Button Preschool Theme

Buttons are such a great way to allow children to add color and texture to glueing projects. Buttons are available to buy in large packages at most department craft stores, and dollar shops. If using buttons that have been donated, make sure to search through the buttons and use the ones that are flat with holes for better attachment. Be prepared for children to be using lots of glue for their art creations.

 

ART CRAFT SUGGESTIONS:

First of all, simply cutting out shapes, such as Hearts, Easter Eggs, or Pumpkins along with buttons for the children to search through and glue, makes for a fun and easy art process. Some other suggestions are....

• Buttons for Leaves with Tree Shapes
• Buttons with Flowers
• Buttons with Teddybear Shapes or Gingerbread Men
• Buttons onto Frames (have child holding a sign saying Cute as a Button---great present idea!)



From Preschool Crafts for Kids


SENSORY and MORE....

1. Buttons in sensory tables with scoops and containers

2. Place Buttons into playdough

3. Use Buttons for Sorting and Sizing

4. Activity Button Sheets: Making Learning Fun Website has great Pete the Cat activity sheets

5. Learning to Button Table activities

BUTTON SONG

To the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb

Trevor has buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt, buttons on his shirt

Trevor has buttons on his shirt, how many does he have.

(Change the name and clothing to match the children in the group)

With the popularity of Pete the Cat, including the story of his Groovy Buttons with the book and/or the felt story is a great idea!

 

Online Early Childhood Workshops with Circle of Ideas 

                                              

Halloween Handprints

This activity not only creates a fun and playful Halloween craft, but the end result can be kept for a child's memory book collection. Whether with a group or just with one, crafts with older babies and toddlers can seem like a challenging feat. Yet, introducing children at a young age to art and craft activities provides them with opportunities to develop their creative selves. In addition, the sensory experience of paper and paint is greatly enjoyed by these little hands. In order to produce a finished result in this following activity, adult hands are definitely required to finish the project effectively. A good idea is to allow a toddler to have fun with the material and create his/her own masterpiece while simultaneously creating the ghosts.

Ghost Hands with White Paper

Material Needed:

• White construction paper
• Black construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Black felt pen or crayon

Fold the white construction paper into fours and trace one chosen hand from the toddler or older baby with a pencil, rounding at the top of the hand. Cut out the hands to create the ghost's body. On a black background, and with the toddler's help, glue the hands upside down onto the paper. Finish the ghost's body with two eyes and a circle for the mouth.

This song can be sung when the project is complete.

To the tune of I'm a Little Teapot

We are friendly ghosts up in the sky
All dressed in white, we fly so high.
Sometimes we call out, and say boo!
If you were a ghost, you'd say it too.

Ghost Handprints with Paint

Alternatively, this activity could be created with white finger paint. Allow the toddler to freely paint onto a separate piece of paper and during this creative process, guide their hands over to black paper and show them how to press their hands flat on the paper to create handprints. This can be tricky for the adult, and the best result requires the grown up to gently guide hand over hand. When dry, the paper can be turned around and the little ghosts completed with eyes and a mouth drawn on each handprint with black felt pen. When finger painting with toddlers, it is a great idea to be prepared for cleanup before hand with soapy water and towels. Have a painting smock for your young child to wear or make one with an old adult shirt. In addition, toddlers should be instructed to keep the paint out of their mouths, but because it will be so tempting, make sure to use finger paint that is safe for children to use.


Halloween is a memorable holiday for all children, and this craft can also be used to mark your child's handprint and perhaps store away or place into a memory book. Handprints are always amazing to look at later on for both the child and the parents and marvel at how small they once were.