Penguins Archives - I Can Teach My Child!

Indoor "Ice" Skating

January 31, 2011 by Jenae — 4 Comments

About a month ago, I saw this post from Frugal Family Fun about “ice” skating using waxed paper. I had just run out of waxed paper (and have since forgotten to pick any up at the store), so we never got around to doing it. A couple days ago, a magazine we had fallen on the floor and Big Brother slipped and fell after stepping on it. It was then that I realized how “slippery” magazines are…and we could use old magazines or catalogs and get nearly the same result as waxed paper.

Big Brother and I did this while Little Brother was napping and we had lots of fun together. Sadly, it didn’t keep Big Brother’s attention for long. I, however, could have “skated” much longer. Perhaps Prince Charming and I will try “ice” skating when the boys are in bed sometime!

Here’s what you’ll need: an old “slippery” magazine or catalog (NOT one from recycled paper), a stapler remover (or scissors), duct tape, and a carpeted area.

1. Use scissors (or a stapler remover) to remove the staples from the magazine/catalog. Now perhaps I will be less tempted from my Pottery Barn magazine! :)

2. Take about three sheets and lay them flat. Have your child step in the center and then bring the edges up. Secure with duct tape.

3. Find a carpeted area and get to “skating”.

Our favorite part was running and then sliding (and inevitably falling on our behinds).

Not only was this activity TONS of fun, it’s also great for gross motor development! :)

Leave a Comment

Share This Post:

Filed Under: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Gross Motor Development, Penguins

Penguin Puppets

January 28, 2011 by Jenae — 1 Comment

Aren’t these little penguin puppets cute? Big Brother has been having a ton of fun playing with them! I found this fun idea for making penguin puppets from empty toilet paper rolls from Preschool Express.

Here’s what you’ll need: toilet paper roll, black paint, construction paper, and googly eyes.

1. Let your little one carefully paint the toilet paper rolls black.

2. Let them dry for a few hours.

3. Cut out some ovals from white paper.

4. Put glue on the backside of the ovals…

…and place them on the painted TP roll.

5. Add googly eyes and orange triangles cut out of construction paper.

6. We then added a few bow ties…just for fun! Big Brother named them after he and Little Brother.

Have fun acting out some arctic fun with these penguin puppets!

Leave a Comment

Share This Post:

Filed Under: 3-5 years, Dramatic Play, Fine Motor, Penguins

DIY Lick-and-Stick Stickers

January 26, 2011 by Jenae — 21 Comments

What’s more fun than stickers??? Making your own lick-and-stick stickers–that’s what! It’s super easy…all you need is some clip art (or magazine cutouts), boiling water, and a box of Jello. And it is TONS cheaper than buying stickers at the store! I used the directions here to create the “adhesive” for the back of the penguin clip-art I printed out and we had so much fun licking and sticking them to our hearts content. This will definitely be an activity we’ll do again and again! I am envisioning letter stickers, number stickers, farm animal stickers, dinosaur stickers…the possibilities are endless!

Here’s what you’ll need: clip-art printed on cardstock (you can download the penguin clipart we used here), 1 T. Jello, 2 T. boiling water, and a paintbrush.

1. Boil a small amount of water. You’ll only need 2 tablespoons for one “batch” of adhesive. Obviously, this is not a step that your child should help with!

2. Mix 1 tablespoon Jello with 2 tablespoons of (boiled) water.

3. Let it cool for just a minute or so and then let your child “paint” it onto the back of your paper printed with clipart.

4. Let it dry for a couple hours until it is no longer wet or sticky to the touch.

5. Cut out the individual stickers.

6. When ready to use, let your little one lick the back of the sticker and stick it on! They happen to taste rather delightful! And they really do adhere well. They will slide a little right at first while still “wet” but once they are dry…they’re stuck for good!

We practiced one-to-one correspondence and number recognition with our penguin stickers today! The possibilities are endless!

Enjoy creating these fun and frugal stickers with your child!

Leave a Comment

Share This Post:

Filed Under: 2-3 years, 3-5 years, Cognitive Development, Number Recognition, Penguins

Footprint Penguin

January 19, 2011 by Jenae — 3 Comments

I am a sucker for anything that involves kid’s handprints, footprints, or fingerprints! There is something so sentimental about seeing their little hand or foot used to create something altogether new. With that being said, it’s no wonder why I love the footprint penguin idea I saw on a preschool website (one of those that have a ton of ideas but no pictures, though I can’t remember which website to give credit to).

Here’s what you’ll need: construction paper, glue, black paint, googly eyes and a paintbrush. Or, if you want to make it easier…just forego the paint and simply trace your child’s footprint on black construction paper.

1. Sit your child in a chair. Take his sock off and roll up his pants. Also, be sure that the floor underneath that chair can be wiped clean…just in case.

2. Paint the bottom of your child’s foot and quickly have them stand on a white piece of paper. OR an easier and less messy way to make the craft would be to simply trace your child’s foot onto a piece of black construction paper.

3. Promptly carry your child to the sink and wash the foot clean with soap and water.

We had to try twice to get a “deserving” footprint.

4. Use construction paper to create an arctic habitat for your little friend.

5. Let your child glue their footprint on upside-down, then adding a beak and two googly eyes.

I don’t think it’s possible to make a cuter penguin! :)

Leave a Comment

Share This Post:

Filed Under: 3-5 years, Crafts, Fine Motor, Penguins

Penguin Song

January 5, 2011 by Jenae — 3 Comments

Here’s a fun penguin song to sing with your little one. I tried to add a fingerplay to go along with the song, but Big Brother wasn’t cooperating. And Little Brother was off..waddling around the house just like a penguin.

And, as usual, I apologize for my especially terrible singing voice…I have a cold (though it doesn’t sound much better without a cold). :)