Book Reviews Archives

Simple Sensory Play with a Muffin Tin!

August 21, 2015 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Piglet is our last child and, I have to admit, I didn’t do many sensory activities with my other kids when they were her age. Until recently, I didn’t think sensory play was really important for kids.

Then we found out that Tigger has SPD, so we started integrating more sensory activities around the house. So, when I heard that Cathy James was releasing a new book that’s all about sensory activities for little ones, I was super excited to try it out! If you’re stumped for ideas, this book is full of simple sensory play ideas that take almost no time at all!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.

Simple Sensory Play with a Muffin Tin

For Piglet’s first official sensory play attempt, we decided to try the activity “Creative Concoctions” from Cathy’s new book Super Sensory Invitations to Play!

All you do is fill a muffin tin with whatever you have around the house. The goal is to include materials for as many senses as you can.

I took Cathy’s suggestion and used shaving cream, rice, water with food coloring, and dried beans. All of these were things I already had in our pantry. Win!

I will say that I had to be very clear with Piglet that she was not to eat ANYTHING. Otherwise, I’m sure she would have confused the shaving cream for whipped cream. 🙂

At first, I encouraged Piglet to feel the shaving cream. She didn’t exactly like the way it felt, though.

So I gave her a plastic spoon and she was far more comfortable.

I showed her how to add the colored water to the shaving cream. She loved doing it on her own!

Then she started adding rice and the dried beans.

After a while, we ended up with rainbow shaving cream!

Throughout the entire activity, she described what she did: “I mix it up.”, “I’m doing an activity.”, “I stir it.” I guess it ended up being a language activity too! 🙂

That looks like evidence that a tiny person enjoyed herself quite a bit.

All in all, she ended up sitting at our dining room table for nearly 30 minutes with this one activity! I couldn’t believe how much she enjoyed it and it was so simple! I am definitely an early childhood sensory play convert. 😉

If you want to see even more simple sensory ideas from the book Super Sensory Invitations to Play, click the image below to get a look at what’s inside!

This post is part of the Super Sensory Invitations to Play book tour! Stop by to visit the other blogs on the tour to see more wonderful sensory activities from the book!

Aug 2 :: Powerful Mothering

Aug 3 :: The Educators’ Spin On It

Aug 4 :: Simple Fun for Kids

Aug 6 :: Homegrown Friends

Aug 7 :: The Fairy and the Frog

Aug 8 :: Mum in The Made House

Aug 12 :: Mama Smiles

Aug 13 :: Thriving STEM

Aug 14 :: Mom Inspired Life

Aug 19 :: Kids Craft Room

Aug 20 :: Fun-A-Day

Aug 21 :: Look! We’re Learning!

Aug 23 :: Lemon Lime Adventures

Aug 26 :: Bambini Travel

Sept 1 :: Laughing Kids Learn

Sept 14 :: Best Toys for Toddlers

Sept 18 :: Fantastic Fun and Learning

Exploring Mexico for Kids with Pack-n-Go Girls Books

June 23, 2015 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Hi everyone! This week our Laugh and Learn linky is going global! We’re sharing a review of one of the entries in the Pack-n-Go Girls Books: “Mystery of the Disappearing Dolphin.” We decided to use the book as a springboard to exploring Mexico for kids!

As you might know, Tina and her family live in Mexico, so be sure to head over to her blog Los Gringos Logos (listed below) if you want to learn even more about the country. 😉

In addition, we’ve all chosen our favorite posts from last week’s linky. Read the features and then check out the newest parenting and homeschooling posts below!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Exploring Mexico for Kids

When I read the description of the Pack-n-Go Girls book series, I knew it would be a great fit for Tigger. She loves to read, she loves learning about world cultures, and she really loves books with female characters. Win-win-win! 🙂

Naturally, we started our lesson by reading the book.

I have to say: It’s a very well written book. Izzy, the lead character, is traveling on a sailboat with her mom and dad. They’re docked in Barra de Navidad, Mexico, where she’s made friends with Patti, a Mexican girl who lives nearby.

After Izzy’s uncle, who is uncomfortable with other cultures, comes to visit, the trip takes a turn for the worse, especially when Izzy is accused of stealing a handmade glass dolphin from the local market. We talked about the value and beauty of handmade items with the kids. Coincidentally, a dear friend of ours just returned from Mexico last week and brought our kids some handmade toys.

Aren’t they gorgeous? I’m seriously considering placing them on the mantle and never letting them play with them all. 🙂

After reading the book, we gathered around the computer to learn even more about Mexico and dolphins.

We took a virtual tour of La Merced, the famous outdoor market in Mexico City, so the kids could get a look at the huge variety of things that are available for sale.

Then we watched this video showing pictures of Barra de Navidad. Unlike Izzy’s uncle, I don’t think I’d ever complain if I had the chance to visit. It looks absolutely beautiful.

Finally, we watched a very interesting video from National Geographic Live about the way dolphins communicate with one another. Scientists are discovering that they have very advanced methods for cooperating and feeding. It’s a little advanced for younger kids, but you can definitely watch pieces and look at the pictures. (That’s pretty much what we did…lol.)

Finally, we headed to the table to draw pictures of dolphins based on the pictures we saw. It was a great lesson, an adorable book, and a wonderful way to begin exploring Mexico for kids!

To learn even more about Pack-n-Go Girls and support the Kickstarter campaign (Open through June 25), click the image below! 🙂

Now for the linky!

Welcome to our 38th week of Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup!
Laugh and Learn – Homeschool and Parenting Linkup will be open by 6 am every Tuesday morning. We will pick our five favorite posts and feature them on the following weeks linkup. Be sure to link your best content and maybe we will pick you! When you link your post with us it will be featured on five blogs.

We pin our favorites to a special Pinterest board for #laughlearnlinkup – homeschool and parenting posts. Check the board out here: #LaughLearnLinkup {Featured Favorites}. It’s added exposure for your awesome content!

Your Fabulous Hosts 😉

Tina

Tina lives abroad in Latin America with her husband and four children. Currently in Mexico, Tina is active in homeschool, travel, and her Bible ministry. She blogs about all of their adventures and more at Los Gringos Locos.
Find Tina at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Google +
Linkedin
Tsu

Selena

Selena is a writer and a homeschooling mom to four kids, including three with ADHD/SPD. Selena and her husband, Jay, are committed to teaching their children at home and loving every minute of it! You can read about the family’s homeschooling experiences at Look! We’re Learning, written by Selena!
Find Selena at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Google +
Instagram

Sarah

Sarah lives in Kentucky, USA, where she and her husband homeschool three children. Sarah writes for and about, families with special needs. She hopes to provide support and encouragement to all special needs parents in the homeschool community. Visit Sarah at Dedicated Homeschooler.
Find Sarah at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Instagram

Haley

Haley hopes to encourage stay at home moms. She wants to help moms learn how to make an extra income, to stretch a budget, to make crafts, and other useful information. Haley always has updates on the kids and funny things that happen. Visit Haley at Haley’s Vintage Finds & Deals.
Find Haley at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Pinterest
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter

Lindsey

Lindsey is a joyful mother, happy homeschooler, scatterbrained housewife, and passionate blogger. She writes about the joys and challenges of home educating, conscientious parenting, and “loving the simple life”. Get inspired with Lindsey at Simply LindseyLoo.

Find Lindsey at her blog link above, and on the following social media networks:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Instagram
Pinterest

Our Favorite Posts for the Week of June 22th:

Hands-on Homeschooling: Outdoor Language Arts Games

Reduce Screen Time With These 3 Easy Steps

10 Tips on How to Paint to Music

PRE-HOMESCHOOL YEAR PLANNING CHECKLIST – 7 STEP HOMESCHOOL PLANNER

PATIENCE, CONFIDENCE, KNOWING ALL THE ANSWERS – NOT REQUIRED TO HOMESCHOOL

Thanks to everyone who submitted a post. Please check out the posts above by clicking on the image.
[bctt tweet=”Come join the #laughlearnlinkup and share your favorite #parenting or #homeschooling post!”]

Now, let’s see your best posts for this week, so we can share them as next week’s favorites!

An InLinkz Link-up

Building Confidence in Children with ADHD

October 16, 2014 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

ADHD is largely described as a negative condition – something that prevents kids and adults from being “normal”. It’s not surprising, then, that a lot of kids (and adults) who have ADHD suffer from low self-esteem.

Since many people don’t understand what’s happening inside the brain of someone who has ADHD, they might treat kids who have it as if they “can’t do” the same things “regular” people do. When kids pick up on that feeling, it can be devastating to their self-confidence.

As parents, we need to learn how to help our kids with ADHD to build self-esteem. If they develop a healthy view of themselves while young, they can learn how to use ADHD to their advantage to find a career they love, make good friends, and overcome obstacles. Here are a few suggestions about how we can build confidence in our kids with ADHD! We’re also featuring a giveaway of the wonderful book Raising Girls with ADHD!

Tips for Building Self Esteem in Kids with ADHD

Talk to them about ADHD.

One way we can avoid the “stigma” of ADHD is to talk about it openly with our kids. At first, I was worried that our kids would feel weird or strange, but they were actually relieved.

Tigger was glad to know that she had something real that explained why her brain couldn’t seem to concentrate at times or why she felt what she calls a “jumpy” feeling when she tries to sit still. I actually wished I had talked to her about it sooner.

Focus on the positive.

It’s easy to obsess over the negative symptoms of ADHD, but that can be extremely damaging to our kids’ self-esteem. In Raising Girls with ADHD, the writers encourage parents to focus on the positive qualities of their daughters. There’s a wonderful list of qualities for us to check off at the beginning and there is something there that EVERY child with ADHD has.

For Tigger, I picked quite a few, including: lively, imaginative, animated, helpful, spirited, creative, and eager. I loved how that encouraged me to think of the “bonuses” that come along with ADHD. 🙂 When we see ADHD in a positive light, it’s easier for us to convey that to our kids.

Help them set realistic goals.

We talked about setting learning goals for kids with ADHD a few days ago. Doing this is essential to building their self-esteem. Since developing a healthy amount of self-esteem is already challenging for young girls, adding ADHD to the mix can make it even more difficult. Raising Girls with ADHD has an entire section dedicated to helping our daughters build self-esteem, and one of the suggestions is to “Set small goals.”

Rather than focusing on one large task, help them break it into smaller, more manageable chunks that they can accomplish quickly. As they complete one task, then another, they’ll find it easier to continue instead of giving up at the first sign of trouble.

Now for the great news!!!!

We’re giving away a copy of the book “Raising Girls with ADHD” from Prufrock Press! To enter, use the Giveaway Tools widget below! (Please be aware that the book will be shipped 6 to 8 weeks from the close of the giveaway.)

Entry -Form

This post is part of the 31 Days with ADHD Homeschooling series! Stop by tomorrow to read Day 17: Homeschooling When Mom Has ADHD!

31 Days of ADHD Homeschooling - Look! We're Learning!

Weird Science Facts for Kids with Ripley’s Reality Shock!

September 5, 2014 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Do your kids like to learn about weird science facts? Ours do! Especially since they tend to lose interest in a structured science lesson. 🙂

We got the chance to visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Orlando, Florida when Tigger was very young, but we haven’t been able to get back since. We did, however, get the opportunity to learn some of Ripley’s signature weird science facts right in our own home!

Keep Reading…

Making Shark Art with Chalk Pastels

August 7, 2014 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

Hey everyone! One of my goals for the new school year is to include more art activities with the kids.

In our homeschool curriculum post for 2014-15, I mentioned one of the art curriculum products we’re using this year, so I’m sharing our experience with it today!

Keep Reading…

Learn the Swahili Alphabet with Jambo Means Hello

June 30, 2014 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Policy for details.

Happy Monday! We’re participating in the Multicultural Kid Blogs “Read Around the World” summer series for a chance to share a multicultural book that Jay and the kids first learned about on Reading Rainbow – Jambo Means Hello!

Keep Reading…

Review: The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks

September 5, 2013 by Selena Robinson 8 Comments

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. See our disclosure policy here.

Good morning everyone! We got the chance to review a wonderful ebook that we’re sharing with you guys today.

When you’re homeschooling kids who are active learners, you find out pretty quickly that they need to take several activity breaks throughout the day. So when the book “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks” by Heather Haupt was released, we were super excited to read about how we can make those breaks better for our kids.

We were already using a brain breaks system before this. I based it on a picture I saw on Pinterest. I just grabbed colored popsicle sticks and wrote different movements on them “Run in place for 30 seconds”, “Do 10 toe touches”, etc. And the kids could stick their hand in and grab whichever one they wanted. So I knew that brain breaks are a great way to help children regain their focus.

But here’s why I liked Heather’s book and system better. First, she begins the book with a scientific explanation of why all of us need brain breaks, not just kids. It turns out that periodic physical activity actually stimulates parts of our brains for learning. So moving around isn’t just good for kids – it’s necessary to help them learn effectively. That was very enlightening to me.

Within the book, Heather includes several printable brain breaks of her own and these are not the typical kid exercises either. They’re silly enough to make the activities fun, but they also include helpful training in balance work, coordination, and focus.

Pooh selected “Popcorn Pops” as his brain break activity. We weren’t sure how to do those, but “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks” has full-color illustrations of several of the exercises and written descriptions of all of them, which helped us figure out what to do.

Basically, you crouch down to the floor…

And then explode out into a star shape. (Like a popcorn kernel popping.)

Roo picked the “Beanbag Balance Race” activity. Can you tell he was excited?

He and Tigger loved racing one another with beanbags on their heads! At first, Roo got frustrated because he kept looking down, which naturally made him lose his beanbag. Eventually, he got the hang of it.

We loved working with “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks”! If your kids are active learners, I highly recommend this book to help you break up the monotony of the school day and to help them refocus their minds on learning!

Pick up your own copy of “The Ultimate Guide to Brain Breaks” below: