Handwriting 101

Hi All! I've missed you! I apologize on the lack of posts but my computer was in the "shop". So let's get down to business. My friend Diana sent me a link to a website that you can use to have your child practice their handwriting (or your own handwriting if you really think you need it) My handwriting was so bad growing up that I had a teacher suggest that I write in all capital letters for legibility so, I've been doing that ever since. I don't recommend this to anyone. I look back and I'm a little shocked at the suggestion but we didn't have computers to use for school work back then, so she was doing this so the poor woman could read my homework. Bless that woman.

Anyhoo, here's the deal...you click on the link, get out a dry erase marker and then have your child draw on the computer screen and you wipe it right off! I KID, I KID - don't have your child do that, I repeat, don't have your child do that!!!!! But seriously, you'll click on the link, then type in what you want your child to practice, for example their name, and then you click on "make worksheet" and you can print out the worksheet for them to use! How awesome! Thanks Diana!

Update: 9.3.08 My friend Amy wrote me today and had an idea regarding reusing the worksheets you print. You can put them in those clear plastic page protectors that load from the top so you can just use a dry erase marker on them and they wipe away. Brilliant Amy - thank you!

http://www.handwritingworksheets.com/print-k/make-pk-all.htm

New Product

I saw these in a magazine ad and then immediately called my friend Molly to look for them at her Publix. And she found them - and guess what, I found them too! I bought a couple of bags, without a coupon (which is very unlike me) and ran home to show my husband. So he wasn't as super excited as I was...he just said "oh cool" but me, I wanted to start baking them and spelling words out for my kids right away. All in all, yes, I got a little excited for Alphabet tater tots, but I live in a small world so run with me on this one, k?

Sock Hop

My kids LOVE to help me around the house. Whether it's to squirt the windex on the window or use a cleaning cloth with me; they love getting involved. I like to make games of it and here's one that we did. They can use this little project when they're done to help dusting or even giving it a little spritz of cleaner to help clean the table after dinner or help with the countertops. Seriously, they get a HUGE kick out of it. Even if you don't have time to paint or draw one of these sock helpers, just get out old socks and go for it!

Supplies you'll need:

An old sock (no holes would be great) (note to my husband: yes, honey, this is one of your socks, sorry, but you can pick up more when you get me more painters tape, thanks)

Fabric Paint or permanent markers

paint brushes if you're using paint

a napkin

Put a napkin inside the sock so that the paint or marker doesn't go through the other side. Then have your little one have at it. Although I do recommend having your little tike put on an old shirt because fabric paint and permanent marker don't come out. Oh, and lay down some newspaper too. Once the paint or marker dries, your little one can put it on and have their own little cloth to help with. These "cloths" can also go in the washer and dryer. What a great way to save on paper towels!

Btw, if you're extremely bored or have a serious amount of time on your hands, you can even sew little felt ears or a tail on these to make little "dust bunnies", get it...

Lunch Bingo

Lunch bingo, well sort of. My son starts Pre-K tomorrow and he'll be going to school 4 days a week. He used to go 2 times a week and he was cool with me packing the same thing since they weren't consecutive days. But times they are a changin', so I came up with lunch bingo. Everyday he'll get to pick one item from each column and cross it off for that day. This way, he's getting a variety of foods and hopefully he'll feel empowered that he'll have made his own lunch decision that day. These kind of decisions are important you know...it could be a Harvard or Yale kind of decision one day! Kinda like when I used to do the corporate gig, I could decide whether I wanted to eat at the Globe or Tijuana Flats; sweet potato fries or chimichangas - it's those important decisions I made everyday that have made this world a better place. Anyone else getting hungry?

Btw, I made this handy chart in Microsoft Word (surprise surprise) - email me at delainamc@gmail.com if you'd like a copy of it.

Cheers,

D

ABC...easy as 123

Now that I have that song in your head...let's get started. This was a fun little game that didn't take much to do. I printed two sets of the alphabet. With one of them, I got out my 'ol trusty painters tape and taped it on the wall as you see below.

Then, I cut up the individual letters on the second set and put them in a pile with the roll of tape. Then I had my son pick any letter and he had to match it underneath the one already on the wall. While he did that we went over certain things that start with the particular letter.

My son doesn't have much of an attention span so we did about five letters at a time and then went back for more later. Easy, simple and they learn a little something along the way.

Whole Foods

I found a great kids section on the Whole Foods website today and they have some great alternative lunch and snack ideas to keep things fresh and new for the kiddos. With school starting back I thought this would be a great link for you all to check out. Enjoy!

Oh and they also have some awesome recipes for meals under $15 that I'm gonna try asap. The whole website is very informative and I've gotten a lot out of it. Mark it as a favorite 'cause I know you'll go back to it!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/kids/

D

Days of the Week

I've figured out that my 4 year old is a visual learner. Why it took me 4 years to figure that out? Well, I'm also a visual learner and I guess it wasn't put down on paper for me to see. My sister in law and I are both like that. When we get together to sew, it's a visual learning field day! We barely read the pattern - we say "meh, who needs to know what the seam allowance is - not me!" And honestly, for some reason - it all works out. So, in honor of sis and me, I have a visual way to teach my kids the days of the week. Some of you reading this probably have 2 year olds who can do this, but I'm a little slow, bear with me.

So, I opened up my trusty 'ol Microsoft Word (Bless you Bill Gates, you've made my life easy) and created this table. I added a few things that I know are consistent, like church, going to Beef O'Brady's on Tuesday (kids eat free, btw) and basketball on Saturday. The blank boxes to the right are for my little man to check off each day. (If you want this template, {I'll delete the pictures if you want} please email me at delainamc@gmail.com)

You can laminate this and use a dry erase marker or if you're like me, you can just print one out every 4 weeks. You can also make this into a chore chart, a behavior chart or anything else you can think of. Please post any variations, we all want to know!

Cheers!

D

People puppets

My friend Nicole is an art teacher and I've been begging her to give me some ideas for this site and she came through! MUAH to Nicole! So, now that I've kissed her feet, let's have her tell her side of the story.

Supplies you'll need:
Glue stick
Magazines (kids ones work best she says)
construction paper
scissors

I have a nifty little project I just did the last week when babysitting an 8 year old and two 4 year olds. The kids spent 30 minutes working on creating their people puppets. Basically, use construction paper and magazines. Kiddie mags work great. I cut a circle and triangle out of construction paper for the 4 year olds. They of course choose the colors. The circle was the head and the triangle is the body. (We all know that preschool kids will place the arms and legs out of the head if given the chance, this is normal) This activity helps with body recognition and placement. The kids will flip through the magazine to find eyes or noses or hair and place accordingly. Or they can create their own from other construction paper. As you can see the variety is hysterical.....The eight year old really liked combining different images from different people. ***Note if you really want the 4 year olds to stay engaged...give them googly eyes. Kids love googly eyes!



Nicole

Enjoy!

D

I'm an Aunt!

No, I haven't posted in awhile. I'm sorry for that. I'll get back on it asap. But here's my excuse...here me out. I was crazy busy sewing a bunch of baby stuff for my friend Lisa's shower that was today and also, my Sister-in-law, Tasha had her baby on Thursday and she's absolutely perfect. Here she is...admire and adore because I'm in love...she's beautiful!

To my precious niece. I love you - I always will. You're extremely blessed to have wonderful parents who have been waiting patiently for your arrival.

"You're a little piece of heaven

You're a golden ray of light.

And I wish I could protect you

from the worries of this life.

But if there's one thing I could tell you

It's no matter what you do

Hold to Jesus, He's holding onto you"

(Erin O'Donnell)

Love,

Aunt D