Games for education- clipped from Dr. Laura/kidfocused.com

Here are some of games that have great teaching tools for kids:
Play Cards
1. Go Fish- this card game helps kids sort and it helps them think ahead, or strategize. This kind of critical thinking is what many schools sorely lack.  Schools often ask kids rote memorization questions, but critical thinking is the muscle that when flexed causes big learning.
2. Uno- I started with my son when he was 3.  We had an actual Uno deck of cards with the color coordinated cards.  You can also play Crazy Eights with a deck of cards.  Just like Uno but eights are wild cards.  Kids learn card suits with this game, which is a good skill to have.
3. Kings in the Corner- this game spreads across the table, showing kids the order of cards.  It is pattern practice as well.  The cards must be laid out black, red, black, red, and from Kings down to Aces.  Even young children 3 and over can grasp this. Their later teachers will be impressed they are already familiar with pattern formations too.
4. Old Maid- deal all of the cards.  Each person picks a card from the opponent to their left and discards pairs until one person is left with the Old Maid. With the set we have, Ursula from the little mermaid is the old maid.  Young children may have a hard time holding all their cards so have them place them on a table with something to block them from view. The rest of the game is easy enough and it will excite kids about cards, strategy, and help practice good sportsmanship.
Other Games:
5. Work on a puzzle together- some families I know always have a puzzle out on the coffee table.

6. Blow bubbles
7. Invest in a magnetic erase board like the Magna Doodle- tons of fun and you aren't using any paper.  I used this toy with the kids so often I even wrote an article- Ode to the Magna Doodle.  Starting about 18 months you can play one of baby's first games with it- I call the game day/night. Black out the screen and say "Night." With one swipe erase and say "Daytime!" Kids even that little will chuckle- it's so cute.  Soon thereafter kids understood light and dark- as soon as they're old enough to walk, they can help sort laundry after this game. We have the daytime (lights) pile and the nighttime (darks) pile to this day.
8. Hangman- another great game on a magnetic erase board like a Magna Doodle. Very young children can play hangman with 2 and 3 letter words. Older children can play for longer words and phrases. Turn the table and let your child make up the word. When they're young, they may misspell the word, "but there has to be a vowel!" It's great practice and they'll get it soon enough
9. Yahtzee- Today you don't have to buy the full game. You can print the score sheet off the Internet and grab 5 dice.  Bunco is also very close to, and less complicated, than Yahtzee.  Dice games like these help with early Math.
10. Scrabble- great about 5 or 6 on. Encourage one app for your older child- Words With Friends and play with them.
11. Memory- Starting at 3 years old, this is sure to be a favorite. There are inexpensive memory games targeted to boys, girls, or gender neutral.
12. Play Monkey in the Middle with a third person- throw the ball over one person's head. If she catches it, she doesn't have to be the monkey anymore.

13. Dots and Boxes- my 4-year-old loves this game. The person to close the square gets to put his or her initials, which claims the square once it's time to tally up the boxes. You can play with older kids too by adding more squares.  It's great for teaching kids to think strategically. (show image)
14. Pictionary- write simple 3 letter words like "pig" "lip" for 3 year olds to read and then draw.  For older kids write out more complicated words and phrases.
15. Play Sorry. At four years old my kids have been able to play this game. With the four pieces having to make it around the board before someone wins, it's helped them learn to problem solve as well as early reading.  The Sorry cards are straight forward "move forward 3 places."  They see the number and then start to recognize words like "forward."
16. Say patterns out loud. A, B, A, B, See if your child knows A to be next in the pattern.  You may also do with numbers. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, _.  As they get older try, banana, apple, orange, banana, apple, ___?  My daughter begs to play this game whenever we're in the car.

key points from The Case for Make Believe by Susan Linn

The Case for Make Believe by Susan Linn

Boy, I’d be proud if I could say I wrote these amazingly strong messages about the value of play for children!  I am very glad I read this book so carefully.  It was fascinating and highly instructive!  I hope you find these topics as compelling as I do if you are taking care of kids!  And some of these bits of wisdom can be applied to adults as well.  I hope the highlights I listed below inspire thought and action and that you go check this book out from the library!

Notes from The Case for Make Believe by Susan Linn

·         Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood- aim is to mitigate the harmful effects of commercial culture on children

·         We need to prevent ourselves from raising a generation of children who are bored or anxious unless they are in front of a screen

·         2007 study found that children are active, not passive learners, acquiring knowledge by exploring their environment = play

·         Play flourishes in environment that is simultaneously safe and open to sponteous activity (Winnicott)

·         Just playing = “water to learn about the physical world and nature of materials” and other things that look like play but are very educational to the child

·         Using puppets in therapy to communicate with children:  each puppet can represent a different person or point of view, which can be a protected way to express unacceptable thoughts of feelings.

·         When children pretend to be attached by imaginary things, it gives them a chance to gain a sense of themselves as competent and to learn to cope with fear in smaller doses.

·         A review of 1000 studies over 30 years, a review concluded that “viewing entertainment violence can lead to increases in aggressive attitudes and behavior, particularly in children.”

·         “From the safety of ‘Once Upon a Time…’ dairy tales allow children enough distance to grapple safely with the most passionate of human emotions- grief, envy, fear, rage and joy.”

·         Violent punishments in fairy tales can be a springboard for talking about social justice issues with older children

·         Playing make-believe with children gives adults an opportunity to share new ideas and information, including those that counter prevailing sterotypes.

·         Phenomenons that coincide: Kids Growing Up Sooner AND Adults Staying Younger Longer!  (Children are taking longer to achieve real independence after college.)

·         “Developmental psychologists believe that children develop at their own rates, but that there’s no real shortcut through development stages.”

·         Middle Childhood (ages 6-12) is being eroded- First they are bombarded with toy marketing, then all the tech toys when younger, and then when older they are getting into inappropriate things sooner.

·         “The longer parents delay, the longer babies have a chance to develop the capacity to make things happen, to solve problems, to create their own amusements- to generate creative play.”

·         The skills children learn in play- critical thinking, initiative, curiosity, problem solving, and creativity, as well as more ephemeral qualities of self-reflection and empathy- are essential to thriving in and protecting a democratic society.”

·         …”These are in contrast to the values children learn from a commercially dominated media: unthinking brand loyalty, impulse buying, the notion that self-worth is defined by ownership, and a belief that consumption is the solution to all ills.”

·         Since the 1980s attention to the concern about “latchkey kids” we have come to the point where parents don’t think they have what it takes to raise kids without frequent use of screens.”

My sewing repairs business

Clothing Repair and Modest Alterations

by Kate

Short on time?  Don’t know how to sew?  Don’t want to pay dress shop prices?

Bring me your mending pile!  I can usually do small repairs and hems within one or two days, and I endeavor to do quick, quality work.

 My abilities include:

Hemming	Repairing seams and holes	Heightening necklines
Baby products	Shrinking skirts and shirts	Adding slips to skirts
Replacing buttons & fixing misc.	Making toys, stuffed animals, t-shirt quilts	Closing wrap dresses, adjusting sleeve length
Emblems and patches	Lessons & camps- all ages	Gifts for kids & families

Call 314-692-8184 or email KFriedman18 @ gmail dot com

24/6 drop off/pick up at my house

Pick-up, drop-off, and supply shopping service available for a fee

Good to know for customers

-I offer complimentary fittings and consultations.

-If you provide the thread for your garment (even the little baggie of extra that comes attached to garment) it will expedite the job and ensure that I have the closest color match possible.

-Regarding significant alterations- Be cautious about buying garments that will need significant alterations.  While garments can be taken apart, cut down or lengthened and then reassembled, that is a very major renovation which may not be worth your money in the end.

-I can do custom work at an hourly rate + cost of materials

-I like to offer very quick turn-around time on completing a job, but sometimes this is not available.

 

Best tips for surviving a "Polar Vortex" winter

What I've learned about surviving a Polar Vortex winter

This winter of record setting low temperatures, including numerous snow storms and dozens of days in the single digits, I've learned that...

-Bundle up and get some fresh air- I've found it's not ACTUALLY as bad out there, often, as I thought!
-once you get your body moving, indoors or outdoors, you will be much more comfortable.  Don't curl up like a turtle and be still.  Move around and exercise and warm up your body.
-turn on that fireplace and enjoy!
-use a microwavable warm pack (rice and spices sewn up in cotton sock is simple one) for your feet in bed or to warm up anytime
-avoid extra warm showers because it dries out your skin (ironically)
-keep a shovel in your trunk and by your driveway!  ALWAYS have gloves (and chapstick and kleenex!) in multiple places so you will never be without when you have to shovel your car out a rut
-yes, you CAN drive on the streets when school is canceled!  It's not as bad as they think, often!
-time to get creative about playdates (without driving), activities and action (without going outside)
-Gotta get one of those adult snow-suits which includes hood, coat, and pants, like my neighbor with kids has!  She can go outside any time.
-It takes at least 5 minutes longer to get ready to go anywhere...
-Keep the pediatrician on speed dial!
-Still thinking of more to add...

See Indoor Stuff to do in STL

Environmentalism from a Torah-Jewish perspective- websites and groups

www.canfeinesharim.org (Sustainable Living Inspired by Torah)
____article on every parsha!
       article about educating about environment in day schools
       http://www.amazon.com/Uplifting-People-Planet-Essential-Environment-ebook/dp/B00HJUZG3A

http://www.greenzionism.org/  (Sustainable Israel)

www.hazon.org (a healthier and more sustainable Jewish community, and a healthier and more sustainable world for all.)

article on ultra-orthodox community and environmental affairs

The Modern Environmental Movement: Jewish Perspectives (Not sure about who author is)

http://www.jewcology.com/

Education- at home and at school- a few links

Education takes place both at home and school!  Parents are their children's first teachers!  We can learn a lot from people who choose to homeschool, and it's a topic I'm interested in, so here is the info I have to share for now.  This used to be the "Education" page on this blog but I'm trimming down the blog to mostly posts, and not many pages.

ARTICLES

Fourth Annual Torah Home Schooling Conference Draws Participants from Far and Near (Photo Essay & Video) By BaltimoreJewishLife.com/Margie Pensak
This article is about an incredible conference that I attended, and I am quoted within.

poems about the value of play

A nice way to think about the value of play for children (vs. too-early academic pressures, a pet-peeve of mine...) is to read it written in a different way than usual... poetry!

https://sites.google.com/site/ourlittlestangelspreschool/poems-about-the-value-of-play

Indoor winter fun with kids in st. louis (little kids, low cost, and mostly close by!)

Well, it's 20-ish degrees on a Sunday morning in St. Louis.  Time to put some ideas down about what to do in this weather, in this city!  Sundays are especially tricky but I encourage some planning ahead to tackle that!

http://saintlouis.kidsoutandabout.com/  Great website, just found it!  (added to list Jan. 2014)
great museum list, make sure to read all the way down! click to open in new window

INDOOR WINTER FUN IN STL WITH LITTLE KIDS!  (This might be turning into an all-ages list...)
1.  Library- our favorites are U City Public Library, St. Louis County Libraries (Mid-County in Clayton, Headquarters in Ladue, and central library downtown which was renovated and has awesome kids section)
2.  St. Louis Mills Mall (indoor playground + more for kids)
3.  Science Center!!!
4.  Discovery indoor play room @ Science Center (~$3 per person)
5.  Wild Wonder indoor play room @ Zoo ($2-3 per person)
6.  Art Museum
7.  History Museum
8.  Butterfly House
9.   Magic House
10.  City Museum
11.  Missouri Botanical Gardens has tropical dome and some other indoor spots
12.  Zoo has indoor children's zoo area, insect area, and a few other small indoor spots
13.  brewery tours (Schlaffly, Budweiser) (haha would they go for this???)
14.  World Bird Sanctuary- some indoor things to see
15.  Powder Valley Nature Center (nice indoor center, could walk outdoors a little if it isn't too frigid!)
16.  National Great Rivers Museum in Alton, IL.
17.  GATEWAY ARCH!  (has wonderful museum and films too)
18.  Hartford Coffee Shop (near Tower Grove Park) (lots of playspace meant for kids!)
19.  Kissing Nesi's soft baby cheeks!
20.  Rainbow Swing Set Superstore showroom (pay to play indoor playground store in Chesterfield)
21.  Dream Play Recreation showroom (pay to play indoor playground store in Chesterfield)
22.  Kemp Auto Museum (Chesterfield)
23.  TAKE A METROLINK or BUS RIDE!!
24.  Explore Union Station downtown
25.  Ice skating (Shaw and Forest Park outdoors, others indoors)
26.  The Heights (Richmond Heights Community Center) has pool, library, and two really special playgrounds.  we love this place!
27. Wednesday Play and Ride @ Faust Park Carousel
28.  Ladue Early Childhood Center offers a playtime on Friday mornings
29. Contemporary Art Museum has a stroller tour and play date for kids 2-5 on the first Wednesday of every month.  Been there, and it's really a nice thing to try!
21. Tour the Old Courthouse downtown, part of the Jefferson Nat'l memorial/Gateway Arch

And then there are all the commercial places like Bounce U., Monkey Joes, Little Gym, Gymboree, The Nest (brand new), Sky Zone, Sports Fusion, and places like that!  I don't have much experience there but it seems like a good idea if you want to drive out to Chesterfield.

...and I hope there are more ideas out there!

A SUB-LIST OF WHAT IS PRETTY MUCH FREE...
All the Forest Park places
try a new library
throw pennies in fountain at the mall
massive art projects!
play dates
cooking and baking projects
picnic, bonfire and cooking s'mores

...to be continued...

FAIR-WEATHER FUN
1.  See winter list; many are available year-round!!
2.  Grant's Farm
3.  Check museum and community center calendars for outdoor music
4.  Muny Theatre
5.  Numerous playgrounds to visit!
6.  Hiking trips
7.  Anandaga Caves, Meramec Caverns
8.  Cahokia Mounds
9.  Shaw Nature Reserve
10.  Theis Farm's Pumpkinland- awesome!!!
11.  Lumeier Sculpture Park
12. Purina Farms!
13.  Missouri Botanical Gardens has an incredible children's garden (and free on Wednesday and Sat. mornings for county residents!) (play places, lots of large and interesting things to climb on, nature explore classroom area, and lots of kid-level plants)
14.  Lone Elk Park- you drive through it!
15. World Bird Sanctuary
16. The working farm known as Suson Park
...and much more!

Summer 2013 Sewing Camps & Work

My awesome campers made a variety of interesting projects.  Meanwhile, I only got around to keeping up with the mending and little repairs and a few special lessons/jobs/projects like the tie-dyed tie below!  The campers made several stuffed animals, a pop-open chick-in-shell, pillow cases, pajama pants, and of course a few fun pin-cushions.

play money that is SO much cooler than the flimsy paper stuff! 

Surprise!  It was a nice conceptual challenge to understand how this chick "came to be."  And in this case, we know which came first. 

Today I will be a do-er: from a good blogger

I really like this blogger.  She writes about Waldorf Homeschooling and being a whole, healthy family and individual.  I strongly recommend reading her blog- if you follow it, you'll get about 1x/week and they are so insightful!!!

The Parenting Passageway, Simplicity Monday: "Doing"

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Carrie

Just for today, I will be a “do-er”.
I will put away my computer, phone, email, Facebook and be present with my children.
I will stop researching parenting styles, homeschooling curriculum or other outside advice, and look inside myself to see what is right for my own family.   I will talk about this with my spouse and together we will work toward our own family culture.
I will work in my home and show my children how to do practical things.
I will involve my whole family in working in our home in a caring way.
I will have fun with my family and do things that will create memories.
I will initiate and take the time to sustain doing real physical exercise and inner work.
I will include myself and my needs as part of the family and show my family that I am a person as well by doing something for myself, even if that just means taking the time to do my hair and put on clothes that fit.
I will take the time to go to a place of worship if that has been calling me; instead of listing all the reasons why I cannot do that.
I will go to bed at a reasonable hour.
If I am feeling sad or blue, I will do something nice for myself and also something nice for someone else. 
I will plan my day tomorrow and actually do things, even if it is not perfect.
I will dream big and I will do.

Many blessings,
Carrie

Hebrew Storytime

Back in February a friend and I jump-started a program where young kids would gather with their parents and a native Hebrew reader/activity leader, to be exposed to Hebrew through activities, movement, crafts, and listening to stories.  It went really well and I wanted to post the flyer to help remind myself and others about the concept.

The flyer (opens in new window)

If you want the outlines for our 6 sessions including games, stories, crafts, and songs to be lead in Hebrew, please leave a comment and I will send you the information I created!

Mothers with Young Kids on Tisha B'Av, the Jewish national day of mourning

After spending a few years with my toddler-now-three-year-old on the 9th of Av, and now with my 1 year old too, I've had a bit of time to gradually adapt to making the day spent with children meaningful- neither empty nor crazily full.  Let's get right to the point- here are some recommendations I've gathered.

-Talk to your rabbi before the day to get instructions on fasting
-Print out coloring sheets, such as this Kotel and this Jerusalem
-Print out articles for yourself, order books & puzzles for the kids- please post in comments section if you have any good suggestions.  I need some!
-Try to plan to attend a synagogue's video presentation, or locate some good online presentations.
-Prepare the kids' food and break-fast food the day before
-Make a picnic/activity/reading area to relax in before Chatzos when you are not sitting "high"
-Invite pre-bat mitzvah or pre-bar mitzvah aged kids over to play/hang out.  They won't be fasting for most of the day and can help you out and keep you company
-Get out your building blocks.  It's time to rebuilt the Bais HaMikdash.  Talk about how we want Hashem to be pleased with this beautiful place where we will all come together to serve Hashem and celebrate.  Talk about how Hashem took it away because our avoda (service of G-d) was devoid of the inner demension and the consideration of other people.
-Use felt boards or paper dolls (or real dolls) to share the conversational "game" about ahavas chinam- caring and love for others- "How does Mommy show you (and ___) that I love you and care about you?" "How do YOU (the child) show family and friends how they are loved and cared about?" 
-www.chinuch.org has a section for 17th of Tammuz and 9th of Av.  There are lots of projects, including a model Bais HaMikdash, non-leather "slippers," power point presentations, games, quizzes, stories, even songs!
-Decorate poster of "Ahavat Chinam"
-Learn about Jewish unity and ahavas Yisrael.  Anyone have any good ideas for games to teach this? 
-Consider the words of the Slonimer Rebbe (explained by R' Trugman in Seeds and Sparks- and on his website/FB):  The 22 days of mourning in the summer are like the outline on the drawing, to be filled in and brought back to life with the 22 days of holidays and celebrating in Tishrei.  The 22 days are also likened to the Hebrew alphabet, which has 22 letters, and represents a complete cycle.  We have to get down to the hard stuff so that we can be compassionate people.  We have to break open the past, and ourselves, so that we can fill ourselves up anew and make the present and future better than the past.
-Finally, view it as somewhat of a Shabbos.  You have the opportunity to focus on your family and your people and are encouraged not to be involved with "work."  This aids us in our own introspective process- thinking about why the Bais HaMikdash was taken away from us to begin with.


Just wrote this post before the end of the 9 Av.  Please post suggestions/comments!