If you have had enough of the kids spending all their time in front of a television or a computer screen, the time has come to get them out of house and into the fresh air and sunshine. One of the best ways to encourage outdoor activity and plenty of exercise is with the aid of fun outdoor toys. Here are some examples of toys that may be just what you need to entice the kids to get up, get out, and have some fun.
There are outdoor toys that will work for just about any age and gender group. For young boys, Air Hogs has a varied line of toys that will do the trick. The RC planes are a lot of fun, and also very inexpensive. Small and made of plastic and Styrofoam components, these RC planes will stand up to a lot of wear and can be had for around $40.00. The RC Aero Ace Jet will also delight the kids and sells for around the same price. For ore fun, there is the RC Air Hogs Super bike that retails for around $20.00.
For younger children, outdoor toys often means water toys. Check out the range of offerings such as Aquaplay, WHAM-O Slip N Slide, and various water guns that are ideal for running around and cooling off at the same time. Many of these water toys can be purchased at discount retail outlets and at online stores for very little cost.
Hand held toys such as pinwheels are a lot of fun. They are inexpensive, come in a wide range of colors, and are ideal for spending sometime outside under the trees. The kids may even get into trading pinwheels with their friends.
How about some wheels to maneuver around the yard or perhaps the neighborhood? If your kids want to get a little mobile, consider a classic Radio Flyer, kettle r, or a Razor Scooter. You can find some great options for wheeled toys at local stores.
Keep in mind that purchasing creative toys is only part of the process for getting the kids out into the open air. Parents need exercise and sunshine too. Make it a point to spend time outside with your kids and you may rediscover some of the delights from your own childhood. Toss around a football, fly a kite, or play games like Tag. Not only will both you and your kids get some exercise, but you also will build some great memories together.
Hi, I'm Romain Levesque Author of the article and owner of the website: http://www.details4life.com
Feel free to stop by. You may republish this article as long as the resource box an live link remains. Cheers!!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Romain_Levesque
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Monday, April 07, 2008
Spring & Summer Newsletter-Great Spring Preschool Activities for Kids
Happy Spring and Summer Subscriber,
It’s been a while since our last newsletter. We apologize for the delay but we have some exciting news. We are in the process of finishing up our sister site which we have been working very hard on. Check out the following link to be one of the first to visit this site. Click here to visit: Activity School Bus.com We have great new information on this site including Themes. Check out our theme section where we have well over 15 themes already posted!
We have also been working on videos which we have put up on the web. We will be making these videos available through our site by link or actual video. One of our team operators, (Marisa Robinson E.C.E) demonstrates activities, songs, cooking, and great book recommendations. Keep checking back to PreschoolLearningOnline.com for these exciting changes and add-ons as well as our sister site: ActivitySchoolBus.com
Now For Some Free Spring/Summer Activities:
Cooking Activity: Birds Nests
What you will need:
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
6 tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup fine shredded coconut (optional)*
3 cups oatmeal
Large Pot
Wooden Spoon
Waxed Paper
Jellybeans
Large Popsicle Sticks
What to do:
Prepare Ingredients using the directions below:
1. Combine the first four ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a boil for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
2. Take pot off of stove and add the coconut and oatmeal. Mix until everything is coated.
Give each child a piece of waxed paper. Drop a generous sized spoonful of the “birds nest” mixture onto the waxed paper.
Have each child work the mixture with a popsicle stick until it’s cool enough to handle.
Have children shape the mixture into a birds nest and then let set.
Once the mixture is set (either in the fridge or at room temp.) give the child a handful of jelly beans or chocolate foil wrapped eggs to put in the centre of their nest.
This is a great afternoon snack or dessert after a healthy lunch.
Enjoy!
*If you omit the coconut, replace by adding ¼-1/2 cup of oatmeal.
For more free activities visit: PreschoolLearningOnline.com and ActivitySchoolBus.com
Incorporating Science and Creative Art:
What you will need:
Styrofoam Cups
Soil
Spoons (enough for all children)
Flower seeds such as Violets
Water in a container with a spout
Any or all of the following:
Markers
Glue
Sparkles, beads, anything else fun and glue able
Allow each child to create their own flower pot.
First, write each child’s name on the bottom of the cup. Then have the children decorate it however they wish to.
Next, have each child fill their cup almost to the top of the cup with soil using a spoon to scoop it.
Then give them a seed to place on the top and have them push the seed down very gently only about a finger tips depth.
Then give them the water to water the seed a tiny bit.
Once everyone has planted their seeds, place their flower pots out where they will get some filtered sunlight.
Optional: Check on the plants daily and see whose started to grow first, last, how much they grow each week, etc. Document the progress on chart paper to post on the wall when the experiment is finished.
Once everyone’s plant have started to grow, send them home with the children and encourage their parents to re-pot the plant and watch it grow more.
For free activities, themes and more, visit:
PreschoolLearningOnline.com and ActivitySchoolBus.com
Sensory Activity:
Who said the sand box had to be limited to just cars and trucks, shovels and pails.
Let’s get creative!
For a great fresh spring activity, take out those cars and trucks, shovels and pails, and let’s replace the sandbox with gardening gloves, gardening shovels, flower pots, and some fake flowers. While you’re at it, why not add some fun gardening hats for the children to extend their play.
Sit back and watch or join in the fun as you watch them develop their little green thumbs!
I hope this has helped give you a kick start to spring and summer. It doesn’t end there though. Keep checking back to our web sites for more great free activities.
Thanks and enjoy the great weather ahead!
Regards,
The Preschool Learning Online Team
It’s been a while since our last newsletter. We apologize for the delay but we have some exciting news. We are in the process of finishing up our sister site which we have been working very hard on. Check out the following link to be one of the first to visit this site. Click here to visit: Activity School Bus.com We have great new information on this site including Themes. Check out our theme section where we have well over 15 themes already posted!
We have also been working on videos which we have put up on the web. We will be making these videos available through our site by link or actual video. One of our team operators, (Marisa Robinson E.C.E) demonstrates activities, songs, cooking, and great book recommendations. Keep checking back to PreschoolLearningOnline.com for these exciting changes and add-ons as well as our sister site: ActivitySchoolBus.com
Now For Some Free Spring/Summer Activities:
Cooking Activity: Birds Nests
What you will need:
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
6 tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup fine shredded coconut (optional)*
3 cups oatmeal
Large Pot
Wooden Spoon
Waxed Paper
Jellybeans
Large Popsicle Sticks
What to do:
Prepare Ingredients using the directions below:
1. Combine the first four ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a boil for about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon.
2. Take pot off of stove and add the coconut and oatmeal. Mix until everything is coated.
Give each child a piece of waxed paper. Drop a generous sized spoonful of the “birds nest” mixture onto the waxed paper.
Have each child work the mixture with a popsicle stick until it’s cool enough to handle.
Have children shape the mixture into a birds nest and then let set.
Once the mixture is set (either in the fridge or at room temp.) give the child a handful of jelly beans or chocolate foil wrapped eggs to put in the centre of their nest.
This is a great afternoon snack or dessert after a healthy lunch.
Enjoy!
*If you omit the coconut, replace by adding ¼-1/2 cup of oatmeal.
For more free activities visit: PreschoolLearningOnline.com and ActivitySchoolBus.com
Incorporating Science and Creative Art:
What you will need:
Styrofoam Cups
Soil
Spoons (enough for all children)
Flower seeds such as Violets
Water in a container with a spout
Any or all of the following:
Markers
Glue
Sparkles, beads, anything else fun and glue able
Allow each child to create their own flower pot.
First, write each child’s name on the bottom of the cup. Then have the children decorate it however they wish to.
Next, have each child fill their cup almost to the top of the cup with soil using a spoon to scoop it.
Then give them a seed to place on the top and have them push the seed down very gently only about a finger tips depth.
Then give them the water to water the seed a tiny bit.
Once everyone has planted their seeds, place their flower pots out where they will get some filtered sunlight.
Optional: Check on the plants daily and see whose started to grow first, last, how much they grow each week, etc. Document the progress on chart paper to post on the wall when the experiment is finished.
Once everyone’s plant have started to grow, send them home with the children and encourage their parents to re-pot the plant and watch it grow more.
For free activities, themes and more, visit:
PreschoolLearningOnline.com and ActivitySchoolBus.com
Sensory Activity:
Who said the sand box had to be limited to just cars and trucks, shovels and pails.
Let’s get creative!
For a great fresh spring activity, take out those cars and trucks, shovels and pails, and let’s replace the sandbox with gardening gloves, gardening shovels, flower pots, and some fake flowers. While you’re at it, why not add some fun gardening hats for the children to extend their play.
Sit back and watch or join in the fun as you watch them develop their little green thumbs!
I hope this has helped give you a kick start to spring and summer. It doesn’t end there though. Keep checking back to our web sites for more great free activities.
Thanks and enjoy the great weather ahead!
Regards,
The Preschool Learning Online Team
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Preschool Learning Online: BOOKS OF THE MONTH CLUB
Book Of The Month Club!
Parents --Teachers!
Looking for Highly recommended Books that your children or preschoolers will Love?
Check Out Our: Book Of The Month Club!
(Free To Join-Just Books We Highly Recommend!)
Preschool Learning Online : BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Preschool Learning Online & Toy Ideas: Toddler Toy Basics
Toddler Toy Basics
Introduction
Toddler Toys offer toddlers a myriad of activities to explore, introducing them to ride on toys, puzzles, and more. We believe that the best toddler toys are the one which are age appropriate and support the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and language development of toddlers. Some toddler toys at this age include singing toys, toys with buttons to push, blocks, shape sorters, pull and push toys to name a few.
Learning
Remember, like I said, even toys as basic as blocks are considered learning toys: when toddlers engage in the great fun of building up and tearing down they're developing skills they'll eventually need to grasp basic principles of math. This cannot be stressed enough. Children's toys that introduce your young one to auditory processing, cognitive learning and gross motor development. If possible the best thing you can do is provide your little one with a variety of toys and learning experiences in a warm supportive environment. Pressuring a child to learn or going overboard by making every interaction with you a lesson, may lead to taking the fun out of learning. Kids do not feel like they are learning, but rather playing.delimiter
Toy
Toys need to entertain as well as educate your toddler. Toddler Toys will keep developing important skills, while introducing the fun of play. Push toys (like the Corn Popper) give toddlers an opportunity to enjoy the benefits of physical exercise and improve the coordination important to development. Even toys as basic as blocks are considered learning toys: when toddlers engage in the great fun of building up and tearing down they're developing skills they'll eventually need to grasp basic principles of math. Toddlers will love to play with these following toys: climbing toys , toddler pull toys, toddler push toys, toddler riding toys, swinging toys, play tunnel, slides, rocking toys (including toy rocking horse)and balls. If you're on a budget, get the balls and the push toys or even think about checking about programs such as Free Cycle, where people sign-up to give away things they don't need any more for free.delimiter
Language
You can use any toddler toy to improve your child's language development. Play with your child and talk to them about the toy. Explain to them how it works, the colors of the toy, or the function. Also, teaching your toddler to share toys will improve his/her social skills, also increasing their ability to communicate with others without screaming "MINE."
Conclusion
There are many types of toddler toys out there for your toddler. When choosing, just remember that the toy is not as important as how you present the toy to them. Use every opportunity as a way to teach and develop them into the person they are going to be for the rest of their life. Toddlers are at the age at which people are most impressionable, they pick up everything and immolate everything. So, let the games begin, and learn a little too.
Amy Bew is a devoted parent and has published other online content. She is the owner of http://toddlertoys.foundithereonline.com and a member of the Found if here online network @ http://foundithereonline.com
Preschool Learning & Kids Games: Toddler Learning Game The World Is One Big Adventure
Toddler Learning Game The World Is One Big Adventure
The life of a toddler does not need to be day after day of organized activities, but putting in a good routine can help you and your child.
If she knows that on Monday you go to the park, on Wednesday you go to playgroup and on Saturday you have a special Breakfast, it will give her stability and confidence, knowing what is going to happen day to day, but allowing flexibility too.
Between 12 and 24 months your toddler will have more interest in Everything around her, she will enjoy putting things together, poking, prodding and games involving hand to eye coordination.
Her manipulation and fine motor skills will develop as she learns to use her wrist and different grasps depending on the object she is using, she will show her first signs of becoming an artist, using crayons and a paintbrush.
This creative early learning will help your child develop fine motor skills as well as gain confidence, self-expression and a creative mind.
For your toddlers first go at creating a masterpiece, until she develops his fine motor skills, she will need to use stubby crayons and a large sheet of paper. At first there wont be much control where the crayons go on the paper, but as with all other skills, practice and more practice, with lots of encouragement, will help her gain confidence and master this skill.
Children naturally love to make things, and like nothing more than showing you their handiwork. For a young child, crafts and other artistic activities are great for confidence building and self-expression, and having your child's masterpieces around the house will show her how proud you are of her work and give her confidence.
Using Play Dough is another fun learning game, its lovely to squish and squeeze and fun to model, your child can use it from about two years old, but make sure it doesn't get eaten!
Play Dough is very quick and easy to make, it is a brilliant way for children to learn about weights, measurements and the way materials change.
Music and singing nursery rhymes will also play a large part of her daily routine.
Educational music games, toys, instruments and CDs are a great way for Toddlers and Preschoolers to gain from listening to music. Music benefits your child's speech and movement, as well as their self-confidence, self-expression and their listening and concentration skills.
Action Songs help your toddler experience music physically through play, and is great way of interacting between you and your toddler. Your child won't know that she is actually doing educational music games, its just fun to her.
Children love joining in and doing activities with you. An action song can even change their mood, and yours too, making you both happier and content. My personal favourite for changing my mood is, "Johnny Taps With One Hammer", it just makes me laugh.
Some other suggestions could be Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes, The Wheels On The Bus, If You're Happy And You Know It, I'm A Little Teapot and One Finger, One Thumb, of course the list could go on and on.
You can go to the library and get a range of different music, so you can find out what music makes your toddler tick, and then make up your own educational music game, to get your child involved more in music.
Every child should have a few basic instruments, so that can experiment with music as they wish.
A child's concentration span can be very short, if they are enjoying a piece of music they may well express this the only way they know how, at this age through movement, or dance and the first time your child "feels the beat" can be really entertaining..
The benefits of regular dance sessions are endless. Children are being creative, developing gross and fine motor skills, can work together with other children, build relationships and gain self esteem, to name a few. As with singing songs, dancing to musical tapes will help with their language learning, and get your child used to the rhythm and tune.
There are some fantastic tapes to get you moving, One of our nursery's favourite educational music game is The Sticky Kids CDs, but don't think that its just for kids!
Imagination and creative play is an important part of your child's development also.
Children directly copy what adults do, but they also pretend to be adults when they begin to play imaginatively. So show them a good example.
The Home Area is an important area for this, and you need to broaden the gender roles, so that they do not begin to see what men and woman do in narrow ways.
Role Play, encourages children to listen and talk to each other, it extend the powers of self-expression and encourages the expression of imaginative, non - stereotypical ideas and roles.
There are many educational toys available that mimic the grown up version, educational learning toys like Tea Sets and Cookers, for girls and boys and Power Tools and Super Hero Costumes, for girls and boys.
But don't forget that the use of imagination can change your drab coat into a magic cape! Have a look around charity shops you will get a lot more for your money and make your toddlers imagination work over time.
This has to be the best fun learning experience a child can have and a fantastic educational game for toddler.
Remember what an important part of your life imagination play was when you were a child?
You could be, do and have anything!
Do you remember "The Little Red Engine That Could"? He was just a little engine, but when he saw that steep hill ahead of him, a seemingly impossible obstacle, he kept telling himself, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can," and he pulled all his train cars over the hill. You know the moral: the power of a positive mind.
But then we get knocked down and start disbelieving in what we are capable of, don't do this to your child, help them have a true believing in what they want to be.
Some other great games would be nesting cups, to give the first concepts of "big, bigger and biggest", simple inset puzzles with lift-out pieces or matching games to help to increase your toddler's vocabulary, building blocks, linking toys and lacing sets are some other favourite educational toys for this age.
Education Games For Kids
Education Games For Kids, is packed full of the Best Educational Games and Toys for kids of all ages. Whatever your child's age or interests, you will find lots of information to create curiosity and a desire to learn with the Best Educational Games and Toys Around.
http://www.education-games-for-kids.com/index.html
The life of a toddler does not need to be day after day of organized activities, but putting in a good routine can help you and your child.
If she knows that on Monday you go to the park, on Wednesday you go to playgroup and on Saturday you have a special Breakfast, it will give her stability and confidence, knowing what is going to happen day to day, but allowing flexibility too.
Between 12 and 24 months your toddler will have more interest in Everything around her, she will enjoy putting things together, poking, prodding and games involving hand to eye coordination.
Her manipulation and fine motor skills will develop as she learns to use her wrist and different grasps depending on the object she is using, she will show her first signs of becoming an artist, using crayons and a paintbrush.
This creative early learning will help your child develop fine motor skills as well as gain confidence, self-expression and a creative mind.
For your toddlers first go at creating a masterpiece, until she develops his fine motor skills, she will need to use stubby crayons and a large sheet of paper. At first there wont be much control where the crayons go on the paper, but as with all other skills, practice and more practice, with lots of encouragement, will help her gain confidence and master this skill.
Children naturally love to make things, and like nothing more than showing you their handiwork. For a young child, crafts and other artistic activities are great for confidence building and self-expression, and having your child's masterpieces around the house will show her how proud you are of her work and give her confidence.
Using Play Dough is another fun learning game, its lovely to squish and squeeze and fun to model, your child can use it from about two years old, but make sure it doesn't get eaten!
Play Dough is very quick and easy to make, it is a brilliant way for children to learn about weights, measurements and the way materials change.
Music and singing nursery rhymes will also play a large part of her daily routine.
Educational music games, toys, instruments and CDs are a great way for Toddlers and Preschoolers to gain from listening to music. Music benefits your child's speech and movement, as well as their self-confidence, self-expression and their listening and concentration skills.
Action Songs help your toddler experience music physically through play, and is great way of interacting between you and your toddler. Your child won't know that she is actually doing educational music games, its just fun to her.
Children love joining in and doing activities with you. An action song can even change their mood, and yours too, making you both happier and content. My personal favourite for changing my mood is, "Johnny Taps With One Hammer", it just makes me laugh.
Some other suggestions could be Head, Shoulders, Knees And Toes, The Wheels On The Bus, If You're Happy And You Know It, I'm A Little Teapot and One Finger, One Thumb, of course the list could go on and on.
You can go to the library and get a range of different music, so you can find out what music makes your toddler tick, and then make up your own educational music game, to get your child involved more in music.
Every child should have a few basic instruments, so that can experiment with music as they wish.
A child's concentration span can be very short, if they are enjoying a piece of music they may well express this the only way they know how, at this age through movement, or dance and the first time your child "feels the beat" can be really entertaining..
The benefits of regular dance sessions are endless. Children are being creative, developing gross and fine motor skills, can work together with other children, build relationships and gain self esteem, to name a few. As with singing songs, dancing to musical tapes will help with their language learning, and get your child used to the rhythm and tune.
There are some fantastic tapes to get you moving, One of our nursery's favourite educational music game is The Sticky Kids CDs, but don't think that its just for kids!
Imagination and creative play is an important part of your child's development also.
Children directly copy what adults do, but they also pretend to be adults when they begin to play imaginatively. So show them a good example.
The Home Area is an important area for this, and you need to broaden the gender roles, so that they do not begin to see what men and woman do in narrow ways.
Role Play, encourages children to listen and talk to each other, it extend the powers of self-expression and encourages the expression of imaginative, non - stereotypical ideas and roles.
There are many educational toys available that mimic the grown up version, educational learning toys like Tea Sets and Cookers, for girls and boys and Power Tools and Super Hero Costumes, for girls and boys.
But don't forget that the use of imagination can change your drab coat into a magic cape! Have a look around charity shops you will get a lot more for your money and make your toddlers imagination work over time.
This has to be the best fun learning experience a child can have and a fantastic educational game for toddler.
Remember what an important part of your life imagination play was when you were a child?
You could be, do and have anything!
Do you remember "The Little Red Engine That Could"? He was just a little engine, but when he saw that steep hill ahead of him, a seemingly impossible obstacle, he kept telling himself, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can," and he pulled all his train cars over the hill. You know the moral: the power of a positive mind.
But then we get knocked down and start disbelieving in what we are capable of, don't do this to your child, help them have a true believing in what they want to be.
Some other great games would be nesting cups, to give the first concepts of "big, bigger and biggest", simple inset puzzles with lift-out pieces or matching games to help to increase your toddler's vocabulary, building blocks, linking toys and lacing sets are some other favourite educational toys for this age.
Education Games For Kids
Education Games For Kids, is packed full of the Best Educational Games and Toys for kids of all ages. Whatever your child's age or interests, you will find lots of information to create curiosity and a desire to learn with the Best Educational Games and Toys Around.
http://www.education-games-for-kids.com/index.html
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