What I love about simple wooden blocks is their versatility. A child can use blocks to create a zoo . . . a school . . . a road! (Or, a road through a zoo that leads to school!) Blocks deliciously challenge a child’s fine and gross motor skills as they practice balancing and building, […]
Insect Lab Nature Investigation
May 1, 2013 by
Spring brings flowers, warm air, green grass . . . and insects. Many, many insects! Due to mild weather and their natural instinct to hunt for food after winter hibernation, insects are abundant in the spring. Many spring insects are young; they have recently hatched out of an egg case or matured from pupae to […]
“April Showers Bring May Flowers” Handprint Art
April 24, 2013 by
Have you ever gazed at your child and wondered to yourself, “How did he get so big?” or, “Did she grow in her sleep last night?” Colin had just come home from preschool and was excitedly sharing what he had learned that day from his teachers. As he yapped on and on, it became one […]
A Visit to the Art Museum
March 13, 2013 by
Several weeks ago, my husband and I decided to take the boys on an outing to the local art museum. An art museum has a completely different culture and set of rules than a children’s discovery museum and I’ll admit, I had concerns about whether or not they would behave appropriately during this new experience. […]
Building Bird Feeders with Real Tools
February 26, 2013 by
Building bird feeders with your kids isn’t only doing something nice for the birds. It’s also great for your kids! You can encourage a great sense of capability by trusting them to use real tools to get the project done. I have many warm childhood memories of spending time in my Grandpa’s workshop. He and […]
Teaching Friendship Skills Through Social Stories
February 6, 2013 by
What is a Social Story? A social story is an individualized short story that describes a social situation and reinforces a desired skill, task, or behavior. Social stories use succinct sentences that are usually accompanied by a simple photograph or illustration. They are easily memorized and intended to be read aloud over and over again. […]
Exploring Water’s 3 States of Matter
January 23, 2013 by
Winter provides many natural learning opportunities for children. We’ve spent much time bird watching and hiking, and discussing the needs, adaptations and homes of animals in the winter. When Owen asked one day where icicles came from, I thought we’d attempt to dive deeper into science, and explore water’s 3 states of matter. Explain It: […]
Simplify Your Life: Tips for the New Year
January 9, 2013 by
When I used to work as an Elementary School Counselor, parents frequently requested, “Help my child learn to be organized!” Organization is a skill that can be taught to some degree and I was happy to help . . . but I would often gently encourage those parents to look openly into their everyday lives, […]
Top 10 Educational Holiday Gifts
December 17, 2012 by
The list below contains what I believe to be the Top 10 Educational Holiday Gifts (and a few extras!) for children between the ages of 3-8. I do not consider myself a toy/game expert by any means, but when I choose toys/games for my children and others, I thoughtfully consider the following: Cost: I am […]
DIY: Simple Homemade Butter
November 21, 2012 by
Has your child ever asked you a question that you weren’t quite sure how to answer? This happens quite frequently in our home, so I wasn’t surprised when Colin said me last week, “Mommy, I know that butter is dairy and dairy comes from cows. But how does the milk become butter?” I replied, “I’m […]
