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  • Free Printables,  Preschool,  Toddler

    Nature Hunt Printable

    17th April 2019 /

    This printable was initially a subscriber exclusive – there is also a slightly different version in my ‘Spring Activities’ printable pack, which you can buy here. Advertisements

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25 Christmas themed activities featuring some awesome ideas from some of my fave Instagram accounts ❤⁣ .⁣ I don't know about you, but Christmas has almost passed me by this year. I had so many activities planned but in reality have only done a few. ⁣ .⁣ Every time I get a little bothered by my Instagram engagement, I remind myself of why I started this account - it was essentially for the community: to inspire and be inspired (I hope that doesn't sound too cringe!)⁣ .⁣ Thanks to everyone who has given their time to send me photographs from this community. All ideas are tagged, with the exception of mine, but here's a little rundown of the accounts involved, starting from top left:⁣ .⁣ @ohcreativeday⁣ @im_the_simon⁣ @perfectpreschoolplans⁣ @rachelmoffatt13⁣ @montessorifromtheheart⁣ @findthelittlemind (both hot chocolate sensory and hot chocolate play dough)⁣ @inspiremyplay⁣ @littlebuttondiaries⁣ @madetomontessori⁣ @littlepinelearners⁣ @chalkacademy⁣ @learning.with.hazel⁣ @thisfrenchmom⁣ @educate_w_wonder⁣ @activelittles⁣ .⁣ Please go and check these awesome accounts out, then head on over to the blog where I have given a full run-down of the activities and the people behind them.⁣ . One of our toddler play favourites has to be our 'mud' kitchen. Its used most days and in all weathers too.⁣ .⁣ When we moved from our Australian house (with generous backyard) to Vienna and our rooftop garden, I was really determined to make the most of the space.⁣ .⁣ The children got this kitchen over the summer and it is in constant use. Right now, it has become a 'sand kitchen' - mainly because you just don't really get mud in a rooftop garden 😆⁣ .⁣ So if you're looking for a big ticket item for Christmas still, consider one of these outdoor kitchens. I'm not going to give recommendations on brands - my advice is to seek out a local company or have go at making one. There are plenty of instructions about them online.⁣ . One of the most asked questions I get in DMs is: How do I get my toddler to play independently?⁣ .⁣ This isn't always easy but it's also important to note that there are several different types of play, meaning that your toddler wont always be in the mindset for solo play - but more on that another day!⁣ .⁣ The short answer for fostering independent is to set up your play space. Environment is the third teacher, so having a well organised play corner is crucial if you want (or need) your toddler to play independently.⁣ .⁣ Just before Z turned two, I really focused on turning a corner of our lounge room into a play space for her. It became something we really needed because I was heavily pregnant with her little brother at the time and I knew that I wouldn't always be able to play with her, especially during feeds.⁣ .⁣ Age depending, setting up invitations to play can also work really well. Now Z is almost 4 (and doesn't nap), I'll often set her up with an invitation whilst i'm settling her younger brother. Popular choices include: play dough, art, building with magnetic tiles and sensory play at the Flisat table.⁣ .⁣ I think it's also important to note that children will often feel more secure if they are closer to you whilst playing so whilst setting up a separate play room might work well for some, other children may need to be in a nearby space to play independently.⁣ .⁣ Got any questions? Let me know in the comments section below⬇⁣ .⁣ #teacherofinstagram #earlylearning #teachermum #kidsactivities #montessoriathome #learningthroughplay #followthechild #earlyyearsideas #preschoolactivities #everydayplayhacks #toddleractivities #toddleractivitiesathome #montessori #openendedplay #playathome #playfullearning #montessorichild #parentingblogger#parenthood #invitationtoplay #playmatters #preschool #sensoryplay #totschool #preschoolathome #ece #learnthroughplay #reggio #reggioemiliaapproach When you plan Christmas activities with a toddlersarus around...⁣ .⁣ I had planned to do a loose parts Christmas tree similar to the one I saw on @baby.bear.went.to.play but Mr 20 months woke up from his nap earlier than usual.⁣ .⁣ Disaster number one was trying to put the tape down. Disaster number two was thinking Z could 'decorate' the tree whilst her brother was awake!⁣ .⁣ Looks like i'll be saving this for another day instead, but if you want to see how this should be done, head on over to Jen's feed!⁣ . #finemotorskills #earlylearning#earlyyearsideas#eyfsideas#montessoriathome#montessoriinspired#reggioinspired#kindergartenactivities#handsonactivities#mummybloggers#mommybloggers#activitiesforkids#craftymama#tagfromtheheart#stem#digitalmum#finemotor#craftymom#craftingwithkids#processart #earlylearning101 #earlychildhoodeducation #montessori #playmatters #invitationtoplay #learnthroughplay #kidsactivities #toddleractivities #preschool I just love Christmas! In Vienna, the famous Christmas markets have started so it's really hard not to get into the spirit of things. Whilst we have held off on decorating the house, preparing for festive activities has been in full swing. ⁣ .⁣ This play dough box is the perfect activity for little ones to try..Here we have homemade festive spice play dough, along with the coconut dough that previously featured in the Frozen Play Dough box. Then we just added some dried orange slices, pine, pinecones and a stamp that we bought from one of the Christmas market stalls.⁣ .⁣ As I've mentioned at least a billion times before, play dough is Z and I's favourite thing to do together. I'd love to hear if you and your children have any favourite activities or crafts that you do? Let me know in the comments section below. .⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ The Christmas season is quite possibly the easiest time for baby to get involved with some heuristic play.⁣ .⁣ If you're not sure what i'm on about when I say 'heuristic play,' that's basically using real world items for baby to explore.⁣ .⁣ This was one I set up for E last Christmas along a silver, shiny theme. E was able to explore each item in the basket whilst sitting - with anything too small placed inside a clear bottle so that he could explore without the items being a choking hazard(and no, the rug in the background is not real sheepskin)⁣ .⁣ Generally speaking, the baskets work well when baby is sitting for longer periods of time (6 months +). With older babies and toddlers, you can theme baskets around bookish play or a particular theme too. As with all homemade play ideas, please make sure this activity is well supervised.⁣ .⁣ Have you tried setting up one of these discovery baskets for your baby yet? Let me know in the comments section below.⁣ . How do we approach letter recognition? Via lots of tactile activities.⁣ .⁣ I firmly believe that a hands-on approach to learning the alphabet is much better than reciting the alphabet song in rote like fashion.⁣ .⁣ Our DIY light-box, paired with the rather spectacular @happi_crafts sprinkle letters are just one of the ways Z (almost 4) learns to recognise the letters of the alphabet.⁣ .⁣ So what's the ideal approach? Generally speaking, it's best to learn lowercase letters first along with their sound (phoneme) because children will mainly see lowercase letters in their books. That being said, when it comes to the real world and environmental print, you've probably noticed that a lot of signs and books are capitals only. ⁣ .⁣ We started off with name recognition activities (with her learning to recognise the capital 'Z') before moving on to other familiar letters. Our approach is slow and steady, Z doesn't get quizzed on anything and we turn our activities into a game - she'll ask me to spot letters and i'll play along with that. She's under zero pressure to get it all locked down perfectly at the tender age of almost four.⁣ .⁣ I'll digress a bit and say this, my eldest (aged 10) was considered by his then reception class teacher, in her words, to be 'low ability' when it came to reading. We hadn't pressured him into learning his phonics prior to starting school and so when it came to his first year (aged 4), he was on lower level books to his peers. What we did do was help him foster a love for reading. Fast-forward 6 years and, according to the Australian Naplan results, he is one of the top readers in the country. I'll be writing more on these topics in my forthcoming schools series.⁣ .⁣ The letters by @happi_crafts and the wooden alphabet board by @thelittlecoachhouse were kindly gifted to us.⁣ . Most of our favourite toys in one photograph!⁣ .⁣ I rarely share toy posts on here, but that's not to say that we don't have our fair share. The vast majority of our own collection has been bought for Christmas or as Birthday presents - each year we put aside monthly savings and I start shopping as early as September, buying something each month.⁣ .⁣ I mainly wanted to share because the key thing to remember is to choose toys that are open-ended. When Z was born, I made a promise to myself that we would avoid toys that would be outgrown quickly. She is 6.5 years younger than her brother and we had nothing left from his baby and toddler days. That seemed like an awful waste.⁣ .⁣ The toys that are brought out on a daily basis include:⁣ - wooden blocks⁣ - magnetic tiles⁣ - animal figurines⁣ - wobbelboard⁣ - Grimm's rainbow⁣ - Grimms rainbow people⁣ - Way to Play road⁣ .⁣ Now some of those items are pricey and some under $10, but the key thing to remember is that they're saved for. ⁣ .⁣ This year we have bought:⁣ - A train set⁣ - A wooden farm⁣ - Additional magnetic tiles⁣ - Additional wooden blocks⁣ .⁣ I tend to consider these toys for the play space, then the children get something smaller and just for them in their stockings. It works well for us but i'd love to hear what you do!⁣ . Social Media for Schools 🍎⁣ .⁣ If you're following me here as a teacher or school, you may want to head on over to my brand new account, @getsetsocialmedia where I will be sharing tips on how to simplify your social.⁣ .⁣ As you might've already guessed, i'm really passionate about the positive powers of social media and I want to put my knowledge to good use which is why I have set up Get Set! Social Media as a social media consultancy specialising in schools, the education sector and small business.⁣ .⁣ So if you're stuck on WHICH platform to use, WHAT to post or just generally get confused with HOW to build up a community, come give me a follow ❤⁣ ⁣ Teach Investigate Play will continue to run as normal, but I would really appreciate your support in this new venture ⭐⁣ .⁣ You can read more about Get Set Social Media by heading over to my website, the link is in my profile.⁣ .⁣ #teacherofinstagram #earlylearning #teachermum #kidsactivities #montessoriathome #learningthroughplay #followthechild #earlyyearsideas #preschoolactivities #everydayplayhacks #toddleractivities #toddleractivitiesathome #montessori #openendedplay #playathome #playfullearning #montessorichild #socialmediaforschools #earlychildhood #primaryschool #primaryteacher #socialmediatips #internationalschools #internationalbaccalaureate #teachersofinstagram #reggio #smallbusinessowner

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