Learning by Play with a Fun Twist

   Learning doesn't (begin or) end at school for little ones. They are constantly learning and developing their mind. So I try to use toys and activities that encourage learning by play in our home. I recently found a wooden color sorting set when researching Montessori toys online....but it was $50. Here's my version using a bead/craft box and some colored construction paper.

   The craft box was $3 at IKEA and the construction paper was an assorted stack of 50 sheets for $2 at Hobby Lobby. I only needed one sheet of each color but you always need construction paper on hand for other projects so I'll use it 1,000 ways, I'm sure. I cut rectangles to fit the bins and used ModPodge to seal them down and coat them. G really liked helping paint the glue inside the box! 

The Fun Twist - To fill the box with small colored trinkets we went on a treasure hunt through the house. This is really exciting for a toddler and you can even dress up like pirates to go the extra mile. G had a blast. We sang the song from Jake & the Neverland Pirates as we "hunted". Great places to look for treasure:

• Kitchen junk (catch-all) drawer
• Bathroom junk (catch-all) drawer
• Laundry room jar of pocket collections
• Nightstand drawers
• Purses or coat pockets 
• Garage or back porch
• Bottom of the toy box
• Sewing Kit

We found an assortment of treasures including recycled caps, buttons, a key chain, magnet, small trinket toys that likely came from trick-or-treating or a party thank you bag, and an awareness wristband. I coupled these items with a bag of colored wooden blocks from Hobby Lobby for $3.

 

The final product was a color sorting box full of colorful knickknacks in various shapes and sizes. We can add to the box as we find more treasures from school, grandparents houses, parties and other adventures :)

Yo-ho mateys away
There'll be treasure and adventure today 
Heave-ho here we go 
Together as a team 
With Jake and the Neverland pirates 
And ME!