We live in the Northeast, so fall means cooler temperatures, changing leaves, cozy sweaters and the start of football season! The change in season offers a lot of opportunities to introduce young children to changes in nature, and sensory bins are a great way to do this.
Kids develop their understanding of the world through their senses even before they know what senses are! How many times have you said the phrase, “Don’t put that in your mouth!” or “Don’t touch that!”? Sensory play gives parents an opportunity to teach children about different sensations in a controlled manner, and can be adapted for specific books, holidays, seasons or themes. I will often include sensory play ideas in the book based activities on this site, as these can help to enhance a child’s experience with a book and extend the learning into the real world.
Here in the Northeast, fall is upon us and there are so many fun and exciting ways to enjoy the season with your family. I love the fall season where we live. Sweaters, football, campfires, apples, pumpkins… the list goes on! There are a variety of children’s books referencing fall and the holidays coming up, and there will be many future posts on those. In the meantime, here is a list of fun fall activities to start on with your loved ones!
A big bowl of steaming pasta and a little old lady with a magic touch. That combination provides comfort and a bit of nostalgia to many. Tomie dePaola recognizes this and created Strega Nona, a little old woman who is well known in her village for solving people’s troubles with her magic touch. She has become a beloved character in a series of books, and she teaches the reader some important lessons.
