December Activities and Shelf Work.

We’re wrapping up the month and it was a busy one. Since many of us are still home with our children, either because we always are, or because kids are home from school, I thought I’d share some of what we’ve been up to this month in case you need some inspiration. There’s still time to squeeze in some of these appropriate activities and many will carry over nicely into January.

Playdough:

– playdough

– rolling pin

– cookie cutters

– rubber stamps

– or invest in a fun playdough kit

Do-a-dot fun:

– free printables

– dot markers

– or jingle bells (and practice fine motor skills)

Pony bead activities:

– pipe cleaner

– pony beads

Gingerbread cookies:

– gingerbread cookies

– icing

– sprinkles

Salt dough ornaments:

– favorite salt dough recipe

– cookie cutters

– paint once they are baked/cooled

Ice cream cone Christmas trees:

– ice cream cones

– frosting

– sprinkles/marshmallows

Sugar cookies:

– your favorite sugar cookie recipe

– cookie cutters

– icing and sprinkles

Gingerbread houses:

– gingerbread house (made or bought)

– icing and candy/sprinkles

No mess sensory painting:

– paint paper

– paint

– ziploc bag

Ribbon cutting:

– ribbon inside a small jar (keep the lid on and poke a hole through the top)

– scissors

Snowflake matching:

– pictures of snowflakes (one large and one tiny)

-magnifying glass

Felt and stickers:

– Felt cut into shapes (I used wreaths)

– stickers

Felt Christmas tree:

– felt in the shape of a Christmas tree

– felt ornaments

Cutting strips:

– tree cutting strips

– scissors

Invitation to decorate:

– mini-Christmas tree

– soft ornaments

Smelling jars:

– spice jars (place a sticker at the bottoms of the matches)

– spices (2 with cloves, 2 with cinnamon, 2 with ginger)

– blindfold

Lacing:

– DIY by using laminated card stock and lace

– or buy something like this 

New Year’s cards:

– have your child help get out those New Year’s cards — they can stuff, seal, stick on address labels and a stamp

Pouring:

– 2 pitchers

– jingle bells or water

Parts of a bird:

– printable from etsy shop

Books:

– Snowflakes

– Snowmen at night

Simple addition with beads:

– printable

Penguin matching:

– printable

Bird matching:

– printable

Parts of a penguin:

– printable

Hundred Board extension coloring:

– printables (color certain numbers to make a hat, or snowman, or tree, etc.)

Peaceful wishes:

– give a writing prompt “my peaceful wish for the world is….”

M&M cookies:

– use your favorite recipe (I stick to the one on the back of the package of M&Ms)

Craft store crafts:

– on clearance now!

Card making:

– cardstock

– rubber stamps

– stamp pad

Christmas-themed volcano experiment/Sensory play

– baking soda/vinegar

– dish soap

– bowl and pan to keep things “neat”

– food coloring

Make a pizza for dinner:

– pizza dough, sauce, cheese

Invitation to create:

– bulb ornaments

– pom poms, cut up pipe cleaners, vase fillers

Hot cocoa bombs:

– hot cocoa bombs and a mug

Enjoy the last few days of December!