Search Results for: blog preschool supply list

Best Apps for Preschoolers

Over half of preschoolers have played with a tablet, iPad or smartphone. This technology is not only taking adults and teens by storm but little ones as well. Applications for these devices are being designed for children as young as babies. Many are educational, engaging, and fun. In moderation, these apps can hold value. Instead of a child watching TV, a child can now interact with the screen and be a part of the game. As with anything balance is key. Make sure your child is playing outdoors and with others and not sitting in front of an iPad or … Continue reading →

Favorite Books for Preschoolers

Reading bedtime stories is a wonderful tradition. It is hard to keep up with it in our busy lives. I must admit that I do not read bedtime stories every night to my children. However, a story at the end of the day is best way to drift off to sleep. It is relaxing and a wonderful way to spend some quiet time with your children. Some books are classics and find their way into the hearts of children. Here is a short list of the books that are a favorite for the children in my home. Please share any … Continue reading →

Haircuts, Girl Scouts, and Epi-Pens

It’s been quite some time since I did a Week In Review blog for the Special Needs Blog here at Families.com. Now is a good time to get that going again. Here is a brief review of the blogs that appeared here between August 12, 2012, and August 18, 2012. Pediatric Therapy Center Helps Haircuts Be Less Stressful The Pediatric Therapy Center, in Papillion, Nebraska, found a way to make the act of getting a haircut a lot less stressful for children who have special needs. It also made the experience much less stressful for their parents. The haircuts were … Continue reading →

Educational Website: Starfall

All of us with preschoolers are concerned with literacy. We want our children to read well and enjoy it. However, teaching a child to read seems like an overwhelming tasks filled with daunting lessons. How do you teach a child how to read? The feelings come from a fear that we will not teach our children correctly and in doing so doom them forever to a life without the love of books. Well, take a breath and let me introduce you to a site that will help your child learn to read in a fun way. Starfall is one of … Continue reading →

Paper Plate Crafts

Paper plates are inexpensive and make fun crafts. The materials can mostly be found in your craft box at home. Kids love to use paper plates to make all types of fun crafts so just having a supply will keep your child having fun with arts and crafts. Purchase the most inexpensive paper plates at your store. The uncoated ones work the best but if you have coated at home don’t worry. Tambourine: Place a paper plate on the table. Add dried beans or rice to the plate. Put another plate upside down on top of the plate and staple … Continue reading →

Food Play: Haba’s Pretend Food Toys

It’s okay to play with your food. Especially if that food is pretend food. No mess or worries of a kitchen disaster made my little hands. HABA is a toy manufacturer whose endless supply of imagination sparkers and creative toys will keep children engaged for hours. Now you can find brand new pretend food to keep your little chefs busy. The Food Sets: Grill Set Sizzle: From personal experience I can tell you this is adorable. The little grill has kept my three year very happy grilling away even on a rainy day. The set comes with a steak, little … Continue reading →

Free Magazines

Magazines, who doesn’t love them? Many have coupons and promotions that help save money on all areas of our lives. They are filled with wonderful ideas on how to make life more enjoyable. What could make magazines any better? Getting them for free, of course. Here’s a bunch I have found recently. Cosmopolitan is offering 4 free issues at startsampling.com. With this magazine, you don’t have to worry about billing or canceling. They will only send you the four issues. More is offering a one year subscription at startsampling.com. You can also click here to subscribe as well. I have … Continue reading →

The Best Things to Buy Used: Toys 2

We are in the middle of a series of articles about the best things to buy used. These are items in which purchasing second hand can mean significant savings and “like new” quality. Here is the continuation of examples of used toys that are great used buys. Activity centers. Babies outgrow their toys so quickly. This especially true for the activity center, an item that parents rush out to buy or add to their list. This is the classic exersaucer, although it comes under many other names and configuration. Some of these activity centers even convert into toddler or preschool … Continue reading →

What Happened to Fat Pencils and Crayons?

Time and phases often repeat themselves. Clothing styles and toys usually come around every so many years. Bell-bottom pants came back renamed as flare jeans and children once again began playing with Cabbage Patch Dolls and Strawberry Shortcake. Education is no exemption to this cycle of life. Methods of teaching and appropriate forms of learning come in and out of date also. At one point in time children were to begin learning to write using large lined pads of paper and fat pencils and crayons. Those pads of paper and crayons and pencils can still be bought today. However, they … Continue reading →

Crafts For Little Kids – Better Homes and Gardens

In my fourteen years as a mother, I’ve browsed through a lot of craft books. It’s rare that I find one with what I consider to be unique ideas. Crafts For Little Kids: (101 really, really, really fun ideas!) from Better Homes and Gardens has some great and unique ideas for bringing out small children’s’ creative sides. The projects are aimed for kids aged three to eight. But some of the projects are so clever that I think even adult crafters would find them interesting. I love the Valentine cards made out of air-dry clay with embedded beads and jewels. … Continue reading →