Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Teach)

June - Safety First

Teachable Moments

A teachable moment is an unplanned event during the day that adults can use as a learning opportunity for children. When a child displays an action or behavior that can be used as a learning tool, parents and providers should capitalize on the moment, and provide the opportunity to extend or expand the child's learning.

Teachable moments are important for children because they provide meaningful contexts to introduce or expand on something you want children to learn about. This way they can be used to open conversations with children - to find out what they're thinking about. Conversations with the children will help in the development of their language, communication and reasoning skills.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (PE & Health)

June - Safety First

Physical Education and Health

Responsible Personal Heath and Safety Practices

Adults need to model, guide and encourage a safe life style for young children in the areas of physical activities and experiences. By doing so, children develop a sense of personal care and safety - which begins to create independence.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Safety)

June - Safety First

Safety and a Preschooler

Safety is a very important subject. If children are not aware of how to do things properly, they could hurt themselves or others. Children need to understand this is why we have rules like, "Don't cross the street without looking both ways" or "Don't run with sharp objects".

There are several different areas of safety that you can talk about with your child. Use the list below to help start some great conversations around staying safe.

-Accidents
-Calling 911
-Fires
-Streets
-Playgrounds
-Electricity
-Poison
-Dogs and other animals
-Bikes, scooters, skates
-Strangers
-Cars

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Books)

June - Safety First

Books To Read This Month

Please Play Safe! by Margery Cuyler
The Busy Body Book by Lizzy Rockwell
Watch Out for Banana Peels by Sesame Street
What Pete Ate from A to Z by Maira Kalman

Websites to Visit

http://www.first-school.ws/
http://www.sesamestreet.org/
http://www.familylearning.org.uk/

Parent Tip of the Month
Read the story Little Red Riding Hood. Talk about strangers and safety.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/

playsmartstore@gmail.com

Have to Share

Ok, I have to share a couple things with you...

First, I have to say, I LOVE Melaleuca! Such great products and a great company. They are a debt free company, which is just awesome, I think. And they really help you and celebrate with you as you become debt free as well.

Their cleaners are great and have worked so nicely to clean our home. The laundry detergent smells so good and cleans our clothes really well (even gets out stains I couldn't have before!). And I don't have to open the windows and turn on a fan just to clean our bathroom. No awful smells. I feel comfortable letting my boys use the cleaners, which I wasn't too much before. So, that's a big help and they actually enjoy doing it (sometimes).

I like the vitamins too. Even though I don't take them as regularly as I should (though I'm working on it), they have still given me lots more energy. I actually want to do the stuff I need to do around the house. I'm just feeling so much better! I'd LOVE to share Melaleuca with you and see what it can do for you and your life as well.

Second, I just finished reading this book (no I was asked to write a review or given any compensation for this). It's called The Book of Jane by Anne Dayton and May Vanderbilt. It's about this girl who lives in New York. She is in her late 20's had a good job, a good boyfriend, a nice apartment and good friends. One day her world is turned upside down. She looses her job, her boyfriend, her apartment and her dog! Her faith in God is put to the test. It's a modern twist on the story of Job.

For me, this book made me think of my relationship with Christ and how I would react if all this happened to me. Would I be able to forgive those who hurt me so much? Would I be able to maintain my relationship with Christ and lean on Him in my time of deepest need? I think that I would and I have forgive some very difficult things in my life. Things that have hurt me deeply and changed who I am and how I relate to others. I have had to lean on Him through difficult times. But, without having everything stripped away like Jane did, I can't say 100%, but I do feel like I would.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for something new and different to read. I'm not much of a reader, but very much enjoyed this book and I hope you do too if you decide to read it. I can't wait to read another book by these authors.

Blessings!
Cara

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Snacks)

June - Safety First

Snack Time!

Cut a watermelon into slices. Ask your child, "How many seeds do you think are in each slice?" Count the seeds together as you are enjoying the watermelon.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Play Time)

June - Safety First

Play Time
Memory Book
1st: Take pictures or make drawings on one of your outings like on vacation, during a trip to the park, a walk around the neighborhood or a family get together
2nd: Make a story book using the photos or drawings
3rd: Have your child explain what is happening in each picture and write it down at the bottom of the page
4th: Re-read the story at story time

Flame Paints with Marbles
Use: Marbles, yellow and red paints, small cup or bowl, box lid and paper
1st: Place piece of paper in a box lid
2nd: Spoon out one to three small blobs of paint on the paper and place one or more marbles in the lid
3rd: Tilt the lid slightly. Watch the marbles roll around through the paint and make a "flame" design
4th: Add more paint if you want to increase the colors.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Look & Listen)

June - Safety First

Things to Look & Listen For

Color: Red
Number: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
Letters: S, s and C, c
Shape: Octagon
Sight Words: me, look, stop
Words to Talk About and Use: Cooperation, equipment, compromise

Quote of the Month

"Childhood should be a journey, not a race." - Anonymous

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Who Am I?

I am somebody!

I am bright, capable, and lovable.

I am teachable and learn easily.

I tell the Truth and am a gentle listener.

I respect myself and others.

I am cooperative and responsible for my feelings and choices.

I see the highest and best in myself and others

and support that with my thoughts, words and actions.

I use time wisely because it is valuable.

I am the best me I can be each day.

I am somebody!

I am love.

From the book Healing Children - Loving Children by Julie Haverstick.

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com

Getting Ready for Kindergarten - June (Activity a Day)

June - Safety First

1st - Parent: Draw any size octagon on a piece of paper. Child: Color the octagon red.

2nd - Trace the letters in word June.
3rd - Talk about all the things you can do with your hands; clap, wash, wave, draw, etc.
4th - Talk about why we should wear sunscreen and a hat when playing outside.
5th - What shape is a door? How many doors are in your house?
6th - Count from 1 to 20. Can you count any higher?
7th - Write your first name. Remember to start with a capital letter.
8th - Sit outside at night and listen to all of the sounds. Make a list of the different sounds.
9th - Why do we wear seatbelts?
10th - Are your child's immunizations up to date?
11th - Help your child learn their address and phone number.
12th - Walk barefood in the grass. How does it feel?
13th - Make up a story with your child as the main character.
14th - Jump over a rope or line in the sidewalk.
15th - Take a bike ride. Wear your helmet.
16th - Make a list of things in your house that starts with the sound of /s/, like sink.
17th - How many smoke alarms do you have in your house? Make sure to check the batteries!
18th - Play at the park. Practice pumping your legs on the swing.
19th - What are the safety rules for your house?
20th - Spell your last name then practice writing it.
21st - Go on a shape hunt. How many circles can you find?
22nd - TV OFF DAY! - Read a favorite book or play a board game.
23rd - While driving in the car, talk about the different colors of a traffic light and what they mean.
24th - Play follow the leader, take turns being the leader.
25th - Sing the alphabet song.
26th - Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom.
27th - Can you name 3 safety rules?
28th - Practice crossing the street. Always look both ways.
29th - Pretend to be an animal that: hops, jumps, flies or crawls.
30th - When on a slide, talk about being at the top and going to the bottom.

What fun things did you do with your child this month to re-enforce safety rules? Share about the activities you did. I'd love to hear your stories!

posted by:
Cara Retz
http://www.playsmartstore.com/
playsmartstore@gmail.com