The Peanut, as with all preschoolers, is obsessed with her name.  Although she has been able to spell her name for quite awhile, she is just now interested in building and writing it. 
There are several easy ways to practice name reconition, building, and writing.  Some that I have done with the Peanut and/or my kindergartners are:

• Rainbow Names- type or print his/her first name in large letters.  Have your preschooler trace his/her name in the 8 basic colors. 
• Name bracelet- get a small package of letter beads from craft section of your local store.  Sort out the letters of his/her first name to put in order and lace on a pipe cleaner.  If it needs to be more challenging, add a couple of extra letters to "sort out" of the pile. 
• Sidewalk Chalk- Write the letters of your preschoolers first name scattered on the sidewalk, driveway, or patio.  Have him/her jump on the letters while spelling his/her name.

I  will post more name activities soon! 

Out with the old...

So I finally changed out the sensory table from beans (lima, pinto, black, and split peas) to water beads. I bought two packages at Wal-Mart for $3.50 in the Peanut's favorite colors, pink and purple. Other supplies that I added to the table: a towel to wipe hands and the floor, a measuring cup, big spoon, ice cream scoop, a sieve, and a couple of other containers.

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Nanni and Papa got The Peanut a karaoke machine for Christmas which has proven very diverting during these Midwest cold days.  Our favorite CD is from Sandra Boynton's Philadelphia Chickens Book and CD set.  Singers and celebs like the Bacon Brothers, Natasha Richardson, and Meryl Streep sing Broadway inspired silly songs about animals, belly buttons, and  pajamas.