Monthly Archives: March 2020

Playdough is a great sensory tool for pre-schoolers of all ages. For the younger ones, it strengthens the muscles of their little hands by working on their gross motor skills that helps with gripping things when they are older. For the older ones, it boosts imagination and creativity.

Here’s how you can make your own playdough at home. 

 What you will need:

-2 cups of flour

-1/2 cup of salt

-3/4 cup of hot water

-1 tablespoon of baby oil (or cooking oil)

-2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

-food colouring

How:

1. Add all the dry ingredients in a bowl and form a well in the centre.
2. Add the baby oil (or cooking oil) and food colouring to the dry ingredients.3
3. Add water and stir.

Click on the link to learn more:

https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/no-cook-playdough/

Rise and shine 🌞

It’s time to stretch out that muscle!

Bring your children along on a 16-minute adventure on a pirate ship as we keep our body pumping 💪🏻

Looks like it’s time for some family fun! 

Take your children on a mission impossible. 

The goal is to cross over to the other side without touching the laser. This activity promotes problem solving skills and movement coordination. For more fun, parents could play ball with your children by tossing it over the “laser”. All you need is a hallway, cellophane tape and crepe papers! (No crepe paper? Use strings or old cloth instead) 

We’d love to hear about your experience with your little one! Share some pictures of your success (or funny fails) with us.

Looks like it’s story time and children can now listen to stories online! I’m sure our children miss our aunties and the storytelling sessions.

Let us continue to foster our children’s imagination, keep them dreaming and make learning fun at home!

Click here for a list of FREE audio stories which you can stream with your children easily on your phone, laptop, desktop or any other digital devices.

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

Besides keeping them occupied, now is a good time to expose children to house chores. Who knows they could be daddy’s and mummy’s little helper? 😆😆

 Chores teach children about life skills. Parents are equipping children to be independent by allowing and assisting them to complete simple task according to their age and capability.

 Chores help with family bonding. Now is a good time to bond with your child as parents don’t have to be pressured by time. Special moments could be created even by making the beds together when they are awake.

 Chores boost self-esteem. Little ones will feel important and proud when they know they have accomplished a task.

 Here are some ideas that you could try with your children.

Here’s what you could do next with your children at home: DIY bubble blower! 

(PS. It will be messy but fun is guaranteed)

This can be done with recycled materials that you can find at home. All you need are a plastic bottle, mesh fruit bag, duct tape, scissors and bubble solution. A little bit of assembly would be needed but not to worry, it’s very easy. 

1. Click here to learn how to make your own bubble solution. https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/DIY-PINK-BUBBLES-AND-HEART-WAND-BLOWERS–WITH-FREE-PRINTABLE-/)

2. Cut the plastic bottle in half. Use only top half of the plastic bottle and recycle the bottom half.
3. Tape the mesh fruit bag over the opening of the top half and you got your own bubble blower.
4. Pour the bubble solution into a bowl, dip in the bubble blower to the solution and blow!

Isn’t it amazing? You could also take a step further and create bubble arts with your children!

Click here to learn more: https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/recycled-bottle-bubble-art-with-kids/

Let’s learn about colours the Montessori way!

Through colour sorting activities, besides learning how to differentiate colours, children are improving visual perception, coordination, fine motor skills and concentration.

Download the printables here:

http://nospetitsexplorateurs.blog/…/2018/05/Jeu-des-couleur…

❓Don’t have a printer at home? Here’s how you can DIY: 

1. Prepare the colour strips using colour pencils.
2. Prepare materials that you can find at home such as toys, books, buttons, etc.
3. Have your children name the colours and sort them out accordingly.

Here’s how you can teach your child numbers in the Montessori way at home! All you need to do is print out the following number cards and prepare some clothes peg. 

• Let your child count the objects 
• Pin the clothes peg over the correct number 

Not only will children learn about numbers, but they can work on their fine motor skills too! 

Download link here: www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/Which_Number.pdf

Parents may prepare the activity with an egg carton as an alternate option. 

Follow the 3 simple steps below and parents are able to occupy children with this Montessori-inspired activity at home! 

The simple steps are:

1. Draw a different number of dots at the bottom of each compartment of the egg carton
2. Let your child count the number of dots 
3. Fill up the compartments with buttons, beads, cotton balls, etc. (any suitable items that can be found at home) according to the number of dots.

Practical life is one of the 5 core areas in the Montessori curriculum (extra points for you if you can name all 5 core areas). Children practice life skills from daily life activities such as spooning, pouring and other activities that require hand-eye coordination. 

These activities not only develop their motor skills, it also helps them to be able to concentrate and be more independent as they grow. 

To make these activities fun, why not start baking with your children at home today? 

Follow this link and get some good recipes that you and your children can try at home! From Raspberry and Pistachio Tea Cakes to Chocolate Chip Muffins; Many of the recipes are rated easy. 

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking 

Dear parents, are you still overwhelmed with working from home while having to look after your children?

Read this article here that has some useful tips on what you can do with your child during this period. While school may be out, parents could still create an environment for children to learn and at the same time work from home.

We might not be able to apply all the ideas stated here but surely we could pick up some great ones!

Happy reading!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2020/03/14/parenting-tips-coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR2bFNhTNqLqMBV9JquswpbFoHXuvmD8zLOykPS3TJvyzvkoEmTuejMq7iI