This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Rockridge Press. All opinions are my own.
Before They Write: Fine Motor Foundation
“Way before we put a pencil in a child’s hand and ask him to write, we need to have a foundation of fine motor skills.”
20 Moms: Playdough Transfer and Match with Allison McDonald from No Time for Flashcards
I am so excited to welcome Allison McDonald from No Time for Flash Cards! Allison is a member of 20 Moms, and having spent a few days with her last summer, I can attest that she really is as rad as you think she is. Definitely a mom you should get to know!
After reading Allison’s post, you can hop over to another 20 Moms blog, Peanut Blossom, and find my post. From there you can keep following the links until you’ve come full circle. You’re sure to find great posts, fabulous blogs, and some of the best people out there on the internets! It’s one big party, and you’re invited!
Playdough Recipe: An Old Favorite With a Smooth New Twist
I was lucky enough to participate recently in a conference at Utah State University. It was so much fun (and a little surreal) to teach a session at the front of a room where I had sat through many, many classes more than a decade ago.
As much fun as I had teaching my session, I also loved going to a session taught by my friend, Kelli Barker, who was my counterpart while head teaching at the lab school and my partner for many deliriously late night study sessions. She taught a fantastic class, sharing all kinds of fantastic ideas for hands-on activities for young children.
Focused Fine Motor Activities to Help Young Children Reset
Fine motor activities are critical for young children. The workout for those little fingers gives them the strength and control to write, button, and otherwise use their hands as the marvelous tools that they are. But there’s another perk to fine motor activities.
First Friday Q&A: Make Handwriting Practice Fun and Playful!
I’m taking a little break as we welcome our fourth son to our family. Enjoy this First Friday Q&A from last year (also available at YouTube here).
Build-a-Fairy Box
If you haven’t guessed from the series I’ve been writing the past few Mondays, I’m a big fan of creativity. Any time I can jump on an opportunity to encourage kids to create and have ownership in a project, I am all for it. And so it was quite serendipitous when I stumbled upon this post on fairy wings for clothespin dolls from Made By Joel and also received an invitation for my son to attend the birthday party of one of his “friends-who’s-a-girl”. This little girl had been to our home just a few months earlier when we were making these gnome leprechaun dolls from Wee Folk Art . She just took off with the idea, creating her own designs and really enjoying herself. I instantly knew I had to make a doll kit full of “loose parts” for this artist to create with! (Knowing her home and family, I’m sure she’ll find a few more loose parts to add as well!)
Playdough Play Time
Playdough is a staple of childhood. It always amazes me how long it can keep a child’s interest, squishing, pounding, rolling, and cutting. I personally prefer homemade Classic Playdough, because it’s cheaper, better smelling, a bit softer and easier for little hands to command, and I have a little less to worry about when my son snitches another pinch to eat. (Should I worry about the fact that he’ll often turn his nose up at the dinners I make, but will gladly eat playdough?) [Read more…]
A Few New Takes on an Old Favorite: Shaving Cream Painting
Whoever coined the phrase “less is more” certainly wasn’t under the age of six. Young children love piling it all on, especially when doing art. It’s more about the experience than the exhibit, and that’s the way it should be.
Sign Me Up! Meaningful Ways to Encourage Preschoolers to Write Their Names
I wrote a while back about a sign-in chart that provides regular practice for name-writing while also providing a record-keeping system to track progress. Some children really thrive with this method — they’ve recently figured out that they OWN their name, and they want to write it everywhere! Others however, are more reluctant. “I already did that,” they may say. Like the parent who’s constantly cleaning the same kitchen, the child wonders, “Why am I doing this again? I did it yesterday!” Sometimes all a child needs is more purpose for the writing. Writing it today so they can write it again tomorrow just doesn’t always cut it. Here are some ways you can encourage reluctant writers to leave their mark. [Read more…]
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