Lakewood Avenue Children's School

Preschool Ages 1-5

Lakewood at Home

Lakewood for Toddlers: July 17

by Leave a Comment

Good morning and happy Friday! We are so thankful that you spent part of your week with us. There are only a few days left of Lakewood at Home before we reopen on August 5th. Here are three invitations for toddlers on this Friday.

Art Invitation: NCMA City in the Grass

If you did not have a chance to see City in the Grass at NCMA, you can see it virtually through their website. It is in the outdoor sculpture park, so it is possible to go and see it in person, but the park tends to be very popular and it might be difficult to socially distance at certain times of day. We really enjoy this piece of art because it is so accessible for young children. It has texture, color, and is at their level. We hope the link above gives you and your child a sense of the piece. You can find additional activity ideas here. 

Building/Outdoor Invitation: Outdoor blocks

In thinking about City in the Grass and the other invitations we have suggested over the past few months, we wanted to suggest taking some blocks to a shady spot outside today. You can add animals, people, or other loose parts to this exploration as well. Block building uses motor skills and is a way for children to explore physics, architecture and engineering.

Science/Nature Invitation: Investigating life in the grass

This is another outdoor invitation. Invite your child to explore a patch of grass. You can provide a magnifying glass and possibly a clipboard and pencil as well. What will they find in the grass? What will they notice about textures, colors, and shapes?

Lakewood for Toddlers: July 16

by Leave a Comment

Good morning! We have made it through over half the week! Here are three invitation ideas for toddlers on what looks like it will be another hot day.

Science/Fine Motor Invitation: Cars, blocks and ramps

Over the course of the past several months, we have suggested multiple invitations involving ramps. Today we are curious about how your child’s explorations may have changed over time. Are they still interested in exploring ramps and vehicles? Are they building their own ramps now if offered the materials? How do you think their understanding of this concept has evolved?

Sensory Invitation: Water play

As the hot weather continues, it’s important to find ways to stay cool and continue to be outside. Today we suggest getting out a kiddie pool or large, shallow storage bin (the kind that is made to fit under a bed is perfect) and turning it into a pond for boats. You can make boats out of clean recyclable materials, empty juice boxes, or natural materials if you like. If you make a boat with a sail, your child can explore how to make it move through the water using their breath or a paper fan.

Art Invitation: Sculpting with Play dough

What might your toddler be interested in doing with play dough today? You can pair play dough with a variety of tools and other materials for different experiences. Golf tees and a hammer are interesting to investigate with play dough that may have become a little dry. You can also offer cooking utensils, craft sticks, small cups, or natural materials.

Lakewood for PreK: July 16

by Leave a Comment

Good morning. Here are three more invitations for preschoolers for today, or any day you need an idea.

Fine Motor Invitation: Making binoculars

This invitation uses a paper towel tube, scissors, a hole punch, some string or yarn, and tape. You can also offer markers, pencils or crayons for customizing the binoculars.

Cut the paper towel tube into two equal cylinders and punch one hole at the top of each piece. Invite your child to connect the two tubes together using tape with the holes on the outside edges. This is the time to decorate them! 

To complete the binoculars, loop the string through the holes and adjust. To prevent creating a strangulation hazard, only tie the string through one of the holes. Even though there is no glass or magnification in these binoculars, they do narrow your vision and create a slightly different perspective.

Science/Nature Invitation: Birding adventure

Your child might want to take their new binoculars on this birding adventure, but they are completely optional. You will need a window with a view or an outdoor space, preferably in the shade. Along with their binoculars, your child might appreciate having a clipboard with a piece of paper and pencil/pen and a bird book if you have one. Invite them to sit quietly, listening and observing the world around them. What do they hear? What do they see? Are there any birds nearby? What do they look like? 

Art Invitation: Creating birds from clay or salt dough

After watching and thinking about birds this morning, we are wondering if your child would like to explore birds through making one from clay or salt dough. You can try this recipe for salt dough also, though we have not tested these exact proportions. If you have feathers or wire, you could offer those as part of the invitation as well, or invite your child to create feathers from other materials.

Lakewood for Middlers: July 16

by Leave a Comment

Good morning! We have made it through over half of the week! Here are three invitations we hope will engage your middler-aged child today.

Fine Motor Invitation: Making binoculars

This invitation uses a paper towel tube, scissors, a hole punch, some string or yarn, and tape. You can also offer markers, pencils or crayons for customizing the binoculars.

Cut the paper towel tube into two equal cylinders and punch one hole at the top of each piece. Invite your child to connect the two tubes together using tape with the holes on the outside edges. This is the time to decorate them! 

To complete the binoculars, loop the string through the holes and adjust. To prevent creating a strangulation hazard, only tie the string through one of the holes. Even though there is no glass or magnification in these binoculars, they do narrow your vision and create a slightly different perspective.

Science/Nature Invitation: Birding adventure

Your child might want to take their new binoculars on this birding adventure, but they are completely optional. You will need a window with a view or an outdoor space, preferably in the shade. Along with their binoculars, your child might appreciate having a clipboard with a piece of paper and pencil/pen and a bird book if you have one. Invite them to sit quietly, listening and observing the world around them. What do they hear? What do they see? Are there any birds nearby? What do they look like? 

Sensory Invitation: Bird bath

This invitation is perfect for a kiddie pool or a large, shallow storage tub. Fill it with an inch or so of water and invite your child to pretend to be a bird and take a bath in the water. This video of flamingos dancing is a fun watch and might be inspirational. You can also find videos of birds bathing in puddles.