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In my post Back to “School”: The Plan I outlined some of the ways I plan on educating Caden at home. In Preschool at Home Wish List: Resource Books I am sharing some of the books that I find helpful or think will be helpful in planning hands on learning activities.
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Playful Learning by Mariah Bruehl is a wonderful resource to have. It not only has playful learning activities for 4-8 year olds, but also explains how to “teach for understanding” and develop a love of learning in young children. I particularly love the chapter on how to set up playful learning spaces. Mariah Bruehl also has a wonderful blog called Playful Learning you will want to check out!
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The Toddler’s Busy Book or The Preschooler’s Busy Book by Trish Kuffner is a great resource to have on hand for those times when you just have no idea what to do with your toddler or preschooler. The books are a small, hand-held size which makes it easy to flip through and great for travel.
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Fifty Books to Enjoy with Kids by Veronica Getskow is a book full of little lessons and playful ideas to go along with 50 great books! The books suggested are a variety of old classics as well as some newer children’s literature.
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Preschool Art by MaryAnn Kohl is jam-packed with over 200 creative open-ended art projects for the preschool set. This book emphasizes the process of art and not the final product.
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The Big Messy Art Book by MaryAnn Kohl is full of ideas for process art on a grand scale! I have wanted a copy this book since my early days of working with preschoolers. The projects in this book work the large motor muscles and are great for getting creative outside!
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Science Play by Jill Frankel Hauser is a book full of simple science lessons and projects for 2-6 year olds. There are over 65 science activities in this books which encourage young children to discover and explore the world around them.
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Math Play by Diane McGowan promises to be a fun way to introduce math concepts, such as counting, sorting and sequencing through games, crafts and fun foods!
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The Homemade Play Dough Recipe Book by Cathy James includes easy recipes for homemade play dough as well as tons of play ideas to last the whole year! Activities include loose parts play, sensory play, small world ideas, art projects as well as math and literacy lessons. Click here to view more details
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The Preschool Journey by Angela Thayer is a hands on preschool curriculum that prepares children for kindergarten. It includes 26 weeks of lessons and over 50 printable pages. I particularly like the chapters on how to teach certain subject matter or skills. Angela has included many ideas for teaching the alphabet, math, language and literacy skills, motor skills, art, sensory play and social development. She also includes a chapter on how to set up your home for preschool. Click here for more information.
Stay tuned for more Preschool at Home Wish Lists!
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Wow! What a great collection of resource books. I didn’t know I needed more resource books, but I guess I do. 😉 I’d love to have a couple of these that I don’t own yet.
Love these suggestions! I’ve read the Big Messy Art Book and the Preschoolers Busy Book. I want to get Playful Learning too!
Playful Learning is a really great book to get ideas for kids ages 4 and up! I think I need to read it again now that Caden is almost 4 and we can start implementing more of the ideas in the book!
This looks like a good list. I love that there’s a science book with activities even for toddlers. Thanks for sharing.