Learn how to clean up your beauty routine with safe, non-toxic makeup and personal care products that really work.

Kids need recess, even when it's wet and cold outside. We can look to Scandinavia as a model, where kids spending time outside is a cultural norm.

A new study found the brains of 3- to 5-year-old children who overused screens were not as developed in areas needed for language, writing and cognitive skills.

Children learn their most important lessons on the playground, not in the classroom, researchers say.

When did America decide preschool should be in a classroom?

The addition of a daily outdoor activity class at school for three years for children in Guangzhou, China, resulted in a reduction in the rate of myopia (nearsightedness, the ability to see close objects more clearly than distant objects), according to a new study.

The children in art class experience what it's like to draw with their feet and mouths (and elbows!). This is not only a fun, action art experience, but it gives them a new appreciation and gratefulness for their hands.

Looking for creative toddler activities that encourage their curiosity and engage their little minds and hands in fun but meaningful ways? Here is a wonderful new resource that helps parents and teachers go on everyday adventures with their little ones in ways that everyone can enjoy!

Children learn best when their bodies are engaged in the living world. We must resist the ideology of screen-based learning

Teachers, parents and health officials in southern Ontario are say kids today simply don't know how to play outside.

The Benefits of playing in the Mud truly outweighs the mess of it by far. Have you seen our Marvellous Outdoor Mud Kitchen??? The importance of messy out door play is drifting away in many households, especially now in a technology savvy world where children seem submerged in television, Ipads, mobiles, computers and game consoles rather than sprinklers, dirt, sand, bikes, trees and dandelions. So why is playing in the mud important? Many parents see their young child heading for a mud puddle and see potential mess, dirt stained clothes and hazardous germs so they stop. When I see a mud patch I see potential sensory fun and giggles, splashing and opportunities to explore and enjoy the outdoors, avenues for imagination and creativity. Did you know that studies have found a good bacteria in soil that has been linked to improved quality of life and happiness? There is an abundance of information on how playing in the mud boosts a child immune system so it is not only healthy for you but makes you happy. Open ended play This gives opportunity for creativity and imagination. Mud kitchens and Mud stations are child led activities and allow self soothing that becomes a some what therapeutic relaxing event where the child can connect to the outdoors with the freedom to let their mind wander wherever it wishes to. Open ended play leaves doors open so a child can develop the independence and confidence to play within their own limits, the way they feel comfortable. Stimulation of many senses while engaged in play Sensory stimulation is a necessary part of brain development. Children can listen to nature sounds of the outdoors, mud/water/slopping sounds, birds and so on. Tactile stimulation through touch and the different feelings of dirt, pebbles, sticks, water, mud, and the different textures. Seeing how materials mix, mash, pour, transform, squish and so on through different methods of play. Eye - hand coordination Mud kitchens provide good practise of eye hand coordination and help further develop the neural pathways responsible for these movements. So while scooping, mixing, pouring, carrying pots full or mud, transferring materials and serving up mud children are increasing their eye hand coordination and through moving around the different weighted materials, balancing them and having steady control of them, they are strengthening all those important muscles that are still growing. Cause and effect Something that is often overlooked in outdoor free play is how a child learns through experimentation and observation. For example, The mud blocks the sink, the large pebbles don't fit through the funnel, dirt and water makes mud, mud settles at the bottom of the pot, bark chips float to the surface and so forth. Pretending Real life Play Mud stations allow children to develop real skills using real life instruments, working in a real kitchen, working with real resources (even though its done in a pretend way they're not plastic right!?) this leads to learning real consequences and learning through exploration. Whether they are role playing being a chef, making a mud pie or just enjoying splatting mud like an erupting volcano they are utilising natural materials. Imagination and Creativity Open ended mud play leads to creativity. After all Mud is an art medium. We've all heard of mud pies but have you ever tried mud painting? Through the freedom of open ended play and utilising rich coloured mud a child's imagination develops as they role play, story tell, chat away in their own fantasy world, create things and make things, pretend real life scenarios and so on. Gross motor skills As with all forms of out door play, mud play enhances gross motor skills. As the child handles materials and work around the mud station, carry full shovels of mud or balance full pots of water, lift and pour containers, stir and scoop with utensils, squat, stand, sit and physically move around doing their thing they are being active and using important gross motor actions. Self care knowledge This is broad but also very important. Self care knowledge can be expanding on as the child plays with mud in many ways. To begin with if it is an outside area like ours, you can first inspect the area for creepy crawlies or spiders, ask them to tell a parent or grown up if they see any and remove sticks from the play area. If it is a mud kitchen they are playing with it gives a good opportunity to practise cooking skills and self care skills in the kitchen by pretending with them. For example cooking with the handles facing away, holding the handle of the pot as they stir it, pretending to always turn of the stove or oven, hot surfaces, packing away the dishes etc. This can also extend to after play tidy up by making sure they tidy and pack away, washing the things ready for next time, washing their hands after and putting dirty clothes in the wash when they're done etc. Why not give it a go? If you score low on the mess-o-meter and are still hesitant about letting your kids roam in mud. Keep the above in mind, put them in old worn clothes that aren't important, gumboots and have a change of clothes. To get you started here are some objects you can use with Mud. Kitchen play: Pots, pans, spoons, ladles, containers, muffin trays, bowls. Dumping: Toy cars, mud, Dump trucks and diggers, small shovels. Pretend cooking: Cooking utensils, a bowl, dirt, gum nuts, daisies, clovers, dandelions, seeds, water can. Animal tracks: Mud, a flat surface, plastic animals with feet able to do foot prints with. Mud pie's: Cake dish or pan, sand, sift, spoon, mixing bowl, dirt, mud, water, a pretend oven. Mud painting: Mud, water, brushed and sponges, a large paper or wall. If you havent already check out this previous post "Mud is good for you right?" & of course Our Outdoor Mud kitchen. Happy Adventures :)

Don’t be sad if it is raining outside; remember that rain is going to give us May flowers.I’m convinced that if it is good for the flowers and the soil it is also good for us. Recently, a magazine interviewed me about how children deal with being outside in all kinds of weather. The question […]

Are you looking for a fun and engaging activity/resource that helps your students learn High Frequency Words? Look no further! :) This interactive High Five Game Set is designed for you to use in class to complement lessons, in groups to support and reinforce learning, individually as well as in small groups to promote knowledge and understanding.... the possibilities are endless! High Five (Variations & Suggestions) 1. Entry Pass! Stick the “High Five Hands” to the wall next to the door of your class. As your student come in, they “High Five” and say each of the words before coming into class. 2. If you have a long hallway, stick all or some of them along the wall and encourage the children to walk along reading, saying the word and giving a “High Five”. 3. Stick them to your some of your student’s hands, those who don’t have a word, take it in turns to listen to the word called out and give that person a “High Five”. 4. Hang them on a washing line… Put them on a wall in your outdoor area… The possibilities are endless! Included in this Set: 10 Sets High Frequency Word Card Hands (ALL Color & BW) Variations & Suggestions Reward Certificate Set 1: The, and, a, to, said, in, he, I, of, it. Set 2: You, was they, on, she, is, for, at, his, but. Set 3: That, with, all, we, are, can, up, had my, her. Set 4: What, there, out, this, have, want, be, like some, so. Set 5: Not, them, were, go little, as no, good, one, then. Set 6: Do, me, down, dad, big, when, it’s, see, looked, very. Set 7: Look, don't, come, will, into. back, from, children, him, Mr. Set 8: Get, just, now, came, of, about, got, their, people, your. Set 9: put, could, house, old, too, by, day, made, time, I'm. Set 10: If, help, Mrs., called, here, asked, saw, make, an. Format: PDF Thank you for visiting and hope you enjoy this High Five Game set! Sue x ................................................................................................................................................ ⭐ Click HERE to follow me or hit the "Green Star" at the top of the page. :) ⭐ Keep up to date with all the latest resources! Follow my FACEBOOK Page , Sue's Snazzy Classroom! ⭐ Let's connect on INSTAGRAM @sue.snazzy.classroom! ⭐ Please remember to leave Feedback to earn TPT Credits to use on future purchases. Click on this LINK to find out how you can give feedback. :)

Toddlers are notorious for being picky eaters. Are you looking for ways to get your toddler to eat more food? Do you need a list of toddler meals for picky eaters? You are not alone!

Huge list of 40 Fall Themed Fine Motor Activities for toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners! Stamping, cutting, twisting, tweezing and more!

Surrounding families with early language and learning opportunities and partnering to prepare young children for success in kindergarten …

Remember this fun game from your childhood? It's bringing me back to the school yard. It's not only a great way to encourage coordination for toddlers but

Encouraging young students to write can be a difficult task at times especially with those students who just cant seem to find ideas to write about, recall words or thoughts and maybe even are "stuck" because everything has to be spelled correctly. Any of theses issues can be solved with these picture supported writing frames for reluctant writers. These picture supported writing frames will encourage writing and make writing easier for your early writers. The Writing frames motivate reluctant writers in a non-threatening way! These picture supported writing frames are great to use with emergent writers. The frames support as well as build writing stamina and understanding. Use to promote independence to kick start writing in a station or center. Great to Use for Response to Intervention, Those with Speech and Language Needs, Homeschool, Stations, Independent work These Writing Frames for Reluctant Writers, Interventions, Sp. Ed. & ELL were originally created for a student who used assistive technology. It really made a difference for the student as he pointed to his answer using these frames. They were also used for those who had difficulty writing. These frames solved the communication problem in the classroom and made it easier for students to write. These frames provided a way for all students to participate more fully in the writing program. Each page has a writing response starter and pictures to choose to answer the question or fill in the response. The child circles the picture that responds to his/her answer and then colors it. There is also a word box with words to partially represent the pictures. The students can use the word box to help them with their writing and if needed, they can circle words they might want to use in their writing. As always, you can use these frames in any way that might work for your class. Here are a few ideas for use: ♥ To motivate reluctant writers ♥ For emergent writers ♥ Special Education ♥ RTI ♥ Those with Speech Needs ♥ Homeschool ♥ Stations ♥ Independent work You Might also Like a Few of THESE WRITING RESOURCES: Sentence Building and Structure Journal Prompts for First Grade ****************************************************************** Thank you for purchasing, downloading, browsing, following and inspiring! I hope this brings a bit of sunshine your way! If you find anything in this packet that needs to be reworked or might work better for your students, please let me know and I will be happy to rework any activity/packet that you have purchased to fit your needs. Let's Connect Blog: Joys Sunshine and Lollipops FB: Sunshine and Lollipops IG: Joy's Sunshine and Lollipops Pinterest: Sunshine and Lollipops FEEDBACK I appreciate feedback It helps me decide which products are most helpful and valuable for your students. I Love to create so if there is anything that you might need or want to make your job easier, just let me know! To Earn Credit for Future Purchases, Go to My Purchases page (you may need to login). Beside each purchase you'll see a Provide Feedback Link. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the resource. Each time you give feedback, you receive feedback credits that you can use to lower the cost of your future purchases Become a Follower If you would like to be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies and product launches, click the GREEN STAR next to my shop logo on my main page and you will become a follower. This “easy peasy” action will now send you email updates about this store. If you have any questions, be sure to contact me! Enjoy! Kathy

This week I am teaming up with some amazing bloggers brining you a series of Schools out: Top 10 Summer posts! You can check out the links at the bottom of this post for more information! Toddler’s learn language all day, every day from their morning diaper changes to breakfast, to play time, to book […]

Some of the first words children learn to read are from items they see everyday. Children start to associate pictures and logos with things they use, foods they eat and places they go. This download features environmental print from restaurants, common household brands, toys and foods. These can be ...