Paper plate matching puzzle.

Such a simple and easy to make matching puzzle!

Simply cut up a decorated paper plate, this could be a store bought one or one that the children have decorated, to make an instant puzzle.

You could be creative with how many pieces you cut, shapes or the way you cut it.

Needless to say it's an activity the kids will enjoy!

Matching books.

Ever wondered what to do with those old or free calendars?

Well here is a great idea see at a recent COW (classroom on wheels) event that recycles the calendar into an early literacy development activity.

Simply laminate or sticky tack each picture, as shown above. Then cut out the matching small pictures for each month, laminate or sticky tack these also.

Attach to each small picture some velcro to attach each picture to the front page. Also attach a piece of velcro to each main picture.

Put all pages together as a book and attached using some rings, the sort you may find on a key chain would suffice.

The children can then explore the book and match the smaller picture to the larger one.

Matching puzzle.

How many times have you used a puzzle like this where you have to match two objects together?

These matching puzzles are a great way to encourage the development of early reading skills.

A different approach to using this puzzle though is to have all the pieces attached to a vertical surface such as a wall, door, easel etc rather than on a horizontal surface such as a table or the floor.

In the photo above, magnetic tape has been attached to the back of each puzzle piece to stick it to the magnetic surface!

More Mothers Day flowers.

A quick and simple Mother's Day craft that any Mom from your day home will love and treasure.



Instructions

1. Cut out the flower pot from construction paper.
2. Cut green construction paper into 1" strips.
3. Glue three strips onto the backside of the flower pot.
4. Paint hands and create three handprints on white construction paper.

This idea and many others can be found at www.childcaresoup.com.

Mother's Day.

With Mother's Day coming up this weekend our day homes are busy creating personal crafts that will be long treasured by the Mom's of the children they care for.

This craft was observed at one of our day homes and was done with children from 1 years old and up (although the amount of help needed differred!!)

1. Simply start by making a hand print in the middle of the page.
2. The children can then add flower shapes or stickers to the end of the fingers.
3. Finally, cut out (or pre cut for younger children) a flower pot shape and glue underneath hand.
4. A nice touch is to personalize the card with the words "I love my Mom because....." and then ask each child for a suggestion for their Mom.