Our Theme-Of-The-Week is...Octopus'!

Lots of fun can be had with this interesting creature in mind.  Start by showing the kids some books about octopuses so they can see their eight arms and tentacles with the suction cups.  With that knowledge behind them you're ready to have some fun.

 

• Make octopus hats.
  
  Tape or securely glue 2 or more pieces of construction paper together (so it will fit the circumference of your child's head).  Before you attach the ends, draw seven 5.5 inch lines up from the long side of the paper (all equal distance apart).  Have the kids cut along the lines on the paper to make the octopus arms.  When they finish cutting, roll each paper and stick the short ends together leaving the "arms" free.  Have the children attach stickers for eyes or draw them on and bend out the arms.  Let them pretend to be octopuses in the sea.
  
   

• Count to eight.
  
  Have fun practicing counting to 8.  Put away 8 toys; jump up and down 8 times; eat 8 grapes; make 8 playdough sticks; make 8 wishes (this is a fun way to discover what they want/like).
  
   

• List 8 of your favorite foods and eat as many of them as you can this week.
  
   

• Eat some tentacles.
  
  Older kids might enjoy trying calamari (or squid) which also has tentacles.  This is usually breaded and deep fried and actually quite tasty ;)
  
   

• Pretend to eat some octopuses.
  
  Hot dogs or wieners can be cut to look like octopuses.  Cut slits in a hot dog 2/3 of the way up (you might only be able to cut 4 legs).  Use a toothpick to poke eyes near the top.  Put in a pot of boiling water and the arms will curl and the eyes will pop out.  These can be added to a hot dog bun (or octopus-eating-clam) if you little ones prefer them this way :)
  
   

• Popcorn octopuses.
  
  A piece of popcorn with one end dipped in cream cheese and then dipped in grated cheese will look like a little octopus with wiggly cheese arms.  Let the kids make these one by one as they eat them - mmmmm :)  Just remember popcorn is a choking hazard for kids under 5 - watch them closely.

 

Let your imagination run and take your children's personalities and skill levels into account.  The name of the game is fun and silliness - and a little learning in there too is great.

********************

Your email address is safe with us! Unsubscribe any time.