TEDDY BEAR

I have toddler in the house.

Well, he’s not in the house right now.

Right now, he’s at my parent’s house.

He’s spending the weekend with them, along with his brother and sister, and the dog.

Big smile on my face!

But, when he’s with us, you will find him running all over the house, getting into all kinds of mischief.

He’s very curious and can’t sit stil.

He gets into everything!

He’s what they call an active toddler.

It can be exhausting.

I am always on the lookout for activities that will help harness all his energy, keep him safe and out of trouble.

Listening and dancing around to the song, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, is one such activity.

Have you heard of this song?

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear is what I call an action song.

What I like about it is it calls for movement, participation and dance.

Let’s give a listen.

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Check out the song lyrics.Here’s what I like to do.

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Turn around. (turn around)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Touch the ground. (touch the ground)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Shine your shoes. (take your hands and move them from side to side across your feet)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

That will do!

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Go upstairs. (march like you are going up the stairs)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Say your prayers. (go down on your knees and put your hands together in prayer)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Turn out the light. (take your finger and raise it up and down)

Teddy bear, teddy bear,

Say good night. (wave good night)

I like to play the song about 3-4 times to really tire the little guy out.

Did you catch the last couple of lines of the song?

The part about going to bed?

How cool is that!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear will also help prepare your child for naptime and/or bedtime!

Woohoo!

Give it a try.

It’s a fun workout and it’s sure to release some of your toddler’s pent-up energy.

I’m also posting a Teddy Bear coloring page, as well.

It’s one of my toddler’s favorite activities – coloring.

I can usually get him to sit still and color for a short (short) while, before he’s off and running again.

If you’re up for more, check out this fun chocolate teddy bear cookie recipe that the kids will enjoy.

Enjoy playtime with your little Energizer bunnies!

It’s Time To Learn, Laugh, Sing & Grow!

SHAPE MONSTERS

PRESCHOOL THEME: SHAPE MONSTERS

M is for Monsters!

Here’s what you will need:

• Construction paper
• Googly eyes
• Glue

What you will do:

Have children cut out shapes in a variety of different colors and sizes. It’s a good cutting skills exercise.

Make sure each child has one large shape for the body and one sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 construction paper for the backing.

Layout the googly eyes.

Next, let the children create their monsters!

This activity is perfect with Halloween right around the corner.

And, while the children are busy cutting and glueing, play the Shapes song, which works great with this fun activity.

Teach. Sing. Learn.

Shapes song lyrics:

There are many kinds of shapes
I see them everywhere
I love circles and rectangles
Triangles and squares

Circles!

When I go walking I see circles
Everywhere I go
A circle is round like a steering wheel
It’s shaped just like an “O”

Like the big bright sun
And a cinnamon bun
And the wheels on a bicycle
Round and round they go

Like a big balloon
Like the big full moon
How many kinds of circles
Do you know?

Squares!

I see squares when we go to town
They’re everywhere you turn
They have four sides of the very same length
Let’s see what we can learn

Like a pizza box
And my toy blocks
Equal sides of 1,2,3,and 4
Like a picture frame
Or a windowpane
A square is just a shape that I adore

Triangles!

Here and there I find triangles
Look around and see
And a triangle has three sides
One and two and three

Like a pizza slice
A piece of pie is nice
How about a great big
Ice cream cone?

Like a volcano
Or the sail on my boat
Or a steeple, or the shape of the roof
That’s on my home

Rectangles!

I share my house
With a lot of rectangles
Let’s just take a look
With two sides long
And two sides short
They’re shaped just like a book

Like my front door
And the rug on my floor
Like a fridge, like a brick
Like a bed, like a stereo

Like a Kleenex box
And my grandfather clock
I see rectangles
Everywhere I go!

There are many kinds of shapes
I see them everywhere
I love circles and rectangles
Triangles and squares.

Muffin Man

Butternut Squash Muffins (Jamie Oliver recipe)

Children will have no trouble eating their veggies with these yummy muffins!

Ingredients
14 ounces butternut squash, seeded and roughly chopped (ok to leave skin on)
2 & 1/4 cups light brown sugar (use 1 & 1/4 cup)
4 large free-range or organic eggs
pinch of salt
2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, unsifted
2 heaping tablespoons baking powder
handful of chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (use 1/2 cup)

For the Frosted Cream Topping:
1 clementine, zested (can use an orange)
1 lemon, zested
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup sour cream (can use 2% Greek yogurt)
2 heaping tablespoons icing sugar, sifted (this is confectioner’s sugar)
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and seeds scraped out (use 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a food processor, buzz the butternut squash until finely chopped.

Add the sugar and eggs.

Throw in a pinch of salt, the flour, baking powder, walnuts, cinnamon and olive oil and mix until well beaten.

Fill a regular sized muffin tin lined with paper cups until each cup is just over 3/4 full.

Cook 20 – 25 minutes until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Allow muffins to cool on a wire rack.

For the topping: Place the zest and lemon juice in a bowl.

Add the sour cream (or yogurt), the sifted confectioner’s sugar and vanilla and mix well.

Keep in the fridge until ready to top the muffins.

While the muffins are baking, why not read this clever tale, If You Give A Moose A Muffin, to the children.

Teach. Sing. Learn.

Do You Know The Muffin Man song lyrics:

Oh, do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, do you know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane?

Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, yes, I know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

Oh, two of us know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, two of us know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

A few of us know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
A few of us know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

Now we all know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man,
Now we all know the muffin man,
Who lives in Drury Lane.

PRESCHOOL BODY PARTS THEME

Build a Body song lyrics:

Build a body
Make a face
Put the pieces
All in place

Drag the eyes
Where do they go?
On the head
I’m sure you know

Now the ears
The mouth, the nose
Figure out
Where it all goes

Build a body
Make a face
Put the pieces
All in place

Now the thighs
The knees, the feet
The arms, the hands
Where do they meet

The outer work
Is almost done
This is really
So much fun!

Let us go
Inside and see
Where the inner
Parts should be
Your heart, your lungs
And stomach go
Deep inside
Where they don’t show

Body Parts song lyrics:

Everybody touch your nose
Everybody smell your toes
Wave your hands in the air
Run your fingers through your hair

Body parts are really fun
They’re all connected one by one
Like a puzzle they all fit
So let’s all make a game of it

Can you open your mouth wide
Stick your tongue to the side
Wiggle your ears up and down
Pout your lips into a frown

Body parts are really fun
They’re all connected one by one
Like a puzzle they all fit
So let’s all make a game of it

http://www.kiboomu.com/_quick_backup/2010/09/22/preschool-body-parts-theme-macaroni-skeleton-crafts-and-body-parts-songs/