Summer is here; with school out, it’s the perfect time to create lasting memories with your children. Keeping them entertained throughout the summer can be challenging, but fear not! We’ve covered you with exciting and fun-filled activities to keep your kids happy and engaged. From outdoor adventures to creative projects, this article will provide a range of ideas suitable for children of all ages. Get ready for an unforgettable summer!
Explore the Great Outdoors:
One of the best ways to entertain your kids during the summer is to explore the great outdoors. Plan family outings to nearby parks, beaches, or hiking trails. Encourage your children to appreciate nature by playing games like scavenger hunts or organizing picnics. Camping trips can also be a fantastic adventure where kids can learn basic survival skills, set up tents, and tell stories around the campfire. Nature provides a world of wonder and excitement for children to discover, so take advantage of the sunny weather and create memories in the great outdoors.
Get Crafty and Creative:
Unleash your children’s creativity by engaging them in various craft projects. Set up a dedicated art space in your home and stock it with supplies like paints, markers, colored paper, glue, and scissors. Encourage your kids to create artwork, build models, or even try their hand at DIY projects. Crafting not only enhances their imagination but also helps develop fine motor skills. You can even organize craft-themed parties or invite their friends for an afternoon of creativity and fun. Display their masterpieces proudly around the house or gift them to family and friends.
Dive into the World of Books:
Encourage your children to embark on a literary adventure by introducing them to the enchanting world of books. Set aside specific reading times each day, where you can join them and discuss their favorite characters and storylines. Take regular trips to the local library to explore new books and participate in reading programs. To make reading more interactive, you can create a cozy reading nook at home with comfortable cushions, blankets, and shelves filled with their favorite books. Reading expands their vocabulary and nurtures their imagination and critical thinking skills.
Engage in Sports and Games:
Keep your kids active and healthy by engaging them in sports and games. Set up a mini soccer field or basketball hoop in your backyard, or organize family tournaments for games like badminton or volleyball. Please encourage your children to learn new sports and practice their skills. Additionally, board and card games can be a great way to bond as a family while stimulating their strategic thinking. Puzzle-solving activities, such as crosswords or Sudoku, can also be enjoyable and help develop their problem-solving abilities. Remember, the goal is to have fun and stay active!
Foster your children’s curiosity by engaging them in exciting science experiments. Countless simple and safe experiments can be conducted at home using everyday household items. From creating a volcano eruption with baking soda and vinegar to making slime with glue and borax, these experiments will entertain and educate your kids. Encourage them to ask questions, observe, and record their findings. You can also visit science museums or attend science-themed workshops to explore more in-depth scientific concepts. Who knows, you might be inspiring the next generation of scientists!
Entertaining your kids all summer doesn’t have to be daunting. By incorporating a mix of outdoor adventures, creative projects, reading, sports, and science experiments, you can provide them with a memorable and enriching summer experience.
Black History month is in February. This is a time to celebrate the contributions of black people to our world. In our household, my son and I learn black history year round. I am fortunate to be able to teach him black history because it is not taught within many our school districts. Today we will focus on black history inventors.
This black inventors t-shirt is available on Amazon! Click the image above to purchase the tee.
My son, Cory, loves doing science experiments and wanted to learn about black history inventors and their inventions. For example, it was fascinating for him to learn that Lewis Latimer invented the carbon filament for the light bulb. This invention made the light bulb shine longer and brighter. Mr. Lewis worked very closely with Thomas Edison.
Hands-On Learning
I try to think of hands-on projects to help my son remember black history facts. Therefore, we decided to make replicas of the inventions we read about through art. Below are some of the art projects my son completed.
Black History Inventors Art Projects
One of the first black history inventors we learned about was Benjamin Banneker. At the age of 20, he took a watch apart to study the pieces and to find out how it works. In 1753, at the age of 22, he built a wooden clock from his discoveries. Many people came all over to see his clock, as it kept perfect time for more than 50 years.
To celebrate Mr. Banneker, we decided to make our own clock. Below is how we did it…
Build Your Own Clock
Materials Needed:
Paper Plate
Scissors
Paint
Paintbrush
Glue
Black Marker
Construction paper (2 different colors)
Paper Brad
Directions:
Have your child build their own clock like Mr. Banneker.
Have your child paint the paper plate.
Cory paining the paper plate.
Draw a long and short clock handle on the construction paper.
This will represent the hour and minute hands.
Cut the handles out of the construction paper
These are the handles for the clock.
On another piece of construction paper, write numbers 1-12
Cut the numbers out individually and paste them on the clock
Poke a hole in the center of the paper plate
Insert the paper brad through the hour hand, minute hand, and the hole in the center of the paper plate.
Secure the paper brad by separating the tines of the legs and bend them over to secure the paper.
Here’s my son’s completed clock.
Another inventor we learned about was Phillip Downing. He created the street letter box, which was a tall metal box with a secure hinged door to drop letters. Before his invention, people who wanted to send mail had to go to the Post Office. The hinged door on the metal box prevented rain and snow from entering and damaging the mail. His invention allowed for people to drop their mail off near their home and to be picked-up by a mail carrier.
Our project below honors Mr. Downing’s contributions to our world…
Make Your Own Letter Box
Materials Needed:
Small or Medium sized cardboard box
Scissors
Blue sheets of construction paper.
Glue or Tape
Marker
Directions:
Explain to your child that Philip Downing created the street letter box to save us a trip to the Post Office and to prevent our mail from becoming damaged.
Tape the cardboard box shut.
With adult supervision, cut a rectangle hole on the box.
We taped our box and cut a rectangle in the center
Tape any parts of the box that may have come apart.
Glue or tape the construction paper on the box so that it is fully covered.
Here my son is cutting blue construction paper to fit around the box.
Write the world “Mailbox” on the cardboard box and tape it to the front.
My son is writing the word “Mailbox” on paper
Here is our letter box to honor Philip Downing
Optional: Have your children write a short letter and put it in your newly created mailbox.
Our Bonus Project
This year we decided to take it a step further and create something more memorable. We made a t-shirt to honor a few of the black inventors we learned about.
I have heard adults and children proclaim that they are not good at math. Some people believe this because they received bad grades in this subject in school. Furthermore, they had a difficult time understanding various mathematical concepts. Many of us believe math just comes naturally for some people. I discovered that this is simply not true. Teaching mathematics in early childhood is one way to combat this belief.
You mean people can improve their math ability?
Yes, people can improve their math abilities. I remember reading the book, Morning by Morning: How We Home-Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League by Paula Penn Nabrit. The author details why and how she homeschooled her boys. When it was time for her sons to go to college, she talked to a college admission counselor about what they look for when admitting students to their school. Of course they mentioned grades among many other aspects of a student. The counselor said good reading scores starts early in childhood; however, with practice many students can raise their math scores later in life.
How can this be done?
Dr. Ben Carson gave a lecture on PBS called, The Missing Link: The Science of Brain Health. In this talk, he gave tips on how people can optimally utilize their brain. Dr. Carson addressed the fact that many people find math difficult. He says that anyone can be good at math. Math is a subject that builds upon the previous concept. He said that when people have trouble with math it is because they failed to understand the previous concept given to them. It is important for students to go back and make sure they understand the foundational ideas before they move ahead to the next.
It just takes practice and effort.
Why is teaching mathematics in early childhood important?
When many people hear the word “mathematics” they tend to think of numbers, equations, and theories. However, math is so much more than that. It is a part of our everyday interactions and children naturally practice mathematics as a life skill whether we notice it or not.
For example, a child knows that if he or she has one cookie and his or her sibling has two cookies, then there is a difference. If a child has played with a toy for five minutes and another child played with it for fifteen minutes, they can feel the discrepancy. In the examples above, children are using mathematics to decide how they should feel about certain situations.
If our children naturally practice these skills, why not foster their learning by connecting it to their interests and incorporating it into their play and daily routines?
We will discuss some ways to do this later.
In this picture my son is three-years-old. He was curious about multiplication after seeing the x sign in his play math set. I showed him how to solve multiplication problems through drawing pictures. He is solving the problem 8 x 2 = He is writing the correct answer 16 on his V-tech easel.
What are the important mathematical skills in early childhood education?
Colors
Colors, shapes, and spatial reasoning are a few important mathematical skills in early childhood education. Colors help children organize and bring logic to their world. Identifying colors helps a child create a link between visual clues and words. Colors aid in giving children the vocabulary needed to describe the world around them, which opens up new verbal channels for them.
For instance, children often distinguish the difference between foods such as fruits and vegetables by their color. Furthermore, when your child is painting or coloring, most often they will make the sun yellow and water blue because this is familiar to them. It helps to organize their creation.
Shapes
Shapes are not only important in math, but also life in general. A child who can identify shapes will learn how letters of the alphabet are formed. This prepares them to have better handwriting skills. For instance, the letter O is basically a circle.
Also, the knowledge of shapes is useful for building, which is an introduction to engineering. My son learned a lot about what shapes to use when building certain structures with his magnetic tiles. He learned that rectangles and squares make great bases or foundations for towers. His towers are made with hexagons, squares, and triangles. From these experiences, he was able to apply his knowledge of creating basic structures to making them more sophisticated and complex.
Spacial Reasoning
A child uses visual spatial skills daily when he or she imagines where a toy in their room is located before going to get it. Another example is when a child is packing their book or duffle bag; they visualize how different items can fit together to maximize storage capacity. Furthermore, when a child puts together a puzzle, they imagine where pieces go before putting them in the correct place.
What are the methods used to teach mathematics?
There are so many methods to teaching mathematics besides worksheets. My favorite method is playful learning which may include games, hands-on activities, and the use of toys. These activities will help you to make the information active to your child. This is important because learning comes to life for a child when they do something with the information.
Examples of fun activities you can do are to go outside, collect and count rocks, and sort them by color and texture. You can also build a math activity around your child’s interests. If your child likes cars, have them construct numbers in sand or mud with their toy vehicles. You can also create a road with tape in the form of numbers. Then have your child follow the path with the cars. If you have a child that likes dolls or stuffed animals, then help them do a role play as a teacher teaching their dolls how to recognize numbers.
The possibilities are endless!
Want more FUN ideas for teaching early childhood mathematics?
Many of the activities can be done with household items and materials. This book also gives its readers tips and resources such as children book suggestions, videos, music, toys, and playful materials.
How do I know these activities work?
These are the activities I have used to teach my son, Cory, early childhood mathematics. Currently he is five but does math on a 4th grade level.
Cory really enjoyed learning math because the activities were hands-on, playful, and fun. He connected with the concepts because he was able to experience what he was learning through engaging games. Additionally, when you use fun learning and play to expose a child to math, the information tends to stick faster.
There is a quote by Dr. Karen Purvis that says “Scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain – unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10 and 20 repetitions!”
This is why playful learning is important, effective, and efficient!
Spring is such a wonderful time of the year. The weather is warm and kids are outside playing. My family and I love to go on nature walks to see the tadpoles evidently turn into frogs. My son loves to throw rocks in the water and fly his kite.
To prepare my son for spring, we start reading books about the season near the end of winter. There are countless books that will teach your child about the lifecycle of various animals, plants, and what happens to the earth during spring time.
It is wonderful to absorb the rich information in these books. However, I encourage you to couple your reading with actually experiencing spring.
Below is a video of the Walking Water Experiment. It is a great activity to teach kids how plants get water through capillary action starting in Spring. The video comes from my son’s YouTube channel called Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe!
Below I will give you 30 spring books for preschoolers.
Let’s get started!
Little Mole is sad. Therefore, his mother teaches him about hope by leading the way out of their dark burrow into a bright world filled with the promise of spring.
Count the 10 little rubber ducks as they swim downstream on a spring day. This book has hatching chicks, a hopping bunny, blossoming flowers, and more spring-time scenes.
On a sunny springtime day, siblings Feather, Flap, and Spike set out to explore the many flowers, leaves, and seeds outside. Their day is met with difficultly by Spike’s dino-sized sneezes.
Easter is almost here and Turkey knows just how to celebrate. He’s going to win the eggstra-special Easter egg hunt! The only problem is that animals aren’t allowed to enter. What will he do?
After the cold of Winter, comes the warmth of Spring. I Am Spring takes young children on a journey through the many important events that occur uniquely in the beautiful growing season of Spring.
Celebrate the season of spring with raindrops, robins, bluebells, and butterflies! This book has colorful illustrations and are matched with rhyming, easy-to-read text that explores rain falling, flowers blooming, and other springtime wonders.
When spring comes, leaves unfurl and flowers blossom, the grass turns green, and the mounds of snow shrink. Spring brings baby birds, sprouting seeds, rain and mud, and puddles. You can read all about it in the book!
Join in the rainy-day fun, as kids splash through the puddles, affecting another weather enthusiast, a nearby worm. An imaginative and playful story, readers will love seeing the worm delight in the weather just as much as the kids.
Mole can smell that spring is in the air, but Bear is still asleep after his long winter nap!Excitedly he taps on the window and knocks on the door. He even tries playing a trumpet to wake his friend so they can celebrate together. However, bear keeps snoozing.
As days stretch longer, animals creep out from their warm dens, and green begins to grow again, everyone knows―spring is on its way! Join a boy and his dog as they explore nature and take a stroll through the countryside, greeting all the signs of the coming season.
Young children will enjoy learning about colors and flowers while reading this book.
This story is about the life cycle of a flower and is told through the adventures of a tiny seed. It includes a detachable seed embedded paper housed on the inside front cover.
Flitzy the butterfly welcomes back the plants and animals of spring! This book has rhymes and colorful illustrations that will delight young readers!
The adorable baby animals in this book are fun to view and they represent life that is spring. Every young creature finally ventures outside to play as the days of winter fade away and color surround us all.
In spring, seeds are planted and sprouts pop up through the soil. Colorful flowers bloom. Your child will see how plants come to life in spring.
Children will explore spring in the forest with this interactive Lift-a-Flap Surprise board book! Little ones will love learning all about springtime fun in the forest while following a mama deer and her sweet little fawn.
Your children will hear the forest is calling. They will also take a quiet walk through the woods, where shadows fall in the darkness, eyes peek out, and some animals sleep while others run and leap.
Up in the garden, the world is full of green. Down in the dirt there is a busy world of earthworms digging, snakes hunting, skunks burrowing, and all the other animals that make a garden their home. Children will discover all the wonders of spring.
This story helps children understand the change of seasons, the excitement of hiking, and the importance of what it means to “leave no trace.”
Ladybugs, butterflies, daddy longlegs, and roly polies are just some of the familiar creatures featured in this book. This book also has an actual size bug chart, which provides real-world comparisons so that readers know exactly how big each bug is, and the Bug-O-Meter, which lists fun facts about each bug, such as number of legs, where it lives, whether it flies, and if it stings.
Bob and Otto are best friends. They love to eat leaves, dig, and play together. When the two meet again, Otto is still the same dirt-loving earthworm, but Bob has done the unthinkable: grown wings.
Gossie and Gertie are friends waiting for Ollie to hatch. They try poking, listening, even sitting on top of his egg but, Ollie just won’t come out.
A girl observes and describes birds—their sizes, their colors, their shapes, the way they move and appear and disappear, and how they are most like her. She imagines what it would be like if clouds looked like birds, or if she could ask the birds questions.
This book includes lots of easy, smart ideas on how we can all work together to make the Earth feel good. It discusses planting a tree, using both sides of the paper, saving energy, and reusing old things in new ways.
This picture book shows the incredible metamorphosis that occurs as a tadpole loses its fishy tail and gills and becomes a frog.
Mayumie and her grandmother take a trip into Tokyo to see cherry blossoms flowering in the heart of the city.
This book teaches kids to speak up and stand up for those who can’t. With a recycling-friendly “Go Green” message, The Lorax allows young readers to experience the beauty of the Truffula Trees and the danger of taking our earth for granted.
Come explore the amazing world of bugs with this book. The bugs in this book include hungry caterpillars, busy ants, and graceful dragonflies.
Little chick may be the smallest chick on the farm, but she doesn’t know it. What she does know is that she can chirp the loudest, eat the most, and stand the tallest.
Springtime is here, and Zinnia can’t wait to plant her seeds and watch them grow. She takes care of her garden by watering her plants, weeding, and waiting patiently for something to sprout. Soon, the first seedlings appear!
I remember at the age of 17 my older brother, Linsey, gave me the book, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. This book changed my perspective about how I thought about money.
One point that stuck with me was when you are an adult your report card is your credit score. I found this statement fascinating and I made the decision to do two things after that..
To strive to have an excellent credit score as an adult
To teach my children financial literacy
Check out our new book available on Amazon, Teach Your Child About Money Through Play! It has over 110 Games/Activities, Tips, and Resources. The book is great for kids ages 4-10 and their parents.
Although my son is a preschooler, I have introduced him to money through role plays, having him count and earn real money, and reading books.
I would like all children to be exposed to financial literacy. My contribution is by compiling this list of Children’s Book about Money.
Sign in to our SOY Resource Library and get access to 10 ACTIVITIES TO BOOST KIDS’ FINANCIAL LITERACY KNOWLEDGE.
At five years old, Gabby Goodwin can’t stop losing her hair bows everywhere she goes. She and her mother invent a new kind of bow that doesn’t fall out. Read this book to see if their idea works.
Lily wants a new bike, a new raincoat, and ice cream. But how many of these things does she need? As Lily and her dad drive around town, Lily soon discovers that wants and needs are different things.
Problem-solver Jason Li has been on a mission to pay for his own lunch since he started school. He has an idea that helps him achieve his goal and save the planet.
A lemonade stand in winter? Yes, that’s exactly what Pauline and John-John intend to have, selling lemonade and limeade. Children will learn about simple math concepts in a fun way with this book.
Roxy Ramirez has saved up for weeks to buy a chemistry set, and now she’s headed to the toy store to buy it! There’s only one problem. She keeps running into friends who are in trouble, and need her to dip into her savings to help. Will she have enough money left over to buy something for herself?
Just as a squirrel gathers nuts to prepare for the winter—eating some now and storing some for later—kids can learn the value of money by spending some of their allowance now and saving the rest for later using animals as examples.
This basic introduction to earning and spending explains how people earn incomes in exhange for their work and skill. It then explains the economic choices people make in saving or spending their income.
One little girl and one very big dollar set out on a great adventure at the store. What will she do with so many choices, and only one buck? Read this book to find out.
Let’s Meet Ms. Money is a children’s picture book that teaches children about money. Kids will learn what money looks like, how to count it, how and why we use money, and how we earn it.
Teach your kids the basics about finances with this book. There’s no such thing as too early when it comes to these things. Properly seal the deal about money and other possessions by introducing this book.
At ten years old, Jazz Ellington, has over $2,000 in the bank, and his savings keep growing. His granddad taught him to save his allowance and set up a bank account. This book increases financial awareness while sharing the lives of two African-American boys growing up in the city.
This book teaches discipline, delayed gratification, and how good it feels to give to those in need. Dimes can teach your child the habits that will allow them to have a more financially secure and fulfilling life.
Five-year-old Sebastian Martinez, with the help of his older brother, turns his love for socks into a business that not only makes wacky socks, but also enables the duo to finally revamp the school dress code.
Jeremy wants a pair of the shoes everyone at school is wearing. Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for wants just needs. Read how Jeremy and his grandma navigate through this dilemma.
The 21st Street Sluggers’ shirts are worn-out and dirty. They need new ones, but they have no money. Children will learning to count money and make change.
Arthur starts his own petsitting business to show Mom and Dad that he can be responsible! Between a boa constrictor, an ant farm, and a group of frogs, he’s got his hands full! Can Arthur still prove he is responsible?
Children will get an introduction to American units of money; and how they combine to make a price. They will also learn basic money symbols and the math inherent in shopping.
Children will learn how the dollar is made, the meaning of the symbols that are shown on the front and back of the dollar, and how long the average dollar stays in circulation?
Arthur attempts to earn enough money to buy a t-shirt and cap, assisted by his sister Violet. Children will learn simple business concepts by reading this story.
Dollars & Sense is a basic instruction manual for money that will teach readers about the history of money, the way the American economy works, and how to make important decisions about personal finance.
Papa thinks it’s time to teach Brother and Sister how to budget their money. Children journey with the cubs on their process to understand the value of a dollar.
Rock and Brock are twins and their grandpa offers them a plan―for ten straight weeks on Saturday he will give them each one dollar. But there is a catch! Each buck they save, he’ll match it quick. If they spend it, there’s no extra dough.
This book explains how to create a budget, make money, invest your earnings, and donate to charity. It also teaches kids the difference between needs and wants and getting the most from an allowance.
Ella wants a soccer ball, but she doesn’t have enough money to buy one. She decides to earn her own money. Will she earn enough to buy the ball? Read this book to find out!
Kyle’s club is going camping and all the kids will sell Cool Candy to earn money for the trip. Kyle needs to find buyers for ten boxes of candy. Can he keep track of his cash and join his friends on the camping trip? Read this book to find out!
When Rae witnesses an ice cream and dog mishap, she’s inspired to create a solution to help get dogs clean. Rae draws on her determination and everyone else in her community when she learns what it means to be an entrepreneur.
Children will learn how to not only spend money, but also how to earn it. The quizzes, tips, and helpful quotes from other girls will make learning about money management easy and fun.
This book teaches children the following questions about money: When did we start using it? And why? What does money have to do with writing? And how do taxes and interest work?
When George decides to save up for a red train in the toy store, he doesn’t realize how long it will take or how hard he’ll have to work for his money. Read this book and find out if he gets the train.
Deena has a big problem. Her mom’s birthday is coming, but she has no money to buy a present! Find out how she solves the problem by reading this book.
Find out what happens to your money after you hand it to the cashier. What happens to that money once it leaves your hands? Who actually pockets it or puts it into the bank? Read this book to answer these questions.
Maddy has a piggy bank named Piggy. One morning while feeding Piggy coins for breakfast, Maddy discovers how coins, like people, come in different shapes and sizes.
When Sophie finds fifty dollars on the sidewalk, it gives her a great idea for a new name: Sophie the Zillionaire! In order to keep the name Sophie the Zillionaire, Sophie has to make more money — and fast.
Mama and Papa are worried that Brother and Sister seem to think money grows on trees. The cubs decide to start their very own businesses, from a lemonade stand to a pet-walking service.
Little Critter® wants a new skateboard and Dad tells him that he needs to save his own money to buy it! From feeding the dog to selling lemonade, Little Critter learns the value of a dollar.
This book is about a boy spending the day with Dad coin collecting! He finds out about the value of coins, what people used before coins, and why historical images and people appear on coins.
A young girl sets up a lemonade stand and sells enough cups of refreshment to add up to a dollar. This story combines the teaching of addition with childhood entrepreneurship!
The book explains the concept of money and how saving works based on the concepts of simple and compound interest. Children then learn where Wall Street is located, what stocks and bonds do, and, the right way to buy or sell a stock, mutual fund, or savings bond.
Pete saves his allowance and spends too much of it. He then has second thoughts and starts over. Children will learn how he strategizes over future purchases.
This book will reach kids before bad spending habits can get out of control. With answers and ideas from real kids, this grounded approach to spending and saving will be a welcome change for kids who are inundated by a consumer driven culture.
Follow a class of fifth-graders as they figure out the world of finance, including earning, budgeting, and saving to investing and collecting coins from around the world.
Show Me the Money takes technical terms and breaks it down with easy-to-understand text, diagrams, and illustrations making a formerly dry subject interesting and relevant to kids
Honey Bunny Funny Bunny has a lot of money. She saves some and spends some on herself and friends. This is a rhyming book about spending and saving, told through the eyes of animals.
Mr. Chickee, a blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar face. Could it be a quadrillion dollar bill? Could it be real? Read this book to find out.
Children will learn how people pay for the things they buy by writing a check, paying with a debit card, paying with a credit card, and paying with cash withdrawn from an ATM.
Provides an introduction to taxes, including some of the products and services that citizens may receive including schools, roads, and national defense.
This book answers the following questions about money: How and where is it printed? What do all those long numbers and special letters on currency mean? How are the newly designed bills improvements over the old ones?How can banks afford to pay interest?
George, a newly minted quarter on his way to the bank, has quite a day. He’s about to be traded, spent, lost, found, donated, dropped into a vending machine, washed in a washing machine, and generally passed all around town.
Fudge is obsessed with money. He’s making his own “Fudge Bucks” and has plans to buy the entire world. However, things get crazy once his family gets involved.
On a summer day, a young girl sets up a lemonade stand and sells enough cups to add up to a dollar. This story combines the teaching of addition with a traditional rite of childhood entrepreneurship!
Saruni is saving coins for a red and blue bicycle. How happy he will be when he can help his mother carry heavy loads to market on his very own bicycle. How disappointed he is to discover that he hasn’t saved nearly enough!
The Nelly Longhair doll is on sale at Murphy’s Toys for ten dollars, but Isabel has only fifty cents. Isabel decides to start a car wash business. Will Isabel earn enough for the Nelly doll?
This is a story of a man who spends his life struggling, saving, and sacrificing to build and own his own barbershop. Although there were many racial difficulties that stood in his way, he opens the doors of his new shop at the age of seventy-nine.
A second grade class wants to visit the Statue of Liberty. They try to earn money for the trip by collecting paper, running a lemonade stand, sitting babies, walking dogs, and selling candy.
Benny McBride starts his day with five new pennies and is determined to spend them all. His family wants him to buy certain items. Will he be able to fulfill their requests?
Have you ever wanted to make a million dollars? Marvelosissimo, the Mathematical Magician, is able to explain how to earn money, invest it, accrue dividends and interest, and watch savings grow.
This book examines the history of money, including the barter system, early trade in North America, unusual types of money such as huge stone disks and salt bars, and the first paper money.
The pigs are very hungry, and there’s no food in the house. Mr. Pig suggests eating out but there is no money! The family goes on a money hunt. Read to see if they find what they are looking for.
Teen lacrosse player Rachel Zietz takes an entrepreneurship course and realizes she can blend the worlds of business and fun by creating a lacrosse equipment company.
Your three-year-old son can read on a third grade level? How?
Just this past weekend, I saw my three-year-old son, Cory, reading a book to his Sunday School teacher and a group of kids. As soon as the teacher saw me, she said “This child can read at three-years-old? How did you do this?” When someone asks me this, my short answer is always by making reading fun, exposure to a variety of books, and playing with words.
Then later that day, I took my son to another child’s home for a birthday party. The kids were having so much fun playing inside and outside. At one point, Cory was playing with the Leapfrog letter set at the refrigerator and spelling words. He asked the birthday boy’s mother, who is a teacher, for the letter T in order to spell the word gift. After spelling, the boy’s mom approached me and said “I can’t believe your son spelled gift!” I replied by saying “Yes, he loves to read and spell!” She said “How did you do this?” Again, I gave her my normal answer.
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Is your son a genius?
Parents and teachers are usually amazed to know that my son was reading at 21 months. Right now, he can read on a third-grade level. They often say “He is a genius!” I think ALL CHILDREN ARE BORN GENUISES! Cory was born with the same capilibities as every other child. He was just exposed to words and language in a fun way at an early age. In my opinion, any child can do this!
Why did you teach your son to read so early?
It was not my intention to teach Cory to read as a toddler. I didn’t think he would learn the alphabet until the age of three or four. My objective was to expose him to words and language so he wouldn’t be a late communicator. In my experience as a social worker/play therapist, I noticed children who couldn’t speak would resort to hitting or kicking out of frustration. However, once they developed language this behavior would decrease because they could communicate their needs and wants.
As I started exposing Cory to words through play and reading, I noticed that he liked what I was doing. After reading a book to him as a baby, he would take the book and give it back to me. He wanted me to read it again. I remember my husband read the book, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See ten times in a row to Cory at one time. He enjoyed the interactive activities and games we played, which I used to exposed him to new words daily. He has always loved playing with letters, learning the phonics, and blending sounds. Finally, there came a point were he had a desire to seek meaning from words through reading!
Watch my three-year-old son read the book, Charlotte’s Web. A book for children ages 8 and up.
Why is reading a struggle for some kids?
Reading is boring.
Some kids think reading is boring. Many young children spend their days playing. Then once the child turns five or six-years-old, adults tell the child that they have to sit down, focus, and learn to read. Learning to read can be a frustrating process for some kids. It takes time and concentration because one of the best ways to become a better reader is to read. This can be difficult for the child who is a kinesthetic learner, as most kids are, and loves to be physical and experience what they are learning.
My Child is not trying hard enough
Sometimes when a child is behind on their appropriate reading level, the teacher will tell the parents. Parents usually get nervous and upset by this information, and these emotions transfer to the child. During home reading sessions, the parents get frustrated with the child because “they are not trying hard enough.” This most often leads kids to having a negative view of reading. They will often tell their parents “I hate reading!” In turn the parents become more upset because their child is behind their classmates and they are unable to motivate the child to read.
Parents don’t know where to start
Teaching a child to read can be an overwhelming task. First, you have to learn the alphabet, phonics, blending sounds, sight words, and the various rules of the English language. Parents may have a child that knows the alphabet and phonics but is having difficulty with teaching them sight words. Flashcards are often used to teach sight words, but again the child thinks this is SO BORING!
Furthermore, if a child is reading a book with a lot of words they are unfamiliar with, they may get irritated and want to do something else. Additionally, how do you explain that the word bat can be an animal and a tool used for baseball? Oh and when you see the letters PH together, you should make the F sound. Also, C can make the short sound like in cat or the long sound like in cell.
My Child won’t sit during reading time.
I have heard many parents complain that their child doesn’t want to sit and read an entire book. As parents are reading, the child may look in space and not pay attention. Or if the child can read, they get distracted by something happening in the background. Sometimes a parent may read the first few pages of a book to a child but the story line is boring which causes their mind to wonder.
My Child is uninterested in reading about the topic.
A big reason why some kids don’t like to read is because they are uninterested in the topic. This often happens when kids have to read school textbooks or remember facts that they have no connection to. The kids are wondering why they have to know this information. Parents and teachers are trying to get their children to retain the information and it is just not happening for the child. This can be a pretty difficult situation to navigate.
Below are questions many parents have about reading…
What age should a child learn to read?
Most kids start learning to read at 6 or 7. Some kids start earlier at the age of 4 or 5. I believe children have the ability to recognize words earlier. My son started recognizing words at nine months.
One day my son and I were playing in the basement. I asked him to get the book, Brown Bear Brown Bear out of the bin. Out of the 12 books in the bin, he picked the correct title.
My son was able to blend sounds to make words at 21 months. The only reason he did this so early was because he was exposed to it as a baby. However, all children learn at different times and levels. They also learn with various methods. It is important to concentrate on your child’s level and their readiness to learn.
Watch the video below to see my son spelling at 21 months old
How can I help my child learn to read?
There are countless ways to teach kids to read. Kids learn through reading, talking with others, story-telling, workbooks, digital media and technology, learning phonics and sight words, blending sounds, writing, and asking questions.
Let’s say you want your child to learn about other countries, then observe your child and see what they like and offer a connection. For the child who loves sports, have them read about Sports played in the countries. If your daughter loves princesses, have them read about princesses around the world.
How long should a child read each day?
Children should read at least 20 minutes a day. However, if a parent is doing formal reading lessons then all you need is 15 minutes a day. Outside of the 15 minutes, please know that reading can take place anywhere. Children can read a dinner menu, playground signs, grocery list, captions on their favorite cartoon.
How do I help my child who is struggling with reading?
First, you must define what struggling means. If you are comparing your child with other kids in the classroom or the national standards of reading and they are below their level, then yes they maybe struggling. However, if you don’t compare them to anyone, you may realize that they just need more time to get the concept.
When a child needs more time with reading, ensure you are teaching to their learning styles.
Auditory learners love to learn through hearing. Great activities for them would be to read books based on songs and retelling stories you have read and adding music with DIY instruments like banging the bottom of an oatmeal container. Visual learners use sight to learn. They would enjoy drawing and painting colorful stories and doing word puzzles and games with colorful pictures. Kinesthetic learners love explore the world through touch and movement. Try building model sets based on books and doing a Treasure Word Hunt Gamewould be fun for them.
In my opinion, the best way for children to learn to read is through playful in-depth and natural wholesome interaction. It is the best way to create a desire in children to read.
This is why I have written the ebook, Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play: A Detailed Account With Over 130 Games/Activities, Tips, and Resources.
My goal is to help you expose your child to words and reading in a fun way. This book will take you through a step by step process of how I taught my son to read. It gives you games/activities to do with your child along the way to make reading a process that is fun, natural, and interesting! It will help spark your child’s curiosity in wanting to seek meaning from words which is essentially reading.
This book provides the following…
A detailed account of how I taught my son to read
Over 130 Reading Games/Activities and Resources
How to expose your child to new words through play
The types of books to start your child’s reading journey
How to encourage curiosity in your child
Child brain development and how to develop faster connections in your baby’s brain
How to expose newborn and babies to words through play and bonding
How my son was able to recognize words as a baby
How to make rereading books fun for you and your child
Simple ways to create a literacy rich home
The MOST important thing you can do as a parent to encourage reading in your household
How songs and dancing assisted in teaching my son to read.
How to take full advantage of the FREE Services at your Local library
How Physical Activities can boost your child’s reading skills
How to Teach the Alphabet in a Fun Way
How to Teach the Phonics, Blending Sounds, and Sight Words in a Fun Way
The three basic learning styles in children
How to determine your child’s learning style
How to expose children to new concepts aligned with their learning style
How children with certain learning styles tend to communicate
The toys/activities children with certain learning styles tend to favor
How to make learning fun and playful for children
How to determine the best time to teach your child
How to execute Fun In-Depth Learning
How to use the body’s senses to teach your child
How to combine In-depth learning and learning styles during play
How to incorporate digital media in your child’s learning
How to teach a child with more than one learning style
How to Structure your Day
How to progress to teaching your child the phonics
How Writing and Art can build a child’s reading skills
How to Use Real World Experiences and Field Trips to expose children to language.
How to Choose Books your Child will Like to Read.
Strategies for When your Child Loses Interest in Reading.
Examples of toys we used
Examples of books we read through our journey
Once your child begins to read, how to continue to build their skills.
Here is What Others are Saying About the Book
“This was a wonderfully detailed account of not only how to teach your child to read, but also how to connect with your child, support your child in a lifetime of loving to learn, and use your time caring for your child in a meaningful, fulfilling way. I am inspired as a mother, and I wish I’d known about this sooner!
I thought it was very well written, and the flow was perfect. The book flowed seamlessly from one chapter to the next, and I felt like it was organized perfectly.”
-Stacey
“This is a wonderful guidebook for parents who want to help their children begin learning at an early age through play. It is an introduction on how to nurture a love of learning and proficiency in reading in children, which in turn will open the door for your child to be exposed to and learn about a variety of topics. Andrea incorporates several learning styles in order to pave the way for a lifetime of learning.
I look forward to incorporating some of these techniques into playtime with my little learners.”
-Danielle J.
“This book documents the journey of an engaged parent who used creative and fun ways to introduce her son to books. This led to the child’s continuous interest in letters, words, sentences and naturally, reading. If you are willing to invest the time in incorporating the tips in this book with your child, he or she will also develop an interest in books and learn to read during the early stages of brain development. This book is an excellent example of the African Proverb “Each One Teach One.”
-Linsey Mills
This is a great e-book for parents with children ages 0-7! Invest in your child’s future. Reading is the most powerful tool to promote creativity, increase brain power, and it helps your child express themselves better! The best way to teach a child to spell and grammar rules is not through flashcards and worksheets but through reading and play!
Not Sure Yet? Then Complete the Form at the Bottom of this Post to Read the First Chapter for Free!
The book is available on Amazon! Click the image above to access the link.
As adults, we most likely want to prevent children from getting sick. It disturbs their playtime and they often look helpless lying in bed during an illness. One way to keep kids healthy is to teach them how to prevent germs.
I have provided 4 FUN and SIMPLE activities that will complete this mission! These activities will have your child wanting to help with chores and pinpoint the importance of good hygiene.
Learn How to Teach Kids to Cover their Mouths in a Fun Way
Let’s get started by answering basic questions about germs/microbes.
How are germs spread by hands?
When you cough or sneeze, this is the lungs’ way of doing their job to force bad germs/microbes out. Some people cough in their hands if they don’t have a tissue. Coughing in your hands leads to germs being left there. When you touch anything such as a doorknob, pen, sink, utensils, or someone else’s hand, you will spread germs.
How can you prevent germs from spreading?
There are good and bad germs. You want to keep good germs and get rid of bad germs. Good germs can help make vitamins that your body needs. Foods that increase good bacteria or germs are asparagus, beans, spinach, and bananas.
One way to prevent bad germs from spreading is to cough or sneeze into a tissue or elbow. Furthermore, if you don’t cover up at all while sneezing and coughing, the germs can go really far. Some germs can travel 100 miles (160km) per hour and spread over 100,000 more.
Another way to prevent germs is to wash your hands frequently with soap. Soap helps to remove dirt and microbes. Hand washing should occur before eating, after using the bathroom, when playtime is complete, after using public transportation, or visiting public places.
This book is about an oval shaped microbe character named Min, who teaches children about germs, by going on an adventure. Min begins her journey ON the book and involves readers by asking them to take her various places.
For example, the book says “Let’s take Min on an adventure! See the circle on the next page? That’s where Min lives. Touch the circle with your finger to pick her up. Min is now on your finger!”
Taking your Child on a Germ Journey
During Min’s travels, she meets friends and takes them along the way. Somehow Min and Rae end up on the reader’s shirt! At each stop, the authors show children a microscopic view of their destination. Additionally, commentary from other microbes explain how they function. While Min and Rae on are the reader’s shirt, one microbe says “Can you give me a hand spreading this dirt around?” Another microbe says “We’re making this shirt smell.”
While Min and friends are on the reader’s belly button, one microbe asks, “Did I tell you about the time soap got all the way in here? Another microbe replies “I don’t like scary stories!” This book teaches children the importance of brushing their teeth, washing clothes, and taking a bath in a humorous manner.
At the end, the authors show readers what microbes really look like and where they can be found.
Let’s apply it with 4 FUN Activities!
Use the activities below to….
Teach your Child about germs.
Encourage them to help with chores.
Promote Hygiene and Self-Care.
I do these activities with my son and he loves it!
Create the Germ/Microbe
Have your child draw a germ/microbe.
Tell the child to give the microbe a name.
Have your child draw the microbe a friend and name it.
Tell your child the microbe is going to travel to three places…
Their clothes
On their teeth
On their hands
Tell your child you are going to get rid of the germs by doing the next three activities.
Laundry
Explain to children that microbes get on our clothes and make them dirty and stinky.
While doing laundry have your child help you put the clothes in the dryer and washing machine.
While your child is handling the clothes say the following…
“Let’s get the Microbes off the clothes by putting them in washing machine.
Make it fun and urgent by saying the following…
“Oh no! The microbes are multiplying let’s put them in the washing machine quickly!
Make it into a race against the Microbes.
Brushing Teeth
Explain to children that microbes get on our teeth and cause tooth decay and cavities.
Explain that cavities are holes in your teeth.
The microbes also cause your breathe to stink.
These microbes love sugars like candy.
In order to get them off, they must floss and brush their teeth.
While your child is brushing their teeth say the following..
“Hurry Hurry, the microbes are running because they know we are about to brush your teeth!
Let’s brush your teeth to remove them now!”
I hear the microbes saying, “No, No don’t brush your teeth! We don’t like the smell of toothpaste!”
When your child is rinsing their mouth and spitting, say the following…
“The microbes are down the drain and they are yelling “No, No!”
Washing Hands
Explain to children that microbes get on our hands as we touch various things like the doorknob and sink.
We often touch our noses, mouths, and eyes allowing microbes to come into our bodies and make us sick.
We need to wash our hands to decrease our chances of getting sick.
While your child is washing their hands, laugh and say the following…
“We are going to get those microbes by washing our hands with soap!”
“The microbes are scared of soap so let’s keep scrubbing!”
When your child is rinsing their hands, say the following…
“The microbes are down the drain and they are yelling “No, No!”
“Yes! We conquered the microbes!”
When I forget to do these activities, my son usually asks me to play the Microbe Games!
Get creative with your children on how to remove microbes!
Here is a fun science experiment that teaches kids how soap removes dirt and oil when washing their hands. This video comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe for fun learning activities every Tuesday!
I remember going to the local library and listening to an Education Expert lecture about the importance of reading aloud to your children. This expert said children whose dads read to them are more likely to become avid readers in adulthood. One of the reasons is men’s lower voices tend to command more attention and sometimes can be better heard from children due to the lower frequency of the sound wave. For example, people with slight hearing loss find it easier to hear men’s voices than women and children’s voices. Also, a Harvard University study found that dads reading bedtime stories is better for children’s language development.
How Can Dads Help a Child Become a Better Reader?
Dads should read aloud to their child frequently. Also, children can observe how their dad enunciates words and his reading rhythm. Furthermore, do hands-on activities where the child can experience the words in the book. For example, if the child is reading about animals on Wednesday, take the book with you to the zoo on Saturday. Show the child the animals in the book while observing them at the zoo. This allows the child to see the words and experience it simultaneously.
Below is a video of Read Aloud Strategies to Make Books Fun For Kids!
How do Books Help Children’s Development?
Children will learn life skills through experience. However, books can help a child’s development because they see how book characters solve problems and handle difficult situations. This is why it’s important for dads to read various types of books frequently to their children. The child receives a male’s perspective on how to handle issues through discussion encouraged from reading books. Also dads are given the opportunity to discuss a variety of topics through books which can range from friendship to feelings and emotion.
A Fun Book Dads Can Read to Children
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.
Along with the benefit of dads reading aloud, this book highlights the positive aspects of fathers such as telling funny stories or singing silly songs. It also stresses the negative side of dads, from a kid’s perspective, like being bossy or grouchy. Sometimes kids wish their dad’s were someone else, but the author warns children to be careful what they wish for because it be could way worse.
The book gives humorous scenarios of how it could be worse. One page reads, “Be glad your dad is not a tortoise because everything would take forever.” Another example is “Be glad your dad is not a Dung Beetle, because he would pile poop in your room, (Seriously, that would be really gross.)”
Fun Educational Components of the Book
The animals discussed in this book provide children with insight on how they function. At the end, the author gives more information about each animal in the book. When dung beetles pile poop and eat it, they help rid the earth of it. If they didn’t, the whole world would be covered in it!
My husband and son had a great time reading this book! My son found this funny and entertaining!!!
Fun Ideas to Supplement Book
Take it a step further and do a fun activity to supplement this book. Below are some ideas…
Role play a tortoise and do everything around the house slowly.
Get a balled up brown sock, representing poop, and leave it beside your child’s bed.
Leave a note saying “Daddy the Dung Beetle left this poop for you!”
