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Math activities to do at Home for Preschoolers.

Math, learned in the comfort of your home, is a perfect starting block for learning the practical and the theory behind the skills needed for math activities.

A well-known Chinese proverb tells teachers and parents the value of a practical approach to math.

“I hear and I forget,

I see and I remember.

I do and I understand.”

Here are some practical ‘I do’ activities you can use in your home to teach the beginnings of math to your pre-schooler.  Think in terms of these basic concepts and math skills. 

Try counting, sorting, matching, pattern making, shapes and measuring for six basic math activities with multiple ways to explore these skills right there in your home!

1. Counting is one of the best at-home learning activities for preschoolers.  We are surrounded with counting material, starting with our own fingers and toes.  Counting rhymes are a big help in this area too.   Children learn to count by rote at first.  They just repeat the numbers.  The next phase is the ability to associate a number with a group of objects.  Board games and counting the number of dots on a dice add value to the counting experience.  Some children will soon notice the pattern on the dice and then they are off to a good start for learning how to count on from one number to the next.  Count table settings, people and slices of cake, steps to the bathroom and sharing treats too.
2. Sorting is a very important pre-math activity.  It helps with grouping objects together and categorising or organising. Pictures, blocks and items of clothing from the laundry basket all make good sorting objects.  Children can learn to sort by size, shape and colour.
3. Matching objects helps with the concept of the same and different.  Making comparisons is a math skill.  Preschoolers need to be able to learn how to match as part of the skills they need for learning letters and numbers. Matching is a valuable cognitive skill.  Start with the idea of finding things the same and then increase the skill with finding and grouping different objects by shape size, or colour.  Helping children with this skill of matching at an early age will boost your child’s ability to recognise letters and numbers later on.
4. Pattern-making is a very important math skill.  At home, you can see patterns around the dining room table or in the clothes you wear.  Talk about colour patterns and how they repeat.  Use blocks to make a row of a pattern.  You start the pattern in the blocks and your toddle recognises what comes next.  If your toddler is past the mouthing stage, bead threading is a great way to encourage pattern-making. The early stages of understanding patterns lead to being able to skip count and learn times tables because they are number patterns.
5. Shapes are all around us and children love to learn their shapes through pictures, blocks and everyday objects.   Cut out the basic shapes from colour card as your child is learning them.  Use your matching skills to match the shapes to objects around the house.  Go on a shape hunt with the shapes you have made.  Walk around your house, the backyard, the neighbourhood, or a nearby park and look for these shapes.  When you find the same shape, match them and say this is a circle or whatever shape it is you have identified.  Shape posting boxes are a great way to learn about the 3D properties of shapes, as your child has to slot the shapes into the box.
6. Measuring will draw you to the kitchen and here you will find many different ways to learn about measuring.  Let your pre-schooler join in measuring spoons for a cake bake or cups of an ingredient.  There is a wealth of measuring activities here, but supervising young children in the kitchen is essential.  Bath time is another opportunity to experience pouring and measuring.  Have cups and jugs and pouring utensils available for your little one.  Measuring does not have to be in metric measures because you can have fun using your hand as a measuring tool or take steps to measure and count the distances.  The more practical the exercise, the better the absorption of the principle.

Introducing incidental math activities at home leads to a better understanding of the concepts required later on at the formal school level.  Introducing any skill through games is always a win-win situation.

Affordable Screen-Free Activities to Keep your Child Occupied

Finding a balance between screen time and other stimulating activities can be a challenge. Technology today has so much to offer on the entertainment level that it can be difficult to find a balance. However, some of these ideas may help you attack the screen monster head-on without costing a fortune.

7 Screen-Free Ideas for Children

1. A family Games Evening
   Playing games as a family has a great impact on everyone. It is sociable and board games, for example, encourage counting, using money or cards, taking turns and many other skills.
    
2. Scavenger or Treasure Hunt
   Treasure hunts can take place indoors or outdoors.  Make up some clues and have some treasure to hide and away your kids will go.  A scavenger hunt is a little different because you are required to find different objects and bring them back to the starting point of the hunt.  Both these games can be played in teams or pairs or singly.
    
3. Baking and decorating biscuits
   Baking is a great deal of fun for children. Older children can bake the biscuits from scratch. Younger children enjoy decorating ready-made biscuits.  Buy a packet of plain biscuits, icing sugar, sprinkles and any other decorating items. Have fun decorating and serving the biscuits for tea.
    
4. Put on a Magic Show or a Play
   Children love to entertain and spend time practising something to show their parents.  Have some dress-up clothes available or make-up for a drama show. 
    
5. Pack up a picnic and take a friend along
   Here is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon out. Make packing the picnic part of the fun and let your child get everything ready.  Invite a friend to join in too.
    
6. Play musical games
   Play musical games like musical statues, pass the parcel and musical bumps.
   Musical games are good fun to join in.  They encourage listening skills and gross motor exercises. The musical game is both entertaining and good for coordination.
    
7. Look for free shows or exhibits in museums and libraries in your area
   Check your local museums and libraries for any free holiday educational shows.  There may be something on that will interest your children.  These events are sure to be well organised and of great educational benefit.

Practice makes perfect -  Even if you get some resistance from your children, don’t give up.  Getting away from screen time is healthy and rewarding.

6 Ways to Encourage Creativity Indoors

Creativity is a wonderful aspect of childhood development. Encouraging indoor creativity has the advantage of always being available in every kind of weather. The right materials on hand ensure there is always something available to spark your child’s imagination and allow open-ended play.

What is Open-Ended Play?

Understanding the principles of open-ended play will help you set up this approach to creativity.  Open-ended play has no rules, restrictions, or guidelines.  It taps into spontaneous creative play by allowing children to respond to given materials in their own way.  The beauty of open-ended play is children at different levels of development can respond to this form of play.  You as the parent simply put out the materials and guide if you feel the need to or join in, but the more your child is left to their own devices the better.

6 Creative Materials that Spark a Child’s Imagination

• Sensory stash:  use a large container like a basin or plastic storage box.  Fill it with different things to feel like mini pompoms, types of fabric scraps, and plastic tops of different sizes. Feathers, mini cars for boys, or mini dolls for girls.  Anything small and textured. Keep in mind this is not for children who are still putting everything in their mouths.  This stash can be used for sorting, touching and making a collage.
   
• Creativity in a box:  A large cardboard box your child can sit inside will make a great make-believe creation.  Let your child draw inside the box with the materials provided. They can make a house, a car, a ship, or even a rocket to go to the moon.  All you provide is the ‘box' and the colouring pens and pencils.
   
• Fashion, décor and design:  A dress-up box with old clothes, shoes and bags together with cushions and blankets will entertain for hours.  Children love to design their make-believe houses with cushions. Fort building is a great group activity that helps foster pretend play. Children will add their own unique touches to it and once they’re done, they’ll play in it for hours. Children love to make indoor houses with blankets and cushions. Add in some dress-up clothes and there are multiple ideas for creativity through fantasy play.
   
• Cut and paste creative waste: Gather together a collection of waste material your child can create with.      Save toilet rolls, magazines, stickers, newspaper, small boxes and anything you think could be pasted together.  Provide glue, glitter, and colouring materials.  See what your child can create.  This could be a bit messy.  Have a plastic cloth to cover the creative space.
   
• Puppets:  Put puppet characters together in a basket.  Make your own from a brown paper bag or an old sock. Let your child entertain you with a puppet show.
   
• Scribble on scraps:  Provide your child with a container of different types of scrap paper, a card and colouring materials. Rubber stamps and craft scissors or decorative punches all add to the scrap art box.  Top up with some stickers, fancy marking pens and paint if you feel adventurous.  Children of all ages will enjoy this creative activity.

Practice makes Perfect - 
Here’s a good idea to keep your creative activities easy to access and use often.  Store each set of creative items in a large plastic storage box.  Label the box and take out the one you want for the day or take two. At the end of your creative play teach your child how to tidy up and put the playthings away.  Next time you want to be creative the box is good to go.

How to Manage Morning Sickness in the Workplace

One of the challenges of working and finding yourself in the early stages of pregnancy is getting over morning sickness. It is true to say almost 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness. Sometimes this lasts just a short while, but in some cases, it can last several months.

If you are one of the lucky moms-to-be you may feel unwell in the evening, but for most, morning sickness is scheduled for the morning.  Working during early pregnancy can be difficult. You're tired, you're sore, and you're not feeling very well.

Here are 8 suggestions for ways to manage morning sickness at work - 
 

1. Find snacks that work for you
   Sometimes a little nibble or snack that is agreeable can help take the edge off nausea.  Try out dry crackers or pretzels, a high-carb snack may help.  Avoid spicy and greasy foods.  Have some nutritious soup to keep you hydrated and well-nourished at the same time.  There may be a brand of snack bars you enjoy.  Keep them stashed in your drawer for times you may just need something small to get you through the wave of nausea.
    
2. Get plenty of rest after work
   It is very important to feel well-rested and let your body recover from your work schedule. A well-rested body is more able to cope with the stress of not feeling 100% at work.  Give yourself regular breaks at work and move away from your desk if you can during the day.
    
3. Keep away from the office kitchen at peak lunch hours
   You may find at this stage of your pregnancy your sense of smell is heightened and strong smells can set you off on a path of nausea.  Stay away from places where offensive smells may trigger your nausea.
    
4. Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste or mouthwash in your desk/bag
   Having something to keep your mouth fresh is an advantage over the waves of nausea or when the worst happens, and you throw up in the bathroom.  Sometimes strong mints of some gum may just help at the time you feel your worst.
    
5. Keep a box of popsicles or fresh fruit juice in the fridge
   Having something cool and refreshing is a welcomed change during the day. Eating a fresh fruit popsicle can help enormously as being hydrated is important.
    
6. Share the news if you're ready
   Letting your boss know when you are comfortable with sharing the news can help with balancing your work and your early pregnancy struggles.  You may be able to adjust your work schedule or work from home for a while.  Making your status known could help you through the first few months of pregnancy.
    
7. Pack a pregnancy survival Kit
   Feeling nauseous at the office is terrible and worse still is finding yourself in the bathroom vomiting.  Have an emergency kit with some simple toiletries, a change of clothing and something to soothe yourself with.  If you find yourself in the bathroom and struggling to cope at least you have clean clothes and something to freshen up with.  If anyone else is in there at the time they'll speculate you may be pregnant. It might be reassuring to have someone on your side before you have to announce your news to everyone.
    
8. This too shall pass
   Take comfort in the knowledge that morning sickness for most pregnant women passes after the first trimester.  However, if there is no letting up of your struggles consult your doctor.  Pregnancy is a process.  Keep in touch with the medical support you need, and this will be comforting.
    
9. Knowledge is Power
   Reassure yourself of the wonderful things happening inside your body.  When there is a purpose behind your discomfort, and a goal to reach in the end, you may find the whole morning sickness phase not so bad after all.

How to Help your Pre-schooler Learn to Write

Learning to write requires many basic skills and a measure of dexterity to be able to start this process. Teachers and skilled preschool educators will confirm this point of view. Introducing writing skills too soon could lead to more complications.

Start with the primary skills and building blocks to reach confidence with writing tools and the maturity to recognise letters. Little fingers need strengthening and eye-hand coordination is important too.

Follow these fundamental tips and see your child’s confidence grow.  You will recognise steps towards improvement and enjoyment of handwriting if you get the foundation right.

Fundamental Tips for Teaching Pre-schoolers Handwriting

Learning to write, the formation of letters and handling writing tools is a challenge for little fingers.  It requires fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.  These tips help secure confidence and create readiness for further writing skills.

• Play dough:  Help strengthen hand muscles and finger dexterity with play dough.  It is squishy, squashy and is kept in a tub.  You can make your own and have it on hand for good hand and finger exercises.
   
• Tweezers and tongs:  A great way to improve eye-hand coordination is to have a container of small items like little coloured pompoms.  Use tweezers or kitchen tongs to pick up the pompoms and transfer them from one container to another.  Start with larger items and graduate to smaller things like grains of rice.
   
• Finger painting:  Thicken the paint with some starch and put blobs on some paper. Your child will have great fun sliding the paint around on the paper or using an index finger to draw with.  This is messy but fun.
   
• Stacking and threading toys:  There are wonderful stacking toys to build towers or fit inside each other requiring fingers to do the work.  Posting shapes into a shape toy and turning the shape to align it is good exercise too.  Threading chunky beads help eye-hand coordination too.  These exercises are for children who are past-mouthing everything.
   
• Chalk and chalkboards: Have heaps of fun drawing on a chalkboard and rubbing out patterns and starting again. 
   
• Puzzles and a pencil grip:  Find games and puzzles in books that encourage moving a pencil to complete a maze or join the dots.  This requires eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills before writing letters.

Putting it into practice - 

Keep the activities simple and fun.  Join in and do some with your child.  Find out what the preschool expects and doesn’t go beyond their expectations.  Watch and note the side that is your child’s dominant side.   Don’t force them to be left or right-handed.  They may be ambidextrous for a while as they learn how to handle a pencil.

How to Create a Quiet Place for your Kids at Home

Peace and quiet go hand in hand and creating a peaceful place at home is something children will benefit from. This is the place to go to with a book or a favourite toy. It is somewhere cosy and comfortable, a place where loud noises and bouncy people are not welcome.

Specialists evaluating pre-school children emphasise the need, at this phase, to have a quiet retreat space.  The pre-preschooler is experiencing a sensory overload as they respond to all kinds of stimuli. An immature toddler may find all this excitement overwhelming.  Their lack of coping skills often results in temper tantrums.  Little ones can become irritable and defiant in challenging situations.

Movement and highly stimulated physical activities make immature toddlers and pre-preschoolers feel out of control.  They overreact to the excitement, noise and physical interaction. Finding a quiet place to spend some ‘me time’ is so beneficial for your toddler.  Initially, you can join in playing the quiet game and spend time with your child in their quiet space.

The Montessori practise of educating the whole child supports encouraging children to have quiet times.  In her book, ‘ The Secrets of the Child, Discovery of the Child’ Maria Montessori writes: ‘Silence brings us back to ourselves.’  Creating a special place where children learn to enjoy peace and quiet is a valuable activity.

It is important to do this together and to let your child bring in favourite toys, soft pillows and rugs.  The corner could be a corner of their playroom or perhaps you have a big old box to cut out a door and make into a cosy den.  Look out for an indoor teepee or even a big basket to curl up in.  The important thing is the space must be cosy, special and filled with quiet activities.

Initially, your child may be apprehensive about this new space.  Take time to introduce them to the quiet space by spending time there too with a storybook or an activity centred around being peaceful. Quiet music and a simple puzzle are things to enjoy in this special space.

Practice makes Perfect: Here are some quick, practical ideas to motivate your quiet space - 

• Use a cardboard box, tent, or other contained area that is set aside just for the quiet space.
• Set the space up together with the cushions, blankets, rugs and soft toys your child chooses.
• Have some other activities available like puzzles, construction toys, and books.
• At first play at going in and settling down just for a short time.  Build onto that time as your child grows to understand what the quiet space is for.
• Spend time together reading a book.  Choose something at your child’s level.
• When you feel your child is comfortable with this space start to use it before an incident gets out of control.
• Be ready to change some of the toys and games as well as the books from time to time to keep this quiet space interesting.
  
  Learning how to be still and enjoy peace is a life skill.  You will be developing something to enhance your child’s future and they will be grateful.

How to Avoid Bedtime Battles

Today's post is courtesy of Whitney Roban, PhD, a paediatric sleep specialist and wellness educator.

In my Paediatric Sleep Consultancy, the most common sleep issues centre around bedtime. The actual process of falling asleep should take around fifteen to twenty minutes and be a calming way to end the day.  Often it is a time filled with arguments, tears, and battles between parents and children.  It should be a winding down time to the end of each day. 

Parents who have a pre-bedtime routine will find the actual process of getting a child to sleep easier.  Bedtime can be a happy time in every home if parents maintain commitment and consistency towards a routine at bedtime.

10 Tips to Help Kids Get More Sleep and Avoid Bedtime Battles

1. Set an age-appropriate time for bed.  Be consistent with this time
   These recommended hours per age group are good guidelines - 
   Children 1-2 years old need 11 – 14 hours of sleep. 
   Children 3 – 5 years old need 10 – 13 hours of sleep. 
   Children aged 6 – 12 years old need 9 – 12 hours of sleep at night.
   Teenagers 13 – 18 years old need 8 – 10 hours of sleep.
   
   You as the parent decide on the time to go to bed and for the desired amount of sleep to take place.
    
2. Wind down before bedtime
   After dinner is a good time to start winding down any stimulating behaviours such as rough and tumble play, if bath time is relaxing for your child, make that part of the early evening routine. 
   It is also a good idea to dim the lights inside the bedroom.  Soothing music and talking in quiet calming tones help with the mood. 
   
   This is an essential part of the bedtime routine. Cease the use of electronic devices at least one hour before bedtime.
    
3. Create a sleep environment in your child’s room
   Make sure the room is quiet, dark, safe, and non-stimulating.  If the room was a play area before bedtime, make sure all the toys have been packed away.  A cuddly toy or two may be a comfort in bed. 
    
4. Prepare for bedtime
   Be prepared with everything that you and your child will need for the bedtime routine before you begin. This will prevent you or your child from leaving the room once bedtime has officially begun.
    
5. Put digital clocks in your living room and the child’s bedroom
   Talk about the time and when the hand reaches a number it is your time to go to sleep.  Having a concrete way for a child to see that it is time to go to sleep gives the child a sense of control over the bedtime experience.  Little ones who can not read the time could have a clock with the numbers represented by an animal and when the hand of the clock points to that animal it is time for bed.
    
6. Create a brief, consistent, and non-stimulating bedtime routine
   Bedtime routines lower the anxiety levels of both children and adults, as everyone knows what is going to come next. A bedtime routine may consist of supper, bath, books, cuddle time, and bed.
    
7. Remember this is a routine.  Aim to start at almost the same time every evening and factor in the same routine events
   The actual bedtime part comes at the end of the bath and supper part. This is the going to sleep end of the getting ready for bed.  It is short and sweet with some dental hygiene and some comforting time as you tuck your child up in bed.  A few minutes to give positive feedback about their day or a short story and a moment of thanksgiving or a goodnight prayer.  Then let your child know they are safely tucked up in bed and it is time to say good night.
    
8. Try to train your children to go down at night in an awake state
   The routine ends in bed while they are awake.  Relaxed, calm and ready to put themselves to sleep.  Your child should be aware of you leaving the room and be able to soothe themselves to sleep peacefully.  Children who can put themselves to sleep after the comforting routine will sleep better.
    
9. For older children, make sure that bedtime conversation is focused on positive and happy thoughts
   You can add the “the best part of my day was” topic to your nightly talks before sleep. Try to have a daytime ‘share your cares’ opportunity during the day or at bath time.  Your child should know that you will be available to discuss fears and anxieties, but bedtime is reserved for a talk focused on things that make us smile.
    
10. Create a sleep routine reward chart
    Sometimes a rewards chart helps to capture all your expectations in one place with a reward at the end if they follow the routine. You can create a sticker chart and list the elements of the routine. The tidy up, bath, toothbrushing and hopping into bed at the end of the day could be listed on the chart.  Following the chart leads to a reward at the end of the week based on keeping to the routine.  You can decide on the reward.

Putting it into Practice - 

Remember this is a routine and by following it regularly you will instil good bedtime behaviour in your child. When you say it is bedtime the ritual should be the pattern that follows. Have a goodnight rhyme or final word that signals the end of the routine. 

‘Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the bugs bite!’ is often said in families to sign off for the night. Try a special kiss or a lullaby song as your last interaction.

How to choose the Best Books for Babies and Preschoolers.

It is never too early to choose books to read with your baby. Books are a great source of visual, auditory and cognitive stimulation.

Settling down with a book to share with your baby brings comfort and contact between the two of you. It is the beginning of a whole genre of entertainment and appreciation of our world.

How, then, do you choose books for a baby?

Firstly, they need to be made of sustainable material. Board books, cloth books, picture books, pop-up books and rhyming books are all appealing to babies and toddlers.

Newborns see things in black and white and there are books for their needs. Set in a concertina style they can open up and often have simple pictures on either side of the book as it opens.

Older babies respond more visually to books and colours and high-contrast images. Activity books with pictures that stimulate the senses like ‘touch and feel’ books are a great way to start interacting with your baby and a book.

Look for titles like these with content surrounding the world of a toddler. They relate to their own bodies and objects close at hand. Books with sensory activities are good options for this age.

One Foot, Two Feet.
Written and illustrated by Peter Maloney and Felicia Zekauskas:
This counting-to-ten book introduces numbers and shows one object — a foot, a mouse, a goose — compared to a group of that same object. A simple approach to the concept of one and many.

Touch Think Learn: Shapes.
Written by Xavier Deneux: 
A colourful, interactive book that takes babies on a hands-on, shape-filled adventure. As you read, you can help your baby trace each shape with his or her finger.

I Like Vegetables.
Written and illustrated by Lorena Siminovich: 

The touch-and-feel exploration of vegetables is just at the right level of understanding for early book lovers. Explore vegetables of different shapes and colours. Your baby will learn about opposites and discover each vegetable’s texture in this touch-and-feel book.

Little Bitty Friends.
Written by Elizabeth McPike; illustrated by Patrice Barton: 

The rhyming verses and bright illustrations will help introduce your baby to language concepts and elements of the natural world. Read about ants, a caterpillar, and flowers in this delightful nature book.

Thank You!
Written and illustrated by Ethan Long: 

“Bark, bark!” “Hum, hum!” You will spend a happy time together learning how animals say ‘thank you' in their own special way. The cartoon-like pictures of animals saying “thank you” will encourage your baby to hear many different animal sounds.

Tuck Me In!
Written by Dean Hacohen, illustrated by Sherry Scharschmidt: 

Tuck Me In’ is a great book to read with your little one before bedtime. Go through each page with your baby and fold over the blankets until all of the animals — the zebra, peacock, hedgehog, and more — are ready to go to sleep.

As your baby gets older, allow him or her to help you fold the blankets over. Tuck Me In’ is a delightful book encouraging fine motor skills and a chance to learn different animal names.

Peck, Peck, Peck.
Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins:

Babies will enjoy the bright colors and illustrations throughout this book. Then there is the added fun activity of sticking their fingers through the holes made by pecking woodpeckers.

Me Baby, You Baby.
Written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff:

Rhyming phrases create a story of two mothers and their babies off on an adventure and visit to the zoo. Rhyming books are great ways to encourage a love of language and the sound of words.

Machines at Work.
Written and illustrated by Byron Barton:

Machines at Work is a simple introduction to construction vehicles. It includes bold illustrations of big machines, a lot of colour, and just a few words per page. It is a great way for boys and girls to enjoy big diggers and trucks.
 

Reading with your child is a special bonding experience. It boosts brain and language development and sparks an interest in books, too. Start with some of these books and as your experience grows, add on new titles that inspire a love of books. Following are a few book recommendations for preschool children.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Written and illustrated by Eric Carle:

The rhythmic language and lots of repetition make The Very Hungry Caterpillar a great book for babies and young children. The small babies will enjoy listening to you read and look at the pictures. The book is about a caterpillar that has had a never-ending appetite for food since birth. The moral story of this book is that change is inevitable in life and is the only constant and we need to adapt to change. It is a perfect addition to your child’s book collection.

The Gruffalo.
Written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler:

When Mouse takes a stroll through the woods, he meets a fox, an owl, and a snake who all want to eat him! So Mouse invents a Gruffalo, a monster with "terrible tusks and terrible claws, terrible teeth, and terrible jaws." But will Mouse's frightful description be enough to scare off his foes? After all, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo . . . is there? 

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury:

A family embarks on an exciting adventure to find a bear. On their journey, the family encounters many different terrains. They slide down a grassy slope, splash through a deep cold river, sludge through thick oozy mud, stumble through a deep dark forest, and walk through a swirling snowstorm. The family eventually reaches a narrow, gloomy cave where they come face to face with a bear, who chases them all the way back home.

The repetitive patterns encourage children to join in, and the simple story line makes it the perfect choice for working on children’s sequencing and narrative retelling skills. Basic descriptive language is modelled throughout the story, allowing children to improve their story retells through the use of adjectives.

The Day the Crayons Quit.
Written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers:

An imaginative story that will have children laughing and playing with their crayons in a whole new way. Poor Duncan just wants to colour in. But when he opens his box of crayons, he only finds letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown, Blue needs a break from colouring in all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow no longer speak to each other. The battle lines have been drawn. What is Duncan to do?

Dear Zoo.
Written and illustrated by Rod Campbell:

In Dear Zoo a child writes a letter to the zoo asking them to send them a pet. What zoo animal would you like as a pet? Maybe it is an elephant, a lion, or a frog. As the story unfolds, we discover that some animals are just not suitable as a pet. The ending will be a huge surprise.

The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
Written and illustrated by Judith Kerr:

The classic picture book story of Sophie and her extraordinary teatime guest has been loved by millions of children since it was first published more than fifty years ago. The doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don't expect to see at the door is a big furry, stripy tiger! This warm and funny picture book story is perfect for reading aloud or for small children to read to themselves time and again.

Tips on how to be a 'Long-Distance' Grandparent.

In today’s world of families living far apart, grandparents often find they do not see as much of their grandchildren as they would like to. Thanks to modern technology and some creative ideas grandparents can build a long distance relationship with their grandchildren.

Try these 5 ways to build a bond from afar and be part of your grandchild’s life.

1. Face Time:
2. Special visits:
3. Picture Perfect:
4. Story Time:
5. Make use of phone apps.

1. Face Time.

Take advantage of technology on your mobile phone or computer. This will depend on the facilities you have and how comfortable you are with some technology. A regular Face Time where you can share your news and hear what your grandchild has been up to, is an invaluable communication tool. Don’t wait to start this quality time together. If your grandchild is not ready to participate, it will be a chance to hear your voice and see your face. Keep the time short and sweet for the best results. Children do not have a long span of concentration.

2. Special visits. 

Visiting is more feasible for some grandparents than others. However, when you are able to visit, make sure you make the most of the time together. You, as the grandparent can make all the complimentary noises and positive affirmation little ones thrive on. Organise some great outings to build up a memory bank and capture the time on camera. Put the memories together into an album or create a photo book your grandchild will enjoy reading.

3. Picture Perfect.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and that is so true of the pictures you share with your grandchild. Exchange pictures of you doing your favourite things and ask your family to share the ones of your grandchild you are sure to enjoy.

Hand drawn pictures from your little grandchild are often works of art you like to treasure. Start a gallery of pictures in your home. Ask your family to send pictures on the phone and you can have them printed and hang up in a grandparents gallery.

4. Story Time. 

Stories are a wonderful medium to communicate with your grandchildren. Read and record a story for your grandchild or make up one about you. Create a story around one of your photographs. Pretend to read ‘The Daily News’ like a reporter and have a funny weather report.

You can create a picture book for your child that includes the names and photos of all of their family members. Go through the book and point to the faces and read their names for recognition. Include family pets and scenes from around your home.

5. Make use of Phone Apps.

Phones today have become full of a variety of communication tools. There is an app. for just about everything. Once you have overcome your reservations about technology you will enjoy these different apps that allow you to have personal and touching relationship with your grandchildren. An app recommended recently is called Touchnote. This app is recommended for more senior phone users! Your children can create the app and use it as a forum to share photos, news and even school events. You will feel via the app that you are a part of your grandchild’s day to day life. Your grandchild can feel the same as you send some snippets of your daily event too.

Take away tip:
Be proactive and start simple with one of the suggestions. When you have found your feet choose the idea you like the best and persevere with that one. When keeping your grandparent communication from a distance, being consistent is key to its success.

Sharing is Caring! How do you Teach your child to share?

“I want, I want, I want” are familiar words from an early age. How do you begin to turn off the ‘Í want button’ and introduce an attitude of sharing and caring?

How do young children learn how to share with others?

Here are the top ten suggestions to encourage sharing:

10 WAYS TO TEACH SHARING TO TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS.

1. Share with your child.

Be a good role model. Children learn from the examples they see. Share some of your favourite treats with your child and make a point of saying what you are doing so they associate the words with the action.

2. Initiate social situations.

Organise outings where some interaction with others will be part of the day. Visit a playground or take part in a children’s museum adventure. Encourage your child to share sandbox toys with others, and take turns on the swings and outdoor equipment. Encourage your child to work in a group and
to do a science experiment or art project with other children.

3. Teach your child to take turns. 

Start with a quick back-and-forth activity. Little games like rolling or tossing a ball back and forth teach your child how taking turns works. While you are playing the game, say - “your turn” and “my turn” whenever each of you has the ball.
Board and card games are great for learning to take turns, too.

4. Read Stories about Sharing.
 
There are some delightful books available about sharing.
Look for titles like:
‘Should I Share my Ice cream?’ by Mo Willems.
‘Norris the Bear who Shared.’ by Catherine Rayner.
‘I can Share,’ a lift the flap book by Karen Kaye.
Read the story and talk about the characters and how they shared and cared for others. 

5. Sharing food.

Sharing portions of food like pizza is a great way to teach children how to give everyone a fair share. Let your child share out fruit slices or biscuits at teatime. Sharing food makes the action a real experience.
Not only will this help reinforce sharing, but it’s also a great math activity, too.

6. Keep in time and make music. 

Tap out a tune on the xylophone and encourage your child to take a turn with the drum or the tambourine. Make your own maracas with some dried beans in a plastic bottle. Add in a drum beat and soon, you will have a big band sound going together.

7. Build something and tidy up together.
Share some blocks with each other and take turns to build a tower. Make and break up a puzzle together. When it’s time to put everything away, take turns putting toys back into the toy basket and share the task of tidying up.

8. Allocate “off limits” and “fair game” toys.

Your child may have a special toy or teddy that is their personal favourite. While you are still getting them to understand the concept of sharing, it might be easier to put this particular toy away before you have visitors.

Be sure to work with your child ahead of time to designate things that will be fair game and give choices — “Would you rather share your teddy bear or your stuffed dog?”

Remember there must be some sharing and help your child to understand sharing does not mean the other child will take the toy away. They, too, are sharing the toys.

9. Let them figure it out.

You do not have to resolve every difference your child may have with another over-sharing. Stand back and let your child try to solve their own differences. Listen for negotiation, and if it’s time to add your two cents, try to guide their conversation by encouraging them to work together or take turns.

10. Point out the positives.

Positive affirmation is always a plus factor. Look for situations where you can add a positive comment about your child’s willingness to share. Say things like, “You shared your toy — look how happy you made your friend” and “Thank you for letting me use your crayons…they helped me make this
pretty picture.”

Learning to share is a life skill that will encourage empathy and kindness toward others. These learned behaviours take time to perfect. A patient and caring attitude from parents is a good starting block. Persevere with building this skill and you will reap the benefits as you see how caring your child is of others.

How to Take a Break from the Office When you Work from Home

Working from home is very challenging. It requires self-discipline and more focus on the job you are doing. Interruptions of all kinds come your way and getting back into work mode is not always easy. Trying to distinguish between work and home can be difficult and the lines between the two areas can become blurred.

Here are 8 tips to help make the necessary changes to be able to face this challenge and transition from work life to home life - 
 

1. Set out a time schedule for yourself.  Obviously working from home gives you flexibility.  However, without the discipline of a time schedule, you will not find the balance you need.  It will be difficult to say when work ends and relaxation begins.
    
2. Factor in some errands or household chores to break the schedule. Using some home life scenarios as breaks will help you feel grateful for the flexibility of working from home.
    
3. Set up a google calendar or online work schedule to share with work colleagues or other friends who may be working from home.  This makes you look and feel more professional.  Leaving the office may not be a physical walking out, but a mental closing down time.
    
4. Get ready to go to work and at pack-up time or break time have a proper break. Take a walk outside, make yourself a snack, text a friend, or read something different from your work situation.
    
5. Try to have a workspace.  The ideal would be a room for your office.  If this is not possible try to screen off your workspace.  It will make sure you can differentiate between home time and work time.
    
6. Take a walk or move around out of the office area.  Sign up for an online exercise class and walk or dance to music.  It is important to take time out from your computer screen if you work on a computer at home.  Shut down when it is time and put some time and distance between you and the computer.
    
7. Have a proper lunch break.  Keeping the routine and walking away from the office space will give you the feeling that you are getting out of the office and having a nutritious lunch is important.  Don’t eat in front of your computer because your body will not feel it has had a break.
    
8. The most significant part of balancing work and home is to avoid the temptation to check work emails or conversations after hours.  Do not take work-orientated communication to bed. The end of your work day needs a firm boundary in place and leaving the office means packing away all work-related things. You need to create a barrier between workspace and home space.

Put it into practice - 

The most significant part of the transition from work at home to home is probably the schedule.  Having a timetable or schedule allows you to be kind to yourself and respect the boundaries you have put in place.  Knowing it's OK to leave your office and have a snack or a break and then finally close down at the end of the day.  The schedule enables you to mentally move between home and work, at home.

Having a child is Life changing. 10 ways having a child turns your life around.

Children change lives. You may be a president or just one of the crowd, but when you raise a child, you will face life-changing moments.

Oprah Winfrey said:

“Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.” (Or father). 

The time and effort that is dedicated to having a child is the life-changing part of the process of parenting.  Life gets busy and you are bound to feel the changes going on around you.  Here are some of those life-changing events you can expect.

1.Time and how you use it will take on new meaning.  

Time is no longer about you and what you would like to do.  There are many things to factor into the twenty-four hours you have in your day.  Your schedule will change, making time to go out will change. Bedtimes and playtimes, feeding times and recreation ties will all take on new meaning as you factor in a child.  It is not all doom and gloom!  No there will be fun times, family times and times of great pride, but there will be new meaning to all those times.

2. Planning and organising your day is an important factor.  

You will need to change your routine and priorities to fit in with the new person in your life.  Getting a routine organised is a very helpful part of your parenting journey.  Learn to be flexible, but always try to be organised.

3. Your sleep patterns will change for a while. 

 A new baby may wake you in the night as you establish night feeds and a sleep routine.  Be prepared for some interrupted sleep.  Make use of maternity leave, eager grandparents and the support of your partner if you can while you are managing your new sleep patterns.

4. You will see the world through different eyes, the eyes of a parent. 

 Your senses will be alerted to danger.  You may feel more cautious and full of responsibility, but at the same time, you will be filled with wonder at the little details seen through the eyes of a child.  You will appreciate the wonder of nature and the joy of family times.

5. Entertainment will need readjusting.  

Your new baby will keep you amused as they reach their different milestones.  Babies grow to be toddlers, preschoolers and go to primary school too.  Each step of the way, there is different forms of entertainment. You are there to watch them grow, play sport, take part in different activities and all the while you are enjoying this new form of entertainment.

6. Relationships with others will change.  

You are a parent.  This responsibility changes your life with your partner and how you manage your home life.  Family, especially your parents, will have a different role to play.  Friends, work colleagues and neighbours will all have a new way of interacting with you.  

7. Safety and security will become more important.

It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure your child is well taken care of.  You will adjust with each phase and become alerted to different dangers as your child grows more confident.

8. Home economics will change. 

You may become more fussy about food and less conscientious about being neat and tidy.  Keeping up with a busy toddler may mean coming to some compromise here and there in your home environment while your child is little.

9. Decision-making is taken on a different level.  

Every decision is made with your family in mind.  Moving house, buying a car, going on holiday. Going to a new school and even the clothes you wear will take on new meaning.

10. Your heart will soften.

Your heart will melt at the slightest hint of a smile and you will feel an overwhelming sense of pride as your little one reaches their milestones growing up.  Laughter, tears and all the responsibility rolled into one is how the new child changes your life.  

Practical hint:

Appreciate the little things that mean a lot.  Keep a journal of the times you made special memories together.  One day you will look back on the moments you treasured and delight in the way your child changed your life.

Baby Sign Language- 12 Signs to Try at Home

Imagine the absolute joy you would feel if you could talk to your baby.

Did you know that communicating with your baby, not talking but interacting, is completely possible? You can learn some basic baby sign language. Then with some simple hand gestures, you will be able to start to sign to your child. Babies are not ready for spoken language, but they are able to communicate through some basic signs. You may notice your baby starting to wave bye-bye or clap hands to show appreciation. These are common signs that children learn at a very young age.

Here are 12 basics for you to try.

1. Mom.
   This simple hand sign is easy to learn. Use one hand, and spread the hand open. Hold your hand close to your face.  Hold your pinkie finger out and tap your thumb to your chin.
    
2. Dad.
   When you want to make a dad sign, you hold your hand up with your fingers spread apart. Hold your pinkie facing forward and put the top of your thumb on your forehead.
    
3. Yes.
   Say yes by making a fist and then fold your wrist down and bob your fist up and down. This looks like a nodding head.
    
4. No.
   You can always shake your head or wag your finger.  However, there is a sign that means no.  It takes three fingers. The thumb, index finger and middle finger.  Quickly snap them together, that says ‘no!’
    
5. Play.
   Everyone wants to play and so a sign for that is important. You make this sign by clenching your fists. Let your thumb and little finger stick out and wave your wrist by twisting it back and forwards.
    
6. Sleep.
   After all that playtime, perhaps you need to sleep. Make the sleeping sign by holding one hand over your eye with the fingers spread out. Then glide your hand down the side of your face. Bring your fingers down slowly until your fingers and thumb touch your chin.
    
7. Drink.
   Being able to ask for something to drink when you are thirsty is a good survival sign. The sign for drink copies the action of drinking from a cup. Curve your hand into a c shape and lift it to your lips. You could add some variety to your sign with some slurping noises or lips smacking in appreciation.
    
8. Milk.
   Babies drink milk and the sign for this is holding up your hand and putting your fingers into a fist. Then keep the thumb and little finger down and raise the middle three fingers to sign for milk. The fingers look like the three strokes used to make the letter m.
    
9. Food or wanting to eat.
   Flatten all your fingers onto your thumb and bring these fingertips up to your mouth. This sign could be added to with some yum yum sounds of enjoying food. 
    
10. If you are still hungry. 
    Here is a way to ask for more with sign language. Put your thumbs and fingers together on each hand to make an o shape. Tap the two o’s together a few times to indicate you want more.
     
11. Bath time.
    When it’s time for a bath and getting washed, then here is the way to sign.  Make fists of both your hands and rub them on your chest like scrubbing your body in a bath.
     
12. Help.
    Imagine if your baby could ask you for help instead of feeling frustrated and angry.  The sign for help is a fist on the one hand with the thumb extended and a flat hand with the other hand. Move both hands up the body together to indicate help is needed.

Don’t worry about sign language leading to delays in speech. There is no indication of that happening. Learning sign language is just a tool that helps with communication and releases some of the frustration associated with the pre-language stage. Think of this like crawling and standing. They are pre-walking skills and help your baby to become mobile without taking away from learning how to walk. Learning sign does the same for communication and boosts your baby’s understanding of communication.

Babies show when they are becoming more sociable with their interaction via gurgling, babbling and making eye contact with you. When you see this behaviour, they may be ready for signing. Choose easy signs and try them often while saying the word and demonstrating the sign. Always use the same sign. When you see your baby use the sign, then offer lots of positive reinforcement. Clapping your hands together is a sign of appreciation. Well done! 
 

Boredom Busters For Kids

I am bored there is nothing to do! These words ring loud warning bells for parents and alert them that it is time to find something for children to do. Many children do not want to be pushed away with a response that is boring, like find a toy or a book to read. No, children today want some action and they hope their parents will provide it.

I am bored there is nothing to do!

These words ring loud warning bells for parents and alert them that it is time to find something for their children to do. Many children do not want to be pushed away with a response that is boring, like find a toy or a book to read. No, children, today want some action and they hope their parents will provide it.

It is not always easy to come up with exciting ideas, but here are 10 suggestions of things you can try at home. These activities do not involve computers or any form of screen time.  

Here are 10 suggestions of fun, creative and activity-based things you can try at home - 

1. Organise a scavenger hunt.

This is a great activity to play inside or outside. You need to make a list of the things to be collected and give each child a box or basket to collect the items in. Make sure beforehand that the objects to collect are all visible because you don’t want your scavenger hunters to tear your 
house or your garden apart. Make the hunt more challenging by setting a time limit with a timer.

Another interesting idea is to give the children a matchbox and tell them this is a mini scavenger hunt. There is no list, but they must find as many things as they can that must fit into the matchbox. The child with the most things wins the prize.

2. Have a picnic party.

Organise a simple picnic to have in the garden or even inside if the weather is not great. Put out juice to drink and some goodies to eat. Play some party games during the picnic party, like musical bumps or hide and go seek. Pass the parcel is another enjoyable game for everyone. Make pass the parcel more fun by hiding extra prizes between the different layers of paper. In that way everyone gets something.

3. Play board games.

There are so many wonderful board games to choose from and entertain children of all ages. They will learn counting and sharing skills too. Board games and card games are entertaining for the whole family. Your children like it when you join in and play the game with them if you have the time.

4. Try some easy science experiments at home.

There are many great ideas to try at home with household ingredients. You need to supervise this activity, but it will be fun to see the children’s reactions.

Here are some suggestions:

Make invisible ink with lemon juice.

Try to make slime with borax and glue.

Make a lemon fizz with food colouring dropped onto a sliced lemon. Add a little baking soda prinked onto a sliced lemon. Watch the fizz reaction.

Make non-sticky putty from cornstarch and dish soap.

5. Have a ‘baker-baker’ morning.

Depending on your child’s age and ability in the kitchen, make arrangements to have baking activities. This could just be icing ready-made biscuits or store-bought cupcakes. You may want to make your own cookie dough and cut and create your own biscuits. Mix colourful icing and have some biscuit décor like sprinkles and silver bobbles to finish the decorating. Then everyone can enjoy a teatime treat.

6. Dress up and act out.

A dress-up box full of fancy dress clothes, shoes and bags and scarves too, is a great way to entertain at home. Kids love to dress up and then even produce their own plays for your enjoyment. They can mime to songs or dance to music. You can teach older children how to play charades.

7. Make a tent indoors and camp in it.

Children love to get creative with old blankets and sheets and make a tent or den inside. Let them drape blankets over a table and have a camp-in experience. They will love creating the tent and dragging their bedding or some sleeping bags to pretend to be camping there.

8. Organise a treasure hunt.

A simple hunt for some items spread around the house is a fun indoor activity, or you can take the treasure hunt outside. Younger children respond to picture clues, while older children can read little rhymes or written clues to find the spot where the next clue is hidden. When all the clues are found and they have the treasure.

9. Search and rescue.

This is another challenge for children who love to find things. You can hide cut out hearts and tell the children they need to find however many you have hidden. When they are found, another child takes a turn to hide the hearts.

10. Artistic Freedom

Put out a roll of butcher block paper. Unroll as many feet as you can use in the space you have. This is your artists canvass. Supply the artists with markers, stencils, stickers, stamps and stars. Depending on the age of the children, add water paints and pastels. Give the artists freedom to create and see how many little Picassos you have in your household.

Hopefully, with these suggestions, you will not have to hear those three annoying little words - I am bored- in your house ever again.  You will be well-equipped with some brilliant ideas to save the day from boredom.
 

Kido Preschool @ Home

We're thrilled to bring you a complete Kido preschool experience at home. Weekly activities across Literacy, STEM, Math, Art and Physical Development, complete with video guides and worksheets!

Kido's Preschool at Home program is developed for parents who want that something little extra for their children to do at home. Now you don't need to scour the internet for age-appropriate learning activities for your child or spend hours going through YouTube videos to select appropriate activities.

The program is designed by our curriculum team, specifically to be delivered at home. Our proprietary worksheets have been made available for you and your child to do at home, and over 1,000 activity guide videos have been specifically recorded for the program, so you don't have to do the work! 

All you need is 20-30 minutes each day with your child, and learning activities will ensure that your child is developing across the key areas of Literacy, Math, STEM, Art and Physical development. And of course, doing these with your child is invaluable bonding time for both of you!

Take a look under the Programs section and try out some of the activities. The learning plans will be released on a monthly basis for the next four weeks at a time.