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Category Archives: Blog

20 Books about Diversity and Race for Preschoolers

Books Diversity Race Preschoolers

 

Talking to young children about diversity and race is necessary.  A baby’s brain can notice race-based differences from as young as 6 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and by ages 2 to 4, children can internalize racial bias.  Child care educators have an important role to play in fostering young children’s positive racial identities, so here are some great books that will help.

 

20 Books about Diversity and Race for Preschoolers:

 

 

Talking Race With Young Children

(from NPR.org)

 

Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape and hair texture. Here’s how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity and inclusion, even with very young children.

 

A few things to remember:

  • Don’t shush or shut them down if they mention race.
  • Don’t wait for kids to bring it up.
  • Be proactive, helping them build a positive awareness of diversity.
  • When a child experiences prejudice, grown-ups need to both address the feelings and fight the prejudices.
  • You don’t have to avoid topics like slavery or the Holocaust. Instead, give the facts and focus on resistance and allies.

 

In addition to Jeanette Betancourt, senior vice president for Social Impact at Sesame Workshop, we spoke to Beverly Daniel Tatum: We recommend her TEDx talk as well as her book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race.

 

Additional Resources:

  • Babies begin to notice race at 6 months old — in fact, according to this pair of studies by Professor Kang Lee at the University of Toronto, they actually show signs of racial bias by this age.
  • One in 10 children is multiracial — according to Pew Research Center. This includes children with parents of two different races, plus those with at least one multiracial parent.
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Sensory Table Activities for Toddlers

sensory toddlers

 

Sensory tables can be a lot of fun for preschoolers; however, you can’t always use the same materials in a toddler sensory table as you would in a preschool sensory table.  Common sensory table fillers like popcorn, rice, and packing peanuts are choking hazards to toddlers.  So, let’s take a look at some appropriate sensory table fillers and activities for toddlers.

 

Sensory Table Fillers for Toddlers

 

Besides the obvious – sand or water – here are some safe sensory table fillers:

 

Fabric
 Sandpaper
 Large Pom-Pom Balls
Oatmeal
 Items from Nature
 Crinkled Paper
Taste-Safe Mud
 Shaving Cream
 Gelatin

Sensory Table Activities for Toddlers

 

Here are some ideas for sensory table fun:

 

Hide and Seek in Bubble Foam – Make Bubble Foam with this recipe.  Hide objects (toy cars, foam letters, etc.) in the bubble foam, and let children find the objects.

 

Car Wash – Provide soapy water and let children wash the toy cars.  (You can also do an Animal Wash or Wash Dishes).

 

Rainbow Spaghetti – Cook spaghetti.  Once drained and cooled, add a small (very small) amount of oil and toss.  Add a few drops of food coloring and mix well.  Lay spaghetti out on parchment paper to dry for about 1 hour.  Put in sensory table for enjoyment!

 

Gardening Sensory Table – Include potting soil, child friendly gardening tools, plastic pots, pretend flowers – allow children to work with the tools to dig, fill pots, etc.  Best if used outside.

Photo Source: www.mamapapabubba.com

 

Fruit Loop Color Sorting and Play – Fill sensory table with fruit loops and provide cups for children to sort by color.  Also include spoons, shovels, bowls, etc.

Photo Source: www.theresourcefulmama.com

 

 

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15 Books about Germs for Preschool

Books about Germs

 

Talking to children about how germs spread and the importance of handwashing can be a difficult subject.  We found several books about germs geared towards preschool children that can help you.

 

15 Books about Germs for Preschool:

 

 

 

Try one of these fun, interactive activities to teach children about germs and how to stop them from spreading.  (Source: Care.com)

1. Glitter Germs. In this activity from the Columbus Public Health website, sprinkle a little glitter on your child’s hands. Then have them wash with just water. Repeat the experiment, washing with soap and water the second time. Have your child observe which method removes more glitter. You can also put glitter on your hand and touch your child’s shoulder, hands and hair. Show them how the glitter (like germs) can spread by touch.

 

2. Everything You Touch. This activity, also from Columbus Public Health, has children make and color their own germs and then tape them to anything they touch to see how widely germs spread by touch.

 

3. Connect the Dots. Check out these lesson plans and activities at the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

 

4.  Happy Handwashing Song. Teach your kids this simple song from the CDC. Sing it twice through to reach the recommended time for handwashing.

 

5. Scrub Club. Go online and check out the songs and activities from NSF International.

 

6. Germs! Video. Let kids learn about germs along with Sid the Science Kid and his parents in this short, animated video.

 

7. “Wash, Wash, Wash Your Hands” Song. Wash hands along with Little John in this sing-a-long video from Little Angel.

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Sharing Activities for Young Children

sharing activies

 

Young children can have a hard time sharing… and depending on their age, they really aren’t capable of thinking much beyond themselves to understand sharing.  Often we tend to think that they already know what it means to share or take turns.  These sharing activities can be used to enhance the importance of sharing with others.   In addition, guide children to come up with solutions when sharing (or lack thereof) becomes an issue.  As with all interactions with children, be sure to praise the praise the positive, provide words and phrases to use, role play, and lead by example.

 

Paint or Draw a Picture Together – Set up a large white piece of paper and either painting supplies or crayons/markers.  Pair up children and have them decide what to draw or paint.  Have them take turns passing the supplies back and forth until their picture is complete.

 

Show and Tell Sharing – Allow children to bring a toy or item in for Show and Tell. After they finish describing their objects, ask them to pass the object around to the rest of the children. The object should travel in a circle.  When all of the objects are returned to the original owner, point out that they each shared their objects with their classmates. Ask the children to say how they felt when they shared their objects with others, as well as how the Show and Tell would have been different if they had not been able to see and hold the objects that their classmates brought in.

 

Pass the Ball – Have the kids sit in a circle. Pass around a ball and play some music. When the music stops, whoever is holding the ball says one thing he/she can share with someone else.

 

The Sharing Song – teach children The Sharing Song by Jack Johnson.  Click Here for lyrics.

 

The Doorbell Rang – Sharing and Math Activity – The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins is a classic children’s book loved by teachers, parents, and children alike. The patterned text of the story reveals an engaging tale that presents a real-life math challenge. Every preschooler can relate to the struggle of sharing but The Doorbell Rang presents several mathematical concepts as well.  Visit https://www.pre-kpages.com/preschool-math-exploration-the-doorbell-rang/ for details and direction.

 

Pass the Ice Cream: Sharing Activity for Preschoolers – A fun sharing activity for preschoolers inspired by Mo Willems’ Should I Share My Ice Cream?  Each child takes a turn sharing their ice cream with their friend – by passing it from one cone to another.  Visit https://www.sunnydayfamily.com/2016/09/sharing-activity-for-preschoolers.html for more information and direction.

 

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Valentine’s Day Songs and Fingerplays

Valentine's Day Songs

Songs, rhymes, and fingerplays are a great way to engage young children.  Here is a collection of Valentine’s Day songs and fingerplays that are easy to implement.

 

Download These Songs

 

Be My Valentine
(Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb)

You’re a special
Friend of mine
Friend of mine
Friend of mine
You’re a special
Friend of mine
Be my valentine!

I’m a Little Valentine
(Tune: I’m a Little Teapot)

I’m a little valentine,
Made for you,
Of paper, lace, and a dab of glue.
I’m signed and sealed and on my way,
To say, “I love you” on Valentine’s Day!

Variation:
I’m a little valentine
Red and White
With ribbons and lace
I’m a beautiful sight
I can say, “I Love You”
On Valentine’s Day
Just put me in an envelope
And give me away

Five Pretty Valentines
Use five actual Valentines during this chant

Five pretty Valentines waiting at the store.
(Name) bought one and then there were four.
Four pretty Valentines shaped like a “V”
(Name) bought one and then there were three.
Three pretty Valentines said “I love you”
(Name)  bought one then there were two.
Two pretty Valentines, this was so much fun.
(Name) Bought one and then there was one.
One pretty Valentine sitting on the shelf.
I felt sorry for it, so I bought it for myself!

Love Your Friends
(Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

Love, Love, Love your Friends,
Love them all year long.
Especially on Valentine’s Day,
As we sing this song!

Counting Valentines
(Tune: Ten Little Indians)

One red, two red, three red Valentines
Four red, five red, six red Valentines
Seven red, eight red, nine red Valentines
Ten red Valentines.
Ten red, nine red, eight red Valentines
Seven red, six red, five red Valentines
Four red, three red, two red Valentines
One red Valentine.

I Like Hearts
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

Red hearts, white hearts,
Pink hearts, too.
I like purple hearts.
How about you?
Green hearts, yellow hearts,
Blue hearts, too.
I like rainbow hearts.
How about you?

Valentine Pokey
(Tune: The Hokey Pokey)

You put your right arm out.
You put your left arm out.
You bring those arms together
And you squeeze
with all your might.
You hug and say “I love you”
and you spread it all around.
That’s what this day’s about.

H-E-A-R-T
(Tune: B-I-N-G-O)

There is a shape; it stands for love,
And “heart” is its name.
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
H-E-A-R-T
And “heart” is its name.

There’s a Big Red Heart…
(Tune: It’s a Small World)

There’s a big red heart down inside of me, (Draw a heart shape in the air, then point to chest)
There’s a big red heart no one else can see.  (Cover eyes with hands)
It is filled to the brim with love from within, (Spread arms)
And now I give it to you. (Point to another person)

Counting Valentines

Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Valentines, valentines, count them with me.
I have red ones, orange ones, yellow ones, too.
I have green ones, purple ones, and some that are blue.
Valentines, valentines, how many do I see?
Count them with me! 1-2-3-4-5……..

Give each child a red, orange, yellow, green, purple or blue heart.  While they say verse, children raise their hearts in the air at the appropriate time. Count the number of hearts and identify different colors when the verse is finished.

Also check out these videos for more ideas:

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Side Jobs for Early Childhood Teachers

side jobs early childhood

 

 

Though rewarding, working as a early childhood educator doesn’t always pay a lot.   Many early childhood teachers find side jobs for extra money.  Here are some common side jobs for early childhood teachers.

 

Child-Related Side Jobs:
  • Babysit or Nanny: Make some extra money babysitting family members or neighbors. They’ll appreciate your knowledge in early childhood education.  Find jobs at https://www.sittercity.com/babysitting-jobs
  • Tutor: Find local children who need tutoring in a specific subject. Find jobs at https://tutors.com/
  • VIPKid: Teach English online to children in China.  You teach one-on-one  with no lesson planning. Their platform allows you to focus on what you love – teaching kids. Get more information at https://www.vipkidteachers.com/
  • TeachersPayTeachers: If you are creative and enjoy creating educational materials, open up a Teachers Pay Teachers store and sell your created resources.  Get more information at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
  • Discovery Toys: Inspire children everywhere to learn and grow through PLAY as an independent sales consultant.  Sign up at http://www.discoverytoys.net/
  • Usborne Books: Usborne Books & More distributes books through thousands of independent consultants who sell directly to the consumer via home shows, direct sales, book fairs, and web sites.  Become an independent consultant at https://www.myubam.com/
Other Side Jobs:

(choose your own hours and when you work)

Also, check stores that you like shopping at – work for them and get discounts on products.

 

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Preschool Soup Theme

preschool soup theme

January is National Soup Month, so it is a great month to incorporate a preschool soup theme.

 

Here are some preschool soup activities to try:

 

  • Create a graph – What Soup Do You Like Best?  Write children’s names under the names of two soups.  Count how many children prefer each soup.  Talk about which soup has a bigger number or lesser number of likes.

 

  • Alphabet Soup Letter Hunt – Put a variety of letters in a pot.  Using a soup spoon or tongs, ask children to find certain letters.  For older children, have them find the first letter of a word (ie.  Find me the first letter of the word “milk”)

Photo Source: thrivinghomeblog.com/

 

  • Water Play Soup – In a water table, add plastic vegetables, soup spoons, bowls, colanders, ladles and let children use their imagination.

Photo Source: protectingyourpennies.com

 

  • Make vegetable prints on a black construction paper cauldron.  Provide pieces of vegetables and various colors of paints.  Allow children to dip the vegetables into the paint then make prints on the cauldron.

 

  • Make Vegetable Soup.  Assign each child to bring in a specific vegetable (carrots, onions, potatoes, celery, tomotaoes, etc.)  Depending on the age of the children, allow them to safetly chop and prepare the vegetables.  Or have each child hand you their vegetables one at a time and talk about each vegetable as you cut it in front the children.  Once vegetables are cut up, place a large pot with chicken broth in the middle of the table.  Allow each child to put their vegetables in and stir it up.  Add some spices, cook, and enjoy!

Photo Source: littlesproutslearning.co

 

  • Vegetable Soup Song (Sung to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”)

The soup is boiling up
The soup is boiling up
Stir slow-around we go
The soup is boiling up.

 

First we add the broth
First we add the broth
Stir slow-around we go
The soup is boiling up.

 

Now we add some carrots
Now we add some carrots
Stir slow-around we go
The soup is boiling up.

 

Continue with whichever vegetables you children want.

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National Button Day Activities for Children

button activities

There are a lot of things that you can do with buttons (besides wear them!).  Children can use buttons for sorting, patterning, fine motor activities, art, and much more.

 

Here are some button activities for National Button Day on November 16:

 

  • Put buttons in the sensory table.
  • Put buttons in the sand table and use colanders, sand sifters, or slotted spoons (with thin slots) to scoop out the buttons.
  • Make button rubbings.  Place puzzle pieces under a sheet of paper. Using the side of a crayon, rub the buttons.
  • Who’s Wearing Buttons? Ask children to look at their clothes and see if they have any buttons.  Have the children count the number of buttons that they are wearing.  Make a graph of how many buttons each child is wearing.
  • Make a picture frame and have children glue buttons on it.  Put children’s pictures in their frame for a parent gift.

Other Ideas:

button activities     button activities

 

button activities     

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About National Button Day:

(from NationalDayCalendar.com)

 

National Button Day is observed annually on November 16. Founded in 1938, the National Button Society recognized button collecting as an organized hobby. Both novice and advanced button collectors celebrate the enjoyment collecting on this day.

 

Do you remember your grandmother or your mother snipping the buttons off shirts that were headed for the rag basket and then collecting them in jars? Maybe you even played games or strung them for ornaments and crafts.  The buttons were fun to stack into piles, sort by color or size, or scatter/slide across the floor or table making up different games each time.

 

Crafters across the country utilize buttons in creative ways and are some of the best at finding new uses for old items. There are thousands of button collectors in the United States.

 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Use #NationalButtonDay to post on social media.

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6 Ways to Teach Respect to Preschool Children

respect preschool

 

It is hard to remember that children aren’t born with a built-in sense of respect for others.  Children need to be taught to be respectful.  Modeling respect is one of the easiest ways to teach children to be respectful.  However, here are some quick and easy ideas of how to teach respect to young children.

So, what exactly is the definition of respect?

  • Respect is thinking and acting in a positive way about yourself or others.
  • Respect is thinking and acting in a way that shows others you care about their feelings and their well-being.

(Source: https://talkingtreebooks.com/definition/what-is-respect.html)

 

#1  Discuss what respect means.  Before you approach the subject, have a little fun and play Aretha Franklin’s song “Respect”.  Put up chart paper or use a Dry Erase board, and ask the children to create a “Recipe” for Respect.  List the “ingredients” of respect.  Tell children that respect means “acting nice and talking nice.”  Give the following examples and ask children if that examples shows respect or not:

  • The teacher asks Sam to clean up his toys and he yells, “I don’t want to!” (No)
  • Sally holds the door open for her friend when going out to the playground. (Yes)
  • Jaden keeps interrupting his teacher as she is talking to the other children.  (No)
  • Ellie shared her baby doll with her friend Makayla. (Yes)
  • Jordan throws his garbage on the ground.  (No)
  • Jack looks his mom in the eye when she says good-bye for the day.  (Yes)

 

#2 Make a Respect Paper Chain.  Prepare strips of brightly colored paper.  Ask each child name a way to show respect to each other at school.  Write their answers on the strips of paper, then create a paper chain to hang in the room.

 

#3 Create Respect/Disrepect Baskets.  Pick out two baskets. Make one of the baskets bright and pretty (this will be your respect basket) and make the other basket old and dingy (this will be your disrespect basket). Fill your disrespect basket with items you have collected around the room that are lacking in respect: torn books, a broken toy, a stuffed animal with a missing button, or a dirty cup. Tell children that the items in your “disrespect basket” want to be moved to the “respect basket” that you need their help. Invite them to figure out with you why the object landed in the disrespect basket in the first place and then what can be done to help the item move over to the happy and very pretty respect basket!  (Thanks, familyeducation®)

 

#4 Mother [Teacher Name], May I?  Line up the children facing you, about 10 feet away. Give commands to one child at a time: “Sarah, take one hop forward.” If Sarah responds, “Mother [Miss Tina], may I?” you can say either “Yes, you may” or “No, you may not.” If your reply is “yes,” make sure that Sarah says “Thank you” before she goes. Anyone who forgets her manners or makes a move without permission is sent back to the starting line. Keep playing until one child reaches Mother [Teacher Name].  Give each kid a chance to be “Mother”.

 

#5 Simon Says.  Use a changed version of  Simon Says” to talk to children about how to say “please” and “thank you.” Instead of using the words “Simon says” as the first words, use the word “Please” as the first word; meaning, children should only follow you if you first say “please.” Those who follow your action without your saying “please” are out of the game. Thank the children after each action.

 

#6 Respect/Disrespect Sorting.  Cut out and Laminate the pictures below and have children sort them by Respectful and Disrepectul behavior.

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5 Ways to Celebrate Birthdays in Child Care

5 Ways to Celebrate Birthdays in Child Care

celebrate birthdays in child care

 

Birthdays are special occasions for children of all ages.  As child care providers, we should make a big deal out of the child turning a new age.  Here are 5 ways to celebrate birthdays in child care, which will make the birthday child feel special.  If the child’s birthday falls on a weekend or a day when they are not at the child care center, celebrate as close to the date as possible.  If the child’s birthday is in the summer, and you don’t operate in the summer, maybe celebrate their half birthday or during the first or last week of school.  The best advice is to keep things simple.  Elaborate parties with lots of icing are only going to cause stress and frustration – not only for you but for the birthday child.

 

#1 Have child sit in a special ‘birthday chair’ while the other children sing “Happy Birthday.”   You can also use the chair to

  • Take turns to ask the birthday child questions about home and family.
  • Let the other children take turns giving the birthday child nice compliments.
  • Have the birthday child lead the children in a song of their choice or play a special birthday instrument.
  • Let the birthday child ‘show and tell’ one of their birthday gifts.

Photo Source: TeachPreschool.org

 

#2 Keep a Birthday Bucket (full of trinkets and prizes) and on a child’s birthday, let him or her pick the same number of prizes as their age (ie. if they are 4 years old, they get to pick 4 prizes).

Photo Source: http://www.thehappyteacher.co

 

#3 Decorate the doorway by hanging streamers in the child’s favorite color.  If the child sits in a specific seat, also tie a balloon in their favorite color to their chair.

Photo Source: missventrella.blogspot.com

 

#4 Bring out a Birthday Sensory Bin.  Let the birthday child (and maybe one other) play with it first.  Keep it out until everyone has had a turn.  Include in it:

  • Colored rice
  • Birthday candles
  • Number birthday candles
  • Small foil bows
  • Plastic cupcake holders
  • Small loaf pans
  • Measuring cups
  • Whisk

Photo Source: pocketofpreschool.com

 

#5 Conduct a Birthday Interview by asking the birthday child things about himself (favorite food, favorite color, what does he want to be when he grows up, etc.) Record answers and send home.

Here is a great free printable that we found – CLICK HERE (from www.lifewithmylittles.com)

Photo Source: lifewithmylittles.com

 

Need some Birthday Board Idea Inspirations? Check out ideas >>HERE<<

 

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