Day 40: Dandylion

Day 40
Duration: 15 minutes


You've been a real trooper throughout the past few days since you haven't been feeling well.  We decided to take it a bit easy again today, so most of this activity was done indoors until the very end.  During our trip last week, we came across a delightful book called "Dandylion" by Lizzie Finlay, so we pulled it out for a reread today. 

  

This charming book is about a lion named, you guessed it...Dandylion.  He enters a new school only to find out that he very different from everyone else.  Dandylion is bright yellow, a bit clumsy, more than a little boisterous, and enjoys doing things his way.  The children were amazed by this little creature, until he started getting himself in trouble.  Halfway through the story the children decided that they didn't want to hang out with a weed...someone that wasn't exactly like they were.  The students crushed poor little Dandylion's spirit until his Grandpa reminded him that being different was something to celebrate!  In the end, the children realized that they like school better when Dandylion was there to add a little color to their everyday routines. 

I love this story for so many reasons, but most of all because it teaches children to be proud of who they are.  I know that we will read this over and over so that you understand that even if your ideas and views are unlike others, that's alright.  It makes you who you are.  In turn, Grady, I hope that you will learn to respect those around you and welcome diversity at every angle.  I urge you to be one of those people who makes everyone feel welcome...get to know people before you judge them.

So, to have a little fun with this story we decided to have an extraordinary sandwich, just like the little lion in the story. 

I made you a peanut butter sandwich in the shape of a flower.  To add a little brightness to the bread, I "painted" it yellow using the recipe that Teach Preschool tried on their toast.  I had edible markers that I used to make it more colorful, just like Dandylion was.  If you look closely you will see "worms" sticking out of the side.  At school, Dandylion had gummy worms falling out of his. Yours, however, we made out of a fruit strip that Mommy cut up. In addition to your sandwich we had flower shaped watermelon and an oatmeal paw for dessert.

  

After lunch, we decided to make a simple mask that you could use for some pretend play.  I printed out a template and let you paint it a bright yellow (with a brush, then your fingers) and then sprinkle some gold glitter for extra sparkle. 

      

When the paint dried, we went outside for our fifteen minutes and tried to scare the neighbors with your lion mask!  Looking through the eye holes is almost like peek-a-boo, so you were all for it! It was so nice to see a bright smile on your face and giggles exploding out from your belly after all of that sickness.  It makes Mommy's heart smile, too.