
I searched and searched the internet for an Octopus printable you could cut to give 8 legs, but alas, I had to make my own! For August we are doing a Pirate Theme in Toddler School and we’re focusing on the color purple, the number 8 and of course pirate things like an octopus! This lesson in particular focuses on the counting for us. We’ve been pushing the numbers pretty good around here and these digits were made extra exciting because he got to touch scissors! Cash has been fascinated with the treacherous instruments because mom has had them out a lot lately with the surge of crochet hat orders off of Etsy. We are also doing the Click for Babies Campaign with our local hospital {since this month is all about purple} so he sees them a lot. I decided to take the plunge and let him handle them in a very micromanaged environment with me so that perhaps, like all other things, he might lose interest… reveal below….
Pencil Grip
Scissor Grip
Physical Technique Redirects
Coaching Corrective Modifications
Self Esteem and Mechanical Awareness
…and somewhere in there we’ll talk about numbers and colors We started off introducing
this lesson like all others, I presented it on the Mess Mat in the morning so that when he wakes up he goes there and makes his own learning discovery. This morning he stopped to do Sticker Letters before he noticed I put scissors on a reachable surface.




just going to hold this crayon however I darn well please! She can’t take it
from me!” But he if wants to try MY crayon, that I can do all these cool things with {which he totally does} then he has to do it my way. My redirects are full of “Remember how that crayon likes to be held?” Cash gives a big smile and nods quickly then chokes up down to a 3-point finger hold so as to please the exciting crayon…. This works much better than, “Oops! Nope, you’re doing it wrong again, let me FIX you” If an adult kept saying that to you how long would you last? I’d probably throw my crayons at them….

made. Under no circumstance am I trying to pass this off as, “look how awesome my kid is at painting” nope… he still eats paint brushes.:)
I’m glad that ever since, when he sees me making a hat with the scissors out he crawls up on the couch and studies me cutting. He asks, “Cash try?” and yes buddy, you can try! I have had the opportunity to talk to him about safety too of course so now these scissors aren’t some magical unicorn he wants to play with. He knows that they are a tool with a correct and difficult use that he needs to learn, or he can’t use them. Once he does know them and can handle them, they won’t be a mystery or a desirable “toy” they’ll just be another thing mom uses, like the remote, my phone, my hair brush, a roll of tape, or all the other things he would grab and run off with because they were forbidden fruit. Now they’re just ordinary and sort of boring.
Welcome to Mom School! This post is one of many Homeschool Preschool Lessons with #MySweetandSticky {Cash & Wyatt} As a former educator, I wanted to give them their best start before heading into public schools. (Which we LOVE!) On occasion, and throughout the summer, we continue our At-Home Learning. Cash is my Science Guy and Wyatt can’t get enough Sensory Play. Join us for every Sweet & Sticky moment.



Snag My Newest EBook- How to Build your Mom School Block Schedule
Find it in the Blog Shop for only $7.00
Read all about:
- Mom School & Building your At-Home Classroom
- The Literacy Corner
- The Mess Mat Follow our Hashtag #TheMessMat
- Sensory Play
Affiliate Disclaimer: My blog is heavily monetized with numerous affiliate links throughout. If you click on these links and make a purchase I earn a small commission. THANK YOU for helping me build the boys’ college savings accounts! Please feel free to visit all of our affiliates and read the entire disclosure/disclaimer HERE
