Storytimes and More: Busy Bag Parent Workshops

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Busy Bag Parent Workshops

In November the Early Learning Team presented a parent workshops about Busy Bags. I headed up the program. The hardest part was choosing which of all the awesome Busy Bags to do. Of course we had to keep in mind the cost of supplies and the ease/amount of time it would take to create We presented the program at four different libraries. Three awesome turn-outs; one not very well attended but those that were there had a great time.

We also provided a quarter sheet with instructions on how to use the bag and what the child learns while playing with it.

Here are the Busy Bags the parents/grandparents made to take home:

Tangrams

Templates from Education.com

How to use this bag:

Child will match the 7 tangram to the puzzle.

Additional ways to use the bag:

Children can free-play with the tangram pieces to create their own designs.

Playing with your child you can name different shapes and talk about their characteristics.

This activity helps your child:

Develop problem solving skills

Identify and name shapes and their characteristics

Pom-Pom Fun

Caterpillar Template from Powerful Mothering

How to use this bag:

Child will pick up one pom-pom at a time and push it into the hole in the container lid.

Child will place the correct number of pom-poms on the number caterpillars.

Additional ways to use the bag:

Using the pom-poms children can sort by color or size; count; make a pattern—either by color or size.

This activity helps your child:

· Develop fine motor skills

· Practice sorting, color names, counting, size, and patterning

· Numeracy and number recognition

Develop patience and problem

Numbers Clothes Pins

Template from 1+1+1=1

How to use this bag:

Child will clip the corresponding number of clothes pin to the number cards.

Additional ways to use the bag:

Count the animals on each card with your child. Talk about the name and shape of each number.

Put the number cards in order.

This activity helps your child:

· Recognize numerals

· Name numbers

· Understand one-to-one correspondence

· Counting

· Develop fine motor skills

Problem solving skills

Crazy Straws

How to use this bag:

Child will thread felt shapes onto the crazy straw.

Additional ways to use the bag:

While playing with your child you may talk about the different colors. You can also count how many fit on the straw.

Challenge your child to make a pattern with the color pieces of felt on the straw.

This activity helps your child to:

· Develop fine motor skills

Practice counting, color names, patterns, and sequence

Mix and Match Animals

Template from Itsy Bitsy Fun

How to use this bag:

Child will use pieces to create animals.

Additional ways to use the bag:

Create a new creature by combining different animals.

Ask your child to tell you about their creature. Where does it live? What does it eat? What would you call your new creature?

This activity helps your child:

· Creativity

· Play with words and sounds

· Narrative skills

· Problem solving

Pipe Cleaner Shapes

Template from Confession of a Homeschooler

How to use this bag:

Child will manipulate pipe cleaners to create the same shape as on the card.

Additional ways to use the bag:

Children can free-play with pipe cleaners. What can they make?

Playing with your child you can name the different shapes and talk about their characteristics.

This activity helps your child:

· Develop fine motor skills

· Develop problem solving skills

· Identify and name shapes and their characteristics

Here are some bags we had made samples of, but did not make at the workshop. We had them available for children to play with and parents to look at for ideas for additional Busy Bags they can make at home.

Pipe Cleaners and Pony Beads