Happiness.

Love is a beautiful thing. My husband shows me love every day in the way he speaks to me, the way he treats me and best of all, when he spoils me. I am so pumped because we are going to our favorite spot for summer vacation. He just surprised me by booking it all! I very much missed this place because last year due to Covid we could not travel anywhere. I feel in my heart that I absolutely have to be there at least once a year to recharge my soul. It is a beautiful, wild place. I get to see the stars and feel like I am surrounded by space on all sides. Wildlife will walk near you with no fear of humans because they are not accustomed to being threatened by human encroachment. I like to watch deer eat wild apples and racoons just being silly racoons. I just love it so much. My dream is to retire there someday but for now I will continue to cherish these memories we are making as a family. 

 

Printable Spring Cleaning Activities for Kids

Printable Spring Cleaning Activities for Kids

This spring cleaning season, you don’t have to create a squeaky clean space all on your own. It’s the perfect time of year to teach your littles the value (and fun) of organization and hard work.

 

You can  enlist your kids to lend a helping hand with these free chores and activities. Whether they’re checking off tasks on their weekly chore chart or mixing up kid-safe cleaning supplies, you’ll have little helpers by your side as you strive for a sparkling clean space.

 

The best part? You can turn these lessons into weekly routines, and your house can reap the benefits all year long. 

The random acts of kindness activity encourages kids to help others. Here are some tasks on the 7-day kindness challenge:

1. Help a neighbor in need with yard work
2. Wash the family car
3. Do the dishes after family dinner
4. Pick up trash at your favorite park or playground
5. Give away gently used books
6. Buy and donate a brand new toy
7. Mix up a natural cleaning solution and clean with it

 

Since clutter and mess increase stress, teaching kids about cleaning young helps prepare them for a fruitful future. Make the activities fun by offering rewards and incentives such as allowance or ice cream .

All of these printables have been provided by The Zebra and you can download and print them free by clicking here.

This post was made in collaboration between Twinkle Teaches and The Zebra.

Put a Spring in Your Step!

Spring is in the air and that means it is time to de-clutter and organize. I have already made two trips to donation sites and I already see a third one coming soon. The messiest room in my house without a doubt is my home office. It is my dirty secret, my catch-all. I have struggled with it ever since I bought my house 20 years ago. 

So my main focus in there for now is to get rid of ALL paper clutter, donate the books I don't read that are collecting dust, and organize my huge craft and office supply collections. The main reason for me to de-clutter in there is because I just purchased a table to be my writing desk. It is a beautiful, yellow table. There were 4 for sale and I bought one. Here is the table top:

I love it so much! So now I need to make room so I can put the legs on it and have a writing space. But I know I have to be vigilant about maintaining this space, and my whole household really.

The Zebra has weekly cleaning schedules that are so helpful! I printed it off , laminated it (you can also just use a plastic sleeve protector) and am going to use a dry erase marker to help me check off cleaning zones.

Spring Fun!!!

I cannot believe we are almost half-way through April! I feel like 2021 is going faster than 2020. But I cannot wait until the virus is diminished. I cannot wait to return to a sense of normalcy instead of doom and gloom. I remind myself right now "April showers bring May flowers!" And I truly do love flowers.

I came across some fun Spring activities and art ideas for the kids and of course, I have to share!

Scavenger Hunts from Primary Playground

Bug Balloon Painting from Pocket of Pre-School

Caterpillar Name Craft Free Printable from Pocket of Pre-School

A nice chant that gets them movin' and groovin'!

Stained Glass Cardboard Dinosaurs from A Play Filled Life (Instagram)

Handprint parrots! (No original source found)

Make a spring ornament from craft/popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners,

paper, glue and string/yarn!

Scavenger Hunts from Primary Playground

Enjoy exploring and creating!!!

Backyard Camping Activities The Whole Family Will Enjoy

Backyard Camping Activities The Whole Family Will Enjoy

With summer right around the corner, kids are eager for warm weather, barbeque dinners and camping trips. If you don’t have the time or opportunity to escape the city for a family camping trip, why not plan one in your own backyard?

Backyard camping lets you get into the camping spirit without leaving the comforts of home. It also can serve as an affordable vacation alternative that is safe and gets the social-distancing seal of approval.

How to Prepare Your Backyard Campsite

To capture the true essence of camping in your backyard, prepare as if you were going on an outdoor adventure. Make camping ground rules like no technology or going into the house and prepare meals that can be made and enjoyed outside. 

When it comes to packing and setting up camp, opt for a tent, camping friendly attire and sleeping bags. For inspiration, use the following printable backyard camping checklist to get you started.

Don’t forget to incorporate a few kid-friendly camping activities that will entertain the whole family. 

Backyard Camping Ideas for Kids

Once you set up camp, it's time to have some family fun as well as learn about the nature around you. This list of fun activities to do outside will keep your kids entertained throughout the trip, giving you a chance to kick back, relax and enjoy the fresh air.

Nature Scavenger Hunt 

Help your kids see the backyard from a whole new light by sending them on a neighborhood nature scavenger hunt. Rather than collecting the items on the list, have kids snap a photo of them on a disposable camera or jot them down in a camping journal. This will teach your kids how to discover without disrupting living creatures and things in their natural environment. Plus, you can print the photos later as a memorable keepsake.

Camping Critters Coloring Sheet

Camping is all about quiet reflection and being one with nature. Mindful activities such as coloring keep kids engaged in the present moment while also providing you with some relaxation and relief. Encourage quiet time with this camping-themed coloring sheet. All you need to do is print it, pack some crayons or markers and set it up at your eating area.

Connect-The-Dot Constellation Worksheet

When you’re camping, there’s nature all around — including up above. While camping, look up at the night sky to spot constellations and planets. This connect-the-dot craft will highlight other visible constellations to be on the lookout for, such as Hercules and Lyra.

Campfire Storyboard

End the night with a memorable and sweet activity by gathering around the fire for story time and smores. This storyboard activity turns storytelling into a game. To play, all you’ll need is a die, printed copies of the worksheet and a crayon or marker.

Don’t forget to heat everyone's favorite gooey marshmallow and chocolate treat as you swap tales fireside.

We hope these backyard camping activities have inspired you to plan your own outdoor adventure soon. For more inspiration, explore Zolo’s guide to backyard camping for all the ideas on packing and preparation. You can find the FREE camping printables

HERE at Zolo.

This guest post was made and posted in collaboration with Zolo and Twinkle Teaches.

How Egg-citing!!

Photo Source

Easter will be here before we know it. I have a horror Easter story to share with my readers! I made a mistake and ordered a glitter Easter egg. I thought it would be cool to put some cash in and hide on Easter and make my teen find. Or put in his basket. Yes, he is 16 but so help me he is getting a basket until he is 18.

 Well, I did not KNOW it was a giant egg like a dinosaur egg. I never pay attention to dimensions. I opened the box and pretty much glitter-bombed myself! All the other candy and stuff was covered in glitter. Glitter was leaking out of the sealed egg bag. I even know how it did that. And it kept doing that when I was trying to clean it with disinfectant wipes.

The "Monster"

 Y'all, the glitter egg from another dimension is now in time out in a corner in my bedroom. It is sitting in the box still until I get a large Ziploc to stick it in, and I have been finding glitter EVERYWHERE 4 days later. Now, this is coming from a lady who has an actual glitter wall in her house. I feel like this is some kind of karma because when I was younger I would put metallic confetti in all my mail correspondence. I no longer know what to do with this egg. Just don't order a glitter egg if you are thinking about it. Especially a giant one.

With eggs on the mind...let's get to sharing some fun Easter ideas (as spotted on the web)!

Photo Source~Happy Toddler Playtime

This is a genius idea that is not only fun but really helps your child practice fine motor skills by scooping. If you are a librarian or teacher, this would be a fun center activity or activity during sensory play time programs. Children "rescue" the eggs by scooping and trying to avoid the tape barriers. You can read all about it at Happy Toddler Playtime!

Sprouting Wild Ones blog has this cool idea of using found nature objects to make egg art. They are so pretty!

Photo Source~Sprouting Wild Ones

Photo Source~Teaching Mama

Want to do some egg science? There are over 15 egg science activities at Teaching Mama!

Photo Source~Happy Toddler Playtime

Ooooh! A magnetic easter egg hunt sounds like so much fun! Now because it involves magnets the mom in me would like to add make sure this is done with adult supervision and that the eggs are taped or glued together firmly shut. Then have fun! Details can be found at Happy Toddler Playtime!

Photo Source~Crafty Morning

 I love this. When I was in 5th grade our teacher showed us how to take our pencil erasers to use tissue paper squares to mold them to make tree leaves. I have had an odd affinity for tissue paper crafts ever since! This one is too cute. Little chicks in a basket! This idea can be found on Crafty Morning!

I hope you enjoyed this post and stay safe from glitter eggs!

Tina@ TwinkleTeaches

9 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Better Study Habits

9 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Better Study Habits

Photo Source: Pexels

School is a big deal for kids. They are setting out to conquer something that can be a huge challenge for many learners. With lessons and homework piling up, developing good study habits is important to help your child succeed. Habits are difficult to establish and even more difficult to adopt, which is why it's so important to start now. Whether it's throwing a baseball, tying laces, or slipping on socks, children naturally imitate the actions around them.

Not only does having good study habits allow your child to concentrate more, but they also may have a lower chance of becoming stressed and anxious. Without good study habits, it can be difficult to make the most of each school day.

What are these methods? How do you help your child develop them? Let’s take a closer look.

The 9 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Better Study Habits: 

1. Regular Scheduling

It is important to stick with a daily routine to keep your child's studying regular. Studies show that the more consistent the study habits are, the easier it is for students to take in the information they are taught. The most productive time for most learners is first thing in the morning when they are fresh. This is when they should be getting their studying done. Don't give them the option to put it off or to cram it all in at the last minute.

Regardless of whether your child is a morning learner or not, laying out a schedule that has a first thing in the morning blocked out for school work will help them stick with it. If they can't get their studying done first thing in the morning, then you should find a time that works best for them.

2. Good Time Management

After laying out the schedule that works best for your child, it is important that they stick with it. Kids can have a hard time sticking to something when there are too many options on what to do, or when something else seems more interesting. Also, when they are starting to get bored with school, they need to push through and finish their studies before they give in to temptation. 

Studying habits, after all, are not easy to change. Being on task seems like a habit and they need to develop. The same applies to their school work. There are so many distractions going on at school that they need to take control and decide what they should do first. Decide whether or not studying is more interesting than playing video games, making friends, doing sports, or hanging out with friends. There will be times that they need to decide which one is more important.

Aside from that, having good study habits also includes having a good workspace. When they are doing their homework, they should do so in a quiet environment. A quiet environment helps them focus on what they are doing, while also allowing them to concentrate better. It keeps them from being distracted by all the things going on around them.

3. Prioritizing Learning Tasks

Sometimes, getting started on their studies can be hard for children. Make it easier by having them focus on completing the most important tasks first. They will feel more motivated to push through and finish the rest of their schoolwork when they could see that they finished something big in a short amount of time. By providing them with a list of to-do items that they can easily check off as they complete them, your children will feel more organized and will feel that they have accomplished something by the end of the day.

Ask your child to look over their task list and find one or two things that they could finish quickly. Have them jump right into it and have them use their earlier energy to push through. If they are not ready to finish something, have them put it off until later during a break or after an enjoyable activity. Then, have them write down the next item on their list that they will have time to finish.

4. Learning From Notes and Homework Assignments

Photo Source: Pexels

Your child needs to take notes while they are at school. These notes will help them to better remember what they learned. Also, if their teacher gives out an assignment, they must get it done right away so they can review their notes to make sure that they understand the material. 

If they leave it to the last minute, there is a higher possibility that they will not get an excellent grade on their assignment. Many times, children try to copy their friend's homework assignments. While this can be a good way for them to learn something new, it also allows them to cheat. Thus, they should learn from their notes and assignments.

5. A study place that’s clear of distractions

. 

Working in a quiet place is important for a child to focus and not be distracted by noise. The best place to sit and complete schoolwork is in your child's bedroom or at the kitchen table. If they need to do homework after school, it is important that they either study in their bedroom or in the car on their way home. 

6. Establishing Good Work Space Habits

After finding a place to study where there are no distractions, your child must make good habits of how to set up their space to work best. A good habit is to have everything they need for their homework assignment on their desk or table. This includes a pencil, a notebook with the assignment written on it, and any materials that they will need to finish as a calculator or textbook.

7. Keeping Distractions in Check

 The biggest distractions are going to be your child's peers. To help lessen the distraction of friends wanting your child's attention, it is best to get them involved in activities that do not require them to be right in the middle of the action. This may mean that they need to have their own space to work where they can listen and still focus.

8. Practicing Good Concentration Skills

Photo Source: Pexels

Good concentration skills mean that your child wants to finish one task before starting on another. When they have done this, it means that the task was completed right the first time because there is nothing else they need to take care of. It also shows that they understood what was being taught in class and were able to apply it rather than slowly learning it through repetition over several days.

9. Don't think of studying as a chore 

The best way to develop your child's study habits is to avoid the goals of studying and focus on what you want your kid to gain from their effort. You can help them understand that learning is an enjoyable activity, not a chore.

If you can get your child to see studying as a long-term solution rather than a short-term fix, then they're more likely to want to learn. Here are few tips on how to it:

• Get them excited by telling them that you're going to do a big project together.

• Teaching them the value of an effort. You need not spend hours studying but if you work hard for five minutes, it can pay off later on. 

• Reward systems and incentives work well to encourage your child to study more. 

• Helping your child understand how their choices will affect their future and by doing so, they'll be more motivated to put forth the effort needed for success. 

• Giving them control over their own time has a powerful effect on motivation.

• When they are engaged in learning they feel good about themselves and therefore will want to continue. 

• Providing your child with opportunities to succeed so that they begin to build confidence and can get a sense of achievement which will make them feel more motivated to learn. 

• When your child learns how to study effectively, they'll be more likely to do it on their own without the prompting of parents.

Your child must be able to complete their schoolwork while they are still young. You are there to help them overcome any issues they may have, but if you can't help them with their studies you will be part of the reason why they won't be able to become successful in the future. By setting up a good schedule for your morning that has dedicated time set aside for schoolwork, you will be helping your child stay on track and focused when they have a lot going on in their day. 

This guest post about learning something new was made in collaboration with NY Baby Steps and Twinkle Teaches.

                          

Recycled Cardboard Crafts!

Like most moms and educators, ever since the pandemic started I have been trying to find creative ways to keep kids busy. I came across a fun craft you can make with cardboard boxes. Since many of us are ordering online more, this is a great solution for some creative art fun and a way to recycle those boxes!

You can find cool craft ideas and more at the Quill.Com Blog!

                            

Learning the 44 Sounds and 26 Letters of English for Beginning Students

Gratitude.

Grateful. What are you grateful for? We are living in history-making times.

It is easy to feel stressed and sad. I try to think of one thing every day that I am thankful for. It can be something small, too. I can be grateful that my laptop battery lasted longer than I thought. I can be grateful for the library because I check out books for free. And I can be grateful that my dog greets me at the door each time that I come home.

I found a wonderful post about gratitude, self-care and how fragrance plays into that. There are some great free downloads like gratitude cards and a lunchbox note for your child. Go to FragranceX to read more about gratitude and to download your free printables!

Show yourself some self-love by taking the self-gratitude challenge HERE!

                                  

Learning Disabilities

I came across this infographic on Facebook and went to ser4kids.com

SER stands for Special Education Resources. It looks like they have some free resources for reading and for special education.

I will add another learning disability that has been recently discovered-

Dysnomia is a learning disability that is marked by difficulty in recalling words, names, numbers, etc. from memory. The real problem stems from the fact that the words that they can not remember are essential, as they are needed for oral or written expressive language.

                                 

Green Scene

Green is on its way!

Spring is coming and so is St. Patrick's Day!

When my son Harrison was little, we would build a leprechaun trap from a shoe box. The leprechaun would visit us and leave chocolate coins along with his tiny shoe prints, tiny boots and teeny-tiny hat with mug. I usually bought the small stuff from the dollar store in the St. Patrick's section.

You can see the handprint rainbow with a pot of gold at the end that Harrison made from home school. And his shamrock.

This was a close-up of our trap. We used a shoe box and lots of creativity!

Here are some fun St. Patrick's Day finds I have made from the web to share with you~

Painting is always messy, but it is so necessary to help develop fine motor skills.

You can use an empty bottle and some paint to stamp shamrocks.

Source: Crafty Morning

Use a marshmallow and some paint to make shamrocks.

Source: The Pinterested Parent

You can do SO much with construction paper strips. 

Like...make a clover!

Source: Meaningful Mama

I love these easy paper strip 3D rainbows!

Source: Crafty Morning

Source: Twitchetts

Click the name for the link, they have 14 easy rainbow crafts!

Source: The Resourceful Mama

Have fun creating and keep your eye out for leprechauns!!