This post may contain affiliate links. I am all about some simple play activities; especially for babies with short attention spans! I did each activity shown here with my almost one year old. As always, you are the expert on your child. Please carefully supervise and use your best judgement for any activities! I also want to say that any of these activities can be done with your child at any time during the year! I just made them valentine themed since it is February! So without further ado, here are three easy valentine baby play ideas: Related Post: Lucky Duck Valentine Printable Pom Sorting EK just loves just putting things in bowls, baskets and drawers. I found ... Read More about Valentine Baby Play Ideas
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Ask a Disability Advocate
This post may contain affiliate links. Today's Ask the Expert post is one that is so close to my heart. When I was in high school I volunteered at an early childhood education center. In the classroom I volunteered in, there was a little girl with a variety of specials needs. The first day I was there another little boy in the classroom was trying to tell me about this child. "Her brain doesn't work the same," he told me. I thought that was a really profound thing for a four year old child to say about one of his peers. He said it in the kindest way possible and almost told me in a way to protect her. That tiny conversation made me realize how crucial it is for us as teachers and ... Read More about Ask a Disability Advocate
Lucky Duck Valentine
It's hard to believe that Valentine's Day is this week! Valentine's Day is one of my all time favorite holidays! It's such a sweet day to spread love and kindness to friends and family. Last week a sweet friend asked me to help make valentines for her child's class. I created this Lucky Duck Valentine gift tag to go with some plastic ducks that she had already purchased. It was so simple and turned out so cute that I wanted to share it with you, too! Related Post: February Toddler Activities Directions for Lucky Duck Valentine Cards: Related Post: Easy Valentine Card for Kids Other Non-Edible Valentine Gift Ideas: Related Post: Valentine's Day Books for ... Read More about Lucky Duck Valentine
Ask an Online Party Planner
This post may contain affiliate links. I hope that you are loving our new Ask the Expert blog series! As a mom and a teacher, it can sometimes feel like you need to know it all. It's overwhelming; but the truth is that there are so many amazing people out there who can make life easier for you. Each week I will be featuring an expert that relates to life with children. I will also be giving you a chance to anonymously ask your questions to each expert! Watch for my IG stories each week announcing the expert and to submit your questions! This week's expert is, Allison Carter. Allison is an online party planner and the host of a popular podcast! I was so glad to talk to her before ... Read More about Ask an Online Party Planner
Ideas for Celebrating National School Counseling Week
Did you know National School Counseling Week is celebrated the first full week of February? School counselors play such an important role in our school community! Let's show them how much they are loved and appreciated for National School Counseling Week! Here are a few ideas for celebrating your school counselor for National School Counseling Week! This post contains affiliate links and I may be compensated for your purchase. This won’t cost you anything but helps to offset the costs of running this website to help parents and teachers like you! How to Celebrate Your School Counselor Here are a few ways to make your school counselor feel extra special this week! Make a ... Read More about Ideas for Celebrating National School Counseling Week
Ask a Speech-Language Pathologist
This post may contain affiliate links. One thing I am rolling out this year is an Ask the Expert blog series! As a mom and a teacher, it can sometimes feel like you need to know it all. It's overwhelming; but the truth is that there are so many amazing people out there who can help answer your questions about the changing needs of your child. Each week I will be featuring an expert that relates to life with children. I will also be giving you a chance to anonymously ask your questions to each expert! Watch for my IG stories each week announcing the expert and to submit your questions! This week's expert is, Shelby Hansen. Shelby is a nationally board and state certified speech-language ... Read More about Ask a Speech-Language Pathologist
A Letter to My Almost One Year Old
To My Almost One Year Old: It seems hard to believe that you have only been here a year. I can't remember how the world felt without you in it. I think you've been in my heart forever. How did I start my day without kissing your precious little face at least a hundred times? How did I sleep without the hum of the sound machine over the baby monitor? Did I really ever leave the house without a bag this big and full of random necessities? I never understood the posts I would see all over social media from other moms crying over their baby turning a year old. I would think: It's just a birthday. What's the big deal? Then one day it was me. I suddenly I found myself quietly crying ... Read More about A Letter to My Almost One Year Old
I Love You to Pieces Printable Valentine Card
This "I Love You to Pieces" Printable Valentine Card is just the cutest! It's simple, easy to make and you probably already have everything that you need! It's a wonderful valentine to make with a classroom of students or at home! Related Post: 25 Super Simple Toddler Play Ideas Why you'll love this valentine craft This "I love you to pieces!" printable card is such an easy valentine's card to make! It's the perfect card to send to far-away family or friends! It can be enjoyed by people of all ages too! If you pre-cut the paper, even babies and toddlers can enjoy making it too! Tearing paper is also wonderful for strengthening fine motor skills! Related Post: February ... Read More about I Love You to Pieces Printable Valentine Card
Hot Chocolate Play Dough
This post may contain affiliate links. I feel like I should start this post by telling you I am NOT a cook. If you ever see anything on this blog that involves ingredients or cooking; it will be a super simple recipe. Because that's honestly all I am capable of. This hot chocolate play dough is SO easy and involves no real cooking, I promise! It's the best to make on a cold day and add your child's play kitchen for extra fun! Ingredients: ½ cup cocoa powder 1 cup flour 2 tablespoons cream of tarter 2 table spoons vegetable oil ½ cup salt 1 ½ cup of boiling water Directions Boil 1 ½ cups of water. I just used the microwave for this because again, I can't cook. Mix ... Read More about Hot Chocolate Play Dough
Space Learning Ideas
Kids love learning about space and they always have so many questions. Most of which I don't know the answer to! Space is not my area of expertise. I have to answer many of them with, "I'm not sure. You should research that!" Here are a few space learning ideas to get you started at home or in the classroom! The Moon The moon is a great place to start the learning! Why? It's something concrete that littles can actually see and watch the different phases! Create a moon log with your class or family and watch the moon over the course of the month. Print out this moon log and just add black construction paper and a white crayon or colored pencil! If you are doing this in a classroom, ... Read More about Space Learning Ideas
Read Aloud Tips for Parents
This post may contain affiliate links. You know that reading aloud to your child is super important already, right? Because it's really, really, really important. Reading should be a fun activity and a time that both you AND your child look forward to daily. Here are my some of my best read aloud tips for parents. Get silly. One of my idols, Mem Fox says this in her book, Reading Magic: "The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a chid, a book, and the person reading. It isn't achieved by the book alone, nor by the child alone, nor by the adult who's reading aloud-it's the relationship winding between all three, bringing them together in easy harmony." ... Read More about Read Aloud Tips for Parents
Sticker Activities
This post may contain affiliate links. We are all looking for quick, easy, no prep and FUN activities to do with little ones! That's why sticker activities are a favorite! Stickers are inexpensive, easy to find and no mess. Plus, they are SO great for working those teeny tiny finger muscles and strengthening fine motor skills! Anytime students were struggling with cutting or writing, I always recommended stickers! The possibilities of sticker activities are endless, but here are a few super easy ones to get you started! Write a sticker story. This was a favorite with both my kindergarteners and first grade students! Let students create a picture with sticker and then they can ... Read More about Sticker Activities