We haven’t done sorting activities in a while, so I started setting up an activity for both of them (3yrs and 17 mo), but Buddy Boy came over and started playing before I could finish setting up. So, missing from this activity are tweezers, other bowls (plain, not colored), and […]
I was so impressed when I saw this! I’ve been asking Sweet Pea to help me clean up for what feels like forever. It started with her watching me, then doing one thing and wandering off, and slowly getting more and more helpful. But, it’s something we’ve been working on […]
What did she learn that afternoon? Honestly, I’m not entirely sure. But, I know that she received a powerful message. And it’s a great one. She learned that doing “manual labor” with Grandpa is fun. She learned that outside stuff is not just “for boys”. She saw that she […]
Technology is great, isn’t it? It’s what has advanced our society over time. A long time. But, what if technology is actually doing more harm than good when it comes to our children? I recently read an article written by Sue Palmer, who has been studying the impacts of […]
How we made the best of a rainy day, learned about gutters, storm drains, made comparisons, and used our 5 senses. Did anyone else grow up hearing that playing outside was “good for you”? We LOVED to be outside as kids. It was the one time we consistently didn’t listen […]
Marble runs are great for open-ended building. They’re an example of a STEM toy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). And, they’re a lot of fun, both for the kids and the adults. But, what are the benefits to marble runs, besides fun the whole family can enjoy? […]
It’s a real challenge when our little ones have a tough time paying attention! Sometimes, it’s due to an actual diagnosis, such as ADD or ADHD. I recently received a question from a reader whose son started kindergarten this year, was recently diagnosed by his doctor with ADHD, and is struggling […]
Lessons Learned in the Classroom: How what I learned as a classroom teacher has helped me as a mother I recently received a question from a reader who had read one of my posts. She said, “Yeah, but how did you get there? Where did you start and what did […]
A playful learning activity occurs when children learn through play. It’s something children enjoy doing and are able to explore and be creative on their own. There are often very few directions or guidelines because it’s an open-ended activity. The activity in this picture is a playful learning activity because: […]
One of the things that makes me proudest as a mom is seeing my kids sitting and reading books. Of course, they’re not really reading the words yet, but they’re looking at books, pointing out stuff they see, asking questions about what we’re reading, and “reading” to each other and […]
Scooping and pouring activities are a lot of fun for little ones. They’re also important skills to have and incorporate a little bit of math into their play as well as some experimenting and problem solving. This playful learning activity also allows the little one to make some choices, such […]
The thought of giving a 2-3 year old scissors can be just a TAD scary! Here are 8 tips to get you started. 8 tips for helping your little one with scissors 1. Thumb up! Always. 2. Wrist straight. 3. Help them by holding the paper taut or using thicker […]