Childhood Beckons

Back to School Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-08-20T14:36:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Back to school. Whether you're buying backpacks or curriculum, chances are those three words are a big deal to your family. So let's get together and chat, share tips, and celebrate with fun prizes from Safari Ltd! Keep reading to get all the details, RSVP, and find out about a way to win before the party even starts!

Pre-Tweet Giveaway!

Want to increase your chances of winning an awesome prize? You could win just by spreading the word! One winner will be chosen at random and announced in the party just for pre-tweeting! Pre-tweet the following any time before 9pm EST on August 27th and be entered to win a Safari Ltd. Toob of your choice.

Twitter Party! Come join @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon for a chat about #educationalplay and you could win #prizes! http://bit.ly/14YCh9d

Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Back to School Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, August 27th
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending!

RSVP:

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We can't wait to chat and hope to see you there!

Field Guide Practice and a Giveaway with Safari Ltd!

2013-07-19T11:13:00.000-05:00

Lately, my son has shown an interest in bird watching, and of course Safari Ltd. has a Toob for that! We've been having a lot of fun with the Backyard Bird Toob and I'm happy to share one of the ways we've been using these toys for educational play. And I have some exciting news! Safari Ltd. has generously offered to sponsor this post and giveaway and send one Backyard Birds Toob to one lucky winner!

Field Guide Practice

One of the many ways we've played and learned with these toys has been to use them for field guide identification practice. It's a simple activity with a lot of educational value and all you need is the Backyard Birds Toob and a field guide for your region.

I highly recommend the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds field guide for children and beginners because I've found that it is by far the easiest to use. Bird field guides are typically organized by taxonomy, which requires you to know the type of bird you are looking at before narrowing it down. In contrast, the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds field guide is organized by color. If you know the color of the bird you are looking for, it's easy to find!

I gave R the backyard birds and his field guide and asked him to identify each one. The Safari Ltd. birds are very realistic looking so this was easy to do. He chose a bird, flipped to that color section, and then compared the bird in his hand to the bird in each picture.

He was able to find each bird in his field guide quite easily. After he identified each one, we read the information about that particular bird before continuing to the next. We learned about their habitats, nests, voices and even how to attract them.

This simple activity really helps kids get familiar with how to use the field guide and what kind of information they can find. They'll be more comfortable using it all by themselves the next time they have a question about a bird in the field.

The Giveaway

Safari Ltd. is giving you a chance to win a Backyard Birds Toob of your own! There are several ways to enter in the giveaway form below. You can enter with one or more of the options. It's up to you! This giveaway is open to the residents of the US and Canada only. By entering to win you are agreeing to my giveaway rules. Thank you so much for entering and good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Disclosure- This post contains affiliate links. If you'd like more information, you can read my disclosure policy here.)

Water Safety Tips for Kids

2013-07-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

R has taken swim lessons for several years now, and in addition to learning how to swim, he has learned a great deal about water safety. I realize that professional swim lessons aren't an option for every family, but it is important for all children to know how to swim and to know the basic rules of water safety. Even after swim lessons are over, I make it a priority to continuously talk to R about how to stay safe in and around water. Because this is such an important topic, I would like to share some of the basic rules that we discuss.

This list is not intended to be a complete safety lesson for children. It is meant to be a conversation starter. The age and skill level of your children will affect how many of these safety rules they can retain. You should always closely supervise children, and take measures to prevent them from having access to unsupervised areas of water.

Also, CPR certification is a great thing to have. Those of you in the United States can find classes near you by visiting The American Red Cross website. Your local chapter may also provide water safety classes and swimming lessons for children.

And remember, drowning doesn't always look like drowning. For more information you can visit this post.

10 Water Safety Tips for Kids:

1. Always swim with a buddy in a supervised area. Don't enter any body of water without permission and supervision.

2. Follow pool rules. This typically includes no running, no horseplay, and no glass containers in or near the pool.

3. Look before you leap. Before you jump in, look in the water to make sure there's no debris or people in your path. Also look for depth. In a pool, the depth is marked with a number. The higher the number, the deeper the water.

4. Don't dive into shallow areas of the pool, or into lakes and rivers. Lakes and rivers can have weeds and grass that can trap even the best of swimmers.

5. Stay calm and think so you don't sink. Stop and think about what you should do if you find yourself struggling in the water.

6. Reach or throw. Don't go. If you see someone that needs help, you shouldn't jump in the water to help them because they could panic and hold you down. Instead, throw something that floats, or lay down on the side of the pool and reach for them. You should lay down so you don't fall in while reaching.

7. Don't go swimming when it's cold. Cold temperatures can be dangerous.

8. Learn about boating before you go. Make sure the boat has everything you may need. This includes a first aid kit, an anchor, oars, a map, flashlight, and food and water. And always wear your life jacket! Don't just pack it. Wear it.

9. No playing around drain pipes or suction fittings. These can be very dangerous places and should always be avoided.

10. Know what to do in an emergency. Talk about what you should do if someone is in trouble in the water. Know how to get help and how to call 9-1-1.

Have a happy and safe summer!

Summer Fun Kit

2013-07-08T05:04:00.000-05:00

For us, summer often means long days spent outside. We have pool days and play dates, nature walks and and picnics. And many times, these activities are spur of the moment. To take full advantage of wherever the summer sun might lead us, I like to be prepared. One of the ways I do this is by packing our summer fun bag.

At the beginning of summer, I gather our supplies, toss them in a fun bag, and put them in the car. That way, no matter where we are or what we're doing, we are bound to have the things we need (and want!).

A summer fun kit should be tailored to the family that uses it, but I thought I'd share some of the things I've included in ours. There are many things that I consider staples of our summer and our bag, and a few things that I change out periodically.

Summer Fun Kit Must-Haves:

Sunscreen- Nothing ruins a good time like a bad sunburn!
First aid kit- Band-aids make cuts and scrapes tolerable and can salvage a play date that's been hampered by a fall. It's good to be prepared!
Change of clothes- These don't have to be fancy! Just throw an old set of play clothes in the bag for those times they are just too wet or filthy to ride home as-is.
Water shoes- I keep these in our bag for those times we find a stream or a creek to explore. Water shoes are cheaper and more compact than rubber boots, but still protect feet from rocks or any debris that might be hiding. Plus, I think of using rubber boots when you don't want to get wet, which isn't the case while exploring creeks in the summer.
Towel- Useful to have for a variety of situations.
A blanket- Great to have for picnics or just resting beneath a shade tree.
Bubbles- Blowing bubbles is a great way to make new friends. Everybody loves bubbles.
Sidewalk chalk- Great to have for when you need a break from the playground.
Bug house- Perfect for those impromptu bug hunts and nature walks.

Summer Fun Kit Extras:

Ring-toss game- This game is great for moving a play date into the shade on a hot day.
Frisbee- We love the Glow-in-the-Dark Squidgie Disk. It's the perfect Frisbee for young kids! It's soft and flexible so it's easier to throw and to catch.
Velcro-Mitts- A classic!
Football- Play catch!
Card game- Uno, Crazy Eights, etc.
Coloring books and crayons- A lazy afternoon spent coloring sounds like a great way to pass the time.

This might seem like a lot, but aside from the blanket everything fits conveniently into one ordinary beach bag. It really allows us to be more spontaneous and even helps with planned events. When I know this summer fun kit is waiting for us in the car, all I need to do is pack a cooler with drinks and lunch.

What would you include in your summer fun kit?

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This post contains affiliate links. You can read more about my disclosure policy here.

Number Line Fun

2013-06-23T01:03:00.000-05:00

Sidewalk chalk is a staple of our summers. It's inexpensive, versatile and fun! So I often find myself dreaming up new ways to use it in learning activities. This time, we used it to bring a bit of playful math practice outdoors with a kid-sized number line. Number lines are great ways to teach math to young kids, and this extra-large version keeps them active while learning.

I set up this activity by drawing the number line for him. I alternated between two colors for the numbers to make the even and odd numbers stand out. By the way, I used the new Crayola Washable Sidewalk Chalk, and I must say that we're loving the new colors and shape!

Ways to Play and Learn:

Counting- Number lines are great for children that need practice with counting. With this sidewalk chalk number line, kids can say the numbers as they walk (or hop!) over them on the line. You can also ask them if they notice any patterns as they move their way through the teens and twenties.

Adding- What's 6+3? Use the number line to find out! Stand on the six and hop forward three places. What number did they land on? Do they need practice adding bigger numbers? Just make your number line a little longer.

Subtracting- Just like adding, only in reverse! This time hop backwards to find the answer.

Skip-Counting- The number line makes counting by 2's, 5's, and 10's a breeze! This was especially helpful with counting by twos and the alternating colors were very useful.

Even/Odd Numbers- I also used this number line as a prompt for a lesson on even and odd numbers. I explained that an even number has sets of pairs, two friends that go together. No one is left out. And an odd number is a number that doesn't have complete sets of pairs.

I demonstrated this further by saying, "Lets find out if the number 8 is even or odd." Then I drew 8 lines on the ground and circled the pairs. Everybody had a friend, so the number is even. I repeated this with the number 7, which had one left out, so the number is odd.

Then I gave R the chalk and asked him to discover even and odd numbers on his own in the same way. But what about the number eleven? Twelve? I let him figure out a few double digit numbers and then asked him if he noticed anything about them. The numbers 2 and twelve are both even!

Practicing math in this way was fun and effective. He could put himself inside the action, take a look around, and figure out the why's and how's in an active way. This is definitely an activity that we'll be revisiting!

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This post contains affiliate links. To read more about my disclosure policy click here.

Safari Ltd. Summer Twitter Party Fun!

2013-06-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

I always look forward to the Safari Ltd. Twitter parties, but I have to admit that I'm extra excited about this one! That's because this Twitter party is all about summer fun and learning.

Do you have any tips for beating the heat? Ideas to keep kids learning in a playful way all summer long? We want to hear them! Pictures and links are welcome so feel free to have some ready to share at the party. Not only will we be sharing some great conversation, we'll also be awarding prizes! Get all of the details and RSVP below.

Pre-Tweet Giveaway!

Want to increase your chances of winning an awesome prize? You could win just by spreading the word! One winner will be chosen at random and announced in the party just for pre-tweeting! Pre-tweet the following any time before 9pm EST on June 25th and be entered to win a Safari Ltd. Toob of your choice.

Twitter party! Come join @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd for a chat about #educationalplay and you could win #prizes! http://bit.ly/17YzuNf

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Summer Fun Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, June 25th
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending!

RSVP:

Everyday Math: Keeping Score with an Abacus

2013-06-17T23:11:00.000-05:00

I am always secretly thrilled when I notice the sneaky ways my son is learning and practicing what he knows through play and everyday activities. Have you ever noticed how many learning opportunities can be found in one day? So often, they are the simple things that you could easily overlook. But once seen, these little things can be springboards.

I recently noticed one of these opportunities while playing a card game with R. Game time is a learning opportunity in itself, of course. No matter what game is played, a lesson in sportsmanship is always possible. And because I use game time as a chance to model good behavior for both winning and losing, we often keep score.

This particular day, R decided to keep score using his abacus. As he moved and counted the beads, I was struck by the learning potential. He was counting and subtracting as he tallied up the score and discovered who was ahead and by how much. This small activity was adding a math element to another part of his day without him even realizing it.

To take this a step further, I suggested we make each game won worth more points. Instead of each hand being worth one bead, now they were worth two. Who would be the first to get to 20 points? Now he was practicing skip-counting. The abacus is perfect for skip-counting because it's a very hands-on way to practice. And he loved practicing!

Don't have an abacus? You could keep score on a piece of paper or chalkboard instead. That would be a great reason to practice tally marks!

What are some ways you encourage learning through play?

This post contains affiliate links. To read more about my disclosure policy click here.

Memorial Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-05-23T00:12:00.000-05:00

In honor of Memorial Day, Safari Ltd. and I will be hosting another Twitter party. We know that many of you will be spending the day with family and we respect that. We don't want anyone to miss out, so we'll be gathering to share ideas (and prizes) the following day.

How does your family celebrate Memorial Day? Do you have any patriotic and educational activity ideas? Pictures and links are welcome, so feel free to have some ready to share in the party. This is not a must though, and we'd be happy just to have you there!

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Memorial Day Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, May 28th
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending!

RSVP:

We look forward to chatting and hope to see you there!

Discover the Seasons: Color Hunt

2013-05-20T08:29:00.001-05:00

A great way to learn more about the seasons is to get out and into nature. We recently investigated spring with a colors of nature color hunt and I'm thrilled to be sharing it over on the Melissa & Doug blog.

This activity is a fantastic way to encourage your kids to pay attention to the details. R was noticing far more than just colors on this nature walk, and observing nature closely was a fun way to learn. We plan to do this each season and compare his findings.

To find out more about our colors of nature hunt and get the free printable record sheet, please visit the Colors of Nature Color Hunt post.

Happy hunting!

Earth Day Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-04-20T03:42:00.000-05:00

Come celebrate Earth Day with good conversation and prizes at another fun Twitter party sponsored by Safari Ltd.!

Safari Ltd. was originally inspired by an endangered species card game discovered by the founders Bernard and Rosemarie Ruble while visiting the Munich Zoo in Germany. Today, their daughter Ramona Pariente is the owner and CEO and her son, Alexander Pariente is the president.

This family owned company's mission is to teach the importance of nature and it's conservation through the joy of play.

You can read more about the organizations Safari Ltd. supports here and the ways they support ecologically sound business practices here.

I can't wait to celebrate Earth Day with such an earth-conscious company!

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Earth Day Twitter Party will be 9-10pm EST on Monday, April 22nd
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Please RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending

RSVP:

More Ways to Connect:

You can also connect with Safari Ltd. on Facebook for fun pictures and promotions. Their current contest is in honor of Earth Day. You could win a Toob of your choice just by sending Safari Ltd. a picture of your family going green or doing something to help the planet! Click here for more details.

You can also connect with Safari Ltd. on Pinterest!

We hope to see you all on Earth Day!

Homemade Bird Nester Learning Activity

2013-04-17T08:07:00.000-05:00

Each season has it's own learning opportunities and we're taking advantage of those unique to spring. Recently, we learned a bit about birds and how they make their nests. We created these bird nesters as a fun follow up activity to reinforce the things we learned while making our backyard birds happy.

What is a bird nester? A bird nester is a collection of nesting materials that you can set out just like you would a bird feeder. We actually used a suet bird feeder as our box and filled it with bits of yarn. We found our suet cage at Walmart for less than three dollars, and we plan to use it as a feeder later in the year.

Nesting Materials-

Yarn
Twine
Scraps of fabric
Dried grasses
Small twigs
Dead leaves
Pine needles
Hair
Pet fur

Dryer lint is not recommended because it's dense and doesn't dry quickly, keeping the nest cold and wet. You should also stay away from plastics and things like fishing line. When offering yarn, twine, etc. the recommended length is around 3-8 inches.

I wanted this activity to really focus on the things we've been learning, so I used this time to discuss camouflage. I brought out my collection of yarn scraps in various colors and I let R decide which colors he thought would be best to help the birds hide their nests. We decided on earth tones and used various colors of brown, green, and tan.

This activity also helped me sneak in some math and scissor practice. R happily measured and snipped until we had more than enough to fill our nester. In fact, we even created one as a gift for his nana. This would be a great gift for anyone that loves bird watching.

The learning and fun doesn't stop there! We hung ours in a low traffic area that was still visible. It's really interesting to watch the birds come and go. Record the types of birds that visit by drawing them in a nature journal and use a field guide for your area to identify them.

Want to learn a little more about birds and their nesting habits? We loved this video!

What are your favorite springtime learning activities?

Ultimate Birthday Bash-Dinosaur Party

2013-04-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I am so thrilled to be joining a few of my favorite bloggers as a part of the Ultimate Birthday Bash from Melissa & Doug. The Ultimate Birthday Bash is delivering fun ideas for themes, party games, food, and so much more! Melissa & Doug is sponsoring my posts on how I plan my son's birthday parties, and you can read more about them below!

I'm pleased to share R's dino birthday party. I kept the party pretty simple, but everyone had so much fun. You can visit these posts to learn more about the decorations, the favor bags, and my stress-free way to handle the birthday party activities!

How to Throw a Dinosaur Birthday Party (Part 1)

DIY Dinosaur Birthday Party Favor Bags (Part 2)

Want more Birthday Bash fun? Click here to see ALL our Birthday resources and tips, AND to enter our special Birthday Bash Giveaway, where you could win $500 to throw the Ultimate Birthday Bash from Melissa & Doug! For even more fun, be sure to check out our Birthday Wishes Pinterest Board!

What are some of your best birthday party tips?

Kid-Made Plant Markers

2013-04-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

We look forward to having a garden each year, and now that spring is here we are beginning to prepare! To get started, we've been crafting up these super easy kid-made plant markers.

My son really enjoyed the process of creating these, and I can't get over how cute and cheery they are. I can't wait to see lots of these colorful plant markers staking out our fruits and veggies!

I'm excited to be sharing these over on the Melissa & Doug blog, so if you'd like to find out how your family can make their own, please visit that post for more details.

Do you garden with your kids? What will you be planting?

Dino Twitter Party with Safari Ltd.

2013-04-05T12:52:00.000-05:00

Do you and your kids love dinos? If so, you won't want to miss out on this super fun dino-themed Twitter party with Safari Ltd.! We'll be chatting, sharing some amazing activity ideas, and giving out prizes! But don't worry if you can't attend this time around. You will also have an opportunity to win in a giveaway at the bottom of this post!

And Safari Ltd. knows a thing or two about dinosaurs! They have had a license agreement with Carnegie Museum of Natural History to produce scale-model dinosaurs for over 25 years! All of their replicas are intricately hand-painted and some of the Carnegie dinos take up to 20 different steps.

The Party Details:

The Safari Ltd. Dino Twitter Party will be from 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, April 9
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @SafariLtd and @ChildhoodBeckon
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Prizes are limited to the residents of the US and Canada.
RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending.

RSVP:

The Giveaway:

Increase your chances of winning a prize whether you can attend or not! This giveaway is for your choice of one Safari Ltd. Dino TOOB or replica. To enter, just fill out the easy form below.

The only mandatory entry is to pick the prize you'd choose if you win and tell me in a comment on this blog post. You can see some of the many options you have to choose from by taking a look at the Safari Ltd. Dinosaurs Collection.

This giveaway is open to the residents of the US and Canada only. By entering to win you are agreeing to my giveaway rules. Thank you so much for entering and good luck to everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Coloring Book Puppets

2013-02-25T05:00:00.000-06:00

Don't let the coloring book fun end when the picture is completed! Extend the fun and add a healthy dose of creativity by turning finished coloring book pages into puppets. This craft and pretend play combo would make a wonderful boredom busting activity.

Items Needed:

coloring books
crayons
scissors
glue stick
craft sticks
construction paper (optional)
laminator and laminating pouches (optional)

The Craft:

I began by showing R a few coloring page puppets I had created for him the night before. He was very excited about his surprise and couldn't wait to make a few of his own. I did this to show him what the finished outcome would be, and to prepare him for cutting apart his masterpiece.

Then I supplied him with a selection of coloring books and crayons and let him go wild. After he had a few pages completed, we carefully cut out the main characters. This actually kept his attention far longer than coloring usually does.

You can keep it incredibly simple and just glue the craft sticks to the back of the cut out. This way works just fine, but the puppets are a little floppy. You could also attach the cut outs onto a piece of construction paper or card stock and cut it out again before attaching the craft sticks. This makes the puppets a bit stiffer.

Or you could do it my favorite way. Laminate them. I love my laminator and it really is perfect for this. It makes the puppets stiff and durable so they are long lasting, and it doesn't add much extra time to the craft. Even with the lamination, we just used an ordinary glue stick to attach the craft sticks.

The Play:

Once the puppets were completed the creativity carried on. He really enjoyed putting on lots of little shows for me, and I really enjoyed listening to his stories evolve. Later that night, we all took turns performing for the family.

Do you want to encourage storytelling and pretend play with puppets? This activity is fantastic because you can really customize it to your child's interests. If you've recently walked down the coloring book aisle, I'm sure you've seen that the options are many. My son loves animals and dinosaurs, so that's what we created. But if your child loves sea creatures, Batman, or My Little Pony, you can easily create an activity especially for them.

What kind of puppets would your children love?

President's Day Coin Bingo

2013-02-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

Today I want to share a fun activity for Presidents' Day, but this would also be great any other day of the year! Coin bingo! Typically, R isn't a huge fan of learning about money, but he really loved this and benefited from the hands on learning. I'm sharing several ways to play and a printable over on the Melissa & Doug blog. Visit the Presidents' Day Bingo post for more details!

How are your kids learning about the presidents?

Safari Ltd. Valentine's Day Twitter Party

2013-02-11T01:16:00.001-06:00

Great news!! Another Safari Ltd. Twitter party has been planned and this one promises to be a ton of fun! We will be chatting about Valentine's Day and giving out some fantastic prizes!

Would you like a peek at the prizes up for grabs? Safari Ltd wants to make sure you get something you love! So visit the Safari Ltd website and take a look around at the TOOBS and replicas, because the prizes will be winner's choice!

The Details:

The Safari Ltd Valentine's Day Twitter party will be from 9-10pm EST on Tuesday, Feb. 12th.
Follow #educationalplay
Follow your hosts @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd
By participating, you are consenting to the use of your Twitter ID and responses for promotional purposes.
Prizes are limited to residents of the US and Canada.
RSVP below to let us know you'll be attending.

RSVP:

DIY Penguin Board Game

2013-02-04T18:52:00.000-06:00

I have had the pleasure of guest posting again over at the Safari Ltd. blog and this time I'm sharing this super simple (and very fun!) DIY Penguin Board Game. You can really adapt this to focus on learning a variety of things, or you can play just for fun!

Just click the link for more details and ways to play!

The Benefits of Scooters

2013-02-01T08:28:00.000-06:00

I didn't give a lot of thought to the benefits of scooters as I was picking one out for R. I just thought he'd like it. But recently, as I watched him riding his scooter, I was absolutely struck by the benefits. I love watching him grow into this new phase of childhood and I look forward to many more afternoons watching him do tricks, fall, and get up again.

The Benefits Of Scooters

Promotes self-confidence. His pride and self assurance is evident as he masters something new.
Develops balance and coordination. The more he practices, the better he gets!
Provides exercise. He's expending energy and he's further developing his gross motor skills.
Fosters determination. It can be hard to learn a new skill, but practice and determination pays off.
Encourages risk assessment. He's weighing the risks and taking chances.
Increases resilience. He's getting up and trying again after some big falls!
Time outside. And outside time is good.
Knowledge of safety equipment. He discovered the very first day why he should wear his safety gear.
Pure joy. He's happy. Unbelievably happy.

Do your kids love scooters too? Do you have a benefit to add to the list?

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Puzzle Hunt-Counting by 10's

2013-01-30T15:37:00.000-06:00

Puzzles are fantastic for learning and they are a great way to spend some time indoors. But did you know that you could make puzzles more exciting? We recently kicked the learning and fun up a notch by throwing in a scavenger hunt and counting.

We received this 100 Piece Solar System Jigsaw Puzzle from Melissa & Doug and I eagerly set to work to create a fun new experience for R while sneaking in some counting by 10's practice. I divided the pieces up into ten separate envelopes and created rhyming clues for all the places I'd hide them.

I turned our clues into a printable and simply cut the strips apart to include in the envelopes. Please feel free to use these printables for your own puzzle hunt. My clues were easy and focused on the places in our home rather than the numbers he'd be finding, so you could use the clues for any type of indoor scavenger hunt! I also created a blank clue sheet to share in case you'd like to make up your own. If you'd like either of these printables, just click on the picture, save and print!

Once I had everything set up, I invited R to put together his new solar system puzzle. And oh was he puzzled when he opened up the box and found an envelope instead of the pieces! His confusion turned into excitement as I read the introduction and the first clue.

Here's a fun little game to play! Read the clues and find the pieces along the way. Finding the first clue will be a treat! Look for it where you get something to eat!

He had a blast running through the house to discover where each clue would take him. He would laugh and call out each group of ten, anxious to find all 100 pieces. And this scavenger hunt really had him running all over the house. He found pieces in the refrigerator, on his bed, in his box of musical instruments, and more. He even found one set taped to a mirror!

{Personal embarrassing confession: When he heard the getting dressed clue, he went straight to the dryer. He didn't even think about his dresser, and I have an idea why!}

The next round of fun began as we assembled the beautiful puzzle. R loves outer space and had a great time putting this one together.

Do you have a fun clue or puzzle activity idea? Please share in the comments!

{Disclosure- This post is sponsored by Melissa & Doug. The opinions expressed are my own and they are honest. I enjoy sharing activity ideas for products my family loves, and I hope that your family can use this idea in your own home. Have fun!}

Construction Pretend Play Prompt

2013-01-24T10:33:00.000-06:00

I put R to work. And he couldn't have been happier! He really enjoyed this construction worker pretend play prompt, and with several simple construction sites to choose from, he played for hours! I'm sharing this post over at the Melissa & Doug blog today, so please visit the link for more details and a printable.

Pretend play is such a vital part of childhood. What are your favorite ways to encourage it?

Arctic Sensory Bin

2013-01-22T07:30:00.001-06:00

We recently created an arctic sensory bin to go along with our polar unit studies this month. We had a lot of fun creating the bin, and even more fun exploring in it.

R is five (soon to be six!) and he still adores sensory bins. I love sensory bins because they are essentially open ended play prompts with lots of learning thrown in.

You can see his delight at finding the arctic hare, that was cleverly camouflaged in the snow!

You can find the details about this arctic bin, as well as a few ideas for guided learning, over at the Safari Ltd. blog.

And don't forget! You have an opportunity to win the Arctic TOOB and a few other fantastic prizes tonight (1/22/13) at the Safari Ltd. Winter Twitter party! The party starts at 9pm EST. Follow the hashtag #educationalplay and your hosts @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd. Can't wait to chat tonight!

25 Family Time Activities- Going Out

2013-01-19T04:46:00.000-06:00

Last week I shared 25 family time activity ideas for when you want to stay home. But sometimes you just have to get away! Here are 25 ideas to look forward to when you want to venture out.

25 More Family Time Ideas:

1. Go to the fair. Ride the ferris wheel, eat a batch of cotton candy that's bigger than your head, win a goldfish!

2. Go camping. Set up camp at a state park or even a friend's backyard for a change of scenery!

3. Visit an arcade. Bring a big bag of change and play until it's gone!

4. Go to the movies. A classic for a reason!

5. Go fishing. Here are a few tips for fishing with kids.

6. Go skating. Call to see if your local rink hosts a family night!

7. Volunteer as a family. Get involved!

8. Bowling. This is a family favorite!

9. Take a hike! Take a walk through nature together as a family. It's great exercise and great fun!

10. Visit a museum. Art, natural history, children's museum. What museums are near you?

11. Watch a play. Visit your local high school's production of Beauty and the Beast, or spring for a bigger show!

12. Visit the library. Explore the shelves. Race to find a specific book. Attend the story time.

13. Go to a park. Or five. Make it a mission to play at as many parks as possible.

14. Go on a scavenger hunt. Make a list beforehand and then visit a park, store, etc and try to find all of the items.

15. Attend a sporting event. Cheer on the home team together as a family!

16. Have a day of picnics. Plan to eat every meal out on the grass with the ants. Maybe as you are park hopping?

17. Go bike riding. Don't forget your helmets!

18. Go through the car wash. For fun. Lots of giggles!

19. Go letterboxing or geocaching. So much fun!

20. Pick your own fruit and vegetables. Find a place near you.

21. Go swimming. Splash around in a pool, pond, or lake on a warm day.

22. Attend a puppet show. A lot of libraries host puppet shows!

23. Explore a neighboring town. What looks interesting? Try a new place to eat. See the sights.

24. Play tourist in your own town. Don't forget the camera!

25. Visit the zoo. Spend some time looking at your favorite animals. Take turns navigating.

What does your family like to go do? Do you have a favorite activity or place to visit?

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Safari Ltd. Winter Twitter Party

2013-01-17T17:21:00.000-06:00

I am going to have the pleasure of co-hosting a Safari Ltd. Twitter party this next week! We'll be chatting about educational play, winter, boredom busters, and more. Safari Ltd. is generously giving away prizes throughout the party, so there will be several chances to win. It's sure to be a lot of fun!

The Details:

The Safari Ltd. Twitter Party will be from 9-10 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Follow hashtag #educationalplay
Be sure to follow your hosts on Twitter- @ChildhoodBeckon and @SafariLtd
Prizes are limited to US and Canada residents only.
RSVP below and let us know you want to join the fun!

I'm really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new friends! Please come chat and share with us on Tuesday.

Are You New To Twitter Parties?

Twitter parties are fast paced fun and sometimes if a party is really jumping, it can be hard to keep up. You can attend a party on Twitter alone, but I've found that using TweetChat really helps me stay up to speed during parties. It's really easy to use. Just visit the Tweet Chat website, and allow the application to access your Twitter. Then enter in the hashtag you would like to follow (#educationalplay) and you can watch the party (and only the party!) in one window. It also takes care of adding the hashtag to each of your tweets for the party automatically!

RSVP-

25 Family Time Activities- At Home

2013-01-08T12:43:00.000-06:00

One of our goals for this year is to spend more quality time together as a family. We are setting aside time each week to be intentionally and purposefully together. And maybe your family is planning to do the same. But what will we do during all of this family time? Don't get in a rut just because it's part of the routine. Here are 25 family time ideas to keep things interesting! Fun is never far with these ideas.

25 Family Time Ideas:

Here are 25 family time ideas to keep things interesting at home! Fun is never far with these ideas.

1. Cook dinner as a family. Work together on one dish, or split up the dinner (and dessert) and work side by side to create a yummy meal you can all be proud of.

2. Go camping. In your living room! Push aside all of the furniture and set up the tent right there in the living room. Or grab your sleeping bags and sleep under the stars- the glow in the dark kind!

3. Game night! A classic and a staple of any family night routine. Play a tried and true favorite, let each person pick one game for the family to play, or even have a marathon!

4. Learn something new. A new skill. A new card game. A new recipe. Read together on a subject that interests you all or watch a documentary. So many possibilities.

5. Movie night! Make it special. Lay on some blankets and pillows in the floor, or cuddle up on the couch. Don't forget the popcorn and treats!

6. Have a read-a-thon. Take turns reading from your favorite family friendly books. Younger children could look at the pictures and recite the story from their favorite picture books, or just enjoy being read their favorites.

7. Set up an obstacle course. Let each family member plan a part of the obstacle course. Jump from couch cushion to couch cushion. Crawl under the table. Or take it to the backyard! Then take turns running through it. Who has the fastest time? Hand out silly, hand-made medals to every participant or compete for a grand prize!

8. Family art night. Work together on one masterpiece or see what each person comes up with separately using the same medium. You could even set up a family art gallery.

9. Take a trip down memory lane. Look at photo albums and watch old family movies. Reminisce together about the years past.

10. Video game night. This will be a favorite of my son's and husband's. Indulge in some screen time and play some favorite games. You can also rent new games for many consoles from Redbox now.

11. Build a fort. Gather all of your cushions, pillows and sheets for a fun fort indoors. Or get creative outside. Don't forget the flashlights!

12. Photo booth night. Use a sheet for a back drop and set out lots of props! Take hilarious pictures.

13. Fun with puzzles. Tackle a huge jigsaw puzzle together as a family. Or teach younger children the art of putting together puzzles with one containing less pieces.

14. Write a story. Choose characters and discuss the plot. Take turns telling parts of the story and write it down! You could even illustrate! Or save that for another night. ;) Need help getting started? Here are 10 tips for storytelling.

15. Go on a scavenger hunt. Great fun for indoors or out!

16. Have a family slumber party. Everyone wears their pjs, eats way too much junk food, and stays up a bit too late having fun. Sleep in the next day!

17. Act out your favorite story. Rehearse and perform!

18. Music night! Dance or sing along to some fun music. Or form a band and make your own music with homemade instruments.

19. Ice cream sundae night. Put out lots of ingredients for amazing ice cream sundaes. Build your own and share your creations.

20. Plant a garden. Whether it's food or flowers, there's a lot of fun and satisfaction to be had working in the garden.

21. Candlelight night. Do everything by candlelight! Not just dinner.

22. Stargaze. Make wishes. Look for the constellations or make up your own. What do you see? And don't forget to go out and watch some of the many meteor showers we have each year!

23. Celebrate the small stuff. Use any excuse for a party! Celebrate the successes and events of everyone in the family, no matter how "small".

24. Play outside. Get outside and have fun in your own yard as a family. Play Frisbee, fly a kite, or play some classic childhood games like "red light, green light." Toys are not required! Or play in the dark!

25. Play hide and seek. This is such a huge hit among kids, but the adults can have a lot of fun too!

What family time activities does your family enjoy? What would you add to the list?

Next week I'll be sharing a list of family time ideas that will take you out of the house, so be sure to check back! You can subscribe for free or follow me on Facebook to follow the fun.