Play Helps Us Grow

We asked our Early Years Team for some ideas about crafts and activities to do with your kids that help with their developmental skills (and don’t break the bank). These activities are geared towards 1-4 year old’s and the supplies needed are easily picked up at the dollar store, or things you may already have at home. Sometimes the idea of developmental play can sound overwhelming for families, these are examples of simple activities that cover much more learning than you might realize! 

Puffy Paint 

This is a fun activity where your little one can help mix up the paint and then express their creativity! Developmental benefits include fine motor skill development (mixing, holding brushes, using hands) hand strength development which is important for school readiness (hand strength aids in ability to hold writing utensils and use scissors etc.) and this activity encompasses their sensory input as well! Great for expanding their knowledge of the world around them. Open ended art activities allow children to express their creativity by their own means and develop sense of self. 

Supplies:

·         Shaving cream

·         White school glue

·         Food colouring 

·         Paper

·         Paint brushes, sponges or fingers!

Mix cream, glue and a food colours of choice. Let littles explore with colour mixing and painting. Paint will dry with slight puffed texture.

Play dough

Even if you don’t have a rolling pin, or cookie cutters at home, there are still many ways to play with play dough. Try making spaghetti noodles and meat balls, sculpting different animals, or counting games with different sculpted shapes. 

Even if you don’t have a rolling pin, or cookie cutters at home, there are still many ways to play with play dough. Try making spaghetti noodles and meat balls, sculpting different animals, or counting games with different sculpted shapes. 

Again we see sensory input and hand strength woven into this activity. When children help with making the playdough they’re exposed to sequencing and measuring, which are math and pre-literacy skills. Of course the biggest benefit is spending quality time learning and growing with their favourite grown ups, which supports their sense of self and belonging, while nurturing an early love of learning.

*No cook recipe*(means little can be included more in the process of making and enjoying the play dough) 

·         A large bowl.

·         1 cup of salt.

·         2 cups of plain flour.

·         4 teaspoons of cream of tartar.

·         2 tablespoons of cooking oil.

·         2 cups of boiling water.

·         Food colouring (optional)

Mix all ingredients together (grown ups are responsible for handling and adding boiling water) mixture will cook fairly quickly but kids can help stir. Once cooled enough, finish mixing with hands until play dough is smooth. 

*we like to add the food colouring to the water before adding to the rest to help colour mix in* 

If kept in a ziploc or air tight container, playdough will last up to 6 weeks.