Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Q. When is an Irish potato not an Irish potato?
A. When it’s a French fry.
Top’ o the mornin’ & the whole rest of the day!
Holiday Activities
Kindergarten Readiness: Who’s the Rainbow Treasure? You!
One of my favorite spring activities is making treasures at the end of the rainbow (and it helps kids develop assurance and confidence that will support their kindergarten readiness). Children’s faces light up with bright smiles that show how good it feels. To do this, kids need to know the tradition that at the end of a rainbow, we find treasure.
An easy and fun activity, cut out a big circle on a piece of paper and have your child color his or her face. Your child can do this independently or you can help a little if needed. Sometimes kids enjoy checking in a mirror to see the color of their eyes and hair. (They might have changed since the last time they looked.)
Next, turn the paper over, fold it in half and let your child color or paint 2 rainbows, one on each half. Now, hold the rainbow ‘sandwich’ in your hand and ask you child what we find at the end of a rainbow. As your little one says “Treasure”, you open the rainbow and say “And here is the treasure, it’s YOU!”
It may take a minute, and you may need to repeat it, but when kids understand THEY are the treasure, their faces will grow a huge smile. Feeling loved is the best readiness foundation to cope with all that life brings, and that’s a treasure.
Kindergarten Readiness – Valentine’s Day Fun and Learning
Being able to share, play, and celebrate with others is more than kindergarten readiness for young children and it will help them when they become part of a group at playschool, preschool, daycare, and kindergarten. Plus, Valentine’s is lots of fun. Many kids’ groups will have special songs, stories, games, treats and other activities for Valentine’s Day. Parents and caregivers can also do some of these same things at home with little ones. There may also be an opportunity for a special play-date today or sharing the fun with the family.
Kindergarten readiness includes so much more than academics. Becoming independent and regulating emotions are super important for little ones. Brains need the stimulation of all 5 senses with music, art, and exploring science, for both language and math. They also need movement activities just like little bodies for development. Valentine’s Day is a good time to remind ourselves that kids have brains, bodies, and hearts so we need to encourage and support kids in all these areas of learning. Maybe we need to add one more to Aristotle’s quote? Educating the mind, without educating the heart And the whole body, is no education at all!
Happy Valentine’s Day from Mrs. A at 123kindergarten.com
Kindergarten Readiness – Valentine Snack Attack
Kindergarten readiness learning and fun sometimes needs a snack; here is a super idea for a valentine snack for kids that they can eat anywhere and anytime. It’s no-cook cooking with kids. In the cupboard, look for small, finger food items such as puffed wheat or rice, Cheerios, fishy crackers, craisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Valentine Snack Attack
Kindergarten Readiness: Grocery Store Valentine Fun & Learning
A simple trip to the grocery store can include some kindergarten readiness fun and learning. Are you picking up some items for Valentine’s Day? Sometimes, those who are organized, take along a list. This gives kids the message that writing has meaning. Little eyes are often very good at finding things on shelves, so give … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness: Grocery Store Valentine Fun & Learning
Chinese New Year for Kids
Being part of a community and participating in or just watching cultural events is also part of kindergarten readiness fun and learning. We all live in a space that we share with others, so we need to learn about others as we are learning about ourselves. This weekend, many communities will have a Chinese New … Continue reading Chinese New Year for Kids
Kindergarten Readiness – Valentine Cards Fun and Learning
Those who work with young children get amazing cards and just as amazing is all the fun and learning that kids have when making and playing with them. For kids in playschool, preschool and daycares, they often make and decorate cards to exchange with others but kids at home can do a few for the … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Valentine Cards Fun and Learning
Kindergarten Readiness – February Fun: Valentine Books
February is the smallest month, but it has some big events for kindergarten readiness fun and learning; Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, Chinese New Year’s, Pink Shirt Day and, of course, Valentine’s Day. All of these events come around every February. Repetition is part of learning, and doing some favorite activities over each year is certainly … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – February Fun: Valentine Books
Kindergarten Readiness and Groundhog Day
Besides being the day when winter might be over, Groundhog Day also means something that happens over and over and kindergarten readiness is like that. As parents and caregivers we need to do many of the same things over and over with children do help them learn. What are some of the things that need … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness and Groundhog Day
Kindergarten Readiness – Happy New Year Playdough Fun
Need something quiet for little hands to do today that can also meet the new year’s resolution for learning, kindergarten readiness, and fun? Just the thing – playdough! Everyone will have a birthday in 2013 so get out the playdough, add a plate, a few accessories, and let your child create all kinds of cakes. … Continue reading Kindergarten Readiness – Happy New Year Playdough Fun