Printable – Easter Games Package

March 13, 2016 by 4 Comments

Today, I have parenting tips on printable Easter Games. Our printable Easter games includes matching, unscramble and word search.  It’s a great mix for younger and older children.  If you’re like me,  you’re always looking for games or activities to occupy the kids while you’re fixing dinner or entertaining other guests.   

 

printable Easter games

 

 

Here’s my printable Easter games package:

 

We have created an unscramble and word search game for older children.  Our printable Easter Games for preschool and kindergarten will help children recognize differences and similarities.  Word Search and Unscramble games can help older children with letter and word recognition, vocabulary and spelling.


Easter activities, preschool activities,

 

 

 

 

Easter games, Unscramble games

 

Image-Unscramble-Easter-Answer-Sheet

 

word search games, Easter games

 

Early childhood development is essential in a child’s education.  Matching items/objects helps to develop their logic and helps them learn how to make connections as well.  It also helps children to develop the desire to learn and builds a solid foundation for success.  Early childhood development sets children on a clear path for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Our Easter Games are filled with fluffy bunnies, cute chicks, brightly colored eggs, and chocolate eggs.  But, lets not leave out the carrots for Easter Bunny.  Our matching game is sure to grab the attention of any preschooler.  However, our Word Search and Unscramble games will challenge the older children.  Furthermore, I hope your Easter includes lots of colored eggs, cookies, and chocolate bunnies. So, be sure to reward yourself too.

In conclusion, use our printable Easter Games activities sheets.  They can be downloaded here.  How are you helping your child to develop logic and problem solving skills?  How about older children?  Do you challenger their vocabulary, spelling, or word recognition skills.  These games are a great start.

 

You may also like:  Kindergarten Super Heroes and Sports

 

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African American Inventors in America

February 4, 2016 by 3 Comments

February is Black History Month. Today, I’m sharing Black Inventors In America and their inventions.  There’s some controversy as to whether or not there should be a Black History Month.  Some people believe that there shouldn’t be a month that focuses on one race’s accomplishments.  However, some people believe that many accomplishments by African American’s in America have been diminished or simply not recognized.   As a result, I believe that we should continue Black History Month.

 

 

Black Inventors:

Black History Month activities,

Image-Answer-Key-African-American-Inventions

 

It’s important that children of color learn about everyone’s contribution to our country.  They need to have role models and leaders in science and math as well.  Our country is great because of diversity.  Diverse people made a contribution this great country.  This includes Black Inventors and Artists.   They invented the street mailboxes, adhesives, spark plugs, and more.  I believe as parents and grandparents, it is our responsibility to teach our children about American’s history and that includes Black History.   Schools don’t have an extensive program on Black History.

As a result, I developed this fun and educational match games for older children.  The goal is to match the Black Inventors to their Inventions.  The kids may know some of the Inventors/Inventions, but they may have to Google others.  This is a great way to have a family discussion.  And, for your children to further their education on Black Inventors.  You can discuss how the invention is used in your home, their grandparents home or society in general.  Turn it into a fun, educational game.  It’s perfect for a road trip too.  Visiting the National Museum of African American History is a great way to learn about African American in this country.

I’ve included an Answer Key.  Print both the challenge and answer key here.  Have fun with the kids, and be sure to check back for additional Black History posts.

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Snowman Preschool Math Game

January 27, 2016 by 5 Comments

Today, I’m sharing parenting tips on creating our preschool math game.  This week we have a snowman preschool math game that will help your preschooler and or kindergartener count from 1 – 20.  The game helps the student learn by counting the buttons on the snowmen and learn number recognition by placing the correct hat on the snowman’s head.

 

 

 

preschool math activity sheet

 

How to Create the Snowmen:

First, you will need the following items to make these adorable snowmen:

  • black and white construction paper or cardstock
  • black marker or pen
  • scissors
  • pencil for tracing
  • orange marker

First, I found it easier to make a sample snowman and top hat to trace and cut around.  I used construction paper from the dollar store to make the snowmen or printer paper will work too.  Next, I folded a sheet of construction paper in half and than folded it again. I placed the sample snowman on top of the folded sheet and cut around it.  I was able to create 4 snowmen at once using this method.  Since you will need 20 snowmen, this method cuts down on time.

Additionally, it was easier to use the cardstock for the top hat and cut out each one individually.  You will need a circle for each hat so you can write the number on it.  I suggest cutting out the small circles for the hat individually.  Afterwards, glue the circle on the hat and than allow it to dry before writing the number on the hat.

While the glue is drying, make the faces and draw the buttons on the body of the snowmen from 1 -10 or 1 – 20, depending on how many you wish to make.  My 9 year old grandson helped draw the faces and make the buttons on each snowman. Once the bodies are made, write the numbers on the hats.

preschool games, numbers games for preschoolers, winter activites, winter games

 

Image-Snowman-Counting-Game-6-10

 

Last, teaching your child to count using this snowman preschool math game is not only educational, it will be fun.  Making education fun should be the goal. The goal is to count the buttons and than match the hat to the coordinating snowman.  If you have an older child like my 9 year old, let them count with your preschooler or kindergarten.  Finally, it’s a great way to teach them to count without getting bored.  So, stayed turned to our next snowman game.  You may also like Kid’s Winter Crafts for Kids.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6 Tips For Purchasing School Supplies

August 4, 2015 by
Summer is just about over and the kids will soon be returning to school. Where did the time go? Backpacks, school supplies, and clothing will be needed for the upcoming school year. Parents will be heading out to stock up on school supplies.  Here are a few parenting tips on shopping for school supplies.  
shopping for school supplies

 

 

1.  Make a list of the needed supplies –   Check your child’s school site for a list of needed supplies for the upcoming year.  Many schools provide a list of the school supplies needed for the upcoming year as well to your local Kmart, Wal-Mart, Office Max etc.  Be sure to add extra items for homework and additional week-end/tutoring sessions. You can save money by not guessing about what is needed or having to make an additional trip to the store because you omitted items.

2.  Take inventory of supplies from last year purchases –  Before you go shopping for school supplies, check your supplies from last year.  This will ensure you won’t buy duplicate or unnecessary items when you head to the store.  You can spend that money on other items.

3.  Do your homework – Check ads for the best deals. Head to your local Dollar Store first and eliminate as many items as possible.  You can purchase quality crayons, pencils, pencil cases, sharpeners and inexpensive notebooks for practicing math problems etc. here.

4. Purchase quality items –  Purchase quality book bags and electronics. Trust me, you will end up spending the money again if you don’t purchase quality items. Check online stores like Best Buy, Amazon, Dell, HP etc. for great deals on electronics and look for free shipping sites.  I purchased a Michael Jordan book bag for my grandson last year. He will carry it for years before I have to purchase another.

5.  Take the student with you – Getting the children involved helps eliminate items that they may be unhappy with.  And, it also gets them involved in the back to school process.  If the student doesn’t want to go along, ask them for any specific items they may want.

 6.  BOGO is your friend –   Consider BOGO when shopping for school supplies.  You will use the item later in the year I guarantee it.  So, go ahead and indulge. The item may not be BOGO later in the year.

You may want to purchase a storage bin to house school supplies for the upcoming year. Items will be easy to track and access when needed too. What tips can you add to the list?


You may also like:  Back To School Shopping Tips

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9 Benefits of Preschool

June 1, 2015 by

Mine, mine!  Those words were etched into my brain at one point.  They’re the words of a toddler claiming everything that belongs to them.  That includes the neighbor and anyone else who has possessions that are visible. That was my grandson years ago. Sharing with other children was simply out of the question. We believed part of the problem was him being an only child and not having to share.  We knew that he would encounter problems if we didn’t expose him to other children and adults.  So, today I’m sharing parenting tips on the benefits of preschool.  

 

 

benefits of preschool

 

 

Did you know this?  The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) shows that children who attend Preschool for at least 1 year have stronger reading.  Furthermore, they have better vocabulary and math skills than those who don’t attend. We researched and checked out several schools in the area that we believed would benefit him the most.  They had stellar reputations.  Unfortunately, they had waiting lists.  Rather than sit around and twiddling our thumbs, we decided on a Preschool and took advantage of their child care facility.  The facility would transition him to Preschool once there was an opening.

Many parents don’t realize that there is a difference between Child Care and Preschool.  To eliminate any confusion here are some differences between Child Care and Preschool:

  1. Child Care facilities will take children at a young age.  Some places as young as 3 months when mom returns to work. Preschools normally don’t take children before ages 2 or 3.
  2. Child Care facilities will assist with potty training and weening from the pacifier. Children should be potty trained and off the pacifier before they enter preschool.
  3. Also, preschools normally have set hours and summers off like regular schools.
  4. Child Care facilities focus on playing, napping, happy and healthy. Preschools focus on education.
  5. Preschools have Parent and Teacher conferences as well as plays and recitals.

 

benefits of preschool

 

 

When we were making a decision as to whether we should place him in Preschool, we weighed the pros and cons. I honestly couldn’t find any cons, but I found plenty of benefits for Preschool:
  1. Your child will have an established bedtime and get into a routine of getting up in the morning at a specify time.
  2. Your child will be exposed to a group experience.
  3. There will be an established nap/rest period during the day.
  4. Preschool will teach children to share, compromise and respect other children.
  5. Additionally, your child will learn to be independent and learn confidence.
  6. Your child will understand the concept of homework.  To ensure your child learns their  shapes, colors, numbers, and the alphabet, home work will be given.
  7. Furthermore, your child will have experiences from field trips with his classmates.
  8. Your child will learn social skills and make new friends.
  9. Your child will be prepared for Kindergarten.

 

Studies have shown that Early Childhood Development is the foundation for a strong education. I recommend that you create a list of what you’re looking for in a Preschool and do your homework. Check out several facilities and make comparisons on the pros and cons. Make sure the building or facility is up to code, clean, has a safe playground, and has a stellar rating for early childhood education.

Last, my grandson completed 2 years of Preschool, ages 3-4, and excelled when he entered Kindergarten. He is now in the second grade and is an excellent student with strong academic skills. We hope that you will consider the benefits of preschool, and enroll your child as well.

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5 Benefits of Playgrounds

April 10, 2014 by
benefits of playgrounds

Do you take your child to the park or playground?  Do you understand the benefits of playgrounds. I’ve often wondered if they have become obsolete and replaced by video games.  I can count on one hand the number of times that I’ve taken the children to park and there has been other children there.  I wondered if parents understood the importance of a playground and its benefit to our children.

When children are on the playground, they are encouraged to engage in free play. Free play is simply children playing, running, climbing and using their imagination.  We may not think of early childhood development while they are on the playground.  But, developing our children must be considered in just about everything that we do as parents.   Although we have a swing set in the backyard, we still my grandson to the park for exercise and interaction with other children. 

There are multiple benefits to children playing on slides, monkey bars, climbing and jumping.  Here are a few:

  • Physical benefit – All children need to exercise for good health and to fight obesity.
  • Helps develop children emotionally – Children can learn to understand and control their emotions on the playground.  They may fall and cry, they may find something funny or get angry. This is a perfect opportunity to teach them about being happy, sad or whatever they’re feeling.
  • Helps develop social skills – Children must learn to socialize to be successful as an adult. Playing on a playground allows children to join in with others, share, and learn how to be a good sport.  They may be teased, have another child cut in front of them etc., but it’s a perfect opportunity to teach them how to resolve problems they may encounter.
  • Helps develop large motor skills – Children develop and strengthen motor skills from birth to 6 years.  This includes rolling over, walking, learning to hold a pencil or crayons, using scissors, these are fine motor skills. Large motor skills are developed by using muscles in the arms, legs etc. Climbing, jumping,  using the monkey bars etc. will help with these skills. It will also assist children with learning to keep their balance and playing in organized sports.
  • Helps develop cognitive skills –  Children need to develop their brain so they will learn how to remember, solve problems, work on perception and it assists them with their attention span.

Research by The Shasta Children and Families First Commission (SCFFC) has shown that brain development is crucial in a child’s earliest years. It’s imperative that children develop interaction through free play in the first six years of their life, and playgrounds are an appropriate area to develop these skills.  Research also reveals that children who have poorly developed motor-skills by age five will most likely never have efficient motor-skills.

benefits of playgrounds

The paternal grandparents purchased a play ground set similar to the one at the park for the backyard when time isn’t on our side.  Xavier is getting older now, so he’s more into organized activities like football, basketball and swimming.  Children become advanced because we focused on their  developmental skills. Utilizing the playground to develop skills is not a new concept.  My daughter was and still is a social butterfly.  She participated in organized activities and excelled in higher academics.

Early childhood development is essential for all children.  It is imperative that you work on your child’s developmental needs.  The physical, emotional, cognitive, motor and social skills in your child’s early years will affect everything they do later in their life.  The benefits of playgrounds are essential.

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The Benefits Of Reading To Your Kids

November 14, 2013 by

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on the benefits of reading to your kids.  First, to prepare your child for academic success it is recommended that we expose them to books.  Furthermore, studies have shown that reading is one of the keys to academic success.  My grandchildren love for me to read to them.  So, I’ve started a library for both.  I’m all for downloading books and apps, but I love seeing shelves full of books in the children’s rooms.

 

 

 

benefits of reading to your child

 

 

As a matter of fact, I read to my daughter when she was a child.  Her love for reading stayed with her.  As a result, as she got older she continued to read for hours.  To this day, one of my fondest memories was our book fair excursions. We would plan a day where I would meet her at college and we would spend hours at the local book fair.  Later, we would discuss our finds as well as the latest happenings on campus over dinner.  I do believe that our mutual love for books helped to create a strong mother – daughter bond too.

Additionally, my daughter was an honor student, a member of Who’s Who in America, and a member of the Spanish Honor Society.  I believe that her early exposure to books helped her to excel in her academics.  Most importantly, start reading to your child at an early age.  It’s never too soon.

 

benefits of reading to your child

 

 

Furthermore, I’m hoping that our love for reading will be instilled into my grandchildren.  Reading must be taught, and it starts at home.  My granddaughter mimics her brother.  In addition to having books, they also have a Kindle, iPad, and laptop.  Both of their reading skills are strong.

 

Additionally, we’ve taught Xavier how to access various sites on the computer.  He’s astute at navigating all of the electronics, and my granddaughter mimics everything her big brother does.  He is teaching her the ABC’s, how to count and various colors.

 

Benefits of reading to your child:

  • Reading together creates a bond.
  • Reading helps to build a child’s vocabulary.
  • Your child will learn to follow a story from beginning to end. (You won’t be able to fool them if you try to skip pages. Especially, if it’s one of their favorite stories.)
  • Your child will have an appreciation for writing.
  • Builds a strong foundation for academics.
  • Your child will take steps to pick up books and read on their own.  ”’

 

 

 

benefits of reading to your child

 

 

Reading tips for parents:

  • Start reading to your child as early as 6 months.
  • Select reading material that interest your child and is appropriate to his/her age group. Toddlers love bright colors and books that are simple.  Board books are perfect.
  • Use different voices and pitches (vary your tone) when you read. Young children usually prefer to hear the same story over and over.
  • Purchase a personalized book for your child. They love reading about themselves.  I had a personalized book made for both grandchildren.
  • PBS has great programs where they focus on words, spelling, and their meaning. Check out you TV Guide for time slots and programs.
  • Have your child turn the page when you’re reading paper or hard back book. This gets them involved.
  • Allow your child to ask questions, and be sure to ask your child questions about the story.
  • Allow your child to select books from his or her age group.  This will work with buying in a store or downloading.
  • Take them to the local library for story hour.
  • Set an example. If your child sees you reading, they will follow.  I read my Kindle while my Xavier is reading his Kindle or iPad.  Zarriah has a tablet now too.
  • Don’t substitute books on tape. The true bonding experience and benefits come from you taking the time to read to your child.

Finally, we hope that you find our benefits of reading to your child helpful.  Also, you may also like 4 Benefits of Reading to Your Child. 

                                                                       

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Words – Slang of the 60’s

September 9, 2009 by

Today, I’m sharing parenting advice on slang of the 60’s.  So, I recently celebrated my birthday, and I’ve been reflecting on my years growing up.  I born was in 1960.  You remember the 1960’s or at least heard of the hippies, psychedelic era, go go boots, hot pants, mini skirts, the peace sign, and Woodstock.  I’m a 60’s baby.  As a matter of fact, there was alot going on during those years.  I thought I would bring back a few memories or provide a little education for those who were born years later.

The 60’s were big in American History.  There was the Civil Rights Movement, John F. Kennedy assassination and the hippie era happening.  Teaching children about this time in history is important.

 

slang of the 60's

 

I was born in the fall of 1960 to be exact.  Additionally, I would have been between the age of newborn – 9 years old during this time. I grow up in a small town, so there wasn’t many places to go or hang out. We just walked around town and just had fun. I remember seeing teenagers sitting on what we called “The Wall” just hanging out. They wore jeans, headbands, tie-dyed shirts, love beads, and walked barefoot or wore flip flops. It was the era of Peace and Love.
One of my fondest memories is my mother buying dye so we could tie-dye shirts in the backyard. She purchased tee shirts for us, and helped us place the rubberbands on the shirts in just the right spots. She repeated constantly, “Tie them tight”. It was important that the rubber band be on the shirt tightly so we achieve the right circular affect. We had wore bell bottom jeans and peace signs. We had a great time.

 

Here is some of the slang of the 60’s that was used:

 

  • A Gas – Having fun.
  • Ape: Upset, emotional etc.
  • Bad Ass – Someone who appeared tough
  • Ball – To party or have a good time
  • Bum a Smoke – Borrow a cigarette from somebody
  • Bitchin’ – Great or good
  • Book – Leave the scene
  • Bookin’ – Moving fast
  • Bread – Money
  • Bummed Out – Down or depressed
  • Burn Rubber – Squeal tires and leave a rubber burn
  • Candyass – Someone seen as a wimp or uncool
  • Chick – a girl/woman
  • Clean – Looking good
  • Crash – Go to bed or to sleep
  • Cruising – To drive around town looking for members of the opposite sex.
  • Decked Out – Dressed Up
  • Dibs – To own it.
  • Dig – Do you understand what’s being said?
  • Don’t Sweat It – Don’t let something bother you.
  • Far-out – Sonething is awesome
  • Fine as Wine – Someone who is good-looking
  • Fink – Tattletale
  • Five Finger Discount – Something obtained by stealing it
  • Flower Child – A Hippie
  • Fox – A good looking chick
  • Fuzz – The Police
  • Groovy – Something is cool or nice.
  • Hang Loose – Take it easy
  • Hickey – A passion mark on the neck.

 

 

slang of the 60's

 

 

 

  • Hip – To be cool.
  • Hunk – A good looking guy.
  • Later – Goodbye
  • Lay It On Me – Tell me about it.
  • Loaded – Someone who is drunk.
  • Make Out – Kissing
  • Moon – To drop your pants and show your bare butt.
  • Old Lady or Old Man – Mom and Dad.
  • On the Rag – In a bad mood.
  • Pig – A Cop
  • Rap – To talk/have a conversation.
  • Ride – A car, truck, or motorcycle.
  • Right On – Exactly/got that right.
  • Score – To have sex with a girl.
  • Shades – Sunglasses.
  • Shotgun – The passenger seat of the car.
  • Skirt – A girl.
  • Split – To leave.
  • Square – Not cool.
  • Stacked – A girl with a nice shape.
  • The Bird – The middle finger.
  • Threads – Nice Clothes.

I hope you enjoyed our list of slang of the 60’s. We want to know what was happening during your birth year. Leave us a comment with the slang that was popular during that time or add to our list of 60’s slang.  You may also like Facts of the 60s.

 

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