>>Heather<<'s Profile

Great info - thanks! This visual learner is also appreciative of the photos. Keep them coming.

Nice post, Beth!

While I completely empathize with those times when I feel like it's the same ole' same ole' snacks, I hesitate going for items like the squeezable fruit that's so far from the original state of the fruit that it seems to perpetuate the notion that the real fruit is ho-hum, boring old fruit. I think of what Michael Pollard stated in his book In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto, in which he encourages us to serve and consume foods that our great-great grandparents could have recognized as food.

We are cultivating attitudes toward food that can be beneficial or detrimental....

@sparklish: If the sensory table is made at a height comfortable to the child, it is actually more universally liked, as some kids detest sitting in sand or whatever the material of choice may be.

Here's a sensory table DH and I made years ago for my preschool program which accommodates multiple children and/or multiple activities:

http://joyrevisited.blogspot.com/2008/01/diy-sensory-table-for-children.html

Some of the best activities have been to add sparkly colored watercolor to water and to add ocean animals, or washing baby dolls. In the fall, we add crunchy leaves.

Really, the possibilities are only limited by the imagination of the parent/teacher.

I agree with JudiAU - the pieces at Community Playthings are made to last decades and multiple children, especially well-suited for preschool programs. Having used these pieces in my own programs in years past, I can vouch for the superb quality. The company even has a 10-year warranty on its products!

http://www.communityplaythings.com/readthelegalstuff.html

What a delightful little room for your three girls! My two girls share a room, and when the third girl is born, she will also be inhabiting the room as well.

Ooh, love this! Perfect for small spaces.

My daughter was homeschooled for kindergarten and first grade, and this year she will enter second grade at a new charter school. While I have gnashed my teeth many a time during the low times (I also have a charming but testy 2yo), having my sweet girls with me has been wonderful.

I will truly miss my daughter, and I'm working on LETTING GO, LETTING GROW.... That said, it's high time I give my second daughter uninterrupted quality time too, as well as get back to fitness and taking better care of myself so I can care best for my family.

The only problem with this wonderful idea is that my children want to open everything up! :) So, empty spice jars work better. Really cute idea though - many preschool programs do this regularly (since the kids try to open them up, heh heh).