Tagged with 'reading'

[caption id="attachment_5396" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo Credit: 100daysofrealfood.com[/caption]

Snacks, Games, Crafts, and Books to Help Little Kids Learn to Love Reading

Today, millions of school kids will spend the day paying tribute to some of America’s most beloved authors. Yup, it’s Read Across America Day! Celebrated every year on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, it’s a great day to get your kids excited about reading. To help you and your little ones get in on the fun, we’ve pulled together some sneaky, snacky, Seussy ideas for whiling Read Across America day – or any day – away, like:

Start the Day with Dr. Seuss…

Start the day with a reading of Green Eggs & Ham, accompanied by, you guessed it, a breakfast of green eggs and ham. Two or three drops of BLUE (not green) food coloring will turn typical scrambled eggs green, and your kids might prefer diced ham over sliced, but you know best. If you prefer to keep it natural, eggs and kale make a surprisingly yummy scramble (pictured).If there’s just no way your kids are eating green eggs, a striped stack of red and regular pancakes or alternating banana and strawberry slices on a skewer will also set the mood.Sneak some fine motor work into your Seussical day by crafting your very own striped hat! With 4 easy supplies you can follow these instructions for the perfect Cat in the Hat paper plate hat by anightowlblog.com.Once your hats are complete, pop them on your heads and find your copies of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and Which Pet Should I Get. Give them a read, then take a walk through your local pet store, fish shop, or aquarium and be on the lookout for any crazy, Seuss-ish creatures. Stop when you hit the fish and see if you can spot one, then two, then one that’s red, and one that’s blue.For other fun, Dr. Seuss-inspired craft ideas, visit artsycraftsymom.com for a roundup of her favorite DIY projects, like Pom Pom Truffula Trees, Tweetle Beetle Bottles, Thing One and Thing Two bookmarks, and more!Then Squirrel the Afternoon Away!Pack a picnic and head to the park (or set up an indoor picnic if it’s too cold where you live!) because it’s time for some sneaky, snacky, squirrel fun! A few strategic slices and you can create your own squirrel sandwiches, like this one from the mamas at Puppylovepreschool.blogspot.com.Once you’ve squirreled away your lunch, head off for a walk around the park to see who can spot the most squirrels. When you’re ready to relax, it’s back to your blanket for a round of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel®! Game to see who can collect one of each colored nut first, followed by a reading of The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Board Book!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3Io65ZH9e0Keep the fun rolling at home with a super cute Dixie Cup squirrel craft! Follow the instructions outlined on The Pinterested Parent to turn a mini cup, construction paper, paint, and googly eyes into an adorable, DIY cutie.Bringing books to life through games, crafts, and snacks keeps the stories top of mind – and keeps your little ones coming back for more. A little research and you’ll find all kinds of things to do with your kiddo’s favorite read!????

Greetings your majesty! We've added Princess Fairytales to our collection of Hot Dots® Jr. Interactive Storybook Sets.[gallery ids="2250,2252,2251,2249"]Retellings of four favorite, “must-know” princess fairytales made interactive with the Magical Talking Wand™. Classic princess stories include Rapunzel, The Princess and the Pea, The Princess and the Frog, and the Twelve Dancing Princesses. It's quite magical!If you enjoy Princess Fairytales, you will also enjoy the Hot Dots® Jr. Favorite Fairytale Interactive Storybook Set.

This past month, Marcia made it her goal to raise funds for Koreh L.A., for the Change It Up! program, where each month an employee chooses a worthy organization for which to fundraise and collect spare change. Koreh L.A., a non-sectarian children's literacy program of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, is the largest volunteer children’s literacy program in Los Angeles. Koreh trains volunteer reading partners to work with Los Angeles Unified School District's K– 5th grade students to help enhance their reading skills and foster a love of reading. Volunteers work one-on-one for one hour per week with children identified by their teachers as reluctant readers. Over the past 14 years, over 15,000 volunteers have been trained and placed as reading partners, reaching nearly 20,000 LAUSD students.Find out how you can help Marcia donate to Koreh L.A., HERE

[caption id="attachment_2204" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Back to School Gifts![/caption]While most kids are sad to say goodbye to the fun of summer break, you can ease their transition back to school with awesome gifts perfect for students of all ages. We believe that education and fun should be combined. Our games and toys allow kids to practice communication, develop problem-solving skills, increase creativity, learn to collaborate, and build their basic reading and math skills. Here are few of our favorite toys, games, and tools that are both entertaining and educational, ensuring that your loved ones will start the school year off right.Hot Dots® Jr. "Ace" - the Talking, Teaching Dog®: Meet Ace, part learning companion, part magic wand, and part pen. This amazing pen works with the Hot Dots activity cards (sold separately, see below) to help teach kids basic math and reading skills. This toy is especially designed for younger students, and encourages fun learning by lighting, buzzing, and laughing as children move their way through the activity pads. The wand encourages independent discovery by cheering for kids for correct answers and gently redirecting children on more challenging questions. Great for home or the classroom, this toy helps review key learning topics and build new skills! Hot Dots®: The Hot Dots books features an array of games and activities that encourage playful and interactive learning for children of all ages. Children answer questions using the electronic pen, then receive audible feedback as they progress through the math and reading activities. Activities are designed for children of all ages, so you can find the Hot Dots to suit your child’s specific needs. Dinosaur Puppet-On-A-Stick™, Set of 3: Teachers and parents alike love the educational and imaginative possibilities of Puppet-On-A-Stick! This trio of wacky Jurassic characters can be used by kids on their own or in groups. Create a dinosaur-inspired story using Crusher, Stomper, and Buster as they adventure through the prehistoric world! These toys are easy to clean-up, making them ideal for the classroom or at home. Watch as kids practice communication skills and further develop their imagination using these amazing and adorable dinosaur puppets! Smencils®: Add some flavor to classwork and homework with Smencils. Smencils are gourmet-scented pencils, offered in a variety of colors and scents, including Gum-E Bear, Cherry Vanilla, Pom Paya, Blackberry, Juicy Melon, and many more! In addition, Smencils are made from 100% recycled newspapers, making them a green alternative to standard wooden pencils. We also have Puppet-on-a-Stick pens and Wacky Winderz™. With so many options for fun and learning, your home or classroom will be buzzing with laughter! Check out these toys and more for some great ideas for back-to-school gifts for students on educationalinsights.com. Your kids are sure to love the wonderful playtime additions, and you’ll love watching the children reap the amazing educational benefits.

Lunch and laugh with these hilarious lunchbox printables from the Hot Dots® Laugh it Up! Spelling Cards series. Just print out a set of cards, cut one out, and drop it in your child's lunchbox to share with friends. Download them here:Download here: Laugh It Up Downloadable 1Download here: Laugh It Up Downloadable 2Download here: Laugh It Up Downloadable 3Download here: Laugh It Up Downloadable 4Kids can have fun achieving success in spelling and writing with these wacky laugh out loud jokes, riddles, and stories. If you would like to order a set from our Hot Dots® Laugh it Up!series, please visit our online store..

"Students read for tests and because their parents ask them to, but I think it's very important to tell children that you can read for fun, too, and to understand human spirit. It builds empathy." - Adora Svitak, 16, author and activist