Category "Whizzkids"

If you’ve ever wondered how to teach your toddler the alphabet, you’ve come to the right place.

Simple alphabet activities are sometimes hard to find, so we’ve put together a list of ideas that are perfect for even the littlest learners.

HOW TO TEACH YOUR TODDLER THE ALPHABET

• This preschool alphabet packet has activities, book ideas, and worksheets for every single letter.
• Practice the sounds letters make with alphabet phonics cards.
• This letter recognition activity doubles as a yummy snack.
• Make a letter zip line for a fun and exciting activity!
• Match letters in this simple alphabet learning game.
• How fun is these alphabet exercises?
• Work on matching upper and lowercase letters with this alphabet sticky note wall.
• Go fishing for letters with this alphabet fishing game!
• Erase the ABCs for an easy to set up the game.
• Match letters with this alphabet bean literacy game.

ALPHABET ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS

• Practice writing letters with this no-mess painting activity.
• How fun is this pool noodle alphabet match game?
• Feed the alphabet monster is a fun way to work on letter recognition.
• Play hide-and-seek with this alphabet game!
• An outdoor letter match activity is perfect for summer.
• Practice letter recognition with this secret letters activity.
• Help toddlers work on name recognition with this pool noodle.
• Grab an old box for this letter matching activity.
• Play say and spray this summer!
• Practice tracing letters with this fun activity.

Hopefully, inspiration has hit that learning the alphabet is something that toddlers can have fun doing!

Kindergarten is a big step in a child’s life and being prepared for the experience is key. I wanted to share these secrets to getting your child ready for Kindergarten, because not only is it important to prepare your child academically, it’s also important to make sure that he or she is prepared emotionally and mentally.

If you’re getting ready to send your little one off to school this Fall for the first time, here are some great ways to get your child ready for kindergarten.

5 SECRETS FOR GETTING YOUR CHILD READY FOR KINDERGARTEN

1. Talk About School

One of the best ways to get your child ready for kindergarten is to talk about the experience. Start having conversations about school and what he can expect at his new school. Talk about the teacher, other students, and the classroom environment. Emphasize the fun he’s going to have to learn new things and meeting new friends. Many schools offer Kindergarten Orientation Days where new students and their parents can come to visit the classroom and meet the teachers before the first day of school. If your school offers such an event, try to attend and ease both of your fears about the new environment. It will make the first day a lot easier for all of you.

2. Read Books About the First Day

Head to your local library or bookstore and find books that discuss the first day of kindergarten. There are many books that deal with the anxiety of the first day and how the characters overcome that to have a successful school year.  From Franklin’s First Day to First Day Jitters, there’s a book for every nervous child – and parent!  If you haven’t read the Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park, be sure to introduce your child to this delightful and creative kindergartener!

3. Discuss Behavior

Long before the first day of school, discussions about behavior expectations should take place. Sharing, taking turns, waiting, and kindness needs to be stressed to ensure that your child is successful in the kindergarten classroom. For kids that attend preschool, these skills are often emphasized from an early age, but should still be reiterated in the weeks leading up to the first day of school. Sometimes it’s the non-academic Kindergarten skills that are the most important in those first few weeks.

4. Play Learning Games

Today’s kindergarten curriculum is a lot more rigorous than the curriculum that many parents experienced in their own school days. Learning games, practice printable worksheets, and apps can all help to increase a child’s understanding of the alphabet, reading, and basic math skills. Be sure to make it a fun learning experience at home, so that he isn’t turned off by learning before he even gets to school!

5. Be Positive

If you talk negatively about school, your child will pick up on that. Be excited and enthusiastic about the experience that is to come, so that your child will be too. One of the hardest things to do as a parent is to send your child off to school, but your enthusiasm (even if it’s faked!) will be contagious and your child’s anxiety will melt away.

Remember, your child takes his cues from you about how to feel about school, so a positive, upbeat attitude will go a long way. While you may be equally as nervous, highlight the good and put on a brave face. You, too, will survive the first day of school.

Name writing practice for kids can be so much fun! Most children thrive when education is coupled with sensory activities. We’ve put together 10 different (and fun) ways you can help your child practice writing their name.

Helping your child practice writing their name gives your child the confidence to do their best in school and feel great about it. We hope you and your kids enjoy the activities we’ve put together for you!

NAME WRITING PRACTICE FOR KIDS

GEL BAGS

These are brilliant. Fill a giant ziplock bag with about half a bottle of hair gel and some food coloring. To use, write their name on a page. Lay the gel bag over the paper. Your kids trace the letters to make their name.

SANDPAPER LETTERS

Kids love sensory experiences. This one helps your kids recognize that letters need to be formed in a particular order. Write their name on sandpaper. Your child needs to use yarn to form the letters of their name.

DOT-TO-DOT

This is an especially useful technique for older kids who have learned all the wrong habits. Create a series of dots and number from where they start. Your kids need to follow the dots in order. Start with lots of dots and as your child gets more practice, remove dots.

GLITTERY LETTERS

Review their name multiple days in a row. Using a stiff piece of paper or cardboard, write their names. Your child traces letters of their name with glue. Cover the glue with glitter. When it has dried you can trace the letters with your fingers.

SCRAMBLE AND UNSCRAMBLE THE LETTERS

One of the precursors to writing their name is recognizing it and deciphering the order of the letters in their name. Practice putting letters in order from left to right with this fun name activity. Refrigerator letters and foam letters work well for this activity.

RAINBOW LETTERS

Give your child a handful of crayons. They get to trace their name over and over again. Each time using a different crayon. You will be surprised at how fast your kids will become experts at writing letters with this technique.

CHALK-BOARD SWABS

This post contains affiliate links. 

If you have a chalkboard this is super handy and fun! Write their name on the board with chalk. Give your kids a handful of cotton swabs and a capful of water. Your kids need to erase the letters using the swabs.

HIGHLIGHTER LETTERS

Write the letters of their name with thick lines using a bright highlighter marker. Your kids trace the letters “ their goal is to stay inside the line  of the highlighter markings. As they become a more confident writer, make the letters thinner and smaller.

STREET LETTERS

Form the letters of their name in tape on the floor. Grab the bin of cars. Your kids get to drive around the letters of their name. Encourage them to move their vehicles along the roads the way they would write the letters.

PLAY DOUGH ETCHING

Etch your child’s name into play dough using a pencil. Your child can trace the lines. Then roll it flat and trace their name very softly. Your kids need to etch their name deeply following the lines you made. The tension of the dough will help develop the muscle motor control needed to write.

These are our favorite board games for kids that are fun for the whole family to play together!

I love the way a fun board game can bring together a family.  When the game is right, everyone can have fun and you make the kind of memories that kids think back on the rest of their lives.  We have board games that everyone from the toddler to the grown ups can play in our game cupboard.  Here are our favorites.

The following board games are favorites in my family or were recommended by readers. You’ll find them listed in sections, along with links to further recommendations for games for each age group:

• Board Games for Toddlers
• Board Games for Preschoolers
• Board Games for Younger Kids
• Board Games for Big Kids and Grown Ups

The ages listed come from personal experience as well as looking through reviews for each game, so they may not be the same as what the manufacturer recommends, but they’ll work for most people.

Links to games are Amazon affiliate links.

Roll, it’s your turn!

Best Board Games for Toddlers:

(Games good for approximately ages 1, 2 & 3)

The most successful board games for toddlers involves action and movement. Toddlers over age 2 or so may begin to be able to play board games with simple rules of play. Top recommendation in this list for long lasting play value is Snails Pace Race.

Ravensburger Snail’s Pace Race – Age: 2 – 5, Players: 1-6, Cooperative: It doesn’t feel very competitive if you don’t present it that way.

I recommend this board game because my kids have all enjoyed it and played it both together and on their own.  The older kids can help the toddler with the board game and the snails and dice are pretty wooden pieces.  As they roll the colors to move the snails it can create happy conversation about, “What snail do you think will win the game? Go blue go! Only ___ more spaces!”.

Thinkfun Roll and Play Board Game – Age: 18 months+ Parents and older siblings can play this game with the toddler, Players: 2+, Cooperative: yes

Toddlers get to roll the soft die and the cards prompt fun interactions and movement ideas that a parent or older sibling can do with the youngster.  Easy to involve the whole family, because who can resist making a toddler smile? Now they’ve come out with a dance version too: The Move and Groove Game – cute!

Haba – My First Orchard – Age: 2+, Players: 1-4, Cooperative: yes

My First Orchard is the younger version of Haba’s extremely popular Orchard game.  In the toddler version of this board game the pieces are larger and the play is simple.  The wooden fruits are beautiful and everyone can work together to save them from the hungry crow.  Haba also has one of the biggest selections of board games for toddlers with their “My First Games Series“.

Animal ABC’s Ring Flash Cards

Not a game exactly, but good for prompting lots of pretend play with your toddler like, “Can you chomp like an alligator?!” These animal flashcards come on a ring so you don’t lose them and are illustrated with cute pictures your toddler will recognize.

Find more of our favorites: Best Board Games for Two and Three Year Olds.

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 Best Board Games for Preschoolers:

(Games good for approximately ages 4-6 with some good for 3 year olds)

Richard Scarry Busy Town Age: 3-8, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: yes

This game for preschoolers comes recommended by readers as well as parenting bloggers. It is the most popular preschool game on our list.  The game comes with a large map of Busytown for a game board and players get to work together to find items and get to the the ferry to go have a picnic.  One reader said her kids favorite games are this one and the Richard Scarry Airport Game which is similar and her kids love it because it comes with little airplanes.

Hisss Age: 3+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: no

Hisss has remained a well loved game for two years for my boys.  It’s simple enough that after a few games younger kids can play it together on their own.  It’s not thrilling for adults, but I don’t mind playing with them either, and it isn’t one of those never-ending kid games.  You are matching snake cards according to color to try and create entire snakes.  We all have fun going HISSSSS when we pick up a snake we’ve completed.

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game – Age: 3-7, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no

Players have to use little tongs to pick, steal or put back an acorn, depending on what the spinner lands on.  The action of using tongs is great for coordination. Recommended by readers as a new favorite, this is one I’m leaning towards getting for my five year old.

Gobblet Gobblers – Age: 4+, Players: 2, Cooperative: no

A great game that is fun for parents too.  It’s played almost just like tic-tac-toe (so, VERY easy to learn) but you have the fun of being able to “gobble” pieces, making it so sometimes your four year old catches you off guard and wins.  The pieces are high quality wood, the game play is quick, and kids begin learning strategy – highly recommended.

Catch Me! Tin Game by Haba– Age: 3-7, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no

Players try to snatch their mice away to safety and save them from the cat in this cute game.  Lots and lots of laughter as players try to save the mice.

Find more of our favorites here:
Best Board Games for Preschoolers

 

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Best Younger Kid Board Games:

(Board Games good for approximately ages 5, 6, 7, 8+)

Chickyboom – Age: 4+, Players: 2, Cooperative: It can be if you decide to work together to “save the chickens!”

Chickyboom is another game that’s fun for kids and grown ups.  It relies on steady hands so younger players may be at a disadvantage, but your 3 or 4 year old could join in if the other players are willing. We usually play it as one team trying to save the chickens, so this isn’t a problem.  My kids love to do pretend play with the nice wooden pieces.  We all shout chickyBOOM!!! when the board falls. – highly recommended.

Labyrinth – Age: 8+, Players: 1-4, Cooperative: no

In this game with sliding maze pieces players have to find treasures and get back home. You have to visualize how the maze will change taking a turn, making it very engaging.  We used to have this game when I was a kid and my brother and I both agree that it really sparked our imaginations.  Finding treasures in the maze is an enchanting experience.

eeBoo Obstacles Game – Age: 5+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: yes

Comes recommended as a fun game for stimulating creative thinking.  Everyone works together to come up with solution to the obstacles and make their way to the finish.

Spot It  – Age: 5+, Players: 2-8, Cooperative: no

After having this game recommended to us over and over we got it as a Christmas present.  Players try to be the first to spot the only two similarities between two cards.  This game travels well due to size and there are multiple ways to play, as well as multiple different versions such as Disney Frozen Versions, and Educational Sets.

Find more fun games for young kids here:

• Favorite Card Games for Kids
• Actually Fun Math Board Games

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Board Games for Big Kids and Grown-Ups

(These are games you’ll want to play even without kids.)

The following are board games for families that  are great for a family game night, but also you might find yourself choosing these games even if you’re not playing with the kids. When we get together with the extended family on holidays, we wait until the kids are asleep so all the grown ups can play these.

Ticket To Ride – Age: 8+, Players: 2-5, Cooperative: no

It involves strategy as you try to claim the most train routes. This is a fun game for adults and kids.  You can read the in-depth reviews to find out more about how this is played.  My only warning would be, this is a difficult game to play with toddlers around – lots of little train pieces.  When my oldest son was little he loved looking at the game board and lining up the little trains, but that isn’t as easy to supervise with more than one kid.

Qwirkle – Age: 5+, Players: 2-4, Cooperative: no

This game of colors, shapes, and strategy can be played by kids as young as 5, but we stayed up late on Thanksgiving playing as kids slept.  The tiles are beautiful, shiny wooden pieces, and the game play is simple yet strategic.  I don’t see our kids “outgrowing” this game.

Morphology– Age: 13+ or 8+ for the Jr. version; younger kids had fun being on a team, Players: 4+, Cooperative: no

This game is hilarious.  My stomach hurt from laughing so much.   It’s like Pictionary with objects and somehow elicits the most ridiculous and funny guesses.  There’s also Morphology Junior for kids 8 and up, which might be a good choice for families with all young kids.  The junior edition is played very similarly to the regular version; it’s fun for grown ups too.  Kids do need to be able to read or team up with readers.  The cards in the Jr. version include an optional hint and they might be considered “easier” than the regular game version, also the Jr. game pieces are slightly larger.  Either game is a ton of creative fun.
Settler of Catan – Ages: 10+ (8 or 9 year olds may enjoy playing, depending on patience level), Players: 3-4 unless you buy an 5-6 player expansion, Cooperative: no

This is such a classic board game. Kids as young as 8 years old or so can learn to play it, and it is a favorite family board game for everyone. Once you get the hang of the original version you’ll probably want to get one of the expansions (note that you do need the original version to play the expansions). We have enjoyed the Sea Farrers expansion, and next on our wishlist is Cities and Knights.

Do you have any favorite fun games for kids I should take a look at?  What is your favorite board game for families? I’d love to hear your suggestions! 

How can you connect with your kids when you’re totally tapped out?

I know I’m not the only mom who gets absolutely swamped from time to time.

We’ve been in one of those phases lately where the kids are indoors more because of winter-  more mess inside,  the baby needs me at just the time when the rest of the family needs a meal, and we’ve been having our fair share of winter colds to pass around.

The house is hovering on the brink of disaster and laundry threatens at every corner.

So- How to stay sane?  Good question….

Parenting Priorities:

• Do not engage with crazy (This is shorthand for not getting wrapped up in drama, anger and craziness.  I want to show my children a peaceful mama, not a yelling madwoman.  If I’m heading that way it’s time to pause and reassess.)
• Retain connection with my kids
• Retain connection with my husband
• Maintain essentials (pay bills, do laundry, provide food)

Practical Matters

(we know most of these, but they bear repeating.):

Make a list of your top priorities (see above.) Don’t worry about the rest for now.

Get sleep any way you can. That being said, I know sometimes you just can. not. get enough sleep.  Believe me, I’ve been there.  Try to remember what being sleep deprived does to your mind though, so when you are saying hateful things to yourself you can stop yourself and remember that really, you just need sleep.

Hire a mama’s helper– I’ve got a girl from my church who comes over to be a  mama’s helper one afternoon per week.  It may feel like a pain to get set up, but it’s worth it.

Find your bare bones routine. For us that goes back to morning routine (breakfast, dressed, brush teeth), eating times,  evening routine (dinner, brush teeth, pjs, clean up, stories, bed)  The very very base of our routines is when we eat during the day.  I know my kids need Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack, Snack, Dinner.  The book Steady Days by Jamie C Martin is helpful when you need to establish workable routines.

Eat healthfully. It doesn’t mater if it’s simple and repetitive, but don’t give in to the temptation to just grab sugar and caffeine.  I have to realize that when I am tired what I want very most is sugar and caffeine, but if I just eat chocolate chips all day I will feel even worse.

Ideas to Steady You:

Forgive yourself over and over.– You will not get it all done and that’s ok. You are enough, really.

Find connection points in your day– I make little rules for myself.

• Currently I don’t turn on the radio in the car and instead pay attention to our conversations there.
• I focus on my kids during meals, even if I am not eating and am simply holding the baby while they eat at the counter.  At dinner we always ask, “What was your favorite part of the day?”  Even if it’s dinner while we watch a  show or a dinner in the living room, we pause to ask this and listen to each other.  I can’t tell you how centering this is to my kids.

Looks for opportunities to smile and laugh. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches the mindfulness meditation, “I breath in, I calm my body. I breathe out,  I smile.”  Try that in the midst stress and you may find more moments you can enjoy with your family.

Get Re-inspired– I recently wrote about Books to Inspire.  For me loading up at the library works.  I also look for inspiration on other mama blogs, at my church and in conversation with friends.  (When it’s not so cold just going out in the woods usually works too,  but I’m a wuss about the cold.)

Make Lists–  Lists are so reassuring.  It helps most if you have one spot where you make your lists though, so you can find them again.

And finally, If everything feels like it’s about to fall apart and the kids are bonkers and you got no sleep- put in a load of laundry, figure a game plan for dinner and then ignore the rest of the chaos.  Call another friend with kids at home, take your kids over to her place and just spend the day drinking tea and reassessing your daily routine, your priorities and making lists of easy to make foods (This helped So much last week when I did it)

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. ~Carl Bard