A is for Alligator

This was an easy pick. Adam loves alligators, has since as long as I can remember. Whenever we go to the zoo, alligators are the animals he asks to see. His first Webkinz was a crocodile named Alligator. Now for our "theme" each week, I have a book that relates to the theme that connects to the letter of the week. The plan is to start our day (after prayer and singing songs for Jill) reading this book together. This week's book is Zack's Alligator. Zack gets an alligator keychain from his uncle in the mail and is told to water it. When he waters it, the alligator grows and comes to life. It's a cute story of a boy and his alligator. The best part of having this book is that Adam actually owns an alligator that grows in water. It's starts out smaller than his hand and grows and grows slowly in water (see picture above). Adam loved this story. We read it each day. I also had a bunch of non-fiction books on alligators, reptiles and amphibians. Adam loved looking at the pictures and having Jason read things to him.

In addition to storytime, each week Adam will learn his letters through coloring sheets, painting, play-doh and these Handwriting Without Tears wooden pieces.

I also found an alligator puzzle printout from one of my favorite coloring page websites - First-School Preschool Activities. He colored and cut out the pieces and then I glued them to cardboard, cut them out and covered them in contact paper. Adam was so proud of the puzzle he made; a puzzle he can play with over and over again all year.A visit to the zoo would have been appropriate but we're still getting settled and it's just not the time. But we could take a visit to the mall and see an "alligator" at the Rainforest Cafe. It's been years since we've been to this mall but visiting the animatronic animals and fish tanks was always a regular event when we lived here years ago. Well, when we moved away, Adam had just turned 2 and this now four year old wanted nothing to do with the hissing alligator that was not safely in a cage! I decided to ruin the magic and explained to him that they are just robots made by people to look like animals, and all they do all day is lay there opening their mouths. He totally believed me and took a closer look. He looked at me and said, "it's just a robot." He's so tender!