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August 6, 2020August 6, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, Brain Power, hands-on learning, read aloud, reading, toddlers, vocabulary

Playful Reading and Literacy Activities from Infants to Preschoolers

My Discovery

From my research, I concluded that doing playful reading and literacy activities with my son would be beneficial to his development. If you have been following my blog, you probably know that my son learned to read at a very early age. This accomplishment was NOT my intention. My intention was to expose him to as many words as I could so he could communicate his wants and needs. I did not want him to be a late communicator.

As a play therapist, I often found that children who were last communicators would resort to hitting or kicking. They were simply frustrated that they could not tell others their desires. This can be frustrating for adults as well. I could only imagine how a child who experiences this feels.

Seeing the Interest

I saw that my son was interested in reading, letters, and language at a young age. Therefore, I started to expose him to the alphabet, phonics, sight words, and blending sounds in a playful manner. He seemed to like how I was interacting with him daily, so I kept introducing him to reading and literacy.

Below is a video presentation I did for my alma mater, Davidson College. It outlines and gives tips on how my son learned to talk, blend sounds, and read at 21 months. There are various videos of my son as a baby showcasing his journey from talking to reading.

The presentation is a little over 50 minutes long. However, it gives a ton of resources and tips on how to stimulate your child’s brain and various methods to develop a love of reading and language. The steps are easy and fun to do with children.

This presentation is based on my online course and book, Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play. Click the image below to learn more about the course. There is currently a $97 discount on it.

Here is the presentation! Enjoy!

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OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

How Plants Get Their Water | Awesome Celery Experiment for Kids

Summer is here and it is the perfect time to go outside to play. It is also a great time to go on nature trails to see animals, plants, and flowers. My son and husband love to work in our garden in the backyard. They have a feeling of pride when they see vegetables arrive during the summer months.

I love to make connections with what my son is experiencing. Since he has been working in the garden, I wanted to show him how plants get their water through an awesome celery experiment for kids. He has done this experiment before. However, we did it again because it is one of his favorite experiments and it is fun to do. Also, it is a wonderful refresher on science vocabulary such as gravity and capillary action.

How Plants Get Their Water

My son wanted demonstrate the experiment via video. He takes you step-by-step through the process. You most likely have all the materials for this activity in your kitchen right now.

The video below comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe if you like what you see!

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OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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July 16, 2020July 16, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, cooking, creativity, hands-on learning, Kids, life skills, Science

How To Make Homemade Snow Cones For Kids

One day my son, Cory, was watching television and saw some kids eating snow cones. He asked me if I ever had a snow cone and my reply was “yes.” Then he wanted to know if it was good. I told him it was “tasty” especially on a hot summer day. Cory then asked if we can buy one and taste it.

The next weekend, I went to an ice cream shop hoping they would have a snow cone. The only item they served was ice cream. This was the case for the next ice cream shop we visited three weeks later. Cory finally said “Where can we get a snow cone?” I paused trying to think of an answer to his question. Then he said, “Can we make one on our own. I said, “I will research some recipes.”

Miraculously two days later, a former co-worker who often sends me fun hands-on activities for kids via Facebook, sent me a recipe for homemade snow cones. I thanked and told her Cory wanted to try snow cones for the past month.

After a week, we viewed the recipe and found that we had MOST of what was needed to make our own snow cones. Instead of buying new ingredients from the grocery store, we used what we had at home. Cory was so excited to make and taste his first snow cone.

Great Lesson In Making Snow Cones

Making homemade snow cones is an excellent lesson in science and cooking chemistry for kids. It provides a great opportunity to teach kids about irreversible change, which are things that cannot be changed back. During this process new materials are always formed. Irreversible change while cooking can mean heating various ingredients to create a new meal. You cannot change it back to its original state.

How To Make Homemade Snow Cones for Kids

My son and I will show you how to make homemade snow cones in the video below. It is an easy and fun process for kids to do with their parents.

The video below comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe for fun learning activities.

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OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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July 9, 2020July 9, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, Interactive Activities, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

How To Make A Volcano At Home – Fun and Easy

Summer is here and kids are playing outside. However, during certain parts of the day, it can be unbearable to be outside because of the heat. It is very hot outside during these times. Therefore many parents are looking for indoor activities for their children. Doing hands-on projects inside the home is a great alternative to watching electronics all day.

Today my son and I will show you how to make a volcano at home. We were learning about rocks made from volcanos. My son thought it would be fun to create our own volcano, which is what we did.

Like most of our projects, it is easy and fun to do. You most likely have all the ingredients in your kitchen for this project.

I will admit that I should have made my son wear goggles while doing this project. Please ensure your kids are wearing eye protection while making the lava for the volcano.

How To Make A Volcano At Home

Below is a how-to video showing you how we made our volcano. We had a lot of fun doing this activity. He tends to like activities with exciting chemical reactions!

This video comes from my son’s YouTube channel, Corban Fun Learning Adventures. Please subscribe for fun learning activities weekly!

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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July 1, 2020July 7, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Kids, Science

How To Make A Homemade Bottle Rocket – Fun, Easy, and Awesome!

As mentioned in last week’s post, my son requested that we experiment with various types of DIY rockets. He has become accustomed to our family doing fireworks on July 4th on the blacktop near our home. He thought homemade rockets would be a great addition to our tradition.

Last week, my son showed you via video how to make a simple Cup Rocket. He loved the response received from doing this project. This was extra motivation to build another type of rocket. We created our rocket from scratch and it successfully flew across the parking lot.

This rocket uses three simple ingredients that you probably have in your home. It is a great addition to your home science experiments and DIY projects.

How To Make A Homemade Bottle Rocket

My son and I will show you how to make this easy rocket. Let your kids try it and comment below on how they liked it.

The video below comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe for more fun learning activities.

Enjoy this activity and the holiday!

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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June 25, 2020July 7, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

How To Make a Cup Rocket – Quick and Easy for Kids

July 4th is coming soon! Kids will anticipate cook outs, picnics, time with family, and fire works. This is also a great time to play games and make crafts.

My son requested to do some DIY rocket projects about two weeks ago. He has been excited about July 4th for a while. Therefore, we have been experimenting with various launchers and rockets at home. This week and next will be dedicated to showing you our results.

How To Make A Cup Rocket

In this post, my son will show you how to make a Cup Rocket. We like this activity because it is quick and easy. Furthermore, it only requires two household items.

If you have multiple kids, create a friendly rocket launching competition. It will be fun to see whose cup goes the farthest.

Below is a video where my son teaches you how to make the Cup Rocket. You will see that he had a blast with this simple project.

This video comes from my son’s YouTube channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe for fun activities weekly.

Have fun with this activity!

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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June 18, 2020July 7, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, colors, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Kids, Physical activity, Science

Fun Color Activity for Preschoolers, Kindergartners, and up – Awesome Outdoor Adventure

Every night before my son goes to bed, we read a book. Currently my son is interested in chapter books. The book series we are reading is called George Brown Class Clown. In one of the books, George’s school has Field Day. This day is filled with friendly competitive games and fun among the students.

One Field Day event required the kids to be in nature identifying objects of certain colors. My son liked this activity and requested to do it the next day.

Once the next day arrived, my son was ready to go on his nature and color adventure.

This is a great activity to help kids learn and review colors. Try it at home!

My son, Corban is going to show you how to do the activity in the video below. You can do this activity with one child or many children. You can create a friendly competition by placing multiple children in teams.

Fun Color Activity for Preschoolers, Kindergartners, and Up

The following video comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Activity. Please like and subscribe for fun hands-on activities every Tuesday.

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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June 11, 2020June 11, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, bubbles, family activity, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

DIY Bubble Soap – Create Bubbles Inside Bubbles for Kids

Wonderful Time of the Year

Spring is here and this is a time for bubbles! The first time my son, Cory, saw bubbles he was a baby. He was so amazed at how they floated in the air and then disappeared (popped). Once he started to walk, Cory had a great time chasing the bubbles and popping them.

Now that my son is older, he likes to experiment with various types of bubbles. We don’t buy bubble solution from the store anymore because we make our own with various ingredients. We have made Giant Bubbles, small bubbles, Bubble Pipes, Unpoppable Bubbles etc.

My son wanted to do something new. He decided to create DIY Bubble Soap with layers on our dining room table. I didn’t know if it would work; however, it turned out to be a success.

Try this activity with your children. They will find joy in first, creating a bubble on a table. Then, they will be amazed at how they can create bubble layers. It became a fun challenge for my son.

This is a great science project for kids. They will see how three ingredients can be mixed together to create the bubbles one usually purchases in stores or online.

DIY Bubble Soap with Layers

In the video below, my son shows you how it is done.

This video comes from my son’s YouTube Channel, Corban’s Fun Learning Adventures. Please like and subscribe for more fun learning activities.

We hope you enjoy this activity!

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, read aloud, reading, toddlers

Sight Word Games and Activities

Baby and Toddler Brains are Amazing

I am a big advocate for exposing kids to words, language, and reading at an early age. Children’s brains from the ages of 0-3 are growing at a fast rate. This means that their learning rate is extremely rapid during this time.

When my son was a baby I exposed him to a lot of language through books, singing, talking, and telling stories. My purpose was for him to learn to talk. I didn’t want him to be a late talker because sometimes children can become frustrated and resort to hitting when they want something but can’t express it. I wanted my son to communicate his wants and needs as early as he could.

Added Bonus

My plan worked! He started talking in full sentences around 18 months and sounding out words at 21 months. The ability to read was a surprise to me. It was not my intention but I didn’t complain that it happened.

There were 10 steps that I used to get my son to talk and read…

Familiarity with Language
In-Depth Learning
Learning the Alphabet
Phonics
Blending Sounds
Sight Words
Experience
Digital Media
Reading a Variety of Books
Strategic Structure of my Day

All of these steps are discussed in detail in my book Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play. This book has over 130 activities/games, tips and resources. It is available on Amazon. Click the image below to access it.

Sight Word Games and Activities

Today we will discuss sights words. In the video below I explain what sight words are and how I used playful methods to expose my son to them. I DID NOT USE FLASH CARDS. Although effective at times, I think using flash cards are an isolated way of exposing a child to sight words and this is explained in the video. I also provide better teaching alternatives.

The video comes from my Online Course, Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play. This course shows you how my son learned to read through playful activities. He didn’t know he was learning because we made it fun. It takes you through his learning-to-read journey with videos of him as a baby up to three years old.

Click the image below to learn more about our Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play Online Course.

Back to Sight Word Games and Activities

I explain how my son learned sight words in three videos.

You can access the other two videos in our resource library by clicking this link or completing the form below.

I hope this helps! Enjoy the sight word journey!

Check Out Simply Outrageous Youth’s Favorite Products!

OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE.

Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.“

THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT.

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May 21, 2020June 9, 2020 simplyoutrageousyouth Accelerated Fun Learning, hands-on learning, Interactive Activity for Students, Science

Fun & Simple Science Experiment to Teach Kids About Germs

For the past six weeks, our country has been in quarantine due to Covid-19. During this time, my son and I have used our creativity to make up fun activities to do in our home.

We have spent a lot of time doing Science Experiments, playing games, learning, and enjoying the warm weather outside.

One day my son was looking on the Internet and saw the Pepper and Soap Experiment. After viewing the instructions for this experiment, he ran in the kitchen and told me that he wanted to do it. I was familiar with the experiment because I saw it about a month ago on Facebook and was planning to do it with him in the future.

However, he requested that we do the Pepper and Soap Experiment that day. My son was excited because he wanted to add his own twist to the experiment.

How Does It Work?

In this activity, germs are represented by pepper. In demonstrates how soap is used to repel those germs and wash them off your hands.

We knew pepper would work in this experiment. However, my son took it a step further and discovered three more spices/seasonings that worked and why all four were successful.

I was proud of my son because he tested all the spices/seasonings in our kitchen. He calls his new discovery, THE SURPRISE SPICES.

We like the experiment because it is fun and simple. You most likely have all the materials in your kitchen.

Additionally, it is a wonderful way to explain to children the importance of washing their hands with soap. This skill is especially important now that Covid-19 is among us.