Fun Activities for Kids

Hi everyone! I’ve recently become aware that there are many videos online showing teachers, childcare providers and librarians telling felt board stories! I thought I’d share them here in case you’d like to see the techniques they use, or just for fun to show the kids!

The Three Little Pigs - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - Marisa with Preschool Learning Online
Hickory Dickery Dock - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

Old MacDonald Had a Farm - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Ms. Charme

Five Little Pumpkins - Cullens ABCs

Mr. Sun (Please Shine Down on Me) - Cullens ABCs

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree - Cullens ABCs

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Hi everyone! As you know I am a proud Story Time Felts consultant, and one of my team members gave me a great idea! Lisa Braverman held one of these on her Educational Toy Factory blog and it looked like fun!

Anyone who makes a comment on ANY of my posts on this blog in the month of April will be entered to win a precut and assembled Bug Book quiet book (in honor of Earth Day!) from me! Just comment on any post and I will choose a winner at the end of the month.

Click on the images to read about this great product in another window!

The Bug Book is one of my favorite felt activity books that Story Time Felts offers. It not only has 43 creepy crawly bugs and 5 different environments, it also comes with extensive paperwork explaining each bug, its habitat and other information. If you are a teacher or homeschooler, you will be able to create a unit for Spring around this great set. It is also on sale in April!

Let me know what you think in the comments or if you have any fun activities for kids related to BUGS!!

Happy posting, and good luck in the contest! Take a look around this blog, there are many fun activities for kids to try out!

I will contact the winner May 1st!

PS: Special shoutout to my Mompack friends! Thanks for visiting!

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The following song lyrics are just so cute, I have to share! This song is on the Safety and Manners CD which is part of the Story Time Felts Let’s Play House felt board set. I wish I could hum a few bars for you here; it is really a cute song! My kids used to listen to this CD in the car and I always hoped the lyrics would sink in! There are other songs that teach such as don’t be a grouch, say please and thank you, etc. The tune is catchy, you can sort of pick it up just reading it (I hope). If enough people request it, I will see about uploading the song as an mp3. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Executive National Director
Story Time Felts

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The Kitchen Helper Song
By Story Time Felts

I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan
I like to set the table too,
the dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor,
after meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
it makes for such a happy face.
I’m a kitchen helper every day,
I do my work before I play.
I like to wash the dishes too;
I dry them off before I’m through.

I neatly put them on the shelf.
This I do all by myself.
Everyone is proud of me,
and I’m as happy as can be.
I’m a kitchen helper day and night;
I have a healthy appetite.
Keeping busy keeps me glad,
There’s never time for being sad.

A kitchen helper, yes it’s true;
I’m proud of all the work I do.
A kitchen helper through and through,
Would you like to be one, too?
I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan.
I like to set the table too,
The dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor
After meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
It makes for such a happy face

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Using felt stories as a meaningful family tradition is an idea whose time has come! Felt stories bring the message to life for kids and make the stories more memorable. Bring these fun felt stories out each year at Easter time! The company I am a Consultant with, Story Time Felts, has 4 of them, 2 are religious and 2 are not. Have some fun with felt!!

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How to Make a Flannel Board

Although I sell wonderful pre-printed educational felt boards and story figures through the home party business, Story Time Felts, I have found that making my own small plain flannel boards is a great way to present our product as gifts for hostesses or giveaways at home parties. Since children of all ages love working with felt and flannel board stories, I thought I’d share how to make a great flannel board gift. You can make your own felt figures or purchase some through Story Time Felts, but making your own plain felt board of any size is easy and economical! I am showing you how to make a “lap board” here, suitable for individual stories, but you can use the same techniques to make larger flannel boards for home or classroom. If you have any questions, let me know! Also, if you have your own ideas for making flannel boards or accessories, please add them to the Comments section! This is just one example of the many creative ideas I’ve seen out there!

How to Make a Flannel Board

Materials:

Stiff board, about 9″ x 12″ for a lap board. I used Coroplast but double walled cardboard (or 2 pieces glued together), masonite, or any other firm board works, too.

Fabric - flannel or felt, about 1.5 to 2 inches wider than your board

Adhesive: I really recommend 3M’s 777 Multipurpose Spray Adhesive

Scissors

Packing tape

Plastic wrap, 18 inch width

Step 1

Position your board on your fabric to make sure the sides are about evenly cut.

Step 2

Lift off the board and lightly spray the back of the fabric with the spray glue, then lay the board down again, centered where you want it.

Step 3

Fold up the straight edged sides of the fabric and smooth down across the back edges, leaving the corners to meet up and form “bunny ears.”

Step 4

Take your scissors and snip off the “bunny ears” on each corner as close to the flannel board as you can. This will leave you with a nice mitered corner which will be flat.

Step 5

All 4 corners cut. It is OK if they are not perfect! The front is what matters most. LOL
Step 6

Using packing tape, tape down the straight edges on all 4 sides of the back of the flannel board. The spray glue will help the fabric stick but the tape is a little extra reinforcement. If you are just using the flannel board yourself, you are done! Flip it over and have some fun! The following steps are for wrapping it up as a gift with felt board story figures.
Step 7

The following steps are if you are presenting this as a gift with felt board story figures. I am using the Story Time Felts figures for Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? which will be a donation for a local fundraiser silent auction. Take the roll of plastic wrap and put it at one end of the table and unroll at least twice the length of the flannel board you are wrapping.

Step 8

Lay your finished flannel board on the plastic wrap toward one end and lay out your felt story figures. You may want to insert text of the story or other information under the back side of the flannel board. As a Story Time Felts Consultant, I am sure to insert my catalog and contact information at this step, but I omitted that in these pictures.

Step 9

Bring the other end of the plastic wrap over the top of the flannel board to meet the other side, then cut with scissors, with 1 to 2 inches left on the side to wrap tightly to the underside of the flannel board.

Step 10

After pulling the cut side of the plastic wrap tightly and sticking it on the back, pull the top and then the bottom of the plastic wrap and stick it to the back on those edges. This gives the front of your flannel board gift a nice finished look.

Step 11

The back of your wrapped flannel board will be covered and can be taped down if you wish.

Step 12

Voila! Your beautiful flannel board gift is ready to present to one lucky child! For suggestions for great felt board story figures, be sure to visit my Story Time Felts website. Our Figures to Tell collection works especially well with this sized board and do not already come with a flannel board to use. Have fun and please leave us suggestions or comments!

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