Parent and family information and activities are available on this site. Here are some of the main blog posts. There are free instant download PDFs.
Free developing reading comprehension skills eBook for parents and teachers of young children. ABCs for parents.
Birthday bingo and coloring pages free printable for children’s parties. The PDF is an instant download available at the post.
Tooth brushing charts free instant download at this blog post — to help parents encourage children to be more independent and routine about tooth care.
A post about preparing your child for first-grade math in daily life without worksheets or flashcards.
A decision-making tool to help parents make decisions is as simple as drawing a chart, adding options, and criteria as explained at the blog post. Free PDF and YouTube video.
Distance, hybrid, and back and forth to classroom learning has been difficult for most families and teachers in 2020.
The Great Lakes Aquarium in Duluth, MN offers interactive displays, videos, a scuba diving Santa at Christmas, and pure educational fun!
Pint-sized perfectionists carry a painful burden and can cause parental anguish. Understand what is going on.
An anthology: Orphan Train to Modern Day Nonfiction Short Stories of Adoption & Foster Care. Fifteen writers.
Safe at Home coloring pages is a free PDF download in our free eMember area. Discuss pages with children.
Simple birthday color pages for ages 3-7 are an easy activity for birthday parties which include toddlers. Free instant download PDF.
Summer slide can be prevented, although it takes some concentrated effort on the part of parents, students, and caregivers.
Theme baskets for baby include board books, soft baby toys, and musical interactives. These baskets are for a baby about 7 months old. Baby is ready to learn!
If you are traveling with children, plan quiet times during the day and anticipate random hunger or thirst. Plan ahead for children’s needs.
Coloring pages to welcome new babies are included in this post. Free instant download PDF. This post was part of a virtual baby shower.
Do you know about HELLP Syndrome? No, that is not a misspelling. With HELLP, not everyone has the same symptoms.
Actually, children do worry about everything from tying shoes to whether or not they will be able to get lunch.
Fun Photo Opportunities
3 different printable PDF free instant downloads are available:
1. Black and white printing signs (with writing pages, if wanted)
2. Color printing signs for when I grow up possible occupations
3. Color printing signs for imaginary playmates
Free When I Grow Up Free Posters for photo ops are very fun to have! What do the children think they are going to be when they can choose their careers? Snap some pictures to enjoy later.
Children might dress up (if clothing is available) for fun photo sessions, also.
Suggested Books for Parents
A Very Few Apps and Electronic Devices for Family Learning
Miss Owl reviewed a high-quality junior microscope with three industry-standard magnification levels, batteries, 2 lights, prepared slides, and other materials.
In this Nat Geo Puzzler app, children create their own mazes which will occupy them for hours and will engage in higher-level thinking skills. Challenges and entertainment!
Montessori Method:
Lower case letters are taught first!
Nell’s lessons are based on the Montessori method of teaching. Many of the lessons you’ll see in the Nell app are used in Montessori preschool programs around the world. It very nicely teaches skills with a calm and sweet approach without loud bells and whistles.
Non-digital, inexpensive mini microscope from GeoCentral. It is important for children to experience the microscopic (and telescopic) worlds when young, according to Montessori education.
This active learning product supports eight languages including English, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, and Korean. So augmented reality cards look like memory game cards (and have passed safety standards).
The bubbling snowman is easy to set up. Begin with a cookie tray and arrange different size lids to create a flat snowman. We drew a face on one lid using a sharpie marker. Be sure the lids are upside down so they can be filled with baking soda.
Mixing colors in the kitchen with a few common ingredients provides an engaging activity for children. This is one they are sure to want to do over and over as it will be different each time.
This post is about how to grow garlic to spice bread at home. Have you noticed garlic scapes on any menus? Garlic scapes are the leaves that grow from a garlic bulb. Do you happen to have some garlic in the pantry?
Free PDF. There are 3 pages of directions: one for a microwave oven, one for using a solar oven, and one for the microwave approach. Children can read the directions and prepare the S’mores for the family. Sneak in some summer reading!
Gummy candy, anyone? We used a candy making kit found online and I purchased my own materials. So the most interesting thing we learned was that seaweed in its dried and powdered forms can make gelatin for making gummies.
Did you know things like ketchup, salt, vinegar, and lemon juice will clean and brighten pennies? If your pennies are all bright and shiny, you can keep them in water overnight to allow them to darken for this experiment. Warning, children might like to do this over and over!
Activities and Places to Visit — Miss Owl’s Favorites
This page has links to posts featuring our Miss Owl — her adventures, activities, free PDFs, and informational posts. We hope you enjoy it!
Chloe and the No Good, Very Sad, Deplorable Pandemic coloring book on Amazon
Read the blog post about the book and see sample pages at this link.
The Plaza Playground experience was pure joy for Miss Owl and us as we watched her jump and play. It is close by and is open 365 days a year. She loved the Kangaroo jumping floor the best.
Fairy Garden Building
This post has a free flower theme printable complete with some vocabulary words and coloring pages for the children.
Eastman Nature Center in the Three Rivers Park District recently held a fairy theme storytime and activity class.
Fairy Garden Building
This post has a free flower theme printable complete with some vocabulary words and coloring pages for the children.
