Best FREE Children's Ebooks Daily and Free App

Today, my special guest is Bethany from the kid lit and play blog No Twiddle Twaddle. One of her most popular features is the almost daily list of the best free kids' eBooks available on Amazon:

Teach Kids about Diversity with Multicultural Activities

We are living in a global community. We can connect, google, share, tweet, pin, blog, and comment all hours of the day and night. It's daylight somewhere, right?  It should be easier than ever to teach our children about world cultures and diversity. I'm including people with special needs because I am reminded every day how prejudices can affect people. My daughter has a seizure disorder. She has suffered from unkind remarks and people staring or wondering why she acts strangely sometimes. Yet she brings me more joy than anyone. Can we all try a little harder to see the good in everyone? Young children learn from their parent's attitudes and behaviors. They are great imitators of what you say and do.

5 Ways to Teach Children about World Culture and Diversity

We can teach children to respect and value others regardless of their skin color, language, or physical and mental abilities. Here are five ways to help children learn about differences: 

I. MUSIC

Children can learn about world cultures and different languages as they learn songs. Music crosses all barriers and transcends boundaries. Award-winning Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou travels around the globe spreading the message of peace, tolerance and most importantly, fun, through her music for children. Daria believes that children need music that is not only enjoyable, but also positive and empowering.  Children can learn to create their own multicultural instruments that they might find by traveling around the planet. From Australia’s “way too funny” didgeridoo, to a box-shaped drum from coastal Peru, to recycled rattles, there are a multitude of ways to be creative with music as you shake, rattle, and roll.

Every month Daria has a monthly song and giveaway plus she also blogs at My Favorite Multicultural Books. Your children will enjoy learning this funny song while they watch her video of La Cucaracha (Dancing Cockroaches). Daria has songs and videos in many languages but I just discovered this beautiful video in which she sings in Yiddish and English.

II. FOOD  

Glittering Muffins features the amazing Around the World in 12 Dishes including a fabulous Linky Party.

III. FLAT STANLEY

Crayon Freckles started a Flat Stanley world-wind project and Sarah is enjoying it very much. It is always fun to get mail. Flats can teach children geography but also reading and writing skills by using the traveling journal. We are putting together the neglected puzzle of the United States and will buy a globe for a 3D hands-on experience of finding locations.  Sarah is excited to make new friends including Tiaras and Bowties and We Can Do All Things -- and I'm happy to connect with moms who also have Children with Special Needs. We have started a new Flat Stanley project for children with special needs.

IV.  OLYMPICS

There are 204 countries competing in 2012 Olympics being held in London. The Olympics inspire children to play new games or reach for new physical or athletic goals. If you are having a party while you watch the Olympics, here is an adorable printable for Olympic Party Fry Box Favors which can hold pretzels, celery, baby carrots, or crayons. For many ideas on celebrating the Olympics, world cultures, games, outdoor play, and children's activities, click on these Pinterest boards:

Pinterest

MeMeTales Children’s Stories

World Culture Book, Activities, Crafts & Learning Curriculum
Kindergarten & Preschool for Parents & Children

V.  BOOKS

A love of reading = A lifetime of learning.

Ebooks to Own and Borrow! This is the last week (6) of MeMeTales Readathon and the theme is WORLD CULTURES. You can borrow books and OWN over 20 wonderful free children's ebooks for  viewing on the computer or Apps. Many correlating activities are offered. For every child who joins, a hungry child is fed through FoodforEducation.org. So far, over 8,000 meals have been donated and children have read the books over  80,000 times! It is easy to join, just click here. 

The Human Garden

See more at memetales

The Human Garden introduces the concept of "unity in diversity" of the human race in a very simple and direct way.  The book begins by making the association between a flower garden and the world of humanity, and has beautiful illustrations on how the uniqueness of each individual flower adds to the beauty and richness of the garden, just as the uniqueness of each human being adds to the beauty and richness of the human race. Many other beautiful ebooks are available to own or borrow through MeMeTales including more of the popular Stickfiggy series.

My husband used to ask me why I didn't plant the same color of flowers around our house. He thought the landscaping would look good if all the flowers were red. I said, "If God didn't want us to enjoy all the colors, he wouldn't have made them." Dan stopped asking that question and I continued planting a variety of flowers in various shades and glory. With the WWW, there has never been a better opportunity for us to learn to live cooperatively together and benefit from each other's wisdom and experiences. Let us connect with respect, understanding, compassion and joy while we celebrate and learn from our differences. We may not know a person's language, but we can smile at them.

No matter what language you speak, everyone understands the
universal signs of happiness: Smiles, giggles and laughter.

For a glimpse into Kindergarten see my book. Would you like inexpensive ideas, activities, and games to teach your child through play? Mommy with Selective Memory and I can help save your sanity, one project at a time, with The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both have been No. 1 Bestsellers on Amazon.

When Kids Recycle, Animals are Saved

When my kindergartners were having trouble focusing on being quiet, I pulled out a critter book and we were all fascinated by the amazing facts of animals, insects, fish, and birds. Science was the favorite subject in my classes and we even won 1st place in Kindergarten for our science project which involved squiggly worms. Fascinating - to five-year-olds, plus  it gave my husband a reason to go fishing when the project was finished. So when children are not interested in what you are trying to teach, throw in animals and science and they will pay attention - especially hands-on learning like taking apart owl pellets to see what owls eat (I highly recommend you have plenty of parent volunteers that day) or having races with beetles which have emerged from your mealworms.

SIMPLE WAYS FOR CHILDREN TO RECYCLE:

When we  teach children to recycle, we are helping to protect our earth's natural resources including habitats, critters, and food supplies. It is easy to separate items that can be recycled:

• Aluminum cans: We earn money for aluminum cans or donate them to the Boy Scouts for their fund.
• Plastic: Using material bags instead of plastic keeps more plastic from being deposited in landfills or burned.
• Glass: Some places prefer the glass be separated by color.
• Cardboard: Children enjoy stomping on boxes so they will fit into the cardboard recyclable container.
• Paper: We stopped taking the newspaper (read news on internet) and cut down on junk mail and magazines.
• Metal: We decided to build a home in the country and bought land that was formerly cow pasture. There was a lot of metal left on the property - even an old car with a tree growing in the middle! My husband cut the car into pieces and took it to the Recycling Center along with other metal including cans from soup and vegetables. We were happy to collect several hundred dollars for a trailer full of metal.
• Water: Did you know water is our most endangered natural resource? There is no reason to purchase water in plastic containers. Tap water must undergo more stringent standards than bottled water. It would be cheaper in the long term to purchase a filtering system if you do not like the taste of tap water. Humans need to drink lots of water, but we can use the same container over and over.
• Hazardous Substances: Model for children the proper way to dispose of oil, paint and medicine so that it doesn't end up in our water supply.
• Clothes: My personal favorite - we don't need to wear clean clothes every day - saves on laundry, wear & tear on clothes, and electricity.

Since we recycle and live in the country, we are able to burn what little trash we have left and WE HAVE NO TRASH COLLECTOR'S BILL! But remember, never leave a fire unattended.

 Note water bucket and hose nearby.Yes, those are chickens in the background. They love our food scraps and give us delicious, nutritious eggs.

HOW DOES RECYCLING HELP ANIMALS?

• It protects their habitats.
• It prevents ocean life from being hurt by trash like plastic rings choking fish or plastic littering their water space. Plastic takes hundreds of years to disintegrate and even then the particles are not good for consumption.
• It provides a cleaner water supply.
• The less space used for landfills, the fewer rodents and more room for animal habitats.
• Crafts, gifts, and cards from recycled materials help critters such as bird houses made from wood scrapes, bird feeders made from plastic jugs, or gifts made from natural objects like a Fossil Dough Stick Ornament.
• Upcycling toys lessens the cost of  manufacturing and transportation. Mommy with Selective Memory's children spent hours making and playing with their 3D House Made from Trash around Your Home.
  

Little Buddy loves collecting sticks and berries then

making a Fossil Dough Ornament gift.

MORE IDEAS ON PINTEREST BOARD:
Recycle! Upcycle! Kids Activities & Art

3D House Made from Upcycled "Trash"

Birds enjoy Little Buddy's Birdhouse

Using Less - Means More.

Would you like inexpensive ideas, activities, and games to teach your child through play? See my new book, co-written with Mommy with Selective Memory titled The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn  - or would you like a glimpse into Kindergarten? Both are bestsellers and are also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

What other ways can children help animals?
What do you recycle?

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Play House - Build a Home

Should boys play with dolls? Should girls play with trucks? I was surprised how much has been written about this topic. I consider Pretend Play as PLAY – or a child’s work. Some kindergarten classrooms no longer have the “Drama” center. True, there may be plenty of drama abounding without a center encouraging more. But are the children missing out on important benefits of Imaginary Play? What are the benefits? Just that – children using their imaginations!

BENEFITS OF IMAGINARY PLAY
Children are learning important social, cognitive and emotional skills during Imaginary, Pretend or Fantasy Play. This open-ended play:

• Promotes Social Skills: Children are imitating their parents when they play “house” and are learning how to treat each other. Children playing school may be the future teachers, counselors, principals. Children storytelling may become the next J. K. Rowling. Little Princesses are building self-confidence as they rule over others.
• Develops Language and Cognitive Skills: I have witnessed many children talking, communicating, sharing, listening and bonding while engaging in pretend play. Much negotiation must occur between children sharing toys, deciding who plays whom, taking turns, listening to others, or deciding who's the boss or ruler of the kingdom or home.
• Increases Intellect: Imaginative play is the foundation of abstract thought and symbolic thinking which helps children understand letters, numbers, sounds, and words.
• Supports Emotional Development and Builds Self-Confidence: Pretend play builds friendships, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging. Because a young child is not able to control much in his/her day-to-day life, taking on an adult role can be very empowering. When children develop confidence in their abilities, they will be more determined and persistent when introduced to new skills.
•  Modeling or Role Playing allows children to explore their feelings and gain a sense of control. Playing doctor, nurse, or vet can help a child develop empathy. Children can  feel free to explore the more confusing feelings they experience such as jealousy, anger or frustration. In fact, play therapy encourages children to express their problems through play.
• Teaches Self-Control: Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist,  maintained that "…at 4 or 5, a child’s ability to play creatively with other children was in fact a better gauge of her future academic success than any other indicator, including her vocabulary, her counting skills or her knowledge of the alphabet." Vygotsky believed that dramatic play was the training ground where children learned to regulate themselves and to conquer their own unruly minds. When children follow the rules of make-believe and push one another to follow those rules, they develop important habits of self-control. In other words: Children can learn SELF-CONTROL and to THINK while participating in pretend play!

Listening to a child's phone conversation gives you insight into what they are thinking - or what they hear you say!

CAN PRETEND PLAY HELP OUR SOCIETY?

Allowing children to be creative contributes to novel thoughts, problem-solving skills and entrepreneurs. The highest achievers in societies were encouraged, or at least allowed, to think outside the box. If they weren’t, they stole the time to do it anyway, becoming great artists, writers and scientists. The next time you have the impulse to correct a child's art or stop their pretend play for flashcards, think of Mark Zackerberg (Facebook), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple Computers), Jeff Bezos (Amazon.com) or Stephen Spielberg (movie producer).
 
So is it all right for boys to play with dolls? I think so. Divorce rates are complicated to report due to multiple marriages but between 40% and 60% of new marriages will eventually end in divorce in the U.S. And births to unwed mothers have risen to about 41 percent today or 4 out of 10 children are born to unmarried women. The majority of children living with one parent lives with their single mother. Therefore, it is easy for me to conclude that Playing House is needed to Build a Home. Call me old fashion, but I believe children, and our society, need strong family bonds and support.

Need more inexpensive ideas, activities, and games on how children learn through play? See my new book, co-written with Mommy with Selective Memory titled The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn or for a glimpse into Kindergarten, click my other book. oth have been number 1 bestsellers on Amazon. Also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo. 

I assure you that the joy, love, and fulfillment experienced
in loving, righteous families produce the greatest possible
happiness we can achieve. That happiness is the foundation
for a successful society. ~ Quentin L.Cook 

What are your favorite memories of imaginative play? 

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Caught Being Good

Do you want to raise a responsible well-behaved child? You can - by helping them develop good character traits. I still have parents thank me for giving them the idea to use a marble jar as a reward system. Our kindergarten classroom's jar was filled as the class received compliments from staff, parents, high school helpers, substitutes, i.e. anyone 16 or over.  It took about a month for the class to fill the jar. When it was full, my husband and daughter made cupcakes to celebrate. The children were so proud that they had earned those cupcakes, even though they only cost a few dollars to make. Other class rewards could be to let them vote on a short movie, take a long walk or play a new game outside, and extend center or recess time.

For preschoolers, or at home, use a smaller jar so that it can be filled in about a week's time. The children can also learn math as you count the marbles. They will have a visual hands-on reward system. Let them help decide the reward. Sometimes spending special one-on-one time is much more beneficial than spending money. I was humbled when my daughter's kinder teacher told me that her favorite thing to do was to play dollhouse with me - no money or transportation was necessary, just some playful one-on-one time expanding our imaginations and relaxing in pretend play.

BUILDING GOOD CHARACTER
Children need to learn good character traits in order to gain respect and trust from those around them. Then they will gain a sense of pride in their abilities boosting self- confidence. You can encourage character growth in your child by using, recognizing, requiring, and emphasizing the right attitudes, words, and actions. This is best done by example. Communicate realistic age-appropriate expectations and hold your child accountable to teach responsibility.

The following is quoted from  PlayDrMom's Readathon post: "Positive reinforcement works … and also helps foster independence, life skills, and self-esteem.  It focuses more on mutual respect than power-differentials. Punishing (such as time-outs and taking away privileges) works too and it is sometimes needed, but if positive behaviors are reinforced regularly there will be less of a need for the punishments … and in turn less power struggles.... Implementing positive behavior strategies in daily family life can not only help eliminate problematic behaviors, but can give children a sense of control and help decrease parental stress.  Verbal praise, simply talking about progress made, and showing the pride you have in your children can go a long way in helping your child’s character development. "  To read the full article, click Promoting Positive Parenting.

To read my series on Discipline, click Prevent Inappropriate Behavior

 

Sisters displaying good character traits while reading: Sharing, caring, good example

  The truth of the matter is that you always know
the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.”
~ H. Norman Schwarzkopf, Am. General

For a glimpse into Kindergarten see my book. Would you like inexpensive ideas, activities, and games to teach your child through play? Mommy with Selective Memory and I can help save your sanity, one project at a time, with The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both have been number 1 bestsellers on Amazon and are helpful gifts for parents and teachers. Also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

What ideas would you like to add?

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