Get Moving with the Elf in the House!

Christmas is right around the corner, so the elves are hard at work! As the weather gets colder and we find ourselves spending more time indoors, I’m always looking for fun ways to get us moving and get some energy out. Get your kids into the elf spirit and use up that energy with this fun read aloud and some festive learning activities!

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Christmas Tree Activities for the Whole Family

I love having the Christmas tree up. When I am playing in the living room with my daughter and the lights are on the tree and Christmas music is on the radio, there is a sense of peace and joy that settles over me. Whether you are an artificial tree family or a real tree family, creating the perfect tree is an important part of the Christmas season for a lot of families. Today’s book is all about the joy of picking and decorating your family Christmas tree!

Christmas Cookies Around the World

Christmas is celebrated in countries all over the world, but we all celebrate it a bit differently. I have always been fascinated with the various traditions and symbols of the holiday season. I even taught an entire unit plan about winter holidays when I was student teaching. Baking cookies is one of my favorite traditions of the holidays, and it is one that is common in many of the countries that celebrate. I have such fond memories of baking with my mom when I was younger, and I love being able to pass this tradition on to my daughter, and to see her enjoy the same tradition with my mom as well. Today we take a look at some of the ways that Christmas is celebrated around the world, and the sweet treats they enjoy!

Personalized Christmas Books to Make the Holidays Special!

Updated: November 2019

Start a family Christmas tradition with these personalized Christmas books for kids! #christmasbooks #holidaybooks #bookgifts #christmastraditionsWhen it comes to shopping for Christmas gifts, I am always looking for special gifts that really mean something. Growing up, my parents always bought ornaments for my sister and I to add to our collection, and I continue that tradition now with my daughter. I have also made it a tradition to purchase a new Christmas book for my daughter every year. This year, I was thrilled to be introduced to the beautiful personalized children’s books from Put Me in the Story, and I am so excited that they offer fun Christmas books! I decided to gather a list of some of my favorites (as well as one which would make a great holiday gift for the grandparents!).

Terrific Turkey Books

Turkey Day is almost here! As the weather turns colder and we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, I wanted to gather a list of fun turkey themed books to inspire our learning this month. There are lots of fun turkey books for all ages, so I hope you find some new ones to explore on here!

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Recognizing Veterans

As Veteran’s Day approaches, it is important to explain to kids why we spend a day recognizing our Veteran’s and honoring them for their service to our country. There are lots of great books about honoring the brave soldiers who have sacrificed for our freedom. To recognize the holiday as a family, I’ve compiled a list of books to share, as well as fun activities to bring them to life.

How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?

Updated on October 16, 2019
Jump into fall with these STEM activities inspired by the book "How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?" #howmanyseedsinapumpkin #fallSTEM #pumpkinstem #pumpkinactivities

Pumpkins provide so many fun opportunities to learn and practice important skills. Plus, who doesn’t feel festive when surrounded by bright orange pumpkins? We have already visited at least one apple orchard and pumpkin patch this year, so I was inspired to find lots of ways to use them in our learning. I was also thrilled to find a book that ties math and other lessons in with pumpkins and the fall season. Check out all of the fun we had counting pumpkin seeds!

Give the Gift of Laughter and Creativity!

One of the best parts of being a parent is the opportunity to act like a kid again. As a teacher, some of my favorite memories are dancing, singing and just having fun with the kids. The same is true now that I am a parent. The other day while emptying the dishwasher, my two year old picked up a spatula, sat on the floor and used it to “row” herself across the kitchen floor — all the while singing “Row Row Row Your Boat”. When she asked me to join, I sat right down with her and scooted across the floor too. And the laughter from that moment will stick with me as an amazing memory.

Pumpkin Activities for Kids!

Updated October 16, 2019
Pumpkin activities to help kids with name recognition and money skills, plus a Jack-o-lantern sensory project and craft! #pumpkincrafts #pumpkinbooks #fallsensory #namerecognition #dramaticplay

I love the fall! If you regularly read the blog or follow me on social media, you may already know this since I tend to mention it a lot. I love the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. I’ve been really excited to get out to our local farmer’s markets and orchards because all of the different apples, pumpkins and vegetables inspire me to create fun projects and recipes with my daughter. Today’s book follows a little boy and his mom as they go out to the farmer’s market in search of the perfect pumpkin, and we paired it with lots of fun pumpkin activities for kids!

You Are Wonderful

As a mother, it is so important to me that I raise my daughter to be proud of who she is. I want her to have confidence to do the things she loves and surround herself with people who see the wonderful person that she is. I make it a mission to tell her how loved she is, and how much I appreciate the things that make her special. Luckily Nancy Tillman’s amazing books give me that opportunity whenever we read them together. I am a huge fan of her beautiful work, so I was thrilled when I was offered the opportunity to check out her newest one about helping kids discover themselves!