I can still vividly remember a conversation I had about a year ago with the Mitchell family as they told me about one of the newest advances in the medical world. It's not a pill or a cure, but it is lifesaving. I sat in awe as they explained to me about a dog that could help their daughter's diabetes. My mind was completely blown! I had heard of seeing eye dogs, but I had never heard of a dog View Post
The Importance of Sensory Play
Don't you just love how it feels to dip your fingers in a bin of rice?! My hands feel as though they are saying "ahhh." While playing in rice and other sensory items feels great, it is also so important! Little ones especially need it, and it is incredibly beneficial for them to have daily sensory experiences. This doesn't have to be fancy or involve 10-30 minutes to prepare. While colored rice or View Post
Dance ‘N Beats: Dancing for Young Children
I love the power of music with young children! Not only do we love to sing and dance because it is fun but because it is one of the best ways to learn. When I am trying to teach my children a new concept or idea, I always light up when I find that "perfect song" to go with what we are studying or interested in. Most recently I ran across a "new to me" and super fun DVD music series made by View Post
Should Your Child Be Potty Trained by Three?
What age should children be fully potty trained? This veteran preschool teacher may surprise you when you hear the answer! If you've done any research on putting your child into preschool, you may have noticed that many preschools require a child to be potty trained. Sometimes I wonder if I live in the preschool potty training Mecca or if it's like this everywhere else. View Post
Easter Egg Music Shakers — Just Playing?
When children creatively use objects with meaning and purpose completely on their own, that is one of my ultimate joys! I'm going to share about our child-made Easter egg music shakers. This is also a great alternative if you prefer to put something that is not candy into Easter eggs. I am completely convinced that pea gravel is the ultimate sensory experience for kids! It is the most used View Post
Ice Cube Mold Ideas and Activities for Kids
It's no secret that I adore ice cube molds! Some of the greatest activities with children come from the simplest items, and this is no exception. Ice cube trays and molds as well as silicon molds are very versatile, and they make for amazing play activities. There is a super affordable selection from IKEA, and the Dollar Store has seasonal ones that we use on a regular basis too. We have a growing View Post
Play-Based Learning: Why it Matters
Learning through play may seem like casual play, but the truth is that it is an art! For the longest time, I tried to figure out what "learning through play" meant. Some thoughts that ran through my head were: Is it structured? Does it involve planning? What is the role of the teacher or adult? Are children really learning? Don't get me wrong, I learned about it in college, but View Post
Lacing Bead Drop: “Just Playing?”
"The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a playground." G. K. Chesterton This week I am joining up with a blog hop called "Just Playing?" I encourage you to visit a couple (or even all) of the links below by some incredible bloggers who understand the power of play in children. We are all examining the importance of "just playing" and asking you to View Post
Hands-On Easter Activity for Preschoolers
Have you ever wondered how to teach young children about Easter? The Easter story is undoubtedly a foundation and anchor in our family, but at the same time, it is absolutely R-rated. This week I had the great privilege of guest posting for True Aim, and I give my mother/teacher perspective on what is important about Easter and what you may want to leave for later. Just click on this link: Make View Post
Butterfly Diorama
One of my favorite concepts to teach to preschoolers is the life cycle of a butterfly! What an incredible process it is going from the egg to the caterpillar into a chrysalis and finally transforming into an amazing butterfly. We always love hands on activities to help reinforce the concepts, and today's post is just that! It is a simple diorama that you can enjoy making with little ones created View Post