Preschool Activities: Floor Shape Songs

By Tiffany Rudd

I can’t believe I am about to post a video of me singing. I am not a singer. So, so not a singer. Like pretty much tone deaf. But this is a fun activity and has always been a favorite in my preschool classroom, so hopefully you find it worth having to listen to me sing. :) 

Also, I can’t remember what song the tune I use for this activity comes from. If you know, will you please leave a comment and let me know. It’s driving me crazy.

Anyway, here are instructions for this fun and easy shape activity. The repetition is great for kids who are just learning the names of the shapes.

1. Use masking tape or painters tape to outline the different shapes on the floor. These can be as big or small as you want depending on the amount of space you have. Just make sure they are big enough for your child to step in and out of. I didn't do and oval or a rhombus (kite shape) this time, but I usually do. Those are tricky ones for kids to remember. 

2. Sing the song below substituting in different shapes and action words each time you sing.

(Action Word) in and out of the (Shape),

(Action Word) in and out of the (Shape),

(Action Word) in and out of the (Shape),

Like I know that you can do!

Here are some of the many ideas you can use in the (Action Word) space: Go, walk, march, dance, hope, jump, skip, tip-toe, twirl, stomp, run, waddle, gallop, shimmy. Or, have your kids come up with some ideas on their own! 

Watch this video to hear the tune I use with this song. Isn't my little dancer the cutest thing you've ever seen? Note: I recommend turning down the volume on your computer before pushing play. Believe me, you don’t want to hear this at full blast! :)

3. Repeat, repeat, repeat! Your child will have the names of the shapes down in no time. 

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Toddler Activities: Glow Sticks in the Tub

By Deborah Pace Rowley

I learned about this fun sensory activity on Pinterest. It was too easy, cheap and fun for me not to share. All you need is a toddler, a bath tub and some glow sticks. I was so excited to learn that glow sticks are completely safe in water. Toddler + Tub + Darkness + Glow Sticks = Magic!

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Mealtime Activities: Backwards & Upside Down Dinner

 By Deborah Pace Rowley

To spice up a boring dinnertime routine, try this creative idea from an old issue of Family Fun Magazine. Have a crazy dinner that is backwards and upside down. You can incorporate as many or as few of these suggestions as you want.

Invite everyone to wear their clothes backwards or to come in their pajamas to dinner. Take some funny pictures to document the event. You could even try putting a shirt on your legs and a pair of pants on your arms.   

There was a lot of laughing as the kids came up with these great backwards/upside down outfits. The girls were hilarious using their skirts as shirts and jackets as pants. 

Eat underneath the table. 

Eat your foods upside down. Serve potatoes on top of the gravy. Plop meat pies onto the plate upside down. Serve hamburgers with the bottom bun on top. Put the brownie on top of the ice cream for dessert or serve pineapple upside down cake. You can even drink upside down by cutting a small hole in the bottom of the juice box or drink pouch and inserting the straw.

Or eat your foods backwards. Start with dessert, next serve the main course and vegetables. End with some fancy appetizers or crackers and cheese.

Print the menu backwards or upside down. If the menu is printed backwards, provide a mirror and teach your children how to read it. 

Speak backwards. “Pass the butter” becomes “Butter the Pass.”

At the end of the evening, play a board game backwards. “Chutes and Ladders” is perfect. It is much more fun to zoom backwards “up” the slides than it is to slide down them. 

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Parenting Tips: How to Give a Sincere Apology

By Deborah Pace Rowley                   

Recently I read the book “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch.  It is a book based on the final lecture Professor Pausch gave at Carnegie Mellon University in September 2007 before his death from cancer in July 2008. This book and the lecture that inspired it included advice that Randy desired to give his three young children.

One of my favorite chapters had to do with how to give a correct apology. This was a lesson that Randy gave his students every year prior to assigning group projects or reports. He knew that they would end up offending each other or letting each other down at some point in their group work and he wanted them to be able to resolve their problem quickly.

I was so impressed with his three parts of a true apology that I taught them to my children. I wish that I had known this when my children were younger. I can remember saying regularly, “Tell your sister you’re sorry.” Immediately followed by, “You call that an apology? Say “I’m sorry” like you mean it!” But did they know how to say it like they meant it? Step 1: Don’t stick out your tongue after the “I’m sorry” part. Step 2: Follow these three rules. Brilliant! I still need this lesson as an adult.

First, Randy talks about two classic bad apologies. 1. “I’m sorry you feel hurt by what I’ve done.” This is subtle but the underlying message is that the blame lies with the other person. The problem is theirs for getting hurt. 2. “I apologize for what I did but you also need to apologize to me for what you did.” That is not giving an apology but asking for one.

An effective and sincere apology has these three parts:

• I made a mistake and I am sorry. What I did was wrong. (Accept fault with no excuses.)
•  I feel badly I hurt you. (Show you understand that your actions hurt the other person.)
• What can I do to make things right again? (Make up for your actions willingly.)

Even young children can learn to say that what they did was wrong. They can recognize the hurt they caused someone else and they can try to make things right again. Try teaching this to your own children and practice the three parts together. Think of what better roommates, spouses and parents your own children will be when they know how to really apologize.



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Elementary Activities: Summer Study Packets - Kindergarten & 1st Grade

By Tiffany Rudd

Last week I promised summer study packets for kids preparing for Kindergarten and 1st grade, so here you are! Remember, you can find the packet for kids preparing for Preschool here. My two oldest and I have been sitting at the kitchen table each morning after breakfast and working on these packets together. My toddler sits nearby in her highchair coloring or stacking blocks and baby #4 (due in just 2 weeks!) is usually kicking me in the ribs. It's pretty much my favorite time of the day.

I hope you are setting aside time in your daily routine this summer for some learning time too. We keep saying it, but it really is important to set aside even just a few minutes so your child doesn't backslide educationally. 

I hope your kids enjoy these packets as much as mine are! If you are looking for a packet for an older grade leave a comment letting me know and I'll do what I can to put one together. 

Click on each picture below to download and print

*If the file doesn't automatically download click on the gray button that says Download This File

Thanks to 

http://www.tlsbooks.com 

for the great free worksheets! 

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Preschool Activities: Button Sort

By Deborah Pace Rowley

The ability to sort objects based on patterns, colors, size etc. is a critical math skill and an important concept to practice for kindergarten readiness. For this button sorting activity, all you need is an empty egg carton and a container of assorted buttons. If you don’t have a collection of buttons, just check with your mother or grandmother. I can almost guarantee that they will!

To play: Set the egg carton in front of your child and lay out about 20 buttons on the table. Then ask your child to sort them by size.  Put all the big buttons in one cup in the egg carton. Put all the medium-sized buttons in a different cup. Put all the small buttons in a third cup.

Next sort the buttons by color. Put all the yellow buttons together.  All the brown buttons together. Etc. Help your child see that different hues or shades of green can still be sorted with the green buttons. Usually there will be some buttons with multiple colors. Decide together where they should go or create another category of their own.  

You can sort by shapes if you have buttons that are round, square, and triangular. You can sort by holes. Some buttons have two holes, some buttons have three holes and some buttons have four or more holes. You can sort by texture. Are some buttons smooth and some rough? Do some buttons have raised edges? Are some buttons decorated with stripes or flowers? Are there buttons with one color, two colors or three or more colors on them?  

Be creative in the different patterns that you see in your own button collection. For an added challenge, have your older preschooler lay out 30 or more buttons. Then encourage him to find patterns to sort for himself.   

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Toddler Activities: Outdoor Color Hunt

By Tiffany Rudd

Now that summer is here, the kids are outside as often as they possibly can be. Even I love it when our learning activities are combined with time enjoying the beautiful weather. So, grab your toddler and head outside for this easy and fun color matching activity!

Step 1: Color the bottom of each section of an empty egg carton a different color. Or if, like me, your carton doesn't take coloring very well just cut circles out of construction paper and place them in the bottom of each section. One color I definitely recommend including is gray. I've found it to be the trickiest for preschool children to remember because it isn't one we talk about or point out to them often.

Step 2: Get outside with your child and help him/her find items of each color! Our collection included grass, a flower, a leaf, a rock, and even a candy wrapper. This is a great activity for children who are just beginning to learn colors because all it takes is matching the item to the color in the bottom. Just make sure you are also telling him/her the names of the colors you find.

Step 3: Dump the carton out or keep your findings in a baggie and then get searching again! Brooklyn did this activity over and over again.

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Meal-Time Activities: Stone Soup

By Tiffany Rudd


One meal-time activity my kids and my preschool students have always loved is reading a book that includes food and then cooking our own to match. I have quite a few "Read It & Cook It" books and recipes I'll share in the future, but one of our most favorites is Stone Soup by Marilyn Sapienza. 

The story of Stone Soup is actually an old folk story, so you can find many different versions. This version is my personal favorite, but probably because it is the one I grew up with. I remember making stone soup with my mom as a child and really believing in the magic. :) In the story two travelers trick an unfriendly town into sharing their food by telling them they can make soup using only water and a stone. Of course, the soup would be much better with a few additions which the town supplies. If you haven't read this one before definitely check it out at your local library. Or you can find it used for as little as $0.99 on Amazon.


All you need for this activity are a large pot, a few ingredients and a stone. I just boil mine first so it is nice and clean. Prep and chop the ingredients beforehand and then as you read the story with your child, he/she can help add the ingredients called for. 


Plus, there is an added bonus...dinner is ready! :)

Recipe for Stone Soup

1 Large Stone (Boil it first! :)

3 Cups Chicken Stock

2 Cups Chopped Carrots

2 Cups Chopped Celery

2 Cups Chopped Red Potatoes

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

1 Can Evaporated Milk

2 Cups Cooked Diced Chicken (canned is fine)

4 Cups Cooked Noodles

How To: Heat chicken stock and stone in a large pot. Add carrots, celery, and potatoes. Simmer until veggies are tender. Add cream of chicken soup and evaporated milk. Add cooked chicken and noodles. Enjoy! :)

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Healthy Living Challenge

I just wanted to let you all know that I am hosting another 

Feel Great In Eight Challenge

starting on Monday, June 4th! There's prize money involved, so if you need motivation to make healthier choices this summer definitely check it out!

For more details on the challenge and to join visit the blog at http://feelgreatineight.blogspot.com/

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Parenting Tips: Summer Routine

By Tiffany Rudd

It has been so fun this week to start thinking about and sharing our favorite ideas for summer. I’m definitely looking forward to the next few months of a more relaxed schedule, tons of outdoor play, swimming lessons, and family time. 

We’ve also mentioned more than once that, if we aren’t careful as parents, our kids can lose a lot of ground academically during the summer. Don’t worry though, we are here to help! By just including reading and some fun learning activities (I wonder where you can find those? :) in your daily routine your kids will definitely be prepared when school starts again in the fall. 

Today I thought I’d share one of the easy tricks I use to keep my kids reading and learning all year long...a little bit of routine. No, I don’t plan out each hour of our day. Yes, there will be weeks this summer when we don’t stick to our routine. But, I’ve found that if I don’t create a routine that includes some learning time it can easily get missed all together. So, here is a little glimpse into our morning routine. Since my oldest just finished a year of afternoon Kindergarten this has been our routine all year and we will just continue it during the summer. 

8:00 Wake Up, Make Beds, & Get Dressed

8:30 Breakfast

9:00 Study Time or Chore Time 

This is the important one! Every day, Monday-Friday, my kids know we finish breakfast and then start our study time. Cameron reads to me and then does a page of homework. He’ll be doing one page out of his Summer Fun Packet now that school is out. Brooklyn colors alphabet pictures, practices writing her name, cuts out shapes, etc. She’ll be doing her Summer Fun Packet now too. Then of course we usually do a quick and fun learning activity. What we do each day varies, but we all work together for 20-30 minutes. On Saturday this time is spent doing chores around the house. 

9:30 Reward

This varies too, but we always follow the study time with a reward for our hard work. It can be anything your child enjoys. A certain amount of time on the computer or ipad, playing a board game, or a fun snack. This summer our rewards will most likely include a lot of swimming in the pond or running through the sprinklers and, of course, popsicles. 

That’s it. Like I said, I definitely don’t plan out our entire day. Just the first few hours are routine. The best part of our routine is that it isn’t a fight. They don’t have to stop in the middle of a fun day to get some reading/study time in and I don’t even have to ask. They just know that after breakfast we “exercise our brains.” 

I hope this little glimpse into our day has helped as you think about fitting in some learning time at your house this summer.

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