#1
LET’S READ!
Humans have been using blankets ever since prehistoric times. All the way back then, blankets were made out of reeds and animal skins. It is thought that, in the 1300s, a Flemish man who worked as a weaver and a wool merchant made the first wool blanket, and that is how we got the blankets we have today. His name was Thomas Blanket. He might’ve named his invention after himself!
Our bodies generate heat, which then goes out into the air around us. Usually, the heat we make is lost and we stay at a normal temperature. But when we snuggle up in a cozy blanket, the fabric traps our body heat so it stays close to us. That’s why blankets help us stay so warm, especially during winter! Coats and jackets do the same thing!
LET’S TALK!
1. Can you find a blanket in your house? What does it look like? Is it soft?
2. Have you ever curled up with a blanket to warm up? Have you ever gotten too hot under a blanket?
3. How many blankets do you have in your bedroom?
#2
LET’S READ!
Blankets aren’t just for lying down! They can be worn in all kinds of ways. If a blanket is thin enough, you can tie it around your neck and pretend you’re a superhero with a cape! Or you can tie it around your waist to make a skirt. Or, you could put it over your head and try to spook people as a blanket ghost!
You can also use blankets to make a blanket fort! To make a fort, you use couch cushions and kitchen chairs, then throw a blanket over them to make a soft roof and walls. In your fort, you can read books, color, and ask people for a secret code to come inside!
Blankets are also great for picnics and movie nights. If you ever want to eat or watch a show outside, just lay a blanket across the grass and take a seat!
LET’S TALK!
1. If your child has a special blanket, explain to them how you went about picking it out or making the blanket. Maybe the blanket was a gift from a family member or friend. Share with them why it’s important to you, and have them tell you why it’s important to them.
2. How can you use blankets to make a fort?
3. Do your toys, dolls, or family pets have blankets?
#3
LET’S READ!
There are lots of different kinds of blankets! Hand sewn blankets are made by hand and take much more time and effort than other blankets, which are usually made with bigger sewing machines that work faster. A quilt is two pieces of quilt fabric with stuffing in the middle. Quilt fabric is different from normal fabric because it’s made of patches, which usually have lots of different colors and patterns! Knit blankets are made of thick yarn that’s woven together with big knitting needles.
Way back when blankets were first invented, we didn’t have electricity. But nowadays, we do! Over the past 100 years, the world has seen a new invention: electric blankets. These blankets are made of the same fabric as normal ones, but instead of stuffing, they have wires! When you plug an electric blanket into the wall, you can use the attached remote to choose how warm you want it to get.
LET’S TALK!
1. Do you have a favorite blanket? How does it make you feel? Why is it your favorite?
2. What is the best color for a blanket?
3. Do you think a blanket with wires sounds weird or nice? Would you use one?
#4
LET’S READ!
Another cool kind of blanket is a weighted blanket. These blankets come with sand, seeds, rice, or small weights in them. Weighted blankets are great for stress and anxiety because they offer deep pressure touch, just like a hug would! This means these blankets give your brain the chemicals it needs to be happy, like serotonin and dopamine. They’re great at calming you down and helping you sleep!
You might think that blankets are boring because they’re just one piece of fabric and they’re just one color. But not all blankets are like that! As we mentioned earlier, quilts are made of patches of different colored fabrics. Some blankets have colorful, interesting patterns. Some are themed after your favorite superheroes or fun TV characters! And there are even some services that make blankets with your pictures on them! You just send in the pictures they want and in a few weeks, you’ll have a blanket of memories.
LET’S TALK!
1. Did you have a favorite blanket as a child? If so, describe to your child what it looked like, how it made you feel, and what you liked about it. Tell your child where that blanket is now.
2. Have you kept warm with something other than a blanket? What was it?
3. Do you have a picture blanket or a blanket associated with positive memories? Tell your child about it.
VOCABULARY WORDS:
blanket, textures, comforter, colors, warmth, comfort, bed, hand sewn, quilt, knit, fleece, fuzzy, wool, soft, cozy, fabric, patterns, thick, thin, worn, tattered, stuffing, filler
ACTIVITIES:
• Round up all the blankets in the house. Use them to create forts and tunnels, set them up for a picnic or stargazing, or make a pile of them on the floor, make some popcorn, and have a family movie night!
• Check your local community center websites to see if any parks are hosting outdoor movies or free concerts for the summer. Grab a blanket and take your child to the kid-friendly show.
• Plan a trip to your local fabric store. Look at the different patterns and textures. Feel all the fabric and talk about what makes each one unique. If possible, pick out a favorite and take it home to make it into a blanket. Instructions are below!
• If you’re able, look up a service that will make a custom blanket with the pictures you send them and order one to share with your child!
EASY FLEECE BLANKET DIRECTIONS (No stuffing or filler required!)
You will need:
• 2 pieces of fleece fabric (Any other material will work, too!)
• Scissors
• Hands!
Instructions:
• Cut your fabric into 2 pieces. Make sure they’re the size you want your blanket to be!
• Lay your two pieces of fabric on top of each other. Line them up as well as you can.
• Every half inch, use your scissors to make a 2-3 inch cut in the fabric.
• Tie each side of the loose fabric together into a knot. Work all the way around.
• Enjoy your cozy, machine-washable blanket!
RESOURCES:
1. My Blanket: A Kids Bedtime Story (YouTube Video)
2. How to Make a Tie Blanket from Fleece (YouTube Video)
3. Everleigh Builds the World’s Biggest Indoor Fort!!! (YouTube Video)
4. Baby Duck and the Cozy Blanket (Touch and Feel) by Amy Hest (Candlewick, 2002)
5. Pigs on a Blanket by Amy Axelrod (Aladdin, 1998)
6. Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown (DVD, Warner Home Video, 2011)
