• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • About
  • Shop
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

teach mama logo

teach mama

helps families connect & build bridges between home & school, by amy mascott

  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • early literacy
    • alphabet
    • beginning sounds
    • phonics
    • phonological awareness
    • read-aloud learning
    • rhyming
    • sight words
  • reading
    • books
    • comprehension
      • activating schema
      • connecting
      • inferring
      • predicting
      • questioning
      • retelling / summarizing
      • visualizing
    • concepts of print
    • environmental print
    • fluency
    • non-fiction
    • spelling
    • word building
    • word consciousness
    • vocabulary
  • writing
    • creative writing
    • grammar
    • informative writing
    • tripod grip
  • math
    • computation
    • counting
    • numbers
  • science
    • animals
    • plants
    • science experiments for kids
  • Activities
    • birthdays
    • cooking
      • new for us foods
    • crafts
    • foundations
      • colors
      • critical thinking
      • fine arts
      • listening
      • pretend play
      • sorting
      • speaking
    • holidays
      • new year’s
      • valentine’s day
      • president’s day
      • st. patrick’s day
      • april fool’s day
      • easter
      • mother’s day
      • teacher appreciation
      • father’s day
      • july 4th
      • halloween
      • thanksgiving
      • christmas
    • family life
      • family fun
      • giving back
      • lunchbox love notes
      • school
    • indoor activities
    • outdoor activities
  • digital literacy
    • computer time
    • iPad for learning
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

trying to keep smiling: quick trick, one finger

home / family life / parenting / behavior management / trying to keep smiling: quick trick, one finger
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

One finger.

One finger.

Oooooonnneee finger.

When my sisters and I were little, my mom said this to us a lot. At gift stores, department stores, at the bank, in my grandparents’ fancy-schmancy living room, around anybody’s decorated Christmas tree, wherever we were where the things that we wanted to touch might break if we actually did, she said this.

And I have totally stolen this idea from mi madre. I use it all the time with my little ones, and (most of the time) it works.

Instead of constantly screaming, No! No! Don’t touch! No, no, no! How many times have I told you? No! Do NOT touch anything here!, getting my children in the habit of touching things with their teeny tiny pointer finger in a gentle way lets them do just that–have a teeny tiny touch of something they might break if they grab or pat it.

Of course, it takes practice, and of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but like most of my Quick Tricks, it’s just something to keep up your sleeve for those times you feel like a broken record or when you need 10 more minutes to get through the checkout.

Thanks, Mom, for this one and for a gazillion other tricks you’ve given me to help keep me sane!

Thanks for subscribing to teachmama! Have a good one!

You May Also Like...

  • how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
    how to prepare your child for kindergarten -- summertime prep
  • the polar express night: a holiday family tradition
    the polar express night: a holiday family tradition
  • everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home: classes, crafts, virtual tours and more
    everything free and awesome online to do while kids are home: classes, crafts,…

About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro · http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post:rhyming and sorting, sorting and rhyming
Next Post:spider-man activity book makeover

Sidebar

amy mascott profile blog

join the coolest club around:

  • About
  • Contact
  • disclaimer
  • terms of use
  • privacy policy
  • Site-Map

Instagram


our books

setting the stage for rock-star readers
raise a reader

Find Us On Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Helpful Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us On Instagram

View
Open
If you are not yet part of the Take 5 crew, you definitely want to get in the mix!

It will land in your inbox tomorrow: 
https://take5.teachmama.com/

#teachmamatake5  #teachersfollowteachers #parentsofIG #teachertips #linkinbio
View
Open
It’s here! It’s HERE! 

THE ULTIMATE VALENTINE’S DAY CLASS PARTY!

Everything you need to make a Valentine’s Day party totally ROCK: https://shop.teachmama.com/

#valentineparty #valentinesdayclassparty #teacherhacks #roomparent
View
Open
Friends!

I am over on Tiktok, and I’m actually loving it! I’m @teachmama1 or search ‘Amy Mascott’. 🍀

Are you there? PLEASE drop your user name so I can follow you. 

Tagging some one my Tiktok super⭐️ friends so we have some cool cats to follow and learn from. 

Find these 🔥 accounts: 
@myhealthydish 
@luciamallea 
@craftychica 
@livinglocurto 
@audreymcclellan 
@mo_mountain_mutts 
@tailsofconnection 
@jeannettekaplun 
@studiojjk 
@theamiyrahmartin 
@gerrybrooksprin 

#followmeontiktok #sorrykids #ifyoucantbeatemjoinem
View
Open
Even kids who dislike writing will LOVE to pen a note on these tiny cards! And the best news? These flowers last FOREVER!

Grab some here: 
https://zuli.ly/sl/n/t/ACEf

#makesomeonesday #featuredreel #teachersofIG #partner
View
Open
💜❤️🤍 THINK: VALENTINE’s DAY!! ❤️🤍💜

Sooooo many people we know LOVE cool sweatshirts. Skip the 🍬💕 this year and surprise your sweethearts with a fun, cozy, super-😎hoodie. 

Move now! $19 and FREE SHIPPING with my link here—> zulily.gfpv.net/x9eP6v

#coolvalentine #hoodieszn #ad #giftsfortweens #giftsforteens
View
Open
THANK YOU, @imse_og for the best. training. ever!!

WHERE on earth did this week go? It completely flew by!

Our instructor, Becky Strimple, was AWESOME. I am officially hooked on the #OrtonGillingham method, and I am already looking at the next IMSE course I can take to get me closer to Comprehensive OG Plus Certification. 

#UntilAllCanRead #imseog #readingrocks #multisensoryteaching #soexciting
View
Open
Day 4 of OG Training, and this 5 second video doesn’t even scratch the surface of what we covered. 

I have participated in dozens and dozens and dozens of trainings over the course of my career—and throughout my own education—but hands down this is the best one I have ever had. 

Every educator should take this. I don’t have the faintest idea why it’s not required for every edu degree. 

It’s not only a look at the best ways to teach decoding and encoding, but it’s a study of the English language as well. It’s wild. 

#ortongillingham #Letsread #ogteacher #readingteacher
View
Open
Day 3 of @imse_og Orton-Gillingham Training and I am 🤯. 

WHY did I not do this sooner?!

If YOU are OG-Trained, what did you find most helpful/ mind-blowing/ earth-shattering?

#ogteacher #ortongillinghamteachers #teachersofig #teachersfollowteachers
View
Open
Day 2 of Orton-Gillingham Training —we learned SO. MUCH. 

#OGtraining #readingteacher #teachreading #strivingreaders #ortongillingham

Copyright © 2023 · teach mama media, llc · All Rights Reserved