Shell Memory Game

The shell game is an excellent memory game and so much fun kids don't even know they are strengthening their memory muscles.  You use three cups as pictured above. You can select a ball or any other object that fits comfortably under a cup. Shift them around and see if your child can lift the cup that is holding the ball. Once your child gets really good with three cups and one object...try adding more cups.... and try adding more objects....

Memory Game

This is a simple game but it will assist in building memory stamina. In the morning tell your child three things (numbers, letters, colors, objects, etc.) Next go about your day and ask your child to recall the three things. Start with thirty minutes and work yourself up.  This is a basic memory game but it is extremely good.  In the car we play with license plates (either the numbers or the letters not both just yet!) and at the end of the trip I ask my child to recall the license plate items.

Praise vs. Encouragement

What's best: praise or encouragement?? What's the difference?

This is a good video to watch as we begin to think about how we are responding to our kid's attempts at negotiating their path in the world.  If you read this article, after watching, you will see a chart that makes the distinction between praise and encouragement a bit clearer. Ultimately, encouragement really focuses on building in our kids the intrinsic desire to constantly put in effective effort in everything they do; where as praise focuses on competition and the idea that there are winners and losers and there is nothing your kids can do to change from being a loser to being a winner. 

MADLIBS FUN!

MADLIBS is a fun activity book that essentially puts together stories leaving out the parts of speech. You can ask your child to fill in the blanks. Then, you can read the hilarious stories together. It's hours of endless fun and they don't want to stop. CAUTION: Make sure that your MADLIBS is kid friendly.

http://www.madlibs.com

Magazines for KIDS

 These magazines have activities that allow your child from age 2-12 to grow cognitively. They have activities like: what's wrong?, memory games, whats missing? Increase conversations between you and your child... and so on...basically the best cognitive development in one (or both) magazines.....

Cleaning Up Learning Fun with Simon Says

I use  Simon Says as a way to get my child to clean up (and learn some new things about sorting and gain new vocabulary). Children love a game and as they get closer to 4 they love challenges. So match this up with duties around the house and you get some wholesome learning fun:


Simon says clean up all the small toys.....
Simon says clean up all the rough toys...
Simon says clean up all the toys that are mammals...
Simon says clean up all the orange objects

Independent opinion about schools...

Public School systems in NYC and beyond have strange no so straight forward ways of letting the public know what is going on with their child's school. For instance, your child's school could get an A in a progress report and still have the majority of their students under-performing on state and local assessments. But there are some places you can go to view independent information about schools and their performance. Two great ones are:


insideschools.org

greatschools.org

Experiences and Adventures on a BUDGET!!!

The best way for children to learn is  through real world experiences. Actually, attending museums/activities/cultural events are ways to encourage vocabulary growth, build knowledge and perspective. Here are some of the places you can look to for kid friendly experiences that wont break your BUDGET...

www.doodledeals.com
www.timeoutkidsny.com
www.nymetroparent.com
www.juiceinthecity.com



****Currently there is a deal on Galli Theater company at doodledeals.com. $34 gets you 2 tickets to 2 different shows Rapunzel and Aladdin.