*I was sent the books to review as well as a gift card for participating in this campaign. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” My son is ecstatic about The Lego® Movie coming out on DVD on June 17. Like can’t sit still, talks about it EVERY DAY excited. I can’t blame him though, […]
American Girl of the Year 2013: Saige Copeland – An Interview with Author, Jessie Haas
My daughter loves American Girl and we’re very excited for the debut of Saige, American Girl of the Year for 2013. American Girl has been dropping hints that the 2013 Girl of the Year is from New Mexico and loves horses and art–now we finally get to meet Saige Copeland and learn all about her! […]
I See Me in a Personalized Pirate Adventure Book
We have several personalized books for my daughter but none for our sons so my older boy was delighted when My Very Own Pirate Tale, personalized with his name, arrived from I See Me. This charming book centers on a pirate captain’s search for a new first mate. Sea creatures suggest qualities the perfect candidate […]
A Tale of Confidence: Ida Louise and The Lucky Sweater
Around the time she turned five, my daughter became more aware of the opinions of others around her. “What if they don’t like my project?” “What if they laugh at my jacket?”
We look for confidence boosters so that my daughter will focus on being true to herself. Books with a strong girl protagonist help spark discussion in our household.
Ida Louise and the Lucky Sweater, by Julie Augensen, is a charming story about finding confidence. Believing she has a lucky sweater, the title character has the courage to make new friends and have an adventure…
Learning to Read with LeapFrog TAG
LeapFrog makes learning products that blend innovative technology with time-tested teaching techniques for fun and educational results.
We are big fans of our LeapFrog TAG and LeapFrog just sent us a new way to enjoy it: two sets of early reader books that teach short and long vowel sounds.
My daughter knows her letters and the sounds they make and she is just about ready to make the jump from pre-literacy skills to literacy. Every day she grabs her TAG pen and reads through several of the new TAG “Learn to Read” books.
Back-to-School with Amelia Bedelia
One of the charming things about young children is their literal-mindedness.
So, just imagine our often confused but always well-meaning friend, Amelia Bedelia, as a kindergartner. In Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School, the classic character enthusiastically, and literally, jumps right into class. She takes each instruction very seriously and the results are hilarious.
Leap Ahead in Summer Reading
As LeapFrog Summer Reading Ambassadors, we’ve been showing off the LeapFrog TAG and TAG Junior systems at schools, libraries, and playgroups in our area.
When I reviewed the LeapFrog TAG last year, I was impressed. As an educational consultant, I believe the TAG system is a great example of technology that genuinely engages kids in learning. Download classic stories onto the reading pen and children can listen to the whole story, hear individual words, and play games. Using the TAG helps build reading comprehension and fluency.
Letter Learning Fun
Is your child entering kindergarten or pre-school in the fall? Teach letter recognition over the summer using two fun, educational resources: How to Build an A
Summer Art for Tweens
Summer is a great time for enrichment activities. Free from the daily grind of classes and homework, your child can explore his or her creative side.
Shop for art supplies on sale at local craft stores, or find wholesale arts and crafts supplies online at DollarDays. Many moms have a craft box (or craft closet) full of supplies to keep their kids occupied during school vacations and on rainy weekends.
While some parents splurge on summer art classes and camps, activity books can inspire at a much lower price tag. LittleMissMatched’s The Artist in Me!
Teaching Preschoolers About Money
Learning to recognize different coins and understanding their value is an essential part of the preschool and the kindergarten curriculum.
Parents can use coins to introduce math concepts like sorting and counting. You can help your child learn to identify coins and their value while teaching them to save money using Coin County: A Bank in a Book
