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Preschool activities and crafts with a fun beach adventure theme!
Keep
the good times rolling for your preschooler!
August 2006 - Issue 28
Quote Of The Month
“Love and respect are the most important aspects of parenting, and of all relationships.” |
~ Jodie Foster |
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Editorial
Summer is flying by faster than I had intended it to. Only a few of the things on my "must do this summer" list have actually gotten done, and I am looking at less than a month until school is back in session.
Although both of my sons in school means that I might be able to maintain some semblance of order to my house, it also means an even more hectic schedule, as school activities and sports once again come into play.
I like summer. It's a wonderful time for me to reconnect with my children. They grow up too quickly and before you know it, your baby, your toddler, your preschooler...they are entering 8th grade, like mine is this year. A whole new set of issues that make potty training a wonderful memory. No matter how busy you might feel, having a little one at home is a wonderful opportunity to set a foundation for the future relationship you have with your child.
Whether your child is entering school or preschool this year, or you still have them at home for a while longer, make the most of your last days of summer. Create some memories for your school-aged child to talk about when they return to school, or memories for you and your little one to share over cocoa once the weather turns cold. Spend time teaching your child the values that you find important.
I've included some fun activities for you in this issue, including shell imprints and a "fun to make at any age" snack. And you won't want to miss this month's featured article, "Teaching Your Kids Manners" by returning guest author, Mark Bradenburg, MA, CPCC.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Mari
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Reading Rocks!
Recommendations |
Beach
I love that the memories of so many different days spent on many different beaches can all be reflected in a few succinct sentences and illustrations. Really nice. It will be a good gift to many.
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Dora's Stories
Enjoy adventures with our favorite explorer, Dora! Included in this collection are Count with Dora!, A Day at the Beach, Dora Goes for a Ride, and What Will I Be?
A Kid's Review
These stories are nice and short. I am 2 years old and they are the perfect length. I love Dora and am enjoying learning Spanish while my mom and dad read them to me every night before bed. The set is all board books so they are very sturdy and have held up to my throwing and bending. |
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Kid Rock "Party In The Spotlight" The Wiggles
Nothing like the Wiggles to get your little one tapping their toes and shaking their tushy! Invite Kid Rock to your summer party, put on a sprinkler and get ready for a good time!
Your Wiggles party may include the following songs:
- Get Ready to Wiggle
- Toot, Toot...Red Car
- Fruit Salad
- The Chase
- Dorothy's Birthday Party
- Hot Potato
- Dancing Ride
- Do the Flap
- Shake Your Sillies Out
- Henry the Octopus
- Move Your Arms Like Henry
- We're Dancing with Wags the Dog
Reserve your party date today! Email to parties@rockitkids.com or call
us at 847-961-6584. Return to top
Craft Of The Month
Seashell Imprints
Materials:
- Play dough (Note: Add to the fun by letting your child help you make play dough! There are several recipes for play dough in the Children's Craft e-book you receive as your free gift when you subscribe to the RockIt Times AmuseLetter! Check the P.S. at the bottom of your new issue announcement email or subscribe today!)
- Various shells
Directions:
Give your child some play dough and let them explore making imprints with different ocean items. This is a great opportunity to talk about color and texture. Ask your child questions about how they think certain imprints will feel, etc.
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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/
for more information!
Snack Of The Month
Beach Snack
Ingredients:
- Blue Jello
- Graham cracker crumbs
- Gummy fish, sharks, lifesavers
- Fruit Rollups or dried fruit strips
- Peanuts or similarly sized eatable
Directions:
- Prepare Jello according to the Jello Jiggler recipe.
- Cut into rectangles.
- On one side of a plate, place one rectangle of blue Jello (the ocean). On the other side, put graham cracker crumbs (for the beach).
- Give your child various eatables and let them create their own beach scene that they can eat! Use peanuts for sunbathers, lifesavers as floaties, fruit rollup pieces as beach towels, etc.
- Let your imagination go wild and sunny! Your child will have a great time making this treat and putting it in his/her tummy, too!
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Music Rocks!
Recommendations
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For the Kids
Reviewer: |
Sarah (Washington State) |
This has got to be to best compilation of kid's song to date! These songs will entertain your children AND you! With artists such as Sarah McLauchlan, Cake, Barenaked Ladies, Ivy and Sixpence, how can you (or your kids) complain??? My 2-year old and I love "The Hoppity Song", while my preschool class of 4-year-olds love both "Mahna Mahna" and "La La La La Lemon". These are awesome songs, with great messages, from the best artists! I smile every time I put on this CD. Check out the music sampler on Amazon, and then GET THIS ONE!!!
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| Buzz Buzz
Reviewer: |
Tim Janson (Michigan) |
This was my two year old's first CD that we bought him. He' seen and loved Laurie's songs on Noggin for sometime now. As soon as he sees her he jumps up and starts dancing around and singing. Laurie's music really inspires him. She's got a fun, light, whimsical style that is naturally appealing to the Pre-K crowd.
Buzz Buzz features 20 songs in all and he just loves to hear it over and over again. It's even taught him already how to put a CD in the player and start it playing at just two years old. Certainly his favorite song has to be "Buzz Buzz" and when he wants to hear it he'll dance around and yell "Boo Bee...Boo Bee". Laurie's music really is very catchy with simple lyrics that kids of a young age can follow along with and repeat. I highly recommend her music.
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Motor Activity Of The Month
Waves on the Beach
Sung To: " Wheels on the bus"
The waves at the beach go up and down, up and down, up and down.
The waves at the beach go up and down, all day long. (make wave action with hands)
The crabs at the beach, crawl back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.
The crabs at the beach, crawl back and forth, all day long. (crawl hands on floor)
The lobsters at the beach go, snap, snap, snap; snap, snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
The lobsters at the beach go snap snap snap, all day long. (open and close fingers like lobster claws)
The clams at the beach will open and shut, open and shut, open and shut.
The clams at the beach will open and shut, all day long.(put palms of hands together, then open and close like a clam shell)
The jelly fish go wibble, wobble, wibble; wibble, wobble, wibble, wibble, wobble, wibble.
The jelly fish go wibble, wobble, wibble, all day long. (shake hands loosely, with fingers pointing down)
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Special Guest
Article
Teaching your Kids Manners
By: Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
“Oh thank you,” my daughter gushed, as she opened another present from the pile in front of her.
It was her tenth birthday, and she was on center stage. Gift after gift was being opened. And after each gift was opened, my daughter did a remarkable thing: She looked at each of the givers in the eye and thanked them. And as I watched this from behind my camera, a tear came to my eye.
It was not just this show of appreciation that moved me, for there were other things happening here. There was the imminent loss of childhood, and the kindness of the relatives who sat close by. There were memories of past birthdays, and the joy and innocence they brought. And there was the suspicion that this would be the last birthday of its kind, before modern culture, peers, and hormones took their place in my daughters’ life.
But I couldn’t stop thinking about how remarkable it was to see this display of appreciation, and to feel the joy that came with it. And as I saw it, I was reminded of all the times over the years when my wife and I had insisted on “please and thank you.”
I was reminded how many times we’d told her how important it was to show appreciation for the things people do for us. And while it hasn’t always been easy to be the “nag,” all of our efforts became worth it as we watched this unfold.
For those parents who’d like to help create what is becoming too rare these days—a well-mannered child--here are some guidelines:
- Teach your kids, don’t criticize them. If they burp at the dinner table, it’s not effective to yell, “Don’t be rude!” Instead, be calm and specific about what you want them to do. Tell them, “It’s not polite to burp at the table, but if it happens, you may say “excuse me.”
- Start them at an early age. Things like saying “please” and “thank you,” or making thank you cards to grandma can be started at a very early age.
- Teach them in private if possible. Kids are easily shamed if corrected in front of others, just as we are. If at all possible, take them aside and talk to them in private. This gives them a chance to learn it, and not to feel ashamed.
- Anticipate mistakes from your child. You didn’t really think your kids were going to learn manners on their own, did you? They’ll make a ton of mistakes, and they’ll need to be corrected many times. Don’t let high expectations for your kids create impatience in you. They’ll learn it when they’re ready.
- Prepare them for using manners in advance. When manners will be expected, as when going to a friend’s house, or to a restaurant, remind your kids of what’s expected of them. This friendly reminder will help them remember manners when they get excited, and are liable to forget.
- Expect good manners from your child on a consistent basis. Once they’ve been taught, expect your kids to exhibit appropriate manners. Giving a lot of gentle reminders will show your kids that this isn’t going away. Eventually, they’ll be consistent on their own.
- Be ready for mealtime. Family dinners are prime time for teaching manners. They can also be frustrating. Prepare yourself to be patient, and expect mistakes to happen. Creating a “formal” atmosphere, with low lighting and candles, is a way to make manners at dinner more fun.
The Public Agenda Research Group (2004) reports that in this country, 8 out of 10 respondents say that lack of respect and courtesy is a serious national problem. From all the research they've gathered, it appears that Americans are more stressed out and ill-mannered than ever before! Manners seem to have gone out of style. But parents shouldn’t make the mistake of letting their kids think they’re out of style. It’s YOUR job to bring them back!
Later that evening, my daughter was still excited from all of the festivities. “I’m going to remember my tenth birthday party forever!” she announced. She isn’t the only one.
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches fathers by phone to balance their life and improve family relationships—immediately! He is an Instructor for the Academy for Coaching Parents (www.acpi.biz) and author of “Secrets of Emotionally Intelligent Fathers” Ecourse http://www.markbrandenburg.com/25_secrets.htm
http://www.markbrandenburg.com/marks_ebooks_and_courses.htm
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Mari Peckham
RockItTimes@rockitkids.com
IPRA "Outstanding
Teacher of the Year" Award Recipient
Publishing Editor, RockIt Times RockIt
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