Accounting for 6 Year Olds

One of the activity ideas in The Write Start (Have you got your copy yet? It's worth it. See my review, here.) was keeping a ledger book.

I bought Kiddo a simple 8 column blank ledger book to keep track of how much money he had earned, and how much he had to spend, save or give. He loves to write in it, and I think he works harder to earn money just so he can write it down!

If you are interested in how Kiddo earns his allowance and our spend/save/give system, see this post.

I've linked this post to Math Monday.

Friday Do-Over: Magnet Play

If it's too cold outside, or you can't imagine putting coats, snow pants, boots, scarves, mittens and hats on your kids for the umpteenth time, try this. Or check out my Indoor Activities for Kids page. First Published 7/6/09This was a really easy activity to put together for Kiddo and provided lots of independent play (always important to lazy parents like me). I filled a clear container (I used an old pickle jar) with paperclips and some metal washers, then added some red lentils for color. Using a strong magnet on the outside of the container, Kiddo could lift the paperclips and washers, move them around, hunt for them in the lentils, make chains, etc. It was a big hit.I didn't get any photos of him playing with it, because I was busy cleaning up New Kid's poo explosion, which is just more proof that this activity kept him busy for a while.

Mini Knobbed Cylinders

For his birthday, Kiddo received the game, Castle Logix. It's a great logic game, but New Kid decided (with his toast) that it has the added benefit as doubling as a easy puzzle for toddlers.

Sort of like a mini version of the Montessori knobbed cylinders.

C is for Cookie Casserole

When I last posted about my breakfast endeavors I received some good suggestions. One of them was from Julie, who linked to an Oatmeal Bake recipe. I thought it sounded yummy, so I gave it a whirl. Realizing that Kiddo would not try something with "oatmeal" in the title, I decided to call it "Cookie Casserole".  Because... well, you know why.

He gobbled it up, of course. It also makes a great after-school snack.

I used less sugar than the recipe calls for since I didn't actually want it to have as much sugar as a cookie. But it's pretty yummy. I've used various fruits and spices. But what is with all the sugar? People, this is breakfast!

Baked oatmeal was news to me, but apparently it has been around a while, if you Google it you will find tons of recipes.  But what you will get if you Google "cookie casserole" I can't be held responsible for.

Blow a Frozen Bubble

A 15 degree day has to be good for something, right? Try blowing frozen bubbles.

After reading this post at Archimedes Notebook, we gave it a try. It's a fun change from your normal winter play and shattering the frozen bubbles is quite a treat.

The Accidental Mathematician

Since everyone needs an excuse to make more cookies....

We tend to associate kitchen math with measuring and fractions, but did you ever think it would be useful for learning about columns and rows (i.e. graphing?)

Over the holidays I made some cookies while Kiddo sat at the table reading some books. I asked him to help me figure out how to make an equal number of rows and columns on the tray. Being the crazy kid he is, he found this extremely interesting.

FYI: Never give your toddler an Earl Grey Tea Cookie less than 6 hours before bedtime. Not that I would ever commit such an error.

Link up to Joyful Learner's Math Mondays.

Friday Do-Over: Moon Viewer

Learning about the moon? Try this, or check out our other moon activities here. First published: 9/03/09.
The title of this post should be, "How I Make the Coolest Project Ever but Can Only Get Terrible Photos of It."

We have been reading some books about the moon lately (see end of post for some of them) and I have been working on some moon activities to accompany our reading. The first is our Moon Phase Viewer. I know this is not a good tutorial with photos and everything and the result is not a beautiful creation... For all you crafty folks out there I would like you to know that I did try hard, but let's face it, I will never be featured on The Crafty Crow.

I found another use for the salt containers I have been hoarding...
First I cut off one end of the salt container. In the opposite end I used an x-acto knife to cut 4 moon phases: new, full, half and crescent. I lined the full moon cut out with blue cellophane and the others with yellow. I then attached a circle with a cut out to the same end using a brad (you can see in the photo).
At the reverse end of the container I cut a hole to fit a small flashlight, inserted and taped the flashlight in place (otherwise I knew Kiddo would push it into the viewer and we would have to take it apart to retrieve the light! I taped the end back in place and decorated it with construction paper and stickers.

Here is a blurry photo of the full moon made by the viewer.

Reading Assignment:
A Cloak for the Moon
How the Moon Regained her Shape
Papa, Please get the Moon for Me
I Took the Moon for a Walk
The Moon Seems to Change

Toddler Collage

New Kid, like most toddlers is fascinated by tiny objects. I thought I would use his interest to my advantage. I sat him down in front of a piece of paper and squeezed out several lines and blobs of glue. I gave him a handful of small trinkets: jewel-y things, googly eyes, foam shapes and suggested he push them into the glue.

He thought it was great fun.

Of course, because of the size of the trinkets, remember to supervise closely. I find that if I make a fuss over his not putting the objects in his mouth then he thinks it is hilarious to do so, but if I act like it is no big deal he is much less likely to try and eat his art materials.

Homemade Toddler Lacing Activity

New Kid loves to lace beads on a string. Despite his fierce determination, his fine motor skills are not quite ready for little holes and so he screams, "need help!" at me the entire time.

I put together this lacing activity for him. I cut up a paper towel roll for the "beads" and used a large ribbon, the ends of which I cut into points using pinking shears (for easier threading). For good measure I fixed a square of cardboard at one end so the "beads" would not slip off.

Just right for little hands with lofty goals.

**I wish I could have gotten a photo of his efforts, but whenever I bring out the camera New Kid stops what he's doing and yells, "camera, camera!"

Transportation Tuesday

Pile up on the abacus.

Temperature Tracking

Wasn't All Things Beautiful's guest post great? Now I have a guest post up over at her blog. It's a simple weather charting activity. Check it out.

Homemade Rubber Ball (Guest Post)

That's right! A homemade rubber ball! Today's guest post comes from All Things Beautiful. Phyllis homeschools her five beautiful children and posts about some amazing projects. I also love that her posts include easy to follow tutorials and the history and facts behind the lesson. Check out her blog, you won't be sorry. If you would like to do a non-commercial guest post here (it can be anything -- share an activity with the kids, a trick for getting through the day, a learning moment, etc.) please email me. I'd love to hear from you.

We have been having fun with polymers, or long chains of molecules that link together to make slimy or rubbery things...just the kind of thing boys like. Here is a simple experiment using things you probably have around the house that will engage your young boys. They love making something they can play with.

First put one teaspoon of vinegar in a clean Mason jar.

Next, heat 1/2 cup of milk in a little pan on the stove until lumps form.

 Scoop out the lumps into the jar with vinegar. You may need to pour off the liquid really slowly to get to the lumps.

Let it all sit for about an hour.

You'll notice a rubbery blob form.

You can shape it into a little round ball, and then let it sit and harden for a few hours on a paper towel.

What is the science behind it?

The vinegar and milk interact with each other. When you cook the milk, it separates into 2 parts; a liquid, and a solid that is made of fat, minerals, and a protein called casein. The vinegar interacts with the milk protein, making a polymer or a long chain of molecules that bend like rubber.

We use casein to make glue and plastics.

The Years are Numered

Yesterday I somehow became the mom of a six year old. How did that happen?

Every year I cut out a large number and take a series of pictures of the birthday boy holding his age. I haven't decided if I will stop at 18 or 20, but when I reach the magic number I will put together a picture book of the photos throughout the years.

20. He can take his time getting there. That's fine with me.

Month to Month: Why Magazines are Good for Kids

Do your kids get magazine subscriptions? If not, you are missing out on two very important experiences:

1. Your child's joy at receiving his very own mail; and
2. The free time you will have while said child is busy pouring over his new literature.

Obviously, I have not listed these experiences in order of importance.

But in all seriousness, I think that magazine subscriptions are terrific for encouraging independent literacy: It came in the mail! It has your name on it! It has variety! It must be desirable!

Our two favorite magazine publishers, which have a variety of subscriptions for different age ranges:

• Anything from the Cricket family publishing house (currently reading Ask and Spider for Kiddo, Baby Bug for New Kid)
• NWF's magazines (currently reading Ranger Rick for Kiddo and Wild Animal Baby for New Kid)

A note on prices: Some of these magazines can seem expensive. But consider that you are getting the equivalent of 8-12 books with one subscription. And don't forget to look out for specials and encourage subscriptions as gifts from the grandparents (MUCH better than another toy, right?)... that's what we do!

Are your children reading magazines? If so, which ones?

Transportation Tuesday

Food on the go.

Rainbow Snowflakes

While it was snowing outside, we made some rainbow snowflakes for inside. We used Wikki Stix, but see this post for how to make your own snowflake window clings (we made numbers, but you can make anything you want).

You don't have to tell me, I know you're jealous of our view.

Suggestions Needed!

Our home library is in dire need of a collection of Fairy Tales. Do you have a favorite anthology of Fairy Tales? Tell me!

They Love 'em, I Hate 'em

You may have noticed I have been breaking my "no wordy posts" rule a lot recently. I'll try to get back on form soon. No promises.

But for today, I am engaging in a bit of an evil twist to the blog hop, What My Child is Reading, because I need to vent about these books.

Every child has favorite books that fills his parents with dread.  I'm not talking about books you have to read a gazillion times and are simply tired of, but books you reject from the moment you saw the first page. Maybe I am being a touch melodramatic, but we've all been there.

Here are my top 5.

 

#5 Elmo books. I have nothing against Elmo. Really, I don't. Well, except for the fact that he refers to himself in the third person. But his books are inane. New Kid is all over the Elmo books at the library. And he has never even seen Sesame Street.


#4 Andrew Lost. This is a chapter book series that Kiddo picked out. All 18 of them. Although there was a lot of interesting science facts in the books, the stories read like a string of facts. There is also the most annoying robot character, Thudd, who talks like a baby and is impossible to understand. Each book ends with "to be continued" so you have to read the next one (and did I mention there are 18?). AHHHHH!  I found them excruciatingly tedious.

#3 Clifford the Big Red Dog. I should begin by saying that I actually like Clifford. Every book has something a bit amusing in it. And they are a bit cheeky. But there are so darn many of them! Not only are there the original books, but there are easy reader versions, and Puppy Days versions and versions based on the TV show. It never ends! There is something nefarious about a series with a gazillion books. If there was just one, you could read it and move on. The worst of it is that the library keeps these books (along with the books for #1, in a low bin at the front of the children's section. So the fist thing Kiddo does is load up on these books. I don't have a fighting chance. I have learned to combat this by first going to the hold section, because there is nothing more interesting than a stack of books waiting especially for you with your name on them.

So, I can read a Clifford book now and again, but please don't bring a stack of them to the couch!

#2 Anything by Dr. Seuss. I hate Dr. Seuss. I know you love him. Everyone loves him. I don't understand. The ridiculous rhyming goes on forever. The pictures are boring and all the same. Gah! Kiddo is not as enamoured with Dr. Seuss as I feared he would be, which is good because  I would rather read Tip, Tip, Dig, Dig for an hour (and I think I have) than pick up a Dr. Seuss book. Fortunately, the Dr. Seuss section in the library is in the back corner. Easily avoided.  The only Dr. Seuss book I like is My Many Colored Days, which is very different from his others and he didn't illustrate it.

#1. The Berenstain Bears. The arch nemeses of my read-aloud existence. Not only are they moralistic and boring, but they are long! If these stories were short and quick, I might be able to stand it. But they are so loooooooong! And there are a gazillion of them. The Berenstain Bears are the only books I have actually refused to read. That's right. My child asked me to read a book and I said "NO." Can you believe it? Normally, I have a policy of always reading books Kiddo chooses, but after several marathon sessions of The Berenstain Bears, I banned them because I just could. not. take. it. anymore. Kiddo can still check them out from the library, as he frequently does. But I will not read them.  In fact, he tells me -- when he chooses the book- - "I am going to read this, you don't have to." Truer words were never spoken. I cannot believe the good reviews parents give these soporific books. I guess people like books with an painfully preachy message and mind-numbing illustrations. But what do I know, I don't like Dr. Seuss, either.

And there you have it. Was I too mean? Did I overuse the italics and bold typeface?

What books do your kids love, but you hate?