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July 2008, Issue #053

BUSY, BUSY

1. Hello from Shirley

Happy 4th of July to the USA subscribers

It’s the mid-year school break here in South Africa and we are all enjoying the change in our daily routine.
I’ve been working on my websites and South African homeschooling business again as well as doing some fun activities with my children – doing things that we struggle to fit in during the school term like baking cookies, playing with dough, making ‘melktert’ (milk tart – a traditional South African recipe) and doing some crafts.

Kayleigh and I have also started a lapbook project called All About Ping based on the children’s picture book The Story About Ping.

{A lapbook is a compilation of mini-booklets detailing a topic of study that are all pasted onto a file folder. They are great fun and excellent for developing fine motor skills.}

2. Take a look at Shirleys Preschool Activities

As you will see, these are completely do-able activities that don’t make too much mess or fuss – we did them ourselves! Remember there are lots more easy Arts and Crafts to do on my site.

Help others like you

1. Email them and tell them about www.shirleys-preschool-activities.com and how it has helped you!
2. Forward them this newsletter or encourage them to sign up for The Whole Child newsletter.
3. If you have a website or blog, then link back to my site, using one of the codes here: Share This Site

...and if you or a friend would like to build an income-generating site (an online business) like I have, hurry and take advantage of this special offer. If it wasn't for Site Build It, you wouldn't be receiving this newsletter!

3. Quote

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Nelson Mandela

(So who will shape the mind of your child?)

4. Tips

Soon after I started my preschool site, a friend of mine started a site too and then we did one in partnership.

Wendy is now building her third site and I am sure many of you will find it interesting: As a mom of four, she has built a site about toddlers – to help you to stimulate, train, teach and most importantly love having your little ones with you.

So whether you are looking for toddler learning activities, educational toys, birthday party ideas, toddler crafts, games or information on toddler development, you will find it all at Toddler Activities at Home.

5. Book Reviews

Last month I told you about Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs and Parenting is Heart Work by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller

This months reviews:

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes...in You and Your Kids by Turansky and Miller

This book should probably have been called something like "how to teach your family to honor one another." If you catch yourself yelling or complaining at your kids, or speaking to them in ways sound awful, then the chances are you have heard yourself being copied by them too and you probably want to change that!
This book gives practical tips to deal with what happens in our children’s heart. We don’t want outward obedience but an inwardly defiant child. This book also distinguishes between respect and honour.
I have read many parenting books, but these by Turansky and Miller are giving me concrete things to do and change in me and my family! I still have one more to read: Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids!

The Story About Ping by Margaret Flack Ping is picture book about a duck who lives with his mother and father, aunts and uncles and 42 cousins on a ‘wise-eyed’ boat on the Yangtze River in China. One day he stays out late and has a rather nerve-wracking adventure on the big river alone. After nearly being served as duck-dinner, he is glad to return to his family, despite the consequences.
My kids have all loved this story and even I don’t mind reading it over and over. It can be used as a great unit study too.

6. Readiness Activities

July

1. Gross motor skills

Balance: Show your child how to walk on tip toes. Initially she should take about 5 steps, but with practice she will improve.

2. Fine motor skills

Manual Dexterity: Make cookies and let your child play with the dough, cookie cutters and small rolling pin. Alternatively, make some play dough and keep little hands busy with that! Encourage your child to roll the dough into sausages and balls.

3. Visual skills

Colour perception: Play colour matching games with construction blocks. Place a red block in front of your child and ask him to place one of the same colour beside it. Repeat the game with other colours.

4. Auditory skills

Teach your child a new song or nursery rhyme. Sing it often as you go through your daily and weekly routines. There are many benefits to learning songs and rhymes.

5. Mathematical skills

Numerical conceptualizing: Share raisins or other suitable snacks between you and your child. Show her that there is ‘one for you and one for me’ as you share them out one by one. Repeat the game with colouring crayons, toys or other objects.

6. Language skills

General insight/Sequence of events:
Ask your child questions about her daily routines such as What do you do …
• Before you eat? I wash my hands
• Before you bath? I get undressed
• Before you go to bed? I brush my teeth and say “Goodnight”.
• Before you leave someone house? I say "Good-bye."

7. Faith-building

Teach your child to own up when he has done wrong. He should learn to say: “It was me, Mom” and then apologise. Have a little grace sometimes and using your discretion, don’t always punish the offender if he is bold enough to own up. Show him that honesty pays.

Greetings until next month
Shirley
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