Mothers play such an active and important role in your preschooler's life. For the most part they are the active caregiver and constant force in their life.
Why not spend the week before Mother's Day celebrating mommies. You can even put aside a week for daddies. Be careful to know your children's family situations. In today's society children are sometimes live in homes of single parents or grandparents. Be sensitive and adjust the lessons as necessary.
Here are a few activities for Mother's Day in the various centers in your classroom.
Drama Center
This is probably the easiest center to prepare for in the preschool classroom. Place "mommy" dress up clothes along with purses and sunglasses to the center for kids to dress up. Also provide a grocery cart and kitchen for kids to shop for food as well as prepare for food. They will love pretending to be little mommies.
Sensory Table
Place baby dolls and washcloths in the table with water. Allow the children to take turns giving babies baths and dressing the babies.
Block Center
Place wooden block people in the center. These are available at any teacher supply store. Have the children build a house out of blocks then play house with their pretend mommies and daddies.
Storytime
There are many great books about mothers available. If you are in a Christian school, talk about Mary and how she was Jesus' mother. You can even tell the story of birth of Christ. Other books that are sure to entertain preschoolers are: Mommies! By Kate Spohn; Mommies Best Kisses by Margaret Anastas are a couple.
Music Time
There are quite a few cute songs that I have found over the years about moms. Here are a few of them.
The first is a very simple one that we are all familiar with the tune. Happy Mother's Day to You (To the tune of "Happy Birthday")
Happy Mother's Day to you.
Happy Mother's Day to you.
Happy Mother's Day, dear Mommy,
Happy Mother's Day to you!
(To the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb")
Mommy is the one I love, one I love, the one I love.
Mommy is the one I love and
She loves great big hugs.
Mother's Day (Are You Sleeping)
We love mothers, we love mothers
Yes, we do yes, we do
Mothers are for hugging
Mothers are for kissing
We love you yes, we do!
Art Time
Art time can be spent making gifts for their mommies. The moms will appreciate all the effort that goes into the gifts.
Tote Bags
Hobby Lobby and Michaels have tote bags at a reasonable price. Place each child's handprints on the bag using fabric paint. Then write World's Best Mom on the other side of the bag. You can even use their fingerprints to make flowers or bees. Moms will love having a bag that showcases their children's love for them.
t-shirt
Ask the parents to bring a white color t-shirt for a mother's day project. Have the children place handprints facing down all over the shirt. Write "Best Mom: Hands Down!"
Flower
Have the children decorate a terra flower pot with fingerprint insects or fingerprint flowers. Help the children plant a small plant in the pot. You can usually find a six pack of flowers for under $2.
These are just a few suggestions for the week. Feel free to leave more suggestions in the comment section below.
