Preschool Mini Golf

After set up, this program was very low key. Families putted together. I just went around and did minor maintenance (and snapped some pics).

The children like to rearrange the obstacles.

The favorite hole by far were the hills.

New games were invented, like Golf Bag Ball,
where you use the golf bag to launch the ball at the hole.

Mini Golf or Putt Putt Library Set Up

Preschool Mini Golf at the Library

This post is the set up phase. It took an hour to set everything up the first day. I did it two days in a row and set up everything by myself. I purchased 4 sets of clubs, balls and a "bag" from Meijer during a clearance of summer items.

Hole 1: World Book sets and pool noodles. 

Legos for the "holes".

Large picture books for tunnels.

Book ends for obstacles.

The book basket obstacles were a favorite.

I saw this obstacle at a Teen Putt Putt. Not suitable for preschoolers!

Hats as obstacles.

Pool noodles for water traps.

Scarves and hula hoops for sand traps.

My favorite: Hills using mats from our "tree house".

If your library does this program, please leave a link in the comments. I tried to use what I had to keep this program below budget.

Messy Learning Lab: Just Add Water

Is water really messy? I planned all these activities with water and the answer is decidedly, "YES!"

Luckily, my wonderful, amazing, fantastic co-worker, John, had the foresight to put a tarp down, or the hard wood floors may have taken a hit. I filled two under-the-bed storage totes with water. I added some toys to one and floating things to the second.

We used spray bottles at both craft tables. Possibly a favorite activity involved children spraying EVERYTHING. Spraying really works those motor skills! One table had relief painting with liquid watercolors.

The other table used the tried and true method of staining regular paper with tissue paper.

I recently purchased egg shakers to use in storytimes, so these homemade sand shakers got a new life. I poked holes in the bottoms, so the kids could shake, shake, shake the sand into some water. I just love the feeling of wet sand.

No water program is complete without water beads! You can see my hand turning the small tote so both boys could reach at the same time. I really needed a bigger tote for this activity. I just didn't have many beads left after the last event. I paired the beads with sand toys. They enjoyed fitting as many beads as they could into each shape.

Another simple activity made new by adding water. Cover a chalkboard, or sidewalk, with chalk markings, then use water to paint. Draw and repeat.

This mat is a chalkboard banner! I've used it several times since this event and I love it, but the first time it was super stiff even after ironing. I added water to cornstarch and food coloring to make chalk paint. It dries with a cool texture.

I saved the favorite for last. The Ooey Gooey Lady had an obstacle course set up for a conference on Facebook recently. This is my take on it. I taped bubble wrap to the floor and added blue balls to the parachute (water and umbrella).

Adding water is easy, cost effective and so fun. Have you added water to any activities? Leave me a comment with some links! I'd love to see what you've been up to this summer.

Messy Learning Lab: Noodles

Vibrant, rainbow noodles, fun! I cooked four boxes of different types of  noodles with lots of oil Ooey Gooey Lady style. After I drained the noodles, I added liquid watercolor or food coloring. Either method creates brilliant colors. The blue noodles are neon blue food coloring.

Add some cooking utensils and you've got a great sensory experience.

I used two boxes of uncooked noodles mixed with liquid watercolors to set up a lacing activity. Every mom needs a macaroni necklace in her jewelry box. Plastic needles make lacing through the noodles easy for even the smallest hands.

I suggest tying a large bead on the end to prevent the noodles from sliding off. Penne noodles work the best as they have the largest openings. These necklaces make a wonderful homemade present.

Sharing with Tuesday Tots.

Messy Learning Lab: Painting with Real Tools

The invitation for painting with real tools is simple. I re-used the box from the MLL's glow-in-the-dark session. The library already has painting tools and trays. I did use washable tempera paint as I anticipated it dripping on the floor and being spread with little feet.

The lab lasts for two hours and the box painting activity had participants for the entire time!

I used two entire bottles of tempera paint. We put the box out in the children's section for everyone to admire throughout the rest of the month. I love hearing the excited voices coming from the stacks, "I did that!"

Sharing with Montessori Monday and Tuesday Tots.

PJ Storytime: Winter Theme

PJ Storytime is an event I host annually at the library. Children wear their pajamas and bring stuffed animals, pillows and blankets to listen to stories, sing songs and play.

Half the room before I began

This year, I planned a winter themed extravaganza.

Robert Sabuda is an amazing pop-up book master. The Christmas Alphabet is a beautiful rendering all in white. It is an excellent choice for a large group because it becomes interactive with the children trying to guess what's behind each letter.

Lift-the-flap books also work well as a participatory book experience. What could be baking in the oven or wrapped under the tree? Maisy is a recognizable character for library patrons.

I opted for a simple flannel activity with movement this year. Add a couple of fingerplays, the "Winter Pokey" and some singing with rhythm instruments and you have a complete storytime. Then, it's time for crafts and games!

The penguin toss game is a favorite with all ages. The toddlers love to go right up to the penguin and feed him.

Ice fishing with laminated fish covered in paperclips and fishing poles with strong magnets attached to the end. The packing peanuts are the ice.

Let it snow with a parachute and white cotton balls and loofahs.

I found some nutcracker soldier ornaments at Hobby Lobby. The black outlines and details are made from a fuzzy, velvety texture. You just color them with markers.

The paper plate snowman lacing, which I found on Pinterest, proved too difficult for most of the crowd. The Christmas magnets I found at the Dollar Tree last minute were just right, though.

I also invited the big man for a visit. I have him come during the last half hour of the evening when the games are still going strong. Then, if children are frightened or too old to visit with Santa, they have a pleasant alternative. Another fantastic PJ Storytime!

Sharing with TGIF and For the Kid's Friday.

Messy Learning Lab: Gingerbread Cloud Dough and Clay

The two messiest activities in the Messy Learning Lab are gingerbread cloud dough and clay.

Recipe:

7 cups flour

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 container of cinnamon (Dollar Tree)

We started out with the dough in the box, but the children were having trouble reaching it so I dumped it onto the table. The dough feels soft and fluffy but packs well to make shapes. They pretended to make muffins and cupcakes. The dough smells delicious!

The dough is actually easy to clean up with a broom and a mop. However, it created a slippery floor. I used the puzzle mat from storytime as a non-slip surface around the table. The dough on the table can be used again by brushing it all back in the box.

Messiest Activity!!!

I purchased clay from Discount School Supply two years ago for a Summer Reading Club program. We used almost half of it and I saved the rest. Since it dried out quite a bit, I soaked it in water before the program. I wanted a pliable consistency and boy did I get it! 

The children loved squirting the clay with water to create a gooey masterpiece. This table took the longest to clean. My husband used one of the clay tools to scrape all the extra clay off. We used heavy duty wipes and spray to get the rest of the mess up. J also mopped the floor around the table.

Did you miss any of the Messy Learning Lab?

Bubble Wrap Shaving Cream Table

Packing Peanut Sensory Bin

Rainbow Floam and Rice

Mini-Volcanoes and Finger Painting

Next week, I'll be sharing activities from the second MLL.
Sharing with Kids Co-op and It's Playtime!

A new way to Do-A-Dot

We've used the dot pages in several different ways over the past couple of years. Bobo struggles with the Do-A-Dot painters. He doesn't like to use them. I think it may be the squeezing and dotting at the same time.  I have lots of these stampers from Oriental Trading left from last year. They have the ink already in them, so it's a super simple activity. They are the perfect size for the dots and come in many different themes.

Bobo also wanted to use the stampers for a book activity. He stamped the characters as they were introduced in There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat. I printed all of these wonderful activities from 3 Dinosaurs.