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February 3, 2006
Dinnertime Diversions
Dinnertime can be a crazy time in any household. Have you ever had the problem of trying to cook dinner while your little one is grabbing onto your leg asking for attention? What about the "fast eater" in your family – the one who rushes through dinner and then is bored and demanding while others are finishing their own dinners? Today we'll give you some practical ideas to help make dinnertime a better experience – for everyone in your family.
If you're going to have your child help with the cooking, understanding fractions is very important. This week's book selection can help you explain basic fractions to your child with ease!
Book Selection
Hershey's Fractions
by Jerry Pallotta, Robert C. Bolster (Illustrator)
February 10, 2006
Old Games – New Times
In today's high-tech world, parents often forget about the simple games they played as a child. This week we'll remind you of some of those games so you can play old games in new times with your own children!
Hotter and Colder
Hide several household objects, small toys, or edible treats around the house and encourage your child to find them. Tell her she is "hotter" or "colder" when she is closer or farther away from the hidden object. This game will reinforce your child's memory skills and well as build important deduction skills.
Chores become Games
Two very "regular" household chores can become learning experiences for the youngest of children. When doing laundry, place all of the unpaired socks together in a laundry basket. Ask your child to do the pairing. This will help the child learn about sizes, shapes and colors. Another similar chore can help reinforce pairing and object placement – have your child be responsible for putting away the silverware. Watch them closely to be sure they are matching up the correct items as they put the items away.
I Spy!
Remember playing the "I Spy" game? Now there's even a board game and playing cards to help you play this game with your child. But, you don't need to purchase a game board to play. As you drive or walk along with your child, say: "I spy with my little eye…something that is….orange." Then have your child try to guess what you are spying. This word game will actually help develop your child's shape and color recognition skills. Two great books to reinforce this activity:
Book Selection
Piglet Look and Find
Elmo Look and Find
February 17, 2006
All about the Alphabet
Today we're focusing on two activities specifically designed to strengthen your child's knowledge of the alphabet.
Alphabet Puzzle:
To complete this activity, you'll need index cards, a pen or marker and scissors. Print a capital letter on the left side of an index card and the corresponding lowercase letter on the right. Cut each card into two parts with a wavy or a zig-zag line to make two puzzle pieces. Mix all the puzzle pieces and have your child put them together again!
Alphabet Playdough
For this activity you will either need to purchase or make your own playdough or activity clay. Begin by helping your child to form letters out of the playdough or clay. Then have her close her eyes, feel a letter and then try to identify the letter by its shape. As a tasty variation, make some alphabet sugar cookies and bake your alphabet!
Book Selection
Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds
by Trish Kuffner
Get ready, get set and learn!
February 3, 2006
Dinnertime Diversions
Dinnertime can be a crazy time in any household. Have you ever had the problem of trying to cook dinner while your little one is grabbing onto your leg asking for attention? What about the "fast eater" in your family – the one who rushes through dinner and then is bored and demanding while others are finishing their own dinners? Today we'll give you some practical ideas to help make dinnertime a better experience – for everyone in your family.
- 1. Create a recipe folder of activities. Before you start cooking, pull out a "recipe" from your stash of activities. Coloring pages related to the foods you might be serving that night are a great idea. Encourage your child to color the pages and then use them as placemats during dinner.
- 2. Set up simple projects the kids can do in the kitchen. There are great resources on www.pbskids.org, especially those that coincide with Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. To keep your child engaged, talk with them about their activities while you are cooking and setting the table.
- 3. Play word and sound games. Kids love to rhyme and doing so helps kids get ready to read. Select a food object you are cooking and ask your child to come up with rhyming words related to that food (broccoli, floccoli, rockalee). You'll be surprised at how this activity will really keep your child occupied while you run around the kitchen.
- 4. Enlist the child's help. When you have time and patience, enlist your child to help you with preparing the food. Simple tasks like mixing and measuring can actually help children develop early math skills.
- 5. For those fast eaters – have activities ready for the child to work on right after dinner. Be sure to select activities that the child can do on her own so the rest of the family can enjoy dinner. To make the activities more exciting, tell the fast eating child that she will be able to share their activity and its results with the rest of the family.
If you're going to have your child help with the cooking, understanding fractions is very important. This week's book selection can help you explain basic fractions to your child with ease!
Book Selection
Hershey's Fractions
by Jerry Pallotta, Robert C. Bolster (Illustrator)
February 10, 2006
Old Games – New Times
In today's high-tech world, parents often forget about the simple games they played as a child. This week we'll remind you of some of those games so you can play old games in new times with your own children!
Hotter and Colder
Hide several household objects, small toys, or edible treats around the house and encourage your child to find them. Tell her she is "hotter" or "colder" when she is closer or farther away from the hidden object. This game will reinforce your child's memory skills and well as build important deduction skills.
Chores become Games
Two very "regular" household chores can become learning experiences for the youngest of children. When doing laundry, place all of the unpaired socks together in a laundry basket. Ask your child to do the pairing. This will help the child learn about sizes, shapes and colors. Another similar chore can help reinforce pairing and object placement – have your child be responsible for putting away the silverware. Watch them closely to be sure they are matching up the correct items as they put the items away.
I Spy!
Remember playing the "I Spy" game? Now there's even a board game and playing cards to help you play this game with your child. But, you don't need to purchase a game board to play. As you drive or walk along with your child, say: "I spy with my little eye…something that is….orange." Then have your child try to guess what you are spying. This word game will actually help develop your child's shape and color recognition skills. Two great books to reinforce this activity:
Book Selection
Piglet Look and Find
Elmo Look and Find
February 17, 2006
All about the Alphabet
Today we're focusing on two activities specifically designed to strengthen your child's knowledge of the alphabet.
Alphabet Puzzle:
To complete this activity, you'll need index cards, a pen or marker and scissors. Print a capital letter on the left side of an index card and the corresponding lowercase letter on the right. Cut each card into two parts with a wavy or a zig-zag line to make two puzzle pieces. Mix all the puzzle pieces and have your child put them together again!
Alphabet Playdough
For this activity you will either need to purchase or make your own playdough or activity clay. Begin by helping your child to form letters out of the playdough or clay. Then have her close her eyes, feel a letter and then try to identify the letter by its shape. As a tasty variation, make some alphabet sugar cookies and bake your alphabet!
Book Selection
Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds
by Trish Kuffner
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