Blog

Fun with Letter Tiles!

~Melissa1 Comment

Letter tiles can be a great learning tool for learning the alphabet, the sounds of the alphabet, as well as spelling.  Some activities you can do with your letter tiles are:

Memory Game – Match upper case and lower case letters by placing tiles upside down and taking turns by turning two tiles over each turn.

Matching – Place a group of tiles of matching letters; example:  t, t, a, a, p, p, b, b. Have child match pairs.

Letter Name Game – Say the letter name and have child find the letter from a selection of tiled letters.

Letter Sound Game – Speak the sound of a letter and have child find the letter from a group of tiled letters.

Spell Names – Spell the names of family members and friends.

Spell simple words (or more complex words, as skill develops) – this can be done by choosing an ending such as “-at” and having the child put different beginning sounds to create new words (word families).

Here are a couple websites for creating some matching activities to use with your letter tiles:

Letter Tile Mats (beginning recognition activities for identifying letters and sounds)

Blank Letter Tile Cards (concept similar to Boggle Jr, but you get to choose the words)

Enjoy some fun activities learning with your child.  If you think of additional ideas that Letter Tiles can be used, please comment and share with us (and each other)!

Motivation Monday

EditorLeave a comment

“Administer the rules of the home in wisdom and love, not with a rod of iron. Children will respond with willing obedience to the rule of love. Commend your children whenever you can. Make their lives as happy as possible. . . . Keep the soil of the heart mellow by the manifestation of love and affection, thus preparing it for the seed of truth. Remember that the Lord gives the earth not only clouds and rain, but the beautiful, smiling sunshine, causing the seed to germinate and the blossom to appear. Remember that children need not only reproof and correction, but encouragement and commendation, the pleasant sunshine of kind words.”

Adventist Home, 18

Rest

RhondaLeave a comment

Ocean Sunset

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11

 

Photo Credit: ©2009 Nathan Clark. Used by permission.

Seeds + Dirt =

Ann1 Comment

Seeds + Dirt = the beginnings of a great nature study!

 You will find that even  very young children love the idea of helping to grow a plant.   There are lots of options for learning how a seed becomes a plant.   A wet paper towel inside of a sealed sandwich bag is a fun way to watch a seed sprout.   A small pot with soil will create great interest as your child waits for the seed to pop through the soil.  Quick germinating seeds like radishes, melons, or lettuce will be exciting to wait for.   If  you have the space outdoors, a  manageable-sized vegetable or flower garden for the entire family to enjoy is a worthwhile project.

Dropping a seed into soil is more than just a fun school project.  There are valuable character lessons for your children to to learn: responsibility, diligence, perseverance, and more.

“The parable of the sower and the seed conveys a deep spiritual lesson. The seed represents the principles sown in the heart, and its growth the development of character. Make the teaching on this point practical. The children can prepare the soiland sow the seed; and as they work, the parent or teacher can explain to them the garden of the heart, with the good or bad seed sown there; and that as the garden must be prepared for the natural seed, so the heart must be prepared for the seed of truth. As the plant grows, the correspondence between the natural and the spiritual sowing can be continued.”

Child Guidance, 56

Here are a few links to give you inspiration:

My First Garden

Nature Garden Activities

Children in the Garden

Planting a Garden with your Child

Motivation Monday

EditorLeave a comment

“Coming events are casting their shadows upon our pathway. Fathers, mothers, I appeal to you to make most earnest efforts now for your children. Give them daily religious instruction. Teach them to love God and to be true to the principles of right. With lofty, earnest faith, directed by the divine influence of the Holy Spirit, work, work now. Do not put it off one day, one hour.”

Child Guidance, 557

Rest

RhondaLeave a comment

Bald Eagle Pair

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:11

 

Photo Credit: © 2009 Nathan Clark. Used by permission.

The Plant–An Object Lesson in Child Training

Ann1 Comment

” The gradual development of the plant from the seed is an object lesson in child training. There is “first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:28.  He who gave this parable created the tiny seed, gave it its vital properties, and ordained the laws that govern its growth.

And the truths taught by the parable were made a reality in His own life. He, the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, became a babe in Bethlehem, and for a time represented the helpless infant in its mother’s care. In childhood He spoke and acted as a child, honoring His parents, and carrying out their wishes in helpful ways. But from the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in grace and in a knowledge of truth.”

Child Guidance, 27