Creating Crunchy Autumn Craft
This leaf crunching activity is a great alternative to doing leaf rubbings after collecting assorted leaves. It is created in much the same way as sand art pictures. Besides leaves you will also need paper, pencils or crayons, PVA glue (preferably with a squeeze nozzle), bowl, baking tray.
1. First collect brittle leaves as these will break up easily.
2. Place them in a bowl and scrunch them up into small pieces. This is a great opportunity to talk about ‘sound’ words such as...
Become a Weather Man
With the change of seasons comes various weather and is a great time to increase a child’s vocabulary or understanding of weather through natural curiosity. Here is a list of science activities that can be done in the home or classroom.
It’s Raining, it’s Flooding:
Using a sandpit with building blocks and toy cars etc create the scene of a town around a stream or river. At one end of the river create a dam or levy bank using the blocks and sand. With watering cans start to...
As Parents, Are You Guilty of Yelling At Your Kids?
As we know yelling at our children is non productive. Not only does our blood pressure go up but it teaches them the same strategy to deal with anger instead of better resolution strategies, but none of us are perfect right?
So now that we are almost at the end of the summer break in Australia our patience as parents has been well and truly tried and tested with bantering of questions and sibling arguments and to help you get through the rest of the break without ‘losing your...
Creative Ways For Your Kids’ Santa Letter…
Remember when your parents would ask you to write a letter for Santa – listing all the things you wanted for Christmas? You might have asked for the latest toy maybe… or a new shirt or dress…or maybe even a bicycle with the fancy pedals and bell. Writing a letter to Santa is an exciting activity and a great opportunity to teach kids the organization of writing a letter and creating lists e.g. where to place the ‘To, From, Address’ etc. For younger children or those with low writing...
A Parent’s Inspiration
Always love reading this poem to keep things in perspective…
“If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again”
By Dianne Loomans
If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously...
Opening the Mail… can help a child’s writing skills
This is a great one for children who have difficulty writing due to a their sloppy pinch grip or low muscle tone in their fingers. Let your child get the mail out of the mailbox and tear open the envelope while you make the cup of coffee next time – you will both enjoy the experience! Giving your child small regular chores not only helps them learn routines but also helps build a sense of responsibility.
Teaching Maths Language with Food
This list of ideas can be used for lessons within a classroom or during preparation of snacks or meals in the home. They are designed to help you teach or make it easier to explain some of the language that mathematics concepts are built on.
Apples…
Cut the apple crosswise to find the star… Count the points and count the seeds.
Cut the star out with an apple corer — it’s a cylinder. The hole in the apple leaves a circle.
Continue cutting the apple crosswise into slices to...