“Spring with its waving green grass and heaps of sweet-smelling flowers on every hill and in every dale. “- Roy Bean
April is a great month to welcome Spring and enjoy the beautiful weather with outdoor activities! Enjoy these 10 activities I found that are fun for the whole family:
Here are 8 AWESOME apps to help your child learn and enjoy reading!
Reading Rainbow: Offers a library of books to users, themed according to a child’s interests (action adventures, magical tales, etc.). Kids can choose to have a book read aloud to them or to read the book themselves. To access more than one book, however, you’ll have to subscribe to the app — a $10 recurring monthly fee or $30 for six months.
Starfall Learn to Read: an app version of the stellar learn-to-read website, Starfall. The app has the same content as the “Learn to Read” section of the site. There are 15 mini-books, each focusing on a specific vowel, along with videos and activities to enhance literacy learning. As with other Starfallapps, the thorough and careful design keeps kids focused on learning.
Martha Speaks Dog Party: A US Dept. of Education-funded study found target vocabulary improved up to 31 percent for children ages 3-7 who played this Parents’ Choice Recommended app over a two-week period. Includes FOUR fun-filled games starring Martha, the talking dog from the popular PBS KIDS TV series MARTHA SPEAKS(TM).
How can you have a sunny day at the beach, while confined to the Chicago suburbs over spring break?? If your kids have a spirit of adventure, an active imagination and a few choice props – anything is possible.
One of my favorite ‘staycation’ family memories happened years ago when our girls were in elementary school. It was spring break and we were excited to have a week without homework and time constraints, mom included. And at our house that meant lots more time for playful adventures.
One day, without realizing what I would inspire, I brought home three inexpensive pink and white striped tote bags, one for each daughter. Inside each bag was a pair of summer flip-flops. As I gave the girls their tote bags, I could see big sister Laurie’s wheels start turning. She quickly swept her younger sisters into her imagination and upstairs to change. Soon they reappeared holding beach towels, wearing swimsuits, sunglasses and their new flip-flops. The dining room chairs were quickly moved away from the table, the towels spread out underneath and a sunny afternoon beach adventure ensued.
How can you encourage creative at home adventures?
Staycation is off to a great start, I am unable to take off work full time this year but I have made a few allowances to let myself out early and relax in this pretty season. Hopefully you have been able to do the same! Today on my Staycation list, I have some fun outdoor activities to get the kids into. These are fun for the family but it’s also easy to let the kids out on their own as you relax.
Enjoy our Springtime Sale going on now in the Bette Fetter Being Visual store. Take 30% off all orders of $30 or more! We have everything from colorful and artistic wearables to fun drawing workbooks, all for your little ones to enjoy. Our artistic t-shirts and hoodie make great birthday and Easter presents while our variety of workbooks are sure to keep the creativity flowing while at home!
This is one of my all time favorite drawings. My son did it when he was in first grade and attended weekly Young Rembrandts classes. Like all parents, I am especially fond of anything and everything my own kids do, but this drawing represents so much more.
First – he drew a collection of cacti! Not sure that would ever have happened without being in a drawing class.
Then – look at all those details! Check out that line work, the colors, and the multitude of careful little lines for the ‘pokey things’ on the cactus. You can tell by looking at it, he really enjoyed the line work and all the careful coloring.
I’ve gathered an assortment of fun activities to keep your kids busy. There are activities you can do In the House and activities that are Out of the House. And within each category, there are things kids can do independently and things to do as a family. You could even get a bit of mom time in!