We decided to do 3 stations (mom hosts are required to set up a snack, game and art activity) for the kids to rotate thru. She and I thought alike-we wanted them to be engaged the whole party, not just served their pre-made/cooked snack. We wanted them learn something and possibly go home and share their experience with other family members. And most of all-we wanted to avoid any downtime bc all we see the kids do at any class party during that time is run around be silly = injuries, so forget it!
So, we came up with Make a Bird's Nest snack, Jelly Bean Graphs and tissue paper eggs. E and I split up the duties and prep work. She has an organized mind like I so it was so easy to coordinate it all via emails. I searched the web for healthy recipes and came up slim. Anything I found needed cooking time and that was not gonna work. But at least the ideas I found sprouted this idea in my head:
Whenever I saw recipes using coconut shavings or chocolate I was reminded of this stuff my mom sent the boys last Easter:
It is made of potato starch and other cracker like ingredients. Then it is flavored with sour apple. It actually tastes good! I found it again this yr at Target.
I made up a board using visuals to illustrate each step of the recipe.
1. one half of a bagel
2. spread the cream cheese
3. sprinkle the grass
4. add the eggs (white jelly beans)
4. add the peep
That was about as healthy as I could get.
Then each kid rotated thru the other centers. Each station took 10-15 minutes and during downtime they were to look at books we brought in. Anything diff from the usual classroom stuff interested them. I had a blast. It was great to be there volunteering, working another mom (who happens to be a teacher herself), spending time with T and swapping ideas with his teacher.
I also found these goodies:
As T's Spring/Easter favor to his classmates we gave a packet of seeds instead of candy. We found them in the dollar bin. I asked him he wanted to pick out a bag of candy or help his friends start their own garden during spring break-he picked garden. Luv him! I had Charito make up the labels -""Thanks for growing with me! Happy Spring! Triston". He even requested the girls get flower seeds and the boys get fruits and vegetables. Sure, why not.
Then as a favor from us Party moms we gave a tiny sunflower pot with a label that said "Keep on Growing! Love your teachers."
You know I like anything productive as a treat for kids. I mean seriously-how many erasers, pencils, candy bags and playdohs can one receive!?
And like I said before, Triston is really into ANYTHING he learns at school so he really was excited for Earth day (yet, another holiday we paid no attention to in the past. I tell you, this school is teaching US things as a family and get us in motion. I follow T's lead and run with it-like recycling. Whoever thought I would be recycling?! I love it!)
I had to get creative (once again) for Earth Day. I came up with another snack. A not so healthy one this time but the concept and lesson behind were the best part. I thought about the earth, the soil and how it can make sense for the preschool mind. Even the 2 yr old mind. And again, it was T who made my wheels spin on this one. They made worm cups at school last week and he recalled when we made them 2 summers ago. He told me one day on the way home from school that he liked mine better. I kept that in the back of my head. Instead of dirt cups we made earth cups.
Crushed Oreo cookies (they bashed em in a ziploc baggie with their fists)= SOIL
Crushed golden Oreos = SEEDS
Vanilla pudding (or I guess I could have used yogurt) dyed blue=WATER
Sunlight=FIND IT AND "CATCH IT" THRU WINDOW OR OUTSIDE
and wallah =the GRASS will grow (edible grass again)
I brought the ingredients with us to visit my friend KT so we could keep the kids busy and try and avoid as many inuries w running around as possible. I think Addie liked it the best!
Auntie KT set up for us to color eggs together. It was sooo nice to be out. It was my first outing ALL of 2 weeks on my spring break (all mere days before it was over). But it was a healthy, clean house (she was actually on her hands and knees scrubbing her floors the morning of bc her mop broke once she began. Now that IS love). We had masks ready and everyone was actually cold-free for once!
Catching the sun!
Addie and her Earth Day snack
And I got to meet baby Samuel!! He is a cutie!
And as busy as we tried to keep them Grayson still got hurt. In the last 20 min of the stay no less. He bumped his head on a chair, bringing it all to a halt. Our cue to leave.
But we still had fun up until that point!
Caden and his first Easter card-thanks to godparents Najette n Dave. Yum!
