2022-06-11 20:19
I must start this post with a confession: I don't think I've ever embroidered in my life. But my kid has shown interest in sewing over the last few months, so when I saw these embroidery cir… Read More
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Grumpy Dumpling Blog
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Grumpy Dumpling offers lots of activity ideas for kindergartners and ESL/EFL learners: everything from art and craft activities, songs, games, to literacy activities and printables.
2022-06-06 06:45
I can't seem to find anything negative to say about floor beds/mattresses. We've always used a floor mattress until now, but since we moved, we thought about getting an actual bed for E., so… Read More
2022-06-06 06:41
It's extremely tough on us when a loved one dies. But it can be even tougher for a child (although it sometimes seems like they are unaffected or unconcerned) to cope with such events… Read More
2022-03-22 18:07
First of
all, you might be asking yourself when to introduce colours to your littles.
Well, it depends on your kid, of course. If he clearly understands what you are
saying most of the time… Read More
2022-02-21 08:55
This is by no
means an original idea, just something that E. enjoyed doing:
classifying animals. I only gave her flashcards of mammals and birds for
now, because it's easier to spot the d… Read More
2021-12-24 07:30
We checked the pantry to see if
we had corn starch, something that smells like winter, and green and red
food colouring. And we did!We used:- 2 cups of corn starch - 1 cup of water (the mo… Read More
2021-12-23 19:17
This is a printable that I made to go with our resin letters from @joc_senin (on Instagram). E. loves them and uses them for sensory play (with #kineticsand, #homemadeplaydough, water play)… Read More
2021-11-23 20:13
It's been a while since the last post and freebie, so here it is! It's a printable that I've made for my group, to work on their listening skills and to have some starting points for a conve… Read More
2021-10-22 10:02
We made this orange and yellow playdough, and added gingerbread spices -
it's divine and I am really surprised that E. hasn't tried to taste it
...yet 😅 We used the usual playdough… Read More
2021-09-30 04:00
A simple autumn activity for fine motor skills: some
acorns that we gathered together on our walk, homemade playdough, a tiny
jar (with a small opening for some extra challenge), and large… Read More
2021-09-29 04:00
We gathered autumn leaves last year and I laminated them
and made some holes. Today we dug them out of our storage and used them
for a cool necklace. I would like to try it with fresh leav… Read More
2021-09-28 18:59
This product contains lots of games that kindergarteners can play,
with an adult or independently. These make great centre activities
during autumn. Included are:Cutting/Tracing StripsShad… Read More
2021-09-28 18:21
We took a nature walk with the kids and talked about
autumn signs, while gathering leaves, apples, acorns, and twigs. Then we
reviewed shapes and made large ones on the floor, with washy t… Read More
2021-09-28 17:55
We picked some red leaves today, so I proposed this idea: let's cut the leaves into smaller pieces and glue them onto this shape (I initially wanted to draw an apple, but then I got lazy and… Read More
2021-06-26 15:21
I made dandelion playdough with the kids in my group and it was a hit! They've played with it every day since then.This idea was from the nature activitiy pack from @happy.by.nature_farm.
I… Read More
2021-06-25 15:41
We
had these beautiful tiny white flowers (I think they're called
baby's-breath) and I asked E. if she wants to put them in coloured
water. She was excited when I told her that something… Read More
2021-06-25 15:16
If
you have a bilingual child or if you are bilingual, then you are
probably using both languages in the same conversation quite often. I
do. This is called code switching."In
ling… Read More
2021-01-18 08:01
I found these spools of thread and the wool pompoms at a thrift store the other day and I had this idea. E. is more and more interested in counting + she loved balancing wooden balls on golf… Read More
2020-12-27 11:13
It's been a while since the last sale. And what a better time for one than winter holidays? You can go to my store by clicking here, to see the freebies and the discounted printab… Read More
2020-12-19 12:18
I am writing a blog post about scissors skills, so I thought I would share with you a few free printables that you could just print out and give to your child, no prep needed.You can find th… Read More
2020-11-24 19:41
Have you seen those cool toddler kitchens with running water? Well…this is not one of them. We decided not to put a tap because we want to be able to transform it into a play kitchen… Read More
2020-11-18 09:00
E. loves everything about music! I can truly say that songs and music in general have helped build at least 70% of her vocabulary. Ever since she was a baby, she paid more attention to me wh… Read More
2020-11-14 05:55
I wrote this post for Instagram, and that's why it's mostly photos. But I thought it'd be nice to share it here, because this is an aspect that a lot of parents (and teachers) struggle… Read More
2020-10-28 20:13
Tomorrow we will have our Halloween party at kindergarten - E's first Halloween party! She is excited about wearing her monster outfit and about singing Halloween songs. For my gr… Read More
2020-10-11 12:27
I got asked this question often recently: what toys should I buy for my baby/toddler? And it's difficult to give an exact list, because children are so different from one another, some might… Read More
2020-10-09 07:41
It's that time of the year again. I always get excited about autumn, its colours, flavours, and smell. Pumpkins are great in cafe late, but how can your kids use them? Here are some id… Read More
2020-10-07 19:05
Did you know that it's World Space Week? It is celebrated in 2020 between October 4 and October 10. This week, we talked about space (we had our first conversations and activities about spac… Read More
2020-09-16 18:29
I wrote these ideas for some of the parents, who asked how to work on building vocabulary in a fun way. I thought I’d share them with you and maybe you’ll find them useful, too… Read More
2020-08-16 10:25
I'm writing this update from the point of view of a parent. When I first wrote this article, I was just a teacher. I am mostly putting these things down, because I need to visualize them and… Read More
2020-06-16 10:20
Second language acquisition has always been one of my favourite subjects. I first studied English and Finnish philology, so this was one of the most important topics to study as future langu… Read More
2020-06-10 11:04
This has been a useful resource also with the kids in my kindergarten group, whenever they needed a break, or were fussing around not wanting to wait for lunch to be done. Now I made one for… Read More
2020-05-27 09:21
Cleaning up can be a struggle for some families. I remember that a lot of parents have asked me how to deal with this issue: their children refuse to clean up just before bedtime, so they en… Read More
2020-05-25 11:45
Scarves are wonderful open ended toys: you can even use them with babies, to play peek-a-boo, hide objects, hang them on the pikler triangle for them to pull, let them feel the soft silk on… Read More
2020-05-23 10:14
Today I was thinking of writing a post about ways in which we can encourage language development in babies and toddlers. This is one of my favourite subjects when it comes to children.
Fir… Read More
2020-05-21 09:55
Ever since E. was in my tummy, I used to sing to her. I really enjoy singing and it seems that I've passed this on to her (I'm not a good singer, but kids don't really mind).
She learnt som… Read More
2020-05-17 18:05
I've been quite busy lately with my daughter and fun challenges on Instagram, so I barely had time to work on new resources. But here it is, a flash freebie to say sorry: Number Mats for Pla… Read More
2020-05-14 09:35
My daughter and I both enjoy doing things in the kitchen together. She loves eating flour and uncooked dough and I enjoy tasting the muffins as soon as they're done.She isn't yet at that poi… Read More
2020-05-10 08:55
Here are some things that E. helped me with this morning, during breakfast:- pouring oat milk on her cereal (I would have let her put the cereal, seeds, and berries in the bowl, but I didn't… Read More
2020-04-25 09:49
I prefer the term "potty learning" instead of "potty training" for an important reason: it places the focus on the child, rather than the adult. We don't need to train children, we need to p… Read More
2020-04-23 08:52
Our daily routine has changed quite a lot since we can't go to public playgrounds anymore. I wish we had a yard, because that would be perfect for water play now that the weather is nicer. B… Read More
2020-04-20 19:50
Sportscasting’ is a term coined by Magda Gerber and it involves describing events that someone is observing in a nonjudgmental way: stating facts, rather than our feelings on what is h… Read More
2020-04-07 09:32
When children are surrounded by toys, they seem to be less interested in them, going from one to another in a matter of minutes. They only contribute to creating a busy environment and somet… Read More
2020-03-04 18:39
It's already March...a bit past New Year's resolutions, but this is still on a lot of people's to do lists. Even if we’re far from being hoarders, sometimes we end up accumulating pile… Read More
2020-02-09 19:25
E.’s new favourite activity is joining me while I do groceries. As soon as we are close to the store, she says “sus”, which means “up”, because she wants to get… Read More
2020-01-24 21:07
A lot of the tantrums arise from the fact that toddlers have emotions that they can’t express with words. So, helping your child grasp new words and make himself understood is truly im… Read More
2020-01-18 19:01
We have this new set of magnetic farm animals from Djeco and I wanted to teach E. another song besides Old MacDonald. I’m kind of bored with it, and probably Emma will soon be too. I c… Read More
2020-01-15 21:31
Most toddlers love helping around the house. They’re still at the age when they find it fascinating and more interesting than playing with their toys. But it’s important to keep… Read More
2020-01-11 18:34
We got some Rainbow Sound Blocks yesterday, and already E. has played with them more than she has played with some of her old toys. They’re a wonderful open-ended toy, and I’m su… Read More
2020-01-06 18:37
At almost 14 months, E. moves a lot…she rarely has time to sit still and play with the toys she has on her shelf. She’d rather climb the Pikler triangle, slide, or ride her bike… Read More
2019-11-08 20:09
Mealtimes can be stressful for some parents. It can be frustrating to spend an hour in the kitchen cooking, only to watch your baby throw the food on the floor or paint the table with it fiv… Read More
2019-11-06 20:50
I always strive to improve my teaching practice, especially my interaction with the children I teach. Creating a bond, connecting with them, will ensure that what I teach gets through to the… Read More
2019-10-22 17:54
Now that E. is almost a year old, she seems to be craving interaction and loves exploring new places. So, I’ve made a list of places we’ve enjoyed visiting, hopefully for some in… Read More
2019-10-13 18:09
It's Sunday evening, I just came home from climbing and put E. to sleep. So what now? Hm... I finally have some time to prepare some play sand for tomorrow.I wanted to make something brown… Read More
2019-09-30 18:32
I'm going to get straight to the reasons why I’m all for baby carrying:The first one is a general one: carrying your baby is a healthy thing everyone should do. Your oxytocin level go… Read More
2019-09-14 18:30
Babies are capable of so much more than what we give them credit for! And they want to be involved in your daily routines…so why not let them? I’m brainstorming ways in which E… Read More
2019-09-14 17:49
E. has been fighting sleep recently, so I thought it might be time to introduce a lovey. We went shopping today and this is what she chose. I usually prefer gender neutral and realistic look… Read More
2019-07-27 05:32
It’s not easy to be stuck in a car or travel with a baby. They need to be active, move around, and explore…how do they have so much energy?! My little one loves waving at random… Read More
2019-07-19 18:32
Now that E. is eight months old, she had dropped a nap, so our daily routine changed a little. We finally managed to move bed time around 19.30, which means that we wake up earlier in the mo… Read More
2019-07-02 18:08
Routines are extremely important for babies, because even though they don’t understand time, if they have a set of clear routines, they know what to expect. Most kids are opposed to sl… Read More
2019-07-01 07:16
When I got pregnant, my partner and I decided that I will sleep on a floor bed in E.’s room for the first six months (until the risk of SIDS decreases), while she will sleep in her cri… Read More
2019-05-17 15:30
It’s not easy to have a 3-room apartment and a 6 month old baby. Creating a play space in every room might seem like a good idea, because it gives you some freedom to move around the h… Read More
2019-04-23 16:49
Since E. has started using her hands and exploring the environment more, things have changed a lot. Now she is able to play on her own (although she still likes having me just next to her) a… Read More
2019-04-19 06:53
Here's a fun way to practice colors and numbers! Create an ice cream stand, where children can pretend to sell and buy ice cream. This resource contains a menu that can be printed out and la… Read More
2019-03-12 12:17
I’ve got a lot of ideas for kindergarten activities. Unfortunately, some take a looong time to craft and write about. On top of that, I’ve been sick and E. has been keeping me bu… Read More
2019-01-02 18:33
Before having a baby, I had no clue what toys she would need during the first couple of months. The youngest kids I’ve taught are at least one. I have to admit that I got carried away… Read More
2018-12-29 18:03
Our place has been turned upside-down…we have a new family member and a whole lot of mess. That’s why I’ve been extremely busy over the past month and a half. But I finall… Read More
2018-11-22 17:58
I usually make an advent calendar in December, because it’s a wonderful way for kids to keep track of how many days there are until Christmas and also it’s a fun way to practice… Read More
2018-10-25 15:45
I know it's been a while since I last posted new products. To be honest, I've been postponing doing that because of the hassle I have to go through to protect the files.Today I finally had s… Read More
2018-10-19 16:14
I’ve been writing a lot about activities for kids over 3, because I haven’t been teaching younger ones since starting the blog. This article is a bit different: it’s meant… Read More
2018-07-26 10:31
Magda Gerber’s philosophy and most of the books that I have read lately about RIE parenting and respectful parenting have had such a great impact on me, how I teach the kids in my grou… Read More
2018-05-25 14:57
Dear friends, On May 25th 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation—known as the GDPR—will come into effect. The aim is to protect the personal data of all EU citizens. To he… Read More
2018-04-14 13:16
If you haven't made oobleck before, you need to do it as soon as possible. You can read more about how amazing oobleck is and how to make it here.Last week we learned about frogs and t… Read More
2018-04-02 17:03
Hi! It's been a while, but I hope these activities will make up for that. The kids had a wonderful time getting ready for Easter: they painted eggs, planted grass, and made cute chick and bu… Read More
2018-03-17 08:08
These last couple of weeks have been all about the St. Patrick's Day party. The kids were extremely excited knowing about the party on Friday. I must say that I am not a big fan of parties… Read More
2018-03-04 12:59
Dear friends,I have been working hard on updating this resource pack, because it is one of my oldest products. I have added a couple more mazes and have improved the aspect of the other prin… Read More
2018-02-12 17:30
Can you believe it’s already February?! I started working at a new kindergarten and with all the new things happening I lost track of time. I’m excited to share with you some pho… Read More
2018-01-20 11:54
I want to tell you about a book from a wonderful series of books by Robin Barone: it’s entitled “Where Is Robin? - USA” and it’s a cute book that could be used for ge… Read More
2018-01-04 16:27
Are you having trouble getting the kids to leave the house in the morning? Here's a checklist for them to use. Print it, then laminate it, and then let the kids tick the things they have do… Read More
2018-01-02 10:21
Monthly newsletters for the parents of the kids in your group can help create a positive relation with them, while also providing useful information about what their child has learned at kin… Read More
2017-12-04 18:31
Winter is here: it's cold, dark, and wet outside. We're still waiting for snow here in Helsinki, can you believe that?! The kids keep complaining about going outside, so we had to find other… Read More
2017-11-19 15:03
I’ve created this math card game that’s very easy to use: the kids can work independently or in small groups and match all the flashcards that represent the same number. It will… Read More
2017-11-19 10:27
We often have meetings in different classrooms, so we needed some door signs to let people know. So I made these free printables. I suggest printing them out, laminating them, then punc… Read More
2017-11-03 11:50
I think that one of the most important responsibilities of a teacher is to get kids excited about learning and exploring. Their curiosity will also fuel their desire to learn. They will want… Read More
2017-10-30 19:13
The children are so excited about Halloween that we had to organize lots of other themed activities until our party this Wednesday. It’s all they have been thinking about since October… Read More
2017-10-22 20:17
Our group loved exploring this new painting technique. It kept their little hands busy and engaged for a long time: first with cutting, then with spraying water over the silk paper. When the… Read More
2017-10-21 19:20
These are two easy an engaging activities that you can do to get your children to recognize numbers and count well, pairing each number with one object. By using props (magnetic wand, coins… Read More
2017-10-08 08:02
What are Manipulatives If you are a kindergarten teacher, you probably know what math manipulatives are. However, if you are a parent, you might have already used manipulatives with your chi… Read More
2017-09-16 07:09
I'm super excited about participating in this linky party - the topic is: Tips to a kindergarten teacher from a kindergarten teacher.Here are my tips: 1. Try to make things fun and memorable… Read More
2017-08-28 14:50
There are certain times when kids should use a calm voice, in order to be able to let others concentrate on activities. Sometimes we divide the group into two smaller groups and while half o… Read More
2017-08-22 17:26
I know I haven't mentioned Super Simple Songs in a very long time, but I assure you it's not because I've forgotten about them. As I've said before, they are lifesavers!The first couple of w… Read More
2017-08-22 11:34
Now that the school year has started, I’m sure that most of you teachers have a couple of kids who are going through a rough patch adapting to the daily routines and separating from th… Read More
2017-08-13 07:39
Hello, y'all! I hope your school year has started well; we've already had two weeks with the kids, so we had a chance to practice new routines and socialize with our friends.Sorry for the lo… Read More
2017-07-22 16:11
If you have kids in your life, your own, your friends’, or at work, then you know how important their birthdays are for them. At least two months before their parties, all they talk ab… Read More
2017-06-20 17:28
I know that some of you have already started your summer holidays, but I have almost two weeks to go. I can't complain, because it has been an amazing year with a fun bunch of kids and a gre… Read More
2017-06-19 20:12
Using both hands at the same time has been shown to be truly beneficial for us, because: it stimulates both hemispheres of the brain; it creates new connections in the brain; people who use… Read More
2017-05-26 09:54
Summer has finally arrived to Finland - after lots of cold, dark months, the sun is now back! We still have one month of school until the holiday starts, but we try to spend all our days out… Read More
2017-05-08 19:14
If you’re anything like me, then you thrive on having everything organized. It’s very important to keep your things well organized if you are a teacher. Whether it’s findin… Read More
2017-05-01 19:05
Mother’s Day is a special day when we get the chance to celebrate the most special person in our lives. Children love making presents for their mums, and what's better than a cute phot… Read More
2017-04-22 09:31
Are you looking for a nice song about seasons? Then you are in the right place! “If You Know All the Seasons” from the Kiboomers is a great song, because it talks about all seaso… Read More
2017-04-20 17:28
The Tongue is such an amazing organ! It helps us eat, taste sweet cookies, and let’s not forget about the fact that it helps us talk. We learned about it by watching this fun video fro… Read More
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