Activities and Ideas

Sticky Steppin’
Grab a roll of contact paper the next time you are at the store. Tape the contact paper around the room, sticky side up.  Watch the children stick their way to happiness.

-- 101 Easy Wacky Crazy Activities for Young Children 

Tongue Painting
This activity freaks more people out than most, however children love it. I encourage you to try it today with the children in your life. You will need small paper plates, corn syrup, and food coloring. Pour a teaspoon size blob of corn syrup on the paper plate. Place one drop of two different colors food coloring and lick your way to a masterpiece. I’ll never forget the time I was offering this activity to a two year-old who licked her plate clean and asked for more. Oops! Remember it is the process and not the product! 

-- 101 Easy Wacky Crazy Activities for Young Children

15 Minutes Matters
Schedule 15 minutes everyday to write thank you notes and say thank you to staff members. Be specific and genuine. Your time will be well spent and your staff will be less likely to experience burnout due to a lack of appreciation.

-- Solutions for Early Childhood Directors 

The Emergency Kit
One of my favorite ideas for training is “the emergency kit”. When facilitating training I provide a basket full of items one might need in an emergency.  Band-Aids, Tums, Safety pins, and lotion are a few of the things I keep handy.  I encourage you to provide your own emergency kit during training events. Remember, adults need a comfortable environment for learning, just like kids.

-- Facilitating Training That Takes Workshop

Good Night Rituals
Children will carry their childhood memories into adulthood. Choose a nighttime ritual for your family and stick to it. Whether it is singing, a secret handshake or praying together, make it special. Ours is to curl up with books in a different child’s bed each night and read. After reading we say our prayers, and tuck the kids in snug as a bug in a rug. Nothing fancy, but special time for our children and us. I am confident that they will one day look back and treasure that time with their parents and siblings. 

-- Creating Memories With Young Children Parents Workshop

Do you have an activity or idea you would like to share with me?  I can’t wait to read about it!  Contact me at kathy@earlychildhoodresources.com.