Summer Olympic Games for Kids

How to have fun with your child as you are watching the Olympics. It seems every moms mag has something to say. Here are a few of the best ideas: One idea is hosting your own neighborhood toddler Olympics. Olympics There are related articles written by Olympic gold medalists about health and nutrition. Additionally,there is an article about teaching your child to ride a bike. I never knew there were so many techniques that could be used. http://familyfitness.about.com/od/preschoolers/f/teach_bike_ride.htm

Also, there is an article in parenting magazine.com with ideas for converting pool noodle toys into an obstacle course .
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Red River Moms Magazine

I love the Red River Moms magazine. This magazine has articles about local events, local mothers, and ideas for summer educational projects. The July calendar highlights a local cake decorating contest, sign up for Bossier little league, and the cinderella play showing this week.   The current July issue has some great ideas by Angela Vinet who is employed at Four Corners Learning. She wrote an article about ideas for educational bug projects aimed at different age groups of children.  the magazine is available online at

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/section/REDRIVERMOMS/RedRiverMoms-Magazine

Educational things to do in Shreveport

#1 The Science center now does $5 days on Wednesday please call ahead to see if still valid
#2 RW Norton Gardens
#3 Go fishing
#4 Barksdale air museum
#5 Chimp Haven
#6 Yogi and friends
#7 arrange a group trip to milk cows

Product Review - Melissa and Doug Pattern Blocks

I love Melissa and Doug classic toys.  I love the solid wood and the size of the pieces. I also love  the retro feel and the tie to games referenced in old child development textbooks. One toy in particular has struck me and my daughter's fancy: pattern blocks and boards. This toy consists of boards with some classic pictures.  Kids match shape blocks to the pattern board to create the picture. This toy teaches children to develop a sense of shapes in objects, patterns, and size and proportion. These skills translate into math, art and engineering skills.  Another great thing about this toy is that it grows with the child and more difficulty and creativity can be added as your child gets older.

Our Shapes Project

This week Schuyler and I will start a lesson on shapes. I am printing out a shape book and worksheets. They also incorporate counting and colors. I plan on adding a few extra things like cutting out some shapes from construction paper and having her match and glue them onto a black and white page.




 While we are doing this, I am preparing for my next lesson: growing a plant. I am ordering some of the following books on amazon (four for the price of three) and gathering a pot, seeds, and materials for  a plant craft. 
From Seed to Plant (Rookie Read-About Science) [Paperback]Allan Fowler (Author)
From Seed to PlantGail Gibbons
The Vegetables We Eat [Paperback]Gail Gibons (Author)
One Bean [Paperback]Anne Rockwell (Author), Megan Halsey (Illustrator)
Jack's Garden [Paperback]Henry Cole (Author, Illustrator)


http://www.tlsbooks.com/preschoolshapes.htm
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/spring/mflower.html