Learn And Teach Basic Drawing Skills

Children love colourful drawings and understand much better, and in a easier way.

Colourful drawings and pictures interests the young ones and can associate well with the concept.

One need not be an artist to draw.

One has to imagine the picture in the mind and then try to draw.

Easy of drawing is through shapes. E.g. circle, square, rectangle, semi-circle, triangle etc…..

Here are drawings to make your learning much easier.

Village Mouse and City Mouse

Following is a short concept story from Hitopdesha

Once upon a time in a village there lived a village mouse. Whole day he ate barley and grains. This village mouse had a cousin who lived in the city. One day the village mouse was very happy, as his city cousin was visiting him. Village mouse let his city cousin inside the house, where he lived, inside the hole. He served his city cousin the same food, barley and grains. His city mouse cousin told him, that in the city he gets much tasty food to eat. City mouse invited his village mouse cousin to the city. Village mouse was very excited to go the city. 

As soon as the village mouse reached the city, his city mouse cousin took him inside the kitchen where he lived. He lived in a 5star hotel’s kitchen. There he saw lots and lots of tasty things to eat. There both of them nibbled and nibbled. Suddenly the chef was entering the kitchen. City mouse warned the village mouse and asked him to run to a safe place. Both of them ran to the same place, from where they had entered. Next the village mouse saw a big piece of cheese. His mouth started watering. He was just about to eat it. But suddenly the city mouse again warned him that this was a trap. He said, in case if u eat this cheese u will get trapped in this cage. The village mouse was fed up of this kitchen of his city mouse cousin. Village mouse said sorry dear brother, I would prefer eating my same food daily in peace, rather than getting frightened and running for food. So he went back to his village and lived happily ever after.

Moral: Do not be greedy, be happy with whatever you have.  

Telling A Story And Telling It Well

Ø  Story telling has a huge impact in teaching these young minds.

Ø  Stories are the best form in which one can teach various concepts lessons to kids.

e.g. concepts like colours, letters, good manners, general knowledge, transport, technology, history and many,many more.

Ø  The narrator of the story must capture tender attention.

Ø  An adult has to come down to their level while narrating a story.

Check-out the 'Stories' Label on the side panel to read more children's stories.  

Importance of free play

The child’s foot does not know it’s a foot,

It wants to be bird, a butterfly, or an apple………….

Let their imagination

Guide their footsteps

“IN THEIR JOURNEY OF GROWTH”

Playing is an integral essential part in early childhood.

Playing helps a child to grow mentally, socially, physically.

Free play consists of various equipments, eg blocks, beads, slate and chalk, puzzles etc.

Toys can also be of make believe play i.e. doll set, doctor set, carpenter set, cricket set etc.

Every equipment of free play has its own advantage.

A child should be set free and be allowed to play by himself.

Children live in a world of imagination and feeling. They invest the most significant object with any form they  please and see in it whatever they wish to see.

Is your child stressed?

Parents across the world were shocked by news that a four year child was put on happy pills. She was depressed that she had’nt secured admission in the same nursery as her friends. This alarming phenomenon could soon hit home turf, with kids as young as five and six already seeking psychiatic help.

When parents get tensed even before play school admissions, depressed if they’re kids don’t get good grades, push their kids into extra cirrucular activities way before their time….all this affects their young minds greatly.

At this age kids are like sponges. Everything you do, your attitude, thought processes… the child soaks in all of it. Increase in stress levels is due to the faulty attitude of the parents. Problem parents have problem kids.

Its time we stop confusing success with happiness. Comparison made with siblings is also responsible for low self esteem in youngsters.
Kids should be allowed to stay as kids as long as possible, because once they grow up, they will be adults forever. Exams can also be more stressful and competitive.
Its upto the parents to ensure that their kids do not get depressed or give up it they fail.

General knowledge

Rabbit Facts:
1. Male rabbits are called bucks, females are called does.
2. Rabbit have between 26 to 28 teeth. Yes, they also have molars.
3. Rabbits with fur and pink eyes are called albinos.
4. Rabbits are born blind which hares can see from time of birth.

Stars Facts:
Many Stars are between 1 billion and 10 billion years old. Some Stars may be close to 13.7 billion years old-the observed age of the universe.
You may also collect a few information and give general knowledge to your kids about many many more things.

Onion Capsicum and Cheese Mini Pizza

Objective: To enhance social development in a child, development of fine and gross motor skills.

Ingredients: Thin mini pizza base, tomato and capsicum cut in round shape, grated cheese, tomato sauce, a pinch of salt and red chilli powder mix.

Method:
1. Allow the child to spread tomato sauce on the pizza base.
2. Then guide him to place tomatoes on the spread tomato sauce.
3. Sprinkle little masala prepared on the tomato
4. Then allow the child to put capsicum on the placed tomatoes.
5. Again sprinkle the masala on the capsicum
6. Tell the child to sprinkle cheese as per taste.
7. Then add a drop of sauce on the top of cheese.
8. Place the pizza in the oven for four minutes.
9. Your yummy mini pizza made by your younger cook is ready!

How to make Sprouts mix

Objective: To enhance social development in a child, development of fine and gross motor skills.
Ingredients: Moong sprouted, Cucumber, onion, tomatoes and coriander leaves finely chopped, salt as per taste, green chillies as per taste, lime juice as per taste.

Method:
1. Keep ready with all the ingredients.
2. Take a huge bowl. Allow and guide the child to mix all the ingredients one by one. Later you toss and mix properly.

3. Your sprouts mix is ready!

How to make a Star Photo Frame

Materials: Box board, child friendly scissors, glue, Small shells, a painting brush (flat), water color paints, double sided tape, your photo, glitter glue.

Method:
Firstly draw a star on the box board. The size of the star depends on your choice.
Then with the help of a geometric compass rounder draw a circle in between the star. Then cut the circle.
You will create a gap in between the star. This gap will act as your frame, to stick your photo.
Then cut the outline of the star, which you had drawn. Now you have a base of a star. You need to decorate it.
Color the shells with the colors as you wish to. Then stick them on the cut out of the star .Give a colorful border to your star with glitter glue. Allow it to dry for sometime.
Lastly, stick your photo in between the star, or the round gap which you had created.
Put double sided tape behind the star and stick your photo frame on the wall.

Tips: Instead of shells you may also decorate your frame in many ways, like Thumb printing, pointer finger painting, paper tearing and sticking(do it with crape paper, paper crumpling.

You may also give your frame different shapes like heart shape, a sunflower.

How to make your own Pen and Pencil Toppers

Materials:
Bright colored fun foam, 3 to 5 unused pencils and pens, satin ribbons, a small plastic container, pair of scissors, a hole punch.

What to do?
Trace out flower, star or leaf patterns on the fun foam.
Cut along the boundaries
Punch a hole where the dash is.
Layer the leaves with flowers and stars in the Pencils or Pens.
Take a container and use it as a vase, tie a ribbon at the top.A few examples of shapes are leaf, star, clouds, flowers, etc.

Design your own t-shirt with Batik Tee

Turn a plain t-shirt into a snazzy top to brighten up your gloomy day.

Materials: Cardboard, white cotton t-shirt, 1cup flour, a big bowl, a squeeze bottle, fabric paint, spray bottle.

Method: Cut the cardboard to fit inside the t-shirt. (This will keep the fabric paint from bleeding through later)
Mix the flour with water9it should be of the consistency of mustard)in the bowl, right before you are going to apply it so that it doesn’t become gluey and difficult to apply.
Pour the mixture into the squeeze bottle and then use it to draw a design of your choice, may be a smiley face, or a sun, a cartoon character or any other pattern on the t-shirt.
Leave it outside to dry in the hot sun for a couple of hours until it hardens.
Spray the t-shirt with the fabric paint and let it dry. Alternatively you may use a toothbrush to spray the paint.
Remove the cardboard, then peel off the flour paste to reveal the design.

How to make your own Wind chime

Objective: To enhance cognitive development, language development, fine and gross motor skills.

Materials: Cardboard, glue, Child friendly scissors, ribbon, transparent plastic sheets, glass colors, a marker, a painting brush, thick threads(color of your choice)

Method: Take a cardboard and it into triangle shape. Make a small hole in between and tie a ribbon so that you may hang your wind chime.
Then you make consecutive three holes on the base line of the triangle.
Take plastic transparent sheets and draw three different pictures on it of your choice.For e.g. you may draw a fish, a sea horse, an octopus.
After drawing the picture give it an outline with the black marker and then color it with glass paints.
Later make a small hole on all your three colored drawings with the help of a needle and insert a thick thread in each of them and hang it on the holes made on the base of the triangle and then tie a knot behind to insure that it doesn’t fall off.
To make your chime more attractive you may stick some colored stones on the triangular board.
You may also add some soothing sounds on it. All types of sound materials are available in the market.
Hang your wind chime wherever you wish to!

How to make your own Name Plate

Objective: To enhance creative skills, cognitive development, fine and gross motor skills.

Materials: Thick cardboard, paints of your choice, a flat painting brush, child friendly glue, child friendly scissors, medium sized colored beads, colored sand, glitter glue pens.

Method:
Take a cardboard, cut and give it any shape of your choice.
Then allow the child to paint the cardboard, with the color of his choice.
Apply glue on the painted cardboard, then sprinkle colored sand on the area where the glue is applied. The sand will get stuck to the glue.
Guide your child to write your name or surname with the help of glitter pens on the painted board.
Later you may decorate your name plate with a colorful beads border, if you wish to.
Your personal Name plate is ready to hang!

How to Make your own Mirror

Objective: To enhance cognitive development and fine and gross motor skills.

Materials: Cardboard, White chart paper, deep red color paint, painting flat brush, child friendly glue, a readymade oval shaped mirror.

Method:
Firstly cut the cardboard in oval shape.(Remember the size of your cardboard should be a size bigger than your mirror)
Later color your white chart paper red. Give your red colored chart paper the same size size and shape as of your carboard.
Then stick the red colored chart paper on the cardboard.
Stick your oval shaped mirror on the red color chart paper.
Lastly, you may design your mirror with glitter glue pens available in the market.
And your mirror is ready!

Five Exciting Indoor Fun Play Activities

Keep your kids occupied even on days when it’s pouring heavily, and young ones get restless at home.

1. Board Games: Snakes and ladders, Ludo, Scrabble, Pictionary, and many other board games in which your kid is interested and enjoys playing them. This will also take care of the holistic development of the child.

2. Kitchen fun: Kids are fascinated with cooking, whether it is baking, topping, or just helping. Kids are occupied and have fun.

3. Treasure hunt: A Scavenger hunt can help your child use up all the extra energy. Make a list of all the items they need to find and also give them clue to find them. E.g. shoe laces, buttons, games, small items available at home. Make it quick and exciting and reward them for, whoever finds the items.

4. Craft ideas: You can help your child by making him do creative activities or some painting where he is occupied and enjoys the work done by him.

5. Watch movies: Bring out all the collection of movies you have, a bowl of wafers, and snuggle it, while watching movies. You may watch movies like, Mary Poppins, Shrek 2, or Krish, Baby’s Day Out, Sound of music etc.

Thumb printing

You need: a paper, stamp pad, Crayons or a marker

Method:
Have your child press his thumb on a stamp pad and then press it onto the paper.
Show the child how to draw a mouse tail, and ears on the thumbprint to complete each mouse.
Do this several times to make a mouse family.
Use your own thumbprint, or of an older or younger sibling, then compare the different sizes each makes

Dance and movement

Dance offers an avenue for exploration, discovery, and the development of natural instincts for movement. Dance is a good exercise and an artistic expression of mind and body, for young children. Dance has many physical benefits, like, improved posture, development of muscle tone and strength, increased flexibility etc…..Dance is usually just fun.

Parents can start up with homemade rhythm instruments.
The main purpose of this activity is to have your child experience movement as it relates to music or rhythm. Play different types of music and allow your child to physically express how the music makes him feel. He might hop and jump on fast music, bounce on happy music, march for a parade tune, and so on…You must always encourage your child to clap or hop in time to the beat.

Handmade doll

You need: Colored felt, a marker, child friendly scissors, a shoe box, white glue, scraps of yarn and fabric.

Method:
Draw a shape of a person on a square of felt. Draw the arms and legs of the person clearly defined. The arms drawn should be away from the body.
Glue the felt to a piece of cardboard and cut out the doll.
Glue on yarn for hair. Draw the features of the face with the marker.

To dress your doll, place the doll on scraps of fabric and use a marker to trace around the body.
Cut out the clothes and dress the doll. The cloth will stick to the doll’s felt body.
Store and keep your felt doll and clothes in a shoebox.

Make a frog puppet from old socks

You need:
1dark green color socks, red color velvet paper, black color marble paper, light green color construction paper, child friendly scissors, white glue, black color marker pen, or a sketch pen, an adult.

Method:

Draw and cut four to five medium size circles out of the black color marble paper.(these are the dots which the frog has on his body). Later stick these circles of the frog on the front side of the socks (which will be the upper body of the frog).

Then draw and cut two semicircles from the light green color construction paper. These will be the eyes of the frog. Fold half-a-inch of the semicircles, and stick on the socks only the folded part of the paper. Stick the eyes also on the upper part of the socks, close to the part which is stitched in the socks. The remaining part of the eyes stand. With the help of the black marker pen draw the outline on the eyes of the frog, and a round circle in between.
(On the upper part of the socks will be the eyes on the top, followed by the spots of the frog.)

From the red velvet paper draw and cut an oval shape,(the oval must long, so that back side part of the socks get covered).Stick the red tongue on the back side of the socks.

Your socks puppet of a frog is ready!

Link Between Intelligence And Play

One has to boost intelligence in child’s play. Giving preschool toys to play boosts their intelligence and mental development, even if they suffer from malnutrition. Studies have proven that there is improvement in the IQ of the kids just with play.

Malnutrition itself is a major problem. Malnutrition without mental stimulation is even bigger problem. There is a lot of ignorance about what a child needs, they think that play is not important.

They can improve the child’s health and intelligence, by eating the right food, at the right time. Actions are being taken by the aid agencies to change attitudes and encourage preschool play at home, as well as basic nutrition, might make a huge effect.

People with no education should be trained and encouraged as to how to play with the children. Children who play with toys, and eat well are less likely to drop out from school and their mental health is better, they are less depressed, less anxious and have better confidence and self esteem.

Parts of Body

Objective : This rhyme enhances intellectual, physical development and number concept.

Two little eyes to open and close,
One little nose to smell rose.
Two little ears that long for a song
Two little hands, busy all day long.

Note:
This rhyme can be supported with an activity.

I Love Nature

I love the sun, it shines on me,
God made the sun and god made me.
I love the trees, it gives shades to me,
God made the trees, and god made me.
I love the birds, they sing to me,
God made the birds, and god made me.
I love the flowers, they smell so nice,
God made the flowers, and god made me.

Note:
You may extend this rhyme, or may be your child might help you out with this.One cannot challenge a child’s imagination.In this way you can keep your child busy and develop a positive bonding, by way of fun

A Plant

I am a little plant,
So sweet and nice,
I have a stem,
Long and slim,
I have green leaves,
That, give me life,
I have a flower,
That, smell so nice,
I also have a fruit,
Which makes you strong.

Ceiling Fan

Objective: This rhyme enhances intellectual development, number concept, and builds confidence.

I am a little Fan, I have three hands
1,2,3………….1,2,3…………….
When you put me on, I go round and round
1,2,3………………..1,2,3………………..
I give you air, it shakes your hair
1,2,3………..1,2,3……………..
When you’re feeling hot, forget me not
1,2,3……………..1,2,3…………..

Thumb printing

You need: a paper, stamp pad, Crayons or a marker

Method:
Have your child press his thumb on a stamp pad and then press it onto the paper.
Show the child how to draw a mouse tail, and ears on the thumbprint to complete each mouse.
Do this several times to make a mouse family.
Use your own thumbprint, or of an older or younger sibling, then compare the different sizes each makes.

Dance and movement

Dance offers an avenue for exploration, discovery, and the development of natural instincts for movement. Dance is a good exercise and an artistic expression of mind and body, for young children. Dance has many physical benefits, like, improved posture, development of muscle tone and strength, increased flexibility etc…..Dance is usually just fun.

Parents can start up with homemade rhythm instruments.
The main purpose of this activity is to have your child experience movement as it relates to music or rhythm. Play different types of music and allow your child to physically express how the music makes him feel. He might hop and jump on fast music, bounce on happy music, march for a parade tune, and so on…You must always encourage your child to clap or hop in time to the beat.

Growing Plant

You can help your child grow plants from fruit seeds, like apples and oranges, and from tops of some vegetables and fruits. Wonderful and strange shapes come from such planting, but no fruit or vegetables. Sometimes, may be, nothing comes from it. Yet your child may enjoy experimenting. Here are some ideas to try and experiment about growth of plants. No one can discover the way these plants will grow.

APPLE OR LEMON PLANT:

YOU NEED: 5 inch flower pot (approx), soil, seeds from apples or oranges or lemons.

METHOD: Wash and dry the seeds. Preferably choose the seeds which are plump.

Label your pot with your name and date.
Make a small hole in your flower pot at the bottom for excess water to percolate.
Fill the pot with soil up to 2 inch from top.
Place several seed of the same fruit 1 inch apart on the surface of your soil.

Cover with 1/4th inch of soil.
Water the plant everyday. Place the flower pot in sunlight.
The plant will develop and grow from 3weeks to 3months.
Teach your child about the four friends of the plant. i.e. (Air, Water, Soil, and Light)

PINEAPPLE PLANT:

Buy a fresh pineapple, save the top of the pineapple with a slice of the fruit attached to it. The plant which you grow at home will never have fruits for a couple of years.

YOU NEED: Soil, pineapple top, sand soil.

METHOD:
Slice of pineapple crown with about half-a-inch of fruit.
Remove the leaves of the crown of the pineapple. Let the crown dry for two days.
Put about 1 inch of sand in dish. Water the plant until leaves appear.

Frog Puppett

You need:
1dark green color socks, red color velvet paper, black color marble paper, light green color construction paper, child friendly scissors, white glue, black color marker pen, or a sketch pen, an adult.

Method:

Draw and cut four to five medium size circles out of the black color marble paper.(these are the dots which the frog has on his body). Later stick these circles of the frog on the front side of the socks (which will be the upper body of the frog).

Then draw and cut two semicircles from the light green color construction paper. These will be the eyes of the frog. Fold half-a-inch of the semicircles, and stick on the socks only the folded part of the paper. Stick the eyes also on the upper part of the socks, close to the part which is stitched in the socks. The remaining part of the eyes stand. With the help of the black marker pen draw the outline on the eyes of the frog, and a round circle in between.
(On the upper part of the socks will be the eyes on the top, followed by the spots of the frog.)

From the red velvet paper draw and cut an oval shape,(the oval must long, so that back side part of the socks get covered).Stick the red tongue on the back side of the socks.
Your sox puppet of a frog is ready!

Handmade doll

You need: Colored felt, a marker, child friendly scissors, a shoe box, white glue, scraps of yarn and fabric.

Method:
Draw a shape of a person on a square of felt. Draw the arms and legs of the person clearly defined. The arms drawn should be away from the body.
Glue the felt to a piece of cardboard and cut out the doll.
Glue on yarn for hair. Draw the features of the face with the marker.
To dress your doll, place the doll on scraps of fabric and use a marker to trace around the body.
Cut out the clothes and dress the doll. The cloth will stick to the doll’s felt body.
Store and keep your felt doll and clothes in a shoebox.

Fun with old film cans or tins

OBJECTIVE: To enhance cognitive and physical development.

YOU NEED: An old film can or tin, white glue, child friendly scissors, white and orange craft foam, 2googly eyes, an adult, any color oil paint, a thick brush.

METHOD: Firstly remove the cap of the can.Oil paint the can with the help of a thick brush. Let it dry for a few hours.Glue the 2googly eyes near the top.Cut a small oval out of the white craft foam, and glue the oval. Stick the beak upside down, i.e. the pointed part will be facing towards the oval belly.Glue the beak, belly, and the feet.Cut the cap of the can with the help of an adult in half, to form wings. Glue them on the sides.Your friendly little toy is ready!