Having a special needs child comes with an extreme level of responsibility, and oftentimes, more expenses. So, what do you do when you have to go to work and need someone to care for your child? I struggled with this for about two years before I couldn't financially stay home with my son any longer. I spent a lot of time looking for information about finding the right child care center for my son and what I could do to prepare him for the transition from home to the center. On this blog you will find tips that can help the process go much smoother for you and your child.
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With it's changing colors and cooling temperatures, autumn is a fascinating time for preschoolers. Capture the fun of fall with these three preschool-appropriate activities.
Crayon Rub Leaves
Materials: Leaves in different shapes and sizes, copy paper, crayons
To complete this activity each child will need a handful of different leaves. If time and weather permit, take a nature walk together and allow children to collect their own leaves, encouraging them to find as many different shapes and sizes as they can. Once the leaves are gathered, place them one at a time on a flat surface and cover with a sheet of white copy paper. Using a crayon, gently rub back and forth on the paper. The edges and veins of the leaf will appear darker than the rest of the paper, making a fun and colorful picture of the leaf.
Tip: For better results, take the wrapper off of the crayons and rub using the side of the crayon.
Apple Stamp Pictures
Materials: Apples, sharp knife, paint, paper plates, construction paper
Apples and fall are an iconic combination and preschoolers will have lots of fun making these apple stamp pictures. To start, cut the apples in half around their middle. (One piece will have the stem on top and the other piece will have the bottom of the apple.) Show children how the seeds make a star on the inside of the apple. Pour a little bit of paint onto different paper plates and let preschoolers take turns stamping the apples on sheets of construction paper.
Tip: Craft paint works especially well for this activity, but make sure preschoolers are wearing art smocks to prevent staining their clothes.
Preserve Leaves with Wax Paper
Materials: Leaves in different shapes and colors, wax paper, iron, ironing board, and permanent marker
Put the leaves used for crayon rub drawings to additional use with this memorable preschool activity. Once again, each child will want to have an assortment of leaves available, with a special emphasis on different colors. Give each child a large piece of wax paper and have them fold it half. Reopen the wax paper and direct children to arrange leaves however they would like on one side of the crease. (Make sure the waxy side is up.) Once they are happy with their picture, carefully fold the other half of the paper over the design. Use a warm iron to gently press the picture, melting the two halves of the wax paper together. The leaves will stick in place and the rest of the paper will take on an almost-clear appearance. Use permanent marker to label picture.
Tip: For best results, avoid layering the leaves too much and leave lots of empty space on the page.
Preschool-aged children enjoy hands-on activities and love the opportunity to create. Use the crafts described in this article to let them explore how the seasons change and what makes fall such a great time of year. For more ideas, talk to a preschool like http://www.kidscountry.net.
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