Infant Play & Discovery Baskets in the Sitting Stage

The world of infant play is so full of wonder, curiosity and discovery. Sometimes, when we think of "playing" we instantly visualize older children and this incredible and important stage of play development can be kind of left in the dust. When S was an infant, we honestly had very few actual "toys." I was still teaching and away from home for half the day, I didn't yet drive, and we were a young family on a tight budget. Much of what he played with were household objects or toys I made and stashed in discovery baskets for him to explore.

When Y came along, the playroom had expanded in more ways than one. Interestingly, I was so focused in those early months on S and his play needs, that many times, I almost forgot about little Y and his play needs. Discovery baskets often came to the rescue again! Y, however, had the benefit of not only seeing what the adults around the house did all day, but also seeing what his older brother did all day. He was eager to explore every bit of it.

C is totally enthralled with her brothers. She has always been happiest when they are around and is still most pleased if she is playing alongside them. With multiple children of multiple ages, it can feel like a struggle to set up play spaces that meet everyone's interests and needs. In addition, safety is also something to consider with children who are in the early stages of mobility or mouthing toys or exploring the schema of trajectory... How do you make it work?

In those very early months, before infants are even sitting up, they spend a good amount of time on their backs and tummies, visually exploring objects and tracking them, perhaps entering the earlier stages of grasping things. Open spaces and opportunities are vital and really encourage those next steps of gross and fine motor development while also stimulating the brain for cognitive growth. The sitting stage for all three of my little ones has been later than their typically developing peers. Most infants begin to be able to support themselves in a seated position around the age of 6 months, give or take. With three children now who have low muscle tone, that has been the first point at which they display a delay and we are very grateful for the assistance of our favorite physical therapist through our county's Early Intervention program. And even though the road to mobility is a slightly longer and more challenging one for my kids, the point at which they can sit independently is always a point at which I let out a sigh of relief! They are so much happier and more engaged once they reach this milestone. C in particular is so very eager to join in with her brothers at play and being able to sit and explore has also brought on a plethora of other developmental milestones including language, passing toys from hand to hand, picking things up with a pincer grasp, clanking objects together or against a surface, crossing the mid-line and so much more.

One of her very favorite things is searching through her discovery baskets. I always keep at least one bowl or basket of items more specifically geared toward her. It's OK for the boys to play with these things as well (and they do). I also keep things for her to safely explore and play with along with their toys and play setups. In this sitting stage, play for babies is a full body experience. They are mouthing things, watching things, touching things, listening to things, smelling things... I like for the items I put in discovery baskets to appeal to as many of the senses as possible, including texture, color, sound, scent, different shapes and sizes, different materials and things that are both nature and man made. I am not a rigid person when it comes to what constitutes a "toy." I am more interested in what is done with it. So sometimes my children play with "traditional toys" and sometimes they play with authentic objects.

C is very interested these days in "cooking." She is learning to love eating different foods. She is thrilled if she is playing with pots, pans, spoons and bowls. She sees her brothers play in their kitchen set and her parents in the actual kitchen and she wants to join in! In this discovery basket, I set her up with some authentic silver toned bowls, metal spoons in different sizes, tea set dishes, wooden coasters, wooden bowls in different sizes, a honey dipper, a painted wooden tea cup and saucer, some wooden mixing utensils, a couple of spice jars with flower petals and cinnamon sticks for scent and sound when shaken*, and a cloth napkin for a softer texture.
*You may have noticed that the spice jars here are glass. They are a very hard and sturdy glass, however, if your little one is in the stage of exploring trajectory or banging objects together with great force, it may not be a good time to use these. You may prefer to use a plastic version instead! 

I think every baby needs a GIANT bowl. I
especially love the mirror quality of this
metal bowl C is using to explore flour and
kitchen tools and utensils.

When I am setting up discovery baskets, I keep in mind that sometimes the basket itself is just as interesting! I try to offer a variety of sizes and styles of container. Baskets that are wide, some that are tall and narrow, bowls made from wood, some made from metal, containers with and without handles, and so forth. I've found that so many adults have a tendency to take the "basket" away when children begin to play with it because "that's not the thing they're supposed to be playing with," but I actually really like to remember that this is a child-led experience and if they are playing with it, that is what they are supposed to be playing with.

There are some things I do keep in mind when setting up a discovery basket:

• Safety first: The mouthing stage often coincides with the sitting stage. To make sure that nothing within baby's reach is a choking hazard, you may want to purchase a choke-tube or test objects in question through a toilet paper tube. If the object fits through, it is too small.

  

  For those times we can join in and even for those
  times we cannot, pots and pans are always a big hit!

• I also think it is important to join in when baby is first meeting the objects in a new discovery basket. You'll want to see how she plays, identify anything that may be a safety risk, and get to know what interests her and how. This will also help you to navigate what to add in, swap out and build dialogue around the experience for language development. I would suggest making sure you introduce a new discovery basket or play set up when you have the time to get down on the floor and play together. 

  

  On this afternoon, the boys and I were at the table
  making yarn bowls. C is a bit young for the glue end of
  the activity, but she is enjoying exploring the textures
  and colors of the yarn as we worked alongside her.

• On the other end of that spectrum, for those times you don't have an opportunity to join in, like when you're getting household tasks done, there are some go-to options that are quick, easy and safe to help you along. In the kitchen, pots and pans and metal spoons are great for baby play. In the laundry room, some clean rags or towels can be fun to explore. And even many times when you are doing activities with older children, there are parts of the activity that can be explored by the youngest set of hands.
• When possible, allow for play to happen in unenclosed open spaces. There are for sure times that baby needs to be in a high chair or a stroller or worn/carried, a car seat, etc. And these times do not have to be devoid of all play. Nonetheless, those opportunities for open space are so wonderful even before the mobile stage. Within open spaces, baby has room to move and roll and eventually begin getting himself from place to place. This is also possible outdoors! Remember--babies are also washable. They can go in the grass and in the dirt and in the sand. You can also bring out a blanket or mat. Mouthing things happens outside just as it does inside, so be prepared for baby to explore grass and dirt and sand and make sure you are there for support and supervision as needed.

Outdoor play with a modified "mud kitchen"

Exploring the sandbox at our botanical garden center...

• Sometimes we automatically go to a place in our heads that babies play with different things than older children, that they need separate spaces, separate toys and separate experiences. Sometimes that is true and other times, they can share the same spaces, some of the same toys and modified experiences. 

  

  C's brothers are playing at the sensory table with flour and kitchen tools. She is playing alongside them with a giant bowl of flour and some kitchen tools of her own. Later, her brothers each take turns joining her with the giant bowl!
  

C loves babies! Here she is washing one of
our baby dolls with soapy, warm water. She has
a little wash cloth to work with and a cozy blanket
to wrap baby in alongside for when bath time
is done and baby is ready to dry off.

• We know how important sensory and messy play is for children, however we often leave our littlest explorers out of this. It's true that messy play and sensory exploration is different with infants and very young toddlers. We need to consider the potential for mouthing and tasting materials. We also need to accommodate for the fact that at this stage they are not yet tall enough if they are standing to reach many sensory tables. We tend to compensate by offering sealed versions of the real deal--like sensory bottles and squish bags, and these are great as well. There are ways for the littlest players to still dig in and get messy for sensory play! Of course, you'll need adequate support and supervision. You can place a sensory bin or large bowl on the ground with sitters for them to explore water play, dried oats, pasta, beans, flour, and more. Again, know your little one and the play schemas being explored. That makes a huge difference when it comes to what is safe and practical to put in the bin!
• Besides space, consider pace. As a huge advocate for open-ended, child led play experiences, I often say that the most important thing you can provide in a play space is time. Resist the urge to rush baby's play and to direct it. Resist the urge (even if just for a short moment) to narrate the experience from your end:(i.e.: Let's wash the baby? This is a spoon, let's mix!") Perhaps try narrating it from their end: (That makes such an interesting sound when you tap it on the table, do you hear that?) If baby wants to spend ten minutes exploring one wooden peg doll, great! If baby wants to pick up and put down 20 different objects in ten minutes, also great! Adequate time and observation will also tell you how much and what to put in discovery baskets or play setups.
• Parallel play opportunities are the earliest forms of socialization for infants. I really struggled with this when Y was an infant and S was busy at play. It was so easy to just focus on my mobile player and just hold or carry or wear my yet-to-be-mobile player. In fact, the yet-to-be-mobile parallel play stage is honestly the easiest one you will have. Grasp it. Cling to it. Savor it. Soon, baby will be on the go, toppling towers, disturbing dinosaurs and causing chaos.

A beautiful playscape of parallel play! Same space,
same materials, three unique play experiences.

• Shared space and shared materials can pose a challenge for multi-aged players, particularly if siblings are involved. One thing I have navigated with both of the younger two is how to respond when an older sibling wants the exact object the baby is holding. So here's the deal: there's no right answer. Early on, there's rarely a reaction from the baby when a toy is taken away and in that sense, it can be easier to allow for it and avoid the reaction from the very vocal toddler at hand. I am, however, going to remind you that at some point, the baby will develop an opinion and vocalize it in one way or another. To help everyone prepare for this next social stage, I often provide the language around the exchange for both parties involved and to the toddler, I often ask to pick something that can be given to the baby to play with. Know that this is normal. Know that it is an assertion of control and ownership and a desire for connection on the older child's part as much as it is a desire for a particular toy and sometimes even more than a desire for a particular toy (like when C has only one magnatile in her hand out of 978 of them and Y just neeeds to have it).
• Equity versus equality is always something I keep in mind. Play looks different at every age and stage and for every child within that age and stage. Equality means that everyone gets the same thing regardless of what he/she needs. Equity occurs when everyone gets the same opportunity to have their individualized needs met. Be on the lookout for play! See it when it is happening, even if it looks different than what you imagine it should. Play serves a purpose. I try to find a way to get to yes when I can--the day is already so full of "no's." In these early stages of infant play, I feel that I learn as much about play from C as she does from engaging in it! Play is different for her than it is for Y or S, but infancy does not need to be a stage of only watching the rest of the world at play. She can--and does--join in the fun!

Happy Playing!

Birds of a Feather Flock Together, No Matter the Weather!

I must admit that I miss my garden. For all the work and toil and struggle, I find myself drooling a bit over seed catalogs and dreaming of spring even in the midst of a very mild (so far) winter. So when I posted this sentiment on a gardening group, I got a lot of suggestions to take up bird watching this season. We [I] really took our time winterizing our garden, so I like to think I did the birds a bit of a favor in leaving them some plants and seeds to enjoy as the seasons shifted here. After we did revamp the play garden, we included a new bird feeder, some bird seed treats, and made sure to clean out and refill our bird bath (a shallow pie tin layered with colorful stones and mosaic tiles and filled with water). Our front garden became a hub for feathered friends (who are now eating us out of house and home) and our dining room windows gave us front row seats to the extravaganza!

I know, I know, I said no toys at the table. But technically a bird-watching basket is not a toy, right? I decided to bend my own rules and stock a basket with some tools and inspiration for bird-watching through our dining room windows. The boys (and adults) do know that we need to finish eating and wipe our hands before bird-watching, but having our basket stocked and ready makes it the perfect table top accessory this time of year--and also easy to transport outside when we want to take the show on the road.

I included a set of binoculars, a couple of prism viewers, some local bird photo cards, a few interesting feathers we found and collected, a magnifying glass and a selection of bird books and guides. Many of these books were purchased secondhand at thrift stores or the library at our botanical garden center. You could also include a small sketch book and some colored pencils if you wish.

Meanwhile, in the sensory table... I poured a layer of birdseed, added in some scoops, cups, funnels, nests and plastic birds The boys have had so much fun scooping, pouring, sifting and playing! And I no longer have to bend down under that table to refill the birdfeeder [every other day!] as an added bonus...

Our visiting feathered friends remind me that life exists beyond spring and summer. Winter is a season, too! And not just a season for waiting. It is a season fro watching. For feasting and flying and gathering with family and friends. Bird-watching is a wonderful family activity to take up any time of year and all year long. You can also enliven your indoor world by including fresh cut flowers, houseplants and/or forcing bulbs on your kitchen or dining room table. Birds of a feather flock together, no matter the weather!

Happy Playing!

Yom Kippur Play & Learning Activities for the Young (and Very Young)

We've dipped our apples in honey (maybe even double dipped, but shh, don't tell!) and that means Yom Kippur is just around the corner. This seemingly somber occasion does not immediately give way to images of playfulness as we imagine a day of feeding and entertaining little ones while simultaneously trying to fast and atone for a year's worth of bad behavior when we were hangry. Yom Kippur is, nonetheless, an important and even joyful holiday. It is a beautiful opportunity to connect with Hashem on a very deep level as we prepare for the year ahead. As with all holidays, I like to teach about Yom Kippur through play and introduce children to the important symbols and customs of the holiday. Here's a peek at some of my favorite play and learning activities for Yom Kippur for the young (and very young):




 For starters, with young children, we focus the teaching of Yom Kippur on acting with chesed, being a good friend and, when we make a mistake, saying we are sorry. Since I am not a parent (or teacher) who forces apologies "in the moment," but rather teaches empathy through modeling and assisted problem solving, I like that Yom Kippur introduces a time to talk about apologies in a general sense. I love books like Sammy the Spider's First Yom Kippur by Sylvia Rouss and The Hardest Word: A Yom Kippur Story byJacqueline Jules for preschool aged children. Additionally, books that teach about managing strong emotions are another good choice for this time of year. I particularly like When Sophie Gets Angry--Really, Really Angry and When Sophie's Feelings Are Really, Really Hurt by Molly Bang. Incorporating discussions about friendships and kindness are appropriate at this time of year.

Giving extra tzedakah (charity) is also a common practice before Yom Kippur. For the very young, this DIY toy tzedakah box is a fun activity to introduce fine motor skills to teeny tiny hands:

A recycled cocoa powder container and plastic coins make a fun toy tzedakah box. Be mindful of small pieces with very young children. Older children can also decorate a tzedakah box to actually use and fill with money.

 Speaking of the very young, I love using discovery baskets with infants and young toddlers for play. In corresponding to a Yom Kippur theme, I might fill a discovery basket with household objects and toys that are white to introduce the idea that we wear white on Yom Kippur. Older babies and children might like to use a sensory bin with white filling (such as cotton balls, shredded paper, plain rice or shaving cream).

I also introduce the story of Jonah and the Big Fish during the Yom Kippur season as it is read during the holiday services each year. I water down the story for young children (pun intended) and I particularly like the free printable version and activity pack available at A Jewish Homeschool Blog.

We had a lot of fun last year with this balloon big fish/whale craft. S colored a paper plate blue and I blew up a balloon with a Lego man Jonah inside! I drew on a face and cut/attached the fins for a playful version of the big fish with Jonah in its belly! Do supervise young children with balloons as they can be a choking hazard if they pop.

The very young can also enjoy a balloon big fish! Y loved kicking and swatting the balloon from his back and later on his tummy. I made a new set of balloon big fish this year just for that purpose!

Our sensory bin is set up with a simple invitation to play about Jonah and the big fish, complete with a ship, a toy "Jonah" and a whale (big fish). Just add water and you're ready to play! 

This paper plate fish craft is a fun one for toddlers. Little ones can color two paper plates (we chose blue) and an adult can help with cutting/assembly and any additional details (like eyes and a mouth). Cut a circle out of the "body" plate and cover with clear contact paper or packing tape, sticky side up. Little hands can scrunch and stick on tissue paper to the center.

The story of Jonah and the Big Fish also lends itself to some great science experiments and explorations. You may wish to take the opportunity to study whales like we did in this post. You might also explore the mechanics of boats as we did in this post. Sink and float experiments are a great addition to your play and learning this time of year. You might even have your own boat building/testing contest!

A blast from the past!

And while we're on the topic of water, if you haven't had a chance yet to do tashlich and teach/play about it, it's best to do so before Yom Kippur. I love this paper plate craft, done in a similar fashion to the whale craft above. Hollow the center of a white paper plate and cover with clear contact paper or packing tape, sticky side up. The outer plate can be decorated to look like the outside of a pond and the inside can be filled with blue tissue paper "water" and fish cut from paper in the colors of your choice. This helps teach the concept that we do tashlich in an area with water and fish.

If you're feeling particularly ambitious, you might even take a trip to your pet shop and buy a goldfish of your very own. S loved that part last year. It's a great way to teach young children about the responsibilities of caring for a pet (that luckily doesn't cost more than 33 cents since in spite of the price, they are rather challenging to take care of sometimes!).

With preschool aged children, there are a variety of sorting games and activities that can help teach some of the practices and customs of Yom Kippur. I like to use pictures or photos of Yom Kippur symbols to play:

On Yom Kippur We Do and We Do Not:

Using pictures or photos (with or without written text), and a large piece of chart paper or a large space on the floor, have your child(ren) help you sort things we do on Yom Kippur from things we do not do on Yom Kippur. You can tailor your selection to meet the customs Byour own family. You might include:

We Do:

• daven to Hashem
• go to synagogue
• wear white/wear a kittel
• give extra tzedakah
• act with kindness/ahavat yisrael
• say we are sorry

We Do Not:

• eat or drink (adults only)
• wear leather
• wash our hands or bodies
• drive cars, use electronics, etc.

I also like to introduce the concepts of "before," "during" and "after" to older preschoolers in this activity:

Before, During and After Yom Kippur:

Using pictures or photos and a large sheet of chart paper or space on the floor, have children help sort activities that are done before, during and after the holiday. You might include:

Before Yom Kippur, we:

• give extra tzedakah
• do kapparos
• light Yom Tov candles
• eat a seudah (special meal)

During Yom Kippur, we:

• fast (adults only)
• wear white
• wear non-leather shoes
• go to synagogue
• daven to Hashem

After Yom Kippur, we:

• hear the shofar one last time
• make havdalah
• celebrate the new year ahead and break our fast with a festive meal
• begin to build our sukkah for Sukkot

Younger children can also get in on the sorting fun. Just grab your families selection of non-leather shoes (if you're like us, you have crocs in all colors and sizes!) and play a game of shoe/slipper match-it!

Lastly, teaching young children about kapparos can be a great opportunity for a cute little craft, like this chicken stick puppet S and I made last year. We do not happen to use actual chickens where we live for kapparos, but S had a great time swinging this feathered friend around his head last year! I prepped a cut the shape of a chicken and S got to glue on the feathers. Attach a craft stick handle and you're in business!

Yom Kippur is one of the most special and sacred holidays of the year. It is not always an easy one for adults, but through the lens of our children's wonder and curiosity, we can learn again how to approach this time of year with joy, and, as always, through play!

Happy Playing!

Playing About Rosh Hashanah: The Baby Edition

Just because infants are too young to taste the honey this time of year doesn't mean they're too young to get in on the fun and sweetness of the Rosh Hashanah holiday! Here's a peek at some of the ways Y is exploring the symbols and songs of the season (and a throwback to S's baby days as well)!

Playing in the baby stage is definitely more interactive than in the toddler/preschooler stage. Play sessions are short and sweet, especially as Y gets used to his new glasses. As he is able to experience and do so much more, he gets tuckered out quickly! Our play sessions usually involve some lap-sit songs/rhymes (check out a few of our favorites at the bottom), some tummy time or seated play and some sort of toy/prop to explore (and mouth!). S also enjoys playing with Y and showing him the ropes of big boy play!

The boys' Safta and Saba sent us these great Rosh Hashanah play sets by KidCraft and Rite Lite. They are available from Amazon or in many Judaica shops. The plush set is perfect for the baby stage and the sturdier, wooden set is great for older ones. Here's a candid peek (or preview) of both boys simultaneously spilling their grape juice! With Y individually, I like to let him practice picking toys out of a basket and singing songs or rhymes using them as props. There's certainly no need to purchase a toy for the holiday as you can DIY it pretty easily (and inexpensively) as well!

This honey sensory bag is a squishy and fun way to explore honey without any of the sticky mess or risk of botulism. Because it is in a plastic bag, adult supervision is a must! Simply add some honey to a ziplock bag and seal with a layer of duct tape or masking tape to prevent leaks. 

 Y loved exploring it on his tummy and squishing it with his hands. I often place a mirror in front of him during tummy time play sessions so he can see what he's playing with from another perspective. It also helps to get right down there with your baby at this stage and interact. From an assisted seated position (or independent sitting position if your baby is already sitting on his own), Y can squish that honey with his feet as well.

So much is learned through colors and textures at this stage. This felt board Rosh Hashanah sensory wall is made from a selection of felt apple shapes and felt/burlap shofar shapes for Y to touch and experience. The burlap shofar is glued to a piece of recycled corrugated cardboard with velcro on the back. If your baby is already pulling up/propping up on surfaces, you can place these on a flat surface to lure her over to grab and explore them.

 S loved these photo blocks as a baby (and still does). I've found a variety of wooden blocks at secondhand stores and by printing photos and pictures of holiday symbols and ritual items, we were able to inspire some holiday themed block building and dramatic play. Even tiny hands can enjoy these!

A lot of S's "toys" as a baby were collected secondhand store finds and household items mixed with his small "actual" toy collection. With the baby stage I love to present themed items in a discovery basket. This basket a much younger version of S was exploring contained items in the theme of Rosh Hashanah--some items from his plush Shabbat set, a toy challah, toy apples (and even a real apple or two), a "sensory bottle" (jar) of honey and even a honey wand. He loved it! 


Discovery baskets can be presented for seated play or items can be hung from an activity mat for babies to kick and swat while on their backs. We had fun decorating and laminating this printable Rosh Hashanah Mobile from A Jewish Homeschool Blog.

 S gets a real kick out of "helping" Y to color and paint at this stage. Y sometimes needs some extra help not eating or scrunching our artwork, but S is very patient and enjoys the leadership role. Y loves being involved and especially enjoys playing right along with S.

It's a busy time of year, so sometimes those few hours that S is in school and I am home with Y are filled with a mad rush to get cooking and household tasks done in preparation for the holidays. Sometimes Y's play sessions involve a bumbo seat or activity mat in the kitchen on which to explore some pots and pans while I cook and bake. By filling his world with opportunities to play and explore, I am confident he is learning so much even at this very young age. Conversation is also hugely important. Talking about what I'm doing, singing songs and engaging in fingerplays are great ways to build vocabulary at this pre-verbal stage. Here are a few of his (and my) favorites for the season:

Dip the Apple in the Honey
(t.t.t.o. Oh My Darlin' Clementine)

Dip the apple in the honey
Make a bracha loud and clear
L'shana tova u'metukah
Have a happy and sweet new year!

The Shofar in the Shul
(t.t.t.o. The Wheels on the Bus)

The shofar in the shul goes toot, toot, toot
Toot, toot, toot
Toot, toot, toot!
The shofar in the shul goes toot, toot, toot
On Rosh Hashanah morning!

Here is a Beehive
Here is a beehive
(close fists together)
But where are the bees?
Hidden away where nobody sees.
Here they come, creeping out of the hive
One, two, three, four, five!
(Pop all five fingers out, one at a time)
Bzzzzzzzz!
(Tickle your baby or wiggle your fingers)

Happy and Sweet Rosh Hashanah Playing!

A[nother] Peek in Our Playroom: Some of Our Favorite Chanukah Things For Infants and Young Toddlers

Don't forget the baby! Got very little ones at home? They need not be left out of the holiday fun this Chanukah. We've learned through play this time of year from my son's very first Chanukah when he was just about 5 months old. Here's a peek at some baby and young toddler-friendly activities and toys you can make and/or set up inexpensively at home:

When he was just barely sitting without assistance (this Bumbo seat was his first Chanukah present!), my little one joined me in some very early fine motor fun to create this dreidel craft. I cut a blue frame from construction paper and covered it with clear contact paper. I also cut scraps of colorful wrapping paper, tissue paper and construction paper in rectangles large enough for very little hands to pick up and stick on the sticky contact paper. We laminated the whole thing afterward so he could, um, taste it all he wanted and we still hang it up each year to this day!

Here's a peek at our play area last year when my son was about 16 months old. He loved playing with this simple dreidel game set (mostly dumping and picking up the plastic gelt and laughing when I sat with him and spun the dreidel! He also loved our DIY clothespin play menorah, though at that time he couldn't yet pinch/release the clothespins independently. 

Playing with pretend latkes, spatulas and frying pans was another fun favorite. He's enjoyed this activity each year, though he doesn't shove the whole spatula in his mouth (quite as much) anymore.

By the time he was a young toddler (16 months or so here) he could help with painting activities. Here's the mess free in a ziplock bag version of painting the clothespins we used for our play menorah and the woodblocks we used for the actual menorah we made last year.

And here's the hands on version as he created the base for our menorah last year. 

We've used this interactive poster in play for the last two years. Last year, my son could scoot across the floor on his tushy and loved sitting in front of this poster hung at the bottom of a pantry door and pulling off/replacing the laminated candles (they are attached with velcro dots). He may be running and climbing by now, but he still loves this play activity!

Sensory play is so much fun at all ages. For very little ones, sensory bottles are a great way to experience the colors, shapes and sounds of Chanukah. Here are a few of our favorites made with candles, dreidels, bells, plastic "gelt," and sequins. We also always prepare one with oil and water dyed with food coloring, adding in a dreidel and/or some festive sequins, beads or glitter. Hot glue and/or duct tape can help permanently seal your sensory bottles so they can stand a good shaking from eager little hands!

Yes, we love sensory bottles SO much here that we actually put together a sensory bottle family menorah last year. My son helped with painting the wood (pictured above) and my husband helped with selecting our materials (as well as coming up with the idea). I helped with a lot of hot gluing! Now to think of how we will top last year's idea this year...

Until then, wishing friends of all ages a lot of light and fun this season and, as always, happy playing!

Exploring Shapes & Colors Through Play

We're back from our Thanksgiving weekend family vacation and ready for more school! With a few days left of this month before both the Jewish month of Kislev and the month of December begin, we're focusing this week on the themes of families, kosher foods, and on some catch up from things we didn't quite get to yet over the last few weeks. In addition to the Jewish and secular themes I plan for us, I also try to incorporate learning about letters in Hebrew and English, shapes, colors, and numbers. A lot of this learning can be done through the lens of topics we're already exploring and a lot more happens through exposure and play.
Teaching about shapes and colors can be daunting when we focus on what we feel a preschooler "should" know. Awareness of shapes and colors happens for different children at different times. It is something that they are inherently exposed to in their environment whether we teach it intentionally or not. My strong feeling is that fostering a love of learning and exploring as well as confidence in this process is more important than being able to rattle off names of shapes and colors as well as letters and numbers by a certain age. For children who do love worksheets and classic/traditional activities, these are fabulous! For those who are more reluctant, a measure of creativity and playfulness is due. Using shape and color names to describe every day items and experiences is a great way to incorporate this concept (not to mention a great way to distract from other challenges at meal/snack times or when getting dressed). Color or shape scavenger hunts can make an every day visit to the park or grocery store a little more fun. Even very little ones can be exposed to colors and shapes by using discovery baskets prepared with toys/materials infants can manipulate and explore all in one color or all in one shape. Toy aisles are stocked with puzzles, sorters and manipulatives that encourage development of shape and color awareness. Library and bookstore shelves are loaded with great books on these topics and early readers often love these as they can "read" the words based on recognition of familiar colors and shapes.  Here's a peek at some of the ways we learn and play about shapes and colors here:

I've pointed out in previous posts how we make use of all of our somewhat limited space here. This is an invitation to create set up on our deep freezer with Magnetile triangles. The same activity can be done with any type of magnetic shapes on a refrigerator, magnetic door, cookie sheet or using felt shapes on a felt board. For a great process art activity, use scrap paper to cut out a particular shape and create a collage. Older children can practice cutting skills and even tracing a stencil to prepare. Want to mix it up again? Using a variety of shapes, create an invitation to create shape creatures!

We love our journals here! While some schools of thought might shy away from teaching both colors and shapes at the same time, I mainly aim to teach my toddler through continued and varied exposure. Each month I give a journal prompt with one color and one shape. I provide coloring materials in that color (often in a variety of shades and mediums) and stickers or pre-cut foam/paper in that shape and color to glue on. I particularly like adding an element to glue or stick on so my little one can manipulate the shape in a more 3-dimensional form to get tactile recognition as well as visual. Blocks, magnets and puzzle pieces also provide this opportunity.

 Cookie cutters with playdough or paint, rubber stamps and ink and sponges cut in different shapes with paint are also great ways to play with, explore and manipulate shapes while simultaneously introducing colors. Older children can also manipulate hole punches in different shapes and practice with stencils and tracing.

You can also play and prepare some fun games right at home to encourage shape and color recognition. Here are a couple of our favorites:

Color Scavenger Hunt
You will need:

• a box, container or bag in your color of choice (I'll use blue as an example). If you don't have one, you can use a brown paper bag and color/paint it ahead of time.
• a magnifying glass (optional but fun!)
• household items and/or toys either already set in "hiding places" or in their usual spots for your junior detective to scout out

Let your junior detective know you are going on a Blue Hunt today. You need to find as many blue things to fill up your blue box/bucket/bag. You may want to have a few blue items already set out to demonstrate and perhaps even a few that are NOT blue to give an example of an incorrect response. Have fun walking around the house to search for things that are blue--you might be surprised at your little one's keen eye! For an added element of fun, put on some playful music and encourage your little one(s) to find as many things in blue as they can before the music stops.

Shape Monster, Shape Monster

Shape Monster, Shape Monster

Munch, Munch, Munch

Feed me a ______ [shape name] for my lunch!

We love this rhyme/game! To play, you will need a "Shape Monster" puppet and a collection of shapes to feed it. You can either use a puppet you already have as your Shape Monster or you can have fun making one from a brown paper bag, a sock or felt. To prepare your own set of durable shapes for feeding your hungry Shape Monster, you can laminate a set cut from construction paper, or use craft foam, felt or even just use blocks/toys. For a fine motor element, you can create a DIY toy using a recycled baby wipes container and have your little one(s) feed the desired shape through the top slot!

Have fun and happy playing!