Selecting Puzzles To Make Magnetic Puzzles for kids are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. From four feet long floor puzzles to glow in the dark jigsaws, many kids’ puzzles would make striking wall art. Consider the following when deciding which puzzles to make magnetic: How thick are the pieces? How heavy are the pieces? Is the puzzle durable? Is the puzzle easy to wipe clean? Your puzzle will need to be thick enough so that the individual puzzle pieces are easy to grasp when on the wall. Also, because your puzzle will undoubtedly see repeated play, the pieces should be sufficiently thick to not bend or warp easily. The weight of your puzzle determines how much of the Extra Strength Magnetic Sheet you would need to apply. Light weight puzzles, like floor puzzles, need only a strip. Chunky wooden puzzles may require a complete backing. Because a magnetic wall attracts a lot of activity, your magnetic puzzles should be durable. The pieces will be dropped numerous times, played with, and generally pushed around. Select thicker cardboard puzzles and wooden puzzles for great durability. If you have applied chalkboard paint over your magnetic wall, you will want to select puzzles which are easy to wipe clean. This is a good idea in any case, as the magnetic puzzle will probably stay out of the box a good, long while. Creative Fun With Magnets!

Making A Magnetic Wooden Puzzle

My kids already have the alphabet, animal, and dinosaur wooden magnets, so I decided to use a Melissa and Doug Fresh Start puzzle for this project. The puzzle pieces are nice and thick, making them easy for little children to maneuver. You will need adhesive magnetic sheets, your puzzle, a pencil or pen, scissors, and an exacto knife or similar sharp blade. First, trace around an individual puzzle piece, and cut the shape out with scissors. This prevents slicing through the sides of your wooden puzzle. The resulting magnetic piece will be a hair larger than your puzzle piece. Apply it, and carefully trim the excess with your exacto knife, holding it at an angle. (I used an Olfa Touch Knife, which is nice to hold.) As you move from piece to piece, make the best use of the magnetic sheet by cutting them out in order. The puzzle piece with its respective magnetic backing cut-out. Here you can see how easily the thin, magnetic backing shaves cleanly with the Olfa Touch Knife. The wooden puzzle pieces adhere nicely to the wall. Because the wooden puzzle pieces are fairly thick, they are easy for small children to grasp. An attractive looking functional wall display.

Adding Magnets To Your Floor Puzzle

Because floor puzzles are of so large a scale, they lend themselves very well to being transformed into magnetic wall art. From four feet long underwater scenes to maps of the world and the United States, floor puzzles can be both beautiful and educational. Melissa and Doug Floor Puzzles are very desirable because they are 20% thicker than other brands, and have an “easy-clean” surface coating. Adding adhesive magnetic sheets to floor puzzle pieces is quick and easy. It is not necessary to affix magnetic backing across the entire puzzle piece. Although these puzzles are very durable, they are light in weight. For my kids’ dinosaur floor puzzle, I chose to cut each magnetic sheet into ten strips with a pair of kitchen scissors, and simply press one strip to each piece of the puzzle. As soon as the pieces were up on the wall, the kids took interest, and each took a turn putting it together. Fast and easy: magnetic strip pressed onto the back of a floor puzzle piece. Putting together the magnetic floor puzzle.

The finished puzzle looked so nice that we slid it to the center and left it there like a poster- at least until the kids decided to knock it down and build it again! This dinosaur puzzle looks very striking on the wall, and it is up off the floor, out of the walking area as well!

Creating A Chalkboard Wall Chalkboard paint can be applied directly over your magnetic primer. Be sure to use at least three coats of magnetic primer, per the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that your magnetic wall is clean and dry before applying the first coat of chalkboard paint. As with the magnetic paint, framing your area with painter’s tape is necessary for a professional appearance. Your chalkboard wall needs to have a smooth finish for two reasons. First, the smoother the finish, the easier it is to write on and clean. Secondly, the magnets cling better to even surfaces. A smooth foam roller works best. Chalkboard paint is very thick and creamy. Carbon Black gives it its deep, rich color, and seemingly oily consistency. Despite this, the wet paint cleans up easily with water. Because the chalkboard paint is so thick, you will want to be very careful when edging with a brush to apply it in an even layer. Both the roller and the brush can create lines if you are not looking closely. After the wall has fully dried, usually around 24 hours, you can apply a second coat. The finished chalkboard wall stands up to repeated use, and chalk marks are easy to erase from its smooth, slightly shiny surface. The wall can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. You can see the thick paint folding down from the stirring stick.

Where To Keep The Chalk? Consider placing a piece of molding below the chalkboard wall to protect the floor. As kids draw on the wall, a fair amount of chalk dust falls, and a simple ledge of molding can be dual purpose. The molding will catch the chalk dust, and if it is grooved or recessed, you can use it to store the chalk pieces. I used to manage a card store, and you would be surprised at the quantity of paper dust, glitter, and velvet dust which accumulates from cards being shuffled about in a card run. I found that the most effective way to clean the runs was with a good vacuum with a hose attachment. If you decide to use a piece of crown molding below your chalkboard wall, vacuum it out first before wiping it with a damp cloth when cleaning. Also, be sure to run a bead of caulk to seal the molding to the wall on the inside. Because I have hardwood floors, and our chalkboard wall extends to the floor, I chose to hang a small ceramic wall planter on one side of the wall to house the chalk. The chalkboard paint has a slight sheen to it, and is richer in tone than the magnetic primer.

Some Fun Activities There are so many ways to use your new magnetic chalkboard wall, and of course the kids will think up countless ideas on their own, but here are a few fun ideas. Use magnetic letters for stenciling Draw a habitat for animal and dinosaur magnets play hangman with magnetic letters trace around your sibling measure your height use the magnets to post favorite pictures, then draw them yourself with the chalk use magnetic pattern blocks to create over-sized, imaginative creatures teach beginning reading and writing skills teach beginning math skills create your own, movable, art gallery post or write reminders My son carefully places the dinosaur magnets into his chalk maze.

My kids love their magnetic chalkboard wall! I like it because it keeps them occupied in a way which requires them to use their minds, as well as provides a large scale play area which encourages whole body movement as opposed to sitting or standing still.

Alphabet letters are always a good choice, as are numbers. Additionally, magnets with animals, dinosaurs, people, and fun shapes are great for imaginative play. Because your wall is a chalkboard as well, kids can draw trees, houses, and anything else they can imagine for interactive pretend play with the magnets. Picture magnets are great for imaginative play, and alphabet magnets are excellent teaching tools.

When selecting magnets, take a look at the backs. While magnetic walls will hold the plastic magnetic letters with the small bar magnets, these are not nearly as secure as magnets with magnetic sheet backings. Moreover, the bar magnets can come loose and fall out, which can present a choking hazard. I bought both kinds of magnetic alphabet letters, and have just replaced the plastic ones with the nice Melissa and Doug wooden ones. Also, the Melissa and Doug set contains both upper and lower case letters, which is great for teaching beginning reading and spelling skills. You can see how much better the magnetic backing is on the wooden alphabet letters. The small magnets on the back of the number fall out easily and are not very strong.

Magnetic number sets which include mathematical symbols are fun for learning the basics of math, as well as number ordering, counting, and number recognition.

I am also a huge fan of the magnetic pattern blocks. These are a terrific way to encourage creative play. My oldest son has made all kinds of fantastic creatures and scenes out of the included squares, circles, triangles, and diamond shapes.

Another fun and creative option is to create your own magnets. Adhesive magnetic sheets may be applied to your own photos, drawings, and favorite mementos. Kids could enjoy creating personalized gifts, as well as making their own magnetic toys for their magnetic wall.

Once you have a nice assortment of magnets, consider what kind of chalk you will need. If you have created a ledge below the magnetic chalkboard wall, you will want to purchase chalk that will not roll off. Triangular shaped chalk is not only practical, but encourages proper finger positioning for writing.

Over-sized chalk is another nice option. Sidewalk chalk is fun to hold, and easy for really little children to grasp. Because very small kids tend to tap the chalk against the magnetic chalkboard wall, over-sized chalk is also a more durable choice.

The term “magnetic wall” is a bit misleading. Magnetic walls are not, in and of themselves, magnetic. They are actually walls coated with layers of special paints which contain minute particles of metal. Because of this, they are not harmful to electronic devices. As with most mixed substance paints, magnetic wall paints are fairly thick. Rust-Oleum Magnetic Primer is a good quality paint at a reasonable price point. The area which is painted will differ from the surrounding area enough to warrant taking a few extra steps. This unused breakfast bar wall will become my kids' new magnetic wall play area. Mr Clean Magic Erasers are great for cleaning walls. Be sure to wipe off any white residue before painting. Thick, magnetic wall paint is actually quite heavy in the can.

Determine where you wish to create your magnetic wall. For children, the area should be low on the wall, for easy play. Clean the wall and let it dry thoroughly. Tape off the area using a level or T-square to ensure proper corners. Prime or lightly sand the wall if necessary. (If it was previously coated with glossy paints, oil-based paints, etc.) Thoroughly mix your magnetic wall paint. It is very important to keep re-stirring the paint, as the metal particles are heavier, and will settle to the bottom. Apply several coats of paint with a smooth foam roller, remembering to mix the paint every time you pour it. Apply a couple of coats of colored paint for looks, and remove the tape. The more coats of magnetic wall paint, the stronger the attraction. Therefore, be sure to apply several layers. You can see the heavy, metal particles pulled up from the bottom of this unmixed can of magnetic wall paint. The wall, with an initial coat of magnetic paint.

If you are looking for ways to make this area multi-task, consider using chalkboard paint on top of the magnetic wall paint. Another option is dry erase paint. Both of these paints will enable your child to draw or write on the surface as well. Whatever paint you select for the final coat, make sure it is formulated to produce an easily cleaned surface. To create a frame for your magnetic wall, browse through the house trim section of the hardware store. Chair railing is very attractive, and can be easily cut and tacked up to frame out the area. There are a number of inexpensive moldings which may be used, and a wide variety of styles. Some of the many uses for magnetic walls include: Learning letters and creating sentences with alphabet magnets Learning math with magnetic numbers and symbols Creating imaginative scenes with magnetic pattern blocks Making your own gallery for photos and drawings Imaginative play with fun animal, dinosaur, or habitat magnets Posting reminders It really works! The children are playing on their new magnetic wall.

Magnetic walls are a safe and fun way to preserve your home’s interior while allowing your children to create and learn on a broad, interactive surface. Magnetic walls can stand up to repeated use without the dangers of wobbly and unstable hanging or free-standing bulletin boards.

With a little creativity, a plain wall can become a great new play area!

Make Your Own Mosaics

Color is the most essential component of a mosaic. Fliers and coupons are loaded with bright colors. Have your child cut these into various shapes and sizes. Scatter them on a piece of nice cardboard. As kids manipulate the resulting pieces, they can create numerous designs, from flowers to faces, and beyond. This provides a great learning opportunity. Teach your child words like “hue”, “tone”, and “value”. Help your child notice the lights and darks in objects, and manipulate the mosaic pieces to mimic them.

Once your child has created an attractive display, he or she can use a glue stick to adhere the mosaic pieces to the cardboard. Paint a black border along the edges, and you have an educational, personalized, wall decoration. Paper mosaics may also be used in the creation of decoupage projects.

Decorate With Decoupage

Beautiful flowering plants, animals, and more can be found in catalogue pages. For a quick and cheap decoupage project, have your child select and cut out their favorite images. Carefully coat the back of glass plates, which are readily found at yard sales, with Mod Podge, taking care to protect the face of the plate. Now your little ones can press their chosen images face down onto the back of the plate to create their own custom design! A second coat of Mod Podge seals the completed project, which remains food safe, as the front of the plate has not been altered.

Decoupage is a great way for kids to create many other custom items as well, such as trays, frames, boxes, and personalized gifts. For these, don’t be afraid to mix media! Glue bottle caps, beads, friendship bracelets, pinecones, buttons and more to your finished decoupage products to add even more interest and texture.

Learn About Fine Art

Many catalogues and magazines feature reproductions of famous works of art. Cutting out and compiling these images is a quick and easy way to create art identification flash cards. Simply paste the images on thin pieces of cardboard you can cut from your empty dry goods cartons from the grocery store. Your child can learn to recognize the different art genres, and individual artists’ styles.

These same images then can be re-purposed as doll’s house paintings. Kids can draw frames using gold paint markers, and hang their favorite miniature artistic works on doll’s house walls with a dab of museum putty.

Kids craft projects which focus on creating a useful object out of items which on their own serve no real purpose, teach children to be resourceful. Encouraging creativity at an early age promotes self-confidence and self-reliance.

Finding dinosaur toys is relatively easy. Plastic dinosaur toys come in all colors and sizes, and are available everywhere from the grocery store to the toy store. “Squishy” dinosaurs are another, inexpensive option. Made of rubber, these squishy toy dinosaurs are fairly detailed, and stretch, bend, and squish to your child’s delight!

Once you have your dinosaur toys, your kids will doubtless begin searching out dinosaur “food” and other necessities. Unless you want to lose your box of tissues and your house plants to hungry dinosaur teeth, you may want to consider helping your child create their own play accessories. Any respectable dinosaur should have his own habitat, complete with trees, volcanoes, caves, and, of course, tall grass.

Early dinosaurs saw only non-flowering trees, so tree-making can be a fun and inexpensive craft project which will inspire creativity. Consider that the completed trees will need to be able to stand upright on their own, at least until the dinosaurs come along. Empty toilet paper rolls make great tree trunks. Save a few, and pull out some extra gift tissue paper, preferably green. With a little bit of glue and paint, your child can turn these common household items into inexpensive and practical trees. Simply crush and twist the tissue paper, insert it into one end of the cardboard roll, and affix with a dab of glue. If the dinosaurs eat the trees, no problem! Recycle and reuse.

Don’t toss away that newspaper! You still need some caves for your dinosaurs. Papier mache is easy and fun. Tear the newspaper into strips, mix one part flour with two parts water to make a paste, and grab a tired out latex balloon. Coat the balloon with layers of newspaper dipped in paste until covered. Once dry, decorate with paint, and cut in half, or otherwise open. Voila, great dinosaur caverns!

If you are going to create a volcano, it may as well be an active volcano. Form the exterior of your volcano from plaster or clay, and fill an old can or bottle positioned in the center with baking soda. Mix vinegar, water, and a healthy squeeze of dish soap. Add some red food coloring for a more convincing presentation. When ready, pour liquid mixture into volcano, and watch it erupt.

Green construction paper can be cut like fringe, and glued to a piece of heave duty cardboard to create rows of tall grass in which the dinosaurs can hide. Your child will have great fun painting and arranging the various components of their very own dinosaur habitat.

Using household items to create fun dinosaur toy accessories teaches your child problem solving skills and encourages creativity, without breaking the bank. Every kids craft project that you and your child create together provides a great learning opportunity, and a happy memory.

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

www.virginiaaquarium.com

Virginia Aquarium
717 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA. 23451
(757) 385-FISH (3474)

Located in Virginia Beach, the Virginia Aquarium is a favorite destination for ocean lovers.  Two main buildings housing numerous exhibits are connected by beautiful trails with fun activities and displays along the way.  Climb up for a tree top view of the lovely Owl Creek area; get a hands on view of rays, horseshoe crabs, and more in the two touch tanks; see the sea turtles and sharks being fed; explore the outdoor aviary and so much more.  There are two gift shops and a café.  Plan to spend the day here.

Virginia Living Museum

www.thevlm.org

524 J Clyde Morris Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 595-1900

The Virginia Living Museum showcases the natural beauty of Virginia’s wildlife with outdoor animal habitats from woods to wetlands, and an aviary, all connected by a beautiful boardwalk.  Inside, native plants and fish fill a variety of aquariums, and education centers offer everything from fossils to a hive of bees.  There is also a nocturnal life display area, and a touch tank.  A gift shop and café are on site.

Metro Richmond Zoo

www.metrorichmondzoo.com

Metro Richmond Zoo

8300 Beaver Bridge Rd.

Mosely, Va. 23120

(804) 739-5666

The Metro Richmond Zoo is located outside of Richmond, in Chesterfield County.  It offers a wide variety of animals, a sky ride lift above the animal habitats, a petting area with herd animals, a fun “train” ride, gift shop, cafes, and more.  Feed and pet the giraffes, meander through the aviary, watch the penguins get their morning meal, and enjoy spending the day walking around with the peacock.

Children’s Museum of Richmond

www.c-mor.org

2626 West Broad Street
Richmond VA 23220

804-474-7000

The Children’s Museum of Richmond is located next door to the Science Museum of Virginia.  Featuring a variety of fantastic, hands-on, interactive displays and activities, the Children’s Museum is an excellent destination for kids.  Climb, tumble, listen, learn, and create.  From the art center to the large climbing “tree”, there is a lot to see and do.

Science Museum of Virginia

www.smv.org

2500 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 864-1400

The Science Museum of Virginia offers traveling exhibits on the lower level, as well as permanent displays on the upper levels.  There are classrooms and an Imax Dome in addition to the various museum displays.  The Science Museum of Virginia is located next door to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and there are numerous restaurants within walking distance of both.

Dinosaur Land

www.dinosaurland.com

Dinosaur Land, Inc

3848 Stonewall Jackson Highway
White Post, VA 22663
(540) 869-2222

Fax (540) 869-0951

Dinosaur Land is a fun, outdoor park featuring large statues of a variety of dinosaurs.  There is a gift shop on site, and the facilities include an area which can be reserved for birthday parties.  It is a fun destination for little children who love dinosaurs.

More to be added:

Norfolk Zoo

Bristol Caverns

Natural Bridge

Lurray Caverns

Crabtree Falls

St. Mary’s Trails

Chris Greene Lake

Lake Sherando

Camp Friendship

Round Hill Farm

And others…

If your child will be beginning school this year, you may be wondering exactly what is on the Kindergarten Readiness Test? While Kindergarten readiness tests can vary from school to school, the types of questions and tasks which will be presented to your child are generally very similar. Also called Pre-Kindergarten Assessments, Kindergarten readiness tests involve identification, sorting, drawing, writing, stacking, cutting, walking heel to toe, hopping, and other such activities.

Your child’s teacher will be assessing the level of knowledge and skill your child has in comparison to state standards and to the other children in the class. This is so that an individual lesson plan can be created; in other words, a set of goals for your child and an overview of the steps to be taken to reach those goals. Most children beginning Kindergarten already have some basic knowledge of the alphabet, numbers, and even writing or drawing, usually learned in preschool.

The identification category usually involves pointing to, or saying the names of, objects, emotions, and colors depicted on cards or in the test guide. Your child may be asked to identify drawings of familiar things, such as household items, animals, or activities. Color and shape recognition is evaluated as well. The teacher may ask about drawings showing children who are smiling or frowning, what is happening in the picture, and how the person in the picture feels. Often the question is posed, “What would you do? How would you feel if that were happening to you?”

Your child may be directed to write his or her name, and to copy simple drawings, such as a circle, a straight line, and an “x”. Proper finger placement, pressure with the pencil, and ability will be noted. Your child may be asked to recite the alphabet from memory, as well as count to twenty. The teacher may evaluate your child’s skill in cutting shapes out with scissors.

Sorting is a category which involves shape and color recognition, the ability to count, and the ability to recognize similarities and differences. Kindergarten readiness tests usually include sorting based on both objects and drawings. For example, the teacher may have a set of ten or twenty small plastic toys and blocks of different colors. Your child would then be asked to give the teacher six red toys, or nine bears as opposed to dogs. Separating the colors into groups, counting them, and stacking are normally included in the assessment tests. Cards or pages showing a group of items may be shown, and your child may be asked to identify which items are different, for instance, an apple, orange, lemon, and shoe.

Your child’s physical development is assessed through a few fun activities. Your child may be asked to jump, hop, stand on one foot, and walk touching heel to toe. Not all children can complete all of these tasks, with the most difficult being walking touching the heel of one shoe to the toe of the other. The teacher is primarily evaluating strength and balance.

It is important to remember that the purpose of the Kindergarten Readiness Test is to evaluate your child’s knowledge and skill level prior to the beginning of Kindergarten in order to identify areas which need improvement, and formulate a plan to help your child succeed in the coming year. Kindergarten readiness tests are useful tools for both teachers and parents.

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Kindergarten readiness:

*Varies from child to child

*Includes mental, physical, emotional and social development

*Can be assessed by your child’s pediatrician

*Is usually assessed with a Kindergarten Readiness Test at your child’s prospective school

Is your child well prepared for entering Kindergarten? Kindergarten classes today focus on teaching the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as furthering your child’s social and emotional development. In order for your child to comfortably participate in classroom activities and be able to understand and utilize the knowledge presented, your child should have a good foundation in the following areas which are used to determine Kindergarten readiness.

One of the most important qualifications of Kindergarten readiness is the ability to understand and follow the teacher’s directions. Your child will be functioning in a classroom setting, and will not have the undivided attention of the instructor. Consider enrolling your child in small group activities before entering Kindergarten. Children who have not attended preschool may find it very difficult to be separated from their parent, and may feel nervous as part of a group. Organized sports for preschoolers, summer day camps, or organized play groups are a great starting point. Additionally, places such as “The Little Gym” offer a variety of fun, age appropriate classes for infants and small children geared towards developmental progression in a group setting. Check your local newspapers or search online for activities for children in your area.

Social development refers to your child’s ability to interact with others. Does he play well as part of a group? How does she relate her needs and feelings to adults? Social development is an important part of Kindergarten readiness, but is also an area in which children quickly progress once in the Kindergarten classroom setting. To help your child, encourage open communication between adults and children, and have your child join in active play with other children. Taking advantage of playgrounds, parks, and store play areas are all fun, free ways to foster social development.

Kindergarten readiness includes the ability to react appropriately to both social and environmental stimuli. Your child’s emotional development plays a large role in her immediate response to situations. He needs to be able to identify his emotions and communicate them appropriately. Talk with your child about feelings like being sad, being happy, and what they mean. Helping children express feelings through communication better enables them to react appropriately when faced with new and sometimes difficult situations.

Physical development is considered for kindergarten readiness, although it is not as important as mental, social, and emotional development. If your child is behind in the category of physical development, your family pediatrician most likely has spoken to you on the subject. Engaging in active play with your child is very important. You might find your child enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, which can be done together, and are also learning opportunities. Discourage or limit time spent watching television, and encourage your child to participate in daily tasks as well as fun activities. Gross and fine motor skills development is very important, and even mundane daily activities like sweeping the floor or watering the plants can be great fun for a child while fostering physical development. Matters of appearance, such as height and weight, are the least important for Kindergarten readiness.