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 […]
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. […]
Do you always have to use a brush to make great paintings? • construction paper • tempera paints • clean plastic-foam vegetable or fruit trays • child’s paintbrush • assorted items: pine needles, feathers, twists of paper towels, yarn, plastic flowers, pipe cleaners, and so on Have your child put on a smock. Cover the table with newspaper. Pour some […]
 Take a big bite of math, science, language arts, and more on your next trip to the grocery store.  Add it up. Take a look at your shopping list. As you place items in your cart, ask your child to add up the prices to see how much of the list you can […]
Math gets a bad rap. Here, we dispel some long-held beliefs about how children learn it. Myths about math learning abound in our country. Although some may contain half-truths, they are not true. They are perpetuated, though, because most people have not been given the opportunities to deeply understand math and its uses. Unfortunately, these […]
  Make a counting book full of beans.   • marker • 5″ x 7″ index cards • hole punch • binder ring or string • glue • for counting: dried beans, buttons, stickers, rubber stamps  Ask your child to write a number on 10 individual index cards. (She does not have to write the numbers 1 through 10 […]
Build math skills while you track your child’s height.  • construction paper • four pieces of 8½” by 11″ cardboard • colored duct tape or fabric tape • stickers, stamps, or other art materials • 12 inches of ribbon or string • glue • ruler  Discuss the concept of measurement. Show your child a ruler and invite him to share […]
A fun, eco-friendly activity to reinforce what children have learned about snakes and to build team-work. Â Reinforce study about snakes. Learn to identify patterns. Use recycled materials to create a creative piece of artwork. Develop a sense of team work in building something together. Use fine motor skills to practice tying knots or twist […]
