12 Ways to Learn While Playing with Food (Love to Learn Linky #42)

We all have probably told our kids at one time or another to not play with their food! Well, sometimes you can let them play and use it as a learning experience. Here are some awesome ideas for learning with common snack foods including goldfish, oreos, M&Ms, crackers and more!

How about some STEM learning with goldfish crackers? Use these free Goldfish Printables to practice math skills, and see how to engineer a Goldfish pulley system.

Read the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear and try this color matching activity with Teddy graham crackers.

Sort your lunch into different shapes with this free Shape Sorting Printable.

Have a blast cutting up your food with this Scissor Skills Lunch activity.

Got M&Ms? Practice spelling words with these free M&M Word Printables, and have fun counting with this M&M School Bus Math game (also includes free printable).

Try one of these 8 creative ways to learn with Oreos.

Learn about constellations with Fruit Gummies and this free printable.

Practice addition with these free Jellybean Math printables.

Make your own Very Hungry Caterpillar out of these healthy snack foods.

Learn to count to 100 with Skittles in this free printable basketball game.

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY

Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

Fun Ways to Paint with Kids from A Little Pinch of Perfect

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Learning with Colored Straws

Hi, My name is Nicola and you can usually find me over at http://www.multicraftingmummy.com. My blog is full of ideas for arts, crafts and messy play activities for children aged 2-7 to do together. When my two sons are in school, I also like to tackle hands-on learning activities with my 3 year old daughter. Today I am delighted to be sharing a series of learning activities ideal for toddlers, using coloured straws to work on colour recognition, scooping and pouring and making basic shapes.

Straws are a very handy material to have in your learning and crafting supplies, as they can be used for so many fun activities. We put ours to good use in this Rainy Day Bubble Blowing activity recently (this project took bubble painting to a whole new level!). I have also been using a packet of coloured straws with Bella, my 3 year old daughter, in a series of learning activities.

Colour Recognition

I cut up a selection of red, yellow, blue and green straws into pieces around 4 cm long and 4 matching coloured discs of paper. I laid the coloured discs out on the table and put the pile of mixed up coloured straws in front of my toddler.

I began the activity asking her what colours the pieces of straws were that I was pointing too. She did very well with this. I then asked her to take each piece of straw and match it up to the corresponding coloured disc of paper. All the time I was talking to her and asking her questions about the colours of the straws that she was handling. I didn’t pull her up too much when she got the odd one wrong, as I didn’t want to discourage her at this stage. I gave lots of praise when she matched the straws up correctly and then gently corrected her when she got one of them mixed up.

Making Shapes

We then used the pieces of straws to make some basic shapes. We worked together on this all the while talking about the different shapes that we were creating and which were her favourites.

Pour and Scoop

I added in a plastic jug and bowl into our dish of straws for Bella to work on her scooping and pouring skills. She had great fun serving me pretend cups of tea and ice-creams. I was very full by the end of it!

Getting Messy

Bella loves to get messy and playing with shaving foam is one of her favourite messy play ingredients. To incorporate her love of getting messy with a fine motor skills activity we used the coloured straws again but this time added in shaving foam and gold coins. Unfortunately she quickly abandoned the tweezers and just got stuck in with her hands, but that’s doing activities with toddlers for you!

More activity ideas for rainbow straws:

-Help your child to make their name with them.
-Work on colour sequencing making different patterns with them.
-Create some art work with them.

What other ideas can you add?

If you enjoyed this post you might like to pop over and read Sensory Soup and Fine Motor Fishing.

Meet Nicola:
Nicola enjoyed a successful career as a Librarian in the media and legal sectors before settling down to life as a stay at home mum to Liam 7, Freddie 5 and Bella 3. They live by the sea in Ireland and enjoy doing arts and crafts, almost as part of their daily routines. You can follow her on her blog, on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.

Earth Q-Tip Painting Free Printable

Q-Tip painting is a fun and challenging fine motor activity for kids. Since my daughter loved the Christmas and Valentine's Day Q-tip painting printables, I created one in celebration of Earth Day. This is a great way to spark discussions about geography, science and nature while painting in a unique way!

This is such a quick activity to set up. Just print out this sheet, grab some q-tips and paint, and you have an educational and fun activity for your child!

Click here to Download your Free Earth Q-Tip Printable!

For more Earth Day activities, check out the Free Earth Day Activity Pack:

For more ideas and printables for learning with Q-Tips, see the following post: 20 Learning Activities with Q-Tips

Easter Picture & Word Tracing Printables (Love to Learn Linky #34)

My daughter has really been intro tracing letters lately, so to encourage her interest, I created a set of Easter themed tracing printables. This is a fun way to practice handwriting and fine motor skills while getting ready for Easter. Trace the word, then trace the picture and color it in!

This Free Easter Tracing printable set includes 4 different designs: a rabbit, an egg, a basket and a cross, in both upper case and lower case letters.

Click here to download your Free Easter Tracing Printables

If you enjoy this set, you might also like our Free Alphabet Picture Tracing Pack.

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY

Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

Preschool Science & Activities About Clouds from A Little Pinch of Perfect
Spring Birds Activities for Kids from One Time Through
Mad Scientist Play Dough Mat Printables from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Goldfish Printables for Preschoolers

Goldfish crackers are a favorite snack at our house. Pair them with the classic Dr. Seuss children's book and these free printable activities, and you have some great learning opportunities. You'll never look at goldfish the same way again. This post contains affiliate links.

This Free Goldfish Printable pack includes the following activities:
-Color sorting
-Number recognition 1-20
-Counting 1-10
-Patterns
-Color word recognition

Note: These activities were designed to be used with rainbow colored Goldfish crackers.

Click here to Download your FREE Goldfish Printables

20 Learning Activities with Q-Tips (Love to Learn Linky #29)

Q-tips are one of those things that you know would be great for so many different activities, but you just can't think of any. Well, I am here to help and to offer some inspiration! I collected 20 educational activities that are done with Q-Tips, including math, literacy, fine motor and science. 

Keep reading for more inspiration from our weekly Love to Learn Linky!

Math & Literacy

Pre-Writing Q-Tip Printables by 3 Dinosaurs
Q-Tip CVC Words Printables by 3 Dinosaurs
Q-Tip Alphabet Painting Printables by From ABCs to ACTs
Q-Tip Number Painting Printables by From ABCs to ACTs
Tracing Letters on Chalkboard by I Can Teach my Child
Painting the Alphabet by Structured Play
Letter Q Craft by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Building Shapes with Q-Tips by Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Q-Tip Painting and Learning Numbers with Printable by Learn with Play at Home
Q-Tip Color Word Painting Printables by 1plus1plus1equals1

Fine Motor

Putting Q-Tips inside Straws by Mess for Less
Putting Q-Tip in Playdough by Mess for Less
Putting Q-Tips inside grated cheese container by Peaceful Parenting
Q-Tip Blow Dart Game by Kids Activities Blog
Q-Tip Snowflake Busy Bag Printable by Playdough to Plato
Q-Tip Valentine's Day Printables by Totschooling
Q-Tip Christmas Printables by Totschooling

Science

Handprint Q-Tip Skeleton Craft by Crafty Morning
Q-Tip Dinosaur Skeletons by Family Theme Days
Magic Milk Experiment Color Explosion by Happy Hooligans

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

20+ Humpty Dumpty Inspired Activities from One Time Through
15+ Fun Alphabet Activities from A Little Pinch of Perfect
Constellation Fruit Gummies from Left Brain Craft Brain

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.

Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity, as well as positive parenting tips.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Valentine's Day Q-Tip Painting Printables (Love to Learn Linky #26)

My 3 year old daughter really enjoyed the Christmas themed q-tip printables I made, so I decided to make some for Valentine's Day. Painting with q-tips is a different and fun way of painting, and it's great for fine motor skills!

Love is in the air! These Free Q-Tip Printables include giraffes, ladybugs and fish couples. Perfect way to celebrate the holiday!

Just print these sheets, grab some q-tips and paint, and you have a quick & fun activity for your preschooler!

Click here to Download the Valentine's Day Q-Tip Printables

Check out some more awesome Valentine's Day art activities from the Love to Learn Linky:

Easy Printed Giant Valentine's Card by One Time Through

Valentine Sculpture for Kids by Left Brain Craft Brain

Secret Message Valentine Painting by A Little Pinch of Perfect

Tissue Bleed Valentine Hearts by Powerful Mothering

Valentine's Day Wreath Craft Alphabet Activity by Mom Inspired Life

Confetti, Beads and Button Hearts by Dabbling Momma

Paper Towel Stained Glass Hearts by Simple Fun for Kids

Fingerprint Heart Relief Canvas by The Mad House

Valentine's Day Alien by JDaniel4's Mom

Valentine's Stamp Art for Toddlers by Danya Banya

Simple Heart Resist Art by mama.papa.bubba

Rainbow Heart Suncatchers by Fireflies and Mud Pies

Pine Cone Love Bugs by Fireflies and Mud Pies

Valentine's Nature Suncatchers by Raising Wild Ones

Valentine's Tin Foil Painting by Little Bins for Little Hands

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY


Visit my co-hosts to see their posts and features!

Kids and SNOW: Best Books & Fun Activities from One Time Through
Frozen Inspired Glitter Slime from Left Brain Craft Brain
Easy Play Ideas for Kids with Things Found in the Kitchen from A Little Pinch of Perfect

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!

Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.

Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.

Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.

A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.

One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity, as well as positive parenting tips.

Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:

• Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

• Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.

• Like the hosts on Facebook: Totschooling, A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain and One Time Through.

• Or follow the hosts on Pinterest: A Little Pinch of Perfect, Left Brain Craft Brain, Totschooling and One Time Through.

• Post our button on your site.

• By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Conversation Heart Valentine's Day Printables

There are so many learning activities you can do with those little candy hearts that you see everywhere this time of year. I created some free printables specifically for use with these conversation hearts. This is a fun way for preschoolers to practice counting, patterns, color recognition, and letters while working on fine motor skills!

These conversation heart printables were so fun for my 3 year old that she didn't even try to eat the candy!

Here is what's included in this pack:

-Alphabet capital letters A-Z
-Color sorting hearts
-Patterns
-Counting 1-10
-Tree and flowers

Click here to download your Free Conversation Heart Printables!

Christmas Q-Tip Painting Printables

My daughter is a big fan of do-a-dot printables, but every now and then I like to change things up a bit and give her more of a challenge. So I created these Christmas themed Q-tip dot painting printables. She enjoyed painting in a unique way, and I like it because it's great for her fine motor skills!

These 5 FREE Q-tip painting printables include Santa Claus, Santa Claus riding his sleigh, a Christmas tree, Rudolph the reindeer, and an elf. 

Just print these sheets, grab some q-tips and paint, and you have a quick & fun activity for your preschooler. 

Click here to Download your Free Christmas Q-Tip Painting Printables!

For more Christmas fun, check out these Christmas themed Playdough Mats!

20 Easy Christmas Crafts for Toddlers + $2,000 CASH Giveaway

Are you looking for Christmas craft ideas for your toddler? You've come to the right place! I am featuring a collection of 20 Easy Christmas toddler crafts. These crafts are all very creative and look great hanging up in your home or in the classroom. They use a variety of craft materials including contact paper, foam sheets and clear plastic ornaments, as well as a variety of art techniques such as handprints and tape resist. 

After browsing through these great ideas, stick around for a little while and enter the $2000 Mega Cash Giveaway at the bottom of this post! 

Painting & Mixed Media

Paper Plate Christmas Wreath by Sow Sprout Play
Easy Bubble Wrap Christmas Tree Ornament by Lalymom
Pom Pom Painting Christmas Tree by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Paper Plate Christmas Tree by House of Burke
Button Christmas Trees by Happy Hooligans
Paper Plate Ornament Craft by Crafty Morning

Tape Resist

Tape Resist Glitter Forest by Left Brain Craft Brain
Tape Resist Snowflake by Play Create Explore

Contact Paper

Sticky Christmas Tree by Adventures of Adam
Stained Glass Christmas Tree by Crafts on Sea
Sticky Christmas Trees  by Two Daloo
Stained Glass Wreath by In the Playroom

Handprint

Handprint Christmas Tree by Fun Handprint Art
Handprint Wreath by Sweet and Lovely Crafts

Glitter & Sparkle

Tin Foil Trees Ornament by Happy Hooligans
Sparkly Christmas Tree by At Home with Ali
CD Ornaments by Happy Hooligans

Foam Sheets

Build a Frosty Snowman Kit by Growing a Jeweled Rose
Window Christmas Trees by Hands on: as we grow

Clear Plastic Ornaments

Shaken Paint Christmas Ornament by Simple Fun for Kids
Christmas I Spy Ornaments by Play at Home Mom LLC

And now for the Mega Cash Giveaway!

Win one of FOUR $500 cash prizes directly in your paypal account! This giveaway is open internationally. You must be 18+ years old to enter. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Please see detailed terms and conditions below the giveaway for more info.

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