Summer Reading Roundup

What's great about summer reading besides getting caught up in a book? Free books & prizes!

Check out:

Your local library- I just registered my children online for our library's program. The girls are entered to win prizes and get a book once they complete their summer reading. The library is even having an adult summer reading program. Most libraries at least have a program for the kids.

Barnes & Noble- First through sixth graders simply have to fill out a reading journal. Once it is completed they get to pick a book to keep.

BAM- If your child reads specific books from their adventure section, they can get a free pencil case.

Chuck E. Cheese- Check the website for a reading reward calendar (they even have one for teeth brushing). When your child fills up the calendar and brings it in, they get 10 free tokens. The bottom of the certificates say a food purchase is required.

Lifeway- Pick up the journal in store or download it from the website. Kids have to read six books and memorize six scripture verses. They get a free Bible and book.


Do you know of other rewards? Comment below, so we all know about them.

Five Book-free Activities You Already Do That Are Helping Your Children Learn

Educating your children takes more than sitting in a circle and reading. Our everyday activities are extremely important too. I bet you do (or did) all of these things for your children: 

1. Listening to your children talk about their day and telling them about your day. They are learning sequencing.

2. Playing with your children and following their lead. You are building their confidence. It is likely to transfer over to their school subjects as well (Pincus, 2012). 

3. Checking the weather and talking about what to wear. You are helping them apply information to their everyday life, make predictions, and draw conclusions. 

4. Letting them roll down a hill or spin in circles. You are allowing them to build their vestibular system. The vestibular system controls our posture, balance, alertness, concentration, and stillness. It sounds strange, but without this type of movement, kids can't sit still (Connell & McCarthy, 2014). 

5. Listening to music together and singing (no matter what it sounds like). You are naturally developing your children's listening skills (2014). 

Did you get a 5/5?



Connell, G., & McCarthy, C. (2014). A moving child is a learning child: how the body teaches the brain to think (birth to age 7). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.

Pincus, Donna B. Growing up Brave: Expert Strategies for Helping Your Child Overcome Fear, Stress, and Anxiety. Little, Brown and Co., 2012.

One Home, One Book?

I just participated in a Screen-Free Week challenge from an awesome Usborne rep. A couple of nights a week at snack time my daughters pick a few Sesame Street songs on YouTube to watch. Last week we read books every night instead. Because of this my one-year-old daughter was able to listen to the paper page books that I read with my three-year-old daughters throughout the day. She laughed. She followed along. We showed her things in the book together. She is excluded from many activities during the day because of her love of eating small things (and ripping paper). This was one way to make her feel connected and show her sisters that she can be included.

Can this be duplicated for a first and fifth grade set of siblings? Yes, it can.  Right now, many schools are proving that they can with the One School, One Book from ReadtoThem.org, and this can be implemented at home.

I challenge you to try reading the same book to all of your kids. It gives them something else to talk about and another way to connect with each other and to you. It gives them more ideas to use when they play and helps them all feel included. Also, it builds their vocabulary and literacy skills.

I know. It's spring sports time. The musical is in full swing. There is a way to fit it in. It can be brief. Try 5-15 minutes at snack time, right after school, bedtime, an audio book in the car, before they are allowed to watch TV, before baseball practice, after soccer practice, Tuesdays and Thursdays, etc. If you want to make it happen, you can.

It's worth it. My three-year-olds comment and incorporate the books into their play. They make connections through the day. They like to pretend they are the bunnies from A Tale of Peter Rabbit. They pretend that some of their toys are the tuna fish from Swimmy. We make references and connections to the books often. They have their own jokes based on the books. They use words that we normally only read and do not use in everyday conversation. My husband has heard most of the stories too, so he can join in with the conversation. My one-year-old recognizes the stories and reaches for her favorites. When they are able to listen to chapter books, we will incorporate those too.

It's going to look different based on the ages, but I challenge you to give it a try. Kids can listen to books that are beyond their reading level. You could read the same book to your first grader as your seventh grader. They'll have a bond they normally wouldn't have without it.

Here are some chapter book ideas from Read to Them.org.

Need help picking a book? Email me, PM me on FB, or drop a comment below.

Not Your Traditional Mary Had a Little Lamb

This weekend I discovered two books that take the sweetness and timelessness of Mary Had a Little Lamb and add a twist. You need to check these out. 

Screenshot from Amazon

Jonas Sickler takes a look at Mary and her lamb in Africa. It is a simple wordless picture book that follows the nursery rhyme exactly. I found it in my local toy store. It is on Amazon. Ages 0+

Screenshot from Amazon

Kayla Harren's Mary Had a Little Lizard is also a wordless picture book. It takes you through the rhyme, but adds many details to it. You'll love the friendship between the lizard and the girl, how the lizard sneaks to school, and the silliness. My family's favorite part is when the lizard, who is covered in paint, is discovered by Mary's teacher. I checked it out from the library yesterday. We've read it at least 8 times already. Any age that knows the nursery rhyme will love this book. It is on Amazon. 

Tiny & Organized Kitchen Writing Area

Most of the time while my husband and I are cooking the girls like to be with us in the kitchen. We try to find jobs for them like ripping up lettuce or broccoli, sprinkling cheese, or even just being a spoon holder. Sometimes it is just not possible to give them a job, but (even though I'm tempted many times) I don't want to say, "Go away." After all, I want them to eventually to be able to do more in the kitchen to help, and I don't want to send them to college only knowing how to make a peanut butter sandwich. Experience is the best teacher.

Because of this, I've been giving them pieces of scrap paper and pens to write with while we are in the kitchen. They love it, but it's always a mess for me. After reading an article about the habits of neat and organized people, I decided it's time to make organization and less clutter a habit. Here's what we made to control the pens and scrap paper:

I took an instant Quaker oatmeal box and ripped off the sides. Then I wrapped it with pretty wrapping paper that we thankfully had. It's simple, but effective. The girls now get up on the stools and grab the box when I tell them I don't have a job for them to do right now. 

Other materials you could use:

• Cereal box with 3/4 of it cut off and wrapped up
• Soup can (cover those edges)
• Cute basket
• Mason jars
• Cookie jar
• Anything that can hold paper, pencils, or pens

How can you make it even better? Make it with your child. Show us yours on FB or comment below. 

Why Children Can't Always Do Two Things at Once

Can children:
Pour milk and answer a question?
Do homework while watching TV? 
Text and talk to you at the same time? 

Can adults:
Watch TV and check their email at the same time?
Browse FB and talk to others? 
Lull a baby back to sleep and write this blog post? (My current situation.)

The brain can only do one task that requires thinking at a time (Connell & McCarthy, 2014). Television requires thinking. If you are asking a question and your child is watching television, she is going to have these responses:

1. She stops watching and listens to you.
2. She ignores you and keeps watching.
3. She tries to go back and forth between listening to you and watching, so she really doesn't understand what you are asking and is probably annoyed.

Only tasks that are automatic can be done with a thinking task. Walking and talking can happen only if you have fully learned to walk. Until then walking is a thinking activity (2014).

Some adults say they can text and watch television at the same time, but they really can't because both require thinking. What they are doing is rapidly switching back and forth between the two. Children cannot do this (2014). That's why reading with the television on is not a good idea. One cannot be fully involved in their reading.

So...

Can children:
Pour milk and answer a question? If they are still learning how to pour and it requires concentration, children cannot pour milk and answer a question at the same time. They will either stop pouring, ignore you, or spill the milk (2014).

Do homework while watching TV? No. Both require thinking. Consider switching it off.

Text and talk to you at the same time? No. Both require thinking. You'll want them to put down the phone before the conversation begins.

Can adults:
Watch TV and check their email at the same time? No. Both require thinking. They can rapidly switch back and forth between the TV and computer.

Browse FB and talk to others? No. Both require thinking. Consider logging off when you are around others.

Lull a baby back to sleep and write this blog post?  No. Both required thinking and two hands. One needed rhythmic swaying. This post waited.

Works Cited

Connell, G., & McCarthy, C. (2014). A moving child is a learning child: how the body teaches the brain to think (birth to age 7). Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.

Junk Mail & Other Tools for Writing

How do kids get better at a sport? They have a coach. They practice. They play. They try out different strategies. They make mistakes and get messy. They enjoy it. Writing is no different. If you want your children to write and enjoy it, they need the tools to make it engaging. 

Free supplies:

• Return envelopes from junk mail 
• Hooray for reusing! Open those credit card offers and other envelopes you generally don't keep to find this golden tool. Your kids will LOVE stuffing their notes inside, licking it up, and even drawing stamps. 
• Notepads from charities like St. Jude's Children's Hospital
• It's fun to have different types of paper. 
• Return address labels that come from charities too
• They'll enjoy making their envelope "official."
• Advertisements with pictures and letters that can be cut 
• Decorations and embellishments can be found in unlikely places.

Low cost supplies:

• Plain white computer paper (It's possible to get rebates from stores like Staples, so you can get this paper free.)
• Construction paper
• Pencils
• Pens
• Crayons/Markers
• Stickers
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Plain envelopes for letters they'd like to mail

Here is our set up: 

The kids don't need their own table. All they really need is a basket or caddy to keep the supplies in, a place to go, and time with you to get them started.

One of the best things you can do is make the writing center/caddy/box with your children. They can decide with you where the envelopes, paper, glue, magazines, etc. will go. You can sit down and create a letter side by side. They can use the junk mail envelopes to write immediate family and friends they see notes. You may want to have some plain envelopes available, so they can mail a letter.  They may also want to draw pictures, write a story, or simply glue pictures. Let them decide. The materials are their supplies to use as they please.

How do kids get better at writing? They have a teacher. They practice. They play. They try out different strategies. They make mistakes and get messy. They enjoy it. Just like a sport. 

Thank You, Teachers

Thank you, Mrs. Eberly, for the book you gave me when I was in first grade. My daughters love it.

Thank you, teachers, for giving your students books. You are supporting a growing reader.

Thank you, parents, for finding books, magazines, and other printed materials for your children at the library, bookstores, thrift shops, and yard sales. You understand reading leads to understanding and opportunity.

The Power of Song

My daughter came home from nursery school and informed me her friend knows all the letters in her name, so she wants to know her letters too. How could I say no to that request? We made up a song to the tune of Bingo.

There was a mommy who had a girl, and Gabby was her name.
G-A-B-B-Y
G-A-B-B-Y
G-A-B-B-Y

Gabby, Gabby, Gabby

(or we could have finished with "And Gabby was her name!")

Making up songs to the tune of songs they already know (or you already know) is a fun learning tool. It can help children of all ages learn their spelling words, social studies content, science content, and math facts. It also helps them be creative. The girls have been making up their own songs now and cracking themselves up.

If your children need help remembering something or are learning something for the first time, sing it.

When Should I Start Reading to My Baby?

1 Year Olds Write?

At my twin girls' well check ups I generally ask the doctor if there is something I should be doing developmentally with the girls that I haven't been. At my girls' one year when I asked, our doctor told me to have them start writing. She told me to buy crayons that were in the shape of eggs. It was a great investment. The girls and I would draw (make tiny marks, bang the crayons to make dots, and eventually scribble) while they sat in their highchair a few minutes a day. They'd drop them or start to try and chew on them when they were done . One of my daughters was much more interested than the other. I still kept it up, but would stop as soon as she would show signs she was done.

These are the crayons my doctor suggested for my 1 year olds. The screenshot is from Amazon. I bought them from Toys R Us. 

Gradually, we added water color. I'd give them a brush with paint on it, and they would swoosh the brush around. They were still sitting at their high chairs. It was definitely messier, but they loved it. 

We moved onto the larger crayons when they stopped putting things into their mouths. Now that they are 3 years old, they use a mix of the larger crayons and regular crayons. 

I'm grateful our doctor suggested our early crayons. The girls love to go and color on their own now. Also, when things get chaotic I can say let's go color together. Usually when we sit down to color (I color too), the mood changes and everyone calms down. 

Ways to Use Shutterfly's Free Magnet Deal

Wahoo! Free magnets! I love these. They are fantastic learning tools, and they are so much fun!

Select the set of four 2"x2" magnets. This way you can get 40 magnets! (Code was only for 2/11/18. I'll post when it comes around again.)

1. Put a picture of each of your family members on the magnets. Type their name directly on the magnet. I like the Avant Garde font because the letter a is written like they learn to write it. My girls group family members together, play guessing games, pray for the person, notice the letters in their name, and talk about each family member as they play.

2. Put a picture of a favorite animal and type the name of the animal.

3. Put a picture of a favorite place on the magnet and type the name of it. My daughters pretend to take the family members to that location when they play with the magnets.

4. Select from their Art Library (Click "Get More Photos" on the bottom and "Art Library" on the left side). Click on kids. Choose the letters from your child's name. Place one on each magnet. They can practice mixing up their name, putting it back together, or finding new words inside their name. The only downfall is they are all uppercase letters.

 Have fun!

Valentine's Day Gifts

I have a rule for Valentine's Day: If it takes longer to make than the amount of time the kids will enjoy it, don't make it. I had to remind myself of this as I scrolled through Pinterest ideas. I know my kids will enjoy these small things, and they didn't take me long to put together. This year we are staying away from chocolate because we still have some left over from Christmas. Plus (confession time), I some how end up eating it. Here are their reading specialist/mommy approved gifts:

My 9 month old is getting Cheerios and a sweet book. Each page has a little animal and the noise it makes. Simple.

My 3 year olds are getting a sticker book, Goldfish, construction paper, and a glue stick.

The sticker books only cost $1.00 at AC Moore. I love how they have facts and designated places for the stickers. I gave them the sea and wildlife versions of these books a year ago. They loved matching up the stickers and talking about the animals. They wanted to reread the books with me once all of the stickers were put in. Now, that they are older they'll have a little bit more independence while working on those fine motor skills.

Here's a peek inside Animal Friends Sticker Book.

I gave them a few sheets of construction paper from the pack. Once they have their hands on it, they tend to go through it quickly. A few sheets at a time slows them down.

One thing my girls love to do with construction paper and glue sticks is glue cutouts from magazines and draw around them. Every now and then I cut out pictures and letters for them. Usually they'll find a letter, glue it on, say something like "Look! This one is for Katie," and point to the letter K.

The girls are at the very beginning of using scissors. I'm excited for when I can just give them the magazines. It's worth the extra two minutes of cutting though.


What gifts are you giving this year ?

Favorite Books for My 9 Month Old

Reading with my nine month old isn't very glamorous. It  involves lots of slobber, grabbing, and crawling away when she's done. Here are some of our favorite books and reasons why:

 Usborne's Baby's First Black and White Tray has stood up to all of my daughters' slobber. My twins loved it before my youngest got her mouth on it. We love the high contrast pictures. My nine month old, N, recognizes most of the pictures especially in Faces and Babies.  It's very simple, so my 3 year olds can "read" it to her and enjoy it. 

 Usborne's That's Not My series is adorable. Each page has a new texture for my daughter to explore. She flips through and searches with her fingers for the fabric. The simple repeated text is perfect to keep her interest. It also stands up to slobber.  

N also loves Kane Miller's Hush-a-Bye Bunny. I love the sweet rhyme the bunny says to her baby.  N loves the ears and soft pages. She crinkles them in her hands. I touch her little nose and tickle her toes when I read the lines, "With your tiny shiny nose, and your wiggly tickle toes, we will never be apart, as you're always in my heart."

Another cute book series are these finger puppet books. N loves to grab my finger as I read the simple  rhyme. We are big fans of Little Fish, Little Crab, and Little Turtle too. I try to avoid her slobbering on his book because it doesn't have as much protection over the cardboard as the above books.  

We inherited Playskool's Baby Faces. N loves looking at all of the photographs. I make the face and act like the baby while we read. My 3 year olds act it out too. This book is out of print, but there are copies available on Amazon. If you search "baby faces" board book, I'm sure you can find more like it if you want to use Prime. 

Movement, Homework, & Learning

Sometimes our plans just don't line up with our children's movement needs. 

Connell, Gill, and Cheryl McCarthy. A moving child is a learning child: how the body teaches the brain to think (Birth to age 7). Free Spirit Publishing, 2014.

Elementary & Middle School: A homework fight may mean they need more time to move. To help, they could: 

• Run and play first. 
• Try to stand up with a clipboard and do it.
• Sit on an exercise ball and bounce while they do it. 
• Lay on a yoga mat or blanket and do it. 
• Build a fort first and then do the work inside. 
• Bounce a basketball or throw a ball back and forth while practicing their spelling words or studying for a quiz.  
• Chunk the work. Do 1/2 of it before play and 1/2 of it after. 
• Do a math problem, do a physical activity, do another math problem, do another physical activity. 

Preschool: Learning should involve movement. If sitting still is necessary, make sure they get up and move before the activity and give movement breaks.

Here are some movement activities: 

• Explore and run around the back yard.
• Have a box full of magazines, toilet paper rolls, crayons, glue sticks, and paper they can use to make anything they want. 
• Jump the ABCs.
• Throw a ball when saying rhyming words. 
• Count while you hop. 
• Pretend you are characters from a story you read. 
• Just let them play independently.
• Join in their play. Only do what your child is doing. Don't try to improve upon their game or make any suggestions. 

Ultimately, movement helps our kids learn.

Making Video Streaming/TV Your Literacy Friend

While there is a strong correlation between underachieving in school and watching too much television, there are ways to make videos and TV more literacy friendly for your kids (Trealease, Ten Facts Parents Should Know About Reading 5). Note: Books, social interaction, chores, and play are still better than TV.

1. Turn on closed captioning. Your children will see the subtitles and make connections between the spoken and written words (6) .
2. Watch the show together. Make it a social time. Discussion of any topic, story, or lesson leads to a deeper understanding. Examples of questions to lead a discussion if you aren't sure what to say:  Why do you think ______ did that? What did you think of that episode? I don't know if what ______ did was the best thing to do, what do you think?
3. Limit their video time. This may mean a time period. You could also limit it by only allowing them to watch in one room of the house. For example, they can only watch in the living room.

For the facts about TV and children's school success, check out Jim Trelease's pamphlet.



Works Cited
Trelease, Jim. Ten Facts Parents Should Know About Reading. Ten Facts Parents Should Know About Reading, 2009.

Super Bowl: Defend Your Team

Who's going to win the Super Bowl: Eagles or Patriots? Even if you know who your child is rooting for (even if it is the same team you are), make them defend their choice today. Ask them, why are you cheering for the Eagles? Don't let them say they are better. Make them provide specific examples. They could talk about the players, stats, or any other conditions that they feel make the team more likely to win. You could give them a few examples if they don't know how to respond. "I think the _____ will win because..."  This could turn into a great debate or two minute conversation. Both are great. Explaining why and defending their decisions are necessary life (and comprehension) skills, so why not start with the Super Bowl?

Which Book Character Are You?

I love online quizzes that tell you which character you are the most like. There is something fun about  making choices and being compared. I recently checked out A Beatrix Potter Treasury from the library. We've read The Tale of Peter Rabbit about 15 times over the past two weeks. My girls love mean old Mr. McGregor and naughty Peter Rabbit. They even worry about Peter through the story (Will Mrs. McGregor cook him in a pie?).

Today after we read the book I simply asked them if they were in the story who would they be. They looked at me funny. I never asked them a question like that before. I then told them that I would be the bunny, Cotton-tail. She followed the rules and picked blackberries like a good little bunny. My husband jumped in saying he would be Mr. McGregor. He doesn't like it when groundhogs come into his garden and chases them out (note: my husband does not make groundhog pie haha). G then decided she'd be Mopsy or Flopsy because she would go pick blackberries like mama said to. H said she'd be Peter Rabbit and go into the garden. They now love the story even more.

Next time you are caught up in a book together or you know your child is reading a book in school, talk about what character they most identify with. If they aren't sure, talk about yourself first. Your older kids will like this too. It will help them have a deeper understanding of the book, have empathy, and enjoy it more.  Plus, it'll give you a window inside their mind. It's better than an online quiz.

Screenshot taken from Amazon

Groundhog Day!

Will we have an early spring or six more weeks of winter? Our Pennsylvania groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has been correct 64.4% of the time. Apparently, it's really not Phil's fault that incorrect predictions are reported. Check out this article from PennLive. It has fun facts about Groundhog Day as well as a drop down menu where you can pick a year, see Phil's prediction, and see how the weather really panned out. The dates range from 1898 to last year. Your children could pick their birth year and see the stats. You could all make predictions and maybe even make a friendly bet.

Here is a screenshot of my birth year:

Article info and Screenshot from Pennlive.com

What's your prediction?

Is "Sounding Out the Words" the Best Strategy to Use?

How many times were you told as a child to sound it out? Most of us don't remember how we learned to read. Thank goodness we have elementary teachers who took classes on this very subject. How should you help your child when they come to a word they do not know?

1. Remember they are reading for meaning. Sometimes it's just to enjoy. Other times it's for information. Either way, understanding and enjoying reading at home are the main goals. You (the parent/guardian) are not allowed to get frustrated. Keep it light. 

2. Give them a little bit of wait time. If they are trying to work through the unknown word, let them. They may surprise you. Feel free to praise them for working it out.

3. After time has passed if the unknown word is a name, ask them, "Is it James or insert name from story here?" Make it an obvious difference like Rick or Jayden.

4. If it's not a name, decide if the word is one they can decode (sound out) or if it is one they just have to know.

• Words you just have to know: the, said, country
• Words that can be decoded: sat, in, morning, sister, evaporation

5. If it is a word that can't be decoded or they've never learned the sounds in the word (Example: sounds in "enough" at the beginning of first grade), and there are no clues in the picture, give them two choices. Once again make it obvious: "Is it give or receive?" 

6. If there are clues in the picture, say something like "What could you look at to help you?" or "I'm going to check out the picture to figure out that word." 

7. If it is a word that can be decoded, look at the spelling pattern together. Some examples of what to say:

• Look that word has an "at" like in cat or that word reminds me of cat. 
• The "e" in that word says /e/ like in bed.
• That's a long word. Let's separate it together. e-vap-or-a-tion

8. If all else fails, give two options: a correct and incorrect option. You are still making them work, but making it less stressful. 

If you find you are using too many of these strategies and it is taking too long to read a book, that book is too difficult for your child to read independently right now. Have you and your child finish the book by reading the words at the exact same time. We call it choral reading. A chorus sings at the same time. We read at the same time. Stay positive. Find one good thing to say about their reading even if it is just about their effort. 

If it's a book the teacher sent home for your child to read, talk to the teacher about what you are noticing when your child reads. Tell her what you tried and that you finished the book by reading it together. If it's one that your child picked from the library or you picked out, read the book to your child and enjoy it together. They can help you read some of the words and talk (laugh, ask questions, etc) about it with you. Reading shouldn't be frustrating. 

Was this helpful? Do you have questions or another issue? Let's talk. Drop a comment, PM me on FB, or email me. 

Selfies Tell Stories

How many kid selfies are on your phone? Do you crack up or shake your head every time you scroll through? Does your phone continuously tell you that it's full? This activity is definitely meant for you. When your kids are stuck inside, make a selfie story together.

1. Choose pictures on your phone (or have the kids take new ones) to make a story (selfies, birthday photos, playing in the leaves, that trip together, etc). 
2. Use a website or app like Shutterfly or Canva to organize the photos and add text. The text can be as simple as describing the pictures or it could be a complex story. The important thing is you are having fun together while you organize, discuss, write, and reread. Here are some very simple examples. 

• Canva: You can make your own comics and memes on Canva. Here is our example. I did this with my 3 year olds' leaf photos. I took out their pictures, so only the text is showing. Imagine twins happily acting out the words.

• Shutterfly: Shutterfly does free 8x8 photo book promotions every now and then. You could share the book via a link with your friends and family too.  Here is an example story without the pictures again. 

Thoughts:

• For ideas, simply flip through the pictures on your phone or computer. 
• Do one together first. As much as you can, let them lead the way. It's their story after all. If they love it, they'll probably end up doing a few on their own. 
• If typing is a frustration issue, feel free to type for them. Make sure you use their words.
• Keep it simple. 
• Encourage them to share it with friends and family. 
• Have fun!

Feel free to share your stories with us. Just drop a comment, an email, or a PM on Facebook.

Silly Book Alert: Sneezy the Snowman

Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright is just too much fun not to share. I read it to a first grade class on Thursday. Sneezy is a snowman who feels very cold, but doesn't exactly know how to warm up. The children and I laughed out loud and shook our heads together as he drank hot chocolate and even climbed into a hot tub. The predictable text made it even more fun to read. If you have Amazon Prime, you can read it for free! I can't wait to read it with my girls and build our own Sneezy after it snows again.

Find Sneezy Here (screenshot from Amazon)

Labeling: Sneaky and Helpful Reading

I was going to write about what to do when your child gets to an unknown word when reading, but I just couldn't fit that in today. I had to solve a big bathroom stressor for my daughters. One of them in particular hates the cold to the point she doesn't want to turn on the faucet. I'm pretty sure she's going to move to the South as soon as she can. We labeled hot and cold together. It's not pretty. If it helps them be independent, I'll deal with it. As an added bonus, it's sneaky letter/reading practice.

I wonder what we are going to end up labeling next...

Simple, Yet Effective: Know What Your Shirt Says

If you put a shirt on your child that has a slogan, phrase, joke or any words, teach them what it says and what it means. It's just another chance to make reading personal. Plus, shouldn't you know what you are wearing?

 Shirts from oldnavy.com

Serving Others & Writing

As parents, we try to teach our kids to step outside themselves.  Learning to read and write should be completely connected to service. One way to incorporate learning and using your children's literacy skills is to make cards as a family (or host a card making party) for Caitlin's Smiles. Caitlin's Smiles creates craft kits for children who are being hospitalized. They put a card in each bag. These bags are delivered all over the US.

Here are some card making tips:

• Visit the website together. You can read the story of why Caitlin's Smiles formed and see some pictures of children who have received the craft bags and cards. 
• Come up with a few positive phrases or even jokes together that would be nice in a card. Write them down, so your children can see how they are spelled.  Stay away from "Get Well Soon." Sadly, some of the children will not get well. Also, stay away from anything religious. The children have various beliefs. Don't sign your name. 
• If your children are too young to write, have them decorate the card, and you write the message. They should still agree upon the message and see you write it. 
• If they are learning to write, they could write the message, and you write how the words are actually spelled underneath their words. 
• Use crayons, stickers, glue, markers, paint, magazines, stamps, etc. etc. Whatever you have at your home will work. 
• Have the children use their interests to guide the card making process. Dinosaurs, fairies, volcanoes, and mermaids make great cards. 
• Make a pop-up card. Following directions is a great skill to practice!
• If you do not live close enough to drop them off (they are located in Harrisburg, PA), put the cards in an envelope and address it together. You can find Caitlin's Smiles address and info here. 

This will be a meaningful activity for you, your children, and the children whose day will be brightened. 

Follow Caitlin's Smiles on Facebook.

Screenshot of Caitlin's Smiles site banner. Visit: http://caitlins-smiles.org

Thank You, Ladybug Girl

Do you have a list of things you want to do with your kids, but they always end up on the back burner or forgotten? Sometimes I need a reminder (or a kick) to get me to do something. In this case it was taking my 3 year old twins and 9 month old to the museum. It was one of those things that we said we would do and then forgot about.

My husband's aunt gave my girls Ladybug Girl by Jacky Davis for Christmas. G in particular loved the book. She loved how Lulu climbed the tree and explored her backyard.  Since she liked it so much, I picked up Ladybug Girl's Day Out with Grandpa at the library. In the book Lulu and her grandpa visit the museum. The girls liked it, but didn't want to read it over and over. They didn't have a personal connection. That's when I realized I had to take them to the museum.

We went to the State Museum of Pennsylvania on Saturday. They had a ball checking out the animals and the dinosaurs. They particularly loved Curiosity Connection, an area dedicated to children under 5 years old. It was a land of pretending. They loved picking apples, riding pigs, and climbing the school bus. One of the best parts is we have more to talk about. Thank you, Ladybug Girl, for the inspiration and the kick.

Screenshots from Amazon

Page Turners for Children

I just read a great article from Parents magazine: "Your 2018 Age-to-Age Guide to What Your Kid Should Read Next"  It includes book recommendations for 0-10 year olds.

Check it out and let us know your book recommendations.

Screenshot from parents.com

Too Much Screen Time? Bring in the Books!

My father-in-law emailed me an article from the Wall Street Journal that stated 0-8 year old children have some sort of screen entertainment 3 hours a day. It was shocking to me, but then I started to think about how minutes in front of the phone, iPad, and TV can really add up. If you are finding that your children are spending waaaay too much time in from of a screen here is one way you can ease into books as a replacement.

Make connections.

 Instead of watching Paw Patrol, Moana, Peppa Pig, or insert your child's favorite TV show here, pull out a book that is based on one of those shows/movies. I guarantee you'll be able to find them online or in a local store. Read those books. Gradually introduce others. If they love the Pua the pig from Moana, pull in a different pig story the following evening. Keep branching off into different types of books that have connections. Example: Your daughter loves princesses. Pull in a different princess story. Then pull in biographies of other women and girls.

How can this work for my older children? Do the same as the younger. Pull books out that are connected to their interest. If they are playing Minecraft, get books that help them strategize. Read those together before they play. As they get use to you reading together, pull in chapter books or more nonfiction to read together. Ask their teacher for some titles they think your child will enjoy if you don't know where to start (or drop a comment, and I'll help you).

If there is still a fight, tell them you need to read a book together before they have their screen time. Delay it a little more each day. If you are in it together, you will be less likely to revert back to all that screen time. 

If you would like help finding books your child would enjoy, drop a comment with your child's age and interests. I'd be glad to help.

The Power of Tic Tac Toe & Elementary Kids

Tic Tac Toe is a great way to break up regular spelling drills or letter practice. It's also fun to do when you are out at a restaurant, stuck in the car, or waiting somewhere. Instead of X vs. O use a concept your child is learning. Here are some not so fancy examples:

Spelling Word Practice

 Letter and Number Practice (A vs. T)

Rhyming Word or Spelling Pattern Practice (ap vs. at)

Spelling Word Practice: If you have longer words, just make the boxes larger. 

You could do this with colors, cursive, and much more. Get creative. How have you used Tic Tac Toe? Share your ideas below.

 

3 Ways to Use Birthday Cards

One of the best gifts your child gets for their birthday is a birthday card. Yes, I know they just rip past them to get to the present. However, after the party and chaos those birthday cards can be read, enjoyed, and loved. Check out these ideas:

1. Put the cards in a basket. Pick them up and read them together. I keep my daughters' in a basket that is right by their play kitchen. We pick them up and read them. They love the messages from their family and friends. You could keep them anywhere: on your child's desk, in a basket by their bed, in a shoebox, or even in the car by their seat. We've added Easter and thank you cards to our basket too.

2. If you are ready to throw them away, allow your children to cut them up and use them for art projects. They'll reread the numbers or the words as they create. They could actually cut out the words, "Happy Birthday" to make a birthday card for someone else.

3. Make sewing cards. Cut the front part of the card away from the back. Punch holes all around the perimeter. Attach yarn and you have a sewing card. Your child will read the card as they sew (aka practice fine motor skills). My daughters "sewed" old Christmas cards. We wrote thank you notes to their teachers on the backside to sneak in gratitude and little bit more literacy.

Add your ideas in the comments. Let's help each other. Happy birthday (or unbirthday)!

Can 3 year olds write thank you notes? You bet, and so can your older kids.

It's never too early to show your children how to be thankful. One way to do that is to write thank you letters together. This is something I started to do with my daughters when they were a few months shy of their third birthday. Here's what we did:

1. Sat down side by side one child at a time.
2. I'd write and say aloud, "Dear Aunt Leslie, Thank you for..." We would then discuss what Aunt Leslie gave her, and I would write it down.
3. I'd help her say something she liked about the present by asking, "What do you like about the lady bug?"
4. I'd ask, "What else do you want to tell Aunt Leslie?" "Do you want to say anything else?"
5. Lastly, I'd ask, "How do you want to end the letter: Love, Gabby? From, Gabby?"

Here's our finished product:


Dear Aunt Leslie,

Thank you for the lady bug. I love her. She is soft. I love you, Aunt Leslie. I want to go swimming.

Love,
Gabby


We read it together one more time, and my daughter decorated the letter with crayons and stickers. What was a cool perk about this? Aunt Leslie wrote her back! We've read her letter 100 times. 

We still have a ton of thank you letters to write for Christmas and birthdays. We are doing one every few days, so they don't get burnt out. Who could your children say thank you to? 

Stress & Books

Sometimes kids need a book to help them through a stressful situation. Today my daughters' needed A Very Special Snowflake by Don Hoffman. We were at the doctors' office. I couldn't guarantee my three year olds that they wouldn't be getting a shot. They were on edge. While we waited for the doctor to come, I pulled out the book. We read the words and hunted for the white dog, Snowflake, who was hidden in the snow. They loved finding them. It helped them relax.

Kids' lives are filled with stress. Some more than others. Books will be away to help them deal with the stress or even escape for a little bit. If you are going through a challenge together, consider picking a book to read. The bonding time and the conversation will help.

For a more serious letter of how a book helped a boy cope with his mother's cancer, check this out: This Mom's Poignant Letter to Author Rick Riordan Is the Sweetest Thing You'll Read Today

Screenshot from Amazon

My Children Do Not Read the Books I Buy

One of the prime arguments I heard while I talked to parents about books was "My children do not read the books I buy even if they pick them out." If you are running into the same issue, here are some things to think about:

1. Where is the book being kept? Is it away on a shelf? If it is, chances are it won't get picked up. Consider keeping books throughout the house in areas your children visit often. They are more likely to be picked up when they are in line of sight.

2. Have you read the book with them? Sometimes it takes your interest to get your children interested. Your children are never too old for a read aloud.

3. Is the book good? Sometimes we just pick books that are blah, or we think we'll be interested, but we aren't. If that's the case and you don't think they'll be interested in it later, ask them if they have a friend they think would like the book or donate it. Someone else may love it.

4. Is the book too hard or way too easy? If it's too hard to understand even as a read aloud, keep it somewhere safe until later. If it's way too easy, do they have a younger sibling, cousin, or friend they could read it to? If not, consider giving it to a teacher or donating it.

Please do not give up buying your children books. Having your home filled with good, quality books they love matters.

Do you have other suggestions? Comment below. It's always good to share!

Reading & Experiences

Today I took my daughters to the dentist for the first time. Despite being very timid, they did amazing. No meltdowns. They opened their mouths. They even answered a question or two. I had to repeat it to the dental hygienist because their answers were barely peeps. They even said when we were going home that they liked the dentist! It helped that our dental hygienist and dentist are the nicest people in the world, but they have been around other nice people and had breakdowns. What was the biggest help in this success was reading Usborne First Experiences: Going to the Dentist a thousand times before our big day. They knew exactly what to expect thanks to that book and our discussions based on that book.

Experiences are prime reading topics. These topics can help kids prepare for the dentist, the orthodontist, the doctor, the zoo, a wedding, owning a pet, or even a vacation. Children are never too old or too young to read information on your upcoming events with you.

For example, you are planning a trip to Washington D.C. Check out books about the city from your library. For very young children you can show them the pictures and talk about the places you will be visiting. They'd love to see a preview. Once you get there, you'll be able to point out, "Look that was in the book!" For older children and teens, let them help you plan. You can look at travel guides and websites together. They will be more excited for your trip because they have some ownership of the plans.

Experiences are close to a child's heart, so learning about them will be too. Let's help each other. Comment below how you incorporate reading into your experiences.

Screenshot from Usborne Books & More