Easy Preschool Snowman in a Jar Preschool Activity with Cotton Balls

Snowman in a Jar is the Perfect, Easy Preschool Activity for Winter 

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This easy kids snowman activity gem, an adorable snowman in a jar, was designed by my 5 yr. old. It is perfect for developing preschool fine motor skills. 

The little hands stuff the cotton balls or marshmallows (we used fiber fill) into the jar and then carefully add in his facial features. 

Sure, you can draw the face on the outside, but little hands will develop more skills if they work to find the perfect placement of that carrot nose. It's a great sensory play activity too. You might also DIY Sensory Snow for play-based learning.  

This is my all time favorite snowman preschool activity.

You Will Need:

Fiberfill, cotton balls, marshmallows, or popcorn

Candy canes and peppermints

Buttons, Pom-poms

Scrap construction paper, felt, or foam pieces

Permanent Marker

Stuff a jar full with popcorn, marshmallows, cotton balls, or fiber fill. Have kids squeeze in cut-out shapes for eyes, nose, and buttons. The kids can also do the mouth inside, but it is more fun and gives a 3D effect if you draw it on the jar with a permanent marker. Glue a pom-pom to the top or tie on a scarf.  Voila!

Recommended Reading:

Olaf Story

The Snowman

Snowman Activities for Toddlers


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Have a Spooky Sleepover and Pajama Reading Party with Halloween Books from Scholastics

Have a Spooky Sleepover: Pajama Reading Party with Candy Corn S'mores Recipe

It's easy to plan a spooky sleepover with a Scholastics story and EVEREADY® Gold batteries in your flashlights! We decided to plan our spooky pajama party around fun Halloween books for kids! "We picked some fun spooky books and decided on a Candy Corn S'more Recipe as the perfect companion snack! There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat" by Jared Lee, "Splat the Cat" by Rob Scotton, and "Ten Timid Ghosts" by Jennifer O'Connell. Read on to learn more about the best sleepover ever!

*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine. It contains affiliate links.

Have a pajama sleepover with spooky Scholastic Books and EVEREADY® Gold.

Spooky Book for early readers, Scholastics, Ten Timid Ghosts.

Before the party, we gathered supplies for our craft, snack, and pajama party tent. The kitchen nook worked best, because it has room for a large, family-size tent. We used the walls and bench to construct a tent from one of our favorite blankets. Mommy filled a basket with books, juice packs, popcorn, and flashlights. Then, we created some, super cute edible crafts- with a ghost theme of course. Candy Corn S'mores!

Candy Corn Smores Recipe: Make S'mores with candy corn and candy corn marshmallows.

For our Candy Corn S'mores recipe, we used graham crackers, candy corn marshmallows, candy corn, and chocolate chips to make our S'mores. They were the best S'mores we ever had! Messy, but delicious.

While our sleepover snacks were baking in the toaster oven, we started the spooky ghost craft. We used cheesecloth, Styrofoam cups, and buttons to make a Halloween Ghost craft.

Spooky ghosts from Styrofoam cups.

After reading the story, Mayhem wanted to make a bat too. So, we cut out a pattern that looks like the bat on the cover of the book. To make our bat you only need scissors, construction paper, and glue. If you want to make an outdoor Halloween decoration, before cutting, cover your paper with Duct Tape in coordinating colors. The duct tape will make a durable Halloween decoration for your door.

While we enjoyed reading stories to each other and making shadow puppets on the walls, we had some surprise guests! They wanted to hear about Splat the Cat, and they wanted to chase the lights from our EVEREADY® Flashlights!

Curious cats crash our pajama party!

Educational Element for Homeschooling

We wanted to count this experience as school, so we found a free printable story starter and Lesson Plans for, There Was an Old Lady, on Scholastic's website. From the list of lesson plans, we also chose to try the edible estimations. This is a fun math lesson for kids where you compare the things the old lady ate with similar weighing objects around the house or classroom and then calculate the grand total of everything she ate. The EVEREADY® website has free printables to help plan for a disaster.

Grab your favorite Scholastic books, and EVEREADY® flashlights and get reading! When you purchase 2 special marked packs of EVEREADY® Gold Batteries or EVEREADY® flashlights, you can redeem them for a free book. How fun is that?

It must be time to go to sleep, our guests are yawning!

Hey lady, don't shine that light in my eyes!
Where are my pajamas? Those stories made me sleepy!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of EVEREADY®. The opinions and text are all mine.


Recommended Reading:



There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!


Splat the Cat Storybook Collection

Preschool Sensory Play Activities: How it all got started!

Sensory Messy Play and Preschool Activities

We've had many great years teaching messy play and preschool classes for The Play Connection and hope the future will send even more blessings our way. Here are our top sensory and messy play preschool activities from 2013. What a blast from the past!

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Here is a listing of our top posts of 2013. Many offer great ideas for fun, preschool activities, clip art, and lots of fun for kids! Enjoy!

1. Christmas Eye Candy: Photos of Christmas Trees in Snow Clipart
2. Angie's Homemade Artisan Bread Recipe
3. New Year Preschool Party Ideas and Activities for Kids
4. Lots of Snowmen and Marshmallows Christmas Crafts and Activities for Kids
5. Fun for Kids with Phineas and Ferb Printables
6. Lots of photos of Bread Clipart
7. Cute Valentine Clipart and Free Printables for Kids Classroom Valentines
8. 9 New Year Activities for Kids with games for kids too
9. Marshmallows: Fun for kids SENSORY game great for preschoolers
10. The Tooth Fairy Sagas: Free Toothfairy clipart and true Mommy Drama
11. Activities for Kids: Make your own snow for Sensory play fun for kids
12. Birthday Party games for Kids and Moms on a budget
13. Our new Series Made the cut! Creative Country Sayings and Inspirational Quotes

Memories from 2008 - 2012.

Here's my favorite Homeschool Lesson from 2013.

Primary and Complementary Color Homeschool Art and Science Lesson.

Jake's Journey in Homeschool Art Lessons and Projects for Kids

(Pre K to Elementary)

There are many Homeschool Lessons in this series, so make sure you click the labels under each post. (Still Life, Water Coloring for Kids, Weaving, Self-Portrait activities, Building Models for Science, Christmas Gingerbread House how to diy, Color Theory Lessons, Primary Colors, and even some History  along the way - it's art to me how we've designed our lives throughout the years. I hope you will follow along on the journey.)

We published a Kitchen Kids Cookbook with mix and make recipes for kids. We helped fund raise for Santa's Elves of Indy, we started Homeschooling through INCA (Indiana Connections Academy,) and we moved to a house in the country. 

2013 holds many dreams as we look forward to gardening, raising chickens, goats, and hopefully bunnies and alpacas, get that YA novel published, and share a few of the many stage plays and skits for kids I've written over the years. Bring it! I am excited to get started :-) 

What does your future hold? Leave a comment and let us know.

Follow us on Pinterest (Kids Creative Chaos and Pin it! Online Scavenger Hunt for Pre school Curriculum) and Google +  Can't find us on Twitter? Check the right sidebar for a link we're @playconnection. 


Recommended Reading:

Fun with Messy Play: Ideas and Activities for Children with Special Needs

Play Out: How to develop your outside space for learning and play

October Calendar of Special Days and Unique Holidays for Kids 2020

Printable Unique Holidays and Special Days October Calendar 2020

The FREE Printable October calendar 2020 is full of fun autumn activities. It's fall in the states! Time for carving pumpkins, hiking, and enjoying friends and family around a campfire. It is also full of fun, unique and special days and holidays for kids. What will you celebrate? Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

This Free Printable October Calendar of Special Days and Holidays can be edited to your liking. Just save a copy and rename it. Click the link to download and save yours!

October 2 - World Farm Animals Day

Farm Animal wall art available at Tinytotties.com

Read the Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown and make a paper barn and silo from an envelope and cardboard tube.

Pretending with Farm Animals
Trader's Point Creamery near Indianapolis offers Farm Tours.

October 4 - National Taco Day

Taco Appetizer Recipe

October 6 - World Habitat Day

Habitat for Humanity joins with partners around the world to rededicate to a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Show your support by attending a local World Habitat Day event or organizing one in your own community!

World Habitat Day - Get involved!

Community Service Project Ideas for Kids

October 10 - Angel Food Cake Day

Spooky Angel food cake by Matthew Mead. See the link below to get his book.

We found this spooky angel food cake from the book Cakes for Kids: 35 Colorful Recipes by Matthew Mead. The best part is, you start with a store bought cake. Easy and fast! We once make a pumpkin from a store bought cake. Hmm... I wonder if I have any pictures.

October 14  - National Dessert Day
This is my kind of day! Yum!  Want to learn how to make doughnuts at home? Just click the link for a fun recipe to make with kids on National Dessert Day!

October 15 - Global Handwashing Day
I like this day too! I like to wash my hands, even better I like other people to wash their hands! I know my germs; I don't know theirs!

October 25 - World Pasta Day

You should make some Harvest Skillet Pasta with the kids.

October 30 - National Candy Corn Day
Make Candy Corn S'mores!

Make candy corn s'mores with candy corn marshmallows.

October 31 - Carve a Pumpkin Day and Halloween, of course.
Halloween, is our favorite holiday! You'll find lots of diy costume ideas and Halloween treats for kids- just do a search in the sidebar for more fun ideas! Get started with, Things to do with Pumpkins.

Recommended Reading:

Halloween Is... by Gail Gibbons

The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons

The Pumpkin Book

Thanksgiving Crafts: Footprint Headband Native American hat craft for kids

Native American Headband Craft to make with Footprints for Preschool

This is an easy paper footprint craft to make to teach preschoolers about the first Thanksgiving with Pilgrims and Native Americans. Enjoy!

Footprint headband hat craft to make.

Gobbles and Giggles Class

Oh What fun! I taught a Seasonal Celebrations class with a Thanksgiving theme. We traced our feet onto colored construction paper. This is a great tactile activity for toddlers and preschoolers, as well as, a fun way to learn colors.

Kids love to use scissors! Half the fun was cutting the paper into pieces while the Mommies and Grandmas cut out the feet.

Thanksgiving Crafts: Footprint Headband Native American Hat Craft for Kids.

Make a headband from small strips of paper, attach it with staples or tape, then hand the kiddos a glue stick and let them get busy sticking those feathered feet onto the band. It's a nifty twist on the traditional, Native American headdress. 

We read, "Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving" and Played Broomstick Toss. We hugged the turkey dubbed, Princess Emma, goodbye.

Giant Balloon Turkey.

Recommended Reading:
Paper Bag Indian Dress
Turkey Races Game
Turkey Marshmallows
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks (Reading Railroad)

8 Easy Snowman Crafts fun for Kids they make perfect winter preschool activities

I love Snowman Crafts, what could be more fun for kids?

Snowmen make perfect winter preschool activities with their simple shape structure. There are so many fun Pinterest Winter Snowman Crafts and Activities for Preschool. I've been collecting snowmen over on Pinterest. Here's a list of my favorite winter snowmen crafts for you. Enjoy!

1. From The Educator's Spin On It Snowman Candy Bars

Great Teacher Gift.

2.  From Hands on as We Grow  Magnetic Snowman for Fridge

Magnetic Foamies make a happy Snowman.

3.  From Free and Fun Christmas Doughnut Snowmen

Powdered Doughnut Snowmen.

We made these in our program, one to eat, and a kit to give as a gift in holiday baggies.

4. From The Iowa Farmer's Wife  Snowman Lunch

5.  From Easy Preschool Crafts for Kids Snowman Paper Bag

Happy Snowman.



6.  From It's Gravy Baby Marshmallow Snowman for Preschoolers

Mini-Marshmallow Snow Friend.

7. From Kids Creative Chaos Peanut Snowman Pin or Magnet

8. From TLC Paper Plate Snowman Spiral

Okay 9... I found another.

From The Craft Room

Needlepoint snowmen.

Recommended Reading:

Sneezy the Snowman*

Little Snowman: Finger Puppet Book *

Snowball Soup by Mercer Mayer*









ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Kitchen Kids: Peanut Butter Turkeys Recipe (Peanut Butter Balls)

Edible Turkeys: Peanut Butter Ball Recipe

Make these cute turkeys, the perfect sensory play cooking activity to do with kids. The easy peanut butter ball recipe tastes like peanut butter fudge. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Carrot Cars

Peanut Butter Balls Recipe.

Grilled Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich Recipe How To

You need:

1 C.  Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2   C. Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4   C. Confectioner's Sugar
1      Bag Candy Corn
1/4   C. Peanuts
1/4   C. Chocolate Chips

More Peanut Butter Recipes

How to Make Peanut Butter Balls:

In a large bowl, blend together peanut butter, condensed milk, and confectioner's sugar. Then knead with hands to soften.

Divide into small pieces. Roll into 1" balls.

Optional: Roll ball into crushed peanuts or powdered sugar.

Chill for 20 minutes before decorating and keep chilled while working.

Add 3 Pieces of candy corn point down to make Turkey's feathers.

Add 2 Chocolate Chips for eyes. Add 1 Peanut for beak.

Make ahead and freeze.

Warning: These are addictive- so good!

Happy Turkey Day!

You might also like Turkey Songs for your Preschool Class.

Peanut Butter Ball Turkeys with Candy Corn. 
Tastes like Peanut Butter Fudge.

Thanksgiving Sensory Ideas

Recommended Reading:

Turkey Marshmallows

Mayflower Sandwich Ships

Gluten-Free Recipes for Kids: Fun Eats from Breakfast to Treats*

Edible Christmas Crafts

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)