beginnerswork



Toys -

Toys should be flexible, functional and if they are for building, they should stay together. They should allow for expansive creative thinking and mix with other systems for broader use.

Mobilo: 

Never ending creative fun, intelligently designed and easy to use. Great fine motor practice and motor planning. Plus they stay together for active play. A great social activity. The set doesn't make large structures well. It is best for individual designs so I often combined this toy with another system. For example: Space station from blocks, or Duplos and space ships from Mobilos. It is always surprising (see the space suit below!)

@ Mobilo.net

Wooden Blocks: What can I say? If I had to choose only one toy this would be it. Blocks are a bit complex and require more basic teaching but they are worth it because they are immensely useful. Rule: never build anything higher than your head. From basic physics to counting to creative play, wooden blocks can do it all.

A cooperative game of stacking blocks one at a time in a tower is filled with suspense. Sometimes the goal is to make the tallest tower, other times it is to see how many blocks can be stacked. Using odd shaped blocks makes this game more interesting. If the tower falls down the last person begins the next tower. The game can vary but cooperating to achieve a goal is the main idea, plus, of course, motor planning, counting and one to one correspondence.

Duplos: 

Easy, makes a good social activity. Everyone can work together to build a community, zoo or playground, etc. Just collect lots of blocks and accessories as hand me downs or at garage sales. More pieces = more possibilities. I especially like the simple machines sets...

They really work and they stay together to make usable toys. They teach planning and also following visual directions for a big payoff. Cars, paper crimper and top spinner have been favorites.

 Topple:

New rules... all players must work together to put all the pieces on the game board. If they do everyone wins! Good for socialization, cooperation, motor planning and fine motor control. For older children set a timer...

Materials -

 My approach is to always use the best quality materials I can afford. They look best and go farther.

Paper: 18x24/80 lb drawing paper is used for large paintings and cut up for folded books. The weight makes everything seem more important and worth keeping.

Paint: Real poster paint... red, blue and yellow plus white and black if you want to mix your own colors or a set of primary and secondary colors plus black and white if don't have time to mix. Its good to have basic peach for skin color. You can add brown or white for all desired skin tones or start with brown if it works better for you. I never use "washable" poster paint because the paint is transparent and the colors don't mix accurately.

I sometimes paint large sheets of heavy drawing paper a different solid or a variegated color on each side. The already heavy weightpaper becomes perfect for cutting, the colors are custom and each piece has two colors even the scraps.

I use every inch of this painted paper because it is so sensually satisfying. It cuts well and looks great. The children are more invested in their projects because they "made" the paper. The last activity I use this paper for is usually a round mosaic made with small pieces cut from the last scraps.

Finger Paint: 

The real fun of finger paint is the process. I put the paint on the table or on a tray, then I make a print from the paint. Often, I make a new print when the design changes and the artist is happy with it. I buy red, blue and yellow and the kids mix.

Lately, as a Gran I have discovered Crayola Finger paint in tubes...a wonderful invention! 

Neat and easy.... 

New Cookie Sheets:

Perfect for finger painting or bead play or anything messy... wait until October when they are on sale...just enough working space and they will last forever!

Smocks: I like the plastic kind like the one above because it is really water proof. I cut about six

inches off the sleeves and make sure the child's sleeves are pulled or rolled up. Also, I give fair warning to the parents on days we expect to be really messy. 

Fancy clothes should never hinder great art!

Paper Scraps:

A big box under the easel keeps potentially useful scraps. It is a constant resource and environmentally wise. Leftover rectangles of drawing paper will become labels or tickets to a trip to the moon.

If it gets too full, a big collage on yellow mural paper can be beautiful and fun. And of course the painted paper scraps are the best!

Chalkboards:

 There is a great variety available at Billyboards

Sidewalk chalk is availabe everywhere...