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3 (Toddler-Friendly!) Holiday Crafts Children Can Actually Help With
…as many of us start breaking down cardboard boxes, let’s talk about some (toddler-friendly!) ways we can repurpose everyday items around the house to stay present, create magic, and honor some ‘ancient’ winter traditions as we craft orange garlands, holiday villages, and wreaths.
Trash or Treasure? Recycling Everyday Items for Children’s Play
While we need props, toys, and engaging items that can entertain children, receive them, receive their creativity, and support their learning, keeping these items in stock can become overwhelming, burdensome, and costly to childcare providers and families.
This resource is designed to give you some inspiration for items you may have lying around that could be reused in new ways for play. While some might mirror more realistic use of the items, they don’t have to. These items can be repurposed for dramatic play, object play, art, experimentation, or simple deconstruction.
For each category, I provide examples of items along with ideas and “inspiration for play.” However, like all our Connect and Grow in ECE resources, as we reimagine the use of these particular items, the idea is that we get our minds moving in a new direction with new ways of reducing waste and finding materials to repurpose for play.
On “Floaties” and Learning To Swim
“Puddle jumpers” or “floaties,” as we’ve come to call them, are a type of personal flotation device for children that have become incredibly popular. From a parent perspective, floaties appear to be a safe way to be more “hands off” with kids in the water as they splash around and have fun. From a child’s perspective, floaties become a comfort and relief as they allow them to be mobile, independent, and best of all–they keep their faces out of the water.
However, many swim instructors stand on their soap boxes and beg parents and families to please stop the overwhelming use of these devices. While floaties may give us the illusion of independence, when misused as a constant swimming “prop,” they have a tendency to set children back as they learn to swim and create fear.
Let’s unpack the facts together so we are prepared to use these devices effectively as we support our children in and out of the water.
Practical Gift Ideas for Early Childhood Educators on Teacher Appreciation Week
Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity to surround the caregivers of our children with genuine love and respect. While parents and families can’t fix issues like educator pay disparities, for one week we all intentionally highlight the important and often thankless role teachers play in shaping the future.
It can be hard to express the enormity of the thankfulness that we feel toward the teachers who care for our children. However, to avoid contributing to the stockpile of Starbucks gift cards that your child’s caregiver may have accumulated, here are some other ideas for Teacher Appreciation Week.
Songs to Pair When Kids Need to “Get the Wiggles Out”
This resource gives educators, family members, and other caregivers some active and calming songs to pair during transitions, “brain breaks,” or when you just need to “herd the cats.”