Celebrating Dr. Seuss with Stories, Science, and Smiles

Welcome to our whimsical Dr. Seuss Week celebration recap! This week at Little Squirrels Child Care was filled with laughter, learning, and lots of colorful fun. Each day we read a beloved Dr. Seuss book and paired it with a hands-on activity to bring the story to life. Here’s a warm, day-by-day breakdown of our adventures, along with some reflections on how our little ones reacted and what they learned along the way.

Monday: “Bartholomew and the Oobleck”

On Monday, we kicked off the week with “Bartholomew and the Oobleck.” Instead of reading it all at once, we read a little bit at a time throughout the day, keeping the children excited for what would happen next in the story. The slow-paced reading gave us a chance to discuss the story’s silly moments and build anticipation for our special activity.

For our activity, we made our very own oobleck! Oobleck is a gooey, squishy mixture (inspired by the book) made from just cornstarch and water. The children were thrilled to get their hands messy exploring this magical substance. Some kids absolutely loved the sensory experience – they giggled as the oobleck slipped through their fingers and marveled at how it could be solid one moment and liquid the next. A few others were a bit hesitant to touch the goo at first (which is completely okay!). We gently encouraged those friends to poke or pinch the oobleck when they felt ready, and some of them ended up joining in the fun once they saw how much their friends were enjoying it.

One big win we discovered: clean-up was a breeze! Oobleck might look messy, but it actually cleans up so easily – much easier than sticky slime. A quick wipe with a damp cloth or a little water, and it was gone. (Teacher secret: unlike store-bought slime that can stick everywhere, oobleck simply dries into powder, making cleanup simple.) We were all relieved and happy that we could have messy fun without a messy aftermath. What a great start to Dr. Seuss Week!

Tuesday: “Green Eggs and Ham”

Tuesday’s theme was inspired by “Green Eggs and Ham.” After reading this classic tale of trying new things, we leaped into a colorful science experiment that had the kids bubbling with excitement — literally! We created our very own “green eggs” fizz experiment using baking soda, green-colored vinegar, and plastic Easter egg halves as little bowls. Each child got a pipette (dropper) and a cup of “green ham juice” (vinegar dyed with green food coloring, of course!).

The activity has quickly became an absolute favorite for the kids here. The children used their pipettes to squeeze drops of the green vinegar onto a pile of baking soda sitting in their plastic egg. Fizz! — the mixture bubbled up like a tiny erupting volcano, much to the kids’ delight. They were wide-eyed with wonder each time their “green egg” foamed and sizzled. Some friends pretended they were cooking real green eggs, and others just loved making as many fizzy bubbles as possible.

Beyond the fun, this activity was fantastic for practicing fine motor skills. Using pipettes can be tricky for little hands, but we’ve been doing this experiment for a while and it shows. We’ve noticed that the children are getting more confident and steady with their pipette squeezing. They carefully sucked up the liquid and controlled the drops, strengthening those tiny hand muscles and coordination. It’s amazing to see their progress – what started as a wobbly squeeze at the beginning has turned into a precise drop! Science has never been so much fun (or so green)! By the end of the day, many of the kiddos were asking to do the fizzy “green eggs” experiment again – a sure sign that Green Eggs and Ham Day was a success.

Wednesday: “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”

By midweek, we dove under the sea with “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.” The children love the silly rhymes and imaginative creatures in this book. After our reading, we turned the fun into a hands-on math game using red and blue Swedish Fish candies. This activity combined a little treat with some learning – a perfect mix for energetic preschoolers!

First, we gave each child a small pile of red and blue fish. The task was to sort the fish by color into two groups: a red group and a blue group. The kids got right to work, carefully picking out the red ones and the blue ones. It was wonderful to see them helping each other and double-checking that each fish was in the right spot. Once all our fish were sorted, we practiced counting how many red fish and how many blue fish each child had.

Next, we introduced the concept of patterns using the fish. We showed them a simple alternating pattern (red-blue-red-blue) and asked if they could make one just like it. This was a new and challenging concept for many of our little learners. Some children caught on quickly and started laying out their fish in a red-blue-red-blue sequence. Others needed a bit of guidance – and that’s perfectly okay! We worked together to line up the fish and chant the colors in order. Even though creating patterns was a bit tricky, it was also fun. The kids were excited whenever they got the pattern right, and we made sure to celebrate their efforts: “Look at that! Red, blue, red, blue – you made a pattern!”

Of course, there might have been a nibble or two of those gummy fish once our activity was done (who could resist such a sweet treat?). Overall, Wednesday’s fishy adventure was a big hit. We not only practiced sorting and counting (early math skills), but we also took our first brave steps into recognizing patterns. Challenging but fun is the perfect way to describe the day – and I am so proud of how everyone tried their best and enjoyed the process.

Thursday: “The Cat in the Hat”

Thursday was all about the mischievous fun of “The Cat in the Hat.” This beloved story had the children laughing at the Cat’s crazy antics and balancing tricks. To channel that playful energy, we set up a cup stacking activity with red Solo cups (just like the Cat’s famous red-and-white hat!). This was a simple activity that turned into an afternoon of engineering excitement.

We challenged the kids to stack the cups as high as they could. Some worked alone, carefully placing one cup on top of another, and some teamed up to build giant cup towers together. The day was filled with excited laughter and “look at this ms Sarah” as towers grew taller…and occasionally came tumbling down with a crash! Each time a tower fell, it was an opportunity to laugh, learn about balance, and then eagerly start building all over again. A few of the children figured out how to make a sturdier base by putting cups next to each other in a wider formation, while others were determined to build a single stack “taller than me!” We saw so much creativity and teamwork as they shared cups and helped each other reach new heights (literally!).

We were all having so much fun that we completely forgot to snap a picture of the towering cup creations – oops! Even without photos, the joy on the kids’ faces was unforgettable. It was one of those wonderfully engaging moments where everyone (me included) was fully immersed in play. By the end of the day, the children had honed their problem-solving skills (figuring out how to keep the cups from toppling) and experienced the thrill of creative construction. The Cat in the Hat Day was a fantastic reminder that sometimes the simplest materials, like a stack of cups, can bring out the biggest smiles.

Slumberkins: A Social-Emotional Adventure Ahead

I am thrilled to announce that we will be incorporating Slumberkins into our curriculum! Over the next several weeks, your children will embark on an exciting journey meeting all 13 Slumberkins characters. Each week, a new cuddly friend will introduce an important social-emotional lesson through stories and snuggles. The kids can’t wait to meet these adorable creatures, and we’re just as excited to see their eyes light up with each new friend!

Each Slumberkin comes with its own valuable life skill to share. Through these friendly characters, we’ll be exploring lessons like self-esteem, gratitude, mindfulness, conflict resolution, and empathy. For example, one week a Slumberkin might teach us about confidence and self-love, and another week a different creature will show us how to find calm and practice mindfulness. These engaging lessons are presented in a fun, age-appropriate way, but their impact is lasting – the social-emotional skills we practice now will benefit your children throughout their lives. It’s amazing to watch them learn how to identify feelings, express themselves, and care for others with the help of a warm, fuzzy friend!

This week we introduced Yac. Yak’s story and presence helped us talk about three big ideas: self-acceptance, perseverance, and self-worth. I kept the discussion kid-friendly and meaningful. For example, we talked about self-acceptance by celebrating things that make each of us unique – “Yak loves himself for who he is, and I want you to love all the things that make you you!” For perseverance, Yak taught us about not giving up when we try something hard. I shared a simple example, like when a puzzle piece doesn’t fit the first time, we can take a deep breath and try again, just like Yak would. And for self-worth, we discussed how everyone is important and deserving of kindness, using Yak’s story to show that each child should feel proud of who they are.

The children were captivated by Yak. Many wanted to give our Yak plush a hug or high-five, which was adorable! It’s clear that they are excited to have this new friend as part of our class. I am equally excited to integrate these social-emotional lessons into our curriculum more regularly. It’s never too early to start learning about feelings and values, and our slumberkins will make that learning extra fun and relatable.

This holistic approach to early childhood education is really important to me, and essential for fostering emotional well-being and resilience. I believe that nurturing the whole child – not just their academic skills, but also their hearts and minds – helps build a strong foundation for the future. By weaving social-emotional learning into our daily activities with Slumberkins, we’re helping children develop resilience: the ability to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and bounce back from big feelings. Talking about feelings and practicing kindness is just as important as learning letters and numbers. When children feel emotionally supported and confident, they are more ready to learn and thrive in all areas. We are so excited to see our little ones grow into caring, confident, and resilient individuals through this program.

Our Dr. Seuss Week celebration was filled with storytime magic, messy moments, learning leaps, and heartfelt conversations. We loved seeing each child engage with the activities in their own unique way – from getting their hands gooey in oobleck to building towering cup hats and embracing a cuddly yak. These experiences not only brought smiles and laughter, but also helped the children practice important skills and lessons. Next week we will be celebrating all things St. Patrick’s Day and rainbows! 🎉🍀 Get ready for a colorful week of rainbow art, leprechaun mischief, and Irish-inspired fun. We can’t wait to continue the learning and excitement with your kiddos. Thank you for sharing in our Dr. Seuss Week adventures – it was truly a joy to see the children learn and laugh in equal measure.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to more adventures next week.

Warmly,

Ms Sarah

May the world be filled with beautiful, peaceful little children.

Book Wishlist

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Supplies Wishlist

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