Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity for preschoolers to practice writing skills and have fun making things for others. This is an activity that I did with Maya (age 3) and Cole (22 months) to celebrate the holiday. I purchased small, tin mailboxes from the dollar bins at Target. I added the names of our family members with foam craft letters on the sides of the mailboxes. A decorated shoe or cereal box could also be a great "mailbox" as well.

Here are some pictures of our Valentine's Day writing activity.

 

Maya and Cole were given their mailboxes with letters inside. The letters were small cards with "To ____" and "From ____" as well as a message such as "I love you!" The names and messages where written on standard office labels. I placed a sticker in the upper, right-hand corner, which served as the stamp.

Maya immediately got to work writing a letter to Cole. She picked a label with Cole's name (written in colored pencil) and traced it with pen. She picked another label with a pre-written message, "You're the best!".

Into the mailbox...

 Cole's surprise...

Thank you Maya!

Maya and Cole have been writing letters to family and friends ever since. Next time I will take pictures with my camera, instead of my phone. However, I didn't think that I could capture the same enthusiasm for the activity a second time...or that hug! Let us know if you decide to try this activity at home and how it goes.

We are going on a bear hunt this week! Here are the songs that we will sing in our Fall Adventure class.

Sleeping Bears
Tune: Frere Jacques

Bears are sleeping, bears are sleeping
In their caves, in their caves
Wonder when they'll wake up? Wonder when they'll wake up?
In the spring, in the spring

The Leaves in the Air
Tune: The Wheels on the Bus

The leaves in the air go up and down

Up and down
Up and down
The leaves in the air go up and down
All around the cave

Going on a Bear Hunt Echo Song

(Chorus)

We're going on a bear hunt
We're going to catch a big one
I'm not afraid
Do you see what I see?

Oh-oh! Grass!

Long, wavy grass
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it!

Swishy swashy
Swishy swashy
Swishy swashy

Chorus

 
Oh-oh! A river!
A deep, cold river
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it!

Splash splosh

Splash splosh
Splash splosh

Chorus

Oh-oh! Mud!

Thick, oozy mud
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it!

Squelch squerch

Squelch squerch
Squelch squerch

Chorus

Oh-oh! A forest!

A big, dark forest
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it!

Stumble trip

Stumble trip

Stumble trip

Chorus

Oh-oh! A snowstorm!

A swirling, whirling snowstorm
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it!

Hoooo woooo

Hoooo woooo

Hoooo woooo

Chorus

Oh-oh! A cave!

A narrow, gloomy cave
We can’t go over it.
We can’t go under it.
We’ve got to go through it! 

Tiptoe! Tiptoe! Tiptoe!

What’s that?

One shiny wet nose!

Two big furry ears!
Two big goggly eyes!
It’s a bear!

Quick!

Back through the snowstorm!

Hoooo woooo! Hoooo woooo!

Back through the forest!

Stumble trip! Stumble trip!

Back through the mud!

Squelch squerch! Squelch squerch!

Back through the river!

Splash splosh! Splash splosh!

Back through the grass!

Swishy Swashy! Swishy Swashy!

Into your sleeping bags and under the covers!

We’re not going on a bear hunt again.

Notes from Barefoot Mama-Barn Basket Enrichment Activity

This Barefoot Mama has been sick for the last two weeks, so my blogging and enrichment activities have been delayed. We are back and ready to share our playtime experiences.

One thing I realized when I was sick was that my daughter was really enjoying our lazy afternoons, which were essentially me laying on the floor and giving her my full (but sick) attention. She was happier in the evenings and seemed to be more confident to play independently after we took some time together. I have begun to schedule lazy afternoons now, and it has been a really positive experience.

This afternoon, we decided to catch up on our Barefoot enrichment activities and complete our Barn Basket and animals activity. This, on paper, looked a little daunting to me and time consuming, but from start to finish (including getting everything ready and printed, gathering supplies, etc) it took about 30 minutes.

We used the printed pages that Miss Jenn sent us, craft paper, scissors, an old playdough multipack box and spray craft glue.

I did all the cutting and most of the assembly, but Ava glued all the animals to the craft paper.

While I was making the craft, Ava and I talked all about each animal, why they lived in a barn vs a house like us, what they ate ("do they like mac and cheese too mama?") and how fun it is that they all get to live together.

Animals glued on craft paper and ready for cut out

Beginnings of the barn and barn assembly

Playtime!
Note: we had a duck in our animal printouts, and Ava thought it needed water. So, our barn has a lake by it

Every farm and barn needs a fence, in addition to the lake. Out came the mega blocks!

Fall Leaves (recycled from another enrichment activity) acted as our mud and food

Farmer Ava, tending to her happy animal farm

We played together with this for about forty minutes (after it was assembled). I left the room and came back about five minutes later and she was still happily playing.

We are leaving it out for playtime with Daddy this evening. She is so proud of her cool barn and farm. I am excited to see the story she comes up with tonight.

The other good news: all of the animals fit right in the box, so cleanup and storage is a snap.

Forest Animal and Camping Songs

Mr. Squirrel
(poem)

Oh Mr. Squirrel,

Way up in the tree.

I see you,

Do you see me?

Oh Mr. Squirrel

Collecting nuts in Fall,

How will you remember

Where you hid them all?

A-CAMPING WE WILL GO

Tune:  “The Farmer in the Dell”

A-camping we will go, a-camping we will go,

Heigh ho, we love it so, a-camping we will go.

First we’ll pitch our tent, first we’ll pitch our tent.

Heigh ho, we love it so, first we’ll pitch our tent.

Next we’ll take a hike, next we’ll take a hike,

Heigh ho, we love it so, next we’ll take a hike.

Then we’ll take a swim, then we’ll take a swim.

Heigh ho, we love it so, then we’ll take a swim.

At last we’ll build a fire, at last we’ll build a fire.

Heigh ho, we love it so, at last we’ll build a fire.

A-camping we will go, a-camping we will go.

Heigh ho, we love it so, a-camping we will go.

Along the Trail

Tune:  “Skip to My Lou”

I met a bear along the trail,

I met a bear along the trail,

I met a bear along the trail,

I stood very still.

(Additional verses: squirrel, deer, rabbit, skunk)

FISHY, FISHY

Tune: "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star"

Fishy, fishy in the brook.

Watch me catch it with my hook.

I will fry it up tonight.

Then, eat it by the bright moonlight.

COOKING MARSHMALLOWS

Tune:  “The Hokey Pokey”

You put the marshmallow in,

You take the marshmallow out.

You put the marshmallow in

And you turn it all about.

You put it by the embers,

Until it’s nice and brown.

That’s when you gobble it up.

At-Home Enrichment: Pumpkin on the Move

We had a such a fun time today at the Barefoot Enrichment Halloween Parade. Here is the Pumpkins on the Move chant that we did in class. You can find the pumpkin template on our meetup site. Enjoy!

Pumpkin on the Move

I have a pumpkin in front of me.

I think I’ll put it on my knee.

Then I’ll hide it under my chair.

Can you see it under there?

I’ll take it out so I can put

That pretty pumpkin on my foot.

Then off my foot and in my hair.

My, it looks so nice up there.

Out to the side. Up in the air.

Is that a pumpkin way up there?

Down to the ground my pumpkin lands.

I pull it up with my two hands.

Behind my back my pumpkin goes.

Where can it be? Nobody knows.

Here it is for all to see.

It’s right back here in front of me.

Notes from a Barefoot Mama: Learning to capture Stories

Mona, your Barefoot Mama here. When Jenn and I were talking a while ago, I realized that as Ava and I attend Barefoot classes, I am learning just as much as she is, but from a different perspective. We thought it may be interesting to share that perspective. I am excited to begin blogging my personal experiences with Barefoot Enrichment, as well as providing a "Mama's" view of what I am learning along with my daughter Ava.

For the last year or so, Ava, Maya, Cole (sometimes), Miss Jenn and I have been getting together to have smaller enrichment style playdates. These playdates sometimes involve a theme and either a craft or some sort of fun project. Most of the time it is an extension of a Barefoot class we have attended. We have made amazing memories and learned so much.

Today, Maya and Miss Jenn came over and we continued our Fall explorations that we had begun in Barefoot Enrichment class on Friday, and really dug into creating "stories". This was a great experience for both Ava and me.

Miss Jenn first read Maya and Ava "The leaf Man", and then had the girls create their own leaf creatures.


While the girls were creating their leaf creatures, Miss Jenn made a "bird" out of leaves and then wrote a little story about him. Maya, an old pro at this, started right in and added a bit of story telling about getting to know the bird, naming him, etc.

Ava caught on after a few minutes and her leaf creature evolved from a "birdie", to a "chimp" to "alligators and crocodiles". Then the attention turned to Maya's "duck" and Ava and Maya created this adorable little story (in three year old speak of course) about the duck who lost his mama, but found her again and found daddy, then he walked and walked and walked.

The entire time they were talking, Miss Jenn wrote their stories on the sheet of poster paper. She would reread it to them to "make sure she had it all correct" and of course the girls would add more and more and more.

It was great to watch Ava really get into creating a story with words and then realize that they were being written and repeated. Her sense of accomplishment was written all over her little face.

The Finished Product:

What I learned:
I learned to be patient and let Ava dictate the story and the pace. Sometimes, she would make up words or recite her "ABCs", but Jenn wrote them down and incorporated it into the story they were writing. I realized that sometimes I prompt Ava with ideas like "Is that a bird Ava", instead of "tell me what you are creating". It was amazing to watch her little mind work and to witness her story unfold.

I am excited to share my experiences and observations as we continue these enrichment playdates.

At-Home Enrichment for Fall Adventure Series: Farm Life

This week, the goal of our enrichment activities is to help our children understand that they can do important work. We see this everyday when our kids want to help us cook, sweep the floor, drive a car and countless other daily tasks. Farm life is the topic of our next Fall Adventure Class. The kids will take on the role of a farmer. Our little Barefoot Farmers have a lot of very important work to do this week! Below are some farm songs and poems to get them started.

I’m a Little Piggy
Tune: I'm a Little Teapot

I’m a little piggy
Short and stout
Here are my ears
Here is my snout
When I see the
Farmer and the dell
I oink, oink, oink
And wiggle my tail 

Pigs on the Run!
(Poem or chant)

One piggy, two piggies,
Three piggies, four
Wag their tales and run out the door!
Five piggies, six piggies,
Seven piggies, eight
Hurry ‘cross the yard
And jump the gate!
Nine piggies, ten piggies
Head down the street
And go to the market
For a tasty treat!

In and Out of the Barn
Tune: The Farmer and the Dell

The (farm animal)’s out of the barn.
The (farm animal)’s out of the barn.
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
The (farm animal)’s out of the barn.

The (farm animal) is in the barn.
The (farm animal) is in the barn.
Heigh-ho, the derry-o,
The (farm animal) is in the barn.