A Balance Board

I am always on the hunt for toys that engage for hours. I want my kids using their imaginations and creating. I had seen so many parents rave about these wooden balance boards, but I never realized just how open-ended they could be. My kids are WAY more creative than I am!

My kiddos, who are 1 and 3, have made slides, boats, bridges, homes for their animals, caves, and so much more. You need to monitor the young ones - my one year old has bopped his head on it once or twice. Overall, I see growth in gross motor skills, determination, perseverance, collaborative play, and just sharing a toy! Not an easy feat for toddlers!

I've Said it Before and I'll Say it Again - The Pure Joy of Having a Box is UNMATCHED.

We order from Boxed. Have you heard of it?

I live kind of in the middle of nowhere and I love bulk shopping. Like, love it. When everyone was hoarding toilet paper at the start of the pandemic, I was totally fine because I naturally keep every single bathroom fully stocked and have an extra 30 pack in the basement just in case. I also happen to love saving money, so buying in bulk is a way to do that in the long run.

Anyway, I always drove out to BJs once every few months to stock up on essentials. Then the pandemic hit. I was pregnant and not about to go into a big store surrounded by tons of people, so I cancelled my BJs membership and discovered Boxed. It doesn't have quite the selection, but they deliver! To my door! No more leaving my house and hauling giant, heavy boxes to my car! So, I love it.

And here we are. A Boxed delivery means my children have access to the world's biggest boxes.

For this box, we used markers to draw inside. We drew a scene and on the ground was a pond with fish and of course my one-year old swam in it. 

I have set my kiddos down in the box like a playpen, thrown some markers and paint sticks inside and let them go nuts for a while. Do we need a bath afterwards? Yes, usually. But I can also make dinner without worrying about the one-year old trying to twist the knobs on the stove, so I call that a WIN!

Anyway, I think it is important to remember that expensive toys are NOT always where it's at. A plain old box from an awesome online bulk supplier can do the job, no problem. Well, the only time it becomes a problem is when my three-year old hoarder child decides to literally fill that box with everything she owns for no reason. And then put a chair on top and sit on it. But that's my problem. 

A Change in Scenery to Get Kids Reading

I've found both at home and in the classroom that switching things up sometimes can be really valuable and reinvigorate some enthusiasm. I am a major supporter of routines and procedures, but every once in a while it is motivating to make a change.

At home, we will create "reading nooks" every once in a while that will stay in place for a few days. For example, turning our two chairs into a little bed and adding a bin of books. Later, we added cozy pillows and blankets. Additionally, every few weeks I take a huge armload of books from one kid's room, bring them to the other kiddo's room, and switch up the books on their bookshelves. It always leads to them rediscovering books they love but forgot about, or spending an hour going through their "new" books.

In the classroom, I would bring in different flexible seating options throughout the year, introduce new books to the library, switch things up with a "Flashlight Friday" routine that involved reading in the dark with flashlights, reading marathon days, etc. Just something different and exciting to get kids refocused on their love of reading! Isn't that the point? Kids who love reading, read. Kids who read, learn. 

Spark the JOY of READING Early On!

That's the face of a kid who loves books!

Isn't that the goal?

Get books in the hands of kids early on and let them enjoy those books. Every single time a child is reading a book, there doesn't need to be a quiz or a discussion or a running reading record. Sometimes kids need time to explore books and just foster that love of reading that will last their whole lives.

That's why I really do love the program we use in our school, Collaborative Classroom. It gives kids time to love on books, build their reading stamina, and conference with teachers. If you haven't heard of it before, look into it! It's a nonprofit and has transformed our culture for learning!

Just give kids a box. That's it. Save your money.

Seriously. I have spent A LOT of money on toys in my life. Wonderful, open-ended, purposeful play-type of toys, all highly recommended. But you know what really entertains? A box.

A box can be a fort. 

A box can be a canvas for artwork.

A box can be a ride.

A box can be a boat.

A box can be ANYTHING kids can imagine. And it's GREAT play! 

When we get a massive order in a giant box, my kids immediately come and help me unload everything. It makes my heart happy that they like helping until I realize that they are only doing it to get to the empty box faster. Which is okay, too, because then I get to witness the toddler imaginations at work and it really is a beautiful thing. 

Handprint Art: BEST DAD HANDS DOWN!

Check out this easy to use printable for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Appreciate Week, Principals, and Birthdays!

Recently, I decided to keep one frame ready to go in our house for these handprint art holiday gifts. Now, we switch out the most recent piece of artwork, so whatever is hanging is from that year. We still save the old handprints and cards and cutesie handmade things, but they are not ALL on display because that would just get crazy!

How to Use:

Simply use ink pads or paint to add your child's handprints to the templates provided! Afterwards, you can have children sign their name at the bottom. This is a memorable keepsake that can be framed or used as a card for special occasions.

What's Included?

There are 30 pages available. Plenty of black and white options for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparents' Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurses Appreciate Week, Principals, and Birthdays!. Names include:

- Mom

- Mommy

- Dad

- Daddy

- Grandma

- Grandpa

- Teacher

- Principal

- Nurse

Click here for the printable!

LEGO Building Brick Challenges for Kids of ALL AGES!

You know what I really love about STEM challenges? SO many of them can be posed for kids of all ages. You'll always be surprised by the responses from kids! They can truly be thoughtful, innovative, and motivated!

I have created LEGO Build Brick STEM Challenges for seriously all ages. Using them in school for our STEAM program, as well as for myself as a classroom teacher and a summer school teacher, I continue to be dazzled by the new ideas kids come up with. (I even test some of these challenges out on my 3-year old, pictured below!)

STEM challenges create a community - kids love sharing and reflecting on their creations, supporting each other through hiccups, and cheering their peers on when there are successes. It also builds on the collaboration of classmates. I oftentimes hear kids say, "How did you build that?" or "Can you help me with this?" or "Wow, I never thought to try that! Great idea!"

Now, when I use these challenges in my own classroom, I have always used plastic pencil boxes or larger plastic totes to house the actual LEGO building pieces, and typically each child gets their own. Each tote may have a varied assortment of pieces, and kids are allowed to share, but they have their own place to store their pieces. From there, I usually project the quick challenges on the Smart Board, discuss them, and set a timer for building. We have a share time, and move on. For challenges that take longer, I have written responses for kids to plan, build, reflect, and revisit their build. But really, the beauty in using STEM challenges like these in your classroom or home is that you are able to tailor it to fit your specific needs!

Click here for ideas to incorporate LEGO STEM into your home or classroom today!