Imagine.Create.Play. Resource Kit Handouts
Why They're Handy to Have!
Did you know? Nearly all of our kits include a detailed digital handout to help you make the most of the kit components—saving you valuable time searching for ideas and inspiration on how to integrate the kit materials into your daily program.
We know that as you welcome children into your home each day you strive to create a nurturing environment which supports their emotional, social, and physical well-being. Your daily observations of the children guide your engagement and also help you to support the unique ways in which they express themselves.
You believe that all children are capable, competent, and curious individuals and you know that when you purchase an Imagine.Create.Play Resource Kit you are investing in the quality program that you provide for the children in your care. As a home child care provider, you understand that by scaffolding the children’s abilities you are supporting the development of emergent skills that they will need to head into the world of school and beyond.
Here’s what providers have to say about the kit handouts:
- The additional resource list is handy for ideas to capitalize on the children’s interest and further their developmental skills.
- The kits come with a handout with songs and activity ideas to keep the fun going!
- Excellent attention to detail and thoughtful inclusion on how to utilize the kits.
- It takes the time and energy away from me having to source an idea and supplies, especially while we can’t shop for items as we usually would.
- I like open ended materials and feel the handouts also provided great supporting material to help expand on the children’s play.
- It helps to get ideas that are beyond what we may have done ourselves.
- The quality is excellent, and they are unique.
Designed to be used as a quick reference or resource guide to help support the interests of the children in your care, the handouts often feature:
- Extensive ideas for how to use the kit items
- Information on the type of play and/or learning benefits associated with the kit
- Suggestions for extending the play and learning—including suggestions for various play invitations and provocations
- Discussion prompts and questions to inspire dialogue and communication
- “At-a-glance” visual inspiration from Pinterest for art and sensory play, activities, and snack ideas all related to the kit
- A compilation of rhymes, finger plays, and songs—often including original work created specifically for the handout
- A book list featuring related titles/subjects
- Printable components to use with the kit items—game sheets, simple work sheets, colouring templates, etc.
- Condensed story favourites to share with children and to use with kit materials
- Various online references and resources
Here are some excerpts from various Imagine.Create.Play Resource Kit handouts:
The Colour Monster:
Social-Emotional Development:
Vivid images engage children as they relate to how the monster is feeling…anger, happiness, fear, etc. Children learn that feelings have names, and the book helps them to identify those feelings by associating them with different colours. This story will provoke conversations among the children about how they are feeling and why. Labelling and understanding emotions helps children learn to self-regulate and is key to developing empathy for others.
Read the book, bring out the peg monsters and ask the children:
- How is the monster feeling?
- How do you know? (Discuss what visual cues and body language help us to understand the emotions of others.)
- I wonder why the monster is feeling happy/sad/angry/etc.? (Helps children to take the perspective of another and develops theory of mind.)
- When do you feel happy/sad/angry/etc.?
Small World Play:
Encouraging Small World Play:
Small world play combines various elements of imaginative, dramatic, loose parts, and sensory play. Inspired by a child’s interest, the adult can help to gather and prepare materials which are then left for the child to manipulate and explore.
In order to contain and define the play, a small world set up usually starts with some sort of base: trays, playmats, shallow bins, and shoebox lids are all great examples.
Next is to determine the setting: the beach, the woods, a pond, a farm, a city block, the ocean, a meadow, etc., the possibilities are endless! A setting helps to differentiate small world play from more general sensory play.
Once a setting has been selected, it’s time to introduce various bits and pieces:
- Loose Parts: blocks, glass beads, spools, buttons, wool, small cars, tracks, etc.
- Sensory Components: sand, straw, water, shaving cream, shredded paper, etc.
- Natural Elements: rocks, shells, wood, mulch, pinecones, greenery, etc.
The last step is to include some small people and/or animal figures. These bring the small world play to life and really encourage language development. Children manipulate the characters as they test out various ideas and theories through play.
Snowballs:
If You Plant a Seed:
Science Extension Ideas and Activities from Pinterest:
- Learn about the parts of a plant and the life cycle with photos, felt shapes, and/or sequencing cards.
- Introduce the various edible parts of a plant. For instance, we eat the roots (carrots, beets), the stem or stalk (celery, rhubarb), the leaves (spinach, cabbage), the flower (broccoli, cauliflower), the fruit (tomatoes, cucumbers), and the seeds (peas, beans).
- Plant seeds in a clear plastic baggie or cup so that the children can easily observe the roots and sprouts. Measure and document the growth.
My Watering Can—original poem
Tile Monster (original game set):
Game Suggestions
- Fill and dump: Into an empty tissue box, wipes container, or parmesan container (or something similar that has a smallish hole to present a bigger challenge than above.
- Loose parts: Kitchen area, doll house area…wherever the child’s imagination takes hold.
- Exploration: Place in a bin on a table and encourage the children to explore them – how high can they stack them? What can they build?
- Group Time: Talk about colours, encourage children to name the colours, place out two with the black side up and one of another and ask them which one is “different”, count them, place out all 6 colours – review them with the children – ask them to close their eyes as you take one away – then ask them which one is missing…
- Matching: Roll the die and encourage children to pick the tile that matches or roll the die and the Tile Monster has to eat the tile that matches
Six Colour Tiles—original matching game poem
The Very Hungry Caterpillar:
Printable Resource: Fruits with holes 1-5
Print and use for storytelling, art, math games, and more.
The Mystery of Metamorphosis:
Most butterfly larva harden into a chrysalis while most moth larva will build a silk cocoon around themselves. A chrysalis can take many shapes and colours and can be translucent near the end of the transformation. Chrysalis is the name of the butterfly pupa while a cocoon is external, made just before the moth pupates. (https://carleton.ca/biology/cu-faq/whats-the-difference-between-a-cocoon-and-a-chrysalis-elizabeth-age-11/)
New Little Butterfly (original song, tune of Au Clair de la Lune)
Love Monster:
For more information, please visit our e-store at www.ccprn.com/shop where you’ll find detailed descriptions, photos, and videos highlighting our unique and engaging Imagine.Create.Play Resource Kits.