File Folder Game: Matching

I originally intended for Emma to play a memory game with these paint chips, but while she loves memory games on the computer she did not enjoy the paint chip version. Both she and Johnny enjoy this matching game. It’s pretty challenging for Johnny and easy but fun for Emma.

MATERIALS:

• File Folder
• Paint Chips (two of each color; cardstock works too)
• Packing Tape

STEPS:

1. Trim paint chips
2. Attach one set to file folder using packing tape
3. Use second set to match
4. Make a pocket for the second set out of packing tape (fold one piece in half for the pocket and use three more pieces to attach to the folder)

Paint chips and color schemes

  

Emma loved this simple color-matching activity that I made using paint chips. I took two identical strips, cut one and left the other one intact. Emma’s job was to match the shades. The differences in shades are subtle enough that she found this activity interesting and challenging. Johnny didn’t understand the activity, but he still thoroughly enjoyed playing with his own set of paint chips.

This activity provides a good opportunity to discuss the concept of light and dark colors, favorite shades of a particular color, if you would need more or less dye/food coloring to get a lighter/darker shade, etc.

Pattern blocks and laminating by hand

After months of looking for pattern block picture cards, I downloaded set 1 off of Kelly’s Kindergarten (found via this blog post – thank you, Sandra!)

We happen to have both the plastic and the wooden pattern blocks courtesy of my math manipulatives loving mother. I first got out the wooden set, thinking that – since they are a bit thicker – Emma would have an easier time with them. She got very frustrated at the blocks not lining up perfectly, and so I gave up thinking we’d try again in a few weeks. The next day, though, she went to the closet, pulled out the plastic ones and the pattern sheets, and made this perfect dinosaur:

I don’t know if the thin plastic ones were actually easier for her to use than the wooden ones, or if she was just in a better mood the second day – but she continues to prefer the plastic ones over the wooden ones for this particular activity. If you don’t have pattern blocks or want to make a travel set, Sandra’s post links to printable pattern blocks that you can make out of cardstock.

I laminated all of the pattern sheets by hand using a roll of laminating paper, and if you look at the train compared to the dinosaur, I got MUCH better at it as I went along. Turns out the main trick is to expose no more than one inch of laminate at a time – may seem obvious to some of you, but it wasn’t to me. Of course, if you’re lucky enough to own a nifty laminating machine that’s even better!

Blog Favorites: I Spy Activities

I’ve seen several “I Spy” activities for toddlers across the blogosphere recently. Here are some of my favorites:

• Two “I Spy” game boards from The Peterson Party – one 2D and one 3D.
• A barebones “I Spy” bag from craftpad. Sometimes simpler is better – at least it’s more likely to get put together quickly!
• Beautiful round "I Spy" bags from Ikat Bag – I love the picture list she created for non-readers.
• “I Spy” party favor bottles from Teachingtinytots. I love the idea of including the letters from the receiver’s names in the bottle.
• Another “I Spy” bottle from Having Fun at Home. This one comes with the list of things to find.

Have an “I Spy” craft on your blog that I missed? Please link to it in the comments – I’d love to see it!

Geometric shape play

My parents gave my kids pattern blocks for Christmas, and this week the blocks inspired us to make a couple of games using some butcher paper and the desk protector I wrote about in this post.

We started out with some very simple shape sorting:

I’m afraid my penmanship/drawing skills are pretty bad; thankfully two-year-olds are gentle critics.

Emma loved the sorting activity, so we made a shape matching board on the other side of the same sheet of paper:I roll up the “boards” we make and secure them with rubber bands. They are stored in a cereal box so that Emma can easily choose the one she wants to play with.

Felt Board Dress-up Bears

I made these bears to go with this flannel board. They took almost no time to make and my daughter loves them. You can turn this activity into a game by putting pictures of the different outfits on cards (or just having colored cards in a container) and having your child put the outfit/color that matches the card they drew on their bear. Turn the dress into a skirt by cutting it in half.

The faces on my bears were drawn on using a regular gel pen.