Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy
I’ve been perusing Pinterest lately, and collecting some really great ideas. These activity sticks were one fantastic idea from Keep Calm and Teach On.
To make my own, I made a list of all the activities that I had for Middlest to do—play do, lacing cards, threading beads, scissor skills, even playing with Littlest. Then, I pulled out my colorful popsicle sticks and my sharpie. I wrote the activities on each popsicle stick. Then, I took three plain sticks (in other words, the original kind without all the bright color) and wrote “activity stix” on them. (I know, I’m confusing the child’s spelling. But she can’t read yet, and it looked so much more exciting!) I’ll use the plain ones for her workbox pockets.
The idea is that she can trade in her plain stick for an activity, up to three each day. She’ll hand the colored stick to me, and at the end of the week, I’ll add them all back into the jar. That way, she won’t be repeating the activities throughout the week.
It’s a fantastic idea to add an element of surprise to the day without a lot of extra effort on my part.
It’s a constant challenge for me to keep my preschooler occupied while I work with my son, even though she does fairly well with independent work. I sometimes get absolutely stumped—what do I give her to do next? And it’s not as though I don’t have a wealth of activities for her! Maybe it’s the pregnancy-brain. Maybe it’s just that time of year. But I will admit that my hardest days with her are the ones when I have neglected to fill her pockets with activities.
Then, my mom gave me the most brilliant piece of advice: let her fill her own pockets! Ah! What a magnificent change that has made!
So, my three year old and I sat down and made an agreement. She willingly completes the 3 or 4 things I have for her, and she may fill the other 7 or so pockets with whatever she chooses. The result? Not only is she more willing to do what I give her to do, but she contentedly works through her pockets without disturbing my time with my kindergartener. Oh, I can’t tell you the blessed relief that has filled our school room.
Here are a few of the activities she’s done this week—some of my choosing (the academic-looking ones) and most of her choosing.
Our family counting bears are always a favorite. Here she has decided to line them up in a row around the table: "decorating" she calls it.Pocket #1 was chosen to hold a few duplo blocks, with which she played quite happily for over 15 minutes.Play do—of course. Why couldn't I think of that?chalkboard and chalk—another 15 to 20 minute activityBalancing pom-poms on pegsThe final resultOf course, Mommy had to throw in a few of the activities. She's counting eggs and graphing them at the bottom. And let me add, she took this very seriously, asking my son and I to please be quieter with his flashcards.Fine Motor Skills: placing dot stickers on the letter N; she also wanted to count how many dots it took to make the letters (23 for big N, in case anyone was curious).
She also had fun playing in the lapbook my son had made last year on "n"ests. She built a nest for the bird out of feathers, dry leaves, yarn, and sticks.Here's a closer look at our lapbook.
Other activities included a coloring book, a note for Daddy, a coloring page, and some of her own flashcards.
I can’t wait to see what else she decides to put in her pockets. And it certainly takes a load off of me. And just in case you need a few more ideas, here’s a link to Erica’s blog where she relates some activities for her toddler/preschooler.
