20 Best Tips

Playing With Your Food – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

Oh my goodness. There were a few links last week that grabbed my attention – and they all revolved around playing and learning with food. If your kids are anything like mine, the phrase “Stop playing with your food,” has come out of my mouth more than one time. Why not encourage a little learning along with that play?

Edible Wall Art

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Your kids will literally be licking the walls with this edible wall art project – but it can be all healthy art. Love this idea from Big Kid Little Kid.

Magic Milk Art

milk art

Milk is a form of food too, right? Check out this cool magic milk from The Science Kiddo – so pretty!

7 Ways to Play with Fruit Loops

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If you happen to have Fruit Loops in your pantry, you might want to pull them out and try a few of these fun play ideas from Study at Home Mama.

Preschool Chore Charts

Need some help getting chore time together for your kids? Check out this preschool chore chart. Picture cards can be a huge help at the preschool age so kids can see what needs to be done each day – and actually work on their daily chores (grins).

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

FREE Preschool Chore Charts – Subscriber Freebie

Younger children can have a hard time reading from a chore list. Picture cards can be a huge help at the preschool age so kids can see what needs to be done each day – and actually work on their daily chores (grins).

Our kids have learned personal and financial responsibility in the process as they are taught how to save, give, and put money in their wallet for spending too!

While I’ve shared a version of our preschool chore charts in the past, I recently found some wonderful clip art that included a few bonus chores and was also cute – a win-win!

These charts have been some of the most popular downloads here and I’ve received many emails with requests for extra chores, so I put together a FREE Preschool Chore Chart printable especially for my email subscribers – yay!!

Are you already an email subscriber? Please go to this private page and enter the NEW password. You can find the password in your most current email at the very bottom. Become a subscriber HERE and receive instant access. 

When Kaleb was younger, this is the chore chart that we used for him and it worked wonderfully. (And to tell you the truth – he still prefers this visual chore chart over our chore charts for the older kids!) We broke his chore chart into three parts: morning chores, afternoon chores, and chores that he could earn money on.

He earned minimal money, but our point in paying for a few chores is to help our kids understand the concept of giving, saving, and spending. Pennies were excitement to our kids at that age (they think they are rich!), so it was a great way to learn.

The chore charts and chore cards can be printed off on to cardstock and laminated to make them sturdier. Place velcro dots in the center of each square and on the back of each chore cards to make them stick to the chore chart. (See below for additional ways to use the printables).


Using the Chore Charts

Each morning I added chore cards to his chart. When a chore was completed, he would remove it and put it in a little box nearby. Chores he completed to earn money were tracked on the back of the chart by writing with a  Sharpie (the Sharpie comes off easily with nail polish remover or you can use a vis-à-vis marker as well).

The cards are the same size as my workbox activity cards, so if you want to mix and match those cards with this grid, they will work together.

Daily Chores for Preschool

We kept it pretty simple for our preschool chores. Above is a peek at some of the things that we had on Kaleb’s chore chart. Many of the chores rotated throughout the week, but there were several that were consistent on a daily basis.

  • Daily chores: make bed, clean room, brush teeth, pick-up clothes, pick up shoes/hang up jacket, set table, wash table, devotions.
  • Extra {paid} chores: trash, vacuum, laundry, wash windows, dust, sweep, water plants, weed garden.

If you need help coming up with chore ideas, here is a great list from Money Saving Mom to help you out.

Tips for an Effective Chore System

  1. Make sure chores are age appropriate. Children can be taught to complete household tasks, but there are some things that are definitely more difficult for younger children to work on vs. older children. Be sure that the chores you are asking your very young children are appropriate for their age. Younger children can help sweep, push a vacuum cleaner, pick up toys, match socks, etc… but may not be ready for other chores. Just because a chore card is listed, doesn’t mean it has to be used. (grins)
  2. Keep the chore charts handy – and where they can be seen. Hang your charts somewhere where they will be seen daily – the front of the fridge, near the bedroom door. Where ever they are, be sure to keep them handy so both you and your child remember to work on them.
  3. Walk through how the charts work with your kids. Be sure to show your kids how the chore chart will work each day. Do they need to check in with you when they are done and have you go over their work? Have the system in place
  4. Know what works best as incentives for your kids. Some children may work for treats from the Dollar Tree, while others may work for small monetary prizes. The incentives are up to you – and you know what works best for your children!
  5. Be consistent in payout of incentives. It is so easy to let things slide, but if you are working with your kids in understanding that no work = no pay, remember that it goes the same the other way too. When you work, your boss pays you, so pick a ‘payday’ and take care of it each week or whenever you set up your payday.

Washing dishes is always fun….

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And making beds…

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Additional Ways to Use the Chore Charts

Rather than using a large chart, there are a few alternate ways that the chore charts can be used.

  • Use a jump ring: The cards can be printed off on cardstock, laminated, and then put onto a jump ring so children can carry them around while working. The printable includes a few alternative cards that can be placed on the jump ring as well: morning chores, afternoon chores, paid, chores, etc…
  • Use magnetic sheets: If you have a magnetic refrigerator, consider printing the chore cards off onto magnetic sheets, cutting them out, and placing chores on your fridge. Store finished or extra chores in a magnetic pencil bin nearby. We have friends that do this and it is so handy!

Download the Preschool Chore Charts

The chore chart file has five different colored charts: blue, green, pink, purple and white {so you can print on colored cardstock if you would like} and also includes chore cards. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. :)

If you aren’t on the paid chore bandwagon, there is a white chart with an alternate text of morning, afternoon, and evening.

This is a FREE download for subscribers – and it is really easy to subscribe by simply clicking HEREor by entering your email in the box at the bottom of this post. 

Subscribe button

After you subscribe by email, you will receive a confirmation. Once you confirm your subscription, you will be redirected to a page with a link, password, and directions to get your FREEBIE!! You can always email me if you have any questions and I’d be happy to help you out. 

In case you missed them before, you can also download a copy of our Chore Chart Printables for our older kids and see how we’re implementing that system in our house. There may also be extra cards for you to use in the workbox activity cards.

Hope this helps you out and feel free to ask any questions below!

Chore Chart Supplies

The following products are ones that we use and recommend for putting your chore charts together – the Scotch laminator ROCKS!! I’ve had mine for years and it is still going!


Shamrock and St. Patrick’s Day Fun – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up soon, here are some fun ideas to get your lesson plans rolling in the next few weeks. Rainbows and shamrocks just make me smile – and also make the house so bright and cheerful!

Shamrock Stamps

Shamrock Stamps square

With a pipecleaner, paint, and clothespin you are well on your way to making this cute shamrock stamp from Sunny Day Family.

Rainbow Busy Bags

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Rainbows are one of my favorite activities. The colors just pull you in, don’t they? Visit Powerful Mothering to see how to make your own Rainbow Busy Bag.

Watercolor Shamrocks

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Head over to 3 Dinosaurs for a quick and simple tutorial on making watercolor shamrocks.

Shamrock Pretzel Pops

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These shamrock pretzel pops from Mommy’s Bundle would be a yummy treat to make for your fun celebration. Yum!

60+ St. Patrick’s Day Crafts and Activities

St. Patrick's Day crafts and activities for kids


If you are completely stumped and need even more ideas, you’ll find 60+ St. Patrick’s Day Craft and Activities that you will love!  Rainbows, leprechauns, and gold abound – get ready for some fun!

That’s it for this week’s wrap-up! What fun have you had together this past week? Link up and share below!

 

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 


 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

Sheep Crafts, Visiting Asia, and Weather Learning – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

Anyone else ready for some WARM weather? The temps have been crazy in our parts and I’m ready for a little bit of spring to start peeking through! In case the crazies are setting in where you live, here are a few ideas to keep you busy this next week…or two!

Celebrate Dr. Seuss Day

30 Dr. Seuss Activities

March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday – will you be celebrating with any fun activities? Find 30+ Dr. Seuss activities here and have fun curling up with your favorite books. One of my favorite Dr. Seuss books when I was young was Mr. Brown Can Moo – and I can still quote much of the book by heart (I’m willing to bet my mom can as well!).

 

Sheep Crafts to Help Think Spring!

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Think spring and start planning some sweet sheep crafts to work on together. In the Madhouse shares 35 Sheep Crafts that are just so cute!

 

Get Messy with Shaving Cream

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Even though she shows some outside fun, this would be a fun indoor activity on a patio door as well – as long as there were towels on hand for clean-up! Visit The Practical Mom to see how they had fun with shaving cream.

 

Visit Asia with Your Kids

asia unit study

It’s so much fun to travel the world with your kids and have them experience different cultures – from your home. We’ve enjoyed using Little Passports over the years with our kids, and Natural Beach Living shares some fun ideas for learning about the continent of Asia with your kids.

 

Learning About the Weather

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Lindsay from You are the Roots shares a unit that she and her son worked on all about the weather. She has some fun experiments and crafts to share – love it!

That’s the roundup for this week! Link up your learning fun from this past week and be sure to visit another mom and say hi!

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 


 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

Snowy Day Unit, Word Family Printables, and More – Preschool and Kindergarten Community

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

It’s another fun week of learning ideas! Last week there were some great ideas linked up to the Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup, and a few of them are featured below.  Be sure to look through the links today too – stop by, read a few links, and encourage each other with comments.

The Snowy Day Unit

The Snowy Day Unit

If the snow in your area hasn’t driven you completely batty, you may want to pull out a copy of The Snowy Day by Ezra Keats and enjoy The Snowy Day Unit based on the book. Make some borax snowflakes, enjoy an art project that mimics the story, and work on some go-along printables.

Water Bead Sensory Bottles

colored water sensory bottles

Water beads are so much fun! Let your little ones in on the fun in a safe way with these water bead sensory bottles from Living Montessori Now.

Word Family Printables

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Carisa from 1+1+1=1 has been sharing some word family printables that you may love! She recently shared an -ig family set, but has many additional ones to offer too!

Tissue Paper Rainbow Suncatcher

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Add a little color to your windows with a rainbow suncatcher. Mom Inspired Life shares a quick tutorial to brighten your window.

That’s the wrap-up for this week! Can’t wait to see what you all have been up to this week and will share.

 

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

 

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.

Pom Pom Sheep, Chore Jar, and Window Clings – Preschool and Kindergarten Corner

Homeschool Preschool: Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup at Homeschool Creations

It’s another fun week of learning ideas! Last week there were some great ideas linked up to the Preschool and Kindergarten Community linkup, and a few of them are featured below. While being inspired is important for teaching, encouragement is needed so very much for each of us. Be sure to look through the links today too – stop by, read a few links, and encourage each other with comments.

PomPom Sheep DIY

How-to-make-a-pompom-sheep

These pompom sheep from The Mad House would be a cute addition to a nursery rhyme or farm unit. I have to admit I have a weakness for anything with googly eyes.

Clothespin Chore Jar

chore jar

This simple way to track chores with clothespins and a jar from Simply Wright might be just the tip you need to get those jobs worked on at home.

Gel Window Clings

Valetines Window Gels 1

Window clings are fun any time of the year and Science Kiddo has a tutorial you can adapt for any occasion.

Fine Motor Practice with Straws

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Plastic straws can be a simple way to work on fine motor skills. Whether lacing or stacking them on toothpicks, Powerful Mothering shares a few fun ideas.

Lazy Susan Craft Organizer

school supply carousel

If your craft and school supplies need a little organization, check out this school supply organizer. We have used ours for years and it has been so handy!

Follow the PreK and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board

Preschool Pinterest Board

Each week I am  pinning many of your links onto the Preschool and Kindergarten Community Pinterest Board. I’m a visual person, so having pictures to help me remember posts is super helpful. Be sure to jump over and follow the board – and find some fun ideas at the same time!

Were You Featured in the Preschool & Kindergarten Community?

If you were featured in one of the weekly posts, feel free to grab the button coding below and display it on your site!

Homeschool Preschool

 

Link Up with the Preschool and Kindergarten Community!

Share what you are doing with your kids! Please link your exact blog post to the Mr. Linky below and link back here too! Grab a button for your post and be sure to take a minute to visit the person who linked up before you.