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Use this alphabet acorn sensory bin for some fun sensory play and letter recognition practice during fall!

Easy Alphabet Acorn Sensory Bin for Kids

October 27, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When you want to keep preschoolers engaged in a lesson for more than…three minutes or so, sensory bins are the answer!

Every time I’ve put a sensory bin together, I’ve had to practically drag my early learners away from it.

There’s just something about having so many different textures and colors to explore that keeps little ones interested.

And that makes sensory bins a wonderful medium for introducing early literacy skills – like in this alphabet acorn sensory bin!

Easy Acorn Sensory Bin for Kids

This is such an easy, low-prep, and engaging literacy activity for autumn!

And it doesn’t make a mess, so you won’t have to clean anything up afterwards. Win!

Read on to see how to put this fall sensory bin together yourself.

And, for more fun with fall letters, take a look at our easy Name Acorn Necklace Craft!

Use this alphabet acorn sensory bin for some fun sensory play and letter recognition practice during fall!

Easy Alphabet Acorn Sensory Bin for Kids

To assemble this alphabet acorn sensory bin, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Container (I used a straw basket I already had, but a clear shoebox or a bin is fine too)
  • Acorns (Real acorns are the best, but I used these artificial acorns since we don’t have an oak tree nearby. This bin uses about three bags.)
  • Colored artificial leaves (Our bin uses these colorful acrylic leaves and acorns.)
  • Fall-themed foam pieces (This foam bead harvest mix with leaves, scarecrows, pumpkins, and candy corn is what I used.)
  • Printable Acorn Alphabet Cards (available in this post)
Simple Acorn Sensory Bin for Kids

To start, print out the acorn alphabet cards and laminate them.

You’ll need them to stand up to frequent use by little hands.

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Simple Alphabet Acorn Sensory Bin

Then fill the bin with acorns.

Mix in the colored leaves and acorns, as well as the fall-themed foam beads.

Letter Acorn Themed Sensory Bin

Finally, add a few of the acorn alphabet cards.

You don’t want to put them all in at once, because you want the letters to be part of the acorn sensory bin, not the entire focus.

Using an Alphabet Acorn Sensory Bin

One way to use them is to add in pairs of uppercase and lowercase letters (capital A and lowercase A, for example).

Then students can talk about the difference between the letters.

Or you can have a quick find the matching letter activity by picking up the capital letter and asking kids to find its lowercase mate.

Using an Alphabet Sensory Bin with Kids

Be sure to talk about the different textures, colors, and shapes of each item they pick up.

Simple Acorn Preschool Sensory Bin

See this autumn sensory bin in action below!

If you use this alphabet acorn sensory bin with your early learners, I’d love to hear how it worked out for you!

Stop by to see some of these other fall early learning ideas!

Acorn Name Necklace Craft for Kids
Use the digital or printable version of this Spanish Counting to 10 activity to practice number recognition in English and Spanish!
Teach early learners how to recognize same and different objects with these fall themed acorn same or different worksheets!

This DIY colored moon sand recipe is so easy and fun for kids to make!

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

June 2, 2020 by Selena Robinson 5 Comments

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe - Look! We're Learning!

Almost all kids love to play with playdough, so we’ve used preschool playdough mats a lot with our kids.

And that started us thinking about how to include more sensory play on a regular basis.

Basically, moon sand is crumbly sand that’s moldable. I’d seen it for sale in stores, but I’d never thought about making it myself.

Turns out it’s pretty easy! We decided to include a fun twist by adding some color with this DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe!

Fun DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe for Kids

Read on to see the full moon sand recipe. And, if you’d like more ways to play with moon sand, read our roundup of ten different moon sand recipes to try!

Plus, don’t miss our fun sidewalk chalk math game for more outdoor play!

This DIY colored moon sand recipe is so easy and fun for kids to make!

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

To make colored moon sand, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Play sand
  • Cornstarch
  • Food coloring
  • Water

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

FYI, play sand comes in a super heavy bag. If you buy a bag at a store, be sure to grab one of those rolling handcarts to transport it to the register.

Otherwise, you’ll end up with super sore arms the next day….like me.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Just mix the play sand, cornstarch, and water together with about a 4 to 2 to 1 ratio.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Then add any choice of food coloring. You’re done!

Scroll down for the printable recipe!

 

 

Here’s another FYI: Do not make this on your dining room table, unless you really want a scratched table.

(We found this out the hard way.)

This is definitely an outdoor activity. We finally wised up when it was time for the kids to sink their little hands into it.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

The littles liked the fact that the moon sand could change shape.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

It could be broken into chunks like bricks.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Or it could be ground into sand – just like beach sand.

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

By the time we got them into the house, their hands were covered with color dust, but they had a blast with our DIY moon sand recipe!

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Be sure to have the shower running when you bring the kids into the house. They’ll need some hot water and soap STAT.

Easy Colored Moon Sand Recipe - Look! We're Learning!

For just 10 minutes of prep, this was an outdoor sensory activity that lasted all afternoon! Perfect for unstructured creative play.

Don’t miss these other fun activities!

Make this fun (and yummy!) solar system edible playdough for some sweet sensory play!

This easy DIY kinetic sand is such a fun way to play indoors with little ones! Perfect for sensory input too!

Make this simple DIY play beach sand recipe to share a summer sensory activity with the kids!

 

 

>>> Grab the printable DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe below! <<<

Easy Colored Moon Sand Recipe - Look! We're Learning!
5 from 1 vote
Print

DIY Colored Moon Sand Recipe

Adapted from Wikihow

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 cup water
  • 4 cups play sand
  • 5-8 drops food coloring (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pour water into large container. A sturdy outdoor box is best.

  2. Add the corn starch and stir well to break up clumps.

  3. Add desired food coloring and mix well.

  4. Slowly add in play sand, stirring to combine.

This list of 10 minute easy preschool crafts is perfect for a quick crafting session with little ones!

25 Super Easy Preschool Crafts You Can Make in 10 Minutes

May 28, 2020 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

These super easy preschool crafts are so simple you can make them in just 10 minutes!

I love to make crafts with my kids, especially when they’re very young.

What I don’t like is having to buy a whole lot of supplies (and expensive ones, at that!) for a project that I’ll only do once.

So, when I make a craft with my preschooler, I always prefer to do one that I can get done in 10 minutes or less.

After all, Pre-K kids have pretty short attention spans. 

If you’re looking for some simple crafting fun for young kids, try this list of super easy preschool crafts you can make in just 10 minutes!

25 Super Easy Preschool Crafts for Kids

This list is full of easy PreK crafts for each season.

Some work well for spring, others for summer or fall, some are perfect for winter – and some are great any time of the year!

Read on the see the full list. And for more simple preschool ideas, check out my list of 10 preschool learning activities you can do in 10 minutes!

This list of 10 minute easy preschool crafts is perfect for a quick crafting session with little ones!

25 Super Easy Preschool Crafts

1. Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Torn Paper Fall Tree Craft – Hands On As We Grow

3. Easy Snowflake Craft – Mama Smiles

4. No-Sew Sock Snowman Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

5. Easy Wax Boats – Housing a Forest

6. Train Tape Resist Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

7. Easy Craft Stick Snakes – Crafty Morning

8. Coffee Filter Apple Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

9. Easy Shapes Salt Truck Craft – Sugar Aunts

10. Pringles Can Binoculars – Happy Hooligans

11. Farm Paper Bag Puppets – Look! We’re Learning!

12. Easy Paper Plate Watermelon Craft – ABC Creative Learning

13. Simple Fork Print Sunflower Craft – Crafty Morning

10 Minute Preschool Crafts You Can Make With the Kids

14. Simple Farm Craft with Stickers – I Heart Crafty Things

15. Coffee Filter Sun Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

16. Shape School Bus Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

17. Simple Cardboard Tube Construction Set – Inner Child Fun

18. Simple Craft Stick Photo Frame – Living Montessori Now

19. Woven Craft Stick Butterflies – The Craft Train

20. Sea Shell Salt Dough Craft – Teach Mama

21. Farm Shoebox Diorama – Look! We’re Learning!

22. Simple Airplane Craft – Learning 4 Kids

23. Paper Plate Cars – Glued to My Crafts

24. Clothespin Snowman Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

25. Easy Shape Car Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

Did you like this post? Try these other early learning ideas!

Share these printable preschool resources with early learners at home or in school! Perfect for hands-on early learning!

Ten Minute Preschool Activities

These picture books for preschoolers include classic stories and modern titles for parents to share!

 

 

Free Unit Studies

This post is part of the Crafts for Kids Unit Study roundup! Stop by to read other great kids’ crafts posts from my fellow educators!

How to Create a Kids Crafting Kit {Free Printable Shopping List} from Crafty Mama in ME

9 Great Craft Book for Kids from Faith and Good Works

Unicorn Crafts for Kids from Schooling a Monkey

Most Popular Kids Crafts of the Year from The Moments at Home

Letter F Craft: Flamingo Fun! from Mrs. Karle’s Sight and Sound Reading

 

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This fun ice cream themed shape sorting activity for kids is so cool for practicing shape recognition!

Ice Cream Preschool Shape Sorting Activity

April 9, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Work on shape recognition the fun way with this cool ice cream preschool shape sorting activity!

When I was a kid, one of my strongest summer memories is going down to the Dairy Queen to get an OREO Blizzard.

It was my very favorite childhood treat.

(In fact, it’s taking every bit of willpower in my body not to break off from writing this post and go get one.)

Ice cream is still a classic treat for kids, especially during the summer.

And that’s why I wanted to make a fun ice cream-themed learning activity for preschoolers – this ice cream preschool shape sorting activity!

Printable Ice Cream Themed Shape Sort

This is such a fun (and low-prep) learning activity for small ones!

You only need a few minutes to prepare it and then the kids will be off and running!

Just be prepared for them to ask you for ice cream immediately afterward.

Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity for Kids

Read on to see how to get your copy of this shape sorting activity! Plus, check out our cupcake letter matching activity for more “sweet” learning fun!

This fun ice cream themed shape sorting activity for kids is so cool for practicing shape recognition!

Ice Cream Preschool Shape Sorting Activity

To use this preschool shape sorting activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Laminator
  • Scissors

Printable Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

To begin, just print both the ice cream “scoops” and the ice cream” cones”.

Sorting Shapes with an Ice Cream Activity

The cones feature the shapes themselves.

Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

And the scoops are labeled with the shape names. (I used the same color for the scoop and the shape on each cone for a little hint.)

Ice Cream Shape Sorting for Kids

Laminate both pages and cut them out. Then just mix them up and let the kids get started!

Simple Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

Printable Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity for Kids

How to Use the Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

We started off by laying out all of the ice cream “cones” and “scoops”.

Printable Ice Cream Shape Sorting Practice

As Piglet found each shape cone, I asked her to name the shape.

Printable 2D Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

Then she used the colors and the beginning letters to give her clues as to which shape name matched which shape.

Easy Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

Before we knew it, she had built all five ice cream cones! Enough to open her own sweet shop!

Ice Cream 2D Shape Sorting Activity

Scroll down to get your Ice Cream Preschool Shape Sorting Activity!

For more hands-on preschool fun, check out these ideas!

Pick up this cupcake English and Spanish number word matching activity to build number recognition with early grades! Perfect for math centers!

Share these printable preschool resources with early learners at home or in school! Perfect for hands-on early learning!

This spring flower themed size sorting activity is so much fun for early learners! Students can use it to practice separating big and small flowers during spring!

Easy Ice Cream 2D Shape Sorting Activity for Kids

To get your copy of our Ice Cream Preschool Shape Sorting Activity, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!


Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity

>>> Ice Cream Preschool Shape Sorting Activity <<<

Want to score a digital version of this activity that students can use online? Click the image or the link below to grab it from my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Pick up the print or digital version of this ice cream shape sorting activity for students to use in class or at home!

>>> Digital Ice Cream Shape Activity – Teachers Pay Teachers <<<

This easy DIY kinetic sand is such a fun way to play indoors with little ones! Perfect for sensory input too!

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

April 2, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Sensory play has always been a big hit in our family.

As soon as our kids were old enough to stand up, they loved playing with sand, mud, and playdough – like most other toddlers.

We’ve made edible playdough, moon sand, slime, and lots of other sensory materials at home.

And that’s why I wanted to share this DIY kinetic sand recipe too!

Easy DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

If you have kids who love sensory play and building, this kinetic sand is perfect.

It’s soft enough to mold, but also firm enough to hold its shape. Great for little builders!

Get the full kinetic sand recipe instructions below.

And, for more fun with sensory input, check out our scented Apple Pie Playdough too!

This easy DIY kinetic sand is such a fun way to play indoors with little ones! Perfect for sensory input too!

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

To make this DIY kinetic sand recipe, you’ll need:

  • Sand
  • Baby oil
  • Cornstarch
How to Make DIY Kinetic Sand

This sensory recipe is so easy that the kids can help you make it.

Simple Kinetic Sand Recipe

Once you’ve measured out the right amount of each ingredient, just mix them all together.

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe for Kids

It actually works best if you mix it with your hands.

So the kids can get some sensory play before they even start playing with the kinetic sand!

How to Make Kinetic Sand at Home

After you’re done mixing, toss a few sand molds and building toys into the sand.

The little ones can play as long as they like!

DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe to Make at Home

NOTE: This DIY kinetic sand is NOT edible. Please use caution with toddlers and very young children.

Scroll down to get the printable DIY kinetic sand recipe!

Check out other sensory play ideas!

Make up a batch of this apple pie playdough to have a fun fall sensory activity with your little ones! So fun for little hands!
Mix up some sensory fun with these edible playdough recipes for kids! These are so fun for little ones who love to play with dough!
This fun and easy snowman slime is so fun for sensory play during winter! Mix up a few jars and hand them out as gifts for little ones!
Easy DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe
Easy DIY Kinetic Sand Recipe
Print

DIY Kinetic Sand

This DIY kinetic sand is a simple sensory play idea for young ones!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2.5 cups sand
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 cup baby oil

Instructions

  1. Pour the sand into a mixing bowl or loaf pan.

  2. Add the cornstarch and mix well with your hands.

  3. Pour in the baby oil and mix well.

Recipe Notes

  • If the mixture is too dry, add a few drops more baby oil until you reach the right consistency.
  • If the kinetic sand doesn’t hold its shape, add a bit more cornstarch.
Make a batch of this simple DIY kinetic sand for a quick sensory play activity at home!
This fun and easy snowman slime is so fun for sensory play during winter! Mix up a few jars and hand them out as gifts for little ones!

Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

December 5, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Nothing says “winter” like snow.

Unless you live in the Deep South. 

Then nothing says “winter” like temperatures below 50 degrees.

It almost never gets cold enough for snow down here, but our kids always want it to snow each year. So we’re making it snow inside with this fluffy snowman slime recipe!

Fun Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

This is such a great winter sensory activity, whether you get snow in your area or not.

Plus, it doesn’t make a mess, so if you’re a messy play avoider (like…ahem…myself), this one won’t take you hours to clean up afterward.

DIY Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe

Read on to get the full DIY snow slime recipe instructions below!

And, for more fun with sensory activities, take a look at our glittery mermaid slime too!

This fun and easy snowman slime is so fun for sensory play during winter! Mix up a few jars and hand them out as gifts for little ones!

DIY Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

What I love about slime is that kids get to help make it and then play with it. So it’s really a two-in-one activity.

And if you need some quiet time, they’ll play with slime happily for hours on end. (At least my kids will.) It’s perfect for quiet time.

Supplies to Make Fluffy Snow Slime

To make this DIY snowman slime recipe, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • white school glue
  • lemon, orange, and grapefruit scented oil (optional)
  • artificial snow
  • foam shaving cream (avoid the menthol kind if you want the citrus scent to come through)
  • contact lens solution
  • baking soda
  • small foam beads
  • white glitter

Fluffy Snow Slime Recipe

In a large bowl, mix together the white glue, citrus oils, and glitter.

Then add the shaving cream, contact lens solution, and baking soda.

Fluffy Snow Slime Recipe for Kids

Finally, pour in the foam beads and artificial snow. Use a wooden spoon to mix everything together well.

You might need to add a little more contact lens solution until you get the consistency you want. The snowman slime should pull away from the sides of the bowl as you mix it.

Winter Playdough Mats for Kids

DIY Fluffy Snow Slime

Remove the slime mixture from the bowl and knead it with your hands until smooth.

You’ll know it’s ready when you can mold it into a ball that keeps its shape.

Fun Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids to Make

Dump the snowman slime on the table and let kids play with it using winter-themed toys: snowmen, snowflakes, even arctic animals would make a great addition!

Easy Fluffy Snow Slime Recipe for Kids

If you’re planning on throwing a winter kids’ party, you can make this snow slime into party favors! 

Just put some in empty baby food jars, add a colorful ribbon around the center, and you’re done!

Fun Snow Slime for Kids to Make

Scroll down to get your printable Snowman Slime recipe!

Try out some of these other winter ideas for kids!

This adorable pinecone snowman craft for kids is a perfect winter art activity for little ones!

Make this cute coffee filter snowman craft with the kids on a winter afternoon!

These hibernation books for kids are awesome for studying how animals prepare for winter!

Be sure to follow my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board too!

Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe for Kids

Printable Snowman Slime Recipe

This handy printable snowman slime recipe makes it simple to mix up this winter slime at home! 

Fun Snow Slime for Kids to Make
Print

DIY Fluffy Snowman Slime Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white school glue
  • 10 drops each lemon, orange, and grapefruit scented oil (optional)
  • 1/4 cup artificial snow
  • 3 cups foam shaving cream (avoid the menthol kind if you want the citrus scent to come through)
  • 1-2 tbsp contact lens solution
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup small foam beads
  • 1/4 cup white glitter

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the glue and citrus oils (if using).

  2. Add the white glitter and shaving cream.

  3. Add the contact lens solution and baking soda.

  4. Add the foam beads and artificial snow.

  5. Mix together with a wooden spoon until mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

  6. Remove the mixture from the bowl and knead with your hands until smooth.

Whip up this fluffy snow slime recipe to have indoor fun in the snow! Perfect for winter sensory play!

Make up a batch of this scented pumpkin pie playdough to have some fall sensory fun with the kids! You only need a few household ingredients!

Easy Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

October 24, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Confession time: I didn’t really eat pumpkin pie as a child. 

I’m from the Deep South and, down here, we tend to eat more sweet potato pie than pumpkin. At least in my family. (I honestly don’t have enough space here to write about the wonders of sweet potato pie.)

After I became an adult, though, a good friend of mine made a pumpkin pie and I finally had a taste. 

It was delicious. 

So since we enjoyed making apple pie playdough earlier this fall, I thought this easy scented pumpkin pie playdough recipe would be a nice addition to our fall sensory activities!

Fun Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

This playdough feels and smells incredible, so it’s a simple way to give the kids some sensory play while adding a nice fall scent to your home or classroom.

If you’re studying pumpkins or harvest this year, this scented playdough is a wonderful play activity for your unit!

Easy Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

Get the full instructions and the printable recipe below!

And for more ways to have fun with playdough, stop by to read our roundup of edible playdough recipes you can make at home!

Make up a batch of this scented pumpkin pie playdough to have some fall sensory fun with the kids! You only need a few household ingredients!

How to Make Easy Pumpkin Pie Playdough

To make this easy pumpkin pie playdough recipe, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see my Disclosure Policy.)

  • flour
  • salt
  • pumpkin pie spice
  • cream of tartar
  • coconut oil
  • food coloring
  • pumpkin essence
  • Playdough tools (optional)
  • My Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

Easy Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

What I love about this playdough recipe is that it’s a reliable go-to activity. Once you make it, you’ll have a quick sensory activity you can whip up for the kids in just a few minutes.

Fall Playdough Mats

Making Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough

Start by pouring warm water into a pot.

Then add a few drops of orange food coloring, coconut oil, and pumpkin essence.

Simple Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cream of tartar.

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Playdough

Gradually add the flour mixture to the pot and stir well.

How to Make a Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Heat the mixture on low and stir continuously, until the mixture starts to firm up.

When it pulls away from the sides of the pot, you’re done.

Fall Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

Knead the dough back and forth between your hands until it forms a smooth ball. (Little hands are great at doing this step!)

How to Make Pumpkin Pie Scented Playdough

If you want to make the “piecrust”, whip up a batch of cinnamon playdough to use as the base.

Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

It’s play time!

Give the kids a few playdough tools to flatten, cut, and shape their dough into a pie. 

They’ll play with this for hours and get some sensory practice too!

DIY Scented Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

Scroll down to get your printable Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe!

Take a look at these other fun fall play ideas!

Make counting practice fun with this five in a row printable farm game! Great for early math centers!

These easy and fun paper bag woodland animal crafts kids can make! Choose from a paper bag fox craft, paper bag bear craft, and a paper bag deer craft!

Make up a batch of this apple pie playdough to have a fun fall sensory activity with your little ones! So fun for little hands!

And follow my Fall Activities for Kids board on Pinterest for more ways to have fun during autumn!

DIY Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Printable DIY Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Read the full pumpkin pie playdough recipe right here! You can also print it to use offline.

DIY Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe
Print

Pumpkin Pie Playdough Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup salt
  • 4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 cups warm water
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • food coloring
  • 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp pumpkin essence

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cream of tartar.

  2. Mix the warm water, coconut oil, pumpkin essence, and a few drops of orange food coloring in a pot.

  3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pot, stirring well.

  4. Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously until it firms and pulls away from the sides of the pot.

  5. Remove the dough from the heat and let cool until safe to touch.

  6. Knead the dough until it forms a smooth ball. Store in an airtight container.

Make up this scented pumpkin pie playdough recipe for some fall sensory fun with the kids! Only takes a few ingredients!

Use simple supplies to make this easy fall color matching activity for preschoolers! Perfect for fall preschool lessons!

Easy Fall Preschool Color Matching Activity

September 12, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Fall is one of the best times of year to explore with preschoolers. The weather is cooler, the animals are moving around and storing up food for winter, and the colors are gorgeous.

If you live in a part of the world where you see fall foliage, autumn is a wonderful time to talk about colors with little ones. 

But, even if you don’t, you can use this simple fall preschool color matching activity to reinforce that concept with early learners!

Easy Preschool Fall Color Matching Activity for Kids

This is such a simple and fun hands-on activity for toddlers and preschoolers. And it only takes a few minutes to set it up.

Get the full instructions below! And be sure to check out our Apple Pie Playdough for more fall preschool sensory fun!

Use simple supplies to make this easy fall color matching activity for preschoolers! Perfect for fall preschool lessons!

Easy Fall Preschool Color Matching Activity

To make this fall preschool coloring matching activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Fall-themed paint sample cards
  • Scissors
  • Fall leaf foam glitter stickers

Easy Fall Leaf Color Matching Activity

To get started, simply use the scissors to cut the paint sample strips apart. You’ll want to have one color on each strip.

If your preschoolers are working on scissor skills, hand them a pair of child-safe scissors and let them help with this part.

Simple Fall Leaf Color Matching Activity for Kids

Be sure to use fall-themed colors, so you’re looking for deep reds, muted greens, and bright yellows.

Easy Fall Color Matching Activity for Preschoolers

Pour out several fall leaf foam stickers onto the table. I love the glittery foam stickers, but you could also use felt or paper stickers if you prefer.

Since the glitter sticks up a bit, working with them makes a nice sensory activity for little hands.

Easy Fall Color Matching Activity

Let the kids try to match up the color stickers with the colored paint strips. 

You can work with one color family at a time, especially when you’re first beginning to talk about colors, or you can combine them all and see how quickly the kids can match up the leaves and paint strips.

This would also make a great on-the-go busy bag for active toddlers and preschoolers!

Fall Playdough Mats

Books about Fall Leaf Colors for Kids

If you’d like to tie this activity into a lesson about why leaves change color during the fall, these books about fall leaf colors would be wonderful for read-aloud time!

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

We’re Going On A Leaf Hunt

I Love Fall! A Touch-and-Feel Board Book

Did you like this fall preschool color matching activity? Take a look at these other early learning ideas for kids!

Make it easy to spot autumn sights around you with this fun and easy fall memory game for kids!

Make up a batch of this apple pie playdough to have a fun fall sensory activity with your little ones! So fun for little hands!

These printable apple counting puzzles are perfect for early math lessons! Use them at fall math centers or for an interactive apple lesson for little ones!

And follow my Fall Activities for Kids for even more autumn learning inspiration!

This easy fall color matching activity is a perfect way to talk about fall colors with kids! Use it as a fall busy bag or at centers!

Make up a batch of this apple pie playdough to have a fun fall sensory activity with your little ones! So fun for little hands!

Fall Apple Pie Playdough for Kids

August 8, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My kids have loved to play with playdough for as long as I can remember.

Of course, some of that is because I like to play with playdough and I basically insisted they did too. I make no apologies.

Working with playdough is such a soothing activity for kids (and adults) and it’s good gross motor and fine motor skill practice too.

So, since fall is just around the corner, why not try this fun apple pie playdough recipe with your kids for some fall sensory fun!

Easy Apple Pie Playdough Recipe for Kids

This is such a fun DIY playdough recipe to make with the kids. It smells amazing and it’s a fun way to get them ready for fall baking!

Fun Apple Pie Playdough Sensory Activity

It would also be a fantastic sensory activity to try after reading some of your child’s favorite fall books for kids!

Read on to get the full printable playdough recipe while you’re here.

Want more apple fun for early learners? Don’t miss our Apple Alike! Same or Different Worksheets!

Make up a batch of this apple pie playdough to have a fun fall sensory activity with your little ones! So fun for little hands!

Fall Apple Pie Playdough

To make this fall apple pie playdough recipe, you’ll need the following:

  • Flour
  • Coconut oil
  • Salt
  • Cream of tartar
  • Food coloring
  • Apple scented oil
  • Green apple scented oil
  • Cinnamon scented oil

How to Make Apple Pie Playdough

You’ll be following the same basic DIY playdough recipe to make each flavor.

You’ll just need to adjust the scents and colors to make each ingredient of the “pie”.

Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

As a note, this apple pie playdough recipe is NOT edible. Please don’t allow small children to eat it. It smells good, but it’s just for play.

Start by mixing the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together.

Easy Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

Then add the coconut oil, food coloring, apple scented oil, and some warm water.

Cook the mixture over low heat while stirring continuously.

DIY Apple Pie Playdough

You’ll know it’s done when it starts to look “doughy”. Keep stirring until the dough no longer looks wet.

DIY Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

Then remove it from the pan and knead it with your hand until it forms a ball.

 

 

DIY Green Apple Playdough Recipe

To make the green apple playdough, swap out the red food coloring for green food coloring.

Easy Green Apple Playdough for Kids

And use green apple scented oil instead of regular apple.

Simple Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

When you’re ready to make the “crust”, just use brown food coloring and cinnamon scented oil.

DIY Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

Follow the same steps to cook the playdough on the stove.

Easy Cinnamon Playdough Recipe

Then knead it into a ball and you’re done!

Apple Pie Playdough for Kids

The kids will love using playdough tools to mold each batch into a pie!

Fun Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

They can even use child-safe scissors to cut the lattice strips for the top of the “apple pie crust”!

Scroll down for the full fall apple pie playdough recipe!

 

 

 

Don’t miss these other fun ways to make playdough at home!

Mix up some sensory fun with these edible playdough recipes for kids! These are so fun for little ones who love to play with dough!

Make this fun (and yummy!) solar system edible playdough for some sweet sensory play!

See more ways to learn with sensory fun on my Sensory Play Pinterest board!

 

 

 

Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

Get the full apple pie playdough recipe below!

If you plan to make it with your kids, let me know how they like it!

Fall Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

Apple Pie Playdough for Kids
Print

Apple Pie Playdough Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • 3/4 cup salt
  • 4 tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 cups warm water
  • red food coloring
  • green food coloring
  • brown food coloring
  • apple scented oil
  • green apple scented oil
  • cinnamon scented oil

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and cream of tartar.

  2. Add the coconut oil and mix well.

  3. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and add the warm water.

  4. Add a few drops of red food coloring to make the apple playdough. Add green food coloring if you are making the green apple playdough. Add brown food coloring if you are making the cinnamon playdough.

  5. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture is no longer wet and looks doughy.

  6. Remove the dough from the saucepan. Knead it with your hands until smooth.

Recipe Notes

Store the playdough in an airtight container for up to three days.

Welcome fall with this fun apple pie playdough recipe for kids! Wonderful as a fall sensory activity for preschoolers!

These printable cupcake playdough mats are perfect for building fine motor skills in preschoolers! Plus, they're adorable for a cupcake unit!

Preschool Playdough Mats: Cupcake Playdough Mats

July 18, 2019 by Selena Robinson

These cute cupcake playdough mats are so adorable for practicing fine motor skills!

It’s time for us to share another one of our preschool playdough mats and this time we have cupcakes!

Cupcakes are just plain fun. Whenever I say the word “cupcake”, I just start to smile involuntarily. It’s science.

So I thought these cupcake playdough mats would be fun for little hands! They’re great for building fine motor skills, color recognition, and more. 

And they’re perfect for a cupcake unit! Because you can never learn too much about cupcakes, right?

Printable Preschool Cupcake Playdough Mats

Read on to see how to get your copy of these fun printable mats for some playdough time with the kids!

Ready for more fine motor skill fun? Don’t miss our other preschool playdough mats, including Mountain Do-A-Dot Shape Mats and Fall Alphabet and Number Playdough Mats!

These printable cupcake playdough mats are perfect for building fine motor skills in preschoolers! Plus, they're adorable for a cupcake unit!

Preschool Playdough Mats: Cupcake Playdough Mats

To use these playdough mats, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Laminator (to reuse the mats for another time)
  • Play dough

Printable Cupcake Playdough Mats

This product includes four different cupcake mats – two with faces and two without. I thought the cupcake faces were adorable, but if your child prefers the ones that look more like food, no biggie!

Printable Cupcake Playdough Mats for Kids

These would make fantastic busy bag additions. You can print them, laminate them, and add them to a busy bag with dry-erase crayons or dot markers and let your child color in the circles!

Preschool Cupcake Playdough Mats

Personally, I love the use of playdough for fine motor skill building. Kids can practice rolling the dough into small spheres and then placing them on the free spaces on each mat.

Cupcake Playdough Mats for Kids

You can use different colors to practice color recognition or even work on counting by counting how many playdough balls you can add to each picture!

Scroll down to get your set of printable cupcake playdough mats!

Don’t miss our other preschool playdough mats!

Build fine motor skills and letter recognition with these fun forest alphabet playdough mats!

These beach themed number playdough mats are fun for practicing recognizing numbers from 0 to 9!

Try a fun way to teach counting to your preschooler - this Apple Tree Printable Counting Mat!

Plus, see more ideas for teaching early years at home on my Learning for Little Ones Pinterest board!

Working on fine motor skills with your little ones? These printable cupcake playdough mats are a perfect fine motor skill builder for young children!

To get your copy of our latest preschool playdough mats: Cupcake Playdough Mats, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Cupcake Playdough Mats for Preschoolers

>>> Preschool Playdough Mats: Cupcake Playdough Mats <<<

Mix up some sensory fun with these edible playdough recipes for kids! These are so fun for little ones who love to play with dough!

20 Super Fun Edible Playdough Recipes You Can Make at Home

June 20, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do your kids love to play with playdough? It’s always been a big hit in our house. Our kids love to squish it, mix it with different colors, and mold it into all kinds of creations. 

But, once we learned that you can could make edible playdough, our world was officially rocked.

When we played with store-bought playdough, one of the questions they always asked was “Can we eat it?”

And I’d always have to answer, “No. I know it looks like it tastes good, but, trust me, it does not.” (It really, really doesn’t.)

Which is why I was so excited to gather up this list of super fun edible playdough recipes!

20 Edible Playdough Recipes You Can Make at Home

These recipes for edible playdough are all easy to make and fun for kids to play with. Plus, they can eat it after they make their art. It’s a perfect sensory activity for kids of all ages!

Read on to see the full list of edible homemade playdough recipes below. And, for more ways to learn with playdough, check out our Cupcake Playdough Mats!

Mix up some sensory fun with these edible playdough recipes for kids! These are so fun for little ones who love to play with dough!

20 Edible Playdough Recipes You Can Make at Home

(This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

1. Solar System Edible Playdough – Look! We’re Learning!
2. Two-Ingredient Edible Playdough – Temecula Blogs
3. Baby Safe Edible Playdough – Learning 4 Kids
4. Cake Batter Edible Playdough – The Soccer Mom Blog
5. Sugar Cookie Playdough – Frugal Mom Eh
6. Edible Peanut Butter Playdough – I Can Teach My Child
7. Nutella Playdough – Still Playing School
8. Edible Pumpkin Pie Playdough – Coffee Cups and Crayons
9. Edible Playdough Fudge – STEAM Powered Family
10. Cookie Dough Playdough – Natural Beach Living

11. Dairy Free Edible Playdough – Look! We’re Learning!
12. Almond Playdough – Craftulate
13. Unicorn Poop Playdough – The Soccer Mom Blog
14. Strawberry Playdough – Powerful Mothering
15. Edible Jelly Bean Playdough – Lemon Lime Adventures
16. Cream Cheese Playdough – Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
17. Edible Rainbow Playdough – Preschool Powol Pockets
18. Chocolate Oat Playdough – Powerful Mothering
19. Cake Mix Playdough – Messy Little Monster
20. Peppermint Playdough – Frugal Mom Eh

Ways to Play With Edible Playdough Recipes

Okay, so you’ve chosen an edible playdough recipe to make. You’ve made it. Now what?

You can just hand the playdough over to your kids and let them play with it. (And don’t worry, they will.) But you can also extend the activity into helping them learn a few things while they play.

Use edible playdough for literacy practice.

Encourage the kids to roll the playdough into ropes and then practice forming letters and numbers with it. These ocean themed letter and number playdough mats are perfect for this!

Printable Alphabet Ocean Playdough Mats

Practice scissor cutting skills.

Grab a pair of child-safe scissors and then let the kids practice cutting their playdough into small pieces. Toddlers can use their fingers to tear the dough before trying the scissors.

Work on basic counting.

Once kids are comfortable working the playdough into little balls, it’s a great time to start counting! Kids can practice counting by ones, skip counting, counting by groups, and basic addition.

Pick up this free apple tree counting mat to use with your little ones!

Build fine motor skills.

Give the kids a few cookie cutters or a mini rolling pin so they can practice shaping the edible playdough into different shapes.

Here are a couple of playdough tools that may come in handy!

Clay and Dough Tools Six-Piece Set

Alex Art Wooden Dough Tools Set

Kiddy Dough 24-Piece Set Dough Tools and Party Pack

Have some fun sensory play with these fun and edible playdough recipes for kids! You can make these at home and let the kids play safely!

Did you love this list of edible playdough recipes? Don’t miss these other playdough activities!

Pick up these printable rainbow playdough mats for some colorful fine motor fun with early learners!

These beach themed number playdough mats are fun for practicing recognizing numbers from 0 to 9!

Help little ones practice fine motor skills and recognizing basic shapes with these fun printable mountain playdough shape mats for kids!

Be sure to follow my Sensory Play board on Pinterest for more sensory activities!

Practice reading sight words this summer with these fun summer sight word flashcards! Great for building reading fluency before the new school year!

Free Printable Flashcards: Summer Printable Sight Word Flashcards

May 9, 2019 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Get your early reader some fun in the sun reading practice with these printable summer printable sight word flashcards!

Summer’s on its way! And it’s a great time to start thinking about summer learning plans, especially if you follow a traditional year and take the summer off.

Unfortunately, over the summer kids can start to slack off a bit and forget what they learned during the previous year. But that doesn’t have to be the case!

Get your early learners off to a great reading start with a new set of free printable flashcards: summer printable sight word flashcards!

These are designed to help little ones get into the sunny reading mood! 🙂

Summer Sight Word Flashcards for Early Readers

If you enjoy these flashcards, be sure to check out more summer learning fun with our list of summer books for kids and summer printables for kids to use during the break!

Practice reading sight words this summer with these fun summer sight word flashcards! Great for building reading fluency before the new school year!

Summer Printable Sight Word Flashcards

To use these summer printable sight word flashcards, you’ll need the following supplies: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For more, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator

Printable Summer Sight Word Flashcards

In this set of flashcards, kids can learn the following sight words:

  • ball
  • boat
  • chair
  • morning
  • sun
  • fish
  • tree
  • And water!

Printable Summer Sight Word Flashcards for Kids

You’ll find one set of cards with words and pictures and one with just pictures for memory skill-building.

Summer Sight Word Flashcards

These would be an excellent bridge to reading simple readers this fall!

Summer Sight Word Flashcards for Kids

Scroll down to get your free summer printable sight word flashcards!

Check out more summer learning ideas for kids below!

Summer Books for Kids

This fun ice cream themed shape sorting activity for kids is so cool for practicing shape recognition!

These beach themed number playdough mats are fun for practicing recognizing numbers from 0 to 9!

Plus, get more ideas for learning over the summer on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Printable Summer Sight Word Flashcards for Early Readers

To get your copy of our Summer Printable Sight Word Flashcards, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll receive access to these and lots of other learning printables free in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

Sign up by entering your email address in the widget below!

By the way, if you don’t see your welcome email in a few minutes, take a look in your spam folder. 🙂

Work on early reading skills this summer with these fun printable summer sight word flashcards! These are perfect for building early literacy skills over summer break!

This gorgeous glitter mermaid slime is so fun for sensory play with the kids!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

April 25, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My kids love, absolutely love playing with slime. Judging by the most popular YouTube videos for kids, they’re not alone.

Making slime is one of the most popular activities for kids these days. There are so many great slime recipes to try. But, since we’re slowly coming into summer (yay!), I thought it would be fun to share a super easy DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime!

This is such a fun activity to try during the warmer months!

Easy DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime Recipe for Kids

Read on to get the full project directions and printable instructions! And, there’s a super cute printable below for turning this Mermaid Slime into adorable party favors.

Want to have more fun with slime? Don’t miss our roundup of 50 unique slime recipes for kids to make!

This gorgeous glitter mermaid slime is so fun for sensory play with the kids!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime for Kids

To make this DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime, you’ll need the following:

  • Clear glue
  • Food coloring
  • Colored glitter
  • Baking soda
  • Contact lens solution

Making Mermaid Slime

Start by pouring the clear glue into a bowl.

Making Mermaid Slime with Kids

Then add a few drops of food coloring. (Choose a color that matches the mermaid theme.)

Mermaid Slime Making

Add a good amount of matching colored glitter and stir it well.

Making DIY Mermaid Slime with Kids

Then add baking soda and contact lens solution (that’s what turns the mixture into slime).

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

And you’re done! It really only takes a few minutes from beginning to end.

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime for Kids

Make as many mermaid-themed colors as you like!

DIY Mermaid Glitter Slime Party Favors

If you’re throwing a mermaid-themed kids’ party, you can even turn this Glitter Slime into cute goodie bag prizes!

DIY Colorful Mermaid Slime for Kids

Just pour the slime into empty baby food jars and tie ribbon around the neck of each jar.

Simple Mermaid Slime Party Favors for Kids

Grab these adorable mermaid toppers to glue onto the jar lids.

Easy Glitter Mermaid Slime Party Favors

And you’re done!

How to Make Glitter Mermaid Slime Party Favors

Since this slime lasts a very long time when it’s stored in an airtight container, it’s a wonderful party favor for kids to take home.

Get these adorable mermaid slime printable topper labels by clicking the image below!

Mermaid Slime Party Favor Topper

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime Instructions

Now….for the printable Glitter Mermaid Slime instructions!

Making DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

The full ingredients and instructions are below. And you can even print them for your convenience!

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime
Print

DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

This fun glitter mermaid slime is perfect for ocean-themed sensory play!

Ingredients

  • 6 oz clear glue
  • 3 to 4 drops food coloring
  • 1 to 2 tbsp colored glitter
  • 1/2 tbsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp contact lens solution

Instructions

  1. Pour the clear glue into a mixing bowl.

    Making Mermaid Slime
  2. Add a few drops of food coloring to the bowl. Start with one or two drops and add more as desired.

    Making Mermaid Slime with Kids
  3. Add the glitter and mix well.

    Mermaid Slime Making
  4. Add the baking soda and contact lens solution. Stir to combine. When the slime starts to pull away from the bowl, you'll know it's done.

    Making DIY Mermaid Slime with Kids
  5. Store in an airtight container.

    DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime

Make up a batch of this beautiful glittery DIY mermaid slime for some ocean-themed sensory play!

Did you love making this DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime with your kids? Share how yours turned out in the comments!

Take a look at these other fun activities to share with your kids this summer!

Share these summer outdoor play ideas with the kids while the weather is warm!

These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

Summer Books for Kids

And see more ways to have some sensory fun with the kids on my Sensory Play Pinterest board!

Make up a batch of this DIY Glitter Mermaid Slime for some ocean-themed sensory play! Perfect for summer sensory fun!

These printable phonics flashcards are excellent for helping early readers practice sounding out vowels and consonants! Great for literacy centers too!

Phonics Fun! Printable Phonics Flashcards for Kids

April 22, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Phonics are kind of a controversial topic in education these days. Some kids learn to read without ever practicing phonics, but some benefit by learning to master common phonics skills. 

Personally, I’m for whatever helps a child learn to read. 

Some of my kids took to reading right away. Others learned beginning sounds, digraphs, and suffixes before learning to read fluently. 

So I thought these printable phonics flashcards might be useful to some of you as well!

Printable Phonics Flashcards for Early Readers

These would be excellent for literacy centers, phonics reviews, and even “I Have, Who Has?” games! Plus, you can print them once and then use them over and over again.

Find out how to get your set of phonics flashcards for kids below! And, for more fun with early literacy, check out our Rhyming Word Puzzles!

These printable phonics flashcards are excellent for helping early readers practice sounding out vowels and consonants! Great for literacy centers too!

Phonics Fun! Printable Phonics Flashcards for Kids

To use these printable phonics flashcards, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (Useful if you plan to reuse the cards)

Printable Vowel Cards for Kids

These printable phonics flashcards for kids include a complete set of vowel flashcards, featuring letters and pictures that have the correct beginning sound for each letter.

Printable Phonics Flashcards for Kids

Long and short vowel sounds are included.

So, for letter A, there are two flashcards: one featuring a picture of an acorn (for long A) and another featuring a picture of an alligator (for short A).

Consonant Flashcards for Kids

Consonant sounds are included in this set of printable phonics flashcards too!

Printable Consonant Phonics Flashcards

Letters that have more than one sound, such as G, have a flashcard for each type of sound: hard and soft.

In the example of G, one flashcard shows a picture of grapes (for hard G) and another shows a picture of a gingerbread man (for soft G).

Printable Consonant Flashcards for Kids

Even tricky letters like X are included! One flashcard shows a word that begins with X (“xylophone”) and another shows a word that ends with the X sound (“fox”).

Phonics Flashcards for Kids

Color and line art versions of all the flashcards are included as well!

Scroll down to get your copy of our printable phonics flashcards!

Stop by and see these other early literacy learning ideas!

Work on early literacy skills with this fun set of printable spring sight word flashcards! Perfect for spring reading!

Help your preschooler love reading with this preschool homeschool reading list!

Help tots and preschoolers practice letter and number literacy with these spring literacy mats! These are wonderful for welcoming the warmer weather with little ones!

And see more ways to teach reading on my Reading for Kids Pinterest board!

Working on early reading skills with your preschooler? Try these printable phonics flashcards for some quick letter learning fun!

To get your set of our Phonics Fun: Printable Phonics Flashcards for kids, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Phonics Flashcards Bundle

>>> Phonics Fun! Printable Phonics Flashcards <<<

These printable racecar scissor skills worksheets are perfect fine motor practice for little racing fans!

Revving Racecar Scissor Skills Printables for Kids

April 18, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

These racecar scissor skills printables are so much fun for helping little ones learn to use scissors!

Little Miss has been racing her way through all of her preschool lessons. She absolutely cannot wait for kindergarten this fall. Remember when you were young enough to actually be excited about doing harder work like the “big kids”? Yeah, I don’t either.

Anyway, she’s mastered her letters, numbers, shapes, and counting, so we’ve been working on a lot of fine motor skills. And that includes learning how to use scissors.

Printable Race Car Scissor Skills Worksheets for Fine Motor Practice

With my oldest child, I put off scissor skills for way too long, so this time around, we got started with safety scissors as soon as possible. She loves it!

Since she’s such a little firecracker about getting her schoolwork done, I knew she’d love these racecar scissor skills printables! These are super fun for little racers! Read on to get your set free! And if you love these, don’t miss our Busy Bee Scissor Skills Worksheets too!

These printable racecar scissor skills worksheets are perfect fine motor practice for little racing fans!

Racecar Scissor Skills Printables for Kids

To use these scissor skills printables, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Paper
  • Child-safe scissors

Racecar Themed Scissor Skills Printables for Kids

This printable scissor skills pack includes three worksheets:

Printable Racecar Themed Scissor Skills Worksheets

One with a pink racecar and straight cutting lines…

Racecar Scissor Skills Practice Sheets

One with a blue racecar and curved cutting lines…

Racecar Themed Scissor Skills Worksheets

And one with a yellow racecar and wavy cutting lines.

Printable Race Car Scissor Skills Worksheets

Using Racecar Scissor Skills Printables with Preschoolers

All you need to do is find a willing preschooler who’s ready to try these out!

Free Racecar Scissor Skills Printables

Since this wasn’t Piglet’s first time using scissors, she didn’t need a lot of assistance, especially with the straight lined worksheet.

Racecar Scissor Skills Printables for Kids

But I did keep an eye on her – just to be safe.

Racecar Scissor Skills Printables

The wavy lines and curved lines gave her a little trouble (mostly because she didn’t want to cut the racecars themselves), but once she got the hang of it, it was full steam ahead!

Free Racecar Scissor Skills Printables for Kids

Scroll down to get your free Racecar Scissor Skills Printables!

Stop by to check out these other fun preschool resources!

Help preschoolers learn to sort objects by color and number with these colorful cubes preschool sorting worksheets! Just print, cut out the color cubes, and let the kids get to work!

Build fine motor skills and letter recognition with these fun forest alphabet playdough mats!

Teach your early learners to count with ordinal numbers using this fun pumpkin themed printable ordinal number lesson!

Get more tips for teaching preschool on my Learning for Little Ones Pinterest board!

Race Car Scissor Skills Worksheets

To get your copy of our Revving Racecar Scissor Skills Printables, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll get access to these and other exclusive printables – just for subscribing!

Help your preschoolers learn to sort big and small objects with these adorable cupcake themed size sorting worksheets! Add them to your preschool lesson plan for this year!

Preschool Worksheets: Big and Small Worksheets for Preschool

April 15, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Pick up these cute cupcake big and small worksheets for preschool to make learning about size differentiation fun!

I remember the first time Piglet showed that she was starting to notice differences in sizes. She said “Wow! Mommy! Your hand is much more huger than mine!” *giggle*

Since she has older siblings, she seemed to become aware of the differences between bigger and smaller pretty quickly.

After all, she wasn’t able to do a lot of things her brothers and sisters could because they were “bigger” than her.

To reinforce the idea of size differentiation, I decided to try some big and small worksheets for preschool. And I thought why not add a cute cupcake theme and make them free while I was at it!

Printable Cupcake Themed Size Sorting Worksheets for Early Learners

I’ve been on a bit of a cupcake roll lately, so if you want to build a quick unit for your preschooler, add these worksheets for preschoolers to our cupcake letter matching activity and our cupcake playdough mats!

Plus, see our other preschool worksheets and activities for kids!

Help your preschoolers learn to sort big and small objects with these adorable cupcake themed size sorting worksheets! Add them to your preschool lesson plan for this year!

Cupcake Big and Small Worksheets for Preschool

To use these cupcake big and small worksheets, you’ll need the following supplies: (Affiliate links provided for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Pencil

Cupcake Big and Small Worksheets for Kids

These printables focus on helping preschoolers learn the difference between items that are “biggest” and those that are “smallest”.

Cupcake Big and Small Worksheets

Kids can practice finding the cupcakes that are biggest on one worksheet.

Printable Big and Small Worksheets for Kids

A second worksheet helps them practice finding the smallest cupcake in each row.

I didn’t want to do biggest and smallest on the same worksheet, because that could be a little confusing, especially for young learners.

Cupcake Big and Small Size Worksheets for Kids

A complete answer key is included. And, if you use the line art version, you can let the kids color in their cupcakes afterwards.

Printable Cupcake Big and Small Worksheets

Scroll down to get your copy of our Cupcake Big and Small Preschool Worksheets!

Try these other fun preschool activities!

These cupcake letter puzzles are such a cute way to practice recognizing uppercase and lowercase letters!

Ten Minute Preschool Activities

Help your preschooler love reading with this preschool homeschool reading list!

Plus, see more ideas for teaching early education on my Learning for Little Ones Pinterest board!

To get your copy of our Cupcake Big and Small Preschool Worksheets, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Cupcake Size Sorting Worksheets

>>> Big and Small Worksheets for Preschool <<<

These fun cupcake themed big and small worksheets are great for helping little ones sort objects by size!

Work on early literacy skills with this fun set of printable spring sight word flashcards! Perfect for spring reading!

Spring Sight Words! Spring Sight Words Flashcards

March 4, 2019 by Selena Robinson 8 Comments

Help your early readers bud this year with these printable spring sight word flashcards!
These spring sight words flashcards are a perfect way to teach reading during spring months!

The first day of spring is approaching! Woohoo!

Since Roo has been working on sight words lately, I thought I’d make some spring sight words flashcards and I’m sharing them with you all today!

Learning to read sight words is a huge leap forward for early literacy skills. It’s the first step toward reading short stories.

Preschoolers and kindergartners who master sight words will be on their way to reading in no time!

Early readers will love this fun set of printable spring sight word flashcards!

These are so fun for working on early reading skills with preschoolers and kindergarteners! Plus, they make a great matching game!

If you enjoy these, be sure to grab our other spring printables, including our Busy Bee Scissor Skills Worksheets and our All About Flowers printable unit study!

Work on early literacy skills with this fun set of printable spring sight word flashcards! Perfect for spring reading!

Spring Sight Words Flashcards for Kids

To use these spring sight words flashcards, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Laminator (for making the cards sturdy)

Printable Spring Sight Word Flashcards

These flashcards feature eight spring-themed sight words, including:

  • Bird
  • Seed
  • Rabbit
  • Duck
  • Garden
  • Flower
  • Rain
  • and Day

Spring Sight Word Flashcards

In the product, there are three sets of cards: one with pictures and words, one with just pictures, and one with just words.

Once your child learns to recognize the words and pictures together, try testing them with just the words to help them start identifying sight words on their own!

Printable Spring Sight Word Flashcards for Early Literacy

Scroll down to pick up your set of spring sight words flashcards!

Don’t miss these other spring learning ideas for kids!

Grab these fun busy bee scissor skills printables to help little ones practice using scissors!

These spring science ideas are wonderful for teaching science to the kids this year!

Make this easy spring toilet roll butterfly craft with your kids! So fun and simple for little ones!

To get your copy of these Spring Sight Word Cards, click the image or the link below to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store!

Printable Spring Sight Word Flashcards for Kids

> Spring Sight Word Cards – Teachers Pay Teachers <

Struggling to help your little one calm down? Try these five tips for helping preschoolers manage their emotions!

5 Tips for Helping Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

February 28, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you experienced a preschool meltdown today? We have four children and our youngest is now six, so we’re past the preschool stage. But I remember it so well.

I’d see one of my kids go running by having the time of their life. 30 seconds later, they’re dissolving into a puddle of tears, generally crying so hard that they couldn’t tell me what was wrong.

Initially, I thought I just had emotional kids. (I can be pretty emotional myself, so it was no secret where they got it from.) But it’s difficult to help preschoolers manage their emotions in general.

5 Ways to Help Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

After all, understanding emotions can be difficult at any age, but for little ones, it is even more challenging. Between the newness of their developing emotions and their limited vocabulary, it can be very frustrating for them to communicate what they are feeling.

Helping preschoolers understand their emotions and teaching them the right way to express those feelings is an important task for parents and caregivers. Here are some tips that can help as you navigate emotions with your little one.

Read on to get some helpful tips for teaching your preschooler to manage his or her feelings. And if your child struggles with worry, don’t miss our printable Worry Journal for kids!

Struggling to help your little one calm down? Try these five tips for helping preschoolers manage their emotions!

Images c/o: Yaruta & Kotangens / depositphotos

5 Tips for Helping Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

Never Refer to an Emotion as “Bad” or “Wrong”

The first thing to remember when you’re helping preschoolers manage their emotions is that there is simply no such thing as a bad emotion. However, there are inappropriate reactions to emotions. By labeling an emotion as bad or wrong, you run the risk of your child taking that label upon themselves.

If your preschooler is worried that he or she is feeling something “bad”, they are far more likely to keep their emotions bottled up and will face even more challenges to understand and cope with emotions.

Take Time to Talk About Your Emotions and Reactions

Using age-appropriate conversation, share how you feel from time to time with your preschooler and what has caused that feeling. If your emotions are tied to something your child did, make it clear that it is about the action and not about them as a person.

For example, explaining that you love her very much, but backtalk when you’ve asked her to do something makes you feel upset and raise your voice, helps to put the focus on your emotion and reaction toward the action. Be sure to explain your happiness and joy, as well as anger and sadness.

Help Them Expand Their Emotional Vocabulary

As your preschooler begins to mature, he or she can begin to explore more words that relate to emotions. Happy, sad, and angry can begin to develop into excitement, disappointment, and frustration as they start to understand that their emotions are more complex.

Use these descriptors as you talk about your own emotions and relate them to those base emotions to help your child make sense of these expanded feelings.

Using Spanish Feelings Flashcards with Kids

Our English and Spanish feelings flashcards are a great way to help little ones learn to describe their emotions! Pick up a set for your child here.

Guide Them to Identifying Their Feelings

Instead of using phrases like “I know you are angry”, open up a conversation that will allow your child to identify their own feelings and emotions. Sometimes, a reaction might lead us to think our child is angry or sad, when they’re really feeling frustrated or have had their feelings hurt by someone else.

By giving them the power to own and name their emotions, you’ll build the coping skills that will help them along as they move slowly toward adulthood.

Give Them Outlets of Expression Beyond Just Words

Sometimes it can be hard to communicate how a child is feeling through words. If your little one can’t express himself or herself clearly, ask your child to draw a picture of what happened or how they feel. Role playing with dolls or action figures can sometimes be effective for getting to the bottom of a tricky emotion.

As they show you the scenario leading up to an upset or sadness, you can help them by asking questions that lead them to use their words to express emotions.

Helping preschoolers understand their emotions is just the first step in a long process of navigating feelings and reactions throughout their lives. Remember to keep things simple and get on their level, then expand the concepts as they mature and grow.

Stop by to see these other posts for happy parenting!

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

Whenever I'm out with the kids, the question I hear the most is How do you do it Well, to be honest, I don't! Here's what it's like to be a fake supermom.

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

And get even more tips for your parenting journey on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

Help early learners recognize letters of the alphabet with these printable spring alphabet flashcards! So fun for spring learning!

Spring A to Z Alphabet Flashcards

February 25, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do you feel that? That’s spring in the air!

I’m not a fan of winter and, every year, I count down the days until I can hear baby birds chirping outside. To help the kids get excited for spring too, I thought I’d share a super cute set of Spring A to Z Alphabet Flashcards!

These are so adorable for helping little ones learn about the alphabet in a fun, spring-themed way!

Printable Spring Themed A to Z Alphabet Flashcards

Read on to see how to get your set of these alphabet flashcards free!

And, if you’re in the mood for more spring learning fun, don’t miss our All About Flowers Unit Study! It’s a complete thematic unit for grades 1-4!

Help early learners recognize letters of the alphabet with these printable spring A to Z alphabet flashcards! So fun for spring learning!

Spring A to Z Alphabet Flashcards

To use these spring A to Z alphabet flashcards, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Laminator (optional: for making the cards durable)
  • Scissors

Spring Alphabet A to Z Cards

This set features 26 letter flashcards with sweet spring words and pictures.

Printable Spring Alphabet Cards

Toddlers can use them to learn the letters of the alphabet in order.

Printable Spring A to Z Alphabet Word Flashcards

Preschoolers and kindergartners can use them to practice beginning phonics, since the name of each picture begins with the letter on the card.

Challenge your little ones to see if they can put the cards in order from A to Z! Or say each word and let your child guess the beginning letter. If they guess right, they get to keep the card!

Printable Spring Themed A to Z Cards for Kids

Scroll down to get your set of our Spring A to Z Alphabet Flashcards!

Check out these other fun spring printables for kids!

These free flower identification cards are great for little budding gardeners or for an outdoor nature walk!

Work on early literacy skills with this fun set of printable spring sight word flashcards! Perfect for spring reading!

These printable ladybug math activities are perfect for sharing with the kids this spring!

See more ways to make spring learning fun on my Spring Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Spring Alphabet Flashcards

To get your copy of our Spring A to Z Alphabet Flashcards, sign up for our email newsletter! It’s free and you’ll get access to these printables and lots more in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

Just use the widget below to get started.

Help preschoolers learn to sort objects by color and number with these colorful cubes preschool sorting worksheets! Just print, cut out the color cubes, and let the kids get to work!

Preschool Worksheets: Preschool Sorting Worksheets

January 31, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever taken a preschooler out to shop for clothes? My four-year-old has recently developed a severe aversion to particular colors and textures, so shopping for clothing is…an interesting experience.

Here’s a sample exchange:

Me: “What do you think about this shirt?”

Her: *waves both arms frantically* “No, Mom! I only like purple right now!”

Clearly, she knows her colors.

Preschoolers typically do a great job at distinguishing colors, sizes, and quantities when it comes to things they prefer, but learning to sort common objects by color or amount can still be a little tricky. So I’m sharing a brand new set of preschool worksheets today: color and number preschool sorting worksheets!

Preschool Sorting Worksheets for Colors and Numbers

These printables are a great way to give little learners some practice in recognizing colors, counting from one to four, and classifying items as sets – all in one activity! Plus, they get a little fine motor practice too!

Read on to see how to get your set and, if you like these, check out our Apple Activities Preschool Bundle for more PreK learning fun!

Help preschoolers learn to sort objects by color and number with these colorful cubes preschool sorting worksheets! Just print, cut out the color cubes, and let the kids get to work!

Preschool Worksheets: Color and Number Preschool Sorting Worksheets

To use these color and number preschool sorting worksheets, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick

Printable Color Cube Preschool Sorting Worksheets

This cut-and-paste activity is a perfect hands-on lesson for preschoolers on colors and counting! This product includes four color and number sorting worksheets, with directions.

Colorful Cubes Preschool Sorting Worksheets

Two printable pages of color cubes are included as well. Plus, a full answer key!

Colorful Cubes Color Sorting Worksheets

Once the kids cut out the color cubes, they can practice gluing the correct number of cubes in the right section on each worksheet.

Color Cube Sorting Worksheets

You might want to have the kids match up the cubes before gluing. That way, they’ll get a little extra practice and they’ll have time to switch any cubes around before gluing them down.

(Hint: If your child tends to have a meltdown over mistakes – like mine – the extra practice is totally worth it.)

Colorful Cube Sorting Worksheets

Each worksheet has a section for different colors and quantities of color cubes.

Printable Colorful Cube Sorting Activity

There are enough color cubes on the two pages to fill all four worksheets – with several left over.  So if you want the kids to get a little extra scissor skills practice, they can work on cutting out the extra cubes afterward!

Scroll down to get your copy of our Color and Number Preschool Sorting Worksheets!

These preschool sorting worksheets are a fun way to practice recognizing colors and counting items in a set!

Check out some of our other printable preschool learning activities!

Teach your early learners to count with ordinal numbers using this fun pumpkin themed printable ordinal number lesson!

This fun ice cream themed shape sorting activity for kids is so cool for practicing shape recognition!

Toddlers and preschoolers will love this mail-themed color sorting activity! Perfect for a busy bag!

Get more teaching resources for early grades on my Learning for Little Ones Pinterest board!

Did you know that you can get exclusive (and free!) learning printables when you sign up for our email newsletter? Use the widget below to subscribe.

To get your copy of our Colorful Cubes! Color and Number Preschool Sorting Worksheets, click the image or the link below to visit our Store!

Colorful Cubes Preschool Worksheets

>>> Color and Number Preschool Sorting Worksheets <<<

Pick up this printable winter preschool activity set to help little ones practice symmetry, shape matching, and more! Perfect for winter preschool lessons!

Printable Winter Preschool Activity Set

January 10, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I don’t love winter. Not by a long shot. It’s a bit too cold for this native Floridian.

But winter is a lovely theme for preschool. Kids love working with lessons that feature snow, snowmen, icicles, penguins, and all those adorable winter animals.

So I decided to overlook my bias toward winter and share this super cute printable winter preschool activity set!

Printable Winter PreK Activity Set for Kids

This is such a neat way to spend a day of teaching with early learners! There are three activities inside that little ones will love to do during the cold months.

Read on to see how to get your copy – free! And for more early learning winter fun, take a look at our Mitten Memory Preschool Memory Game!

Pick up this printable winter preschool activity set to help little ones practice symmetry, shape matching, and more! Perfect for winter preschool lessons!

Printable Winter Preschool Activity Set

To use this printable winter preschool activity set, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Pencils

Winter Preschool Printable Set

This activity set includes three winter-themed printables:

  • A Finish the Winter Pictures symmetry activity
  • Two Miniature Winter Puzzles
  • And a Match A Snowflake Game!

Winter Preschool Printables for Kids

Winter Playdough Mats for Kids

Print these out and let the kids practice finishing the pictures and putting the puzzles back in order.

The Match A Snowflake Game is a great way for two kids to learn and play together. Or you can play with your little one for a fun family game!

Winter Preschool Printable Activity Set

Or pack them in a resealable bag for a DIY busy bag you can take along when you head out with the kids!

Scroll down to get your copy of our printable winter preschool activity set!

Check out these other fun winter learning ideas!

Teach children how to identify basic nouns, verbs, and adjectives with this winter-themed parts of speech sorting activity! Perfect for ELA over the winter!

Make winter a season of play with this fun winter themed preschool memory game for kids!

Make shape discrimination into a fun winter learning activity with these snowflake preschool matching worksheets!

And see more ways to make winter fun for little ones on my Winter Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Printable Winter Activities for Preschoolers

To get your copy of our printable winter preschool activity set, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll receive these and lots of other exclusive learning printables in our Subscriber Library!

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Hi! I'm Selena, an A.D.D. mom married to an A.D.D. husband. We're parenting two kids with A.D.D., one with A.D.H.D., and an energetic elementary learner.
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