At my pre-school, we have "Dad's Night" where Dad's, Grandpa's Uncle's or some important male figure comes back to pre-school in the evening (sorry no mommies allowed!) for an evening of fun (usually one hour). We start out the night with all the children and dad's sitting in a circle on the floor. The children introduce who it was they brought as well as telling their own name and age. Then we take them all to a large room where the daddies/males play musical chairs (on child size chairs) and the children cheer them on. The top two "teams" (dad/child) win ice cream cone coupons at the local ice cream shop. Then onto some tables, where the dad/child make a craft that involves them painting each other's hands as part of the craft. (for example-on light blue construction paper they place their painted hands in a circle to make the rays of the sun, alternating dad and child. Then glue on a small circle (6" diameter) in the center of that. In that circle they have drawn (with
markers) the sun's face) It's a
keepsake as we have them both sign it and date is put on it--mom loves it. Then they clean each other up and we engage in a pretend "snowball" fight (paper wads). Game is started with all the "snowballs" on a center line. The children are on one team and the dad's on the other. Object is not to have any snowballs left on your side when time is up. It's a very successful night and the object was to make some special time between dad and child.
games to play...
songs to sing...
Cat and Mouse
One child is the cat and hides. The rest of the children are mice and sneak up to the cat's hiding place and scratch. This is the signal for the cat to chase the mice and try to catch one. Then choose another child to be the cat until each child has had a turn.
Have children lying on the floor, pretending to sleep as the set up for this song. It can be done even in a relatively small space.
All the bunnies fast asleep
All the bunnies not a peep
If I should sing my song today
Will all those bunnies get up and play?
(Children get up and hop around room)
Get up little bunnies hopping, hopping
Get up little bunnies hop, hop, hop.
Get up little bunnies hopping, hopping
Get up little bunnies hop and stop!
I do this several times in a row, and preschoolers just love it. The song can easily be adapted for any other animal or theme. ie.balloons - floating, frogs - leap, etc.
Paint the bottom of the child's feet. Make imprints of each foot with the big toe facing outward and the outer edge of the feet touching each other. You will notice the results looks like a butterfly. It helps to clean one foot before you paint the other. Can't seem to keep the little ones still? I do this project while they are in high chair eating a favorite snack.
blue jello mix
gummy fish
crushed graham crackers
Teddy Grahams
gummy Lifesavers
Sea creature crackers
paper umbrellas
clear plastic cups
This is the blue jello ocean cups with a little twist. Mix the jello according to the package. Pour the jello in clear plastic cups and add in gummy fish (you may want to wait until the jello starts to firm up a little so the fish don't all sink to the bottom). Let the jello set in your refrigerator. Once set, take finely crushed graham crackers and sprinkle along one side (on the top) of the jello cup to resemble a beach. Next take a Teddy Graham and insert half way in a gummy lifesavers. You may want to pre-stretch the lifesaver so the bear will fit in easily. Then, stick the feet of the bear in the jello. This should look like a bear with a float around it's waist floating in the water. Then, add a bear to the sandy area with a few starfish crackers. Last, insert the umbrella at an angle in the beach area.
Enter to win this Microwave S'Mores Maker for Smores Anytime