. Pull apart cotton balls into thin wisps to make clouds. Once the paint has dried glue the cotton wisps to the Earth.

{Craft Along} ABC Animal Handprint Book: Week 6

Welcome to the first week of my first {Craft Along} series!!! This week we will be completing letters W-Z following the examples given in Red Ted's Art Blog. Find out more about our project {here}!

{WEEK SIX}

Animals:

Walrus

X-Ray fish

Yak

Zebra

Supplies:

Paint (red, black, grey, white)

Construction paper - pink, white, black, brown

Googley eyes

Laminating sheets

Directions:

NOTE: These letters can be done all in one sitting or one per day to go along with books from the library, coloring pages and other crafts.

GENERAL TIPS:

1. See notes for each letter/animal to help you with your handprint; use a paintbrush to apply paint to your child's hand.

2. Allow paint to dry completely before adding embellishments.

3. Wash and dry hands between each letter.

4. Laminate pages after the paint is COMPLETELY dry then add final embellishments like googley eyes using hot glue onto the laminated pages.

5. We will bind our books when all the letters are done - for now keep the finished pages in a safe place. :)

W is for WALRUS
Paint your child's entire hand red then press onto the page with fingers together and facing the bottom of the page. Allow to dry the embellish with a mustache and tusks made from construction paper. Laminate the add google eyes.

X is for XRAY FISH
Paint your child's entire hand black (or color of their choice) and place sideways on the page with pinky and thumb extended. Allow to dry then embellish with "fish bones" cut from construction paper. Laminate the add google eyes.

Y is for YAK
Paint your child's entire hand brown and press hand onto page with fingers slightly spread and facing the bottom of the page. Allow to dry then embellish with large nostrils and hair made from construction paper. Laminate the add google eyes.

Z if for ZEBRA
Paint a scenic backround for your zebra and allow to dry completely. Paint your child's entire hand with white paint and press onto the page over the background with fingers slightly spread facing the bottom of the page, and thumb out wide. (We only did one coat --- you may want to do more allowing each layer to dry). Once paint has dried draw stripes, a tail, mane and hooves on your zebra. Laminate the add google eyes.

YOU ARE ALL DONE!!!! You can take your book to a local office supply store to have it bound for just a couple dollars or hang the pages on the wall using a clothes line art display! ENJOY!!

{Craft Along} ABC Animal Handprint Book: Week 5

Welcome to the first week of my first {Craft Along} series!!! This week we will be completing letters S-V following the examples given in Red Ted's Art Blog. Find out more about our project {here}!

{WEEK FIVE}

Animals:

Turtle

Unicorn

Vulture

Supplies:

Paint (green, black, red and your choice for the unicorn)

Googley eyes

Yarn to match unicorn

Construction paper (white and color for unicorn's horn)

Laminating sheets

Directions:

NOTE: These letters can be done all in one sitting or one per day to go along with books from the library, coloring pages and other crafts.

GENERAL TIPS:

1. See notes for each letter/animal to help you with your handprint; use a paintbrush to apply paint to your child's hand.

2. Allow paint to dry completely before adding embellishments.

3. Wash and dry hands between each letter.

4. Laminate pages after the paint is COMPLETELY dry then add final embellishments like googley eyes using hot glue onto the laminated pages.

5. We will bind our books when all the letters are done - for now keep the finished pages in a safe place. :)

T is for TURTLE
Paint your child's entire palm and thumb but only to the first knuckle of thier 4 fingers (we did the whole finger and his legs are too long). Press their hand onto the paper with fingers spread slightly and facing the bottom of the page. Allow to dry then draw a shell, short tail, and nails on the feet. (Do you like the ears my son added to his? Who am I to squash his creativity??) Laminate then add google eyes.

U is for UNICORN
Paint your child's entire hand and fingers the color of their choice. Press your childs hand onto the paper with fingers spread and thumb out straight. Fingers facing the bottom of the page. Allow to dry then draw hooves and a mouth. Also add a small horn on top of your unicorn's head. Laminate then add google eyes. Finally, glue a tail and mane made from yarn to finish your unicorn, and maybe some glitter????

V is for VULTURE
Paint your child's entire hand brown and place it diagonally with fingers together and facing the bottom of the page. Paint a red circle at the top of the palm for the bird's head. Allow the paint to dry then draw a beak and feet. My son also added a nest and a few eggs. Cut out a collar using white construction paper and glue it to the bird's neck. Laminate then add google eyes.

 

{Craft Along} ABC Animal Handprint Book: Week 4

Welcome to the first week of my first {Craft Along} series!!! This week we will be completing letters O-R following the examples given in Red Ted's Art Blog. Find out more about our project {here}!

{WEEK FOUR}

Animals:

Penguin
Quail
Racoon
Snail

Supplies:

Paint (gray, black, blue & your choice for the snail)

Construction paper - white, orange, pink, black

Googley eyes

Laminating sheets

Directions:

NOTE: These letters can be done all in one sitting or one per day to go along with books from the library, coloring pages and other crafts.

GENERAL TIPS:

1. See notes for each letter/animal to help you with your handprint; use a paintbrush to apply paint to your child's hand.

2. Allow paint to dry completely before adding embellishments.

3. Wash and dry hands between each letter.

4. Laminate pages after the paint is COMPLETELY dry then add final embellishments like googley eyes using hot glue onto the laminated pages.

5. We will bind our books when all the letters are done - for now keep the finished pages in a safe place. :)

 

P is for PENGUIN

Paint your child's entire hand black, then place fingers facing the bottom of the page and close together onto the sheet. Allow to dry then embellish with a white oval (stomach), orange beak and pink feet. Laminate and add eyes.

 

 

Q is for QUAIL

Paint the ball of your child's palm blue. Paint the remaining palm and fingers grey. Place their hand with fingers close together facing sideways on the page (thumb at top). Add a circle for the head above the blue portion of the body and a large knob protruding from the skull. Allow to dry then draw feet and add an orange beak. Laminate and add eyes.

 

 

 

R is for RACOON

Paint your child's entire hand grey then with fingers close together and facing down, press firmly onto the page. Allow to dry then enbellish with black oval eyes, black ears, and a large black oval tail with white stripes. Laminate and add eyes.

 

 

S is for SNAIL

Paint your child's palm one color (we chose green), and their thumb only a second color (we chose red). Place onto the page with thumb out-stretched. Allow to dry then draw a swirl to embellish the shell. Laminate and add eyes.

 

 

{Craft Along} ABC Animal Handprint Book: Week 3

Welcome to the first week of my first {Craft Along} series!!! This week we will be completing letters K-N following the examples given in Red Ted's Art Blog. Find out more about our project {here}!

{WEEK THRE}

Animals:

Kingfisher

Ladybug

Monkey

Narwal
Owl

Supplies:

Paint (blue, orange, red, black, brown)

Black and yellow construction paper
Googley eyes
Feathers

Laminating sheets

Directions:

NOTE: These letters can be done all in one sitting or one per day to go along with books from the library, coloring pages and other crafts.

GENERAL TIPS:

1. See notes for each letter/animal to help you with your handprint; use a paintbrush to apply paint to your child's hand.

2. Allow paint to dry completely before adding embellishments.

3. Wash and dry hands between each letter.

4. Laminate pages after the paint is COMPLETELY dry then add final embellishments like googley eyes using hot glue onto the laminated pages.

5. We will bind our books when all the letters are done - for now keep the finished pages in a safe place. :)

K is for Kingfisher
STEP 1 (head): Paint 3/4 of your childs palm light blue and 1/4 orange. Place their palm with the orange towards the bottom of the page, leaving room for a second handprint beneath.

STEP 2 (body & tail feathers): Paint your child's palm and fingers (excluding the thumb) to match the first step. Press their hand onto the paper diagonallymatching the colors with their fingers spread slightly.
 

 

STEP 3: Once the paint has dried add feet and a beak. Laminate then embellish with eyes.

 

 

L is for Ladybug

Paint your child's palm and fingers red, excluding the thumb. Place their hand with fingers together onto the paper. When the paint has dried draw a line up the center of their handprint and add spots. Laminate then embellish with eyes.

 

 

M is for Monkey

Paint your child's entire hand brown. Press their hand with fingers facing down on the page. When the paint has dried add a tail and trees. Laminate then embellish with eyes.

 

 

N is for Narwhal

Paint half of your child's palm and fingers dark blue and half white/grey, excluding the thumb, Press their hand sideways (leaving room to draw a tail at the fingertips) with the white side towards the bottom of the page. Draw a long thin line for the "nose", speckle the white with blue dots and add a tail at the fingertips. Laminate then embellish with eyes.

 

 

(ours is upside-down...woops)

O is for Owl

Paint your child's hand any color they would like for their owl. Press their hand with fingers slightly spread and facing downward on the page. When the paint has dried add a triangle nose and dots on the two middle fingers for the feet. Laminate then emellish with feathers and eyes.