There was an excellent article posted on nprEd entitled What Kids Need From Grown-Ups (But Aren’t Getting). The article is a summary of a conversation with Erika Christakis the author of the book The Importance of Being Little. Here are a few of my favorite points: 1. “I think the No. 1 thing is for kids to […]
Materials: small toys/objects and tin foil Preparation: Wrap up the toys and objects in some tin foil. Place the wrapped objects in a bowl or bucket. Activity: Start to unwrap one of the objects a tiny bit and let the child complete the unwrapping to discover the object. Once the child learns how to open […]
Today we did some painting with water. My little guy is a handful. So finding activities that entertain him in one location for a few minutes can sometimes be a challenge. This activity gets a thumbs up from me. He “painted” for about 5-7 minutes straight which is lengthy for this guy. Thank God it […]
I just love all the new coloring pages I see online and in the stores. The only problem is that they take way toooooooo long to color! I just created a set of 20 zentangle animal coloring pages that are easier and less detailed. Translation – you will actually be able to color the whole […]
1. Pretend Play Library – if you follow my blog you know that one of my favorite things to do with my children is go to the library. It is so peaceful and quiet with so many learning opportunities. Here is a great set of free printables so the children can play library at home. […]
Many times, as adults we may not always remember how necessary play is for children including teenagers. There is a purpose for play. Here are 5 reasons why children and teens play: To develop social skills and interact with adults and peers. To explore objects – touch, hear, taste, see and learn from objects. To […]
Many children love to play pretend and create elaborate imaginative settings and characters. Some children may need a little extra help to expand their make believe play skills. Here are 5 simple tips to help your child or student develop pretend play scenarios: Ask questions about what the children are playing? This will encourage the […]
Ever need to spark some ideas for pretend play? Print out this poster to hang in your playroom, early childhood center or preschool. You can download it here. Check out all of our printables for pretend play doctor, hospital, school, animal care, secret agent and candy shop.
Funny, how as time goes by, my parenting rules seem to all fall by the wayside. I am the youngest of seven children and have heard my whole life from my older siblings how my parents let me get away with everything. Now that I am the mother of six, I completely get it! Here […]
Baby Toddler Book Pages are a digital download of 10 entertaining and educational pages for baby. This set includes the following 10 themes: baby, dogs, cats, toys, animals, farm, trucks, outdoors and 2 color identification pages. growingplay.wpengine.com You can print the pages on cardstock paper and laminate. If you don’t want to print the pages, let […]