Nothing to put your eye out here.

Unlike the Red Ryder BB gun in the classic A Christmas Story, the toys suggested by the folks at Not Just Cute will safely delight your child while teaching school readiness skills. But, shhh, don’t tell them they’re learning math,  reading and writing skills.  Just watch and enjoy.

Free on-line summer camp.

Can’t beat that. The National Center for Family Literacy, the wonderful locally based organization that brings you Wonderopolis, is now bringing a Free on-line summer camp to you and your kids. If you haven’t signed up for Wonderopolis you are missing out on one of the most entertaining and educational experiences available. Oh, did I mention it is Free? Go to Camp What-A-Wonder for the details. 

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director
Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C)

FREE Summer StoryTime!!!

Bring the Family Out for STORYTIME!
 
Storytellers will engage audiences with
Fairy Tales & Multi-cultural Folktales!
 
We invite your family to ANY of the Storytimes listed below!
*~*All Storytimes are FREE and open to the public*~*
 
Saturday, May 19th @ Old Louisville SpringFest
10:30am-10:50am and 11:15am-11:35am
http://www.oldlouisvillespringfest.org/

Tuesday, July 3rd @ 2:00 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Fern Creek Branch
6768 Bardstown Rd.
Louisville, KY 40291

 
Tuesday, July 10th @ 2:30 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Jeffersontown Branch
10635 Watterson Trail
Louisville, KY 40299
 
Saturday, July 14th @ 11:00 am

Louisville Free Public Library – St. Matthews Branch
3940 Grandview Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40207
 
Tuesday, August 7th @ 2:30 pm

Louisville Free Public Library – Bon Air Branch
2816 Del Rio Place
Louisville, Kentucky 40220

BE SURE TO MENTION THAT BLUE APPLE SENT YOU!!
 
Why Tell Stories?
Stories Can Help Children:
Motivate interest in reading
Develop language
Cope with stress
Develop imagination
Appreciate his/her own cultural heritage, as well as others
Make decisions
Form judgments and values
 
If you have any further questions please contact Heather Burns at Heather@blueappleplayers.org

What kid doesn’t love building and using hideouts?

This blog from Not Just Cute is a great resource for ready made or homemade tents, forts and hideouts. Click here to check it out.

Susan

It Doesn’t Take a Rocket Scientist To Make a Smart Kid

Have you ever heard a parent hope their kid grows up to be dumb? Of course not. All parents want their children to be smart. To do well in school and in life.
But what does the parent need to do to increase those chances? Baby Einstein? Flash cards? Tutoring?
It is so much easier than that. Read with them.
A new study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found that children whose parents read to them on a regular basis during their first year in primary school did substantially better in reading at age 15 than children whose parents never or rarely read to them.
Dr. Seuss anyone?

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director

Fabulous Fine Motor Play

If given half a chance kids take care of their need to move their bodies and develop those gross motor skills needed to walk, run, jump, etc. But the fine motor skills are often lacking when kids get to school. As a result, holding a pencil, buttoning their coat, tying shoes can be difficult for them.

That’s why I was happy to see the terrific list of fine motor skill builders at www.handsonaswegrow.com . All of the activities use common household items to encourage little ones to use those fingers, hands, and eyes in a coordinated manner. Check it out.

Susan A. Vessels
Executive Director

Week of the Young Child Event

Sign up at www.sullivan.edu/student-activities  click on the “Get Involved” tab and complete the Event Registration Form

Or

Sign up in the Student Services office on the Main Campus

Contact Kim Richardson at 502-413-8610 or Vicki Bowman at vbowman@sullivan.edu for additional information.

March 20th is the first day of spring.

This is a perfect time to start growing seeds in your home or classroom. Save jars  so that children can see the changes as they occur. Some seeds begin to root without soil, while others require some soil. Each child can assume responsibility for their own jar by watering. Later in the Spring after the last frost, you can help them replant outside, after together you pick a spot for a garden, prepare it for planting. Think of the pride they will feel for create a fruit, vegetable, or flower from the start. 

Pat

Daylight Savings Time

This is a reason to celebrate and yet it proves frustrating for some parents and children. March 11 brings more daylight at the end of the day because we add an hour, which means more outside time, whether gardening, playing, talking to the neighbors, taking children to ball practice, or actually playing games. It is confusing and frustrating at the same time because children who were used to going to bed in the dark may now being put to bed while it is light. It can lead to a wonderful discussion about changing our clocks twice a year, why and when it started, how just a few years ago, it was changed to start the 2nd Sunday in March and the 1st Sunday in November. It is easy to make a clock out of a paper plate, and by using a brad, even make hands which move so that a child can see the change. Pull it out again in the Fall and reverse it. This way, it keeps it simple, but at the same time, engages the young child in the process. Emphasize the positives of more daylight, like more play time, more outdoor time.

Pat

Ready…Set…Science!!!

Check out this newsletter from The Louisville Science Center on fun science activities to do together! 

Early Childhood Newsletter 3