Every Mom with little kids faces the same dilemma: there is never enough time in the day. Between the cooking, the cleaning, and the diapering it’s easy to forget that a child’s brain needs nourishment too. According to research, this brain development is especially important during the first five years of life. Yet how can a busy Mom find the time and the patience to educate her young child on top of everything else she has to do? Don’t panic. With the right games and activities, you can give your kids all the nourishment they need and still even have some free time for yourself.
The question is, how can a Mom know the “right” games and activities to do with a three year old? There is a new book out, called The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn. This book was written in a unique way because it has not just one, but two authors. One is a Mom, and the other is a Teacher. They worked together to develop games and activities that are not only truly interesting to your child, but also help develop their natural curiosity and other crucial skills. Most importantly, these aren’t projects that are difficult! Most of them are games or projects that any Mom can easily put together at home. For example, here a project that is introduced in the book.
First, start with a standard pin cushion, normally used for sewing and some long push pins with a large head:
Next you will need either a Parmesan shaker, or something similar. I bought a strainer at the dollar store and place it on top of a Cheerios cup:
Then model for your child what to do before giving her the pins. It takes a lot of concentration to get each pin in the right spot so it’s great for developing fine motor skills but this is probably not appropriate for anyone under 3 and a half years old. The first time we played this game, she emptied out all the pins three different times for a total of over 30 minutes!
Chapters you will find in this unique book include:
- Chapter One: Keeping Kids Busy With Sensory Activities
- Chapter Two: Keeping Kids Busy With Fine Motor Activities
- Chapter Three: Crafts and Art Projects
- Chapter Four: Playing Inside
- Chapter Five: Playing Outside
- Chapter Six: Nurturing Yourself So You Can Nurture Your Children
- Chapter Seven: Enjoying Your Kids to Fullest by Developing Wonderful Behavior
- Chapter Eight: How to Prepare Your Children for Kindergarten
- Chapter Nine: Helping Your Child Learn to Read
- Chapter Ten: Helping Your Child Learn Math and Science
- Chapter Eleven: Summary and Resources
The Happy Mommy Handbook: The Ultimate How-to Guide on Keeping Your Toddlers and Preschoolers Busy, Out of Trouble and Motivated to Learn is available on Amazon and soon on Barnes and Noble. The e-book is $3.99 and the printed version is $9.99. The authors have kindly offered to give my readers a $15 gift card that can be used to purchase this wonderful book!
You can also follow Susan Case on her blog Kindergarten Basics and Katie Norris on her blog Mommy With Selective Memory.
Marnie Craycroft
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With a summer break from Montessori preschool–I have been trying to help my nealy four year old keep her focus and intrest in learning. What a great resource!
Love reading all the wonderful posts. Thank you.
Thank you.
This is such a great blog. I love reading every post! Thanks for sharing!
The book sounds absolutley wonderful. With an almost 2 year old, a 3 year old and a 5 year old , taht insist in following mw around the house, this book would be most welcome
This looks like a fun book! I’d love more ideas for keeping my toddler busy. It is amazing how much she learns and how how quickly she seems capable of doing new things.
I can always use help keeping my two and four year old busy. Thanks for the great give away.
I love your blog. I’ve been subscribing by e-mail for a little while and enjoy every post!
MJ recently posted…Water Gem Play
What a wonderful resource! Thanks for the giveaway!
Amy G recently posted…Reading to a Young Toddler, the Montessori Way
Thank you!
This would make my niece happy
)
Great resource-thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway
thanks for the giveaway! You can never have too many books!
You are so right about busy parents! As a retired teacher of the gifted, I knew just what you needed – check out my app HOORAY FOR TODAY! for iPhone and Android.This is a daily calendar of creative activities for you and your child (ages 4-8). The goal is for you to take a little interactive ‘fun’ time every day with your child, and remember to say, HOORAY FOR TODAY! http://ow.ly/clkSE
P.S. It also gives you insight on how your child best learns.
Thank you so much!
I’ve always started to read to my kids when they’re only a few weeks old and we have a home library for all ages.
That’s a great idea! I don’t have kids yet, but I love reading these tips so that when I do have kids I’ll have a nice arsenal of tools to help! And thanks for the giveaway
Jennifer DeFoy recently posted…Giveaway: Hidden Treasure Candle Ends 8/2
Thank you so much for this giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway.
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
thanks for the giveaway
Thanks for the giveaway!
such a cool craft idea! Thanks for posting, and thanks for the giveaway!
Martha C Payne recently posted…Sweepstakes Alert: Win A Baby Video Monitor!
Fantastic book! Beautiful, loving blog!
I love the montessori method and how it instill in children a love of learning and develop their true passions. Being a child care provider makes me always in need to have purposeful way for the children to play. Thanks so much for your blog and this giveaway
I so enjoy reading – thank you for the chance.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I never get tired of carrots
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!
Sounds like a wonderful resource. Thanks for the giveaway.
Katy Emanuel recently posted…Day 7 – Early Morning Hike up Cadillac Mountain
Thanks for the giveaway!
Great giveaway, thanks!
Thank you for the giveaway.
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