Whole Child Development
Flannel boards are a great way to really bring children into a story. They can help move the pieces around as you spin your tale, and later they can retell the story (or create their own new and improved version). It’s a simple hands-on tool for supporting the language and comprehension skills that build solid readers.
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer, and with it comes my boys’ request for frozen treats. While you can certianly grab twin pops in your freezer section for a buck a bag, making your own cool summer treats can be a great opportunity for building basic science experiences with concepts like freezing , melting, and the broader concept of physical change. In addition to that, creating these fun treats together builds confidence, good memories, and even some physical skills. Oh, and they’re delicious! Here are four fun and tasty treats to make this summer: [Read more…]
My life has been blessed in so many ways and by so many people. I’ve been thinking for a while now that I want to do my part to pay some of that forward by opening up the opportunity for charitable causes to connect with people here at Not Just Cute. I’m really happy that the first person I get to help with this platform is someone from whom I’ve received so much love and support, it’s almost more like a “pay back” than a “pay forward”.
Trine has been a dear friend of mine for over a decade. She is an amazing woman who has been there for me through some of life’s most challenging and most rewarding moments. She and her fantastic husband, Aaron have recently started the adoption process. Since the key to adoption is connecting birth parents and adoptive parents, I wanted to share the link to Trine and Aaron’s adoption blog so that anyone who feels prompted to do so, can help in this process. You can read about Trine and Aaron’s family here. (Be sure to check out the Say Cheese tab, I think it’s my favorite!)
I’m posting on a Tuesday this week as part of today’s Ultimate Blog Swap! You’ll find me posting about one of my other passions – cooking- over at Mostly Food and Crafts. I’ll cover both the food and the crafts by sharing one of my favorite pasta recipes, Butterfly Noodles, and some fun insect activities to go with it. And I’m so happy to share with you this wonderful post from Kelly of the blog Wisdom Begun, as well as a fantastic discount for the ebook Art Not Craft! Read on to get all the goodness! [Read more…]
Keeping Calm When You Want to Explode {The Twin Coach}
Fast-Tracking to Kindergarten? {New York Times}
Raising Boys Who Want to Read {No Time For Flashcards}
(And be sure to read the article Allison links to: Boys Don’t Read Except When They Do)
Daddy Camp: Make Your Own Gummy Candy {Pink and Green Mama}
Dry Ice Experiment {Tinker Lab}
Bug Books {Mommy and Me Book Club}
Have a Great Weekend!
Top photo by frank8. [Read more…]
I often write about the importance of giving children choices. They are struggling with a need to feel powerful in a world that often makes them feel powerless. Being able to take control and make their own choices gives them that powerful feeling, meaning they feel less compelled to seek out power in negative ways like tantrums or fighting. Children also need to be offered choices to give them practice making decisions and experience handling consequences as life skills. Giving children choices is important. But it is also important to recognize that as adults, we need to be clear in setting the boundaries for those choices. [Read more…]
I love it when art materials can come from my pantry. That usually means they’re inexpensive, non-toxic, and that I can have an idea and act on it in ten minutes or less. One of my favorite art supplies that comes from my pantry is corn syrup. I almost think I use it more frequently for art projects than for cooking. (Though I do love a good batch of caramel corn!)
It’s time for the final installment of my series on creativity for Willow Creek Pediatrics. Here’s a little snippet:
This is a repost from June 30, 2010.
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