Our Bean Bag Olympic Training

Our Olympian podiums.

Last week we practiced some bean bag fun. Here is a list of some of the 'challenges' we handed out:

• Toss your bean bag up & catch it
• Toss the beanbag and clap 1 time and catch it
• Toss it, clap 2 times and catch & 3 times, etc How high can you go?
• Throw the bean bag under 1 leg and catch with the other hand
• Now switch legs
• Throw the bean bag up, jump 1 time and catch it.
• Now jump 2 times, etc. How high can you go?
• Try to catch with just your right hand.
• Now just your left hand
• Balance it on a foot, toss it up and catch it
• Now switch to the other foot.
• Put a beanbag on your shoulder and run without letting it fall. (This became a relay game.)
• Can you throw it up and catch it behind your back?
• Can you run with it on your head?

What we learned:

1. Fine motor skills
2. Social skills
3. Spacial awareness
4. Counting
5. Color recognition
6. Physical development

More beanbag fun coming up this summer......... 

We say 'Sodee' in Missouri

I read about this somewhere, forgive me for not remembering where......

But this is a way to use empty 'sodee' bottles for your kiddos outdoors. We also have a Gatorade bottle included here for good measure. The large 2 liter ones don't work so well for your general information.

First you cut off a portion of the bottom. I chose to use the first natural point where the bottle curves.

Next I applied duct tape for keeping fingers from getting scratched on the sharp edges.

We really like the funky polka dot design :)

Then we apply masking tape to each bottle to label with their names. No sharing cooties here.
And very important.......remove the lid.

Finally the fun begins! (Notice Savannah's new dress her mommy made for her! It's pretty darn cute)

Next to Lou is the 'dipping' bowl for bubble mix. We got ours thanks to Grandma Nancy who finds all the deals at $1 for the bottle. Thanks Grandma!!

What we learned:

• You get the biggest bubbles when you bend forward & point your bottle down. They were huge!
• Taking turns
• Bubbles can pop in your face (or your friends')
• Bubble mix doesn't go well with sand
•  Wind can wreck havock on a great bubble
• Babies won't let you finish blowing a bubble if they can reach your bottle. There were some anger issues. But we worked them out.
• Lots of fun for a morning that was cooler than we've had for a long while. A fabulous Friday!!!

Have a wonderful Summer!!!

9 Reasons Not To Walk Babies | Janet Lansbury

I saw this post on Facebook and I confess, I have been guilty of this on occasion....as I figure most of us are.
Also, most of us are always learning. So hope you'll check it out.

9 Reasons Not To Walk Babies | Janet Lansbury

Heat Wave

We started our week with painting the walk with water.

This toddler decided to see what happens when you pour out your cup.

(Science/Predicting/Sensory)

Notice he also painted the center of each brick.

(Math/fine motor)

The neighbor's cat stopped in for a visit. We found out what happens when we pet a cat's fur with wet hands.

(Sensory/Empathy)

This 3 year old used water pumps in the bubbly water

(Science/Sensory/Large Muscles)

Older minds decide to see what happens when you dump out the water pump into the water wheel

(More science/predicting)

Now we begin washing dishes.Notice the toddler to the left is opening an egg filled with water?

He got a surprise when the water poured out!

(Dramatic Play/Discovery)

More of them using those large muscles. That old coffee creamer container came in pretty handy for water play.He's dumping water & plastic lids with the ABC's written on them for more floating items.He discovered the lids won't go down the water wheel hole.

Another vantage point below our "water wall".

I forgot to get a photo of it. Maybe later.

Note to all providers/parents/caregivers.....

ALWAYS be present during water play

&

Have extra clothes :)

Our Father's Day Project

It started on Pinterest with a picture of a spatula. This is not that picture just for the record.
 It had a cute saying engraved on it,...

"Dad, You Are Flippin' Awesome!"

And so it begins....

A bag of pancake mix with the recipe (includes an egg-free variety for our children with no-egg diets)

Then there was the card with a glued-on clip art pic from Word

Here's Alexa's version of the inside of her card.

Hope every dad out there has a

"Flippin Awesome Fathers's Day!"

http://youtu.be/J68XhyH97BA

Check out the youtube video.

Dedicated to My Daddy!!

Tried to teach me the 2 Step with this song to no avail. :)

What we "did all day"

Honeysuckle Home Daycare ReviewMay/June News 2012






Sorting recycleables activity



This is a condensed summary of activities and experiences in my daycare setting. If you have any questions, please feel free to jot it down in the comment box.

Most recent activities first:
Language:Weekly Readers/ S page, Rhyme words with Sun & make a list simultaneously, Writing journals,
Number 10 worksheets, 10 fingers poem, Ten in a bed activity with bear counters, ABC stamp & song, What is your favorite thing about Mom & chart it, Introduce X, Y, Z & review activities (in May)example of Y = “Y is for Yes” game
Math: Sunshine number memory game, Match clothespin to number on wheel, Trace hands & number fingers, 10 fingers transition song, yellow object hunt,
Art:Yellow mosaic, Sun safety puppets, Color, cut & paste sun w/rays, X-ray chalk hand tracings, Color mixing circles (red, yellow, blue), number mosaic, Folded tulips art
Science/Health: Went on a “Yellow Walk” on the Katy Trail, For Conversation Starters: What might you see in the sky during the day? They had lots to say about this , Magnet balls & sticks, Magna Tiles, Sand play
Blocks: Color view blocks, pvc connectors, Legos & hotwheels
Dramatic Play: Dr. kit prop box, Hats & boots play, Grocery store play, Veterinarian play, Baby dolls dress up play

Fine Motor: Puzzle play, Finger plays, Cutting practice, Gluing practice, Foam Floor puzzle
Gross Motor: Bounce/catch game, Learning to slide (for toddlers), Push/pull red wagon both with or without riders, Dancing to various types of music, London Bridge, Rolling down the “big” hill
Stories:  I have lots of series booksLlama llama Loves Mama + other llama stories
Froggy stories
There Was an Old Lady stories
Feelings stories like “I Was So Mad” or “If You’re Angry & You Know It”.
& Many Many More

March 2012 News

Between shaking off the winter blues and gearing up for spring activities. It’s been fun keeping busy this time of year.

Coming up we'll begin some spring planting, have some fun with St. Patrick's Day & enjoy the wonderful warm days ahead.

We'll celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Friday, March 16 at 10 am with a party atmosphere. Policy change on bringing in sweet items per food program regulations. See Note on front door.

Center fun

Some experiences we had included:
1 is Fun party
1 of each ABC on front door
1 writing
Circle 1's in magazine (single objects)
1 Little Helicopter Action Rhyme (see below)
Baby bottle bowling
Roll ball thru the tunnel
Beanbag toss into clown's mouth
Dance to 50's music
Painting with shaving cream paint
Rhythm sticks & music
Wooly Lamb art
Will it Blow away experiment

One Little Helicopter
1 Little helicopter up in the sky
Looking for one's as he flies by
He spies one (tree,bird, etc) on the ground
And circles the "...." all around.

Dr Seuss Party

We enjoyed the Dr. Seuss Day very much
I only wish I owned more of his books. Definitely a future endeavor in book ordering.
For that special day we:
Read the Cat In The Hat lift the flap book,
Colored a Dr. Seuss color page
Sort colored 'counters' on a hat color page
Made a list of words that rhymed with "hat" on a hat color page
And of course had "egg" sandwiches for lunch

Storytime

When the Wind Stops
When I'm Big
Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
Pocahontas "Painting With the Wind"
My Favorite Seasons
The Wind Blew
The 3 Billy Goats Fluff (teaches kindness)
Silly Sally   & many more

Accreditation News

Accreditation process is coming along.
so far I have achieved all my goals and acquired some gift cards for

Constructive Playthings so planning my purchases for outdoor play items.

Can't wait!!!!

More Activities

Weekly Readers
Writing journals (added letters on lids for writing inspiration)
Washing dishes outdoors
Chalkboard writing outdoors
Dress Up play
Color viewers (sensory/science)
Lions for March (art)
Barn play with animals (a favorite)
Party Hats (art)
Circle time with "A Children's book about Disobeying" Much discussion

and hopefully good food for thought.

Activities for "at home" tab

I'm adding some page tabs on this blog. One will have contact information.

The other will have some activities you can do at home with items you

have on hand. Hope you'll enjoy this new addition to the blog.