Have you ever tried teaching math using baseball cards?

My son recently started collecting baseball cards.  Let me rephrase that… My son is obsessed with baseball cards, players and statistics.  Right now baseball is his passion.  When he finds a topic, he tries to soak up as much knowledge as possible.  This can be a good thing and a bad thing.

Luckily baseball is a fairly easy topic to incorporate other disciplines.  I have come up with a variety of activities involving baseball.

Art - Drawing pictures of baseballs and bats.  Music - Learning the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”.  Geography - Finding the home states of various teams.  Reading - Stories of the great players in baseball history.  Math - Using baseball cards to figure out statistics and compare players.

(more…)

Have you ever tried face painting at home?

This is an activity I have never thought of doing with my children.  Yes we do some face paint at Halloween but that is usually the end of it.  Since my children are still little, we are not at the age to be face painting for sporting events.

My daughter has had her face painted at carnivals but my son refuses.  It is the fear of the unknown.  He is not one to try new things.  He claims the paint will be too cold or it will make his face itch.  I thought if we try it at home it may ease his mind.  And if he does not like it, we can simply go in the bathroom and wash it off.

I recently found a homemade face paint recipe and I think I will give it a try.

Idea of the Day:

Make face paint to use at home.

Homemade face paint recipe:

- 4 tablespoons shortening

- 2 teaspoons cornstarch

- 2-4 teaspoons liquid tempra paint.

Mix ingredients together.  This recipe makes enough for one color.  Apply with cosmetic sponges, cotton swabs or brushes.

Suitable for ages 3 and up.  Keep out of eyes and mouth.

If your child has sensitive skin, use caution and read ingredients on paint before applying.

“Why don’t giraffes live in Minnesota?”

This was the burning question of the day at the Buhr household.  My three year old did not think it was fair (everything is not fair these days) that giraffes lived in Africa and not Minnesota.

After this I decided to have an animal discussion with both my 3 year old and 6 year old.  We discussed penguins, panda bears, sea turtles and many other animals of the world.  However our discussion was lacking something: pictures and hands on learning.  So I came up with a way to teach about animals as well as geography.

(more…)

Are you nervous for back to school?

As back to school approaches, there is a feeling of apprehension not only for students but for parents as well.  Parents want their children to succeed in school but more importantly they want them to enjoy school and enjoy learning.

For our son, school is not something he enjoys.  He does not get excited to go, he does not want to be there.  He loves learning but wants it to be on his time in his house.  So why doesn’t he enjoy school?  He claims he is bored.  Which I am sure at times he is, but I do not think that he knows everything that is taught in a day.

Our goal for 1st grade is to have our son love school.  Is this possible?  We will have to wait and see.  However I am trying to be proactive and do what I can before school even starts.

(more…)

Are your children tech savvy like this little girl?

I think this commercial is so cute!

This advertisement shows us just how much our children are influenced by technology.  It is a part of their world.  Yesterday my daughter was playing with her Barbies and they were having a conversation.  I heard her say, “Barbie let’s go check out the new website.”  Technology is present in a child’s daily life from their conversations and vocabulary to actual time spent on the computer.

Tip of the Day:

Teach your children how to use technology.

Technology is all around us.  Begin teaching your child how to use the different technology present in your home.

- Teach your child how to turn on and off the TV.

- Next show them how to use the remote control.

- Move to the kitchen.  Show your child how to use the microwave.

- Teach phone skills.  Explain how to use the home phone as well as a cell phone.

- If you are daring, teach them how to use the camera.  Or buy them a kid’s camera to use.

- Teach your children how to use the computer.  The keyboard, mouse, monitor and printer should also be taught.

- Let them listen to your ipod.

There are so many different types of technology we encounter each day.  Remember children need to be taught how to use these items.  Do not assume they will eventually figure it out.  Take the time to teach them the correct way to use technology.