When it comes to explorers, capitals, and names of countries, I feel confident helping my sons out, but when it comes to directions, I have my challenges. I sometimes wish there were some fun geography activities that I could have done in kindergarten that would have prevented me from getting lost on my way home as an adult :-) I want my sons to know that we live in a massive world, and there are many other countries than just our own. I also want them to be able to read a map and ... Read More >>>
How to Explain Critical Thinking to a Child
Explaining critical thinking to my preschooler by using fancy words and a vocabulary way out of his reach would only cause us both to tear our hair out. And I might even have a tantrum. After all, the definition of critical thinking can be complicated for even an adult to understand: It has to do with the process of observing, applying and evaluating information. In other words, critical thinking is how you learn from interpreting and experiencing the world around you. Although the ... Read More >>>
7 Exciting Preschool Reading Games for Eager Learners
A struggle that I went through on a daily basis when my son was in preschool – how to get my little monster less interested in painting every wall in the house with that damned box of crayons Aunt Julia gifted him on his birthday, and more interested in reading books that mommy keeps buying for him off and on. Since I have always been an avid reader myself, I was appalled that my little one did not share my passion. On top of it, when my neighbor just couldn’t seem to resist telling me ALL ... Read More >>>
7 Creative Development Activities for Preschoolers to Inspire Young Minds
Children are born creative. If you doubt that even for a single second, give any three or four-year-old some paints and an empty room. You'd be surprised at all the modern art adorning the walls (and his body parts and clothes) in less than ten minutes. However, these pint-sized artists need a little guidance to channel all that creativity into something productive, and that's where we, as parents, step in. Creative development in preschoolers is all about nurturing their overactive ... Read More >>>
A Parent Primer on Preschool Problem Solving Skills
The last time you drove your know-it-all babysitter home, you were not so subtly informed that your child is lacking in problem solving skills. As if he shouldn't have had that tantrum when she ate the last piece of his birthday cake! You have to admit, though, that the meltdowns have been a little too frequent lately. Whenever your little one encounters a challenge, she doesn't have a clue how to deal with it. It's a rare case of agreeing with your babysitter: your child needs help learning ... Read More >>>
8 Hands-on Preschool Math Activities that make Learning Fun
I am still waiting for the day when I'll be able to put Pythagoras Theorem to use... But that will not deter me from teaching math to my little one. After all, math teaches logic and order and my baby could do with a little of both of those. Moreover, it is said that the earlier you expose your children to the world of shapes, numbers and patterns, the better are their chances of becoming a master of the subject. But when your preschooler struggles to pronounce 'breakfast' properly, the ... Read More >>>
5 Awesome Kindergarten Writing Lessons for Your Budding Author
When it comes to kindergarten writing lessons, you might rightly say that there’s only one right way to write, right? WRONG! Writing takes many forms in kindergarten, from scribbling, to oddly shaped letters, to whole words. Maybe even complete sentences (unlike this one). What’s most important at that age is getting kids to understand that they can express ideas without actually talking. Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about! And by writing, I don’t mean penmanship. Neatness and the ... Read More >>>
6 Awesome Kindergarten Science Experiments for Your Little Genius
I love science even though my lowest grade ever was in high school chemistry. To me, a mole is either an animal or something that gets hairy on a person’s face. I am still confused by the scientific definition. But I always enjoyed the experiments, and my parents used to buy a lot of science activity kits for my brothers and me growing up. This influenced me to try to instill a joy for science in my children. Because of this, I am always scouring the internet for some awesome kindergarten ... Read More >>>
Did You Say Screen Free Coding for Preschoolers?
We’ve all experienced those scary moments when our computers freeze. We can’t move the cursor, we can’t save our documents, we can’t even stop staring at the screen. We utter silent prayers to the computer gods, but it’s no use. We’ve got a bug, and there’s no option left but to hurl the mouse against the nearest wall shut down the computer and start over. It’s those horrifying times when we wish we were on speaking terms with our next-door neighbor, the computer programmer. Or better yet, ... Read More >>>
7 Exciting Preschool Geography Games for Little Explorers
Like most kids, my preschooler loves exploring! It’s just that given her age and size, all she does explore is my kitchen cabinets to find hidden cookies... And oh, she is an adventurer alright! You should see her when she is on a messy adventure with the Nutella jar. The sight is enough to make me silently promise to myself not to buy that damned chocolatey thing EVER again. Now like most moms (at least I’m hoping I’m not the only one!), I have lost count of the number of times I’ve ... Read More >>>
