Scientists Say Glitter is Bad For the Environment

Glitter is popular with many people. You can find glitter on fancy holiday cards, in some cosmetics, and on your preschooler’s latest artwork. One annoying thing about glitter is that it has a tendency to spread. Environmental scientists are calling for a ban on glitter because it is an ecological hazard. Dr. Trisia Farrelly is an environmental scientist. She said all glitter should be banned because it is a microplastic. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that microplastics are the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our ocean and Great Lakes. Microplastics come from larger plastic … Continue reading →

Fun Items for Frugal Dress Up Play

There is a quick and easy way to entertain your preschooler for at least half an hour or so. Let him or her play dress up! Preschoolers tend to love this activity because it lets them “become” someone else for a while. Dress up is a great opportunity for using one’s imagination. Here are some frugal ideas for dress up play. Frugal Dress Up Ideas for Preschoolers Old Costumes Previously worn Halloween costumes are great for playing dress up in. Your child can become a princess, a superhero, or both in the same day. Reuse the Halloween costumes that your … Continue reading →

Putting Your Preschooler to Work

Nothing makes preschoolers happier than helping their parents. Studies show that young children are wired to get pleasure from pleasing their mom or dad. So, instead of ignoring your four-year-old when he offers to help you make the beds, fold laundry or put away groceries, allow him to exercise his independence by lending a hand. In some cases, a preschooler’s attempt at helping is more of a hindrance to parents; however, with a little patience you can turn these heartfelt efforts into teachable moments. When my now 8-year-old daughter was a preschooler nothing delighted her more than being able to … Continue reading →

The Preschool TV Battle is Heating Up

Your preschooler may be more powerful than you think. At least when it comes to watching television. According to Nielsen Media Research, children ages 2 to 5 spend an average of 32 hours in front of a TV each week. For cable networks this means big business. In the past five years, a slew of channels dedicated to preschool programming have inundated the market. Since 2000, Nick Jr. has continually garnered the highest Nielsen ratings. The Viacom-owned channel is dedicated solely to preschool children and is home of the mega-hit show “Dora the Explorer.” Riding the wave of popularity with … Continue reading →

Movie Night: Monsters University

My two older children loved watching Monsters Inc., so naturally I introduced my younger child to the movie. As I expected they also loved it. When Monsters University came out I could not wait to bring my two little girls to see it. I love memories of movie night. The movie opened last Friday but where we live movie tickets on Monday are only $5.00 so we waited. When movie day arrived we were all super excited to get to the theater. Upon arrival it was clear that most waited until the cheap ticket day to see the movie. The … Continue reading →

Top 3 Favorite Preschool Crafts

Paper Lantern Supplies: Construction paper: Various colors Glue Scissors Hole puncher Pipe cleaners Decorative items: Streamers, pom poms, stickers, ribbon, etc. Instructions: Fold a piece of construction paper lengthwise. From the folded edge cut slits from one side to the other. Be careful not to cut all the way to the edge. Unfold the paper. In the opposite direction (the short side) glue or staple the top edges together and then the bottom edges together. Cut a strip of construction paper to glue to the top and bottom edge of the lantern. You may cut it straight or get creative … Continue reading →

Yarn Picture Craft

This is a fun activity but it will require parental help for young ones. What I love about this project is that you can make abstract and concrete images with your child. Designs are simple for young children to make and will turn out pretty as the flower suggested in the activity. Don’t limit your pictures to flowers, expand to do whatever your child is interested in. Use the activity to reinforce lessons on shapes. Yarn Picture Craft What You Need: Yarn (in a variety of colors) Construction paper Clear drying, non-toxic glue Scissors Pencil What You Do: Choose a … Continue reading →

Easter Crafts for Preschoolers

Spring is here and that means Easter is around the corner. Here are two fun Easter crafts to do with your preschooler. Egg Shell Pot Plants Supplies: Eggshells Potting soil Grass seeds (they germinate in a few weeks) or bean seeds (they germinate in a few days) Tempera paint or Markers Hot glue or white glue A small square of cardboard or a small piece of a pipe cleaner. Directions: Clean eggshells and dry them gently. To give the tiny plant pot a solid base, glue a small square of cardboard to the bottom of the eggshell (or use … Continue reading →

Family Tree Construction Paper Craft

I must have a thousand sheets of construction paper. It is one of the least used items in my home. Honestly, I have no idea why. I buy it but it hardly gets used. Worse, I buy double when it is on sale. Seems rather silly when I only use it a few times a year. So today, I decided to use up some of the construction paper. My girls looked at me like I had gone mad. They must have wondered what on earth could this colored paper be and was it magic that turned it red, pink, blue, … Continue reading →

A Sweet Way to Practice Shapes

Baking is a great way to learn math concepts. It is also delicious. But did you know another great way to learn in the kitchen is to use cookies? You can use them to teach basic shapes, sorting, and patterns. After all that hard work, you can relax with your child eating cookies and drinking ice cold milk. Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe What You Need: 2 cups flour ¾ tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt 1 ½ sticks butter or margarine (softened) ½ cup granulated sugar ½ cup brown sugar 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips … Continue reading →