Happy New Year everyone! We have officially made it out of 2020, and into the new year. I am back to share some more crafts and ideas that are winter themed! Similar to my last blog posts, these activities involve using items you may have laying around your house. Let’s jump right into the new year with new ideas!
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/get-inspired-this-season-with-these-8-craft-ideas-for-winter
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The day had been long, and I was out of patience. It was well past bedtime when my littles asked, “Mama, just one more story?” My response was kind but firm – I was done. As I stood for two last goodnight kisses, my older boys bounded into the bedroom, asking if the littles wanted gardens planted on their backs. I was struck by their question – I hadn’t planted Nighttime Gardens in years. Did they really remember from when they were little and I took the time to massage their backs, using my hands to “dig” rows for planting, “fill” the rows with dirt and have the “farmer” harvest his crops? Yes, they did remember. Their stories were different – more candy planting, rabbit chasing and farm feasting than my version – but the love, humor and meaningful connection was there nonetheless. The big brothers going through the motions on their little brothers’ backs and telling stories meant connections were being made in those last minutes before sleep. Though I had gotten tired and perhaps a bit lazy over the years, it seems my older boys had treasured that connection and carried those memories as a gift to their younger brothers – and had been doing it for weeks without my knowledge. It was like magic.
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/how-to-harness-the-magical-power-of-stories-in-your-home
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When I was deciding to have children, parenting them during a global pandemic never even crossed my mind.
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/outdoor-time-means-empowered-children-for-this-nature-loving-family
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This year has been unlike any other. Now, maybe more than ever, we could all use some holiday spirit! Here are a few creative and low-budget ways to help your family and friends feel festive. Each idea will also engage growing minds in important developmental motor and STEAM skills, such as coordination and planning. You can also use these ideas a springboard for your child’s imagination – you may be surprised by what they can dream up once they get started!
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/ten-inexpensive-steam-holiday-fun-ideas-for-families
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As a pediatric speech-language pathologist, I have a passion for making language learning fun and FUNctional. We’ve known for decades that when it comes to learning in early childhood, children are more likely to retain information when using a hands-on approach. This isn’t just for classroom learning!
If you’re looking for different ways to encourage language development at home, read on for 3 simple tips.
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/3-ways-to-encourage-language-development-at-home
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Parents have always worn many hats: primary caregiver, homework helper, boo-boo healer…the list goes on. Recently, that list has expanded to include teacher, therapist, coach, and more. The enormity of these changes can seem overwhelming, especially if you have minimal experience in these professional fields! But, as we know, parents can rise to any occasion for their children. As adults, we learn best by understanding the why behind what we do.
Here are some ideas to make learning fun and stress-free in these uncertain times.
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/are-you-homeschooling-because-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-here-are-6-encouraging-tips-to-make-learning-fun
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It’s difficult to ignore the seemingly ubiquitous presence of escape room games these days. There seems to be at least one outlet for them in just about every city, and they’re touted as the perfect solution for everything from busting tourism boredom to throwing birthday parties to creating action-packed team building exercises for corporations. More recently, escape rooms have also started popping up in educational settings with teachers using them to engage learners in content and even to replace final exams! (Check out ThinkFun’s own collection of Escape the Room games here.)
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/escape-rooms-their-rise-in-popularity-and-what-they-say-about-us
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from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/5-phonemic-awareness-activities-to-support-struggling-readers
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If you’ve got your kids home for the foreseeable future and want to enhance their STEM education, but are unsure of how to do it in a way that retains all of the fun and the educational value, look no further. Read on to know five different ways to engage your children in STEM while home learning!
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/stem-for-kids-5-ways-to-make-science-and-math-fun-during-home-learning
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Thanks for returning for some more fun budget friendly crafts that can be created using materials right in your home! (You can find part I here.)
from ThinkFun’s Education Blog http://info.thinkfun.com/stem-education/simple-craft-ideas-using-household-items-part-ii
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