“Autumn Leaves” by Ken Robbins

Prepare kids for fall nature walks by reading “Autumn Leaves,” with this bright, informative celebration of leaves by Ken Robbins. In “Autumn Leaves” by acclaimed photographer Ken Robbins lets the blazing colors of 13 North American deciduous trees shine without technical assistance. Robbins provides life-sized reproductions of leaves, shown clearly against a white background, making […]

15 Best Rhyming Books for Beginning Readers

There is a reason that children’s books rhyme. When teaching reading and spelling, patterns using rhyming words really helps. For example, if a child can read the word cat, they can figure out how to spell bat, fat, hat, mat, and sat just by replacing the beginning letter. Research shows that learning to manipulate words […]

Coffee Filter Butterflies

Creative Wednesdays Who doesn’t love butterflies? This is one of the easiest projects you can make with kids. The five-year-old I care for just loves making butterflies out of coffee filters. Plus, it is fascinating to learn how a worm-like caterpillar turn into a delicate creature with wings.  Be sure to check out the link provided below […]

Gus Gets Scared and Activities

Weekly Trip to the Library Have the kids you cared for ever been scared? Of course they have. That’s why Gus Gets Scared is a great book to read with your charges. Gus is an adventurous little rhino who has just gotten a new tent. Will he be brave enough to sleep outside all night? Gus Gets […]

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon and Projects

Weekly Trip to the Library A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon is a great book for teaching individuality. This teaches kids that it is okay to be yourself, to like things that other people may not like, to be good at something that other people may think is strange or different and to not […]

“The Tiny Seed” by Eric Carle and What Direction Does a Seed Grow Project

Weekly Trip to the Library “The Tiny Seed” By Eric Carle is the perfect book to read in the Spring. The short board book follows the life of a seed. This mini-book includes a piece of detachable seed-embedded paper housed on the inside front cover. Readers can plant the entire piece of paper and watch as their […]

Stop Power Struggles with Kids

Using Natural Consequences When kids don’t wear their coat, they get cold. When children refuse to eat, they become hungry. When they don’t use an umbrella in the rain, they get wet. The concept of using natural consequences to teach children, rather than punishing them, is allowing things to happen naturally, without adult interference. In […]

Blubber by Judy Blume

Book Review by Kids for Kids Review By Lizzie, 9-Years-Old We have been talking about bullying in school. So, my nanny recommended I read Blubber by Judy Blume and discuss it with her. I am glad I did because I never want to be a bully and hope I can stand up to a bully […]

Do the Kids You Care for Talk-Back?

How to Respond to Disrespectful Behavior I confess when a teen talks-back it enrages me. I know it’s normal for youngsters to whine and for tweens to be moody so why do I have so much difficulty dealing with a teen that talks-back? I typically react emotionally wanting to defend myself and I am ashamed […]

Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky

Weekly Trip to the Library Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Sanzari Chernesky is a great book to share with the children this Autumn. It captures the atmosphere and activity at a pumpkin patch. As the family takes a hayride through the pumpkin patch they point out many different […]