Last week, Colin received his first school report card. He is doing very well and I am so proud of him! In the narrative section of the report card, his teacher encouraged us to continue practicing sight words at home. I have been using the classic method of folding in, but he has become incredibly bored […]
Peppermint Mocha Teacher Gift
December 11, 2013 by
This holiday season, show appreciation and gratitude for your child’s teacher by giving her/him a mug full of delicious, sweet Peppermint Mocha Mix. Kids can help mix it, package it, and will experience the warmth and joy of giving. Ingredients: 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 cup instant coffee granules 1/2 cup cocoa powder 20 peppermint starlight […]
Thankful Turkeys
November 22, 2013 by
Thankful Turkeys are a classic Thanksgiving craft for children I never grow tired of. This year, I’m especially fond of our turkeys because for the very first time, Colin wrote every single word independently using phonics, visual clues, and his sight words. To make Thankful Turkeys, you will need: colored card-stock scissors glue, tape, […]
Kids Can Set the Table
November 20, 2013 by
Between ages 3 and 5, young children are ready to learn how to set the table. As your child masters this basic chore, he will feel responsible, capable, and proud. And you? Well, you will have one less thing to worry about at mealtime! Kids Can Set the Table . . . But, they may […]
5 Books About Thanksgiving
November 13, 2013 by
Every holiday, I arrange a basket of seasonal children’s books in the living room for my children to enjoy. These books about Thanksgiving are some of my favorites for welcoming the day of gratitude. Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean This lift the flap book with groovy cat Pete makes learning about […]
Teaching Children to be Thankful
November 8, 2013 by
Teaching children to be thankful does not require a grandiose act of generosity, sacrifice, or service. Instead, it has everything to do with how you live your day to day life, as children are constantly watching and reflecting as they play, grow, and learn. How do you show you’re thankful? Take a moment to think […]
Candy Pumpkin Addition Game
October 22, 2013 by
I didn’t really need an excuse to buy sweet, delicious candy pumpkins, but it sure was fun to validate the purchase by telling myself, “These are for an addition game! An addition game for my kid, of course.” To play the candy pumpkin addition game, you will need: candy pumpkins dice 3 rings (metal canning […]
5 Books about Feelings
October 11, 2013 by
Are you in search of high quality children’s literature to accompany discussions and lessons regarding feelings and empathy? Check out my 5 favorites listed below. Books about Feelings The Way I Feel by Janan Cain In this delightful rhyming story, children of all ages will relate to the whimsical illustrations and real-life situations described in […]
Tips for Raising Empathetic Children
October 9, 2013 by
It’s a rainy Friday evening. My youngest and I are snuggled in a red fleece blanket enjoying A Ball for Daisy, a picture book by Chris Raschka. “She is happy!” Owen tells me, pointing to a picture of Daisy carrying her ball to the park. “How do you know she feels happy?” I ask him. “She is […]
When Your Child Hates School
September 13, 2013 by
“I hate Kindergarten,” he confessed with little arms crossed and tears in his eyes. “I did not have a good day and I do not want to go again.” My heart sank. It seemed that almost everything, from a too-tight snack box to a lonely after-lunch recess, had gone wrong for him on his first […]
Kid Illustrated Summer Memory Books
August 30, 2013 by
The end of the summer is bittersweet; it’s sad to say goodbye to the warm weather and time with the kids, but the new school year and upcoming seasons are wonderful things to look forward to. We celebrated summer’s end by creating Summer Memory Books, illustrated and put together by the boys! This post contains affiliate […]
Water Fun with a Marble Run
August 14, 2013 by
Using water as a learning tool in the summertime serves a dual purpose; kids learn and stay cool! Below is a list of three things that kids can learn about water through water fun with a marble run. 1. Water drips in drops. Due to surface tension, when water is slowly dripping off the marble […]
Sandbox Social Skills
July 17, 2013 by
There is a park near our home that has a spectacular public sandbox. Public sandboxes are fun places to play and learn because the high quantity of children and sand-toys present many opportunities for preschoolers to develop life-long social skills. As parents, we sometimes forget that our children are not born with social skills. Children […]
Fossil Hunting at the Creek
July 5, 2013 by
Summer is hot and the water in the creek is cold! We had fun cooling our toes while hunting for fossils! The rocks in the creek we visited were predominantly shale and limestone. Mixed into the bunch were some incredible fossils! I explained to the boys that fossils were impressions of the remains of creatures […]
5 Ways to Learn with Chalk
June 20, 2013 by
Truth? I have never intentionally planned a “learning activity” for my children using chalk (bad blogger mom Melissa!). To me, chalk is simply an inexpensive medium used to create driveway art or something to occupy the boys’ hands and minds while I page a magazine and chat with an old friend on the phone. However, […]
5 Tips for Traveling with Kids by Car
June 5, 2013 by
Colin and Owen were born travelers. Up until several years ago, we lived in Wisconsin and traveled frequently to New York, by car, for holidays and summer vacation. Being that it was a 14-hour drive, I had to have many tricks up my sleeve to keep them content, comfortable, and calm. Here are my best […]
Learning with Ordinary Household Items
May 28, 2013 by
Learning manipulatives (items that are used to engage a child in hands-on learning) are used for problem solving and to help increase understanding of a concept, such as counting. There are literally thousands of incredible learning manipulatives available for purchase through education websites and catalogs; making a choice can be very overwhelming! But did you […]
5 Books to Celebrate Spring
May 25, 2013 by
Spring is finally here! Celebrate the season with your children by reading these beautiful stories outdoors on a warm, sunny day! Little White Rabbit – In this beautifully illustrated springtime story by Kevin Henkes, a little white rabbit uses his big imagination to wonder what it would be like to become something else. My Garden […]
