The 10 Rs for Your Child's Super Successful Summer

How can your children stay on a routine and retain what they learned in school AND be excited about it? Here are some simple ideas for a Super Successful Summer:

1.  RULES:  KISS (Keep It Simple Silly). Work with your children to decide on rules and have them sign the contract. For example - Every Day:

• 30 minutes of schoolwork
• Finish Chores 
• An hour of physical play
• Be Kind

2.  READ: Every day read - books, ipads, magazines, rules of games. Relevancy leads to reading. Play Scavenger Hunt Games. Take trips to the library. Let your child see your love and enjoyment of reading.

3.  wRITING - the fastest becoming lost "art." Help your child make To Do lists and cross off accomplishments. They can help with grocery lists to see writing has meaning. Help your child make a book - which can become a treasure, keepsake or gift. This helps with creativity and learning to read. You can keep it simple and just staple some pages together or poke holes and bind pages with yarn. They can illustrate it or you can paste their favorite photos. You may need to write their words. You could print the words large enough so that your child can trace over the words. Ownership leads to reading desire and enthusiasm.

4. aRITHIMETIC: Play Games. Make Math Fun and Relevant! Patterns and math concepts are everywhere leading to better reading and thinking skills.

5. RESPECT: Children who learn to respect others will be much happier and more successful in life.

6. RESPONSIBILITY Teach responsibility at an early age to help them (and you) through further years of development. Have a chore binder book or sticker chart. Use symbols beside words if your child isn't reading yet.

7. REWARDS: Children love a marble rewards jar - which teaches math as well as learning to earn something they want. Ask your child what they would like to earn. You may be humbled by their answer. When my daughter was in kindergarten, she told her teacher that her favorite thing to do with her mom was to play with the dollhouse.

8. RANDOM ACTS of KINDNESS: Teach the reward of giving. Helping neighbors, or taking them a plate of homemade cookies, can form lasting relationships and give a child a sense of community and belonging to a neighborhood. See RAK free ideas and printables.

Like Mama - Like Daughter

9. RELEASE STRESS - INCREASE STRENGTH: Children need to play outside. When I grew up, we did not have mobile phones, ipads, computers or even color television. My parents had five children and we were encouraged to play outside most of the time. Through outdoor play, I learned:

• How to communicate, share, socialize, follow game rules, and problem-solve
• Develop fine and large muscles
• Use my imagination to develop new games using whatever we had (rocks, marbles, balls, cans, sticks, chalk)
• Connect with my neighbors experiencing a sense of belonging

10. ROUTINE: Children crave routine and stability. Put PJs on, brush teeth, and then please snuggle and read a book every night possible with your children. Simple Comprehension Questions will help them retain information and will give you a glimpse into their imaginative thinking. Children will remember this special bonding time always - and you will to. They are little only a short time.



 

REMEMBER ~ 

Time is the most important

thing to spend on a child. 

Related Posts: 

ARK - Acts of Random Kindness

• Kindergarten Readiness: Enroll or Wait
• Caught Being Good!
• Top 10 Ways to Keep Kids Creative
• Why Craft? Why Art?
• Acts of Random Kindness - FREE Printables
• How to De-Stress Young Children while Traveling
• Discipline: Combat Duty or Common Sense Tactics
• Screen Time or Sensory Time
• The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools

   
Would you like a glimpse into Kindergarten? See Kindergarten: Tattle-Tales, Tools, Tactics, Triumphs and Tasty Treats for Teachers and Parents. Moms of Preschoolers - let a mom and a teacher help save your sanity, one project at a time, including the child development explanations and age appropriate activities in The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. Both are bestsellers and also available on Barnes & Noble and Kobo. The ebooks are only $3.99.

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Simple Comprehension Questions for Early Readers

photo from HANDS ON as We Grow

I was filled with joy as my four-year-old grandson read a book to me. His proud mother said, "It's impressive - but I wonder if he understands what he's reading." We both looked at each other and decided we needed to find out.

I searched on-line for Comprehensive Reading Questions - and was overwhelmed with the amount of questions you can ask a young reader. Reading needs to be a fun bonding experience - so I suggest the KISS approach:

5 Tips: Teaching Children to Read Naturally

Please don't be stressed that your preschooler isn't reading! Of course, it is wonderful to share books with your child and for them to see you reading. Your enthusiasm for books is contagious and extremely helpful for children to develop a curiosity and love of books. But they may not be ready to focus on the letters, or be interested in flashcards, or expensive phonics' programs. Let them be children, learning with their five senses and movement, and they will learn naturally with some easy inexpensive involvement and encouragement. 

When my grandson went grocery shopping with his mom, he pointed and yelled, "K-R-O-G-E-R. That spells grocery store!" He didn't know the name of the store, but knew those letters symbolized groceries. Be excited when children notice and recognize letters and words. 

5 TIPS TO ENCOURAGE A LOVE OF READING: 

Reasons to Read Aloud & Personalized Book Giveaways!

I See Me Personalized Books

Children whose parents read aloud to them become better students. They are stronger readers, have a broader vocabulary, listen better, become better writers, have a better imagination, and have more confidence - all of which leads to a better performance in school. The priceless bonus is that they have bonded with their parents through a love of books.


I'm going to share a personal story with you. When my daughter was three, I was told she was mentally retarded and had autistic tendencies. I just couldn't believe that she wouldn't learn to read - coming from parents who had read thousands of books. I did not have a teaching certificate then - only a strong desire to help her in any way I could. We shared books together every night. I still cherish Big Bird Goes to the Park and taped it numerous times to hold it together because we read it so many times. We looked at ABC books and talked about the letters and made their sounds. We read books of all subjects: Silly books, rhyming books, science books for young children. And as an adult, she now reads at a 5th grade level - higher than many adults. How can this be?

The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools: U to Z

U to Z

This is Part 5 in my series of the ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools. Click here for A to E, F to J, K to O and P to T.

The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools: P - T

P to T

This is Part 4 in my series of the ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools. Click here for A to E, F to J, K to O and U to Z.

The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools: K - O

K - O

This is Part 3 in my series of the ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools. Click here for A to E, F to J, P to T and U to Z.

The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools: F - J

F - J

This is Part 2 in my series of the ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools. Click here for A to E, K to O, P to T and U to Z.

The ABCs of Thrifty Teaching Tools: A-E

A - E

You don't need to spend a lot of money to teach children. Young children learn using their five senses and movement. You can make many teaching tools yourself, use inexpensive items that you already have, or find free resources available on the internet. This is a 5 part series of Thrifty Teaching Tools.

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:

Bring Back Rhyme Time to Teach Reading Skills

How does rhyming teach literacy skills? Katie Norris and I are guest posting at Imagination Soup. You'll love her amazing blog. We give you reasons to bring out the rhyming books to help your child develop reading skills. Just click on How Rhyming Teaches Kids Literacy Skills.

"The Graham Cracker Kid and the Calico Girl" Picture Book

I am very honored to interview Tommy Overstreet, legendary singer/songwriter who co-wrote The Graham Cracker Kid and the Calico Girl with Dale G. Vest. It is a beautifully written poem with 46 pages illustrated from oil paintings by Jesse Anderson. This book is a touching and timeless story about two charming children in the Old West, filled with humor, suspense and a host of delightful characters that add joy and delight to every page. {Below is a link to adorable Free Printables to go with the book.}

eReaders or Real Books for Preschoolers?

I asked Katie, Mommy with Selective Memory, if she would take a picture of Little Munchkin using the iPad. Munchkin loves to wear pretty dresses and was happy to oblige. But Katie told me she did not stay with the iPad very long after the picture was taken.

Technology is a wonderful tool and I LOVE my Kindle - but I believe creating a love of reading with beginning readers is best done on the lap of a parent with a real book, conversation and interaction. A parent’s voice is soothing to a young child and can be full of expression. Sharing books together forms a comforting bond as a child turns pages, touches the illustrations, and actively participates in the reading process.

Young children learn using their five senses and movement. They will engage in a book more if they are interacting with a book that has flaps, movable gadgets and interesting textures. Reading is more than learning letters sounds and putting the sounds together to form words. Reading is a magical adventure. Communication with a parent or teacher enhances the experience and adds to comprehension, language development, and vocabulary. Questions can be asked and answered.

 

CONS OF eREADERS

• Research concludes that children who are exposed to too much electronic reading have a lower vocabulary and delayed language development
  E-reading tends to be more of a solitaire experience and may even become a babysitter
•  Comprehension is lower perhaps because children are distracted by the lighting, ways to move around the book, and options for playing games. Deep focusing is inhibited.
• Young children need large print and interesting illustrations.
• Heat can destroy an eReader if left in a hot car and they need to be re-charged  
•  Going to the library and picking out books cannot be experienced by using an eReader. Owning a collection of books that are re-read numerous times creates a feeling of ownership and comfort
• The lights and movement on eReaders can be stimulating and keep children awake after bedtime. 

PROS OF eREADERS

• May be more engaging to reluctant readers and children with special needs
• Can supplement reading skills through repetition
• Saves on book expenses and trees (I love garage sale books)
• Easily available on long car rides or doctor appointments when child needs more to do
• May give parents a much needed and deserved break!
• For recommended FREE ebooks, see No Twiddle Twaddle

photo by Glittering Muffins

Children crave and need a parent’s nearness for bonding, creating a love of reading, and comprehension of what was read - whether using a flat screen or a paper book. As with everything in life, finding a healthy balance is desirable.

Resources:
Why the Real World is Better for Children than an iPad, Psychology Today
Sesame's Best Practice Guide for Children's App Development
Parents Urged to Limit TV for Youngest, The New York Times

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. Or you might like a glimpse into Kindergarten - for parents and teachers. Both bestsellers are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kobo.

Does your child prefer real books or eReaders?