Getting Creative with Dannon Yogurt Containers

Often times after I am finished eating a prepackaged food like yogurt, I wash the container then set it in the window and wait for inspiration.

Today it struck in the form of a Dannon Light and Fit yogurt container.  I turned it upside down and started to use my imagination...what could it be.



I pulled the label off and then it was white...I turned it upside down and before long I had imagined a chicken!  I worked and played with the design.  The chicken looked a little fat and disproportional so what better than to be the big fat hen from the nursery rhyme One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.



Before long...I started thinking well I could make a turkey too.  Wouldn't these be cute to use as name place cards at the Thanksgiving table?  Simply write the person's name on the front of the turkey.



You can find the patterns to make these cute little guys on my website Making Learning Fun.  The chicken is here and the turkey is here.

I wonder if I can come up with another idea for these containers....

When to start reading

Today I thought I would address a question that came to me via my Facebook page.

"Just wondering what your thoughts on the baby can read program? And when is the earliest to introduce the basic phonic sounds? Is too early failure later?"

This is one of those loaded question that can start a whole firestorm.  I have not used the product baby can read but I can give you my opinion on early education.

I do think that too much "curriculum based" education can cause boredom later...but...more than that, consider this....

I think lots of people want to get their children "started" as soon as possible to get the jump on all those other parents who are "lagging" behind.  We get the impression that starting earlier can get our children to places quicker.  I don't believe this is true...especially if you want a child who isn't just book smart.



Constructive play offers so much to children.  Playing blocks with a child and counting the blocks as you place eight of them on the tower is so much more helpful to a child then having the child be able to recognize the image of the number 8 on a piece of paper.  It takes much longer for the child to learn the concept of one to one correspondence and understanding that units come together to make a sum then it does for them to memorize the image of the number 8.




Some children come to school with the knowledge of the image but have no concept that eight items together also means eight.  Schools have the resources to teach the child the image...schools don't have time to teach the concepts that guided play offers.

 That's why I believe the best way to teach is through play and experience.  If you want to teach your child alphabet sounds, start with the first letter of their name.  "Ben look...here's your letter "B".  When you put an alphabet puzzle together, point out his letter.  In town on signs, point out his letter.  Start to give that "B" a sound.  "B"  "B"-en.  They start identifying other things with "B" B-en's sound. b-ed, b-anana....before long Ben is going to know that his name as well as bed and banana all have a "B".

Before long, he'll be ready for a coloring page....or printing practice page...or beginning sound activities.

 When they are ready move onto a new letter..."G" for Grandpa.  The greatest part of it all...there is no curriculum...nothing you need to buy...just you, your kiddo and a little quality time...