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Raina Kennedy

Inspire, Enrich, Create

Dr. Seuss inspired clubhouse

5/15/2014

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I received this used kid craft clubhouse as a gift from a friend. I just planned to paint it and fix it up a little but once I put on the red and white stripe drapes, the Seuss house was born. Kids houses should be fun and inspiring ;)

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I added these fun test tube flower pots.

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DIY:  Pet Kennel for kids playroom

2/5/2014

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I'm building the kids a Pet Clinic in their playroom.  I really wanted to incorporate a kennel area but didn't want to use actual dog kennels.  They cost so much and weren't safe for the kids.  I'm so happy with the way this came out.  It's an Ikea expedit shelf with gates added to the shelf openings.  Here's how I did it.
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EXPEDIT Shelving unit, white $39.99 Article Number: 201.353.00 Size 31 1/8x31 1/8"
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These were the perfect fit to cover the openings of the expedit. Store Supply Warehouse, 14"X14" Mini Grid Panel-Black SKU # 30103 Price:$0.95 each

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Household Items make the best toys!

1/31/2014

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I'm slowly putting our new playroom together.  Just found this adorable scale at Walmart for $14!  I bolted it to the shelf so it can't be moved.  The kids have been putting the entire contents of the house on it!  It's proven to be a great learning tool as they discover what's lighter and what's heavier.  We also talk about numbers.  I love the aesthetic it brings to our market area but even more, I love the educational opportunity it brings to our play.  Sometimes, household items make the best toys!
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They come in all sorts of fun colors. 
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Music and Movement playdate/lesson

11/6/2013

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Opera pitch hello and goodbye to get the kids experimenting with the sounds they can make. Also did sound exercises where the kids made different sounds with their lips.
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During circle time, we initiated a contagious giggle go round where we tickled the kids feet with feathers.
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Music note collage art. Just pre-cut a music sheet and let the kids paste it to a colored sheet. We also used music stickers.
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This is a fun sound activity. I filled these cans with two types of sounds and four containers. The kids were asked to listen for the containers that made the same sound.
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Follow the conductor movement, music and sensory activity. The kids danced like kangaroos and ducks on a path of bubble wrap and sticky paper.
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Tape contact paper to the floor with sticky side up
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Soft music and spatula painting.
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Spring Activities for Toddlers

11/6/2013

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Bug Week

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For bug week, we re-used some easter grass and buried bugs. We gave the kids some fun magnifying glasses and bug containers to collect their findings. Afterward, we hid the bugs around the house and had the kids search for them.
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This was fun for the younger toddlers too.
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The kids swatting flies with fly swatters. A great ceiling activity!
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We made some black playdough and had the kids make spiders for art today. Here's George and mom acting scared. This spider was George's creation!

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Fall Themed Activities for Kids

11/2/2013

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Turkey trot and Turkey yoga. The kids have a blast going fast, slow, hopping, running in place like a turkey
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Have them form a turkey conga line and trot like turkey's along each shape taped on the floor
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Sailing The Mayflower water play. Have them try to blow the sails.
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I made these with craft sticks and wooden blocks. I would pre write the names of the kids on the sails and laminate prior to class. Ours flopped too soon during this play.

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Expedit shelf re-purposed into a Race Car

11/2/2013

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This took 15 minutes to make. It's the Ikea Expedit Shelving unit turned into a Race Car. Just cut up some construction paper and tape to the sides.
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Can't wait to see what other fun transportation themes we can come up with now the idea is born!
Looking for ideas on Birthday decor.  This decal took 20 minutes to make.  I covered it in clear contact paper so it could last several play sessions.  Still need to add his jet pack but love the way it's coming out.  My boys are totally into Turbo Snails right now.
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Turbo!
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An Indian Canoe for Fall Theme
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Tape yellow and blue paper to form the length of Expedit
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Turn over and draw zig zags with pencil
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Follow pattern with colored duck tape
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Sleep Tight Playdate

11/2/2013

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Also a good lesson for preschool age children
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Sleep Tight theme this week. I covered our hallway entrance with long black fabric. Here we did shadow shows and played with all sorts of fun light up toys.
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Catch a flying star. This is always a fun eye coordination activity. Hang the stars from the ceiling and have the kids swat with paper towel dowels
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Sheep Jumping over the fence. HAve the kids Baa as they jump. Create the fence on the floor with painter's tape
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As a craft, have the kids make wishing pouches. Each one has a star, moon and cloud.

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Anchor Socks

11/1/2013

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This is a must try.  It's the simplest thing to make and the kids are totally into it.  These anchor socks are played with for a week straight now.  I initially created them for our sailing the mayflower activity but they deserve to be highlighted on their own.

How to Make: A sock, stuff with newspaper and tied shut with long string.

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They practice throwing the anchor in buckets, they drag the buckets around with the anchors (caught a big fish), they catch each other with the anchors, anchors get landed on square taped to floor with painters tape and anchors get a parade walk.  Very surprised by how much action this simple DIY toy gets.

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Apple Playdate: Learn through Play

10/29/2013

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Our Apple Tree. The kids will pick apples during their dramatic apple stand pla
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Our Apple chute. The kids will take turns dropping apples into the basket while counting each apple.  The tunnels are made of clear ketchup bottles and black electric tape with magnets fastened to the back.

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Our apple stand came out so good! Its a lemonade stand converted for the playdate! It set the stage for some great dramatic play of buying and selling apples.


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Learn Through Play: Street Safety

10/29/2013

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The kids learn about driving safety. Here they learn to follow street light signs.  Green means go.

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Prompting them to slow for yellow.


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Fire Safety- learn through Play

10/28/2013

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As a science activity- we used glass jars to teach children about fire and how it needs oxygen.  Here we illustrate how fire burns without the lid and how it blows out once the lid covers the jar.
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Here the kids watch closely as the fire goes out once the lid is placed.
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Marching Band Playdate

10/28/2013

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These salt containers make great drums and maraca's! Best part is they are only .33 cents each!
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We love throwing theme playdates.  Our Marching Band playdate was such a hit with the kids that I have to share it.  We hosted it in the summer when real parades were happening.  The kids really enjoy dramatic play, music and making crafts.  As a craft we had them make their own drums and maracas  After the craft, our little performers paraded around the house playing their instruments with some fun band music in the background.  For the parade route we taped contact paper to the floor (sticky side up) so that their feet made music too!  For the education component, we cut the contact paper into shapes.  When the music stopped, the kids had to call out the shape they landed on.  





For the drums, we used salt containers.  They were only 33 cents each and small enough for the kids to handle.  We saved the salt to make playdough for other playdates.  Prior to the craft, I cut out several strips of scrapbooking  paper for the kids to choose from.  Then we cut out 2 thinner strips for the borders (see orange in pic).  It was a simple tape/glue craft.   We put out a bowl of stickers for the kids too.  Make sure to cut off the bottom of the container. The drum beat sounds louder when the bottom is hollow.
For the drum sticks, just use some spoons in the house.  The ones we made in the picture didn't work out so well.  The simpler, the better.

You can also make some fun Maracas.  Prior to the playdate fill the salt container with beans and seal the lid shut.  




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Follow the conductor movement, music and sensory activity. The kids danced like kangaroos and ducks on a path of bubble wrap and sticky paper.
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As the kids make their way around the parade route their feet make music too. Here they march along contact paper sticky side up and bubble wrap.
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We gave the kids streamers to wave while they paraded
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Encourage leadership. Have the kids take turns being the conductor.
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Galaxy Hall

10/28/2013

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The kids love all things that light up.  Instead of waiting till the evening to have our light up fun, I created this daytime Galaxy room in our hall.   Here's a quick way to create a dark room for all your light up desires!  Close off your hallway with black fabric hung by closet rods.  I screwed closet rod holders on both ends of the hall for a quick install.  I keep all of our light up toys in a box with the rods and fabric so they are ready on demand.  I also keep glow stars to dec the hall and solar system streamers in our bucket for when we want to have galaxy and outer space play.
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This is a great set up for a birthday party and/or a themed playdate.

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Fun weather Station for your playroom

10/28/2013

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This is a fun and cheap way to inspire the topic of weather and how we dress for it.  Found the boy and his clothes at Learning Palace.
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 I covered all in clear plastic shelf lining and added rings to hold the string.

I made the clouds out of cardboard and painted them white.  The weather signs are from printouts off the internet and placed them in these cute little frames.  We use this everyday!

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Cloud Hopping Playdate

10/28/2013

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This is a very charming set up and the kids will absolutely love it.  The theme
is whimsical, musical and educational.  During the playdate, the kids make their own streamers.  You can use ribbon, felt strips or any other kid safe string.
 
It's best to tie the ribbon around a large ring.  You can use plastic shower
curtain rings or large plastic bangle bracelets.  The kids will be waving them
around while hopping from cloud to cloud so you don't want to use stick like
objects for the streamer handle.  We used blue painters tape to form the cloud
shapes on the floor.  We chose painters tape because it doesn't leave any
residue or glue after you remove it.  When the kids arrive, let them make their
streamers as the craft activity and then for the fun, have them jump from cloud
to cloud.  Play some music as they hop.  Stop the music to see who hopped the
most clouds.  Play again to start the hopping.  Make sure the clouds are close
enough so their little legs can reach each cloud in one hop.  During this
palydate, the kids learn fine motor skills while making the streamers, following
instructions with the stop and go and muscle development with the hopping.  The
playdate also has a fun take away-the kids will enjoy taking their newly made
streamers home to show dad!

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Interactive Tree

10/27/2013

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Our interactive Tree area is taking on a realistic life of its own. 3 years trying to find birds that look real and are play safe. Just found the butterflies and green leaves  My favorite thing about this play area is that it suits all three kids perfectly. Charlotte just loves pulling the items off the wall (everything is attached via velcro). Brendan and Liam play together building the scene each day. So sweet to watch and play with.

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Fun Science Experiment for Kids- Balloon Bottles!

10/27/2013

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The kids really enjoyed this one.  Pick up four bottles and four balloons.  Put different amounts of vinegar in each bottle and pour different amounts of baking soda in each balloon.  Watch with amazement as the baking soda sprinkles down from the balloon into the bottle.

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    Raina Kennedy

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