Make meals more fun with these math mats kids create.  • several sheets of colored construction paper • clear contact paper • Velcro tape (adhesive back) • adult-type scissors • markers, crayons, or colored chalk Invite your child to choose several colors of construction paper. From these, cut out squares, triangles, rectangles, and circles. Name each shape as you […]
Turn on your child’s fascination with how things work with a simple homemade game.  • Catalog or magazine pictures of different types of large and small machines and appliances your child recognizes • small basket or container • oaktag or index cards • large sheets of paper (chart paper or newsprint) • drawing paper • glue stick • scissors • markers • crayons […]
Teachers know that boys can be more reluctant to read than girls. But it has been shown that boys can be hooked when they feel that they can connect with the story and become completely immersed in the experience of reading. To win over even the most unenthusiastic boys in your classroom, we’ve chosen books […]
The physical sensation of this letter activity gives an added learning punch.  • large letters cut from magazines or letters drawn on paper • tray or box • scissors • golf tees • Styrofoam block (saved from an appliance or electronics box) • child-size hammer With your child, find different size and shaped letters in a magazine or catalog, or […]
Turn a tour of your home into an easy alphabet lesson. • index cards • markers or crayons • tape • paper (as large as possible) Help your child write the letters of the alphabet (in upper- or lowercase) in index cards, putting one letter on each card. Pick a room in your home to start with — the living […]
Teamwork between parents and teachers is essential to get your child ready to read. At home and in preschool, the best way to develop pre-reading skills is through fun and games. Here’s how to start your child off right. Â Connect with the Teacher Do you need an appointment or is there an open-door policy? […]
 • family photos • postcards, tickets, and greeting cards • 8″ x 10″ piece of cardboard • picture frame for an 8″ x 10″ photo, with mat • crayons • fabric, paper scraps, or other decorative items • child safety scissors • glue Read a book about families, such as The Family Book, by Todd Parr. Talk about your own family. How […]
Write a story and make a moving picture book to display it. • four paper-towel tubes • one narrow cardboard box • roll of brown paper • washable paint, markers, glue, and masking tape • adult-size scissors and utility knife • child safety scissors • ruler • old magazines First you and your child can create the “case” for his moving picture book. […]
