Let Freedom Ring Invitation to Play

If you follow me over on IG you know I love to create themed invitations to play for Emeline, mostly for Saturday mornings. It's a special little activity we can enjoy together, since I work during the week.

My favorite part of the whole thing is watching her little face light up with a "it's sooo cuuute!" or "my favorite thing!!" Of course, it's never the same and she's usually never seen any part of it before (except maybe the rice or the beans) but it's her favorite anyway.

After over a year working from home because of COVID-19, I have gotten to experience the pure joy that simply little trays full of colorful rice, a few sparkly things, sometimes play dough, sometimes pasta and maybe a sea creature or shamrock bring to that rosy cheeked little redhead. I will be forever thankful for 2020, for reminding me to slow down and find simple joy in the everyday.

Our most recent invitation to play was shared with a friend and the FORTH OF JULY was just around the corner. A month or so earlier I had found the cutest tiny little sparkly hats at Hobby Lobby, of course they were America themed! Hobby Lobby is a definite go to for play tray accessories! They are cute, cheap and always on sale. Bonus: if they are holiday themed they can be recycled year after year.

My Must Have Staples for Play Trays can be found here!

A few things I like to look for when collecting items for the trays: shaped/themed beads, cupcake papers & toppers, different textured items (like the glittery hats or the felt star picks, above or the USA eraser letters below). Hobby Lobby always has seasonal picks (some even come in the cutest tin pales!). The Target dollar section is also a favorite for fun learning gears goodies.

It's all play but the exploring leads to easy and fun learning conversations. For example the 4th of July is easy.. red, white, blue, the #4 and the letter f!

As always.. Em loved her tray. Scooping, pouring, exploring! I usually keep the trays set up for a couple of weeks after the initial invitation and will pull it back out from time to time, especially in the morning when she's begging to watch Bubble Guppies.

Dyed rice is a staple of the play tray! The recipe is super simple, some rice... some food coloring... some vinegar.. some shaking & some drying! Ok, ok... if you need more direction than that find it below!

Happy Playing!

-Kate