Wibbly Pig Likes Bananas

A little story basket of three board books, that under usual circumstances may have been thought to have been outgrown. But by simply adding a prop for each page, made a perfect "read" alone text.
The book identifies a choice for Wibbly Pig and what is his favourite. In choosing the props I simply chose one from each page, not necessarily his favourite, this added a talking point.

2D balloon made of felt.

A crown from a playdough model making set.

five little men in a flying saucer

Five little men in a flying saucer, rhyme tray. Felt pieces and talking point buttons.

I printed the elements on t-shirt transfer paper, ironed it onto white felt then cut out. The window on the flying saucer I cut out prior to ironing on, so that it would be "felt" rather than the shiny plasticy feel that the little men wouldn't grip on.
Talking point buttons have each verse of the song on. Each button has the corresponding amount of stars on e.g. five little men: five stars.

And these little men, actually went to live on earth.

Download pictures for this @ alljoinin.net I shrank mine to A5

kKitchen towel Butterflies

Fold piece of kitchen towel in half, draw half butterfly wing shape. Adult or child cut out. Use bingo dabbers or paint dotters to make dots on to the folded towel.

When painted open up the butterfly.

To reveal beautiful wings.

A beautiful butterfly.

Beautiful Butterflies.

Flying in the air!

Independence Day

Well I'm not American, but I have a lot of friends! So here are cute cup cakes, in honour or should I say honor of the United States.

IPad Fathers day card

And again... Star Wars features again.

After making the card four year old announced "We need the screen to go black so that it is off when we press the button." Well of course we do I thought, but do we have to?...of course we do!

Cutting a slit at top and bottom of screen, inserting a black piece of card through for when we press the button.

And the back...

Another view

And the wonderful cards, with a little circle of funky foam at bottom for the button.

Foam Lightsabers

You all know my opinion about going with interests, well when all straight things are being used as lightsabers one must find appropriate means to create a safe environment. So I anounced I will make fabric lightsabers for you! Child replied "Fabric is floppy a lightsaber is straight and hard." My reply was I will find a way to make it, mmm that was going to require sewing :( so after a bit of googling I found these swimming woggle lightsabers (USA Pool Noodle) perfect!!! So off to poundland I told the person I paid what they were for she smiled and said "Each to their own" think she thought I was a nutter.

Such play can often be discouraged in early years settings, but is a continuing source of discussiong amoung practitioners relating to whether this is a developmentally appropriate activity and is largely due to some prevenlent pieces of writing on this subject e.g. "We don't play with duns here: war and weapon play in the early years" and "Boys and Girls: Superheros in the doll corner" There are also a three case studies on the subject published by The National Strategies, which make interesting discussion points. Additionally I like this succinct article from the national childcare accreditation council (Australia).

I would however suggest that rules are created to support safe play when allowing children to engage in activity that may result in potential physical contact. The rules in this picture were created in collaboration with children, when doing this be mindful of making an effort to create rules that tell children what they are supposed to do rather that not do. This is sometimes difficult for children to create, so at least attempt a balance or some compromise. Two more rules have been added "When an adult is not around jedi practice only (no lightsaber contact) and "Only play with people who have agreed or want to keep playing"

Lastly on a safety note after you have cut the foam it will be sharp, I suggest you tape the end that has been cut as it will scratch. Alternatively squish or stamp on the end.

Creative Kids...

And again... they come up with something amazing! Not even sure how this came about, I just provided the materials on request (actually, just directed to the draw where the card off cuts was)

Just a construction so I thought!

Oh no there was method to this, a slope had been constructed.

A parking lot/ garage.

A perimeter wall

With a gate (the beige)

Many more parking spaces. Oh how much time was spent with this. Silly Me I asked what the beige lines were, and was promptly told they were movable gates etc. Of course now I now I can see it makes sense, looks like air port parking to me!