<![CDATA[Immanuel Lutheran Early Childhood - Blog]]>Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:44:21 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Ideas for Spring Break]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 21:00:24 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/ideas-for-spring-breakLooking for some activities to do together over spring break? Here are a few ideas:
  • Plant a garden -- either flowers or vegetables
  • Camp in the backyard for a night
  • Fly kites
  • Have a picnic
  • Decorate the driveway with chalk -- could also practice letters, numbers, name writing, sight words, etc. using chalk outside
  • Build a fort
  • Make paper airplanes
  • Make a collage with nature (twigs, leaves, flowers, etc.)
  • Make paper bag puppets & then put on a puppet show
  • Paint rocks -- could also practice painting letters, numbers, shapes, name, etc.
  • Make a castle, house, boat, car, or rocket ship out of a cardboard box
  • Set up an obstacle course
  • Have a family movie night
  • Put sleeping bags in the living room & have a slumber party with your family
  • Go on a nature scavenger hunt
  • Try this flower experiment
  • Go on a family bike ride
  • Have a dance party
  • Have a tea party
  • Fly somewhere from your living room -- play airplane; pick where you want to go & pretend to fly there
  • Go on a treasure hunt! (could even make maps for your child to find the treasure)
]]><![CDATA[Rainbow Scavenger Hunt]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:56:13 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/rainbow-scavenger-huntI came across this fun idea on Facebook and thought I'd share it here in case any families were interested. What a fun way to practice identifying colors/sorting by color! 
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]]><![CDATA[Kindergarten Readiness Activities]]>Thu, 06 Apr 2023 20:50:06 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/kindergarten-readiness-activitiesDid you know that the Lane Public Library in Hamilton has some phenomenal kindergarten readiness activities you can use while visiting the library? All activities must stay in the library, but this is a wonderful way to practice various kindergarten skills including rhyming words, number recognition, and letter/sound recognition. They even include ideas for at home activities to try! Ms. Serenity says that her daughter Sienna loves these activities. I am including a few pictures from one of their visits to the library so you can see them for yourself. If you get a chance, check them out! :) 
]]><![CDATA[Bee Breaths]]>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 14:05:31 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/bee-breathsBuzz like a bee to help calm down. This strategy is taken from GoNoodle. 
To do bee breaths, first, stick your index fingers in your ears and close your eyes.
Then, take a slow breath in.
Next, breathe out through your nose while humming/buzzing.
Repeat these steps a few times.

​If you'd like to do it with the video, you can access it on GoNoodle or here.
]]><![CDATA[Count to 10]]>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 14:03:05 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/count-to-10This is a super simple calm down strategy!

First, take a break.

Next, slowly count to 10. You can use your fingers to help your or you can just count.

When you are finished, stop to see how you are feeling. If you feel better, you can get up and return to your activities. If you do not feel better yet, you can try counting to 10 again or try a new skill. Or, if you are ready, you can talk to an adult about how you feel.
]]><![CDATA[mindfulness maze Breathing Boards]]>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:54:53 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/mindfulness-maze-breathing-boardsPicture
This is another fun way to calm down! Your child traces the maze with his finger and breathes in and out according to the symbols on the maze. These are very relaxing and great for adults, too!

Can be purchased here.
]]><![CDATA[Candle Breaths]]>Thu, 10 Nov 2022 13:51:39 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/candle-breathsAnother breathing strategy to help your child calm down when upset, this one is derived from the book Breathe Like a Bear by Kira Willey. 

Pretend you are holding a candle. 

Take a long, slow breath in.

Next, slowly blow the air out toward your candle, but don't blow it out! Just make the flame wiggle a little.

Keep taking long breaths in and slow breaths out for a few more times or however long you feel like.

Finally, on your last breath out, blow out your candle!
]]><![CDATA[Great craft Idea for Parties]]>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:41:18 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/great-game-idea-for-partiesPicture
Hello EC Families!

I wanted to share a great craft idea from one of our Halloween parties this week! The students used playdough, sequins, pipecleaners, and googly eyes to create their own monsters. The best part of this activity was that children could take their monsters apart and create new ones for as long as they were engaged in the activity! Thus, the children were entertained by this activity for longer!

This activity could also be modified for other parties. For instance:
  • Christmas -- build a snowman or decorate a Christmas tree
  • Valentine's Day -- create a love bug
  • Easter -- make an Easter egg or a bunny
  • End of the Year Party -- make your own sea creature!

Another awesome idea for this activity is to put all the materials in individual ziploc bags for the students so they can take them home after the party! That way, they can still have fun with them at home OR if we run out of time at the party, the children can still do it when they get home!

Blessings,
​Mrs. Soldner

​
]]><![CDATA[Flower & Candle Breaths]]>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:39:19 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/flower-candle-breathsOne way we can calm down when we are feeling upset is to try different breathing strategies. A simple one we use at school is called "Flower and Candle Breaths." 
Pretend you are holding a flower. Smell the flower to breathe in.
Pretend you are holding a candle. Blow the candle out when you breathe out.
​Keep going back and forth a few times or until you feel better/calm.
]]><![CDATA[Healthier Halloween?]]>Fri, 28 Oct 2022 20:25:49 GMThttp://www.immanuelhamiltonec.com/blog/healthier-halloweenHello EC Families!

My husband came across something that I wanted to share with you in case you were interested in reducing the amount of sugar your child consumes on/around Halloween. There is something called Switch Witch that is kind of like Elf on the Shelf, but for Halloween. The idea is that children can switch out candy for a toy. There is a book that goes along with it, which explains that witches need the candy to power their brooms and heat their bath water. If you would prefer not to use witches, you could create a different character such as a Candy Fairy or a Giant Pumpkin. One part I do not like is that in the story, witches will only exchange candy for toys for kids who are good. However, I do not believe the exchange needs to be tied to good behavior, so that is another piece you could choose to modify depending on what works best for your family.
There is also another version of Switch Witch that is less like Elf on the Shelf, but still involves switching out candy for something better. Children leave their candy by their jack-o-lantern and the Switch Witch trades it in for a special toy/book/other item. I like this book a little bit better. It is by Charity A. O'Neill-O'Kane.

The article my husband found lists some other potential modifications: 
  • Switch out the candy for an activity/experience or cash
  • Offer healthier sweets instead (such as xylitol suckers)
  • Instead of using a character for the switch, use it as an opportunity to learn about finances (probably more for older children)

I just thought I would share this information in case there are any families who are interested in limiting sugar. Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Blessings,
​Mrs. Soldner]]>