Light Table Fun

Children of all ages are attracted to lights and if given the opportunity to explore with it, they will definitely not hesitate at all. Hence, a light table will indeed be a great play area for children as well as adults.

There are a wide variety of light tables available in the marking ranging from different sizes and prices. As such, you can easily purchase a light table of your preference. However, what if you cannot afford do not have the space to accommodate one? Does it mean your child will not have the opportunity to explore at the light table? NO! As you can build a light table at a low cost and it can be turned into a storage box when not in use.  Continue reading to find out how to make your DIY light table and the activities that can table place at the light table.


DIY Light Table

What you need:- Transparent storage box- Battery operated LED string fairy lights-Batteries (*Compatible with the fairy lights bought)

 

Build: With all items ready, you just need to arrange the fairy lights evenly across the box, on the light, cover up the lid and the light table it ready. As simple as that! Now your child and you can have tons of fun together at the light table.

 

Activities

Cellophane Shapes:- Use ice-cream sticks to form shapes like square as well as triangles and secure the joints using double sided tapes- Stick the shapes form on cellophane papers (Primary colours) and trimmed of the excess

 

As children explore with the cellophane shapes, they learn about the following concepts- Shapes: number of sides as well as points- Colours: identifying colours, forming colours (e.g. yellow + blue = green)

 

Story Fun:- Prepare transparent sheets or clear plastic sheets (e.g. plastic sleeves)- Permanent markers

You and your child can take turns to draw something on the sheet adding on to one another’s story or retell a story they your child love. For instance, we retell and drew the story of Three Little Fish and The Big Bad Shark by Ken Geist and Will Grace.

 

Sensory Bag:- Cook Sago Pearls. Divide them into separate bags before dripping different food colouring into each bag. Shake it to get the Sago Pearls mix well with the colours.- Draw animals that your child love on the sides of the ziplocks

 

 

Now your child can spend the time feeding the ‘animals’ by pushing the Sago Pearls into their mouth.

 

 

Others:

      

 

Enjoy! J

PlayMax

Maximise Learning through Play

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Woodwork for Children

 

Upon hearing the word ‘Woodwork’, what rings in your head? I guess many of us will link it to the subject ‘Design and Technology’ which we or some of our friends took during Secondary school days. However, do you know woodworking is one area which is can be commonly seen in the other countries but not in Singapore? For instance, it can be found in the household of Caucasian families and more importantly in preschool settings like some preschools in Taiwan. 

 

Woodworking encompasses a range of activities and skills that involve measuring and marking, dimensioning, assembling as well as finishing (Woodworking, 2008). According to Anderson and Hoot (1986), woodworking is one of the “most potentially educational yet most neglected areas” (p. 12)

Benefits of Woodworking

• Woodworking activities not only provide children with the opportunities to develop skills such as pounding and sawing but it also aid children’s overall development
• Woodworking promotes the proficiency development in the five domains of child development: Physical, Cognitive, Social, Emotional and Creativity (Pape and Hatcher, 2008)
• As children engaged in woodworking activities, it enables them to feel inspired and to be able to imagine or dream about becoming designers, scientists and technologies (Siraj-Blatchford and MacLeod-Brudenell, 1999)
• Whether done alone or in groups, the process of woodworking aids children in developing Learning Dispositions which are essential for life.

Knowing that woodworking provide a wide range of benefits for children’s learning and development. Are you pondering upon why it is not commonly seen in local (Singapore) preschools? Isn’t it a pity?

Please feel free to share your comments and experiences J

PlayMax

Maximise Learning through Play

Anderson, S., & Hoot, J. L. (1986). Kids, carpentry, and the preschool classroom. Early Childhood Educational Journal, 13(3), 12-15.

Pape. D., & Hatcher, B. (2008). Tomorrow’s architects and engineers: They’re hammering and sawing in today’s classrooms. Texas child care.  Retrieved August 17, 2011 from

               www.childcarequarterly.com/pdf/fall08_architects.pdf

Siraj-Blatchford, J., & MacLeod-Brudenell, I. (1999). Supporting science, design and technology in the early years. Buckingham: Open University Press.

“Woodworking”. (2008). “The art of woodworking" - Beginners guide. Retrieved April 3, 2011 from http://www.woodworkweb.com/free-woodworking-ebooks/224-woodworking-101the-art-of-woodworking-free-beginners-guide.html

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Story Based Activities: 3

Elmer’s Colours by David McKee

Elmer is a colourful patchwork elephant who is loved by every child. Follow Elmer, as he brings you through the world of colours with the simple storylines and attractive illustrations.

*For age: 12 months and above

Activities:

• Elmer Collage: Prepare a piece of contact paper and cellophane papers of different colours as well as sizes. Draw Elmer on the non-sticky side of the contact paper and get child to create a colour Elmer using the cellophane papers prepared.

•      Elmer Elephant Craft: 
  

•     DIY Clay Elmer:
  

•     Weaving Elmer:
  

This book is available in Singapore National Library. Hence, go and grab it this weekend.

Enjoy reading and having fun with your child!

 

PlayMax

Maximise Learning through Play

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