It’s getting close to Christmas – and you may need a few more quick gift ideas. Here you go. Pretend play! TATTOO FINGER PUPPETS Fun, temporary tattoos that turn normal little fingers into finger puppets! Each pack contains 20 finger tattoos and full instructions Finger Fairytale includes: Witch, Princess, King, Prince and Dragon $5.95 Buy [...]
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If you’re like us, you love to find new games to play as a family. Here are a few new ideas. BRAIN BOX THE WORLD FUN!!! Meet the BrainBox where everyone shows what they can remember. Turn over a card, turn over the timer, and then memorize the card. Can you answer all of the [...]
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Ok, this post is a bit long but it’s worth it . . . today I’m giving you my picks for the best children’s books of 2012: board books, picture books, and chapter books. Also, I’ve generally used the publisher’s book descriptions due to time constraints. However, I’ve read all of these book and highly [...]
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Get your kids into math and science with these fun learning science and math gifts. In no particular order, my favorites for 2012 gifts . . . MY FIRST BUILD Begin building with LEGO® DUPLO® basics! $24.99 Buy Now LITTLE CIRCUIT Playing games with friends and family is great way to develop children’s social and [...]
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As in years past of publishing learning gifts for kids, I’ve compiled a guide of the best educational gifts for kids – toys, games, kits, puzzles, and so forth — in many learning categories: writing, reading, science, math, art, and games. Since many of you have asked, I want you to have a sneak peek at ALL [...]
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This weekend, you can sneak in a little reading and rhyming with this free, printable Halloween Treasure Hunt. Help younger kids with the reading and rhyming or modify the clues. Make Your Own Treasure Hunt 1. Write out the answers, in other words, where your kids will find each clue. 2. Go to Rhyme Zone and enter each [...]
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Are you enjoying the summer’s moments? My two-week tech break wasn’t totally successful but, I did cut way back. And, in the process, I found more opportunities to be present with my kids, my husband, and my friends. To just breathe. Listen. Be. Lately, I’ve been leaving my phone at home, turning off my emails [...]
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I learned to love literature outside of school – reading books for many reasons as one does, for pleasure, escape, understanding. It always puzzled me some of the reading requirements in my high school and in my B.A. in English. Other than Shakespeare, there were few selections I actually enjoyed. (Admittedly, when choice is taken [...]
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Want to get your kids excited about geography? Play The Scrambled States of America from Gamewright. It’s puzzling, challenging, and fun. Two or more players take turns drawing and reading a scramble card like this one. Players look at their 5 state cards to see if they can match the scramble card’s requirements. Whoever finds a [...]
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I believe so strongly in the importance of our children having a global perspective- knowing the world is so much more than about them, their neighborhood, and their country. Continuing the week’s theme of geography, I’ve found 30 fun activities to facilitate a global perspective. The most important thing for kids to start with is learning [...]
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Recently, my mom told my kids about playing “Kick the Can” as a child – how the neighborhood kids gathered at dusk in the street. One child guarded a coffee can while the others hid in the shadows, waiting for a chance to kick the can. But playing in the street now days is more [...]
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Make this summer a time of playful learning and hands-on experiences. I love what I can do with my kids over the summer to encourage learning. Did you know that most kids regress two months in math and one or two months in reading? (Cooper, 1996) Yikes! We keep a summer schedule that includes learning activities, art, outside [...]
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