Sometimes we just need fresh snack ideas -- with pictures! So here are pictures and ideas for healthy after school snacks that my kids enjoy. I hope yours will, too. Healthy After-School Snacks Ritz Cracker Sandwiches Are your kids sick of sandwiches but don't always get much protein in their diet? Mine, too. But they do love cracker sandwiches - cheese, organic lunch meat, and whole wheat … [Read more...]
4 Art Journal Prompts for Kids
We often ask kids what they're good at, what they like, or who they are. Help kids figure this out with art journal prompts. Here are four ideas for kids to express who they are through writing and art --art journals. Art Journal Prompts for Kids 1. Collage "I Am" 2. Collage - Favorite Things 3. "I Believe" Sun 3. List - Favorite Things 4. Portraits - with or without describing … [Read more...]
(Don’t?) Close Your Eyes – YouTube Safety for Kids
YouTube offers great and not-so-great video options. Recently a reader asked me how to make YouTube videos safe for her kids. Because even if she was watching a safe video, the sidebar videos weren't always appropriate and the comments were full of profanity. So here are some YouTube safety guidelines. YouTube Safety for Kids You might wonder why we'd want to watch You Tube at all. Well, where … [Read more...]
40 STEM Apps for Kids (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
Ready for the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) apps for kids? Just remember that most ipad apps, with a few exceptions, won't instruct your child. They will however, give him or her practice, repetition, and reinforcement. After you read this, visit: STEM / STEAM YouTube Channels for Elementary Kids and STEM / STEAM Gifts for Kids. STEM Math Apps for Kids Rush Hour - … [Read more...]
24 Literacy Learning Apps for Kids
As I started a go-to list of the best learning apps for kids, the list got so long, I split up my posts into categories. So, today we'll start with my favorite apps for literacy -- reading and writing for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-age kids. Also, I've included special needs iPad app resources at the end of this post. Learning Apps 1. BrainPOP Featured Movie - BrainPOP® I'm very … [Read more...]
Beginning Art Journaling For Kids
by Violette Clark, author of Journal Bliss: Creative Prompts to Unleash your Inner Eccentric. Kids love to create art and if you give them a few tools and ideas on how to art journal they will go to town and come up with some colourful pages they will treasure for years to come! Beginning art journaling is great for young children as well as for teens. Beginning Art Journaling Kids can … [Read more...]
Biography Apps for Kids
Thank you to who?Comics for sponsoring this post and encouraging my child to read biographies in comic book form! Please click here to learn more about the app. And follow who? Comics on Twitter for updates. I love encouraging kids to read biographies in February since it includes President's Day and is Black History Month. So when offered the chance to check out the who?Comic biographies, the … [Read more...]
PuppeTees Tote Bag and T-Shirts
I am in love with PuppeTees, adorable little finger puppets that attach to tote bags and t-shirts! Talk about functional play! JJ tested out the Enchanted Castle Tote -- and could easily snap on the puppets, and imagined a fun play scenario. But, there are sixteen different totes to choose from, not just the Castle Tote! Like this circus tote . . . But, if you want to wear your puppets, … [Read more...]
Creativity Gift Guide: Play, Art, Music, and Nature Gifts for Kids
(*Update: 2012 Education Gift Guide for Kids.) I'm so excited to share with you some wonderful gift ideas to encourage creative play and imagination! Don't miss PuppeTees t-shirts with snap-on puppets (super cute,) or the art journals from Strathmore, or how about the edible finger paints? Yum! :) Links to all the gift guides below - happy learning, writing, reading, and living! I'm taking … [Read more...]
Young Writers and Stickers = Sticker Stories
Young writers love to write sticker stories. Buy fun themed stickers to write sticker stories, an idea which YOU can do at home with your own kids. (yeah!) Writing for this activity looks like . . . - writing by ones self with invented spelling - creating a wordless picture book - dictating the story to another writer (me) Materials: Stickers Writing supplies Imagination!! Blank … [Read more...]
Food and Nutrition Learning Ideas for Kids
Look up picky eaters in the dictionary and you'll find my children. But, it's not for our lack of trying. Jeff and I have always eaten healthy ("clean"); we want our picky eaters to know why it's important to make healthy choices, and what food does in our bodies. Yes, we have a garden, yes we buy organic. Yes, Jeff even juices, and yes, we make our kids try a bite of everything. Only they still … [Read more...]
Writing in Secret Code Motivates Reluctant Writers
Writing in secret codes or ciphers feels dangerous, even rebellious, to kids. As a result, it gets them writing. Even reluctant writers. (Especially if mom and dad don't know how to break their code. Mahahaha.) Learning About Secret Codes and Ciphers 1. Introduce ciphers. Have kids make their own reverse alphabet cipher (letters replacing letters) out of recycled cereal boxes and construction … [Read more...]