Hello, lovelies! Remember the Fall Invitations to Play series that we took part in a few weeks ago? My bloggy buds and I had such a great time collaborating that we decided to regroup for another series of invitations- this time Halloween-themed! For the next three Tuesdays each of us will be posting a Halloween-themed play prompt and linking to each other, so it will be easy for you to jump from blog to blog and view all the Spooktacular fun. My partners in this series include Shaunna from Fantastic Fun and Learning, Chelsey from Buggy and Buddy, Jessica from Play Trains!, Mary Catherine from Fun-A-Day, and Rachael from Nothing if Not Intentional. If you missed our last series or would like more information on invitations to play, this post will get you up to speed.
Today’s Invitation: Create a Jack O’Lantern Collage with Fabric Scraps
Invitations to play or create certainly don’t need to be elaborate to be fun, engaging, and developmentally stimulating. Today’s prompt was a simple invitation to create including wooden jack o’lantern cutouts, white glue, and orange fabric scraps (including tulle) in different shades and patterns placed in a plastic serving tray similar to this one
. Luckily, I did an insane amount of Halloween sewing last year so I had all this in my fabric stash- if you don’t, you can buy small fat quarters of fabric at craft stores or use other materials you may have on hand such as construction paper, tissue paper, buttons, pom poms- the possibilities are endless!
Ways Children Might Use the Materials
My twins used the materials I set out for them in a variety of ways, including:
- Gluing the scraps onto the pumpkin cutouts
- Sorting and patterning with the fabric scraps
- Commenting on the different colors and textures
- Pretend play (the scraps were “blankets” for miniature animals and toy cars)
- Using the jack o’lantern cutout as a mask
- Incorporating the fabric scraps into play dough sculptures later on in the day
Skills
True to the nature of an open-ended play invitation, although the items are arranged in a way that suggests a possible activity, the twins were allowed to play with the items in whatever way they chose. Depending on how the children interact with the materials, this prompt encourages creativity, fine motor skill development, language development, beginning math concepts (sorting, patterning, etc.), and sensory exploration.
Looking for more Halloween invitations to play? Check out our other posts in this series:
Jack O’Lantern Fabric Scrap Collages
Now, don’t forget to stop by the other participating blogs to check out their wonderful invitations, too!
Play Dough Skeletons by Fantastic Fun and Learning
Frankenstein Monster Pumpkin by Fun-A-Day
Creepy-Crawly Cauldron Play by Nothing if Not Intentional
October Moon Halloween Train Play by Play Trains!
Linking up to some of these fabulous link parties.
Oh my, this is adorable, Stephanie! I have a project coming up using various Halloween fabrics, and this will be perfect for using up the scraps.
What a fun invitation! Very cute.
My Sammy would love this! I would likely let him do some cutting - he is slightly scissor obsessed right now! What a great decoration too - so sweet.
My twins would love this! Nice and simple, but with a really nice outcome! I might just set it up for them after they finish preschool tomorrow, we’re getting really into Hallowe’en this year as it’s the first year they have really grasped the concept!
I want to go do this with my girls RIGHT NOW.
Love it!
What colorful Halloween fun! Love the invitation and the way that each child can make it their own. This seems like a creative craft activity that works fine motor skills, too! The grinning wooden jack o’ lantern makes me smile.
My preschool class is going to love this!
This is a gorgeous craft and I can’t wait to do it with my three little munchkins
Pinning!
They turned out really well. What a fun idea. Just letting you know I’m featuring this post on this week’s Tuesday Tots post on Learn with Play at home. Thanks for linking up
Where did you find the wooden jack o’lantern?
Cute use for scraps! Featured you on Mom’s Library this week!
Very fun!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!