I also came up with a FREE idea to work with the kids during off seasons or if I didnt have enough kids to do preschool, they LOVED it as well. I called it "specials" , every week I would type up a letter with the next weeks "specials" on it. But the kicker was...the kids picked the weeks list. I had a bucket labeled "for the week" and another labeled "for the day". In the "for the week" bucket would be tickets labeled with everything from every color to number and letters, animals, food groups, plants, weather, etc. the list is endless. then in the "for the day" bucket would have things like, color, set the table, pick whats for snack, pick a show, pick a game to play, etc. that list is also quite endless. Now, at the end of every week, I would allow the kids to pick from the "for the week" bucket to help set up the next weeks activities. they would do this by first picking a number on a popsicle stick to pick the order they had a turn and needed to then put themselves in order and wait their turn. I would do the same for the "for the day" bucket, each day when all the children arrived, we would pick a number, get in order and then pick a for the day "special"......t hey love this!!! it gets them ALL involved and excited about the days plans. the parents also LOVED the weekly letter that went home re: the next weeks specials, also helped get the parents involved in their child week, gave them some dinner talk During the week the parents were encouraged to help the child bring things from home to help with each days "special" ie. on red day, they wore red clothes or brought a red snack to share, on animal days they would bring that animal (stuffed) from home to share and so on. They really enjoyed "store" they would bring their own shopping carts and purses. (everything costs 1$ so they learn to count money and count change) lots of fun!!!!!!