RockIt Times AmuseLetter
How
Puzzling!
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Contents
Quote Of The Month Television has changed the American
child from an irresistible force to an immovable object. Editorial Hello readers! If you are fortunate enough to live in a location where your child can participate in the Tot Rock/Kid Rock program, you know that our fall sessions have been focused around puzzles. It has been a wonderful session theme for the children and a fabulous session theme for me! Puzzles of all kinds have always been a part of my life. Growing up, there was hardly a time that I remember that a card table wasn't set up in the corner of our dining room where a puzzle was always in the midst of construction. To tell you the truth, I never remember any of the puzzles actually being completed, although I'm sure that each and every one of them was. But the fun of the puzzle table was in the act of putting it together. The puzzle table was a great place to go to think. You didn't have to worry about being bothered, even if someone else was there. We were concentrating, after all! It also had the remarkable power to get multiple members of my age-diverse family to sit down together, sometimes even for hours. My grandmother, who lived to almost 102 and was sharp as a tack until she suffered from meningitis at the ripe age of 99, loved puzzles of all kinds. I credit the sharpness of that tack to the mental stimulation she made sure she always had. My father was an avid crossword puzzle worker. I think that was always the first part of the Sunday paper he hit when we returned home from church on Sunday! In high school, I became addicted to logic puzzles. What a great way to learn some problem solving skills! Both of my sons thoroughly enjoy mazes. I learned a lot growing up around puzzles. I learned that, at 2 or 3, I could manage to find the border pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle because they had flat sides. I learned that sometimes a 4 year old actually DOES know the right answer to a crossword question. And most importantly, I learned that even at times when you are sure that you are missing pieces and that you are never going to get it together, it still usually manages to work out one way or the other. This has been a particularly fun issue for me, because I get to share a little of my own childhood with you. The "puzzle sandwiches" that my mother used to make me that results in my husband calling me a little princess every time they are mentioned. The fun homemade puzzles that are in endless supply in everyone's homes. Puzzles are such a magnificent way to teach your children so many things. Not just about spatial awareness and reading readiness; not just colors and shapes. You can teach them about life. About the importance of patience and perseverance. Be sure that you have ample puzzle opportunities available for your child. Have a wonderful holiday season! Reading Rocks! Recommendations
Kid Rock "Party In The Spotlight" Disney Fun Are you and your child getting a little stir-crazy being cooped up inside during the cold days of winter? No need to wait for a special occasion to have a party. Host a fun, winter playdate with a Disney theme! We'll get your child and their playmates moving with some Disney fun! This party may include these and other Disney songs:
Reserve your party date today! Email to parties@rockitkids.com or call us at 847-961-6584. Craft Of The Month Pantry Puzzles Would you like to find a source for inexpensive and educational puzzles that you don't mind pitching in the recycling once a piece gets lost? Look no further than your pantry! Cereal and other familiar box fronts make wonderful puzzles for your child. Once the box is empty, simply remove the front of the box and cut it into any number of pieces -- less for a younger child, more for an older child. Store your new puzzles in individual baggies that can easily be thrown in your bag for fun on the run. Pantry puzzles also allow for beginning reading skills. Your child's first step to literacy is through recognition. Even though your child may not be old enough to sound out words, he may still recognize the letters C-h-e-e-r-i-o-s stand for one of his favorite finger foods. Your child can have a constant stream of challenging, new puzzles that won't cost you a dime extra and you have a new way to extend the life of your purchases. Have some puzzling fun with this great puzzle idea! Having a party? Don't forget to invite Kid Rock! If you are in our neighborhood, we happily provide stress-free, interactive children's party entertainment for any function. Or, make it a Kid Rock day no matter where you live, with our perfectly assembled gift bags and party favors! Visit the official Kid Rock website at http://www.rockitkids.com/ Snack Of The Month Puzzle Sandwich One of my favorite memories of my childhood snacktime is the puzzle sandwiches my mother used to make for me! These are a wonderful treat for little eyes (especially ones with choosy tummies below them!) and can be a "play with your food" skill-builder for older children! Ingredients:
Directions:
For a younger child, you can prepare each of their special "puzzles" and then let them stack them up to make their own sandwiches. An older child will enjoy inserting the star shapes into the borders themselves. Music Rocks! Recommendations
Motor Activity Of The Month Puzzles Puzzles, puzzles, fun to do (clap hands) Puzzles, puzzles, fun
to do (clap hands) Special Guest Article Puzzles in early childhood
education: When children work on puzzles, they are actually "putting the pieces together" in more ways than one. Puzzles help children build the skills they need to read, write, solve problems, and coordinate their thoughts and actions, all of which they will use in school and beyond. Find a puzzle with a picture that has particular interest for your child, and you may help her begin to recognize colors and letters, and come to realize that the sum of parts make up a whole?a concept that will help her with math later on. By inserting pieces into the puzzle, children also develop the muscle group used for writing, or the "pincer" grasp. Children can work on puzzles by themselves, without the help of adults or other children. They can also work together on large puzzles and practice compromising and getting along. Because each child must concentrate on the puzzle individually, he experiences a sense of satisfaction as he picks up a piece, rotates it, and discovers the spot in which it fits. Piece by piece, he begins to recognize the picture that the puzzle represents. Good quality puzzles are a good investment because children can use them year after year. You may also look for puzzles at yard sales, thrift shops, and lending toy libraries. Children who are developing the ability to use scissors can cut pictures from magazines to create their own puzzles. Simply mount the pictures on cardboard and cut into large pieces. Homemade puzzles can make great gifts, too! Make sure puzzles are suited for each child's age and abilities. Two year olds, for example, will enjoy putting in pieces and taking them back out just as much as they will enjoy fitting them into the right spot. Toddlers enjoy three or four-piece wooden puzzles. As they grow and learn to rotate pieces to match holes and find pieces that fit, they can handle increasingly complex puzzles. Three-year-olds still enjoy puzzles with single knobs on each piece, but they can also work on puzzles with five to eight pieces. Four-year-olds will enjoy knobless puzzles with familiar scenes and characters. They can handle 12 to 18-piece puzzles. Five-year-olds can handle large or small piece 18 to 35 pieces puzzles. They move from the pleasure of the activity to mastering the task. As children reach school age, they will enjoy more complex puzzles of 50 - 100 pieces or more. All family members may gather around the table top to help children put the pieces together. Puzzles should be well-made and appealing to the child. The younger the child, the more she will benefit from large, recognizable pieces to help her complete a picture. Good puzzles may show pictures of food, cars and trucks, animals, boys and girls, nursery rhymes, and scenes from story books. Young children better understand figures made of simple shapes like circles, triangles and squares. Watch for missing pieces or damage to puzzles. Puzzles should offer a challenge to children, but they should also be solvable. Nothing is more frustrating to a child than trying to complete a puzzle with a missing piece. Puzzles can provide formal learning experiences. Teachers may work closely with children to help them learn to solve problems through puzzles. Puzzles also help teachers observe children and assess their development. While children work alone or in groups, teachers can monitor the way they speak, move, and concentrate. Copyright/Permission: Subscriber Talk! Do you have comments or suggestions for us? We love to hear and share what our readers think! Please send your feedback to us at: rockittimes@rockitkids.com Great Links and Freebies Check out these great links for parents and caregivers!
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