Turn storytime into a hands-on fall activity! “There Was an Old Lady that Swallowed Some Leaves” by Lucille Colandro is a breezy, whimsical rhyme book paired with vivid illustrations making it a chaotic tribute to autumn and an absolute page-turner for children. It is an excellent book for preschool through early elementary kids to practice […]
“The Crayons Trick or Treat” by Drew Daywalt and Making Costumes for the Crayons
October 10, 2026 Leave a Comment
Last week the kids and I made costumes for the Sheepy in “Creepy Sheepy” and this week we did the same with the crayon protagonists in “The Crayons Trick or Treat” by Drew Daywalt. After reading “The Crayons Trick or Treat” with the children in your care, set up a coloring and drawing station where […]
Pinecone Bird Feeder and Winter Bird Books
January 7, 2026 1 Comment
Not all birds fly south for the winter. Read children’s books about winter birds listed below with the little ones in your care. Then, they will love making this simple bird feeder from a pine cone they find on a nature hike for the birds that have stayed in the neighborhood for the winter. You […]
Yarn and Pom Pom Spaghetti and Meatballs Sensory Bin
August 20, 2025 Leave a Comment
Looking for a fun, mess-free way to spark the children’s imagination? Kids will love diving into this spaghetti and meatball sensory bin made with soft white yarn for pasta and squishy red pom poms as meatballs! It’s a playful twist on a classic comfort food that encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and hours of giggles. […]
Why Nannies Should Read to Kids Each Day
March 11, 2014 Leave a Comment
Nanny Confessions: We Must Teach Kids to Love Books I confess, it is sometimes hard for me to make time to read to kids everyday. But, no matter how busy the day gets, it’s vital to read aloud to children to help them learn to love reading. You don’t have to like reading yourself. You […]
Importance of Using Parentese, Not Baby Talk
November 7, 2013 Leave a Comment
Reading to Babies In the book Baby Read-Aloud Basics, the authors Caroline J. Blakemore and Barbara Weston Ramirez, explain the importance of reading to babies and using parentese when speaking to babies. The explain, “If you think reading to babies is having a quiet baby on your lap as you read straight from a book, […]
Weekly Trip to the Library
June 30, 2012 1 Comment
The Practical Guide For Reading Aloud to Children During Their First Five Years From http://www.readaloudguide.com/ Susan Marx and Barbara Kasok, authors of Help Me Get Ready To Read: The Practical Guide For Reading Aloud To Children During Their First Five Yearsexplain that when you read aloud to children you are fostering their self-esteem by creating […]
