Parenting tip: preschool activities at home

My girlfriend Kathleen took me to brunch last weekend as a belated birthday gift (is there anything in the world better than brunch with a best friend? No, there is not.) and we discussed Truett and how I pulled him out of his preschool. Although I'm pretty sure it was the right choice, he is at the age where being home with mama all day can also be boring. Kathleen said she ran into the same thing with her oldest - also a boy - who wasn't a good preschool candidate,but did need things to do during the day. Her solution was to do a preschool at home. 

So I began thinking about what Truett and I could do at home on the days when he doesn't have a babysitter and time seems to streeeetch. I decided to do one special activity a day - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. It can be anything really, so long as it's fun, interesting, different. 

This was our first week and it went something like this:

Tuesday: built a robot with cardboard boxes and duct tape. Our robot later became our guard robot Truett placed just outside the front door. Then yesterday he knocked off his head and then put him in the recycling bin, so, you know, you gotta be on your toes in this house.

Wednesday: built a rocket ship/house out of cardboard and duct tape. He and June both love it.

Thursday: played Scrabble. In other words, spelled the names of everyone in our family, lining them up carefully on the board. Did Sadie, Copper & last names too. Drove all the letters back into the velvet bag (letter trays as dump trucks, if you will).

It's not anything complicated, or even that time consuming, but enough that he has something interesting  & different to do each day. Do you have cool games or projects you do with your kids? I'd love to hear more ideas because we're running out of boxes & duct tape ;)

Comments

[Madie]

Backyard obstacle course. Walk on a 2X4X8, hop from marker to marker, crawl under chairs.....

[HannaH]

My friend's mom does great activities with her granddaughter - lots of crafts, and they do "themed" nature walks, which always look fun. The website "productive parenting" sends me a daily email containing an age-appropriate activity (infants - 4yrs) and they give me good ideas (whether I execute on them is something else entirely!). I love your cardboard creations! I need to save our shipping boxes for doing something like this. Thanks for the idea!

[Hope]

I love the backyard obstacle course, Madie - absolutely trying that. RIGHT up T's alley!

Hannah - we collect treasures on our walks but themed sounds even better (take something average & up the ante, good thing to keep in mind). What does themed mean exactly though - like, count how many birds you can find on one walk, etc?

Thanks, guys!! xoxo

[Cari]

Make tub crayons. Leaf tracing. Leaf rubs. Scavenger hunt for items--make it a once/week activity, and keep making it more difficult. Use old muffin tins to make crayons (melt old crayons together). Make photo books. Nature walks to identify birds and trees. Popsicle stick creations. Homemade play dough, then make figurines or beads.

Penelope and I made teething biscuits today--thanks for that recommendation! She loves them!!

[Hope]

Ok so these are all the best ideas, ever. I'm going to do a post on these comments - I know lots of parents will be grateful!

[HannaH]

Themed walks might might mean looking at footprints in the snow (or mud), or maybe try to find heart shaped things in nature (for valentines), or things that come in certain numbers. Or maybe find a collection of things to bring home for crafts. It depends on the time of year. Right now we're limited, to be honest! Another activity we do is make music - we have a few basics like a drum and shakers, taborine, etc. Scarves go well with music, too!