Children are learning during play time, but anyway having constructive play time that is planned or having free play time where the kids does what ever he wants are to different things. I call my planned play time my
center time, all educational toys only or the theme for the week. Usually this is after homeschool which is early in the morning from 9-11 is homeschool then 11-12 is center time (remember to have posters up so the child knows which one to go to first etc,) to get those you can go to
http://www.carlscorner.us.com/Centers.htm (you don't have to use all of them everyday just pick 3 for each week and rotate them) playing and stopping music (
www.kididdles.com) to switch centers is a great way to get past the transition thing, then from 12-2 is his play time with little brother and in this time I have recorded LR on my camcorder, to play in his DVD player in his room, then 2-4 is nap time, then 4-6 is homeschool with physical activity right before bed and outside time, then off to bed.
My son loves cars as well, car, car, car he says so I have now started making his curriculum with cars. All of his activites and worksheets have cars. If the theme is about Jesus teaching, then he is doing it in a car or standing besdie a car, I know funny!
But if it works, it works, and it does, so why not anything to learn. Gradually we will move on to something else, like motorcycles, which he calls mo, mo.
Modifying the content may be the key, but I'm sure it is all a phase and soon it be something else like boats, or bicycles for me. Just be patient and try to include other content but also mix in the 'item' loved. Maybe a little give and take can be achieved, give a little of car then give a little of the new content.
Making your own content is not hard just time consuming. Take photos of your child's favorite cars, all colors, car books, and go to
www.mes-english.com for great flashcards that can be used as paper dolls or sorry for boys paper cut outs that can be played with, make file folder games with the flashcards and match the smaller flashcards with the bigger ones. You can take tire cut out some small and some bigger to match the smallest with the biggest. That is if you have the time. I
have created a whole curriculum for transportation like this if you want to see it I will have it on a video soon here.If you want a copy of it then PM me.