Posts by Joyce

About Joyce

Joyce is the mom behind Childhood Beckons, where she encourages parents to focus on their families and the childhood that beckons them. Her motto is "Childhood is calling my son to play and explore. And childhood is calling me to help him on his journey." She enjoys discovering creative ways to play and learn and passing along her family's favorites.

Learning in an Instant- Colors of the Rainbow

Did you know that there are actually seven colors in a rainbow and they are always found in the same order? Learning the colors of the rainbow can be a great starting point to understanding the science behind rainbows. This free printable coloring activity is a great way to learn the seven colors of the […]

Playful Learning with Puzzles

Whether your child is just learning to master a wooden peg puzzle, or breezing through a 100 piece jigsaw, an incredible amount of learning is taking place! Putting together a puzzle is a learning activity in itself, but the following activities really up the education factor!  Spelling Puzzles via No Time for Flashcards  Simple Word […]

Learning in an Instant- Snowball Fight Math

Looking for a quick, easy, and FUN way to teach math this winter? Just add marshmallows! This snowball fight math activity is a playful way for kids to practice their math skills. And who doesn’t love a good snowball fight? Snowball Fight Math Items Needed: marshmallows magnetic numbers Directions: Use the magnetic numbers (or a […]

Most Popular Learning Activities in 2013

As this year is coming to an end, I’d like to thank everyone for making this first full year of Inner Child Learning a great one! We have a great team of contributing writers that have really helped make learning fun. And we are thankful to have the support of a fantastic community of readers. […]

Exploring Nature with a Camera

The natural world is something that interests our entire family, so this year we are devoting more time to nature study. At first, nature study can seem a bit overwhelming. As adults, we feel the need to know everything as we set out. We often worry about being able to answer all of the many […]

Helping Kids Choose Just Right Books

This week we’ll be sharing posts to help with the transition of getting back to more formal learning. First up is a great video from Amy at TeachMama.com on the importance of helping kids choose the books that are just right for them.  Choosing the right book can make all the difference and this video […]

What About Socialization?

Are you hesitant to homeschool because you’re worried about socialization? More often than not, when I tell someone that my family homeschools their first question is, “What about socialization?”It’s a common misconception that homeschoolers are unsocialized and the socialization question is frequently asked.  I decided to ask a few fellow homeschooling moms what they thought […]

Creating Inviting Learning Spaces

As the start of a fresh new school year approaches, I find myself turning my attention to our surroundings. Our living spaces. Of course there are a lot of choices to be made concerning planning and curriculum, but I know that the spaces in our home have the potential to make or break our school […]

Learning in an Instant: Scissor Skills

I know many families are preparing for the upcoming school year by setting aside a little time to let their kids practice some of the basics before they go back. Practicing scissor skills can be one of the easiest activities to encourage. And it can be fun!  You don’t even have to have an end […]

An Introduction to the Playful Learning Ecademy

We here at Inner Child Learning consider ourselves play advocates and fully support learning through play. So it’s no surprise that we also love and support the Playful Learning Ecademy. My family is continuously inspired to focus on playful learning through the amazing eLessons offered. There is truly something for everyone.  I thoroughly enjoyed the […]

How to Make Cloud Dough

Summer is a great time to get outside and play in the sand and water, but those aren’t the only sensory activity opportunities! The warm weather makes it easy to take a variety of activities outside, and that typically means less mess and more fun! So today we’re sharing a video tutorial on how to […]

Pretend Cake Tutorial

It’s amazing how much learning actually takes place during pretend play. The first time I discovered that my son could add and subtract efficiently, without prior lessons and without prompting, was while playing grocery store. I was astonished as he added up my total! Thanks to several rainy days, we’ve recently had a great deal […]

Around the Web: Exploring Nature with Kids

This week we’ve shared a fun fossil finding activity at a creek and five tips for exploring nature with kids, but we don’t want the sharing to end there! We’ve gathered 10 inspiring posts from around the web that are sure to get your kids playing and learning outside.  1. Make a nature study kit […]

5 Tips for Exploring Nature with Kids

It’s important for children to be encouraged to connect with nature, but what if you are a little timid when it comes to exploring the outdoors? Whether you identify yourself as an “indoors” person or you just don’t know where to start, here are a few things you can do to make the transition a […]

Salt and Watercolors Art

Process-based art is exactly as it sounds. It’s all about the process- the fun, creativity, and exploration that comes with creating art. And your kids will surely love the process behind this crowd-pleasing art project. In fact, chances are that they’ll want to do this again and again! You can watch the tutorial here: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56cZQZXXJCk] […]

Around the Web: Sidewalk Chalk

There are so many ways to learn and play with sidewalk chalk. It’s great for play prompts, open-ended play, and educational activities. This makes it a must-have in the summer, and we know you’ve been stocking up!  Are you looking for creative ways to use your stash? If so, you’ll want to stockpile these 10 […]

Learning in an Instant- Letter Sounds Hopscotch

We’ve been talking about fun ways to play and learn with sidewalk chalk, and today we have another playful idea to share. Letter Sounds Hopscotch! Encourage your kids to practice letter sounds and their gross motor skills with this simple game.  Instead of drawing numbers in your hopscotch grid, draw objects beginning with the letter […]

Sponge Bombs for Summer Fun and Learning

The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, and that can mean even more time spent outdoors. Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a way to sneak in some learning and beat the heat? I think so too! So I’m excited to share this simple craft that can accomplish both of those […]