Looking for pre-school reading games? Sign in with easy Facebook connect and check out this FREE Award-Winning Reading Game for Kids! Click Here

Lakeshore Learning has a great website with FREE learning tools for your child. Printables for flash cards, word search, awards and writing practice. These would be great for teachers, or Home School parents, and more!

They are also having a sale in store, save 20% off through September 5, 2010~

Also, on Saturday’s check out the different crafts your preschooler can make!

My first item that I am featuring in my new Open Sky Store, is by the great brand Melissa & Doug. I love their line of toys, games and art’s and crafts.

I ordered this grocery cart for my son, who is 4 and has an endless imagination. He loves to push things around, put things inside of things, and he creativity is never ending. The grocery cart is so life like, the metal is similar to the ones we use in the grocery store! The cart’s wheels roll with easy, and swivel. Add your dolls, stuffed animals or other toys and take them for a ride. This is definately worth the money, especially with the up coming holidays, and would be a great addition to your current kitchen set at home!

I hope your child enjoy’s this product as much as my son has in the last few days!  If you would like to purchase Melissa & Doug Shopping Cart you can do so on Amazon.

Disclosure: I was given this product, from OpenSky as a thank you for opening my own OpenSky store, it is truely a fun way to shop and learn about great products!

He also has a new love, her name is Georgia. She got to come over last week and stay all day (while her mom was working) they had so much fun. He was a bit over the top for her. He would touch her hand ever so softly and say your hands are so little. He would chase her around the house, boss her around which is not the way to win over a girl! When I could get him to be still, they played in the tent, played with the plastic animals, and had a great time together.

When it was time for her to leave, my boy cried and he cried, he wanted her to stay. It was so sad to see him so sad. Then tonight at bedtime, he said Georgia is probably missing him. I am not quite sure she feels the same for him, but man.. my little one is totally in love with that little girl! I don’t have the heart to tell him she is moving to California.

I was contacted by IBW Interactive books to do a review and giveaway, and here are my thoughts on this product. The activities on the web scenes were simple and fun, my son enjoyed these very much. As for the Tracing of the letters, this was difficult as he can not maneuver the mouse very well. Here is a brief video of me and my son, he was 3 in May. From the Website:

“The Interactive Book-Webscene proprietary process combines the reading of a print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here’s how it works: At the end of each chapter, the reader is directed to a specific link on a website associated with the book. Here, the reader views a webscene. Webscenes contain 2D and 3D animations. Each webscene is essential to the storytelling. After viewing the webscene, the reader returns to the book to read another chapter, after which are instructions to view another webscene, and so on. Each book contains 6-10 webscenes.”

You do need to have a computer near by, to type in the web address for the pictures sequence. These are not downloads, they automatically pop up on your computer when the address is typed. The book guides you with the web address, and other ideas on play and activity for you and your child.

If you are interested in making extra money, who isn’t these days, you may want to check out the opportunity at www.IBW-Booksellers.com

Giveaway Details:
IBW-Books is offering one Coupon Princess reader their choice between these two wonderful prize packs which include:

1. The Busy Preschooler’sGuide to Learning Described as fun activities built using the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door. (Retail value $60.)

or

2.THREE (3) KA Readers – beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child’s reading and comprehension. (Retail value $60.)

Busy Preschoolers Interactive Web page example is shown in above video.

To Enter Mandatory:
1. Subscribe to me, the Coupon Princess, by email HERE.

2. Go Check out www.IBW-Books.com and let me know what you liked about this idea of learning.

Optional:

3. Follow me on Blogger!

4. Follow me on Twitter, and Tweet this Giveaway, Enter to win Back to School Giveaway for IBW-Books Interactive for PreSchoolers or School Age http://bit.ly/MSrKt #giveaways

5. Comment on another one of my blog posts. (up to 5 blog posts, 1 entry per comment)

Disclosure: I was sent 2 of these books to review, and the company has graciously allowed me to give a set away. Make sure you have a way for me to find you, through your comment, as I am not a detective. (smile) Submit a separate comment per entry please! Giveaway will end Sept. 21. Good Luck!

I was contacted by IBW Interactive books to do a review and giveaway, and here are my thoughts on this product. The activities on the web scenes were simple and fun, my son enjoyed these very much. As for the Tracing of the letters, this was difficult as he can not maneuver the mouse very well. Here is a brief video of me and my son, he was 3 in May. From the Website:

“The Interactive Book-Webscene proprietary process combines the reading of a print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here’s how it works: At the end of each chapter, the reader is directed to a specific link on a website associated with the book. Here, the reader views a webscene. Webscenes contain 2D and 3D animations. Each webscene is essential to the storytelling. After viewing the webscene, the reader returns to the book to read another chapter, after which are instructions to view another webscene, and so on. Each book contains 6-10 webscenes.”

You do need to have a computer near by, to type in the web address for the pictures sequence. These are not downloads, they automatically pop up on your computer when the address is typed. The book guides you with the web address, and other ideas on play and activity for you and your child.

If you are interested in making extra money, who isn’t these days, you may want to check out the opportunity at www.IBW-Booksellers.com

Giveaway Details:
IBW-Books is offering one Coupon Princess reader their choice between these two wonderful prize packs which include:

1. The Busy Preschooler’sGuide to Learning Described as fun activities built using the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door. (Retail value $60.)

or

2.THREE (3) KA Readers – beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child’s reading and comprehension. (Retail value $60.)

Busy Preschoolers Interactive Web page example is shown in above video.

To Enter Mandatory:
1. Subscribe to me, the Coupon Princess, by email HERE.

2. Go Check out www.IBW-Books.com and let me know what you liked about this idea of learning.

Optional:

3. Follow me on Blogger!

4. Follow me on Twitter, and Tweet this Giveaway, Enter to win Back to School Giveaway for IBW-Books Interactive for PreSchoolers or School Age http://bit.ly/MSrKt #giveaways

5. Comment on another one of my blog posts. (up to 5 blog posts, 1 entry per comment)

Disclosure: I was sent 2 of these books to review, and the company has graciously allowed me to give a set away. Make sure you have a way for me to find you, through your comment, as I am not a detective. (smile) Submit a separate comment per entry please! Giveaway will end Sept. 21. Good Luck!

I was contacted by IBW Interactive books to do a review and giveaway, and here are my thoughts on this product. The activities on the web scenes were simple and fun, my son enjoyed these very much. As for the Tracing of the letters, this was difficult as he can not maneuver the mouse very well. Here is a brief video of me and my son, he was 3 in May. From the Website:

“The Interactive Book-Webscene proprietary process combines the reading of a print book with the interactivity of online animations. Here’s how it works: At the end of each chapter, the reader is directed to a specific link on a website associated with the book. Here, the reader views a webscene. Webscenes contain 2D and 3D animations. Each webscene is essential to the storytelling. After viewing the webscene, the reader returns to the book to read another chapter, after which are instructions to view another webscene, and so on. Each book contains 6-10 webscenes.”

You do need to have a computer near by, to type in the web address for the pictures sequence. These are not downloads, they automatically pop up on your computer when the address is typed. The book guides you with the web address, and other ideas on play and activity for you and your child.

If you are interested in making extra money, who isn’t these days, you may want to check out the opportunity at www.IBW-Booksellers.com

Giveaway Details:
IBW-Books is offering one Coupon Princess reader their choice between these two wonderful prize packs which include:

1. The Busy Preschooler’sGuide to Learning Described as fun activities built using the 26 letters of the alphabet, with step-by-step help to guide parents in how to use everyday situations to teach 105 skills their kids need before they walk in the kindergarten door. (Retail value $60.)

or

2.THREE (3) KA Readers – beginning readers that use a new kind of storytelling where kids see an animation unfold at the close of every chapter! Dr. Seuss-like rhyming hooks kids on the fun of words. Online activities help parents assess a child’s reading and comprehension. (Retail value $60.)

Busy Preschoolers Interactive Web page example is shown in above video.

To Enter Mandatory:
1. Subscribe to me, the Coupon Princess, by email HERE.

2. Go Check out www.IBW-Books.com and let me know what you liked about this idea of learning.

Optional:

3. Follow me on Blogger!

4. Follow me on Twitter, and Tweet this Giveaway, Enter to win Back to School Giveaway for IBW-Books Interactive for PreSchoolers or School Age http://bit.ly/MSrKt #giveaways

5. Comment on another one of my blog posts. (up to 5 blog posts, 1 entry per comment)

Disclosure: I was sent 2 of these books to review, and the company has graciously allowed me to give a set away. Make sure you have a way for me to find you, through your comment, as I am not a detective. (smile) Submit a separate comment per entry please! Giveaway will end Sept. 21. Good Luck!

I was a Child Development Major, in College, back in 2005. I was on the forever plan, then the never get a real job plan, due to bouncing baby boy in 2006. So, anywho.. Here are my tips.

Learning.. really, if your child knows his ABC’s that is great. But does that really mean anything, but your child memorized a bunch of letters in alpha order. Counting, maybe your child can count, but do they know one on one correspondence? So, find a curriculum that incorporates meaningful learning. Where your child will learn what the letters mean, in a fun and creative way. Math is fun, when children are given items and are expected to sort or given blocks to build. Did you know there is important learning can be happening when a child plays with blocks. Do you want to learn more about Block Play? Read more, here.

Preschool, is about learning to get along, follow schedules, share, listen, explore, learn as they are “working” which is playing, which is what is a child’s work. When your child is exposed to books, being read to, pretending to read, talking about what happens next, and that letters make words, can all be done by playing. So, look for a center that has resources that incorporate learning in a non traditional form.

Nothing makes me more frustrated, is when a parent expects their child to be “taught” in a traditional school way that is more appropriate for a 1st grader then a 3 or 4 year old.

When you walk into a Preschool, if you see a calendar.. run. Just Kidding, but really, children do not understand the whole calendar concept until Kindergarten, and that is pushing it! Does the center have these activities set up, Kitchen, Pretend Center, Items to be able to Climb on, Block Area, Quiet Area, Cars area, puzzles area? Will the center let your child make his or her own pictures, by cutting, using glue, markers, paints, is there an easel? Do the teachers use portfolio’s to keep your child’s progress?

Here are some different programs for young children, and the links to appropriate sites, to help you decide what program is best for your child.

Project Approach
Montessori– just because a school has Montessori, in its name, does not mean it is Montessori Certified
High Scope
ReggioEmilia
Theme Based Curriculum-basically what it sounds like, Fruit Theme, Vegetable Theme, Farm Animals theme. I am not big on this learning because, unless you are teaching English Language Learners.

To learn more about development, and programs, check out,www.naeyc.org

I hope you found this post interesting and helpful. Good luck with your search. It is never to early to start shopping for your child’s first school.

First, my 16 year old, is now driving around town, well not really around town, but to school and back, and a few other places as well. It has been nice, until his truck needed a bit of work, so it is in the shop. Husband said it should be ready to pick up today sometime. Hopefully so, because it is sure nice that he drives himself to and from school. He runs track, and practices can run short or long, you never know when he will be done, so it is nice when he can just drive himself home.

The 13 yo, well he is a teenager, with emotional drama. I swear he is my girl I never had. He has a cell phone, and wants texting so bad… he is begging for it. Only reason for not letting him have it is mainly I am afraid he will get himself into trouble with it, by not using common sense when texting friends etc…
He is my baseball player, and pretty good at it. His coach is bummed his best Catcher, my son, will miss tournament this weekend, due to a Family Wedding. Makes me feel good that he will be missed, but not to worry, we have probably about 6 more tourney’s to go.. plus 9 more league games.

Now for the extra fun part… my sweet blue eyed almost 3 year old, does not want to nap, or go to bed, ever! He is constantly on the move, and this is my boy that used to be on a perfect schedule. Somehow, he is wanting to run his own day, and in the meantime I am getting nothing done around the house. I am exhausted, and totally admire those moms out there with 2 or more little ones under the age of 5, people say do you want to have another one.. (child) I am like, I am getting to old for this. Not really, I am in my 30’s, but still 3 is enough! Now… once again, I will go try to get this little one to nap, and then off I go to run errands when my 13 year old gets off the bus.