Adventures In Crafting: Alphabet Week Day 1

So it's day one of my attempt to introduce a curriculum into my two year old's daily life.  This week is alphabet week.  The plan is to do alphabets and crafts relating to the alphabet all week.  I began shopping for the crafts on Sunday after I spent all of Saturday evening coming up with ideas and man was it stressful.  I also had to stick to a budget and couldn't just go buy anything my heart desired.

The plan was to start with an activity which I feel was an original creation but, as I have learned, I am sure it was an idea that I came across at some point in my research that penetrated my  brain and hid.  I made up a game where I was going to collect pictures from the internet that cover the whole alphabet and post them on a board.  CJ would then use alphabet blocks to connect with each picture.  Keep in mind.  This was the plan so I stayed up pretty late using a book to make a grid on the poster board because apparently in my shopping haste and excitement I forgot I would need a ruler at some point.  I then used a marker to make the lines pop and make the board more exciting and colorful my munchkin.  Before I knew it, it was too late and I was exhausted so I never got the pictures glued onto the board and I hadn't bought the Woodsie blocks for  to paste on the letters.



The next morning, when it was almost time (on the schedule) to play "Match the Picture with The Letter", I realized I didn't have a lot of time to glue the pictures on so I came up with writing the letters in the spots where the pictures go (I wanted to keep them in alpha order to reduce confusion) so I can be more efficient in my pasting.  Well that led to a new game, "Help Mommy Paste The Pictures On Their Corresponding Letter".  Well I wouldn't use the word corresponding with my two year old. Ha Ha.

As you can see from the picture, CJ found it more enjoyable to get on top of the board and point out the letters.  After a few minutes of coming up with creative ways to coax my son into playing the game with no luck.  I put the board away. Maybe we can try again later, I thought.

I was not prepared with my planned alligator craft so the day ended with me having to go to Wal-Mart to get more crafts, finding alphabet music and playing that for him, and his usual free play apps on my phone and sesame street.  I did continue to make attempts to play my picture letter game to no avail.  At the end of the day I felt defeated, but with the drive to do better next time and some valuable lessens learned

Things I Learned:  Know that all crafts and games will not take, be patient.
                                You can actually come up with multiple ways to play with crafts based on how the child              
                                 reacts or their interests.
                                 Be prepared ahead of time