Alpha Block, “AB&C, Alphabet Books & Crafts”

Posted on September 9, 2014 by hendersonintraining

2014-09-07 08.09.53

ABC~ Alphabet Books & Crafts

I remember when my first born was two year old and sang his ABCs for the first time. I thought he was the smartest kid ever! Now that my third child is two and I’m so busy with all three kiddos, I recently thought to myself, “Oh yeah, I should make sure he knows his ABCs!”.

So, I got this book to help. At the start of each Target grocery shopping trip, we stop by the book section first to grab some good reads for him during the cart ride. I found Alpha Block and loved it. I cannot stop looking at it and neither can he. He will soon be as smart as my firstborn!

Introducing Our Featured Friend: Alpha Block
By Christopher Franceschelli, Art by Peskimo

“A is for Apple,
B is for Balloons,
C is for Cookies . . .”

This simple board book is the best ABC book I’ve ever read. We LOVE the illustrations and the way the author and illustrator formatted the letters so that most of them could be used as stencils. During our first read, my kids enjoyed guessing what the next letter’s illustration might be and then turning the page to see if they were right. We also like seeing how the letter fits into the pictures on both of the pages it touches. Here are some of our favorite letter pages:

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7 Facebook Posts Fitting Our Featured Friend: Alpha Block
Select a game, craft, or print out to help your children or students learn their ABCs:

  Happy Hooligans

LETTER CRAFTS:
I love a cute letter craft! There are loads of great ideas in this post:
SEE THEM ALL HERE:
http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/56908/how-to-homeschool-preschool

CRAFT YOUR WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET!
26 super-easy and cute crafts to go along with every letter of the alphabet!
http://eastcoastmommyblog.blogspot.ca/2014/08/alphabet-crafts-to-z.html

ALPHABET MONSTER GAME:
How fun (and cute!) is this?
SEE THE DETAILS HERE:
http://www.littlefamilyfun.com/2012/05/alphabet-monster-game.html

 The Measured Mom
FREE LOWERCASE BLOCK LETTERS!
Read the post for 4 uses for these free letters:
http://www.themeasuredmom.com/printable-letters-lowercase/

 The Imagination Tree
Fun ways to play and learn on a light table/ box!
From: http://www.andnextcomesl.com/2014/08/10-ways-to-learn-alphabet-on-light-table.html

 Toddler Approve
HAVE ANY POOL NOODLES LEFT?
Try this fun alphabet knock down game with them!
Link: http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2014/04/alphabet-knock-down.html

 Pre-K Pages
PING PONG ALPHABET BOUNCE
http://www.icanteachmychild.com/ping-pong-alphabet-bounce/

Hope you enjoy these Awesome, Brilliant, Creative ideas compiled into one post.

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Sugar Cookies, Sweet Little Lessons on Love, “Cookies with a Cup of Character”

Posted on September 5, 2014 by hendersonintraining

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Cookies & Character . . .They go hand in hand for me. One of my fondest memories growing up is making sugar cookies with my mother, especially at Christmas time. We’d get out the cookie cutters shaped like candy canes, snowmen, and church bells. We’d mix, roll, cut, bake, decorate, and deliver them to our neighbors and friends. All the while, we were bonding and developing character  in the process.

Introducing Our Featured Friend: Sugar Cookies, Sweet Little Lessons on Love by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Jane Dyer & Brooke Dyer

Character counts. Schools all across the globe have signs in their halls and classrooms displaying character qualities that principals and teachers want to see their students exhibit. Character can be quite an abstract concept for kids unless it’s accompanied  with concrete examples. In the books, Sugar Cookies, Little Lessons on Love and Cookies, Bite-Size Life Lessons, Rosenthal makes the following character qualities come to life by putting them into a concrete item that kids love, sugar cookies!

Endearment
Considerate
Heartfelt
Compassionate
Admire
Forgive
Tenderness
Adore
Expansive Love
Constructive
Unconditionally
Unrequited
Requited
Connected
Heartbroken
True Love
Selfless
Bliss
Cherish
Protect

“Considerate means,
I waited until you got home so we could lick the bowl together.”

“Compassionate means
that when you burn the cookies to a crisp,
I’ll be there to give you a hug.”

“Connected means,
We’re making these cookies together so naturally and easily,
like we somehow know exactly what the other is doing
and what needs to be done next.”

Sugar Cookies is an extra-special book to us because Mom gave it to my oldest son for his fourth birthday, after she carried on our tradition of making sugar cookies at Christmas with him. That was the last birthday that she was alive to celebrate with him. When Christian and I read this together, we all feel a bit closer my mom.

Inviting You To Become Friends with Sugar Cookies:

Enjoy baking some cookies with your kids or class while selecting several character qualities to discuss with them:

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 *Follow Kidsbook Friends on Facebook and at http://www.kidsbookfriends.com for more book reviews with creative reading ideas!

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Plant a Kiss, “Endless Bliss”

Posted on September 4, 2014 by hendersonintraining
2014-09-03 08.43.03

“Gather about.”

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, a children’s book can have less than 100 and still be incredible. Hence the case with Plant a Kiss, an 85 word picture book that captivates kids. Our favorite part of the book is the raised, glittery illustrations of the plant growing. My two-year-old son needs lots of sensory stimulation as he is so picky with foods based on their textures. The more textures I can expose his little fingers to, the better. Books like this one really help.

Introducing Our Featured Friend: Plant a Kiss
By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

“Little Miss planted a kiss.
Planted a kiss?
Planted a kiss.”

After caring for her “plant”, waiting and wondering, one day it began to sprout! All her friends gathered around staring in awe. Immediately she began to share (except with one little boy who declared, “Don’t you dare!). Everywhere she went, she took her bowl of “kisses” to give as gifts until her bowl was empty. When she returned to gather more, her kissing plant had grown bigger and more beautiful than she ever could have imagined! Much more love to share.

“There she learned . . . from one little kiss, endless bliss!”

Inviting You to Become FRIENDS with Plant a Kiss:
Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

Select a couple of questions and activities to do with your kids or class:

F- Which picture is your favorite one to feel?

R- How do you relate to Little Miss sharing love (in this case kisses) with everyone? With whom do you share love? How? Who shares love with you? How? What makes you know you are loved?

I- Imagine that you could plant anything and it would grow. What would you plant? Why?

E- Explore the sensory activities listed at the end of this blog. Find one that works well with your child!

N- Navigate through a meadow or a flower shop and find a plant to give a friend to express your love.

D- Develop a list of the rhyming words throughout this book and discuss their sounds.

S- Share kisses with those you love TODAY!

Interacting Beyond the Book with Sensory Activities for Kids:

#1.
Fun at Home with Kids
Fun At Home with Kids: 12 AWESOME SENSORY RECIPES http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/04/guest-post-twelve-sensory-play-recipes.html

#2

Pre-K Pages
Pre-K Pages: NIGHT & DAY SENSORY SORTING ACTIVITY
http://www.two-daloo.com/night-sky-activities-preschool-night-day-sensory-sorting/

 #3

The Imagination Tree

The Imagination Tree: SENSORY ACTIVITIES
Learn sight words or the alphabet in a fun way with this I-spy sensory bag!
From: http://handsonaswegrow.com/i-spy-sensory-bag/

How to make natural, lavender scented sensory salt for pre-writing skills and calm down activities! This is still my favourite “play recipe” of all time!
http://theimaginationtree.com/2012/06/lavender-and-glitter-sensory-salt.html

Illustrations from Plant a Kiss: Pictures Worth a Thousand Words

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kiss

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Posted in Friendship, garden | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Little Pea; Little Hoot, “Eat Right, Sleep Tight”

Posted on September 2, 2014 by hendersonintraining
2014-09-01 16.41.46

“If you want to grow up to be a big, strong pea, you have to eat your candy.”

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“If you want to grow up to be a wise owl, you must stay up late.”

Little Pea; Little Hoot

Two common battles among us parents are getting our kids to eat right and sleep tight. Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Jen Corace use a bit of “reverse psychology” and take a humorous twist that captive kids. I’m testing it out on my kids by reading these two books often to them!

Introducing Our Two Featured Friends: Little Pea; Little Hoot
Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Illustrated by Jen Corace

Little Pea loves everything about his life except one thing, dinner! His parents make him eat something he hates, candy. 5 pieces of candy every day. But, the good part is that when he is done, he gets dessert:

“Little Pea couldn’t wait to see what it was.
‘Spinach!’ squealed Little Pea. ‘My favorite!’
Little Pea licked his dessert plate clean. . .

And they lived hap-pea-ly ever after.”

Little Hoot is a happy little owl, but there is one thing he does not like, bedtime. His parents make him stay up late and play. Little owl begs his parents to let him go to bed like his friends get to do, but as an owl, he must stay up late.

 ” ‘Can I stop playing now?’ pleaded Little Hoot.
‘Ten more minutes of playing, Mister. And please don’t ask me again.’
‘Alright,’ the young owl scowled . . .

‘There. I played for one whole hour. Now can I go to bed?’
‘Yes, now you can go to bed. But . . .’
‘But wait!’ stalled Mama Owl. ‘What about a bedtime story?’
‘And don’t forget about a glass of water!’ added Papa Owl. . . .

Little Hoot was already fast asleep. . .
And they owl lived happily ever after . . .”

Although I wouldn’t consider these concept books, I like how Little Pea teaches the days of the week and colors by the different candy he has to eat each day. Little Hoot teaches counting one to ten by the different activities he has to do before bed. The irony is awesome! Now I need one for getting our kids to work together well. Maybe, “Little Ant”?!

Inviting You to Become FRIENDS with Little Pea & Little Hoot:
Feel, Relate, Imagine, Explore, Navigate, Develop, Share

Select a couple of questions and activities to do with your kids or class:

F- How do you feel about eating good-for-you-food? How do you feel when you eat lots of candy? How do you feel about going to bed at a good time so you get a full night’s sleep? How do you feel when you stay up too late?

R- Can you relate to Little Pea wanting to eat spinach? What healthy foods do you eat?
Can you relate to Little Hoot wanting to go to bed early? What time do you go to bed?

I- Imagine you could eat anything you wanted for one dinner. What would you pick?
Imagine you could stay up as late as you wanted for one night? What fun things would you do?

E- Explore the food pyramid and make a meal plan for a day that fits within healthy guidelines. Explore foods you normally may not eat by picking up some new items from the produce section. Explore HealthyEats.com :
How to Dress Up Frozen Broccoli, Spinach and Peas: http://ow.ly/hNHsb

N- Navigate through some meal time and bed time difficulties and try to come up with some creative solutions together as a family or class.

D- Develop another title and idea for a book like this one by taking something you may not like to do and finding a character that wants to do it: For example, what about an ant that wants to work hard, but his parents make him take a break.

S- Share what part of these books you like the most.

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Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, “A Labor of Love”

Posted on August 28, 2014 by hendersonintraining
2014-08-27 17.47.07

“Never had Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne had so many people to watch them; never had they dug so fast and so well; and never had the sun seemed to go down so fast.”

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

“Labor Day, an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, {which is the time of the first Labor Day celebration} at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the United States, the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living. Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages. People of all ages, particularly the very poor and recent immigrants, often faced extremely unsafe working conditions, with insufficient access to fresh air, sanitary facilities and breaks.”   http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/labor-day

Teaching our kids our history helps them (and us) appreciate the journey of how and why our lives are like they are now. Although one cannot fully understand the conditions of past days, historical fiction books that take place in the 1800’s such as The Red Badge of Courage, Little Women, Across Five Aprils, Grasshopper Summer, Bound for Oregon, and Meet Kirsten, American Girl Doll Series really help children grasp the experiences and emotions of the characters living through those times.

For younger children (ages 3-8), perhaps the best “Labor Day Lessons” are found in a little book from 1939 that teaches diligence, loyalty, teamwork, and other good work ethics that will always remain vital for all generations. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel is still a popular book and here’s why:

Introducing Our Featured Friend: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
By Virginia Lee Burton

Mike Mulligan loved Mary Anne, his beautiful red steam shovel. She could dig great canals, cut through mountains, make highways and landing fields, and do it all better and faster than anyone. But, when the new gasoline shovels, electric shovels, and Diesel motor shovels were invented, the steam trains were retired to junk yards. . .  except for Mary Anne.

Mike Mulligan loved Mary Anne. When he heard that Henry B. Swap needed to build a new town hall, Mike Mulligan asked him to give the job to them. Mike Mulligan promised him that if they couldn’t dig the cellar in one day, then he wouldn’t have to pay them. He agreed thinking he could get some of the work done without having to pay them for it.

“They started in early next morning just as the sun was coming up. Soon a little boy came along.
‘Do you think you will finish by sundown?’ he said to Mike Mulligan.
‘Sure,’ said Mike, ‘if you stay and watch us. We always work faster and better when someone is watching us.’
So the little boy stayed to watch. . . The more people came, the faster Mike Mulligan and Mary Anne dug.”

With most of the town surrounding them cheering, they finished the cellar at sundown! However, they dug so fast and so well that they forgot to leave a way out. Henry B. Swap smiled a sly smile thinking he could break their deal since it wasn’t really completed.

“Now the little boy . . . had another good idea. He said, ‘Why couldn’t we leave Mary Anne in the cellar and build a new town hall above her? Let her be the furnace for the new town hall and let Mike Mulligan be the janitor.’ “

That idea pleased everyone, even Henry B. Swap. Mike Mulligan, Mary Anne, the town’s people, and even Henry B. Swap saw first hand the value of diligence, loyalty, and teamwork that day.

5 LABOR Day Activities for Kids and Families:

L- Look up and list 5 facts about the origins of Labor Day.

A- Ask your family what work you can do Labor Day weekend to help: possibly chores around the house, yard or garden. Write down 3 things you completed.

B- Better your community by writing your town Mayor, Council Members, and other town workers to thank them for their labor. Your “cheers” will help them work even better!

O- Organize a fun activity for Labor Day for your family, friends, and/or neighbors to enjoy the day off!

R- Read an enjoyable book that helps you appreciate the value of hard work!

Which “LABOR” of love did you do? How did it make you feel? How did other people respond to your work? What did you learn?

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Happy Labor Day Weekend from Kidsbook Friends!

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Posted in Labor Day | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment