Great Online Resources: SenTeacher.org

I stumbled upon this resource by pure luck looking for a way to create matching (memory) cards and finding loads of other resources I can use for learning fun with my toddler.

I ended creating very comprehensive set of animal matching cards and now I have set of domestic animals (adult), domestic animals - babies and wild animals. I plan to create bug set and sea animals as well. But you can use this site to create matching photo cards  of just about anything - food, plants, veggies, landmarks, seasons, etc.

Other resources I also used with my toddler are:

- letter mash

- graphs

- handwriting worksheets

But they have so much more! Visit SenTeacher.org and check them yourself! And, if you can, stop back and share what you found the most useful! :)

Great Online Resources: 1+1+1=1

If you're new to the concept of spending time with your toddlers trying to implement some fun ways to learn basic motor skills, letters or simply don't know where to begin, 1+1+1=1 is a great starting point!

Site that started out as a homeschool blog, over last couple years has grown to really comprehensive, well organized resource for both toddlers and preschoolers. Run by Carisa who is a former teacher, this blog shares pretty much everything needed to get going - from ideas for tot tools, planning time with tots, printable packs specially put together to match toddler's abilities and comprehension and so much more.

Inside this blog is also weekly post with linky - TOT SCHOOL - where parents of other tots can join the fun and enjoy the benefits of sharing ideas and resources with other parents who also happen to have and teach tiny tots.

For the end of this short overview, I would like to quote Clarisa: "Tot School is fun.  If it becomes un-fun, something is wrong!  I personally do not believe in forcing early learning, I only believe inexposing.  Some of my "best" ideas are rejected by my tot :), she knows best when it comes to Tot School!"

Great Online Resources: Making Learning Fun

There are so many resources online I visit on regular basis each time I need ideas or finished resources to print and use with my toddler. One of such valuable and often visited resources is surely Making Learning Fun!

This site is packed up with loads of free ideas and printables, including:

- alphabet pages - dot-to-dot pages, abc cards, tracing pages, coloring pages, letter assessment pages, etc.

- math pages - lacing cards, and so many great math ideas (our favorites are highway cards)

- trace and color pages

- scissor practice pages

- roll and color pages

- felt board patterns

- cut and paste crafts

- color by number pages

This is only small bit of what Making Learning Fun has to offer! Make sure to bookmark this valuable resource to visit often! :)

Great Online Resources: Childcareland.com

For anyone looking for ideas to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy, having fun and learning in process, Childcareland.com is valuable resource not to miss out! Site has been created by Shelley Lovett who has been working as child care provider and pre-K teacher for past 16 years. She has been putting her knowledge into creating resources teachers, parents and any other child care providers can use.

This site features developmentally appropriate hands-on learning activities for pre-k and kindergarten children. On the site you can find file folder games, flip books, matching games, lacing cards, felt board ideas, learning sheets, craft projects, video teaching tips, flash learning pages, teaching ideas and so much more!

Many of resources on the site are for sale (not even expensive!), Shelley shares on her site free resources including free printables, daily free printables and daily free learning sheets.

We have used number of her printables in the past and little one loves them! Thanks Shelley for creating and sharing them! :)

Head on to Childcareland.com and look around! You'll surely find something that suits you! And, while you're there... don't forget to bookmark this valuable resource! :)

Great Online Resources: We Teach group

I think that the name and the motto that comes on top of this Ning community says pretty much all about what this group is about:

We Teach - a place for parents to learn, share, and grow

We Teach group has been founded by Amy, well know around the web for her parenting / educational blog TeachMama.com.

I've been membor of We Teach group for some time now. And although I have no formal degree in early years education, I'm very much interested in development of my own child. I love to find new information, new ways to play and learn in fun and interesting ways. And this is where this group is really a gold mine :) Loads of great ideas for each area of early education can be found and discussed inside safety of this group: from games and activities for fine and gross motor skills to math, literacy, crafts, arts, etc. And, since I'm among people who share my own interests, I have never ended up with no answer to any of my questions.

It's cozy, safe place for parents to really share about what they are interested about: their kids and all the ideas for raising them into social, well adopted and intelligent  adults.

Latest project that emerged from cooperation between Amy and over 30 active members of this group is We Teach Summertime Learning eBook. This fun and bursting with ideas ebook can be downloaded for free by all members of We Teach group. And it's only the 1st of many projects this amazing group will create in future, surely! :)

As I mentioned, this group is private but it only means that you have a safe place to discuss and share your ideas and questions with others! :) You can apply to join We Teach here! We'll be happy to see you there! :)

You can also follow We Teach on Facebook and on Twitter (members of the group use hashtag #weteach to share!!).

Great Online Resources: PreKinders.com

PreKinders.com is an online resource for pre-K teachers but it really doesn't mean that the rest of us, parents, can't use it's wonderful ideas and printables for our home learning time with toddlers and preschoolers.

PreKinders.com has been run by Karen who is experienced preschool teacher, and has been so kind to share great resources with the rest of us. :)

Here are just some of the highlight of this site:
- through Prekinders home page you can find links to all resources shared on the site (including art, literacy, math, fine motor skills, etc.) so you can find easily ideas for needed pages
- on the blog, Karen shared even more ideas from her daily work with children. And here you can see how some of the printables can be used in real life - like this "I have, who has" shapes game (LOVE IT! and have to print it as soon as I finish this post!)

And some of the things I already use from this site:
- pattern block mats we're using with our Melissa & Doug Pattern Block set
- grid games with 10 or 20 fields and lots of themes

For so many other great learning printables and ideas for toddlers and preschoolers, make sure to explore 

PreKinders.com

Great Online Resources: Kiboomu.com

Today we would love to share with you really wonderful learning resource for toddlers and preschoolers: Kiboomu.com

Kiboomu.com is run by two really engaging and helpful ladies who also adore creating and sharing learning resources with others: Wendy and Sherry. On their site, they combine music, free printables, ideas for crafts and diverse activities and help turn teaching early concepts into real fun!

What makes Kiboomu.com worthy to bookmark and come back to often:

- they offer free song lyrics, printable music sheets and music videos - you can always pick a song and have fun with your kids!

- they have stunning collection of easy and cheap crafts for every holiday or celebration 

- loads of alphabet printables and crafts easy enough for tiny tots!

- here you can purchase great quality apps for iTunes for as low as $0.99 per single song!

We would like to spotlight few easy crafts for upcoming Memorial Day and Father's Day so you can have fun at your home too:

Memorial Day Flag Magnet

Father's Day Shirt and Tie Card

And we love this!

Counting with Cards People

Have fun browsing around and finding next great thing 

to create, sing and play with your toddlers! 

Great Online Resources: Collection of Nursery rhymes

We all know babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kids of all age (including adults!) love nursery rhymes! The biggest online collection so far I have found is on Squidoo.com and it's created by a guy! :) A dad to 3 kids, that is!

He collected all the nursery rhymes he could find in separate pages in alphabet order but the starting page is here: Nursery Rhymes Online - and right at the top you can find alphabet index to lead you to other pages.

It would be interesting to know the total nuber of rhymes he collected so far, but he didn't mention number on his page and I was too lazy to count! ;)

Still, here is my selection for a day (love this song!):

Dance, little Baby

Dance, little Baby, dance up high!

Never mind, Baby, Mother is by.

Crow and caper, caper and crow,

There, little Baby, there you go!

Up to the ceiling, down to the ground,

Backwards and forwards, round and round;

Dance, little Baby and Mother will sing,

With the merry coral, ding, ding, ding!

BTW, Squidoo.com has other great articles too, and you can share your own as well. And, it's a place where our Best Toys for Toddlers Club's starting point is! Check it out and join us! We have loads of fun over there! :)

Great Online Resources: FirstPalette.com

It's been quite some time since I started looking for flip-and-match book you can do yourself or with your child as a craft project. And I finally found one that can be used as a model! This flip-and-match book has been described on the firstpalette.com as a body flipbook! Excellent idea and we'll give it a try soon! What's the greatest about this book is that you can do it as many times you want and each body can always be different - different hair styles, colors of hair, eyes, etc. with numerous cloth combinations!

Some of my other favorite projects: birthday hats, animal train, diorama crafts!

Take a look around firstpalette.com and share with us your favorites!

Great Online Resources ToddlerToddler.com

If you have toddler in your home, you know how difficult it can be from time to time - toddlers are on the constantly learning, and they have many important milestones to cross, from potty training to learning how to interact and socialize with other kids.

They are also often bored, what results in tantrums and other kinds of "looking for limits" behaviour.

For all of us parents, it's always convinient to have some sites on our reading list. One of those sites is toddlertoddler.com - place where parents can find explanations for their toddler's behaviour before going completely nuts ;)

Also, toddlertoddler.com has a number of listed activities specially designed for toddlers. More you keep them occupied, more they learn and less they complain!

Great Online Resources: Yakaberry.com

When you look for online activities for toddlers, sometimes it's really hard to find activities, games and play ideas which suit their age and development stages. And sometimes you stumble upon really wonderful sites with useful and just right content.

Yakaberry.com is one of the sites that really atracts me and I have found tons of great information for my toddler on this site. Yakaberry has a separate "department" only for toddlers where you can find:

- Story Hour Lesson Plans for Toddlers on different themes, along with songs, rhymes, book suggestions and so much more

- Riddles, Rhymes, Songs, Fingerplay with number of those to choose from

- Puppets, Stories and Playscripts

- Crafts and Activities

You can find the whole index of what Yakaberry.com offeres here: A-Z Index.

Browse around and have fun!