Build a word...

Get some magnetic letters or bath letters. Have your child stick them up so he can see them all. Start by you, the parent, posting a word on the fridge:

Cat

Have your child sound out the word or read it. (Make the word fit your child's ability...you could even just do letters).

Then either:

1. Tell your child to change the word cat to....bat, mat, sat, etc. A sequence of words might be : cat, sat, mat, map, cap, lap, tap, top, etc....

2. Or let your child build a word and challenge you to read it. Then go back and forth taking turns building and reading. When I do this Charley I usually build off his word to make a word that rhymes his by just changing a letter.

* Please note that I do these things with Charley because he LOVES it. He begs to play school and enjoys sitting and doing things like this. If he didn't I WOULD NOT force it or shove this down his throat.

Make reading fun!

Make reading fun by having your child keep track of how many books or how many minutes they read. I made a snake...something my son would think is cool. But you can do anything....We also created a place where he can keep all the books he CAN read. This bucket allows him to find a quiet place to practice. He can easily find the books he can read on his own!

Hunting for Treasure...

My friend Molly shared with me a little activity her mom did with her when she was little. And I gave it a try up at the cottage. I wrapped up some little treasures in tinfoil (not necessarily new but match box cars, little animals etc.) You have to make sure they weigh enough to sink. Then I tossed them out into the water and Charley and his friend CJ had to hunt for them. They sparkle like treasures. Once they found them they got to excitedly open them to see what treasures they uncovered. It got them in the water! Then they ended up wrapping up things and tossing them back in. Success!

shaving cream + sunny day =

A happy boy! When I was teaching we would do shaving cream spelling. I had high hopes of doing some letters and sight words with Charley this afternoon. But I ran in the house to grab something and when I returned he was very busy .... covering himself. I think I will just let him have at it and then run through the sprinkler. For those of you who need a fun way to get your kiddos ready for school. Shaving cream and a finger will be the ultimate way to practice spelling words, letters, sight words, math problems...and more. The dollar store sells it for a dollar a large can!

The Foamerator!

One of my favorite monthly parenting resources is Family Fun magazine. A subscription for it isn't very expensive and usually once you order one you can order another one for five bucks...so if you don't get it ...talk to a girlfriend before ordering so you can take advantage of the deal. In the August issue they featured "The Foamerator!" Ed's aunt Katie also let us know that it worked and her daycare kids loved it. By cutting off the bottom of a plastic water bottle, securing a damp washcloth to the bottom with a rope or rubber band, and then dipping it in a shallow bowl of dish soap - you can have loads of fun. Charley is still working on blowing deep breaths for this one but it was a hoot.

Silly Putty with a Silly Guy

Homemade Silly Putty

What You Need:

• Two parts white glue
• One part liquid starch

What You Do:

• Mix ingredients and let dry until workable (like silly putty is supposed to be - I actually just started working it in my hands and the right texture came about faster. I did not let it sit and dry) . Add more glue or starch if necessary. Store in airtight container.

Chalk paint

Recipe:

1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup cold water
Food coloring for color

Charley enjoy the mixing of this the most. The paint will paint rocks and sidewalk...but small areas at a time. Happy Painting!