poetic license Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 My daughter will be 4 this fall, and since I already have programs/curriculum/etc lined up for her older brother, I want to create a special space for her. I'm thinking about a small bookshelf or rack with activity bins. Any ideas for what to put in these bins? Here are some I have so far, but I'm drawing a blank as to what else I can add-- Puzzles lacing/bead stringing paper cutting coloring Any other great ideas for an activity space for a four year old? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyerin Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Mine love pattern blocks and pictures to use them with, like these. http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?product=3760&keyword=Pattern%20blocks&scategoryid=0&CategorySearch=&Brand=&Price= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpskowski Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 :bigear: I'm planning something similar for my two 4 year olds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Check out MFW's preschool package. I have the toddler package which has been great and am buying the preschool one for this upcoming year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calendula Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I did this last year - used little plastic shoebox containers. I had a ton of them out - this year she will be 4 in the fall, and I'm going to update. I plan to have a bunch in the closet and pull out 3-4 each day. I'd love to hear some ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moniksca Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 foam stickers or regular stickers dry erase letter or number books play dough bingo dabbers + paper clothes pins numbers game Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calendula Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Lots of ideas here: http://unsolicitedadvice-n-such.blogspot.com/2011/07/preschool-young-k-adv-2s-young-ks-busy.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Check out the blog counting coconuts. I have found tons of good ideas for my pre-k and k planning there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaraSeashell Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Magnets can be fun...there are those rectangular magnets with handles and magnetic poker chips/magnetic marbles that can be used for many activities. We still pull them out every now and then for various science activities, and my kids are way past four. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Check out the blog counting coconuts. I have found tons of good ideas for my pre-k and k planning there. :iagree: You're sure to find a ton these types of activities on Montessori inspired blogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpskowski Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I found the counting coconuts - what she has on her shelf - http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-our-shelves-february.html Also I found another Montessori based shelf ideas here - http://wwwteachableheart.blogspot.com/p/on-montessori-shelf.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiraejb Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I made my dd a few egg carton games. Some were color matching, color (beads or pompoms) sorting, and number matching (with the numbers written on plastic eggs). I just put colored circles in the bottom of each compartment or wrote the numbers in the bottom. She really enjoyed it, and if it got broken, I just made another. One trick I found out: put the open egg carton on a cookie sheet, then put magnets in two corners of the lid and two of the compartments. That saved us from having beads everywhere. She also loved loading up the plastic eggs with the pompoms. She has also enjoyed dry-erase books and the crayola dry erase board that I can load different pages into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aspasia Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 I recently spent about a week making tons of busy bags for my toddler. There are lots of ideas out there for preschool busy bags, too. Here is someone's Pinterest board packed with ideas: http://pinterest.com/blessedtobemom/early-learning-busy-bag-ideas/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssavings Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 C-Rods or Jumbo C-Rods? Numerals and counters? Size sorting activity? Alphabet box (http://livingmontessorinow.com/tag/diy-alphabet-box/)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwjx2khsmj Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 A cheap metal cookie sheet and alphabet/number magnets is a great addition to a pre-school activity center. I also had a variety of shape magnets, animals, colors, etc. Busy Bugs by Discovery Toys were a big hit for my dd, as well. Paper, crayons, glue sticks, pipe cleaners, tape, scissors, etc. I also picked up a bag of various shape and color counters from an education store. She used these for all kinds of activities. A cd player and headphones with books/music to listen to. We had Hooked on Phonics that dd loved to play with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicMama Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 My kids also love geoboards and cuisenaire rods for making trains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 We had a small bookcase for dd when she was in pre-k. I swapped out stuff weekly: -Sequence/opposite/letter picture puzzles -board puzzles (regular and the ones with locks or zippers/buttons/other closures) -Flash cards on large ring (numbers, colors, shapes, plus opposites, letters, and more...each type had it's own ring) -magnets -folder with coloring pages I printed (usually having to do with what we were covering that week/month) -math manipulatives -play animals (different sets put out each week) -Nature box with magnifying viewing box (this was a permanent fixture but the contents changed) I also kept some things on permanently: Colors/markers/pencil colors Dot paint sticks Playdough with tray and toys lacing beads and large buttons(the normal block kind and the plastic small beads she strung on pipe cleaners to make bracelets) A seasonal page (to show season and weather and what to wear, had velcro backs on each piece) drawing paper construction paper scissors (regular and the ones that make fancy cuts) glue stick Sand paper letters That's all I can think of off hand, iff I think of more I'll add it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBear Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Loving this post:) :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Things to sort, make patterns with, etc. Sticker books. Memory cards to match. My almost 4yo is asking to do schoolwork; he wants to do "maff" and he wants to learn to read. He's very much a "keep up with the big kids" kind of kid, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferLynn Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 We also like Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics and paint/color by number things. Glue and sequins Cards and envelopes (I either fold card stock myself but also save old invitations) Air Dry Clay (can be a bit messy, they can stick beads and sequins in and then they dry and can be painted) A "Construction Box" with all our old small shipping boxes, egg cartons, paper towel tubes, etc. and a roll of masking tape or duct tape to attach things together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iafrmgrl77 Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Love this! I need new ideas to keep my almost 4yo busy! My kiddos each have their own school tub, and ds4 has one of his own, as well. Problem is, he is tired of what is in it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poetic license Posted June 1, 2012 Author Share Posted June 1, 2012 Thanks, everyone! There are a lot of great ideas here--now I have to get to work setting this all up. I really like the organizational tip about having premade boxes and then rotating them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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