This week ABC news reported that nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat.
love, Lauren
By Small Talk Speech Pathology
Monday, 21 November 2011
How to Talk to Little Girls - by Lisa Bloom
love, Lauren
Friday, 18 November 2011
Alphabet Movement Cards
If your little ones thrive on movement and fight against sitting quietly at the table to learn, then these free printable Alphabet Movement Cards from the wonderful blog The Home Teacher may just save your day (and your sanity).
Each card shows a letter of the alphabet and matches it with a movement for your child to carry out.
Print them out. Laminate them (for long longevity). Bind them together (if like me you are likely to lose every second card). Get outside to enjoy moving and learning together.
To help your child develop their literacy skills always link the letter with its sound e.g.
"the letter A says /a/ for apple"
love,
Lauren
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Rules of Effortless Parenting
via mr & mrs zen habits
There is really only one rule: Love Them. But you already knew that one, so let’s get into details:
1. Teach kids to be self-sufficient. Our kids started by learning how to pick up after themselves (as 1 and 2 year olds), and later learned how to feed themselves breakfast, brush their teeth and shower and dress themselves, wash dishes and clean up in the kitchen, clean their rooms, do laundry, etc. Our jobs as parents became tons easier, but it does take a little patient teaching in the beginning of each skill.
2. Teach older kids to help with the younger kids. If you have multiple kids, this rule is golden. Our teens can help the little kids with anything. That makes our jobs a lot easier, and the older kids learn responsibility.
3. Teach them to solve problems. This is really the main job of unschooling, which is the philosophy we follow as homeschoolers. Our kids don’t learn facts or even skills. They learn to solve problems on their own. If they know how to do this, they can learn any facts or skills they need to solve their problems. Want to learn how to write a computer program? That’s just another problem that you need to learn how to solve. Want to cook Thai food, or write a blog, or start a business, or build something? Problems that you can solve.
4. Show them how to be passionate. The other main thing you teach unschoolers, besides solving their own problems, is how to be passionate about something. If they know this, they will do work they’re passionate about as adults. How do you teach them this? By modeling it yourself. By doing projects with them where you’re passionate about something. Kids learn an amazing amount by watching and mimicking.
5. Play with them outside, and be active. Spending time with your kids is one of the best ways to show them you love them. Playing with them is one of the best ways to spend time with them. Playing outside shows them how to be active and have fun being active. I also stay active on my own, but I make sure they know what I’m doing, why, and how much fun it is. They have a role model who is healthy and fit, and that will help them for the rest of their lives.
6. Don’t overschedule. Most parents schedule too many classes, sports, parties, activities. We give our kids lots of unstructured, unscheduled time. They have to figure out what to do with that time. That’s an important skill to learn. It also means their lives are less stressed out, as are ours, and they learn a slower pace of life.
7. Don’t dote. I’ve seen lots of parents that dote on everything their kids do, who are worried about every little thing their kid might touch or that might cause a fall. Back off, and give them some space. They need attention, but they also need some time alone to explore, to fall and get back up, to scrape their knees, to figure stuff out on their own. Go do something on your own, and leave your kids alone sometimes.
8. Dance. Because life without dance is dull and not worth living. Play loud music. Go crazy.
9. Read with them, and read in front of them. Kids love books, especially if you read them with them. Here are some of my favorites. If you are a reader yourself, and they see that, this will teach them to love reading too. Reading is one of the best loves you can instill in kids.
10. Be inquisitive. Ask questions about everything, and encourage them to do the same. Kids are naturally inquisitive … they can ask a million questions, because everything is new to them. Learn to see the world through their eyes — it’s amazing. Why the hell IS the sky blue? Why do leaves change color? How does a bird fly? These are brilliant questions, and you should explore them with the kids — don’t just give them answers, but show them how to find out.
1. Teach kids to be self-sufficient. Our kids started by learning how to pick up after themselves (as 1 and 2 year olds), and later learned how to feed themselves breakfast, brush their teeth and shower and dress themselves, wash dishes and clean up in the kitchen, clean their rooms, do laundry, etc. Our jobs as parents became tons easier, but it does take a little patient teaching in the beginning of each skill.
2. Teach older kids to help with the younger kids. If you have multiple kids, this rule is golden. Our teens can help the little kids with anything. That makes our jobs a lot easier, and the older kids learn responsibility.
3. Teach them to solve problems. This is really the main job of unschooling, which is the philosophy we follow as homeschoolers. Our kids don’t learn facts or even skills. They learn to solve problems on their own. If they know how to do this, they can learn any facts or skills they need to solve their problems. Want to learn how to write a computer program? That’s just another problem that you need to learn how to solve. Want to cook Thai food, or write a blog, or start a business, or build something? Problems that you can solve.
4. Show them how to be passionate. The other main thing you teach unschoolers, besides solving their own problems, is how to be passionate about something. If they know this, they will do work they’re passionate about as adults. How do you teach them this? By modeling it yourself. By doing projects with them where you’re passionate about something. Kids learn an amazing amount by watching and mimicking.
5. Play with them outside, and be active. Spending time with your kids is one of the best ways to show them you love them. Playing with them is one of the best ways to spend time with them. Playing outside shows them how to be active and have fun being active. I also stay active on my own, but I make sure they know what I’m doing, why, and how much fun it is. They have a role model who is healthy and fit, and that will help them for the rest of their lives.
6. Don’t overschedule. Most parents schedule too many classes, sports, parties, activities. We give our kids lots of unstructured, unscheduled time. They have to figure out what to do with that time. That’s an important skill to learn. It also means their lives are less stressed out, as are ours, and they learn a slower pace of life.
7. Don’t dote. I’ve seen lots of parents that dote on everything their kids do, who are worried about every little thing their kid might touch or that might cause a fall. Back off, and give them some space. They need attention, but they also need some time alone to explore, to fall and get back up, to scrape their knees, to figure stuff out on their own. Go do something on your own, and leave your kids alone sometimes.
8. Dance. Because life without dance is dull and not worth living. Play loud music. Go crazy.
9. Read with them, and read in front of them. Kids love books, especially if you read them with them. Here are some of my favorites. If you are a reader yourself, and they see that, this will teach them to love reading too. Reading is one of the best loves you can instill in kids.
10. Be inquisitive. Ask questions about everything, and encourage them to do the same. Kids are naturally inquisitive … they can ask a million questions, because everything is new to them. Learn to see the world through their eyes — it’s amazing. Why the hell IS the sky blue? Why do leaves change color? How does a bird fly? These are brilliant questions, and you should explore them with the kids — don’t just give them answers, but show them how to find out.
Friday, 4 November 2011
FREE printable /sh/ & /th/ worksheets
Do your little ones struggle with reading, spelling or saying their digraphs /sh/ or /th/? Why not head over to the treasure chest that is First Grade and Fabulous and download these fun free printable worksheets?
Have a look around this wonderful blog while you are there. It is filled to the brim with delightful goodies and learning inspiration.
Lauren x
 |
| First Grade and Fabulous |
Have a look around this wonderful blog while you are there. It is filled to the brim with delightful goodies and learning inspiration.
Lauren x
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Coloured Rice
Now I love to eat rice but I often forget how tactile rice is and how great it is for play with kids! Check out this FUN idea using coloured rice by Chapter forty
As mentioned in the blog above, you can put it onto trays and blow it, shake it, pour it...the options are endless. I love how the kids used basic kitchen utensils for the activity.
As mentioned in the blog above, you can put it onto trays and blow it, shake it, pour it...the options are endless. I love how the kids used basic kitchen utensils for the activity.
The author of chapter forty also has an entry on how to make coloured rice click here if you are interested.
Don't forget 'rice clean up' once all other play options have been exhausted!
Vanessa ;)
Free E-book - 101 tips to control chaos
Here is a link to a free e-book collated by "Kleenex Mums" detailing super practical tips by Aussie mums and dads
Just some of the info it includes:
- Cooking and menu planning: My menu planning secrets that will get you on the right track for monthly meal plans.
- Creating and setting routines: How to get the kids involved in routines. Don’t be afraid to assign some chores either!
- Finding moments for me time: It’s all about the diary – don’t forget to make some time for yourself.
- Monthly planner: To make everything that little bit easier, we’ve included a monthly planner, perfect for the fridge.
- 101 tips from real mums and more! A wealth of valuable tips and insights from other Aussie mums.
Get organised & Keep calm,
Vanessa
Alphabet Box
Here is a cool way of teaching and reinforcing what sound each letter of the alphabet makes. This activity focuses on increasing sound-letter correspondence.
As mentioned in the above blog - you can get a box to store all the objects at Kmart. You then need to print off some letters - its a good idea to print both the capital and small font eg. Aa, Bb, Cc.
Next step is to collect all the objects and have fun putting it all together! Remember to say the sound that the object starts with eg. 'b' as in 'ball', 'w' as in 'watch'.
'B' objects
'S' objects
Happy Learning!
Vanessa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)