Invitation to Play: Decorating Gingerbread Men Craft

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

Today, we decorated foam cutouts of gingerbread men. I love setting up open-ended activities for Ben. To begin, I assembled a tray of items to decorate the gingerbread men. I set everything out on a table and let Ben take it from there. This is an activity that entertained him for an extended period of time, and one that he kept going back to.

SUPPLIES

Foam Gingerbread Men Cutouts

Glue

Decorations: Googly Eyes, Stickers, Beads, Dried Pasta, Beans, Pipe Cleaners, Pompoms, etc.

I purchased the foam gingerbread men cutouts, along with most of the other supplies, at our local dollar store. You could also cut your own gingerbread me now out of foam paper, brown construction paper, cardboard, or recycled brown paper bags. Above are the decorations that we used, but you could use whatever you have on hand or things that your children would enjoy.

INVITATION TO PLAY

1. Begin by gathering items to decorate the gingerbread men. We used googly eyes, pompoms, beads, gems, dried pasta, beans, stickers, and pipe cleaners. I twisted the pipe cleaners into bows. I assembled everything on to a divided tray. You can also use buttons, ribbon, glitter, markers, etc.

2. Set out the assembled tray of decorations along with the foam gingerbread men cutouts and glue on a table. Next, I invited Ben to come play. He took over from there.

This activity is great to work on fine motor skills, hand strength, identifying body parts, counting and so much more. Please tag us on social media if you try this craft out. Happy Holidays!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

I love to pair books with the activities that I do with Ben. Sometimes I am inspired by the books themselves, and sometimes the activities inspire which books we read. Here are a few books that we have enjoyed that also complement decorating gingerbread people:

The Gingerbread Man

Written and Illustrated by Gail Yerrill

The Gingerbread Girl

Written and Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Gingerbread Baby

Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett

Catch That Cookie!

Written by Hallie Durand

Illustrated by David Small

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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child’s parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child’s pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.

Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar – FREE Printable

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

It is hard to believe that today is the first of December. Every year, my family loves to use an Advent Calendar to countdown to Christmas. This year, I decided to mix it up with this FREE printable Santa Advent calendar. My four year old son is obsessed with Santa Claus and decorating for Christmas.

Enjoy this fun and easy way to countdown to Christmas!

SUPPLIES FOR ADVENT CALENDAR

Free Printable Santa Countdown to Christmas Calendar

Glue

Cotton Balls

Optional: Hole Punch and String

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Begin by downloading and printing the Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability.

2. Starting on December 1st, glue a cotton ball each day on the corresponding number. When the beard is filled in, Santa will come that night, Christmas Eve.

3. If you would like to hang your calendar, you can punch a hole in the top and add string.

Click the picture below to download the FREE Printable Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar. Merry Christmas!

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3 Fun and Simple Fall Games for Preschoolers

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

Thanksgiving is looking a little different for many families this year, mine included. We are not having the traditional big family dinners due to the pandemic. To help entertain my son this holiday, I decided to make a few simple and easy fall games to play as a family.

I have included FREE downloads of the documents that I created. I hope that your family enjoys these games as much as we did. Enjoy!

1. Feed the Turkey

SUPPLIES

Plastic Bottle (I used Gatorade bottles)

Construction Paper

Googly Eyes

Pompoms

Dice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First, you will need to create the turkeys. Personally, I used plastic Gatorade bottles. I found that the opening on most water bottles was too small when trying to remove the pompoms. Start with cutting out a beak and feathers out of construction paper.

2. Time to glue. You will need to glue the feathers onto the backside of the bottle towards the top. On the front of the bottle add googly eyes and the beak.

3. Now that your bottles are ready, it’s time to play. Each player will take turns rolling the dice (you can use either one or two). If you use two dice, you can practice addition with your child. Each player will count and add the corresponding number of pompoms into their bottle. The first person to fill their bottle with pompoms wins!

My son wanted to play this game over and over. He loves to race, so this was right up his alley. This game helps to work on fine motor skills, counting, number recognition, addition and turn taking.

2. Fall Bingo

SUPPLIES

Fall Bingo Game (FREE Download)

Bingo Markers (such as pumpkin seeds, rocks, pompoms, etc.)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download and print the FREE fall bingo game. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability. You could laminate the bingo cards and pieces. As a side note, this game includes 10 bingo cards and the call sheet.

2. Next, cut the pieces out on the call sheet along the dotted lines.

3. Then, set out a bowl with colorful pumpkin seeds to use as bingo markers and a bowl with the call pieces.

4. Everyone should pick one bingo card to use. Place a pumpkin seed on the FREE space in the middle.

5. Now it’s time to play! Call out squares one by one by picking pieces out of the bowl. As items are called, place a pumpkin seed on the corresponding square on your bingo card. Once you have 5 in a row (vertical, horizontal or on a diagonal), say “BINGO!”

This game was such a big hit with my son. We played it multiple times for several days. This game helps to work on fine motor skills, matching, fall vocabulary, and math.

Check out my previous blog post to learn “How to Dye Pumpkin Seeds.”

3. Fall Matching Game

SUPPLIES

Fall Match Game (FREE Download)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download and print the FREE fall matching game. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability. You could also laminate the pieces.

2. Next, cut the game pieces out along the dotted lines.

3. Time to play. Place the pieces face down on the table in a grid pattern. Then, take turns turning over two cards to find a match. The person with the most matches wins!

My son has always loved matching games. I created this game to help with his vocabulary of fall words. This game helps to work on literacy, vocabulary, matching, memory skills and turn taking.

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How to Dye Pumpkin Seeds

Posted on November 20, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

My husband has always loved to carve a pumpkin for Halloween. Typically, we throw away the seeds and pulp. What do you like to do with the pumpkin seeds after you carve your jack-o-lantern?

This year, I decided to keep the pumpkin seeds to use for sensory activities. And considering that my son is currently obsessed with rainbows, I wanted to dye the seeds. Since I wanted to use these pumpkin seeds for fall activities, I opted to color them red, orange, yellow and green.

SUPPLIES

Pumpkin Seeds

Food Coloring

Plastic Zip Top Bags

Aluminum Foil

Baking Sheet

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First, you need to clean and dry your pumpkin seeds. You want to get as much of the pulp off of them as possible.

2. Next, spread the seeds out on a baking sheet in a single layer.

3. Bake in the oven at 200° F for approximately 2 hours.

4. After the pumpkin seeds are cool to touch, separate them into plastic zip top bags.

5. Add the desired food coloring to each bag. Then, close the bag and mix the food coloring with the pumpkin seeds until they are fully coated.

6. Finally, lay the colored pumpkin seeds onto a baking sheet covered in aluminum foil. Allow them to dry. I recommend allowing them to air dry overnight. You will want them to be completely dry before using them.

If you want to speed up the process, you put them back in the oven for a little while. Just note that this may alter their color.

Once the pumpkin seeds are completely dry, you can use them in different projects such as sensory bins, play dough kits, games, and crafts. I loved how intense and bright the colors turned out. I cannot wait to share these with Ben!

How would you use them? I would love to hear from you. Have fun!

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Preschool STEM Pumpkin Investigation

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

STEM Pumpkin Investigation for Preschoolers

Happy STEM Day! If you are not familiar with STEM, it stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Children have a natural inclination to explore. So, what better way to explore than with this fun pumpkin investigation.

SUPPLIES

Pumpkins (real and/or fake)

LEGOs (or something else to measure height)

Tape Measurer

Scale

Large Container with Water

Chart (Free Download at the End) and Marker to Track Your Findings

Preschool Pumpkin Investigation Worksheet

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make Observations about the Appearance of the Pumpkins

First, ask the question, “What color is each pumpkin?” Next, ask if each pumpkin is big or small. Finally, ask the question, “Is the stem long or short?” Make sure to record your observations on the chart. You can download the chart that we used at the end of this post.

2. Measure the Height of the Pumpkins

For this part of our science experiment, we used stacked LEGOs to measure the height of the different pumpkins. Have your child stack and count them. If you do not have LEGOs, you can use another type of block or a ruler. Record your measurements in the chart.

3. Measure the Circumference of the Pumpkins

In this next step, we used a soft tape measure to measure the circumference of each pumpkin.

4. Weigh the Pumpkins

Time to weigh the pumpkins. We were able to weigh the larger pumpkins by themselves on the scale. For the smaller ones, we weighed them with Ben holding them then subtracted his weight.

5. Will the Pumpkins Sink or Float?

In this final step, you will need to have a large container to fill with water. We used our wheelbarrow, and Ben enjoyed filling it with water. This boy loves water!

Next, have your child make a prediction on whether they think each pumpkin will sink or float. Then into the water they go. Finally, have your child note whether each pumpkin sank or floated. Were their predictions correct?

Preschool Pumpkin Investigation Sink or Float

As an added bonus, the wheelbarrow turned into an impromptu sensory bin after we finished up. As I said before, Ben loves water!

CLICK below to DOWNLOAD the Free PDF of my Pumpkin Investigation Worksheet.

FREE DOWNLOAD

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Fall Sensory Bin with Oatmeal

Posted on November 3, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

In our household, we absolutely love sensory bins! Ben especially loved this Fall themed sensory bin. Who else loves the cool, crisp weather this time of year? The oatmeal added the perfect texture for the season. Even better, he played with it for at least two weeks.

SUPPLIES

Oatmeal (rolled oats)

Fall Leaves

Fall Colored Pompoms

Acorns

Scoops, Cups, and Bowls

Clear Rubbermaid Bin (or a similar container)

During one of our hikes, Ben collected these acorns. The remainder of the sensory items were purchased at our local Dollar Tree. For something that was so quick and easy to assemble, it brought hours upon hours of play and enjoyment.

Just a reminder to use your judgment on what items are age appropriate for your child. Some of these items may be choking hazards.

INSTRUCTIONS

Such a simple set-up, all you need to do is dump the oatmeal into a large container. Then add the leaves, acorns, and pompoms on top. Finally, set out the tools in or near the sensory bin.

Now it’s time to play!

INVITATION TO PLAY

I love setting out activities such as this Fall sensory bin and letting Ben discover it on his own. As you can see, he dove right in and started to play. For this particular sensory bin, I did not have a specific purpose, and I did not give any directions to Ben. Therefore, I left him in control of his play and allowed him to use his imagination.

If you would like to make this Fall sensory bin more educational, you could pair it with the CVC word activity that I will be posting later this week. I will add a link once it it posted. Stay tuned!

Ben did not disappoint me with his imagination. He pretended to make and drink milkshakes and shared them with Mommy. Then, he made soup. In addition, he loved filling the cups and bowl and stacking them.

Ben even use the scoop and cups as a drum set and sang a song that he made up. There are just so many possibilities!

With Ben’s developmental delays, one area that he needed to work on was pretend play. To see him today pretending and using his imagination, makes this Mom very proud.

We will definitely be repeating this Fall sensory bin! Ben had countless hours of fun with it. It was his preferred toy for over a week. We hope that you try this activity with your little ones.

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Halloween Sensory Bin with Colored Spaghetti

Posted on October 31, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

We absolutely love sensory bins in our household! How about you? For Halloween, I decided to make a spooky, slimy Halloween-inspired sensory bin with colored spaghetti. I can feel the slimy noodles sliding through my fingers even thinking about it.

SUPPLIES

Cooked Spaghetti

Olive Oil

Plastic Zip Top Bags

Liquid Watercolors (you can substitute food coloring)

Halloween Items such as Googly Rings, Skeletons, Spiky Balls, Monster Finger Puppets, and a Small Plastic Black Cauldron

Scissors, Tweezers and Scoops

Clear Rubbermaid Container (or something similar)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Boil Spaghetti

Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Then add your spaghetti. I used one box. Follow the instructions on the box for how long to cook the noodles.

Once they are done cooking, drain the water and rinse with cold water. Next, add a few splashes of olive oil and mix. This will help keep the spaghetti from sticking together.

2. Color Spaghetti

Next, you need to divide the spaghetti into three equal portions. Put each portion into a zip top plastic bag. You can use three separate bags or one bag and you rinse between each color.

Add a few drops of liquid watercolor paint to each bag in your desired colors. I used orange, purple, and green. Seal the bags and mix the color with the spaghetti until it is evenly coated. Add more watercolor if needed. You can use food coloring in substitute of the liquid watercolor.

The benefits of using liquid watercolor paint is that it is washable and it tends to be more vibrant in color.

Spread the spaghetti out on a sheet pan or plate to dry. Allow at least 45 minutes for drying before use.

Please note that the spaghetti is inedible with the liquid watercolor paint. If you want to keep it edible, you will need to use food coloring to dye the noodles.

3. Assemble Sensory Bin

In a plastic bin, place the spaghetti separated by color. Then add your Halloween toys and tools. That’s it!

Just a reminder to use age appropriate toys. Some toys may be choking hazards.

4. Play Time

Now comes the fun part. It’s play time! Invite your child to play. This sensory bin will help them with textures and fine motor skills.

5. Storage

I recommend storing your sensory bin in an airtight container in the fridge. If stored correctly, it can last for up to a week.

REFLECTIONS

This was my first time using spaghetti for a sensory bin. Therefore, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on what I would have done differently.

– I would have cooked my spaghetti a little bit longer. I cooked it for about 3-4 minutes in boiling water. The noodles were bendable, but a little too firm that they were breaking while I was handling them. I recommend cooking them as their packaging instructs.

– I did not have orange or purple liquid watercolors, so I mixed colors to make them. Next time, I would probably use the actual color instead of blending two together.

– I would have laid the noodles in a thinner layer to dry. It took longer than expected for them to dry.

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How to Make a Recycled Cardboard Monster

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

This week’s homework assignment was to make monsters out of recycled cardboard. Challenge accepted. I love crafts, and I especially love reusing or repurposing items. Therefore, making a cardboard monster was right up my alley.

This is a fun activity that allows your child to use their imagination. What do you want your monster to look like? Is it going to be big or small? How many eyes will it have? Does it have antennas?

SUPPLIES

Cardboard Boxes (tissue boxes, cereal boxes, etc.)

Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Rolls

Googly Eyes

Glue and/or Tape

Construction Paper

Scissors

Art Supplies (such as feathers, pompoms, dabbers, markers, and pipe cleaners)

Divided Tray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Set Up Supplies

I assembled a bin of random cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls. You could also add paper towel rolls, tin cans (be careful of sharp edges), plastic bottles, and bottle caps. In addition to these, I set out a tray with colorful feathers, bright popsicle sticks, pompoms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and construction paper cut into shapes. You can have your child cut out the shapes that they want. I leave this to your discretion as you know your child’s skills best. Finally, I laid out construction paper, markers, glue, tape, bingo dabbers, and scissors.

2. Pick Out Your Cardboard Materials

First, I had Ben pick out a box. He wanted to make a tall cardboard monster, so he picked out one of the bigger boxes. You can either add legs and arms now or after you decorate the main box. We chose to add them at the end, which made it easier to to decorate. Plus, it takes awhile for the glue to dry when attaching the legs, arms, etc.

3. Color Your Monster

Next, we used construction paper to color our cardboard monster, but you could also use crayons, markers, paint, or even wrapping paper.

When asked what color did he want to make his monster, Ben exclaimed, “Rainbow!” We cut out colorful panels of construction paper that Ben attached with glue to each side.

4. Decorate Your Monster

Let your child’s imagination run wild. It’s time to decorate your monster. Be creative.

5. Assemble Cardboard Monster

Time to put your monster together. Add its legs, arms, tails, and antennas with either glue or tape. Allow time for everything to dry before playing with your recycled cardboard monster.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

This activity teaches so much to your child. Not only are they working on their engineering and fine motor skills, your child can works on shapes, numbers, math, counting, colors and more.

Here are some ideas:

– Name colors of the the items that you are using.

– How many eyes, arms, antenna, etc.? Add or subtract items.

– Name shapes that you are using. I cut out different shapes to be used and asked him to name which shapes he wanted to use.

– Name body parts as you are adding them to the monster.

These are just a few ideas of lessons that you can work on while creating your cardboard monster. I would love to hear what lessons you worked on with your little one while making cardboard monsters.

Alternative Cardboard Monster

If you do not want to make a big cardboard monster with lots of parts, I suggest making some with just a single toilet paper roll. We covered ours with construction paper, but you could use markers or paint to color it. Then add your decorative items like above. Aren’t they cute?!

For more monster fun, check out our DIY Colorful Monster Play Dough Kit.

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SUPPLIES

INVITATION TO PLAY

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

SUPPLIES FOR ADVENT CALENDAR

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Feed the Turkey

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

2. Fall Bingo

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

3. Fall Matching Game

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make Observations about the Appearance of the Pumpkins

2. Measure the Height of the Pumpkins

3. Measure the Circumference of the Pumpkins

4. Weigh the Pumpkins

5. Will the Pumpkins Sink or Float?

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

INVITATION TO PLAY

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Boil Spaghetti

2. Color Spaghetti

3. Assemble Sensory Bin

4. Play Time

5. Storage

REFLECTIONS

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Set Up Supplies

2. Pick Out Your Cardboard Materials

3. Color Your Monster

4. Decorate Your Monster

5. Assemble Cardboard Monster

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Alternative Cardboard Monster

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