Unplugged Play
by Bobbi Conner
This is my favorite book for play ideas. My husband is a librarian, which means I have skimmed, scanned, and read many many play books. This one I purchased immediately after I read it and continue to give this as a present to new moms. I love the quotes, the articles for play theories, and (of course) the actual play ideas.
I was able to get many great ideas for my children as toddlers and it continues through the pre-school and early elementary years.
It is broken up into different sections based on age. I highly recommend this one.
I was able to get many great ideas for my children as toddlers and it continues through the pre-school and early elementary years.
It is broken up into different sections based on age. I highly recommend this one.
Einstein Never Used Flashcards:
How are children REALLY learn and why they need to PLAY more and memorize less!
By Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek Ph.D., and Diane Eye
I LOVE IT! I had previously found a book with explanations for market research but it was very dry.
This book talks about the same researched based ideas that modern parents "buy" into and how it all began.
Although I have many favorite parts, one is when the author discusses the term "enriched environment" and the study done with rats to prove why a child benefits from an enriched environment....conclusion: You're still basing your parenting philosophy on rats! That is light hearted but there is a lot of great factual information on how your child's brain develops in subject
areas such as math (number sense).
This book talks about the same researched based ideas that modern parents "buy" into and how it all began.
Although I have many favorite parts, one is when the author discusses the term "enriched environment" and the study done with rats to prove why a child benefits from an enriched environment....conclusion: You're still basing your parenting philosophy on rats! That is light hearted but there is a lot of great factual information on how your child's brain develops in subject
areas such as math (number sense).
What To Do After You Turn Off The Tv
Frances Moore Lappe and Family
This book and it's title was an easy sell for me. While my children do occassionally watch channel 2 (Sid the Science Kid and Super Why) we do not generally watch TV at all. The ideas in this book for preschoolers and toddlers were pretty limited but I am recommending it for any one with elementary aged kids. There is a national TV Turn Off Week in April every year. You could use this book as a catalyst to try your own TV Turn Off Week at home.
The book is a collection of one families activity ideas. I liked the idea of keeping a collection of our ideas, which first turned into an accordian folder of index cards, and secondly turned into the website PlayisEssential.net. It is my personal collection of games, ideas, and activities I do and want to do with my children. I still keep each activity on a separate index card so I can easily thumb through them and figure out what to do when we need something to do.
The book is a collection of one families activity ideas. I liked the idea of keeping a collection of our ideas, which first turned into an accordian folder of index cards, and secondly turned into the website PlayisEssential.net. It is my personal collection of games, ideas, and activities I do and want to do with my children. I still keep each activity on a separate index card so I can easily thumb through them and figure out what to do when we need something to do.
Siblings Without Rivalry
By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
I have read this one more than once. It has many ideas that I hold true and the book has greatly influenced my parenting style.
I felt I knew most of the chapter called "The Perils of Comparisons" but still read it each time because it is worth remembering.
The chapter of "Equal is Less" had new ideas for me. I believe the theory and love to watch myself try to be equal! It is hard to realize (for me) that equal is less and my children should get what they need, instead of worrying if they will get something every time their sibling does too. Quote, "To be loved equally is somehow to be loved less. To be loved uniquely-for one's own special self-is to be loved as much as we need to be loved."
Sibling Roles: I probably need to reread this soon. It was not an issue when they were small.
When kids fight: This has helped me to help them negotiate with each other. They are little so we have ups and downs but I like the foundation of their conversations. We often use the phrase, "You guys are great problem solvers. I can't wait to see what you decide to do."
I laughed at the review I read that said, "Even my husband read it because there were comics inside!" My husband does read, so that was not an issue, but I found myself reading "just the comics" for a refresher.
I felt I knew most of the chapter called "The Perils of Comparisons" but still read it each time because it is worth remembering.
The chapter of "Equal is Less" had new ideas for me. I believe the theory and love to watch myself try to be equal! It is hard to realize (for me) that equal is less and my children should get what they need, instead of worrying if they will get something every time their sibling does too. Quote, "To be loved equally is somehow to be loved less. To be loved uniquely-for one's own special self-is to be loved as much as we need to be loved."
Sibling Roles: I probably need to reread this soon. It was not an issue when they were small.
When kids fight: This has helped me to help them negotiate with each other. They are little so we have ups and downs but I like the foundation of their conversations. We often use the phrase, "You guys are great problem solvers. I can't wait to see what you decide to do."
I laughed at the review I read that said, "Even my husband read it because there were comics inside!" My husband does read, so that was not an issue, but I found myself reading "just the comics" for a refresher.
Things to Do with Toddlers and Twos
By Karen Miller
This is a great book.
Chapters: Cause and Effect, Playing with Water, Banging, Twanging, Shaking, Making a Mark, Sensory Exploration, Mimicking, Language Development, How Things Work, Different Ways of Moving, Teaching Strategies to Help with Special Problems of Toddlers in Groups
This book does a nice job of helping parents (teachers) understand why children are doing things. It helped me increase my patience level 100% because I felt I understood why a toddler is not about an end result but loves to do the process over and over and over...and this is how they learn.
There is a great balance between toddler play ideas and explanation of developmental stages.
Chapters: Cause and Effect, Playing with Water, Banging, Twanging, Shaking, Making a Mark, Sensory Exploration, Mimicking, Language Development, How Things Work, Different Ways of Moving, Teaching Strategies to Help with Special Problems of Toddlers in Groups
This book does a nice job of helping parents (teachers) understand why children are doing things. It helped me increase my patience level 100% because I felt I understood why a toddler is not about an end result but loves to do the process over and over and over...and this is how they learn.
There is a great balance between toddler play ideas and explanation of developmental stages.
101 great science experiments
A step-by-step guide
By Neil Ardley
I love the color pictures in this book.
Many books with science experiments give directions without pictures. This has photos to accompany most steps and is clear and easy to follow. There are many experiments that work for preschoolers and there are also experiments I wouldn't try until they are much older, so this book will last us for years!
Experiments we have tried:
Form a gas, Get a Jet Going, Sink and Float, Plants Drinking, Playing with shadows, and many more...
Many books with science experiments give directions without pictures. This has photos to accompany most steps and is clear and easy to follow. There are many experiments that work for preschoolers and there are also experiments I wouldn't try until they are much older, so this book will last us for years!
Experiments we have tried:
Form a gas, Get a Jet Going, Sink and Float, Plants Drinking, Playing with shadows, and many more...
