Spring

Spring is here. Find something fun and creative to do with your child.


Here are a few suggestions:


Spring Bouquet
Sheep Print
Flower Badge
Bracelets
Oragami Tulip
Butterfly Garden
Mobile
Button Flowers

Homemade Fun

Here are some games, activities, and recipes you make yourself for home. Now you don't have to got out and buy everything for it, look around the house for the materials. Click on the name of the activity, game, or recipe and find instructions for them.

Crafts & Activities

• Tutu
• Paper Flowers
• Texture Tray
• Picture Book
• Cereal Box Dominoes
• Felt Cake
• Shakers
• Popsicle Stick Puppet
• Busy Box
• Balance Beam
• Sand in a Bottle Art
• Sticky Wall Art
• Slipper Socks
• Kite
• Letter or Number Match
• Tic-Tac-Toe
• Stilts
• Make your own Toys

Games

• Duck, Duck, Goose
• ABC Bingo
• Balloon Volleyball
• Whipped Cream Treat Hunt

Recipes

• Flubber
• Stamps
• Popcorn Balls
• Play dough
• Goop
• Tye Dye
• Bath Soap Crayons
• Finger Paint
• Face Paint

Active Play

• Active Play Ideas
• Family Fit
• Friendly Exercise

Relieve Kids Boredom

• To Do Chain
• Pretend Play
• Rainy Day
• Craft Box
• Teach your kid to Cook
• ABC Car Game

I will post more later. Keep checking back for updates.

Get Involved

Family involvement is so important in your child's education. Check out this article, it's a good description of why.

Month of Love

It's February. Find something to do with your child/family this month that is extra special. Let them know that you love them. It's a great time to teach your children about what love is and how to show love for themselves and others. I will be looking for extra special ways to let my family know I love them.

Some ideas might be:
-Games
-Crafts
-Cooking together
-Family Outings
-Let your child choose the activity they want to do with you
-Good Family Movie
-Reading together
...and many more (you'd be suprised what your child will come up with, give it a try)

I will look for some cute things to make or do. You can always google something you want to find.

Tips for children and you!

The Nickelodeon Parents Connect website has some tips for different stages of children's lives and for you. Check it out.

Here they are:

• Pregnancy


• Baby


• Toddler


• Preschooler


• Kid


• Tween & Teen


• Parent

Winter Fun

The Parents Connect website has some great tips, advice, & activities for winter. Check it out. You are sure to find things for you and the kids to do.

Here are some ideas:

• Make Frozen Bubbles



• Snowman Poms



• Jack Frost Game



• Winter Snacks



• Keeping Safe

Check them out. There are more things for winter fun.

Get Great Tips

The Parents Connect website from Nickelodeon is a great website for parental tips, advice, recipes, and more.

One tip I found interesting for this winter season is the top fruits that have vitamin C.

Here they are:



Oranges & Orange Juice have 116% of kid's daily vitamin C needs. The best way to have orange juice is from concentrate, it has more vitamin C and is cheaper.

Strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges.

Green & Red Peppers have vitamins A & C and beta carotene (also helpful with a cold).

Tomatoes eaten any way: fresh, canned, & juiced.

Spinach has vitamin C & iron.

Collard Greens have vitamin C & help boost the immune system.

Potatoes are full of vitamin C & leaving the skin on is even better.

Broccoli is best when steamed.

I really like all that I've seen so far on this website. Check it out. I will occasionally check the site for updates and other things I find worth sharing.

Library

One idea I want to share is a family or class trip to the library. The library has many great resources for everyone in the family. One thing that children will love is story hour. Most libraries should have a story hour for children and have summer programs. Get in touch with your local library to see what they offer.

Here is a link to look up local libraries in your area. Click on your state, city, and then the library. It contains the library's address, phone number, and website if they have one.

Reading

I just wanted to post something I found about reading. "Read with your child 20 minutes a day!" Reading together as a family is important because it emphasizes to children just how important reading is. Don't forget to be involved in the education of your child at home and at school. Your involvement shows the importance of a good education.
Here are a few websites I found very interesting: The Children's Reading Foundation and Little Ones Reading Resource

I also found this poem:

20 Minutes a Day

Read to your children
Twenty minutes a day;
You have the time,
And so do they.
Read while the laundry is in the machine;
Read while dinner cooks;
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm
And reach for the library books.
Hide the remote,
Let the computer games cool,
For one day your child will be off to school;
Remedial? Gifted? You have the choice.
Let them hear their first tales,
In the sound of your voice.
Read in the morning,
Read over noon,
Read by the light of Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together,
Sitting close as you'll fit,
'Till a small voice beside you says,
“Hey, don't quit.”

Author
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