new for us friday: LeapFrog Story Time Pad (& giveaway!) This New For Us Friday, I’m totally excited about a new product from LeapFrog designed especially with younger kiddos in mind. And I’m …Read morenew for us friday: LeapFrog Story Time Pad (& giveaway!)
beautiful, simple sorting: fine motor & creative thinking F-U-N Homework time is still a little bit nutty for us, but I’ve been trying a few new things now and again to keep everyone focused and everyone …Read morebeautiful, simple sorting: fine motor & creative thinking F-U-N
national book festival and gala: what I learned My most favorite night of the year was last Friday night: The National Book Festival Gala. The National Book Festival is in its 11th year, and this …Read morenational book festival and gala: what I learned
trying tapas: rockville restaurant week (& giveaway!) For the last few days, Cora and I have read Susan Middleton Elya’s Bebé Goes Shopping more times than I can count. In the story, Mamá y Bebé …Read moretrying tapas: rockville restaurant week (& giveaway!)
new for us friday: dinosaur train –the movie! We’ve done a whole lot of new-for-us things this summer, but with the excitement of our Smart Summer Challenge, I’ve hardly had time to …Read morenew for us friday: dinosaur train –the movie!
wolf trap’s theater in the woods This week’s Smart Summer Challenge week has a Forest Friendly focus, so it’s a perfect opportunity to write about the time we spent at …Read morewolf trap’s theater in the woods
how to teach kids where in the world they live For a long time now, I’ve realized that Maddy, Owen, and Cora have no idea where they live. Sure, they get that they live in Maryland and their …Read morehow to teach kids where in the world they live
playing with money: counting, wrapping, estimating coins This week our Smart Summer Challenge theme is Government–and what better way to start the week off than by playing with money? Okay, so we …Read moreplaying with money: counting, wrapping, estimating coins
summertime learning eBook: free and filled with fun ideas! I am beyond excited to share the news of a project that’s been consuming my life for the last two weeks (hence, the few blog posts over here. . …Read moresummertime learning eBook: free and filled with fun ideas!
how to teach kids to tie their shoes This Quick Trick is admittedly a work in progress. While Owen hasn’t quite mastered tying his shoes yet, he’s getting there. Slowly. He …Read morehow to teach kids to tie their shoes
quick trick: fast-finger challenges with play-doh Like so many families, we love Play-Doh over here. And whether it’s the real-deal, packed-in-yellow-containers-Play-Doh or happy …Read morequick trick: fast-finger challenges with play-doh
new for us friday: Tangled Tag Book and Explorer Game (& giveaways!) Thank you to all who entered. This giveaway closed 2/25/11; the winners were chosen via random.org and were notified. Thank you!! We …Read morenew for us friday: Tangled Tag Book and Explorer Game (& giveaways!)
super snow day crafts: sock puppets! Cora has fallen hard for her Laura Joffe Numeroff mini-library that arrived under our Christmas tree this year (and who wouldn’t?). Although …Read moresuper snow day crafts: sock puppets!
remembering the importance of pretend play The Red Checks Restaurant was up and running over here for the last few days, serving up its famous chicken noodle soup, corn, pizza, sandwiches, …Read moreremembering the importance of pretend play
target’s read with me (with iPad and children’s books giveaway!) Many thanks for the enthusiastic response to this giveaway. The contest is now closed, and random.org #105 was chosen, notified, and …Read moretarget’s read with me (with iPad and children’s books giveaway!)
just 1 book: author guest post–tara mcclintick (and book giveaway) I’m so excited to share an especially interesting just 1 book guest post by a fellow educator and author, Tara McClintick. Tara shares the …Read morejust 1 book: author guest post–tara mcclintick (and book giveaway)
new for us friday: ‘take the cake’ game (and giveaway!) I wanted to jump for joy when my friends at Gamewright sent us Take The Cake, a perfect game for younger ones. We’ve been playing it for three …Read morenew for us friday: ‘take the cake’ game (and giveaway!)
new for us friday: when talking to kids about cancer This New For Us Friday I’m sharing a little something new to me and a little something new for all of the Yahoo! Mother Board Members: Yahoo! …Read morenew for us friday: when talking to kids about cancer
digraphs and blends: search, find, and rhyme game It’s no secret that digraphs and blends are tough for some kiddos to enunciate and hear. These tricky, unique sounds are difficult for little …Read moredigraphs and blends: search, find, and rhyme game
surprise!: learning with silly bands They’re colorful, they’re stretchy, they’re simple. They’re confusing, countable, and collectible.They’re animals, …Read moresurprise!: learning with silly bands