There’s always a lot of discussion amongst educators and parents about scaffolding — giving kids just exactly the right amount of challenge to allow them to stretch without overwhelming or frustrating them. It’s a pretty difficult balance to strike, and
We experimented with homemade finger paint this week using this simple recipe from Tinker Lab. Most of the recipes I came across used water and sugar. We don’t usually have white sugar in the house, so I tried this one
Nothing goes with summer quite like water play! If you don’t have access to a big pool for swimming, look into getting a small pool for your yard or deck. Particularly for tiny kids, a chlorine-free option that’s portable and
The more independent my preschooler becomes, the more I actively try to step out of his way and let him spread his wings. He has a naturally cautious temperament and is not one to dive into new situations. This summer,
The slow-motion video option on my phone has captured my preschooler’s attention lately, so we are using it to improve our marble track engineering. When we record a run in slow-motion and review it, he can more easily see where
I’m always looking for new ways to get my preschooler interested in making letters, whether through drawing, painting, Play-Doh, chalk, or writing in the steam on the shower door. Any way to get him making letters! He recently hit 500
As part of our summer plans, we wanted to have some actual academic time amidst all the running through the sprinkler and playing in the pool. I have had my eye on Ron Paul’s home school curriculum for a while,
I am always on the lookout for resources that make math more fun and exciting for kids. Several years ago, a colleague of mine loaned me a copy of Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland to read to
Ah, so many birds and so little time to sketch them poorly in my nature journal! While we did not see too many big animals on our trip to Olympic — not like going to Yellowstone where you’re practically tripping
In the literature I was reading preparing for our trip to Olympic, one description stated that the park had a “dazzling variety of wildflowers.” That was no joke! Due to the extreme variations in ecosystems throughout the park, countless types