Category: Children’s Activities

Are you looking at sending your child to one of the 500 public Montessori childcare institutions in the United States?

It is a word that appears a lot when you are researching preschools and many parents have no idea what it means. It is an educational philosophy, like Reggio Emilia or Waldorf. And the Montessori method is becoming more popular for parents wanting to raise self-reliant kids.

Not sure what Montessori childcare looks like in practice or whether it is right for your child? Learn more about it here.

Montessori History: What Is Montessori?

Dr. Maria Montessori opened the first Montessori school in Rome in 1907. She was a physician and educator and used the experience she gained from opening her school to write her book, The Montessori Method, in 1912.

She observed that children learn best when they have as much freedom as possible to encourage curiosity. Teachers are not “teachers” but “guides” instead. They are almost always hands-off, allowing the children to develop practical skills by themselves and be independent. 

Montessori classrooms never have a whiteboard and a teacher’s desk with rows of chairs facing them. All chairs, toys, and tools are child-sized.

Teachers do not grade work and they do not punish or reward children in the traditional, mainstream sense. Dr. Montessori developed her method with children ages 3+ but the philosophy can apply to younger and older children, too.

Montessori Activities and Areas of Learning

Montessori childcare covers five areas of learning. These are:

• Practical life skills
• Sensory activities
• Mathematics
• Language studies
• Cultural studies

Each of these five areas of learning will have a “work area” within each classroom and children can learn about each area through creative play.

The practical life area could have child-sized cleaning tools, kitchen equipment, and shoelaces. Here, children learn manners and everyday essential skills. The sensory area always has scented objects, materials of different textures, and colorful objects.

Many Montessori childcare institutions use number rods in their maths area. The language area might have books, pencils and paper, and alphabet shapes. Here, the children learn how to read and write and develop their literacy skills.

And the cultural area offers a range of activities relating to history, geography, art, music, and science. Maps and art supplies are common tools.

Finding the Right Montessori Childcare Center

Montessori is not a patented educational method. So, some preschools and schools might say they practice Montessori but in reality, they don’t. 

When going on a tour of a Montessori childcare center, look out for the work areas as detailed above. If the “teacher” is disciplining a child or doing a demonstration, it is likely not a Montessori institution. 

Use the following resources to help you find centers near you:

• https://buildingfutures.com.au/wavell-heights-montessori/
• https://ourmontessoripreschool.com/
• https://applemontessorischools.com/

Though there is not one specific certification, there are professional Montessori associations. Ask the schools if they are a part of any before you sign up your child.

So, Is the Montessori Method Right for Your Child?

Some parents think that if they have energetic children or they have special needs that Montessori childcare will not work. All parents need to make that assessment themselves, but all children have the potential to excel in a Montessori environment.

Want more read more articles about childcare and early education? Browse our website for tons of other helpful parenting guides!

When it comes to learning a new language, persistence and constant practice are key.

But achieving those qualities is an entirely different story.

While it may be easy to prop your child into a classroom seat, it’s a lot more difficult to ensure that they’re learning at their best capacity.

That doesn’t mean that they’re misbehaving or a faulty learner. Most likely, their learning environment doesn’t accommodate their learning style.

However, it’s still possible to foster a learning environment that is compatible with them.

Keep reading to understand three common challenges kids face when learning a new language. That way, you’ll be prepared to set up their first lesson.

1. Lack of Confidence

Children generally don’t understand how to articulate their concerns like adults can. While they can be very honest communicators, it can be difficult for them to always voice their concerns.

One of these concerns may be a lack of confidence. They may be able to learn the technical aspects of language such as grammar and spelling. But they may also struggle to actually vocalize their skills through conversation because of a lack of confidence.

That’s why it’s important that they establish a comfortable relationship with their instructor — or at least a neutral one. That way, they will feel much less pressure to be perfect and be able to learn from their mistakes more readily.

2. Practice Time

Sure, it’s easy to apply concepts that you just learned. A beginning language learner might pass a review quiz with ease right after a lesson. But they probably won’t have a ton of time to practice outside of their lesson.

Setting aside time to practice isn’t enough for adequate practice. Your child might also need a partner that speaks the language to practice with. But unfortunately, achieving both can be difficult.

For this reason, online learning options are becoming more and more popular. In-person learning is still a fantastic option, but remote learning provides plenty of advantages, including language support outside of “lesson hours”.

If you’re interested in Spanish lessons, then learn about Spanish for kids through Kasa De Franko’s Spanish course! You’ll offer your child a very enriching classroom experience by signing.

3. Learning Pace

Some people have different learning strengths than others. That’s not to say that they won’t eventually grasp the language. But even then, not everyone will learn at the same pace at each other.

This tends to be a huge issue with most educational lessons, not just for kids learning a new language. Not everyone will finish learning conjugations at the same time, but the lesson might move on anyway. This also prevents children from seeking language support since they might feel timid about falling behind.

ESL learners have an even more difficult time. The more languages your child learns, the more confusing it is to switch between their arsenal of languages. On top of that, they may also face cultural differences that make it difficult for them to have the confidence to speak up in a classroom.

Starting Learning a New Language Today!

Learning a new language is difficult, but it’s a very rewarding journey. That’s why it’s important to understand what difficulties kids might face when learning a new language so that they can succeed.

This guide should have taught you about common difficulties your child will face while learning a language. If it did, then check out the rest of our blog! We’ve got plenty of other information to help your child’s education succeed.

Are you interested in starting a summer camp? 

It can be a profitable and rewarding venture. If you ever attended a summer camp for kids, you know how impactful they can be. Many kids who attend summer camp create happy memories that stay with them for a lifetime.

Whether you are filled with nostalgia about your own camp experience, or you want to do something that makes an impact, starting a summer camp can be a great thing to do. 

However, running a summer camp takes a lot of time and effort. You have to create an environment that allows kids to play, express themselves, make new friends, and most importantly, want to return the following summer. The summer camp experience has to be parent-approved, kid-approved, and something you and your staff can execute with ease. 

For these reasons, knowing how to start a summer camp the right way is essential. 

Fortunately, by following a few tips and a few summer camp best practices, you can create the ideal foundation for your summer camp program. If you are ready to start a summer camp but aren’t sure where to start, this short and simple guide is for you. 

Choose the Best Age Group 

The first step for starting a summer camp business is to choose the age group of the campers you want to work with. Think about the age group you have experience with or the age group you feel the most comfortable creating a program for. Not only will restricting the age make everything else much easier, but it will also help you better target your niche. 

Determine the Theme of Your Camp

There are all types of camps you can start, ranging from a sports camp to one that is only for dancers. The theme of your camp depends on your experience, interest, and reason for starting the camp. You can also choose a general theme for your summer camp. 

Create a Camp Schedule 

The best summer camp has structure and a strict, daily schedule. Ideally, your campers should have an experience that is different from school, is enriching, but also provides them with the fun and activities kids expect. 

Choose the Location You Will Have Your Camp 

The next step is to choose where you will have your summer camp. There are a variety of summer camp options, depending on where you live. Choose a camp that has amenities and is in a natural setting so you can plan outdoor events for the children to enjoy. 

Know How to Make Your Camp Officially a Business

Before launching your summer camp, you need to make sure it’s an official business. Depending on a few factors, you may or may not need a business license to run your camp. Check your local city requirements to determine what actions you need to take to make sure your camp is legal. 

Acquire Insurance  

Just like any other insurance, summer camp insurance exists to cover you financially should any unfortunate events happen. Talk to an insurance agent and ask what type of insurance you need to purchase. Make sure you are following all the recommendations from your insurance agent. 

Implement Health and Safety Measures

When working with children, it’s essential to implement health and safety measures. You should have camp policies, medical staff onsite, the campground inspected, an emergency plan, and more. Make sure you are also following all local rules and regulations when implementing the health and safety measures for your camp. 

Set a Reasonable Price 

Although starting a summer camp can be rewarding, it can also be an expensive venture. For this reason, you need to make sure the price you set will cover your expenses while also bringing in a profit. 

Start by researching camps in the area to understand the average price for the area. Depending on your resources, you can also consider charging on a sliding scale to ensure all kids can enjoy your summer camp. 

Hire and Train Staff

It’s important to choose the right staff for your summer camp. You want to choose people who are great with kids, friendly, energetic, and have a sense of fun. Make sure to run background checks before hiring anyone and train your staff properly before the launch of your summer camp. 

Determine the Registration Process 

One important task you need to complete before you open your camp is to determine the registration process. You need a process that allows for pre-registration and is hassle-free for your campers. 

Consider using registration software to streamline the process overall. If you are not sure which software to use, visit www.info.ultracamp.com.

Create a Marketing Campaign

Once you have completed all of the steps to set up your camp, you have to reach parents so they can register their kids. To do this, you need to get the word out about your camp and all the fun and benefits a child will experience. Consider adding your camp to online directories, working with schools, encouraging referrals, marketing on social media, and more. 

Collect Feedback and Keep in Touch

After your camp is over, it’s important to collect feedback from your campers and stay in touch with their parents. The feedback you collect will help you improve your camp for the next year and keeping in touch with parents will help you encourage repeat campers. 

This Is What You Need to Know When Starting a Summer Camp for Kids

There are several things you should know before starting a summer camp for kids.

You need to determine the age group of your campers as well as the theme and the schedule. You also should know the location of the camp and understand how to make sure the camp is legal and safe for the kids. Make sure you are training your staff properly, marketing correctly, and keeping in touch to encourage return campers.

Follow these tips to start a summer camp the right way.

Don’t forget to browse our site for advice on family, fitness, travel, and more. 

If you’re one of the many mamas working remotely, or from home right now, you’re not alone. You’re also not alone in trying to figure out how to keep your youngsters busy!

As a thrifty mom, looking for some easy craft projects to keep those little ones out of trouble, you’ve come to the right place! Great arts and crafts projects are easy to make when you’ve got plenty of plastic craft lace.

What’s plastic craft lace? How do you use it? We’ll fill you in on the top plastic lace projects.

You might feel surprised to find that you already have some, laying around the house!

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get crafting with craft lace!

What Is Plastic Craft Lace?

Craft lace, or plastic craft lace, is like flat plastic yarn or string. It comes in spools of many different colors. You can use it for many arts and crafts projects.

Where Can I Buy Craft Lace?

You can get great deals on plastic craft lace online or at your local craft store. Be sure to watch out for deals in your local coupon circulator, or in your email inbox, so that you can get a good deal!

You’ll want to get a variety of colors as well, to make your projects stand out. ‘Fun packs,’ with multiple different colors are an economical and high-value place to start.

What Other Supplies Do I Need?

With just some plastic craft lace, you can get started right away! However, there are some other tools you might want to consider buying to help make your projects easier. These include:

• Scissors
• Clear-drying craft glue or a hot glue gun
• Beads (for finishing projects)
• Lanyard snaps or keychain rings (to secure the tops of the projects)
• Pliers (to help pull the stitches tight!)

Top 5 Projects With Plastic Craft Lace

Now that you know what plastic craft lace is and where to find it, let’s get started on some easy craft projects!

1. Keychains

Sometimes called ‘boondoggles,’ these cute, chunky keychains are a great way to make your keys stand out.

For This Project, You’ll Need:

• 2, 1-yard pieces of craft lace in different colors
• Key chain ring (optional)
• Scissors
• Bead for the end (optional)
• Craft glue

To Complete This Project:

1. Put your two pieces of lace together, and make an ‘X,’ with the strands meeting in the middle. If you want, you can use a keychain ring as the meeting point. It might be helpful to secure the ends with tape, until you get comfortable.

2. Keeping the laces parallel, take the lace on the bottom of the X, and loop the top lace down, and the bottom lace-up. This should make an ‘N,’ shape.

3. Take the second color lace, and weave it through the ‘N,’ formed by the first lace; over the top, and under the bottom.

4. Pull the 4 loose ends tight! You should have a neat, boxy pattern.

5. You can repeat this stitch, or get fancy, and add spirals and more laces to get a cool effect.

6. To finish, you can place a bead at the end, pulling all the strands through. Apply some glue and weave the ends of the laces through the bead.

7. Let dry and attach your keys! You’re ready to go!

2. Zipper Pulls

Don’t you hate it when a zipper breaks? You won’t anymore! With these super cute and functional zipper pulls, you’ll be able to repair your zip-ups in style!

For This Project, You’ll Need:

• 2, 1-yard pieces of plastic craft lace in different colors
• Lanyard Snap
• Scissors
• Bead for the end
• Craft glue (clear drying)

To Complete This Project:

1. Slide the two pieces of craft lace into the lanyard snap, until they meet at an ‘X,’ in the middle.

2. Keeping the laces parallel, take one of the laces and form an ‘N,’ shape. Each end should be bent across the center point.

3. Weave the second lace over and under the ‘N,’ created by your first lace. It should look like a messy, loose box pattern.

4. Pull the four loose ends tight! You should have a neat box.

5. It’s the same idea going forward, but easier now! Repeat the weaving pattern until you’ve reached the length you want.

6. To finish, you can place a bead at the end of the zipper pull and attach with a little dot of craft glue. Weave the loose ends through the bead and tighten to secure.

7. Let dry and voila! Attach to broken zippers to give them new life!

3. Friendship Bracelets

Nothing makes you feel like a kid again like friendship bracelets. Make one to wear with your daughter to honor your special bond.

For This Project, You’ll Need:

• Plastic craft lace in different colors
• Beads, as many as you’d like to weave or braid in
• Scissors

To Complete This Project:

 1. You have a couple of options for this project. You can follow the instructions for a keychain or zipper pull, OR you can do a simple 3-strand braid.

2. For the 3-strand braid, start with a simple knot to keep the three pieces of craft lace secured. Try adding different color beads as you go; this adds texture to your friendship bracelet.

3. When you’ve reached the desired length, either tie off the bracelet (as above) or finish the braid with a simple knot and dot of glue.

4. Affix the loose ends at the bottom to the knot at the top. Add another dot of glue for extra security.

5. Slip on your wrist; beautiful!

4. String Art Paintings

If you’re not feeling up to a longer, more complicated project, this creative painting idea can be a great way to go. As long as you don’t mind getting a little messy!

For This Project, You’ll Need:

• Craft lace, multiple size pieces
• Canvas, any size
• Painter’s tape, to secure the strings
• Acrylic paint or spray paint
• Newspaper, for covering the workspace

To Complete This Project:

1. You need a sense of adventure for this project! Start by covering your workspace with old newspaper.

2. Make a geometric pattern or design on your canvas using the craft lace. You can wrap one strand around multiple times, or use several pieces for a different effect. Secure the lace on the back of the canvas with tape.

3. Paint over the lace using acrylic or spray paint. Let dry.

4. Carefully remove the tape and the lace from the canvas. The resulting pattern should be a beautiful design of white space and the paint colors you used. Discard the tape and painted-over lace.

5. Enjoy your homemade art!

5. Homemade Gift Tags

This is an easy way to get kids involved with holiday gifts: making homemade gift tags!

For This Project, You’ll Need:

• Cardstock or heavy paper
• Plastic craft lace, different colors
• Single hole punch
• Scissors
• Markers, stickers, other things to decorate!
• Craft glue (optional)

To Complete This Project:

1. For this project, have your young helper cut out pieces of cardstock or heavy paper. Mom can help with this part, or give them some scalloped safety scissors to make a cool border.

2. Decorate your tags; you can use markers, stickers, paint. The sky is the limit!

3. Punch a hole in the corner of your gift tag.

4. Secure the paper gift tag to the gift with plastic craft lace. You can use multiple strands for a colorful effect, or just one, whatever your preference.

5. To make ahead, tie the craft lace into loops around the paper gift tag, and secure with a dot of craft glue. These gift tags will be ready for the holiday season!

What To Do With Your Finished Projects

Now that you’ve mastered these projects with plastic lace, what to do with them? Read on for further inspiration!

Keepsakes

You’ll love looking back at these projects when your little ones are grown. You’ll love remembering these crafts you made together!

Sell on Craft Websites

Once you get really good at making plastic lace projects, you can sell them! This is a perfect solution for a busy mom looking to make an extra few dollars.

Gifts for Family

Whether it’s gift tags or zipper pulls, your family and friends will love to receive gifts made with craft lace. These colorful, fun gifts will brighten anyone’s day!

Endless Creativity, Endless Possibilities

Now that you’ve discovered, or rediscovered, plastic craft lace, it’s time to let your creativity shine! These children’s craft projects are perfect for rainy days, travel activities, and simple, thrifty fun. But their utility doesn’t end there!

You can have your kiddos help you with these projects all year long. Who knows? It may even turn into an extra source of income for you or a great gift for someone you love.

For more tips for working moms and work-from-home mamas, be sure to read our other DIY blogs. Follow us on social media, so you never miss a deal, a giveaway, or free samples.

Are you a new parent? If so, then you understand the anxiety of trying to make sure that your child grows up as healthy and happy as possible.

That’s why it’s so important to educate yourself about healthy emotional attachment, childhood cognitive skills, and other aspects of prenatal development and infancy.

Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place for help. This article takes a look at the developmental psychology stages of early childhood. Keep reading to get the inside scoop on how to make sure that your child is progressing in a normal and healthy way over the first few years of his or her life. 

Trust vs Mistrust

The first stage in childhood development occurs between birth and 12 to 18 months of age.

During this stage, you’ll likely notice that your baby is totally dependent on you for absolutely everything. This includes food, shelter, comfort, and warmth. 

Keep in mind that beyond meeting their physical needs, cuddling your infant is incredibly important so that they can develop a healthy sense of security and parental attachment.

Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt

Stage 2 of their development is from 18 months to 3 years of age. During this period of time, your toddler will begin to assert their independence.

You’ll also notice that your toddler has developed specific food preferences, thus you should allow them to choose their snacks, as well as to pick the shirts they want to wear, even if their choices don’t match. This freedom to make decisions is incredibly important for developing a healthy sense of autonomy.

Initiative vs Guilt

During stage 3, from 3 to 5 years of age, your child will develop their social skills. This period of development is significant because they will improve their abilities to make new friends, achieve goals, and begin taking responsibility for their actions.

It’s important to give them the freedom to explore the world within the limits that you establish.

This is also a period of time when they will ask lots of questions and being testing boundaries, so be prepared to be patient as their individuality begins to really shine.

It’s also important to consider therapy for children.

Industry vs Inferiority

Stage 5 is from about 5 to 12 years of age. During this stage, your child will learn lots of new skills. They will start comparing themselves to others and become more and more influenced by the culture as well as peer pressure.

Identity vs Confusion

During stage 5, your child will enter the very confusing part of life called adolescence. This is another stage where your patience will be put to the test, as your child challenges you more and more, as their sense of identity goes to a whole new level.

A Guide to the Developmental Psychology Stages of Early Childhood

Raising a child isn’t easy. Fortunately, this guide to the developmental psychology stages of children will help you provide the care your child needs to grow into a healthy and happy young person.

Keep scrolling to discover more great parenting and lifestyle advice on our blog.