Day Care / Preschool

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 22 – Easter Egg Art

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Easter Egg Art

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art) and language.

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 21 – Easter Egg Activity: Sink or Float

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Easter Egg Activity: Sink or Float

Children love the sink and float experiment! This is an easy and entertaining science experiment that will keep your child entertained. With Easter coming in a few days, we suggest doing the sink and float experiment with eggs.  

Step 1 – Gather different types of eggs (e.g. real raw egg, real boiled egg, real egg with inside removed, empty plastic eggs, plastic eggs with items inside etc.)

Step 2 – Fill up a clear plastic bowl or container with water about ¾ full.

Step 3 – Talk to your child about all the different eggs that you have and ask them to guess whether they think the egg will sink or float.

Step 4 – Have your child drop the egg in the water and see what happens. Repeat for all the eggs.

Step 5 – Try adding salt to the water and repeat the experiment. (Hint: adding salt to the water should make the egg float instead of sink)

You can continue the sink and float experiment by adding other items around the house and talking to your child about what they think will sink and float in the water.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (science/sensory) and language. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Best Easter Apps for Kids

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 20 – Best Easter Apps for Kids

Looking for some fun Easter-themed apps to distract your kids from the Easter goodies? Check out this list of free Easter Apps and learn math, literacy and art skills with some fun and educational apps.

Step 1 – Download apps to your device and play. Enjoy!

#1 Hidden Egg Hunt: Try to find the most Easter Eggs. Count them as you find them to work on math skills. This app is good for all ages. (Math Skills)

#2 Easter Bunny Games: This is a fun animated puzzle game for toddlers, preschoolers, and kids from ages 2 -6. The puzzles start off easy to play and can be made more challenging – perfect for learning shape recognition and matching. (Math Skills)

#3 Happy Easter Little Critter: Interactive Book reading. Go on your own Easter egg hunt to find 100 eggs hidden throughout the story as Little Critter enjoys all the traditional Easter activities! For 2-5 yrs. (Literacy skills)

#4 Easter Colouring Pages: The Easter Coloring Pages is full of Easter egg coloring pages and Easter bunny coloring pages with 4 ways to color: bucket, brush, spray and color pencil. This app is good for all ages. (Art Skills)

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art, math) and language/literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 19 – Easter Alphabet Hopping Game

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Alphabet Hopping Game

Preschoolers have a lot of fun when it comes to Easter and Bunnies! It’s fun to see their imagination spark as they anticipate the upcoming holiday. Encourage your child to learn to recognize the letters of the alphabet and letter sounds with this Easter alphabet hopping game.

Step 1 – Gather the following materials:

Sidewalk Chalk

Kids Scissors

Paper

Markers

Easter Basket or any container

Bunny Headband (optional)

Step 2 – Read any Easter or bunny themed book with your child. We recommend the classic book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” by Mo Willems. You can find it online at your favourite book store.

Step 3 – Make alphabet cards using paper and markers. You will make a card for each letter of the alphabet. You can decorate your cards with pastel colours or cut them out in the shape of carrots or Easter eggs. Cut out each of the letters and place them into your basket.

Step 4 –  Now it’s time to head outside for the alphabet hopping game!  Using the Sidewalk Chalk , have your child create a large letter of the alphabet with you on the driveway or sidewalk. You can add a little more Easter fun and make egg shapes too around the letters or bunny footprints.  (For a younger child you will need to create these objects and then encourage them to color them in.)

Step 5 –  Put on your bunny headband, it’s time to play the alphabet hopping game!  Reach into the basket full of alphabet cards and match the letter on the card, with the letter on the ground. HOP over to that letter and shout out its letter name and sound. Continue until you’ve found all the letters or you get tired of hopping.

Note: This game can be adapted for all ages. For younger children start with a few letters of the alphabet (5-10) and then add more as they become more confident. For older children, you can use Easter words on the cards instead of letters.

Reading with your child daily so important. Today’s book recommendation is called Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems.  In the story the characters Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes her beloved bunny was left behind. Mo Willems uses the backdrop of black and white photos with his adorable illustrations to share this humorous storyline of when Daddy’s in charge and a lovey is left behind.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art), language/literacy and physical activity. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Egg Weaving

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 18 – Easter Egg Weaving

Kids love to feel independent and this activity will allow them to do just that! They will use their first finger and thumb to form the pincer grasp and weave the string in and out of the cardboard cutouts. This activity can be done in multiple stages, including cutting out the egg, decorating it and then threading the string around the shape!

Step 1

Gather the following materials:

Cardboard or cardstock paper

Scissors

String, yarn or shoe laces

Hole punch

Markers, crayons or paint

Step 2

Using scissors, cut the cardboard or cardstock into an Easter egg (oval) approximately the size of an adult hand. Use a hole punch to create holes around the perimeter of the cutout, about 1 inch apart and ½ inch from the edge of the egg. If you don’t have a hole punch, scissors work as well — just make sure the holes are large enough to have string pass through them.

Step 3

Have the child decorate the egg using markers, crayons or paint.

Step 4

Use string, yarn or a shoelace to tie a knot around one hole in the cutout.

Step 5

Have the child weave the string in and out of each hole around the perimeter of the cutout.

Once completed, encourage the child to unthread the string and then start all over again! You can add more strings in different colors to the egg to form interesting patterns.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 17 – Math – Sorting Colours

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 17 – Math – Sorting Colours

Math can be fun! Math helps children make sense of the world around them and teaches them to reason and problem-solve. Teachers of preschool math build on children’s prior knowledge and capitalize on their spontaneous discoveries to further their understanding of mathematical concepts. Today’s activity is sorting colours. It is a fun way to teach counting, sorting and spatial recognition.

Step 1: Make or print a template that looks like the one in our picture.

Step 2: Have the children look around the house for items that are small and can fit in the circle. They must match the colour in the circle.

Step 3: When they have filled the circle with items, have them count how many of each they found and place that number beside the circle.

Step 4: Have the children place them in order from least to most items.

You can expand this fun activity into a hunt around the house to see what else they can find in those certain colours that may have been too big to fit on their paper.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (math), physical activity and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 16 – Picasso Kids Art Project

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 16 – Picasso Kids Art Project

Creating art expands a child’s ability to interact with the world around them, and provides a new set of skills for self-expression and communication. Not only does art help to develop the right side of the brain, it also cultivates important skills that benefit a child’s development. Art is beautiful and fun but most importantly art is up to the artist. It allows you to express yourself and create in your own unique way. This is one of the art lessons we will be teaching during our summer camp program. It is easy to do and a great way to add education to a project. It focuses on the style of Pablo Picasso.

Step 1: Gather the following supplies

1. 4 colours of paint, crayons, markers, etc. Whatever materials you have access to.
2. Pencil
3. Paper
4. Paint brushes if needed

Step 2: Use the pencil to outline the shape of your dog.

Step 3: Use the paint or other materials to colour your background one of the colours

Step 4: Use the other colours you have to paint the dog in different sections.

Step 5: Outline your dog black and give him a name.

Once your child is done you can take them on a journey. Visit the country that Pablo Picasso was born in, talk about the food he ate, the things he would have seen in his home country. You can figure out how long it would take someone to get there by plane from where you live. You can even discuss his super long real name…. Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso. Now that’s a mouthful!

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (art) and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 15 – Rainbow Wizards Brew Activity 

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 15 – Rainbow Wizards Brew Activity

Science helps children develop key life skills, including an ability to communicate, remain organized and focused, and even form their own opinions based on observation. Science also helps children develop their senses and overall awareness. Today we are going to have some fun making Rainbow Wizards Brew.

Step 1: Collect the items you will need

1. Baking soda
2. Food colouring
3. Glitter
4. Dish soap
5. Vinegar
6. Glass jar
7. Small plastic containers
8. Tray

Step 1. Fill the jar halfway with vinegar and place on a tray.

Step 2. Add a few drops of food colouring and some glitter.

Step 3. Squeeze in some dish soap, stir and place the jar on a tray

Step 4. Add in a heaping teaspoon of baking soda, stir again and watch the foam begin. Ask your child to predict what will happen before you add the baking soda.

Step 5. Continue to add baking soda and vinegar when the foam begins to slow until it overflows over the top of the jar. To make it change colour, add a tablespoon of vinegar mixed with a different colour of food colouring. Discuss what is happening with your child.

Step 7. Make sure to dump the coloured vinegar into the center of the brew.

The best part of all of this is watching the reaction on your child’s face, especially when they realize you can keep making it happen. You can also create multiple jars with the colours of the rainbow side by side on a tray and when it overflows around the jar, you can create a rainbow of colours on the tray.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (science) and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 14 – Exploring Technology Activity

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 14 – Exploring Technology Activity

During the preschool years, young children are developing a sense of initiative and creativity. They are curious about the world around them and about learning. They are exploring their ability to create and communicate using a variety of media (crayons, markers, paints and other art materials, blocks, dramatic play materials, etc.) and through creative movement, singing and dancing. Digital technology provides one more outlet for them to demonstrate their creativity and learning.

The educational app store is a great website to introduce young children to. They have apps that you can download to your phone, iPad or computer. There is a great colouring app called Drawing for Kids: Doodle game. It allows children to explore various themes: animals, princesses, cars, school, musical instruments, food, Halloween and Christmas.

www.educationalappstore.com/best-apps/best-drawing-apps-for-kids

There are so many ways that we as parents and caregivers can provide a safe and fun learning experience for children with technology. Here are just a few.

1. Provide opportunities for children to begin to explore and feel comfortable using “traditional” mouse and keyboard computers to use Websites or look up answers with a search engine.
2. Capture photos of block structures or artwork that children have created; videotape dramatic play to replay for children.
3. Record children’s stories about their drawings or their play.
4. Explore digital storytelling with children.
5. Look online for photos of places, people, animals, or objects and converse with children about what they are finding.
6. Use video-conferencing software to communicate with family in other places.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (technology, art) and language and literacy. 

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 13 – Alphabet Nature Hunt

During this COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are home with their children and looking for things to do. This is a daily post to give you ideas of fun things to do. It comes from activities that we implement at our daycare centre using our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum. Since we are closed during this time, we are sharing the activity for you to implement in your own home. Enjoy!

Daily Activity for Kids – Day 13 – Alphabet Nature Hunt

Language and Literacy go hand in hand, especially with young children.  A toddler’s brain is at peak ability for learning, meaning a solid groundwork for language and literacy can be established at this time.  For young children presenting language and literacy together is easy and natural, because they are not differentiating written language from spoken language the way adults do.  It is all just learning how to communicate. We have a fun language and literacy activity to do outside with your children. We call it the Alphabet Nature Hunt.

Step 1: Sit down with your child and talk to them about some of the things they see when they are outside.

Step 2: Help them to create a list from A to Z of items they think they could see on their walk. Let them use their imagination. It will help to keep them busy and excited while outside.

Step 3: As you go through each letter, have them tell you what they could see. Ex. A is for Ant, B is for bike, C is for cat, D is for dog, E is for elephant. Not likely to be seen in nature but how exciting to add an elephant to your hunt.

Step 4: As you are out, put a check mark beside everything that you saw from your list and an “x” beside everything you didn’t.

Step 5: When you get home you can discuss everything you saw. For the items you did not come across, it is a great time to discuss with the children where they could find those items. You could then read a book about one of them to see where they really can be found. Or even better, you could google the item and allow the children to explore it.

This is a great way to use language and literacy to tie in to technology and build and expand on the ideas. It’s also a great opportunity for physical activity and exploring nature. If you are not comfortable going for a walk in the neighbourhood at this time, you can simply explore nature in your own backyard.

This daily kids activity incorporates many learning areas based on our Four Pillars of Learning curriculum including: STEAM (science/nature), physical activity and language and literacy.