Preschool Activities with Teach Me Mommy

Children’s thank you notes

Contributed by Jill on December 28th, 2007

I’m afraid that writing thank you notes has become a bit of a lost art, but it’s an important skill that every child needs to learn and practice. I suggest that you buy a box of thank you cards just for the children to send. There are many cute styles wherever greeting cards are sold. A day or two after Christmas, the children sit down to write their thank you’s to grandparents, other relatives, friends, etc. For little ones, you can have them dictate what they want you to write and then they can draw a picture. For school age children, it is helpful if they decide what they want to say and even write a practice letter. The notes don’t need to be long, but they need to be written. And what a treasure for a grandparent or favorite aunt!

tags:holidays, preschool activities

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Keeping track of presents

Contributed by Jill on December 23rd, 2007

The wrappings from opened gifts at Christmas or Hanukkah at this time of the year can easily become a mess. An easy way to avoid this is to bring a plastic garbage bag wherever the gifts are being opened and put the wrappings immediately inside. This also avoids losing parts from newly opened toys in the piles of papers (something we’ve done before!)

tags:holidays, timely tips

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Math and realistic Christmas gifts

Contributed by Wendi on December 4th, 2007

To teach your children to be realistic in making their Christmas lists, give them a toy catalog and let them look for three toys in a particular price range. It will help teach them about numbers, plus help them not have impossible expectations. You can also put your older children on toy store websites and have them search by price.

tags:holidays, timely tips

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Charity Kids Can Do at Christmas

Contributed by Wendi on December 2nd, 2007

If we want our children to be charitable and kind to those less fortunate, then we must teach them by example. This holiday season, give your children a wonderful gift—the joy of giving to those in need. The following are some suggestions to get you started in such an important venture.

• Check your coat closet: With your child, go to the coat closet and pull out all the old coats that nobody wears anymore. Take them to the local homeless shelter that serves families. Allow your child to go along and possibly meet another child who might need their coat. Your younger child may not completely understand what is happening, but they’ll surely feel the good feelings that come from giving.
• Donate old toys: Go through old toys together with your children. Make sure you explain to your child what you plan to do and let them help pick out the toys to be given away. Choose clean toys that aren’t broken. If your child really doesn’t want to give a certain toy away—don’t try to force them and make an issue out of it. They will benefit from being consulted and will get into the spirit of it once they have a chance to get more involved.
• Participate in food drives: So many of us take one or more children to the grocery store with us when we shop. One idea, to help them feel ownership of the project, might be to save a little bit each time you go shopping. Have your older kids help you figure out how much money you might save from using coupons, or getting an item on sale. You can even add the amount you saved by not buying a treat. Keep the money in a jar or envelope. When there is enough to buy a few things, take the children grocery shopping with the sole intent of picking up non-perishable food items for a shelter or food bank. Have your children join you to drop the food off at the food bank or food drive.
• Sponsor a needy family: My greatest memories of Christmas as a child were ringing the doorbell of a home, running and hiding behind a snowbank or a parked car with my family. No, we weren’t playing a trick, we had placed presents, food and even a tree on the front porch of a family in need. We waited with anticipation to see the joy on the children’s faces. We were involved in the shopping and present wrapping, and even picking out a tree. Often, we gave up a toy we wanted in order to provide for this other child. What a powerful lesson to learn young. There are many ways to do this with your family. Most malls and community centers will have a “Giving” or “Wishing” tree. Sub-4-Santa is also an excellent organization that can coordinate your family with a family in need.

No matter what you choose to do to introduce these activities to your children, remember that it will mean more to them if they are really involved. Also remember, you are never too young to feel good by giving.

tags:articles, holidays, preschool activities

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Deviled Egg Ships

Contributed by Jill on November 24th, 2007

While teaching your child about the pilgrims crossing the ocean on the Mayflower, a fun prop might be to make Deviled Egg Ships.

1. Peel hard-boiled eggs and cut them in half lengthwise.
2. Remove the yolks and have your child mash them in a bowl with some mayonnaise and a small amount of prepared mustard.
3. Put the yolk mixture back in to the egg-white halves.
4. Make sails for the ships by poking two small holes in a small square colored piece of paper. Stick a toothpick in one hole and out the other.
5. Place the flags in the yolk mixture and sail away.

tags:holidays, recipes

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Thanksgiving Freebies

Contributed by Jill on November 20th, 2007

Thanksgiving is a great holiday for teaching your children a bit of history and a bit about gratitude. Chapter 10 of the Teach Me Mommy book provides stories and art projects to aid you in this endeavor. These chapters provide a few songs you can teach to your children.

Here is a fun and quick song you can also teach your child, submitted by Gayle Bittinger. It is sung to the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”:

“Thanksgiving time is here.
Let’s give a great big cheer
For food and friends and family.
Thanksgiving time is here.”

In honor of the holiday, download for free the pattern for the Thanksgiving turkey story (found on the Teach Me Mommy Pattern Pages CD).

tags:from the book, preschool activities, songs

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Getting Your Children to Brush Their Teeth

Contributed by Jill on November 12th, 2007

With Halloween over and more sweet holidays on the way, make sure your kids are brushing their teeth every day. We’ve had great success getting our children to brush regularly and without a fight. Here are some things to try:

• Make sure they see YOU brushing and flossing every day. They will WANT to do what you are doing.
• Make a deal with them: “Mommy or Daddy brushes your teeth at night, and you can brush them in them morning.” Stick to that rule. They will feel like they are in charge, and you will be getting their teeth clean when it is most important.
• Take their toothbrush and toothpaste on trips.
• Tell them about “cavity bugs” or “sugar bugs” that will eat their teeth. We say, “Brush the bugs all out of there, and spit them down the drain!” It can actually be pretty fun.
• Make it a part of their bedtime ritual–e.g. brush teeth, use potty, read story, then bed. Something like that!

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National Children’s Book Week

Contributed by Jill on November 8th, 2007

The third week in November is National Children’s Book Week. Plan to visit your local library on this week. Most libraries will have displays and programs to get your children excited about reading. One might think that taking a non-reading pre-schooler or even a toddler to the library is not productive. Many experts say that an early introduction to books is great way to stimulate a child’s mind and enhance a love of reading later in life. Besides, every child loves to see brightly colored pictures and hear a story in an animated voice. When my daughter-in-law lived in Vermont and throughout the long cold winters there, she took her toddler to “Story-Time” at the local library. It’s a great place to discover new books and mingle with other parents.

tags:timely tips

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A Tiger Called Thomas

Contributed by Brittany on October 15th, 2007

A Tiger Called Thomas, by Charlotte Zolotow
For a little boy who just moved into a new house, making friends is not an easy task. However, after his mom has him try on a tiger Halloween costume, Thomas isn’t scared to trick-or-treat because no one will recognize him. When the other children in the neighborhood see though his disguise and say “hello” anyway, Thomas realizes that maybe he can make friends without a disguise. And, hopefully, your child may learn from Thomas’ discovery of the joys of friendship this Halloween time.

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Halloween Bag O’Lantern

Contributed by Jill on October 14th, 2007

What you’ll need:
A brown paper lunch bag; pencil; scissors; string or yarn; flashlight
Instructions:

1. With the bag flat on a table, draw two eyes, a nose and a big smile with funny teeth (like you would on a jack o’lantern) on one side.
2. Opening the bag up, cut the features out of just one side.
3. Gather the bag around a flashlight, using the yarn or string to tightly attach it. (Make sure you can reach the on/off switch).
4. Stand the bag up in a window, and it will shine like a jack o’lantern without the danger of a burn for little ones.

tags:holidays, preschool activities

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