Converting Coloring Books to Dry Erase Books

We all know how good fine motor practice is for toddlers. However, my toddler is not a huge fan of coloring, drawing, painting etc. I provide lots of opportunities, but they're usually shut down or only last a little while (so frustrating to get out/clean up paint supplies for 2 minutes of painting).

 On the other hand, he is a HUGE fan of all things Preschool Prep. I don't know if it is the artwork or the content or what, but he loves the videos, apps and books we own. For his birthday he received the Meet the Letters Coloring Book. He is strangely obsessed with letters and he loves preschool prep so he LOVED this book. Loved it so much that he received a bike the same day and still preferred the coloring book. Loved it so much it was the first thing he asked for in the morning. I didn't dare let him color in it, for fear he would be devastated when we couldn't un-color it.

Eventually, the pages started falling out, so I came up with the idea to "save it" and make it dry erase.
First, I laminated all the pages and put them in order. (I have used a Scotch laminator for about nine years now and it still works great). Then I punched all the pages using my binding punch. Then Archer found them and wanted to look through all the letters and find his favorites. Eventually, I put them back in order and put it together with some reusable binding spines. I used 1/2 inch since that is what I had on hand, but 5/8 would have been better. I will switch when I eventually order the next size.

I gave him some dry erase crayons and colored pencils and he really enjoyed coloring in it. I mean, look at that adorable concentration!

Now I might have to buy all of their other coloring books and make them dry erase also!

4th of July Tot School Activities

Archer was 25 Months

Since the 4th of July is this weekend (how did that happen already??) I decided to post our activities a before we've actually finished them. That way, if anyone else still needs some ideas they have them.

This was Archer's book shelf. It had a 4th of July book I made and some other related books.

Play dough included, some star fondant cutters, design rollers, dough letters U, S and A (similar to these), a star extruder and some cut up bead necklaces.

I made this letter stamping page for him (free here) and got our our See and Stamps.

These were the shelves for the week. On top I had a pasta drying rack and some US Toob figures. Shelves on the left have 4th of July Vocabulary Cards, number cards, pom pom tweezing and a pom pom magnet activity. Shelves on the right have two part puzzles, spool threading, cookie cutters, math cubes, bottle cap letter cards and a bin of vehicles.

4th of July Vocabulary Cards

Number tile cards (free here) have been a really big hit so far. I use plastic number tiles, but you could print some too. For the cards with more objects, I have to point while he counts so he doesn't accidentally re-count things. Other than that, he does great.

Pom poms, tweezers and an ice cube tray. This is the first time I've had out a one to one correspondence activity where he actually uses the tweezers/tongs the whole time. He's gotten it out multiple times already this week (and I've cleaned pom poms up from the playroom floor multiple times already).

Flag page from Making Learning Fun. I have pom poms on dot magnets. I plan to use it on our little magnetic easel.

Matching puzzles for my letter obsessed little guy.

Craft spools and a pipe cleaner for threading.

This tray just has a bunch of star shaped cookie cutters to hang on the pasta drying rack.

Red, white and blue math cubes. I made a pattern for him to try to match, but he will probably spend the week just building with them. 

Bottle cap letter cards (free here) . I use bottle caps that I wrote on with a Sharpie, but you could use other letters as well.

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