Turns Out, it’s Free Play that Feeds Your Child’s Cognitive Development guest post by Frieda B. Herself author, Renata Bowers So I’ll admit it right off the bat. I’m biased. I’m a proponent of books, board games, pretend play and plenty of downtime in a child’s life.  And I’m leery – really leery – of anything that comes along to... [read more ]

Guest post by Deborah Underwood author of children’s picture books including The Quiet Book, Spring 2010. I recently saw a video that shows an adorable little French girl telling a convoluted story with baby monkeys, frightening trees, crocodiles, a battling hippo and lion who go to heaven, a mammoth with claws, and a witch-killing orange ring.... [read more ]

Summer – I can’t wait and yet . . . I’m not ready. But, I’m excited because I’m going to have an artists’ summer with my kids. (I hope.) Julia Cameron, in her book The Artist’s Way, recommends artist dates with yourself.   She writes, “An artist date is a block of time, . . . committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your... [read more ]

If you watched the opening ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics last Friday, you probably were impressed by the constellations!  Learn how to make your own constellations with an oatmeal box, a flashlight and some imagination.    (A constellation is a group of stars in a visible pattern — well, it’s visible to some people anyway.)... [read more ]

Think-ets rhyme with trinkets.  And that’s what they are — and more! Each Think-ets bag fits in the palm of your hand.  A bag holds 15 miniature toys.  My green bag contains: a book, a milk jug, a ring, an alphabet block, a Guatemalan doll, a shell, a hammer, a rose, a pig, a hammer, a pitcher, a burrito, a silver wish charm, a peace... [read more ]

Play is really, really good for children.  By age four or five, kids have the ability to engage in complex, mature play.  This kind of play if vitally important to a child’s development. This eBook will give you ideas beyond “go play in your room.” In fact, you’ll get fifteen fun and easy play themes with resources, prop ideas and related... [read more ]

Great news — play is good for you.  Even more so for your kids.  Guess what happens when you facilitate play with some background  information, a few props and specific roles? Well, positive development happens.  Research says that facilitating  “mature play“  increases social, physical and thinking skills!  In other words,... [read more ]

Congratulations to Shara!  Random.org picked you as the winner. Imagine making dinner in a peaceful kitchen.  Even better, your child is playing restaurant with you.  (=quality time and getting something done!) This is what happened when I gave my four year old the Melissa and Doug Sandwich Making Set because I wanted it to help expand her eating... [read more ]

The Book Chook, Susan Stephenson, published another great literacy ideas magazine, Literacy Lava.  This edition features a contribution I wrote on imaginative play in preschool.  Here’s an excerpt.  Download the full article plus many more great articles and activities in the free Literacy Lava magazine here. Preschool play  needs 1. Imaginary... [read more ]

Any age can pretend play animal hospital doctor or veterinarian.  Use your love for animals and let my 3 p’s of pretend play — props, plan and play — guide your make-believe time into a delightful journey of imagination. Props: - stuffed animals - pillows and blankets - band-aids of all sizes - doctor’s kit - lab coat or... [read more ]

Twas the night after Halloween . . . are you ready for the Halloween Fairy aka Candy Fairy? This Halloween Fairy delivers gifts to children.  But . . . you must trade almost all, not all, of your Halloween candy to receive the gift.  The Halloween fairy is generous so she’ll let you eat _________ pieces.  (To be determined by the Halloween... [read more ]

“NO one in this house is allowed to say that they’re bored any more!!!” Some of you remember the What Should I Do? post and printable.  I still point my kids to that picture chart of ideas if they say that there is NOTHING to do.  Oh, but there is. Most days, my kids choose to do arts and crafts.  And, the best thing?  I don’t... [read more ]