UNO!

One word: Uno!  I just happened to think of this card game the other day.  I hadn't played it in years, but we did when we were young, so I headed off to the store and bought us a deck (I think it was $4 at The Christmas Shop).  The kids were excited to see a new game that night and wanted to play right away.  The directions say the game is for kids 7 years and up but that just isn't true.  Granted, Cole was to young at three years old and lost interest quickly, but Lillian was really into the game and caught on quickly.  Needless to say the first few times we play we're going to have to help her learn how to play and the rules, but it isn't going to be long until she is teaching her friends how to play.  Unfortunately it was to late, but she wanted to play again that night and again the next day, so I know we're on to something good here.  We did find out they've added some new cards to the deck (skipping cards, and reverse cards for instance) since we played years ago, so be sure and review the directions before hand.  This game is perfect though for teaching colors, numbers, turn taking, and, of course, good sportsmanship!  We shook daddy's hand at the end of the game and congratulated him on his victory.  We'll get him next time!

Dimes

Currenly Lillian and I are working on money, at this time its dimes.  You do not want to overwhelm a child by introducing different coins at the same time.  Instead, focus on one (generally you begin with pennies) and then advance up as they master one.  However, continue to review coins previously taught so they retain that information.   As I recently said, I purchased some hundreds charts.  After I have given her ample time to explore the dimes on her own I had her place one dime on each box in the tens place on the hundreds chart.  Then, as we say "ten, twenty, thirty" and so on she slides the dime off the corresponding box.  We also reversed the process and counted by tens as we placed the dimes back on the chart.  Next, we took turns placing one dime on a tens square while the other person covered her eyes.  Then that person got to guess what number was under the dime!  Simple activities like this are a game to children and they enjoy playing them over and over and do not even realizing they are doing a learning activity.

Counting and Hundreds Charts

I picked up a pack of Hundreds Charts at the local teacher store (you can order them online too).  In case you aren't familiar with hundreds charts they are a grid with the numbers from 1-100.  I also bought highlighting tape; tape that is colored, but you can see through.  It acts like a highlighter but is tape (highlighters will not work on the boughten charts because they have a type of lamination on them).  On one board I highlighted just the tens row, another chart counting by fives, and another one even numbers.  I also put one of the charts in Lillians seat back pocket in the van.  That way it is available to her if she wants to look at it or use it, but it isn't being pushed at her.  Sometimes these items just have to be available to children for them to become interested and to provide them with an opportunity to explore them on their own.  She has already taken it out many times and talked about the numbers she sees.   As a side note, you can also find a variety of different kinds of hundred charts online.  If you used this option you could use a regular highlighter to mark them and put them in a clear paper sleeve to make them more durable.  If your child seems overwhelmed by the vast number of numerals on the chart, just use a piece of paper to cover up the bottom portion.  Often just taking away the access helps.  The highlight tape is a tool to help her focus on just the digits I want her to concentrate on.  Then we can use the appropriate chart to aid us as we learn to count by two's, fives, or tens.  Later, I can use the same method to show odd numbers or counting by tens starting with a different number other than ten.  That will come MUCH later though!

Label Fun

Lillian had a ball today with my labeller.  She started off typing in words she knew and could spell on her own.  A little while later she progressed to asking me how to spell words.  After typing in each word she printed it out.  After awhile she started going back through her words sounding out the letters and decoding the word.  She made up some name tags for us.  Later in the evening she noticed I had mine on still and she came over and sounded out my name.  Using the labeller was something new so it made learning phonics, letter recognition, and decoding fun!  When done the words can be used to make a collage type of picture or put in a journal for them to refer to when they want.