Feed

Friday is heeere! How are you? How was your week? Earlier this week one of my girlfriends referred to this month as “Maycember” when referencing the number of kid-related end-of-the-school-year commitments and activities and it certainly felt like an accurate reference to the busyness that comes during the holiday season and, apparently, MAY. Phew! Our calendar is certainly full right now but it’s temporary and, for the most part, filled with fun stuff the kids love. All that being said, you better believe I’ll be majorly exhaling June first when all of the boys are done with school for the...

Before dinner. After bath. You don’t need long to enjoy these toddler activities The toddler stage is both exciting and challenging. It’s incredible to watch tots foster their curiosity, lean into their personalities, and make strides toward independence. It’s also, let’s face it, exhausting to keep them entertained and tantrum-free on a regular basis. So whether you need ideas to add to your daily schedule or a quick fix in an emergency, these 10-minute or less toddler activities are easy ways to have bursts of fun anytime, anywhere. iStock 1. Have a Dance Party Throw on some music and dance...

By Johanna Keene I am a beachcomber, mudlark, and found object artist, originally from the U.K., now living in Ireland. I collect anything that piques my interest, so my collection is quite diverse and eclectic. I mainly focus on searching for objects of man-made origin, such as sea glass, sea pottery, plastics, and metals. I also keep a small number of natural items that I find including shells, pebbles, driftwood, feathers, teeth, and bones. I have a particular fondness for and interest in salvaging vintage glass bottles and jars. At last count, my family and I have removed close to...

The Alphabet and Numbers Learning Fun Totes by MindWare’s Peaceable Kingdom are a fun introduction to basic letter and number concepts for preschoolers. Each tote contains over 80 magnets, double sided activity boards, and a dry erase marker allowing for excellent repeat play  value. The included parent guide is a great resource to help us help them! Children develop knowledge and confidence with early fundamental literacy and math skills. These sturdy totes engage children in hands-on, interactive learning activities. The variety of colorful, tactile manipulatives and wipe-off boards with a dry erase marker are both fun and interactive. They allow...

“Is Petting a Guinea Pig SEL?,” Rick Hess recently asked in a post about what feels like an ever-growing list of programs and strategies intended to cultivate social and emotional learning in schools. The method he highlights aims to build SEL skills through interaction with pets in the classroom. The question Hess asks is valid, but to address it in earnest, we need to look beyond any specific approach and return to what we know about the science and practice of SEL. We’ve written about this in the past (See “Social-Emotional Learning: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and What...