I've spent the last 2 weeks scanning, printing, coloring, cutting, laminating, and cutting again. I bought a file folder activity book at a teacher supply store. File folder activities are common "centers" in classrooms. The supplies are bound to a file folder with instructions for the child. I wanted learning activities for Douglas so I went hog wild. The only thing I regret is the lamination. It was a small fortune. I learned a lesson that I need to price compare on lamination. We are going to Utah next week and I wanted a "travel bag" for Douglas to put new toys etc in for the LONG drive. So we painted a plain bag and it is adorable!!! Also, I went to Target yesterday to get a 3 dvd pack of Little Einsteins for him to watch in the car and little toys. I spent $22 at the dollar spot but on amazing stuff. They had so many educational workbooks and flashcards. It was well worth it. I have 3 more file folder activities I want done for the trip so we'll see if I get that done.
Side project: we put felt pockets on the back of Douglas' puzzles to hold the pieces.
Here are the file folders. You can't see all the parts that go with them b/c they are attached on the front of the folders. There are 8.
Here is part of the stash from the dollar spot at Target, including the pillow for the car and the Little Einstein dvds. I have 3 or 4 more educational things I bought but he won't be able to use them yet so they are in his closet.
This is giant lacing beads made from swimming noodles to work on fine motor skills. I got this idea from "Her cup overfloweth". We gave this to him this morning and he loves it. He likes lacing it and then running around the house like it's a snake. The pipe cleaner is the "needle". In the future I would like to work on patterns using the different color "beads".
And this is Douglas' travel bag. I found a cube stamp with different vehicles on each side at the dollar spot.
And this I'm super excited about. I believe I got this from "Chasing Cheerios". These are tangrams made from foam "paper". She suggested putting magnets on the back of the shapes for her almost 3 year old so it would be easier to make the designs. She said she still had to help her a little. I took it one step further for Douglas b/c I thought just free "hand"ing the designs would still be a little much so I traced the designs on vellum paper. That way he can take the designs, put it on the magnetic board, and then just put the shapes on it like a puzzle. He needs a little assistance turning the shapes just right to match but he seems to enjoy it. When he gets better I can take the vellum paper away and he can make the design based on the little pictures. I'm super excited about this one.
I still have another shape activity and then 2 just fun file folder activities I'd like to get done by Friday. Busy bee!
Aunt Jeanene tried helping him but I think he went back to throwing the hay. :-)
Harrison had to get in the petting zoo action. He follows Douglas' sentiment about petting animals. Notice his arched back. :-)
camping in the canyon with daddy and grandpa
The temp was 40 degrees cooler than the high the previous day and of course we didn't bring a jacket so this cool pink jacket is what Douglas used. :-)
