Early childhood education

Get Your Child With Learning Disabilities Involved in the Arts With These Tips

February 8, 2022

Getting a child involved in the arts is a great way to help boost their confidence and introduce new learning methods that will translate into other areas, according to Public School Review. For children who have learning disabilities, art and music can open up a whole new world of expression that allows them to build confidence and even overcome behavioral issues related to frustration. The arts are also a great way to provide children (and their parents) with a much-needed opportunity for self-care, which in turn reduces stress.

With that in mind, here are some tips from Navigating Motherhood Coaching to get you started.

Get your child with learning disabilities involved in the arts with these chips

Give them examples.

An easy way to introduce your child to visual art is to look for photos of dynamic works online, such as Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”, and have your child try to recreate it in their own style. You might even look for short videos that talk about famous works of art and how they were created, or tutorials that are appropriate for their age group. Show your child how to mix colors, create movement, and use different mediums to achieve different effects. This is something that can be done even with very young children if you have the right resources.

Try various methods.

Visual art is a wonderful means of expression, but it’s not the only one. If your child loves to move and has trouble sitting still for a period of time, try dance and other forms of movement, which, as One Dance UK notes, can be highly beneficial for those who have learning disabilities.

Put on some music and show them how to move to the beat. Introduce them to various forms of dance, such as ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop, with videos and tutorials. Keep in mind that some kids are visual learners, which means they’ll do best after watching how a dance is performed; others learn best when they can actually do it themselves.

How to get your kids involved in the arts

Give them the right tools.

Whether your child is interested in visual art, dance, music, or other creative art forms, it’s essential to make sure they have the right tools to be successful. Providing things like crayons, markers, and paint is perfect for those interested in visual arts, while access to instruments and a quiet place to play music or dance is great for those interested in other forms of creativity.

As with all forms of art, it’s important not to put limits on your child’s ideas. With the right tools, they can be in charge of their own creative output, which will boost their self-esteem and help them find new ways to communicate and learn. In fact, studies have shown that kids who are involved in some creative pursuits–like playing an instrument–do better in school and have more fully formed social skills.

Don’t put limits on yourself, either.

One great way to help your child succeed with a new endeavor is to lead by example. If you discover that you truly enjoy teaching your child a new creative pursuit, consider starting a business to give lessons to others. A home-based or online business provides plenty of flexibility; you’ll just need to make sure you have a business license and take some precautions by forming an LLC.

A limited liability company will allow you the freedom to run your business the way you want while ensuring that you aren’t entirely personally responsible for any financial issues the business might accrue. You’ll need to read up on the steps involved, which include designating a registered agent; LLClaws differ from state to state, so do some research before jumping in. ZenBusiness is a great resource to use to navigate the process.

If you do decide to create an at-home business, creating a space that accommodates your child’s artistic bent may be a great investment not only in your child’s learning and expressive environment but as it relates to your home’s appraisal value. Updates like a new multi-purpose room — a keen feature for homebuyers who can envision the space as their home office or gym — can increase your property value. Be sure to save all receipts from the upgrade, plus before and after photos, as you’ll want to be able to show proof of the renovation.

Getting your child involved with the arts can be a fun way to bond together, but it can also be an excellent opportunity to engage in some self-care – for parents and children alike. After all, creativity allows you to express yourself, which reduces stress and anxiety. So take advantage of the many online resources available to help but you and your child make the most out of an expressive new hobby.

My name is Darcey and I created Navigating Motherhood Coaching to help moms of young children find life balance and rediscover themselves. In addition to being a certified professional coach, I am also an early childhood educator. If you have questions, please let me know!

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Activities For Kids, Gift Ideas

11Educational Toys for Your Preschooler

October 28, 2020

The holidays are coming up and you might be wondering what to get your preschooler this year. If you are tired of the electronic toys that make endless noise and are looking for fun and educational toys, I got you covered! As an early childhood educator, I’ve worked with many children and have seen lots of toys. These are 11 of the best educational toys that preschoolers love! The best part about these toys are that the kids are learning and they don’t even realize it.

1. Blocks

Blocks are some of the best educational toys out there. We have had a set of the Mega Blocks, foam bath blocks, bristle blocks, but Rosebud’s favorite have been these magnet tiles from Picasso. We’ve made houses, castles, boats and even a tree! These blocks are reasonably priced compared to other brands and they get played with a lot!

Your child can learn about spacial awareness, shapes and sizes, height and weight, building, gravity and creativity just to name a few.

2. Kinetic Sand

If you’ve never felt this sand, you’re missing out! This sand is amazing! It doesn’t dry out, is easy to pick up and the kids love it! There are a variety of colors and molds to choose from.

Your child can use this sand to practice fine motor skills such as scooping, molding, stamping etc. They can use the sand to express themselves through their creations or simply pretend they are at the beach, baking a cake or using a dump truck.

3. Play-dough

While play-dough isn’t exactly a toy, I am including it because it is educational. There is so much you can do with play-dough. Anything from creating your favorite sweet treats to making letters and numbers to building sculptures. There are endless options for play-dough. There are just as many activities as there are flavors. Play-dough is even used as a therapy tool in some cases. The best part is it’s fun for children even before they reach preschool age.

Your child can practice his or her fine motor skills such as pinching, squeezing, pushing, pulling etc. Play-dough is another creative medium allowing your children to express themselves. It’s a great sensory experience as well.

4. Water Drawing Pad

If you’re tired of getting paint or marker all over your walls, this is definitely for you. These pens are filled with water and when the kids draw on this pad it changes color and they can draw whatever they want. Some of these pads come with stamps and stencils, but this is a wonderful open ended drawing activity that leaves no mess unless water is spilled. My only recommendation to make this better is to purchase extra pens.

Drawing is a great way for kids to practice writing skills and creativity.

5. Play Food

Rosebud loves playing in her kitchen and these toys from Learning Resources are my favorite food sets. They are made of a smooth plastic material that is easy to clean. They are well made and there are a variety of food sets to choose from. Everything from soup and salad to dessert to multicultural food. They would be great to pair with a kitchen set or on their own. Your child can practice pretend measuring, learning about ingredients, healthy vs unhealthy foods, sharing with friends, creative play etc.

6. Puzzles

Puzzles have been a mixed bag throughout my career with preschoolers. Some kids love them and some kids think they are boring, but they are a great educational tool. Rosebud happens to like them, so I’m putting them ont he list. These puzzles are the best I’ve found so far. They are well made, fit together well, have a variety of themes and preschoolers can do these independently.

Puzzles are great for spacial awareness, improving matching and sorting skills, learning patience and practicing concentration.

7. Marble Run

What kid doesn’t like a marble run? These are a big hit in my preschool and pre-k classes. These are pretty self explanitory. You set up the track and the marble goes down. The track can be rearranged to make a different path. Children can learn about distance and gravity. If two children are playing, they can have races and practice taking turns as social skills are important to learn at this age. Marble runs are a great stem toy.

8. Games

There are so many places I could go here because there are so many games to choose from. I’ve listed a few of the games that we like, but the skills that games are great for are learning to follow directions, taking turns and learning about competition, but having fun at the same time.

Depending on what you want your child to practice, you can find a game for almost any skill. There are games for counting, matching, memory, strategy etc. The sky’s the limit, but this is a great age to introduce relatively simple games.

9. Cooking Set

If your child is into cooking with you, that is fantastic! Your child can learn so much from cooking. They can learn math skills such as measuring. Reading skills from reading a recipe. Science, let’s see what happens to the food when it gets hot vs when it was cold. Basically, how the properties of foods change. Cooking is a great way to make your child feel like they are doing real work. If they have pretend toys for cooking that’s great, but I’d suggest getting some real child friendly cooking tools as well for when they help you in the kitchen.

10. Dolls

Dolls are great because children can practice their nurturing skills. They observe what their parents do and tend to act out these situations with stuffed animals or dolls. This is great for their development as it helps them understand their world. The other great thing about dolls is the ability to practice dressing and undressing. This is a perfect way for children to get the hang of snaps, buttons, velcro, laces etc. Rosebud loves to put different outfits on her dolls and I’ve noticed that she has gotten much better at dressing them independently. In turn, she is able to dress and undress herself as well.

I know some people don’t like boys playing with dolls. I see nothing wrong with it, but there are dress up boards that you can use to practice the same skills.

11. Child Sink

Rosebud loves this toy. She saw it at a friend’s birthday party and had to have it. It runs like a real sink and comes with a set of dishes and everything you need to wash them. This is great for working on practical washing skills and kids love to be doing the same things that they see their parents doing. They can also work on scooping and pouring and even imaginative play. I love activities that help kids practice real life skills. Mini cleaning sets are also wonderful for this.

There, you have my top picks for educational gifts for 2020. What educational gifts are you getting your kids this year? Tell me in the comments.

4 Comments

Activities For Kids, Motherhood

How To Help Children Work Through Feelings

April 19, 2020

This week on the blog, I’ve talked about how to sit with our feelings at this uncertain time. If you missed the post, I shared several strategies to help us work through our feelings. As adults, we understand what Is going on the world around us and of course, we are feeling many strong emotions. We may be feeling fear, sadness, anxiety and or grief.

Our kids are having these feelings too and the hard part is they may not even know how to describe what they are feeling. Young children are just learning how to regulate their emotions and express themselves. They may start acting out, become withdrawn or become extra clingy during this time. They hear our conversations and see the news if they have it on. They are hearing things they don’t understand and are picking up on whatever their family members may be feeling. Their worlds have also been turned upside down. Their routines may be totally different with the school closures and parents now working from home or not working at all. Even though all this extra time at home with our families can be wonderful, it’s a huge change.

However, there are things we can do to help our toddlers and preschoolers understand and work through their feelings. We can help our youngest toddlers label their feelings and we can help our older preschoolers work through their feelings by playing and creating. I have compiled a list of activities that parents can use to help their toddlers and preschoolers recognize, label and work through their feelings.

Art Feelings Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

The Feelings Collage

What you do:

Look through magazines or print off pictures from the internet that express different feelings. Then glue them on paper.

Paper Bag Puppet

What you do:

Take a brown paper bag and draw or create a face using materials from around the house.

Materials may include googly eyes, felt, tissue paper, foil, paper scraps cut into different shapes etc. Be creative!

Dry Erase Faces

What you do:

Print off blank pictures of faces like these coloring pages from Dabbles & Babbles. Then have your children color them, expressing whatever they are feeling. Then erase and start over.

Open Ended Drawing or Painting

Have your children draw or paint whatever comes to mind. Then talk about the picture. They may open up about their thoughts and feelings.

Play-dough

This is usually classified as a sensory activity, but it is creative as well. Make silly faces out of play-dough or let your children use their imaginations to create whatever comes to mind. They can also add items to the faces like beads, pompoms, googly eyes, rocks, shells etc. You could do this with modeling clay as well. It makes a perfect mixed media art activity.

Story Writing for Preschoolers

Have your child dictate a story to you and write it down. My daughter loves to do this. It’s a great window into your child’s thoughts. You can either make the story into a homemade book letting the child draw the pictures or keep it as is.

Family Feelings Activities

The Happy List

Have the child make a list of things that make him or her happy. They can draw pictures to go with it and you could turn it into a happy book. This could be done with other feelings as well. You could also make it a family happiness list and write down things that make each family member happy.

Feel Good Jar

Talk with the child about how to make others feel good. Each morning, they can either draw a name from the jar or an action depending on how you want to set this up. You could either put in the names of your family members or you could write down actions instead and the child can pick who they want to do something nice for that day. Here are some action examples.

Give a complement,

Give a hug,

Share a snack,

Take a walk together,

Call a friend,

Help a family member with a chore,

Tell someone you love them,

Make a homemade card,

Share a toy.

The Bruised Apple

This is a good activity to do in a classroom setting, but you could do it at home as well. It’s a good activity for teaching how our words or actions can hurt other people without us knowing it. All you do is have the child hit the apple on a table or the floor. Then cut it open to see the bruising inside.

Conversations About Feelings With Kids

Sometimes the best way to teach something is to slip it into everyday conversations or activities.

One way is using the daily calendar. We have a calendar that has a space for feelings. Ask the child how they are feeling and have them put the face on the calendar.

Since we are all stuck at home, there may be more screen time than usual, so talk about the shows your child is watching. Many shows have feelings, friendship or specific fears as themes for specific episodes. My daughter watches Bubble Guppies, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and Pete The Cat. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is another show that talks about emotions often. There are many episodes of kids shows that talk about being sick and or going to the doctors. With all this talk of sickness due to covid19, that may be worth exploring with your kids as well. They may have new fears about sickness and going to the doctors. My daughter has mentioned being afraid of the doctor several times since the pandemic started. I know she’s not alone.

Feelings Snacks for Kids

You can tie the feelings theme into meal times by having kids make faces on their food while preparing it. This works best with foods with toppings.

Mini pizzas,

Pancakes,

Rice cakes with peanut butter.

English muffins with peanut butter.

Feelings Activities Resources

I’ll leave you with a few extra resources that you can explore. If you want books, games and even more activities, check out these informative web pages.

If you are looking for games, songs and even pretend play activities with a feelings theme, check out this list of feelings activities for preschoolers.

Here is another great resource for art, math and even science feelings activities.

Check out this list of 10 books to help kids understand their feelings.

What are you doing to help your kids work through difficult emotions during this strange time? Tell me in the comments.

3 Comments

Preschool, Sensory Play

Fall Halloween Sensory Bin

September 19, 2019

Last week, I took a trip to the dollar store. Of course, they had all their Halloween stuff out, so I picked up a few things to put in a Halloween sensory bin for Rosebud. She is loving it so far!

What’s in the bin?

Acrylic leaves, pumpkins and acorns,

Pompoms,

Mini jack-o’-lanterns,

Glittery spiders,

Sticky eyeballs,

Tongs,

Small bowls.

I found the spiders, mini pumpkins and eyeballs at the dollar store, but I wasn’t sure what to do for the filler. I was thinking of dying some rice orange, but didn’t want to go through the trouble. I was shopping on Amazon for some mini pumpkins and happened to come across this set of acrylic fall items. The pack comes with pumpkins, leaves, and acorns. These work great for the halloween theme, but would also be great for a general fall sensory bin.

So far, we’ve made patterns, sorted the objects, pretended to feed Rosebud’s babies, practiced fine motor skills with the tongs and tried to make pumpkin towers. Rosebud wanted to use the bin with her magnet blocks. I built a divided box and we sorted the objects into their own sections, but Rosebud broke it before I could snap the picture. She has gotten quite creative with this sensory bin, using it in her play kitchen as well as with the blocks. I’m interested to see what else she does. Here, she is feeding her baby and Kermit the Frog who she has dressed up for the occasion.

Are you doing any fall or Halloween sensory activities? Let me know in the comments.

1 Comment

Education, Parenting, Preschool

Why I Chose Preschool for Rosebud

August 8, 2019

Up until now, Rosebud has been cared for by family members while I work. I’ve never even left her with a baby sitter or a trusted friend. Leaving her with someone I don’t know at all has been completely out of the question. I had very negative experiences with baby sitters and childcare centers as a kid, so the thought of Rosebud being anywhere other than at home causes me a lot of anxiety. I’ve seen what can happen first hand and just the idea that anything could happen to my daughter is scary. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I work in a childcare center. Most people would think that the obvious solution would be to bring her to where I work, but the truth is that I know too much. I know exactly what goes on there and there are too many things I don’t want Rosebud exposed to. One example is this experience, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. If it were up to me, we’d live in a society where children didn’t have to go to childcare and they could spend most of the time with their parents, but we live in a world where most families need two incomes just to survive.

Why I chose Preschool for Rosebud pin

The Boredom

After Rosebud turned three, I started noticing a lot of changes in her. She wasn’t listening, she’d argue with everything I said and it seemed like there was something missing for her. She seemed bored. Bored with me and bored with her toys. She seemed more interested in watching tv until we went screen free for a while.

Kids playing in a circle

Socialization

Her only friend was Little Guy and he only came over occasionally. He comes over even less now since he switched childcare programs. She’d often beg me to have Little Guy come visit, but when he was here, she’d struggle with the idea of sharing her toys. She loves Little Guy. They have a good time together, but since he is a year younger, they don’t play on the same level. she’s really into creative and imaginative play. She loves to set up pretend parties, create art and build intricate buildings out of blocks. On the other hand, Little Guy loves to play on his own. He’s happy with a bunch of rubber ducks or pushing food around in a toy cart which is completely appropriate for his age. His idea of playing with another kid is a boisterous game of chase which Rosebud loves, but she wants to do other things as well. There are two separate struggles there. Rosebud is an only child and is not used to sharing her toys and you add the fact that they aren’t on the same level and don’t always understand each other. It has made for some interesting play dates, but no matter what happens, they seem to forget and love each other in the end. Rosebud talks about Little Guy every day when they don’t see each other and Little Guy smiles and runs right in like he owns the place when he comes back to visit. That being said, I know Rosebud needs more in terms of learning to share and making new friends.

Girl playing with clay

Mom Guilt

Yes. The mom guilt. The struggle is real! Being an early childhood educator, I always felt guilty for not doing enough with Rosebud. At least I felt like I wasn’t doing enough. I wanted to make new sensory bins every week or two, try all kinds of different types of play-dough and do a bunch of art activities. Oh and let’s not forget that she needs outside time. The problem is there aren’t enough hours in the day. When am I going to do all that? I work and am tired when I get home. I work with kids all day and the last thing I want to do when I get home is get out messy finger paints or make up a new batch of play-dough. All I want to do is relax, but what I need to do is make dinner, clean and get ready for the next day. That doesn’t leave me much time with Rosebud, so I usually take her to play outside. I feel a lot of guilt over this because the last thing I want to do is take care of and play with other kids instead of my own, but that’s what I have to do every day. We do art on rainy days and I make up new sensory bins once a month. The crayons and markers are always available to her and we do lots of pretend play in her kitchen. Over the past six months, the mom guilt has been really nagging at me.

Teacher showing a boy and girl dinosaur models

Education

Next fall, Rosebud will be old enough to do the public pre-k, but from what I’ve seen, pre-k is pretty academic these days. I didn’t want Rosebud to go from no structure to all the structure. Academically, I don’t think it would be a problem. She knows her colors, shapes, numbers and is starting to recognize many letters. She knows a lot about the world around her and is a fast learner. I don’t want school to be a negative experience for her, but I think it would be if there were no transition in between.

Why I chose preschool for Rosebud pin

Preschool

Up until June, I was still on the fence about what to do. I often hear about the different local programs and I know the signs of a quality early childhood program so that’s what I look for. There are only three programs in my area that have a really good reputation. Unfortunately, cost is definitely a factor, so I was holding off. Then one day, someone told me about this preschool summer camp. It’s a three week session that runs three days per week. They do art, music, story time and outside play. It’s only a morning program. It seemed perfect. It was the perfect way to find out how Rosebud would react in a preschool environment. So far, so good. She’s finished her first week. She’s been on a nature walk, painted pictures and played with new toys. More importantly, she’s been playing with other kids. According to her teacher, she helps out in the classroom and is wonderful. The best thing is that she’s so happy in the afternoons. She tells me about her day and is excited to go back. I’ve noticed that she is less bored and is listening better. She even took a nap one afternoon which she hadn’t done in months. I am relieved that she is enjoying it and that her teacher seems to like her.

Back when I enrolled her in the summer preschool, I asked about their fall preschool program. They have a two, three or five day option. I chose the two day option for the fall. Now I’m kind of regretting not going with the three day option, but I wanted to see how things go. What I like about this preschool is that it’s play based and parents have said all good things about the program. I agonized over this decision, but it was a huge step for me and for Rosebud too. While I still worry and wonder what she is doing throughout the day, I know that I made the right decision. She needs this for her social and emotional development and I know she’ll learn things along the way. Now that I know she’ll be getting some other enrichment, I won’t be as worried that I’m not doing enough. I can just enjoy my time with her no matter what we are doing. Is your child starting preschool this fall? What was the deciding factor for you? Tell me in the comments.

2 Comments

Childcare, Parenting

What to Pack for Preschool

August 1, 2019

I’m a childcare provider and there are so many instances where the children do not have the essential items that they need. I know there are a lot of reasons for this. Parents may be struggling financially, there is poor communication between teachers and parents or it may be that parents assume that we can provide these items. Each childcare program is different. Some programs include diapers and wipes in the cost. Other programs serve meals and snacks. Some programs provide swimming lessons or dance classes. With so many different expectations, it’s important to find out what your child needs to have with them when they are first enrolled. Whatever the case may be, here is a list of items your child may need based on age.

Infant and Toddler

Bottles
Unless you are fortunate enough to work close enough to your child where you can breast-feed throughout the day, you’ll need bottles. This is where you should check with your childcare provider. Do they prefer premade bottles or will they make them as needed? What is their policy on frozen breast milk? At the center where I work, we prefer premade bottles that the parents make up at home. This way, we can pop them into the warmer or crock pot and the babies don’t have to wait as long. It’s also easier to keep track of whose bottles are whose this way. We label them, but with eight babies under a year old, it really helps us to have the bottles ready to go. Sometimes, we might need extra milk or the child is there longer than expected, so we have a freezer for storing breast milk that is properly labeled with the child’s name and the date it was expressed. We follow the same procedures for formula fed babies, but I’d recommend leaving a can of formula with your childcare provider just in case.

Baby Food

If your child has started eating solid food, you may want to bring some baby food depending on the childcare provider’s policies. Our program provides baby food and regular lunches for older children. However, many programs do not provide food. Personally, I prefer that parents bring food. This way, you know exactly what your child is eating and chances are, they will eat. I see so many kids that refuse our food either because it is unfamiliar or they think it’s gross. Then the child is grumpy because they are so hungry. There are advantages and disadvantages to providing food or having parents provide food, but it can be a factor when deciding on a program for your family.

Diapers and Wipes

This is an obvious one, but some places. Provide diapers and wipes, so it’s definitely something you should ask about. Parents will usually give us an unopened package of diapers and the same for wipes, but occasionally there are parents who only provide a few new diapers each day. I find this is the hardest to keep track of and if you forget, your child won’t have diapers for the day. While we try to have extra diapers on hand, it’s not always possible. When diapers are not provided, we end up having to borrow diapers from other children. Then when the diapers are replenished, we have to give some of your diapers back to the children you borrowed from. Some places have policies that state that if your child does not have enough diapers for the day, they cannot stay at the program. It’s also important because some children have skin sensitivity issues and using different diapers and wipes can cause irritation or an extreme rash. that’s why we only like to use what you provide. If you use a specific diaper rash cream or powder, you should include that as well.

Infants, Toddlers or Preschoolers

Changes of clothes

I can’t stress this enough! Infants should have at minimum two or three changes of clothes. With the spit ups, food mishaps and blow outs, infants need ample changes of clothes. This should be obvious, but parents can forget in the midst of sleepless nights while holding down a job.

Toddlers and preschoolers need changes of clothes too. I’d recommend two changes of clothes and check back often to be sure clothing is replenished. Even though most childcare providers will keep track, it helps to work as a team.

Comfort Items

Does your child use a pacifier? Do they have a special blanket, swaddle or stuffed animal? If so, please bring those in. We want your child to feel as comfortable as possible and want your child to feel at home. Most programs welcome family photos. Especially for infants. In our infant room, we have family posters. Each child has a poster with several pictures of themselves and their family members that they can look at throughout the day. Other classrooms use little photo albums that children can keep in their cubbies. Your child misses you throughout the day and photos can help them feel closer to you.

Outdoor Items

This will change depending on where you live, the climate and the ages of your children, but here’s an idea of what your child may need outside.
Jacket, raincoat or sweatshirt,
Good sneakers for outdoor play,
Rain boots or winter boots depending on season,
Summer or winter hat,
Mittens of gloves for winter,
We prefer the water proof mittens, but they may be harder to put on and may not fit as well as gloves or knitted mittens. Also, some children find it easier to use gloves or knitted mittens because they can use their hands better.
Sun screen or bug spray,
This is important because you know which products if any will cause allergic reactions in your child.
 
Items for Water Play

Many childcare providers do some type of water play and here are some items you might need.

Bathing suit,
Water shoes,

Towel.

Food

As I mentioned above, some programs require you to bring your children’s food. The amount of food you will need will depend on how long your child will be in care and the meals the provider will or will not include. Some programs serve breakfast and a snack, some programs serve two snacks, but no lunch while others provide all meals. Some programs may not provide any food at all. If you need to bring your own food, carefully read the policies as many places have items that you aren’t allowed to bring. Many programs are nut free which rules out anything with peanut butter. Some items are choking hazards such as hot dogs, whole grapes or raw carrots. I recommend including food items from each food group for a balanced diet. Whole grains, protein, vegetables, fruit and dairy. I also recommend using a lunch box or container that helps keep items either hot or cold since most places don’t have the time or facilities to warm up so many lunches at once.

Optional Items

these are items that I’ve seen parents bring over the years that may be helpful, but not always necessary.

Bib,

Sunglasses,

Teethers,

Chap stick,

Tissues,

Journal for writing notes back and forth.

There may be other items your child will need, but this list is meant to be a basic guide for what your child will need to bring to preschool. Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments.

5 Comments

Education, Parenting, Shopping

Back to School: The Unicorn Eddition

July 25, 2019

Welll, it’s that time again. It’s getting close to a new school year and that means buying brand new school supplies. Rosebud is starting preschool this year which is the inspiration for this post. I’ll mostly be focusing on supplies for elementary school kids since preschoolers don’t usually need many supplies. Rosebud and I are both unicorn fans, so here is a back to school list, the unicorn edition!

Supplies for Meal Times

Lunch Box

Kids love to have a cool lunch box and here are a couple options for a girl who loves unicorns.

Ice Pack
In case the lunch box you choose doesn’t come with one or you need an extra.

Thermos
If you want to pack soup or other warm food.

Water Bottle
Whether your child is going to preschool or elementary school, they’ll need a water bottle.

Backpack

Another extremely important item. Most kids love picking out their own backpack. Here are a few unicorn backpacks to choose from.

School Supplies

Notebook

Folders

3 Ring Binder

Pencils

Pens
I remember a lot of us having pens when we were in school. Although, I didn’t see pens on the back to school lists I looked at.

Erasers
These are more novelty than anything, but it’s fun to have some unique school supplies.

Pencil Sharpener

Pencil Case

Markers
I did not find a unicorn marker set, but I found some colored pencils. I’ll include those along with a standard marker set.

Crayons
I’ll include this novelty set as well as a standard crayon set.

Safety Scissors
Who knew there were unicorn scissors?

Extras
Tissues and Hand wipes,

Glue

School Supply Luxuries

Have fun shopping for back to school items this year. Try not to stress and if possible, give your children some choices about what they would like. In my experience, it helps them get excited about the start of school. Stay tuned for more back to school posts in August! I’ll end this post with this simple back to school checklist.

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Books, Preschool

12 Bug Books for Preschoolers

July 22, 2019

Rosebud has been talking a lot about the bugs we’ve been seeing outside lately. She’s decided that a lot of them are scary which is why I put together the rice and bugs sensory bin. Honestly, I can’t stand bugs. there’s just something about them being creepy and crawly, but I didn’t want Rosebud to be scared every time she saw some sort of insect, so we’ve been reading some bug books as well. There are a lot of books out there about bugs. Some of them teach life lessons while others are educational in a different way, teaching us about how bugs are beneficial to our environment. While not all the bugs in these books are scientifically classified as insects, they are still apart of the bug category in my book. Whether your child is afraid of bugs or curious about them, you’ll find something interesting on this list of 12 bug books for preschoolers.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
By Eric Carle

I had to include this one because it is a classic and Rosebud loves still loves this book!
Description
In the light of the moon, a little egg lay on a leaf.” So begins Eric Carle’s modern classic,The Very Hungry Caterpillar. More than 12 million copies of this book have been sold in its original, full-sized edition, and the beloved tale of science and gluttony has been translated into 20 languages. This five-by-four-inch miniature edition is truly tiny, with tiny type, but it is a nice size for small hands to hold and flip through the pictures. Despite its diminished state, the book is complete in every detail, following the ravenous caterpillar’s path as he eats his way through one apple (and the pages of the book itself) on Monday, two pears on Tuesday, three plums on Wednesday, and so on, through cherry pie and sausage–until he is really fat and has a stomachache. And no doubt you know what happens next! Kids love butterfly metamorphosis stories, and this popular favorite teaches counting and days of the week too.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs
By Catherine D. Hughes

While doing some research for this post, I found this informative book. I haven’t read this one yet with Rosebud, but I’m including it because it’s nonfiction and is perfect for our little scientists. Not only does it talk about our typical backyard bugs, but it also shows bugs from around the world.
Description
The experts at National Geographic present a delightful reference that introduces young children to bugs of all kinds: big and small, jumping and crawling, colorful and creepy. This charming book explores backyard favorites, such as ladybugs and lightning bugs, and introduces kids to more exotic species that inhabit rain forests and deserts around the world. Colorful photos are paired with profiles of each insect, along with facts about the creatures’ sizes, diets, homes, and more. This book will quickly become a favorite at story time, bedtime, and any other time!

The Very Impatient Caterpillar
By Ross Burach

A book perfect for any kid that struggles with being patient.

Description
Hey! What are you guys doing?

We’re going to metamorphosize.

Meta-WHAT-now?

Transform into butterflies.

Right. Right. I knew that…

WAIT?! You’re telling me I can become a BUTTERFLY?

Yes.

With wings?

Yes.

Wait for ME!!

Ross Burach’s hilarious, tongue-in-cheek exploration of metamorphosis will make you flutter with glee, while also providing real facts about how caterpillars transform into butterflies.

The Very Busy Spider
By Eric Carle

This is another classic by Eric Carle that Rosebud loves. I love that the illustrations are tactile as well.

Description

Early one morning a little spider spins her web on a fence post. One by one, the animals of the nearby farm try to distract her, yet the busy little spider keeps diligently at her work. When she is done, she is able to show everyone that not only is her creation quite beautiful, it is also quite useful!

This multi-sensory book allows children to feel the pictures as well as see them. And with its rhythmic text, The Very Busy Spider becomes an experience to touch, to see, and to hear.

How the Ladybug got her Spots
By Caren D Green

I had never seen this book before doing research for this post. This looks like a cute story with a message that all kids should hear. We are all different and that is a good thing.
Description

Once, in the leafy, green plants lived a small red and black bug that did not feel as special as all of her garden friends, and so she set out to find something to set her apart. Follow her through this charmingly illustrated, adorable tale that teaches how even the tiniest among us can be special.

Backyard Books: Are You a Dragonfly?
By Judy Allen

Here’s another nonfiction book. This one is about dragonflies.

Description
The most colorful wings on the pond belong to the nimble dragonfly, but this delicate flying insect didn’t begin life in the air. In Backyard Books: Are You a Dragonfly? by Judy Allen with illustrations by Tudor Humphries, the secrets of metamorphosis are unfurled through the story of a familiar backyard creature.

Ten Magic Butterflies
By Danica McKellar

This is a cool book that Rosebud and I read recently. It has magic, counting and the message that is a good thing to be yourself.

Description
Fairies, butterflies, and magic help to make this math-focused picture book from Danica McKellar, the New York Times best selling author of Goodnight, Numbers and star of The Wonder Years, positively enchanting!

Join ten flower friends for a night of excitement that mixes a little math with a lot of magic. As each flower turns into a butterfly, children will discover different ways to group numbers to create ten, an essential building block of math, all while watching each flower’s dream come true. (And keep an eye out for the adorable caterpillar who wishes he could fly, too!)

Alpha Bugs: A Pop-up Alphabet (David Carter’s Bugs)
By David A. Carter

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll have seen a post or two about interactive books. I couldn’t finish this post without including some. Here’s a pop-up book that includes bugs and the alphabet, so it’s perfect for a bug theme.

Description
From boogie-woogie Bubble Bugs

to upside-down Umbrella Bugs,

this fun-filled pop, pull, and peek book

makes learning the alphabet

exactly eight egg bugs excellent.

Review

Publishers Weekly “Where will they strike next? A jar of olives, a waffle iron, a rock — each conceals a daffy insect… They are wittily transformed into members of an odd but comical alphabet species… Amusing alliteration and a zany sense of humor deliver fun with every letter.

Bee & Me
By Elle J. McGuinness

This book not only has a story, but it has a short fact list about bees as well. The coolest thing about this book is the motion. Each page has something that moves. While some of the information in this book is over Rosebud’s head, she loves the colorful illustrations and the way the bee moves.

Description
The New York Times bestselling Bee & Me, in a new mini-Animotion format.

Just like the New York Times bestselling Bee and Me, the mini abridged Bee and Me is filled with all of the action of AniMotion windows, and the same great story and pictures that have won the hearts of legions of kids and parents all across the country. The heart of the book is a sweet tale teaching kids the important roll bees play in nature. This new smaller format is ideal for younger children and smaller hands.
“A beautiful, heart-warming book that helps children (and adults

Understand how essential bees are to the planet.

Bee & Me
By Alison Jay

You read that right. I’ve included two Bee & Me books. This one is a picture book and it is totally different from the first one. Not only does it show friendship, but it also shows the importance of saving bees.

Description
A beautiful wordless picture book brings a personal note to the plight of the honeybee and offers a message of hope.
A little girl befriends a bee that takes her on a journey of discovery, revealing an action that every child can take to aid in conservation. In a wordless story told through enchanting illustrations, Bee & Me tells a tale of friendship and offers an introduction to the ecology of the natural world. Alison Jay’s original artwork brings the story gently to life, pointing out the sadness of a world without bees. An afterword makes clear to readers the important role these endangered insects play.

The Very Greedy Bee
By Steve Smallman

A book that teaches us not to be greedy.

Description

A greedy bee learns a lesson when he “slurps and burps” too much nectar, falls asleep in a meadow, and needs help from other insects to find his way home after dark.

The Very Quiet Cricket
By Eric Carle

I’m wrapping up this post with another classic by Eric Carle. This book also has an interactive feature, the chirping cricket at the end. Even without the chirping cricket, it’s a great story.

Description

One day a tiny cricket is born and meets a big cricket who chirps his welcome. The tiny cricket tries to respond, but there is no sound. The quiet cricket then makes his way into the world, meeting one insect after another, each of whom greets the little cricket with a cheery hello–the hum of a bee, the whirr of a dragonfly, the whisper of a praying mantis. The cricket rubs his wings together each time, but nothing happens, not a sound. Until the day he meets another cricket, a female, and something different happens . . .

As children turn the page on this wonderful moment, they are greeted with a surprise–an actual chirp!

Are there any cool bug books that should be on this list? Tell me in the comments!

I’ll leave you with some more bug related items to explore.

Check out this list of 16 creative ways to make bug crafts with kids and these bug theme snacks.

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Books, Parenting, Toddlers

7 Interactive Summer Books for Toddlers

June 3, 2019

As I’ve mentioned before, I love interactive books. While there seems to be less and less of them being made, I search for them anyway. When I was a kid, interactive elements such as scratch and sniff, 3d popups and even sound helped me get into a story. We all have different ways of learning, but I think we are much more likely to remember something when we experience something using all our senses. Since I can’t read the printed words or see the pictures very well, interactive elements help me bring books to life for Rosebud. We read plenty of regular books with only words and pictures, but when we can interact with our books in another way, it’s a special treat. Here are the best interactive books I’ve found for the summer. The book descriptions are from Amazon.com.

Llama Llama Sand and Sun: A Touch & Feel Bookby Anna Dewdney

While I was doing some research for this post, I was excited to come across this book. Rosebud loves her Mama Llama books and almost knows them by heart. We don’t have a summer time Llama Llama book, so we will be checking this one out. It might be a little young for her at this point, but she loves books with touch and feel elements, but it would be perfect for a toddler which is why it’s on my list!
Book Description
Read along with Llama Llama as he splashes in the waves and plays in the sand in this brand-new touch-and-feel board book!

Seymour Sea Turtle Snaps Up Lunch
by Matt Mitter

This is an older book, but Rosebud has fun with this one. This is the story of Seymour the Sea Turtle who is tired of eating sponge everyday. He tries other foods only to realize that sponge is his favorite. I think we all do this. We try new things only to realize we really prefer the familiar.

Book Description
Tired of always eating sponges, Seymour Sea Turtle tries other dishes including coral and shellfish until he realizes how much he likes to eat sponge.

The Ocean (Touch and Explore)
by Nathalie Choux

This is another gem that I found. I had never heard of this author before, but she has a whole touch and explore series. This one is all about the ocean and it has a lot of great reviews. This series of books is definitely worth checking out.

Book Description
Touch And Explore™ is Twirl’s multi-sensory series for children who want to do more than just listen! Already bestsellers in their original French editions, these well-crafted interactive titles encourage hands-on engagement, learning, and knowledge retention.
What’s rough, scaly, smooth, or bumpy? What crawls or dives? In this splashy treat for visual learners and pre-readers kids can discover the facts, feel, and functions of over two dozen marine animals.
They’ll touch shiny scales and bumpy barnacles, turn a flap to find a clownfish hiding among the anemone, touch a shark’s sandpapery skin, and discover who can squirt ink and change color!
This sea-feast for eyes and hands will encourage kids to immerse themselves in a fascinating beyond-the-bathtub habitat. It’s a trip to an underwater world that’s just a touch away!

On My Beach
by Sara Gillingham

Most of the books on this list are touch and feel, but this one is a little different. It has a finger puppet in the middle. This looks like a cute story and the author has a series of these books. Rosebud does not have this book, but I’ve seen these in the toddler room I worked in several years ago and the kids loved them!

Book Description
Turn the colorful die-cut pages of this irresistible board book to discover just what makes little crab’s beach so cozy. Is it the soft sand? Is it the salty seaweed? No, it’s his loving family! Bright pictures, a sweet reassuring message, unique layered pages, and an adorable finger puppet combine to create interactive reading and playtime fun!

By The Seashore: A Natural Trails Book (A Touch and Feel Adventure)
by Maurice Pledger

This is another older book. Rosebud loves this one. She knows all the fish and loves to find and count the jewels. This book has it all. It’s touch and feel and has flaps to lift.

Book Description
Combining wonderful illustrations with lift-a-flaps and touch-and-feel components, this unique book introduces children to the different textures that they might find on the seashore.

Where Is Baby’s Beach Ball? A Lift the Flap Book
by Karen Katz

This is a cute story. Baby is looking for the beach ball and every page has a flap to lift. Rosebud loved these books as a toddler. She still looks at them occasionally, but last year, all her Karen Katz books were in heavy rotation.

Book Description
It’s summertime, and Baby is looking for the beach ball–but where can it be? Little ones can lift the large, sturdy flaps in this board book to reveal pretty seashells, crawly crabs, and more! Babies will love this interactive adventure!

Fruit (Pop and Sniff)
by Piggy Toes Publishing

I was looking for a scratch and sniff book with a summer theme. Unfortunately, I didn’t find one, but then I remembered this scratch and sniff fruits book. Summer is the perfect time for fresh fruits! Rosebud loves this even though she says the fruit smells are gross. She goes back to the orange over and over though. This is one of the better scratch and sniff books I’ve had. The scratch and sniff element is built right into the page. It’s not a sticker that can be pealed off. I bought this book almost ten years ago to use with my preschool class and the smells are still strong and pretty realistic as well. There’s no story, but the focus is mainly on the giant pop up fruits and the scents on each page. It’s great for toddlers, but it can be ripped easily as the pop ups are delicate. Now that Rosebud is a little older, she is starting to be much more careful with her books.

Book Description
Pop & Sniff books are interactive pop-up books for young children and their parents. Featuring brightly colored photographs, large, sturdy pop-ups, and simple interactive elements, these books encourage learning and foster creativity in the youngest of readers.

What are your kids favorite summer themed books? Let me know in the comments. Happy reading!

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Education, Gift Giving, Parenting, Preschool

Gifts Your Teachers Will Really Appreciate

May 5, 2019

This week is Teacher Appreciation week. If you are wondering how to show appreciation, I have a few ideas. This list is made with early childhood educators in mind, but will work for school teachers as well. It all depends on the needs of your schools and classrooms. At our center, a handful of parents will bring in food on Teacher Appreciation day and maybe a couple of parents will bring a small gift. During the rest of the year, we rarely get a thank you or any acknowledgment for the work that we do. In fact, many people don’t even see early childhood educators as teachers at all. They see us as glorified babysitters.

Yes, we change diapers, feed and clean up after kids, but our work involves so much more than that. We read, teaching them vocabulary. We show them how to use crayons, markers and paintbrushes for pre-writing skills. We use messy art activities to encourage creativity and self-expression. During meals we teach social skills like how to take turns talking and how to share with others. As educators, we have to know when the unplanned teachable moments pop up as well.

We teach about math, science and technology. Although it looks like just playing to most people, research shows that children learn best through play. Children are getting less opportunities for play with the push for academics at younger and younger ages. Being an advocate is another of our many hats. We try to treat every child like they are special and give them one on one time when we can.

Our job has a darker side. We have to watch for signs of abuse and neglect. We have to separate children who get aggressive with each other because they do not have the words or the comprehension of sharing. Sometimes we get bit, scratched, hit, kicked and spit on. Many children have special needs and we get little support since they aren’t school age. Many parents I’ve worked with fight us at every turn because no one wants to hear that there is something wrong with their child. As a parent I can empathize, but as an educator, it makes my job so much more difficult. That brings me to the high stress levels and high turn-over rates. My coworkers seem to change every few months and we never really get to build a connection. Educators and children thrive when there is a strong cohesive team. When we don’t have that, our classrooms suffer and that’s when we really need support from you, the parents.

I didn’t choose this job for any rewards or gifts I’d get, but the few times I have received a gift or note of gratitude, it has really brightened my day. When you feel appreciated, it makes some of the struggle worth it. Most of us choose to be teachers to make a difference in the lives of children. When we hear that we have, it lifts our spirits. Here are a few gift ideas to show your teachers that you appreciate their hard work.

Gift Cards

Gift cards are fantastic! Whether it is for coffee, a nice dinner or a gift card to get supplies for the classroom, it’s all appreciated. I like picking up breakfast on the way to work. After a long stressful day, it’s nice to enjoy a meal that someone else has prepared. Gift cards serve this purpose well. If you don’t know what classroom supplies your teacher needs, a gift card is a great option for that.

The Wish List

You could also ask your teacher for a wish list. When you buy things for the classroom, we appreciate it very much because we pay for most of the toys and materials out of our own pockets. At one of the centers I’ve worked at, we posted a weekly wish list. It could include anything from flour for play-dough to paper towel roles for projects to raisins to make a special snack. We got to do some wonderful activities with the children because of the generosity of parents. The items may not even cost a penny. They may be items laying around your house. We’ve used egg cartons, old magazines, yogurt containers, fabric scraps, buttons and cereal boxes to name a few. Items that usually get thrown out can be repurposed as kids art projects or props for the dramatic play area.

The Gift of Time

Volunteering your time is another great way to show appreciation. We could always use an extra set of hands in the classroom. If you have special talents or interests, please let us know. Maybe we could use your help. Do you enjoy gardening, many centers have gardens or outdoor areas that get neglected. Are you a crafter? We love items for dramatic play areas like homemade dolls, dress up clothes or if it’s a craft we can teach the kids, even better. Do you like to bake or cook? Baked goods or a home cooked meal that we can enjoy during the day is wonderful. We are usually rushed. Some of us skip meals or have to gulp our food down, so it’s nice to have something to nibble on throughout the day. If money is tight or if gift giving really isn’t your thing, you could write a note of gratitude instead. Your kind words and thoughtful gesture will be appreciated more than material items ever will. Do you have another way to share your time or talents with us? Let us know. Chances are, we will probably welcome and appreciate it.

A More Personal Gift

If you know your teacher well, then it will be easier to give a gift with a more personal touch. Here are some ideas to get you started.

What do you do to show your teachers that you appreciate them? If you are a teacher, what things do you really appreciate from parents? Tell me in the comments.

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