Valentine’s

Holiday Activities

Valentines and Dinosaurs

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This play-of-the-day combines 3 ingredients: a book, movin’ and groovin’, and dinosaurs; what an awesome combination for kids and valentine fun.

valentine dinosaur bookDinosaurs appeal to kids of various ages. In the story “I Love You, Snugglesaurus” by Sandra Magsamen, a dinosaur encourages kids to do a variety of actions, such as jump and clap. When reading the story to kids, they can get involved by doing the actions on each page.

Movement and physical activities are so important for young children, not just for healthy bodies but also for healthy minds. As children move, they exercise muscles that are still developing. They also figure out the necessary mental thinking to make muscles move purposefully. After reading this story, kids can suggest their own ideas for ways to move like a dinosaur.

Reading books to kids is tremendously valuable. Learning to speak and use language is massively complex and kids need to hear millions and millions of words. The challenge of learning to read is much easier if children have a strong language foundation. With this book, children get to connect what they know about dinosaurs with the excitement of valentines. This story has some extra bonuses, like hugs and snuggles.

dinosaurs and valentinesValentines is a special event for kids. Feelings and emotions can be pretty complicated. Valentines focuses on loving and caring. We think of different ways to say I love you and different ways to show others about our feelings.

Sharing books boosts language and reading. This story also helps kids understand emotions in themselves and others.  The movement fun is just a warm up for more exercise for kids. And the dinosaurs? While dinosaurs may not have had big hearts for feelings, this story will warm hearts, and minds, and bodies. Would you agree there are lots of reasons why this book is dino-mite?

Sensory Activities

Valentine Pink Slime for Sensory Play

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Since we just made some white play dough for winter fun last week, we tried some slime this week and colored it pink for Valentine’s. It makes itself from 3 simple ingredients.

To make slime, you will need 2 bowls or other containers. I used glass measuring cups. In one, 1/2 cup of warm water and 1/2 cup of white glue. Sometimes, getting the glue to mix with the water is easier than others. For some reason today, I had to use a little whip to get out the clumps. In the second, mix 1 teaspoon of borax and 1 cup of warm water. A few drops of food coloring can be added to either solution. Now comes the fun part. Dump the glue-water solution into the borax-water solution and immediately the  slime or polymer forms. Drain off the extra water and squeeze the slime all together. It looks like it will be wet and gloopy but it is like a very stretchy plastic.

Little Sister patted the ball of and made a handprint. It stayed for a little bit then smoothed out. She stretched it out and rolled it. Slime, like play dough, is easy to cut and there’s no worry about cutting on the line. After rolling it out with a rolling pin, she folded it up and put it into a pan. In only a minute or two, the slime spread out and dripped over the edges so she problem solved and put some in another container.

Slime has a different texture from play dough. It feels cool and slippery. Slime doesn’t keep it’s shape the way play dough does, so it can’t be used for making items the same way. Kids seem to figure this out as they play. They can roll it out flat and use cookie cutters but the shape soon turns into a puddle.

The rolling, patting, cutting, and other actions help to strengthen the small muscles and fine motor skills. Slime also encourages concentration and problem solving and sensory stimulation. For a play-of-the-day, would your child enjoy some time with Slime?

Social and Emotional

Helping Children Make Friends

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helping kids make friendsYoung children do not view friendship the way that older children and adults too but they are making important and meaningful connections with others. Making friends and figuring out how to be a friend is a challenging learning process for kids. February is Valentine month when love and friendship get extra attention. So that you have lots of time to sing before Valentines, here is a song that can help kids learn friend behaviors. (adapted from TheHolidayZone.com)

Be A Friend (tune: If You’re Happy and You Know It)

If you want to be a friend, share a smile.
If you want to be a friend, share a smile.
If you want to be a friend, and make one too,
If you want to be a friend, share a smile.

If you want to be a friend, say hello.
If you want to be a friend, say hello.
If you want to be a friend, and make one too,
If you want to be a friend, say hello.

If you want to be a friend, you can help.
If you want to be a friend, you can help.
If you want to be a friend, and make one too,
If you want to be a friend, you can help.

If you want to be a friend, use kind words.
If you want to be a friend, use kind words.
If you want to be a friend, and make one too,
If you want to be a friend, use kind words.

how to be a friendYou can add other verses using words that are relevant to your child’s situation. Sometimes, it’s easier to use words of advice in a song than it is to use those same words to directly tell them, especially if the song gets stuck in their heads–and their hearts. How important is having friends to you and your child?