Early Childhood Education-"Encouraging children to use their words"

Many times its easier for children to hit their friends when they need something; or even grab a toy. Since we are there caretakers, it is our responsibility to teach our children how to use their words. Also, by using different strategies that can support our children in daycare or preschool.

"Play games that encourage cooperation. Pretend games, such as playing house, help teach preschoolers to work cooperatively. Because these games emphasize role-playing, they also teach your preschooler to express his feelings with words. If he gets angry during the game, prompt him to talk about his feelings by asking, "You're the daddy in this house. What does a daddy say when he feels angry?" If he's had a good example to follow, he'll handle it just like his own daddy does: by saying he's angry and explaining why."

Read more at Babycenter

Early Childhood Education-"Thanksgiving Dinner Keepsakes"

Planning a Thanksgiving party or dinner? This craft is very simple to make and its great sensory for your children. They are able to use their fine motor skills to attach the leaf to the napkin. This adds a personal touch to any holiday meal.

Materials Needed:
*Hot glue gun
*Brown craft foam
*Fall Leaves artificial (Brown,orange,yellow,red)
*Colored berries
*Wire cutters

1) For each napkin ring, cut a piece of brown craft foam. Bend to form a ring, overlap the ends and glue in place.

2) Cut one leaf off of the bunch with wire cutters. Hot glue this to the foam ring.

3) Cut a small piece of berries off the bunch and glue on top of the leaf.

Early Childhood Education-"Thanksgiving Keepsakes"

Looking for something to make with your children for the upcoming holiday? This Thanksgiving Turkey is simple and very inexpensive to make with your children in childcare or preschool.

You will need the following Materials:

• 2 Peat Pots, 2" tall with 2" wide top diameter
• Pipecleaners
• 8-12 Colored craft sticks
• Two 10mm googly eyes
• Permanent black marker
• Hot glue gun with glue sticks
  
• Beans, rice or similar item to use as weight

*Place a hand full of beans or rice in the bottom of one of the peat pots. This gives your turkey some weight so he won't fall over.

* Turn the second peat pot upside-down and hot glue it on top of the first one, rim to rim.

* Cut a piece of pipe-cleaner and bend it back and forth. Hot glue this to the top pot.

* Using hot glue, attach Popsicle sticks to the back of the pots alternating the colors as you go.

* Cut a yellow or gold popsicle stick in half and glue both pieces to the bottom of your turkey for feet.

* Cut a pipecleaner, fold it in half and hot glue it to the front of the top peat pot as a beak.

* Cut a pipecleaner and fold it back and forth forming a waddle. Glue the pipecleaner waddle just under the beak.

*Glue on the googly eyes and draw eyebrows above them. You can draw a mouth below the beak if you would like to add a more human touch to your turkey - this is optional.

* Hot glue one "wing" on each side of your turkey. .

Optional: Make several turkeys and personalize them by writing your guests' names on the front of the turkeys on the bottom pot. Then use the turkeys as place markers for your Thanksgiving feast.