Activities

Play is learning! But play in the early years is endangered by the emphasis on push-down academics, mounting parental expectations, and pressures on early childhood teachers to prepare young children for the rigors of kindergarten and beyond. With all of that, gains made by play experiences, including readiness skills and social-emotional development, have fallen away. Young children learn best through play. This book helps educators understand the different types of play and the rich opportunities… More »

Perfect for children ages 3 to 6, these fun-filled introductions feature easy-to-follow instructions and easy-to-find materials that will help children develop many important life skills. Books included are: "The Budding Gardener", "The Budding Chef", "The Budding Artist", "The Budding Scientist", and "The Budding Builder". Books have 72 pages each. Paperback.

With the help of the stories and activities in this book, take the time to watch, wonder, ask questions, talk about, and explore the world of science with your child. Use favorite children's books to investigate animals and insects, learn how plants grow and change, and discover how shadows grow and shrink. With four chapters that cover a multitude of themes, it's never been easier to deepen your child's understanding of important science and reading concepts at the same time! 144 pages. Paperback.

Engage children with meaningful constructive play! This book provides educators of young children with guidance in how to create early childhood environments that support children's natural need to play. It includes strategies for creating and scaffolding the block play experience, recommends children's books that support the learning, and outlines ways to match behaviors, content, and concepts to learning standards. Lesson plans include: Thanksgiving -- sharing and giving; our families and ourselves;… More »

"L is for Lion" helps children learn letters easily and entertains them with the fun activities in this book. Each letter of the alphabet has two full pages of activities and ideas, including: foods to enjoy that begin with the letter, games or activities that reinforce the shape or sound of the letter, a song, poem, or tongue twister featuring the letter, and suggestions of books to read. Paperback. 80 pages.

Counting is the foundation for future math learning. Pairing and sorting objects, understanding numbers and quantity, and counting can all be introduced with simple activities. 30 Fun Ways to Learn About Counting brings these skills into the classroom with fun and engaging games and activities! 80 pages. Paperback.

Book by Jean Feldman. Over 400 ideas to make those 'between times' teachable moments and smooth transitions with simple and fun activities. 288 pages.

Explore, inquire, and experiment alongside your preschooler using the simple ideas in "50 Fantastic Things to Do with Preschoolers". Written specifically for parents, the activities in this book will lead to infectious excitement and enthusiasm for learning! Using objects easily found in most homes, this collection of purposeful play experiences will help preschoolers to develop key skills at their own pace and to make unhurried, important discoveries. Each activity in this book features… More »

Sing and play along with your children using this engaging The I Can't Sing Book for Grownups Who Can't Carry a Tune in a Paper Bag. Who says you need an opera singer's voice to teach music to young children? These fascinating, easy activities help even the most tone-deaf adult show children the wonder and magic of making and hearing music. Children will love following along as they take in music and rhythm learning. 192 pages. Paperback.

This block play guide enhances the classroom block corner with over 50 great activities. Clear description of what children learn by playing with blocks accompany the activities. Each suggestion encourages problem solving, fine-and-gross motor development, the development of math, science, language, and social skills.

Enjoy games that are fun, easy, and developmentally appropriate. Children will unwind, communicate and build self-esteem. Great ideas to send home with parents! 272 pages.

The movement to connect young children with nature continues to grow, as more parents and educators become passionate about bringing learning outdoors and letting children explore outside the bounds of traditional lessons. In the full-color Learning Is in Bloom, teachers and caregivers will find 40 hands-on activities effective in engaging young children in investigating nature, both indoors and outdoors, on the school grounds, and on excursions around the neighborhood. Through fostering a love… More »

Children are innately interested in their world. The activities in this book invite children to explore the world around them, learn about different cultures, enjoy a variety of careers, and discover the uniqueness of their very own neighborhood. From the many ways we are alike and different to the variety of homes around the world, children will delve into these social studies activities that are perfect for children ages 3 to 6. 128 pages. Paperback.

From 'The Wheels on the Bus' to 'A Bicycle Built for Two', children will sing and learn about different types of transportation. The enclosed CD features 25 songs, old favorites and originals, and the book offers more than 300 activities that creatively expand on the transportation theme. All children love to sing and learn, so the book includes both English language learner strategies and special needs adaptations.

Time and money are challenging, abstract concepts with concrete everyday importance. Using role-playing, games, songs, and dramatic play, 30 Fun Ways to Learn About Time and Money explores these difficult concepts through props, real-life scenarios, and imaginative play. 80 pages. Paperback.

Movement-inspiring activities reinforce good nutrition, health and motor skills! Young children learn best when they connect physical activity with learning! Up, Down, Move Around is packed with fun, simple activities that will have your children jumping, shaking, rolling, dancing, and clapping as they learn! From the Healthy Food Obstacle Course to the Bendy Bodies Stretch, children ages 3 to 6 will get moving as they learn and support an awareness of nutrition and health concepts as well as fine… More »

Children love getting their hands dirty. Putting their fingers into clay and other squishy stuff gives them a chance to create and have fun while strengthening important developmental skills. From wet clay to paper pulp, sawdust to shaving cream, these open-ended activities focus on the process of creation, not the final product, and allow imagination to flourish. 80 pages. Paperback.

Featuring activities organized by age, this resource provides you with the tools and information you need to teach fine motor skills to children ages 3 to 5. With few materials needed, the activities are perfect for both large and small groups and are easy to integrate into any curriculum. Paperback.

Get ready for fun! These new and classic games, each with a noncompetitive twist, are sure to get children up and moving. You'll find everything you need to know to play over 100 great games, including outside games, musical games, circle games, concept games, and cooperative games. Every game provides benefits for children by supporting cognitive, social/emotional, and physical development. Perfect for rainy days, sunny days, and every day, each game in this book offers heart rate raising, team-building,… More »

From 'Make New Friends' to 'Skidamarink', children will sing and learn about the people that matter most in their lives. The enclosed CD features 26 songs, old favorites and originals. The book offers more than 300 activities that teach children about family, friends, and feelings. All children love to sing and learn, so the book includes both English language learner strategies and special needs adaptations.

Children love outdoor play. Now teachers can combine the magic and excitement of the outdoors with activities that encourage and support learning! This book includes more than 100 new teacher-created, classroom-tested outdoor activities that engage children's minds and bodies as much as they explore the limitless bounds of the outdoors while also building key skills in areas like math, literacy and language, science, art, and music. Perfect for ages 3 - 6. Activities include: counting, alphabet,… More »

Now more than ever, adults must help children develop the skills necessary to navigate through life successfully. By focusing on building social and emotional strength, we increase children's resilience and prepare them to handle the challenges in life. The strategies and activities in "Socially Strong, Emotionally Secure" help children become socially and emotionally healthy for life. Organized into five chapters, the activities support and build resilience in children ages 3 to 8. 160 pages. Paperback.

More than 300 theme activities written by teachers for teachers! Actively engage children's imaginations with more than 300 activities for young children organized into a variety of popular themes -- from the alphabet to the weather. The result of a nationwide contest among teachers, the classroom-tested activities in Another Encyclopedia of Theme Activities for Young Children provide many months of learning fun! Each activity is complete with learning objectives, materials list, related children's… More »

This resource book is full of attention-grabbing, creative activities that provide children with an outlet for wiggles, while giving their brain a jumpstart with cross-lateral movement games. Includes songs, games, and finger plays for anytime of the day. Paperback. 208 pages.