A Helping Hand – Helping Your Kiddo Make a Good Friend

EI Editor Posted On Jun 8, 2020 | Learning Through Play

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5 Tips to Help Your Child Make New Friends - Scholastic.com[/caption]In part one of our friendship series we shared the many and compelling ways that making and playing with friends supports your child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, along with some simple things you can do at home to help your child learn to be a good friend.Now it’s time to talk about helping your child make a new friend! For some kids, making new friends is as easy to sitting down next to a small stranger in the sandbox. For others, making friends is a little bit harder. Whether your little one is outgoing or reserved, the suggestions below will help make their first forays into friendship a smashing success!1. Provide Limited Options – Having a friend over? Put your child’s special toys away, leaving just two choices out – say Playfoam® and Legos – and let the kids choose what to do. If they can’t agree, you may need to intervene with “Let’s let our guest pick first this time, and you’ll choose first next time.” (Talking about how we treat guests in our home before a friend comes over can make this solution go smoother.) Or let them each play what they want, side by side. They may choose to engage as they play or not – either way is okay![caption id="attachment_6150" align="alignnone" width="600"]

Playfoam® - photo credit: @playingwithchanel[/caption]2. Keep It Short – Limit the amount of time the toddlers and preschoolers play with one activity to roughly 10 minutes. Unless they both seem really engaged, offer another set of activities to choose from, checking in on that one after another 10 minutes. And keep the play date short, too. Better to end it while the kids are having fun than to wait until someone melts down! An hour together is a good goal for toddlers and two hours is plenty of time for preschoolers.3. Serve Snacks – If the fun starts to stall or things start to get sticky, offer a snack! Snack time is a good distraction and gives the kids a chance to regroup and start fresh when they’re done. Check out our School Lunches and Snacks for Kids Pinterest boards for some super snack and awesome meal ideas! Odds are your child’s friend’s caregiver will stay while the kids play, but if not be sure to ask about any food allergies when they drop off.[caption id="attachment_6151" align="alignnone" width="486"]

Photo credit: Kristine's Kitchen[/caption]4. Go Outside – The park, playground, or backyard are perfect places to play – and to burn off some of that endless kid energy! Pack buckets and shovels for sandbox time. When the kids are ready to move on from that, offer outdoor exploration tools like the GeoSafari® Jr. Kidnoculars®, Walkie Talkies, or My First Telescope.5. Stay Close – In some cases you may need to join in the fun to keep things rolling. Play a game like 1-2-3 Froggies™ or My First Game: Bears in Pairs with your kiddo and their pal or doodle along side them as they color in some of their favorite EI characters and scenes using free, downloadable EI coloring pages. Even if you don’t engage directly, stay within earshot so you can quickly intervene if the kids hit a speed bump.[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="680"]

Unicorn Magic, Sprinkle & Twinkle Coloring Sheet[/caption][caption id="attachment_6156" align="alignnone" width="680"]

Dino-mite Crown Activity[/caption]Like anything, making friends takes a bit of practice, but with a little prep and guidance, your kiddo will find just the right friends to share in their adventures! Looking for a bit more perspective? Check out some friendship reflections from the mom of a 10-year-old, in our past blog!

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EI Editor | Posted on Jan 13, 2021

Wake Up and Play!

Spending time with your preschooler strengthens your family bond, encourages positive behavior, builds communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and so much more. All good, right? So next time you have a morning free, surprise your sweetie and spend a few straight hours playing – together! Below, the Play Experts at EI share some of our favorite games, activities, and songs perfect for whiling away the winter hours with your little one, like:

Games to Play Together:

I Spy with My Little EyeSnuggle up and see what you can see – together! Spy things that are big, small, short, tall, square, circular, soft, hard, things that are certain colors, things with wheels or paws… you get the idea! This is a great way to build your little one’s vocabulary and introduce early math skills like shape and size.The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game!Spin the day away with everyone’s favorite preschool game! Celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of Amazon’s best-selling preschool games, The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game! helps kids master colors while building fine motor and pre-handwriting skills.

Bean Bag TossStand close together and see how many times you and your cutie can toss and catch a beanbag or balled up sock. Add a bit of a challenge by taking a step backwards every so often, taking turns tossing your beanbags into a laundry basket or mixing bowl, or balancing a beanbag on your heads while you play. A fun way to develop those gross motor skills!

Activities to Do Together:

Sensory BinsPreschool teachers trust these bins to build their students’ brains, including developing nerve connections, building language skills, enhancing fine and gross motor skills, and encouraging problem solving. Start by filling a large bin with Playfoam Pluffle, the mesmerizing, mixable, can’t resistable, feel-good fluffy stuff that never dries out. Then add a variety of objects for you and your little one to find, feel, describe, sort, match, and more. Find some fabulous Sensory Bin ideas on our blog and our Sensory Play Ideas Pinterest board.

ColorWho doesn’t love to color? Grab some printer paper and a new box of crayons and let your inner artists loose or print some of our free, downloadable coloring pages featuring your kiddo’s favorite EI characters. The trick here is that you need to color, too. Talk about the colors you’re using, give your creation a name, and make up a backstory – where does this creature live? What does it eat? What does it do all day?LearnLearning is more fun together! Our free, downloadable preschool packet includes colorful and engaging early literacy, math, and art activities perfect for sneaking some learning into your together time.

Songs to Sing Together:

I’m a Little TeapotTeaching your kiddos a new tune is always a blast. Here are the words, in case you need a refresher (or didn’t know there were actually two verses!). Don’t forget to show your little ones how to make their handles and spouts!5 Little MonkeysWarning – this little ditty may lead to some jumping on the bed. But it’s a classic every kid should know. Find the words here and encourage your kiddos to act the story out, complete with 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown on their fingers.Itsy Bitsy SpiderThis sweet sing-along story has a happy ending – and helps develop those fine motor skills with specific hand movements, shown here. Sing the song a few times, then see if your little one can remember the words – and the moves!

Photo Credit: pre-kpages.comIf You’re Happy and You Know ItGet ready for some hand clappin’, palm-tingling good times! Show your sweetie how it’s done, then take turns calling out what to do if you’re happy – clap your hands, stomp your feet, nod your head, shake your tush, etc.

Whatever you choose to do together, time spent playing with your preschooler has a host of benefits – for you both. So get out there and play, sing, dance, craft, read, tickle, snuggle, and love on your little one right now!
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EI Editor | Posted on Jan 6, 2021

Wake Up and Play!

Little kids wake up rarin’ to go! Race into the day with them with these delicious breakfast ideas that pair perfectly with their favorite preschool games:

The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel goes nuts for muffins and your kids will, too! Start the day by whipping up a batch of these fun, fantastic finger foods – together!Ingredients:• 3-4 ripe bananas• 1 ½ cups flour• 1 tsp baking powder• 1 tsp baking soda• ½ tsp salt• ¾ cup white sugar• 1 egg• 1/3 cup butter, melted• ½ cup chopped walnutsBake-It-Together Instructions:1. You - Preheat oven to 350 degrees.2. Your Little One – Place a paper muffin liner in each cup of your muffin tin.3. You – Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt together and set aside.4. Your Little One – Use a fork or potato masher to mash up the bananas in a plastic bowl.5. You – Use a mixer to blend the bananas, sugar, egg, and butter; slowly add the flour mixture and mix until smooth.6. Your Little One – Use a plastic spatula to blend the walnuts into the muffin mixture.7. You – Fill your muffin cups ¾ full and bake 25-30 minutes (10-15 minutes for mini muffins) or until muffins spring back when tapped.While You Wait:Enjoy a round or two of The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game!®, practicing colors, building fine motor skills, and enjoying some special together time with your favorite early riser.Benefits:Bananas help build lean muscle, fend off diseases, support healthy eyes and vision, promote a good night’s sleep, and help your body fight stress, anxiety, and depression. And the riper the banana, the stronger its powers, so dig into these muffins and reap those ripe banana benefits!

Fun-loving Frida can’t get enough of her favorite fruit salad! Check out our list of kid-friendly fruits below and let your little one help rinse, chop (butter knives only, please), scoop, and arrange your family’s own version of Frida’s Fruit Fiesta!Fruits for You to Prepare:• Strawberries – Remove the tops and bottoms, then quarter.• Grapes – Let your little ones pull them from the stem, then you cut them in half.• Pineapple – Slice off the top and bottom, trim the skin and remove the eyes, slice into small chunks.• Peaches – Halve the peach, remove the pit, and slice.Fruits for Your Kids to Prepare:• Bananas – Kids can slice whole bananas into pieces using a butter knife.• Melon – Let your little one loose with the melon baller!• Blueberries – Rinse and pat dry.• Raspberries – Rinse and pat dry.Once you’ve chosen and prepared your fruits, let your little one dump them into a large plastic bowl and mix – you may want to add yogurt or sprinkle a bit of sugar on top. Serve and enjoy!When You’re Done:Challenge your fruit-fueled little friends to a round of Frida’s Fruit Fiesta Game™! Spin the spinner, find the matching letter, use the squeezers to pick it up (and build those fine motor skills!) and place it in your nest. As you play, remind your kiddo of the fruits they just ate that match the letter sounds they’re finding – B – buh - banana!Benefits:Fruits, especially berries, can improve brain function and memory, build strong bones, aid in digestion, protect the body from disease, lower cholesterol, heal wounds, and even revitalize the skin!

Kids with crazy energy love the Pancake Pile-Up!™ Relay Game! Fuel their physical fun with a homemade pancake breakfast that you make together.Ingredients:• 1 ½ cups flour• 3 ½ tsp baking powder• 1 tsp salt• 1 tbs sugar• 1 ¼ cups milk• 1 egg• 3 tbs butter, meltedInstructions:1. Measure the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into a bowl. Let your little one slowly stir to sift the ingredients together.2. Make a hole in the center of the ingredients for the milk, egg, and butter and mix until smooth.3. Heat your griddle or frying pan and prime with a bit of butter or cooking spray.4. Scoop ¼ cup of batter out of the bowl and pour onto pan.5. When you see bubbles forming on the up-side of your pancake, flip it over and cook the bottom until browned.6. Stack your pancakes on a plate, covering with a dish towel to keep them warm until ready to eat.Serve with your family’s favorite Pancake Pile-Up Relay Game-inspired toppings! Choose from butter, syrup, strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or even chocolate chips and get ready to chow down!When You’re Done:When your family is all fueled up, burn that breakfast off with a round of Pancake Pile-Up! Divide into teams and turn over an order card to see the order of your pancake pile. Then race to the other side of the room, use the included spatulas to scoop the correct pancake onto your plate, and race back to pass off your plate to the next player. The first team to correctly complete their stack – and top it with a pat of butter – wins!Benefits:The Pancake Pile-Up! ™ Relay Game helps kids develop important gross motor skills, balance, and coordination and teaches kids to follow a pattern – a key early math skill! Eating breakfast has big-time benefits, too, like providing energy to start your day, improving behavior, increasing the ability to learn and focus, and promoting weight management. It’s the icing on the (pan)cake!

EI Editor | Posted on Jun 2, 2020

A Helping Hand – Teaching Your Kiddo to Be a Good Friend [caption id="attachment_6113" align="alignnone" width="830"]

Photo credit: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-young-children-learn-to-make-friends

Photo credit: PBS.org - Helping Young Children Learn To Make Friends[/caption]Grandma wisdom says, “In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.” As your toddler tootles toward preschool, they’re also headed toward the first of many childhood friendships. And although it feels like a family’s love is all a child needs, these friendships are a positive and necessary milestone in your child’s natural development. They’re the chocolate chips!Baking delicious cookies is a fool-proof way make a special friend's day! Here's the famous DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie recipe to help! Enjoy baking time with the kiddos while teaching them the spirit of giving and sharing. They will love the warm fuzzy feeling when surprising their friends with a special homemade treat. Adding a little note with Grandma's words of wisdom will add the perfect personal touch.[caption id="attachment_6108" align="alignnone" width="1021"]

The infamous Doubletree chocolate chip cookies

The infamous DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookies.[/caption]Building and sustaining friendships develops a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Navigating friendships helps kids understand the concept of loyalty and teaches them about acceptance. Playtime with friends promotes patience, builds decision making skills, enhances communication and language skills, and provides an outlet for imagination, creativity, and energy. Disagreements provide practice with compromise and conflict resolution. Spending time at friends’ homes gives kids a glimpse into other lifestyles and family units, broadening their perspective. And, of course, later on, friends provide a peer group to provide support and encouragement when you are not around.Those are some pretty compelling reasons to nurture your child’s friendships. So how do you go about helping your little one make good friends? The first step is learning how to BE a good friend – and that starts at home. Here's a great kid's book that can help start the conversation. Below are some of our best tips and tricks for modeling and practicing being a good friend:• Talk and Listen – Ask your child a question and really listen to their response. Then ask more questions about what they’ve said, or restate what you heard them say, to show that you are listening and that what they have to say is important to you.• Observe – See something, say something. When you see your child exhibiting positive and friendly behaviors say something out loud! “I love that you let Grampa pick tonight’s story!” or “It was great that you and your brother found something you both wanted to play!”.• Practice – Game play is a great way to practice choosing an activity, deciding who goes first, taking turns, and winning and losing gracefully. Ask your kiddo if they’d like to play a game (you’re modeling how to invite a friend to participate in an activity). Then set out a few favorites, like The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game® or Pancake Pileup!™ Relay Game. Tell your little one that they can either choose the game or go first, but not both, then follow their lead.[caption id="attachment_6109" align="alignnone" width="680"]

Photo credit: @my_sensorium[/caption][caption id="attachment_6110" align="alignnone" width="680"]

Photo credit: @preferredtherapytoys[/caption]• Keep Things Light – Whether you’ve been sent down the long slide playing Chutes and Ladders or your block tower tumbles, laugh it off and try again. Teaching your child to roll with the punches and be a good sport will make them even more fun to play with.With a little practice and a lot of support, your kiddo will be ready for their first play date in no time! Be on the lookout for part two of this piece, Teaching Your Child to MAKE a Good Friend, including five of our favorite tips for hosting a successful play date.Check out this great article from Popsugar: How to Help Your Child Become a Good Friend for more helpful hints.
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