BackYard Bird Bingo

I am a bird watcher.  I have always loved paying attention to birds that I see and hear in our area or where ever I go.  A bird is something a child is going to ask about and it is good for them to notice what is flying around them.  We talk about the differences in them, we have feeders during the winter time and even had a Robin nest in our tiny new tree last year in the back yard here. 

I came up with this bird I.D. game that I call "Backyard Bird Bingo" and it includes the most common birds that we see around the day care.  I made three different cards with some of the same birds on them.  You can print them out using a color printer and get ready to get your chairs out in a shady place in the yard to start watching.  The kids can use rocks to place on their cards when they see one of the birds.  Or you can use a crayon to cross through the picture when the bird is seen. 

You are welcome to right click and print the following pictures.  If you have trouble, please send me an email and I will send the pdf file to you.

I have to admit that I ued pictures that I found through yahoo search.  I didn't think ahead of time to give credit to each site for their drawing but will not take credit for the drawings themselves for this project.  Thanks.

Biscuit Pizzas

This recipe is easy and one of my most favorite lunches to make because it lets the children get involved.  We have so much fun making these pizzas and they are not bad to eat!

 

Biscuit Pizzas

 

1 - 10 count can of refrigerator biscuits

1 jar pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese

mini pepperoni

 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees or whatever temperature the can of biscuits calls for.  Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet.  For 10 pizzas I use two trays holding five biscuits each to give them enough space to rise while cooking.  This is where the kid part comes in.  Let the children smash down the dough with their hands.  Next, I usually do this part, put one tablespoon of sauce on each pizza and spread out almost to the edge of each pizza.  Then let the kids put on the cheese and whatever toppings you have put out for them to use.  Bake the pizzas for 8-10 minutes or however long the biscuit package says.  Watch them closely for the last minute or two so the bottoms don't burn then watch them be devoured on the lunch table!

 

I cut the little pizzas with a pizza cutter into wedges just like regular sized pizzas. 

Use whatever toppings you wish.  I have pre-browned sausage and used two kinds of cheeses before. 

The kids love that they get to help make lunch and are proud of what they have made!

 

 

 

 

 

Ok it looks like that time I did not cut them into wedges, but that's ok.

 

Kid Kazoos

Here is a fun idea for when you feel like a lot of noise in the house!  If you don't find youself feeling this way... get yourself some earplugs! 

 

Material List

 

empty cardboard toilet paper rolls

waxed paper

rubber bands

 

 

Begin by cutting the waxed paper into a four inch circle.  Place the piece of waxed paper on one end of the tube.  Gently pull the paper down the sides of the tube and secure with a rubber band.  Your job is done.  Hand it over and hold your ears.  Or if you are anything like me... make one of your own and join right in!

 

The kazoos can be decorated before hand with glue and glitter, paint or markers by the kids.

 

 

Kiddo Cinnamon Toast

Here at the DC, food has to happen, and sometimes it has to happen quick.  Especially when it's something that sounds so good at the time that I have trouble resisting the urge to make.  Like cinnamon toast.  Easy plus very few ingredients equals big smiles... and that's what I like.  For an easy breakfast try cinnamon toast and cut up fruit.  Very friendly.

 

Cinnamon Toast

 

4 slices of bread

4 Tbsp butter at room temperature

1 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp sugar

a few shakes of cinnamon

 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a small bowl.  Place the bread on to a cookie sheet and spread butter mixture on the top side of the bread only.  Place in preheated oven and bake for seven minutes.  After seven minutes, turn the oven off and the broil on low.  Broil for two minutes.  Watch toast closely while the broiler is on so as not to burn the tops. 

Cut bread into strips for kids to easily pick up.  Serve with fruit or eggs or whatever you wish!

 

I have been wanting to try this recipe with honey instead of sugar. 

If you do this before I do please report the results.  Thanks. 

 

Love, Laurie 

 

 

What We're Eating: Mac N Cheese

The easy recipe that I use for Mac-N-Cheese here at the day care is pretty high on the kid lunch list.

 

We have it with just about anything.  From fish sticks to chicken nuggets to turkey burgers, it serves as a quick side dish that they love.

 

 

Easy Kiddo Mac N Cheese

Serving Size: three kids and one adult

 

1/2 cup elbow macaroni

2 pieces sandwich cheese slices

1/8 cup milk

1 tsp butter

 

Boil macaroni in water until tender, about 12 minutes, drain.  Add cheese, milk and butter and stir.

 

 

 

 

 

Wow... that was tough!  You can't get much easier than that! 

If your cheese doesn't melt good I would try a different kind.  I use Nice N Cheesy which is the Kroger brand of Velveeta. 

 

I also add just a dab of butter to the water when boiling to keep the macaroni from sticking to the bottom.

Kiddo Turkey Steaks

This is my recipe for a meat dish that these kids love.  And by love I mean it is gone quickly and they ask for more!  It is a simple Salisbury Steak type recipe that only takes a few ingredients and very little time.

Turkey Steaks

1 pound ground turkey
1 egg
1 small onion chopped (or a teaspoon of onion soup mix, or minced onion)
1 beef bullion cube (or 1 teaspoon granules) dissolved in 3/4 cup water

Mix turkey, egg and onion.  Sometimes I do this ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator.  Shape into patties and brown over high heat in skillet, drain off any fat.  Pour in bullion and simmer uncovered for 5-6 minutes, turning patties to soak up some juice. 

That's it!  Next to turkey dogs, this is the favorite meat at the day care.  Shaun doesn't think it's bad either.  I usually have meat left over that I take home for supper.  So it's a win win for me!

I had actually mixed in some sausage too today.  It is very forgiving.

I heat the water to help the bullion dissolve better.

Turn once or twice.  If the juice cooks too long it will cook down.

 

 Got to love that Monsters Inc mac-n-cheese!  I'm more of a Spongebob MNC myself.

 

 Not an unclean plate in the house!

 Dig those sweet incentives!  Chopped apple with rainbow sprinkles.

Starting Letters

Tracing is a good way to help kids learn to draw straight lines.  Straight lines that lead to letters.  I took out the children's journals this morning and turned to the first available page.  I used a ruler and made the letter A with broken lines.  Then drew a picture or two of items whose names begin with the letter A. 

Some scribbled on the page.  Some colored in the pictures.  But as I instructed what to do I was proud that the kids traced the lines of the letter as best they could.  Then I asked them to make their own letter A on the blank page to the left.  They gave it a good shot and I thought this little exercise turned out great.  A+ on this project.  There will be more letters to come!

Playful Interior Design

When it is nap time for the little ones it is not so much for the big kids.  Kids that are too old for naps.  But it is still tough to keep the volume down.  Putting something interesting in their hands is the best thing. 

Today, we chose a little interior design lesson...  and she flew all over it.  When we are waiting for the bus I always get the mail out of the mail box from the day before.  Once a week it usually houses junk ads.  The furniture ad is always her favorite to look at.  She will go through the say "which bedroom set would you pick for your house?"  So we indulged and cut out furniture and lamps from a magazine and found patterns for rugs and tiny food for the kitchen.  We had the most fun!  We  used a ruler and drew lines for walls in the house made of a piece of card stock.  She absolutely loved doing this and went on to create the landscape and garden on another piece of card stock. 

Living room, kitchen, two bedrooms and one bath.

It looked fantastic after the glue dried.  I think she did very well with furniture placement and lighting.  She even has a computer and time out chair!  Good stuff!