While hanging out at the neighborhood Dollar Tree (I spend WAY too much time there - FYI), I came across a pack of foam flowers. JACK. POT. Here is a list of 10 activities to do with these lovely gems.
1.
Free Play
Captain Obvious, I know, but there really is power in just handing them over for little hands to play with. Mia starting spreading them all out across the floor arranging them very specifically in a pattern only she was privy to. She is VERY ocd when it comes to her things - she will constantly rearrange until it is JUST right. All of a sudden she jetted out of the room only to reappear with our dog's food bowl. Jig-a-WHAT?? Mia them began stacking her foam flowers in the dog bowl (which by the way was the PERFECT size). G.E.N.I.U.S. Cosmo wasn't quite as amused as she dropped it on the floor in front of him and told him to "Eat It!".
but I digress....
2.
Show & Tell
Great for emerging color recognition. "Show me a green one." Once that starts getting old, have your tot tell you the color of each flower.
3.
Mosiac Art
Because these foam flowers are larger, it makes it easier for little hands to really manipulate them. Spread out on the floor and create mosiac pictures. I laid out a blanket and instructed Mia to create a picture on the blanket. If a flower touched the floor, then the alligator would get her. Ok maybe not so much on that last part. You could also use Painter's tape on the floor to create a frame to work within.
4.
Sort by Color
Again great for early color recognition. I simply had Mia sort the flowers by color and put them in a stack or pile.
5.
Graphing
We are working on counting to five with Mia. Let me rephrase that, we are working on not skipping the number"4" when counting to 5. This activity helps reinforce color recognition as well as counting.
6.
Stand On Me
Think preschool twister. I laid out several flowers and would ask Mia to "stand on green" or "hop on pink". We are also working on Left and Right, so you call "Left foot on yellow" as well. If your tot is familiar with Simon Says, this is a perfect activity to add to it.
7.
Puzzles
Trace foam flowers on paper, color them in, and voila! you have yourself an easy-peasy puzzle.
8.
Patterns
Create a pattern for your tot to recreate underneath it. OR you can create patterns on index cards. Laminate so you can reuse them.
9.
Stick It
Let your tot paint the foam flowers with water and them stick them to a dry tub or a glass window. SO easy!
10.
Lace It
Take a hole punch to the flowers and use a shoe lace to practice lacing.
BONUS idea incase you thought #1 was too lame
11.
Matching
Take 2 flowers of each color you would like to use. Arrange them on the floor and cover each one with a piece of construction paper. Play the matching game by simply lifting up the pieces of construction paper until all matches are found.
There you have it. Not too shabby for $1 pack of foam flowers!!
I would love to hear what you do with your foam shapes!
