Alphabet Jam: Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

M is for Marshmallow! Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Video Jam: The Medicine Song

In honor of my little man, who is under the weather today...We want to share some of our favorite "I'm Feeling Icky Today" songs.  Enjoy!!

Video Jam: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast

In honor of my little man, who is under the weather today...We want to share some of our favorite "I'm Feeling Icky Today" songs.  Enjoy!!


Of Montreal on Yo Gabba Gabba! from NickPress on Vimeo.

Craft Jam: Hands and Feet Reindeer

An easy to make reindeer craft for classrooms, a Christmas party, or with your little one at home.

Hands and Feet Reindeer

 

Materials:

• Large plastic eyes
• Large red pom-poms (glitter pom-poms are a fun addition!)
• Brown construction paper, craft foam or cardstock paper
• Lighter brown or tan paper for the ears (optional)
• Construction paper in any color; optional if you would like to glue the reindeer onto another piece of paper.

Directions:

1. First, with one shade of brown, cut the antlers and reindeer, using your child's handprint and shoeprint as a pattern.
2. Then, cut the ears with the other brown. You can use a lighter shade of brown to add yet another layer to the ears but that's not necessary.
3. Glue the antlers together at a slight angle.
4. Then add the ears,
5. Glue the head on last.
6. Glue the eyes and nose the the head and add a smile with a marker.

It's that simple!

 

 source

 

10 Tips to Make Your Home a Place For Young Readers

Learning to read is an exciting accomplishment in a child's life. Unlike talking, reading doesn't come naturally. Literacy skills take practice and need to be developed over time. The informed parent has ample opportunities to enhance pre-reading skills in their young children.  Below are 10 tips to make your home a place for your young reader.

1. Choose a quiet time for reading to your child, as in before a nap, bedtime, or after dinner.
2. Choose a special place for family reading, like a comfortable chair or pillows piled on the floor.
3. Let your child select the book for you to read aloud.
4. Hold the book so that she or he can see the pictures. If possible, also let her or him turn the pages.
5. Take time to look at and talk about the pictures. Don't just read the story: talk about it. Let your child point out letters, shapes, colors, and animals.
6. Understand that reading begins at home. Children read their environments, so make your home a print rich environment.
7. Read! Don't expect reading to be important to your children if they see that it's not important to you.
8. Invite your child to read to you. If he or she is a pre reader, he'll often interpret his own story using illustrations and his imagination.  
9. Make lists, lots of them. Make them for grocery shopping, books to buy and things to take on trips.
10. Read aloud to your child every day.

source

Recipe Jam: Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

Here's a treat that looks old-fashioned but is made with two favorite modern-day sweets: marshmallows and chocolate.

 

Ingredients

• 24 chocolate-striped shortbread cookies
• 12-ounce package of chocolate chips
• 24 marshmallows
• tube of yellow decorators' frosting

Instructions

1. Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper-covered tray, spacing them well apart.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler.
3. One at a time, stick a wooden toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and promptly center it atop a cookie.
4. Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick.
5. Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then pipe a yellow decorators' frosting buckle on the front of each hat.

 source

Video Jam: The Alphabet with Elmo and India.Arie

Enjoy this melodic rendition of the ABC song with your little one today!

Alphabet Jam: Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

L is for Lemon! Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Video Jam: Veterans Day Tribute to Military Children!!

Arts & Craft Jam:Finger Stamp Place Cards

 

These handy little birds are great seat markers and a fun predinner activity. Have the younger set make them for the rest of the family, or let everyone try his hand -- or at least a finger -- at making his own.

 Materials:

• White card stock
• Nontoxic stamp pads in brown, red, orange, and yellow
• Glue
• Googly eyes
• Markers

Instructions:

1. For each bird, fold a piece of card stock as shown (ours were roughly 3 by 4 inches). Set out nontoxic stamp pads in brown, red, orange, and yellow. Using your thumb or index finger, stamp rings of yellow, orange, and red, and a brown turkey body.
2. Glue googly eyes in place, then use  markers to draw on a beak, snood, and feet and to write a guest's name below the bird.

Tip:

If your duty station has you far away from loved ones during the Thanksgiving holiday.  Turn this cute place cards into Thanksgiving cards for Grandma and Grandpa or a deployed parent.  Help your little one thing they are thankful for and mail this card in time for the holiday.

 

source

 

 

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Math Jam: The Shape Hokey Pokey

Objective: To identify a variety of two-dimensional shapes

Materials:

KinderJam Shape Mats

Scissors

Directions:

1. Print and cut out the shapes on the KinderJam Shape Mats.
2. Discuss each shape with your child.
3. Give your child the shape cut outs.
4. Sing the Hokey Pokey Shape Song 

Song:
Put your circle in,
Put you circle out,
Put your circle in and shake it all bout.
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around that's what its all about!

Put your square in,
Put your square out,
Put your square in and shake it all about.
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around that's what its all about!

Put your oval in,
Put your oval out,
Put your oval in and shake it all about.
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around that's what its all about!

Put your rectangle in,
Put your rectangle out,
Put your rectangle in and shake it all about.
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around that's what its all about!

Put your triangle in,
Put your triangle out,
Put your triangle in and shake it all about.
Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around that's what its all about!

Extention:

For older preschoolers make shapes such as hexagon, octogon, rhombus, and trapezoid to use in your Shape Hokey Pokey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Video of the Week!

Try this super cute Days of the Week Song with your little one, Today!!!

Arts & Crafts Jam: Tissue Paper Ghosts

Tissue Paper Ghosts



These tissue paper ghosts are an inexpensive and easy project for you and your little to make for Halloween.  Little hand slove making our Tissue Paper Ghosts! 

 

Supplies:

• 2 facial tissues (white)
• Yarn or ribbon (white, black, or orange)
• Black permanent marker
• Scissors

 Directions:

1. Ball up one facial tissue and place it in the center of the second piece of tissue.
2. Wrap the second piece of tissue around the ball of tissue and gently tie it closed with the yarn or ribbon, making a bow.
3. Draw a face. Be creative!

Tips:

• No facial tissue in the house...in a pinch you can substitute the facial tissues with paper towels, gifting tissue, or a white wash cloth.
• Make spooky decorations.  Make several tissue paper ghosts and string them together with fishing line and hang them high. 
• Make your ghost fly.Tie fishing line to the yarn around its neck. Hang from a ceiling fan blade and turn the fan on low.
• Turn your ghost project into a fun math activity.  Make several then play the How Many Jam.

Math Jam: Shape Sorting

Teaching your little one about shapes is an important activity that can be made into a fun play time for you and your little one. Identifying shapes is a necessary skill needed for kindergarten. Make learning fun with KinderJam's colorful shape sorting activity.

Directions: 
Discuss each shape with your little one.  With your little one, cut out the shapes on Page 2. Match the shape cut-outs to the shape on the shape mat (Page 1).  For older children, Print Page 1 twice and cut out the shape boxes on the shape mat and make a fun match game. Enjoy!

  

Page 1

Page 2

Hints:

*This activity can be use to introduce and reinforce color recognition.

*Print an additional Page 2 and practice scissor skills with your little one.



Recipe Fun: Cookie Witch Hats

Cookie Witch Hats

Looking for a treat to make with your little one to bring to that Halloween party or just to spend some time with your favorite ghoul or goblin? Use chocolate chip cookies as the brim of this hat, sugar cones can be frosted, decorated and attached to make these deliciously cute cookie witch hats.

Ingredients:

• 24 sugar ice cream cones
• 1 container (16 oz.) prepared chocolate frosting, divided
• Assorted Halloween decorator sugars and sprinkles
• 24 Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Quart-size plastic food storage bag
• Assorted decorator icings (optional)

Directions:

1. LINE large baking sheet with sides with wax paper. With a small metal spatula or butter knife, spread a thin layer of frosting on each cone (Be sure to save some frosting to adhere cones to cookie hat base! About 3/4 cup will be needed.) Place frosted cones on baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugars and sprinkles. Let stand for 1 hour to allow frosting to set.
2. MEANWHILE, PREPARE cookies as directed on package. Cool completely.
3. FILL plastic bag with remaining icing; seal. Cut 1/4-inch corner from bag. Squeeze bag to pipe icing around bottom of each cone; adhere cones to each cookie to form hats. To decorate base of hat, use different colors of decorator icings and sprinkle with additional sugars or sprinkles.

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Turn your next trip to the commissary or grocery store into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Math Jam: The How Many Jam!

The How Many Jam!
Objective: One to One Counting
Materials needed: Ten hand sized objects, i.e. matchbox cars, blocks, crayons, counting bears, or the like.

Procedures:

1. Help your litle one line the objectives in a row. The number doesn’t matter. The number of objects your little one chooses to start with will be fine.
2. Sing the song below to The Adams Family theme song. Where you see (SAY), have children say, rather than sing, "Let's count!" and the numbers.

(SING)
How many cars? clap clap
How many cars? clap clap
How many cars? How many cars? How many cars? clap clap

(SAY)
Let’s count!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
EIGHT cars!

(SING)
How many cars? (SEVEN cars!)
How many cars? (SEVEN cars!)
How many cars? How many cars? How many cars? (SEVEN cars!)

(SAY)

Yaay!!!  You did it!!!!!!

Repeat using a different amount of objects.

Listen to The How Many Jam!

Extention Tips: 

1. Use this activity to work on shapes.  Cut out paper shapes and count out the circles, squares, or triangles.
2. Use this activity to reinforce healthy foods.  Count out carrots sticks, raisins, or grapes.

Recipe Fun: Open Faced Jack o'Grilled Cheese

by Tara

(Breckenridge, CO)

 Open Faced Jack o'Grilled Cheese

 Tired of all the sugary Halloween treats? Try sprucing up a healthy dinner for the kids. My one-year-old son loves grilled cheese so I put together these cute jack o'lantern style open faced sandwiches. Older kids can assemble them on their own. It's a good way to have fun with veggies and a simple tasty dinner when mom is busy!

makes 4 sandwiches
Ingredients:

4 slices of bread

4 slices cheddar cheese

tomato slices for mouths

olives for eyes

celery for stems

Pumpkin shaped cookie cutter (although a plain circle will do in a pinch)


Directions:

1. Place slices of cheese on bread slices. Cut with pumpkin shaped cutter.
2. Slice veggies in a variety of shapes. (see photo for ideas). Let kids decorate their Jack o'Grilled cheese with assorted veggies.
3. Place on rack in toaster oven or regular oven.
4. Remove when cheese is melted and enjoy when cooled off enough!

Here's a tip - cut extra veggies and let kids play around with the faces for a while before cooking. Otherwise, they will want to make 3 or 4
source

The Hip Hop Tooty-Ta by Jack Hartmann

Parents, you asked for it and here it is!!!!  Jack Hartmann's Hip Hop Tooty-Ta is a KinderJam favorite!!!!  For more fun and educational music by Jack Hartmann visit his website filled with CDs and DVDs your little ones are sure to enjoy!!!

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

KinderJam Rock!!!!!

Take a peek inside a KinderJam class! Then Come Join the Fun because we Can't Wait To See You!!!!!  To find a KinderJam near you and your little one visit us at Find a Class.

We're Back!!!

Hello Friends,

KinderJam's blog has been away for a while but we are back with a face lift and ready to provide fun learning activities for you and your toddler and preschool aged child. Bookmark, follow, and visit us often for our super fun Commissary Hunts, kinesthetic activities, videos, recipes and more! Come Join the Fun Online!!!! We Can't Wait To See You!!!!

El Brown

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Spotlight on KinderJam!

KinderJam has quickly become my life's work. I have been fortunate enough to discover my absolute passion, working with young children and their families.  KinderJam has allowed me to take the best of everything I love and turn it into a thriving business. Additionally, I have met and had the privilege to work with a wonderful team of professional from various industries. One of which is an extremely talented young writer, who has recently spotlighted KinderJam in an interview. Read the Spotlight on KinderJam and check out Mocha Writer at http://mochawriter.com/. 

Have a WONDERFUL Monday!!!

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home program

When my hubby was in Iraq, Parents as Teachers came to our home and was instrumental in helping me identify the some of the skills where my little man needed a little extra encouragement.  The parent educator also brought fun, developmentally appropiate activities for my son and informative handouts for me.  The program is free to qualifying military families.  Look for Parents as Teachers in your area.

Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home program

parent education and family support for young military families

Military families are increasingly impacted by repeat deployment, demands at home and the stress of being away. This program brings professional parenting support and child development information right to the homes of these young families.

The Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home program began in 2006 as a partnership with the Department of Defense and the Department of Army with 12 pilot sites. Since that time it has grown into a contract-based program serving more than 1,000 families and 1,500 children across 36 Military installations across the U.S.

Administered by U.S. Army Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Child, Youth and School (CYS) Services.

Visit Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home Program

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Check It Out!!

My little one is so intrigued by the computer…probably because Mommy spends so much time on her laptop. So every now and again, I like to visit websites that are preschool friendly. Preschool websites make for a fun 10 – 15 minute activity that you can enjoy with your little one. Another one of our favorites is Billi Bear.  My little guy's favorite activities are the Hide and Seek and the ABC's. Click on the image and Check it out!!

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Cooking Fun!

Cooking is a great kinesthetic activity to do with your little one. It may get a little messy in the kitchen with your extra set of little helping hands but educational value and the fun factor in tremendous!!!! Not only is cooking a wonderful experience for the tactile learner but it is also a wonderful opportunity to introduce and reinforce basic math skills...like counting, addition, measurement, and more and less. While cooking with your little one, be certain to narrate each step. Call out the name of each ingredient and give your little one the opportunity touch and explore the different texture of each ingredient. Also open up a dialogue while mixing your ingredients. Say things like: “Let’s point to all of the white ingredients.” “Do we have more water or pizza sauce?” “Which spoon is bigger, the table spoon or the teaspoon?”

Most importantly enjoy the activity and live in the moment with your little one!

Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
½ cup Pizza Sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings (place 3-5 toppings in little bowls to give your little the option of choosing what he would like to  put on the pizza)

Directions

1. Combine flour, salt, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Mix in oil and warm water. (Let your little one mix the ingredients together with their hands to enjoy the gooeyness and the change in texture.)
2. Spread out on a large pizza pan.
3. Spread your pizza on your dough.
4. Sprinkle on your cheese
5. Now have lots of fun discussing, selecting, and placing your topping on your pizza!
6. Bake at 375 degrees C (190 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes.
7. Enjoy!

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved. Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts. Click on the image below and print. Happy Hunting!!!!

Video of the Week!

Noodle Writing

Pasta is an excellent tactile manipulative for little ones. You can find Pasta in all different sizes, shapes, textures and colors. One of my family’s favorite activities is Noodle Writing. With Noodle Writing, you use pasta right out of your pantry to create shapes, letters, and words. Pasta is the perfect tool because it come curved and straight varieties. Try Noodle Writing with your little one and make learning Super Fun!!!!!

What You Need:

• Penne Pasta (for straight lines)
• Elbow Pasta (for curved lines)
• White School Glue
• Construction Paper

What To Do:

1. Write your shape, letter, word on a piece of construction paper. Make sure make your shapes and letters large enough to give your little one ample space to place several pieces of pasta. Also if writing a word, make sure you give enough space between letters, to avoid crowding once your little one glues the pasta to the paper. Remember when writing proper nouns, such as your child’s name, start with a capital letter and make the remaining letters lowercase.
   
   
   
2. Before you begin, go over the shape, word letter with your little one. Trace it with your finger. Then have your little one do the same.  
3. Next model the use of the penne pasta for the straight lines and the elbow pasta for the curved lines. Have your little one try it a couple of times before adding the glue. 
4. Now, you are ready to use the glue. With your little one, squeeze the glue while following the line for your shape, letter, or word. Once the glue is down, add your pasta. Place the penne pasta on the straight lines and the elbow pasta on the curved lines.

Your little one will love this activity so much that it will asked for by name, like in my house. Keep plenty of pasta in the pantry because you will soon have an entire gallery of Noodle Writing!!!! Enjoy!!!!

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Noodle Name Writing

Commissary/Grocery Store Hunt: A is for Apple!

Taking your little one to the commissary or grocery store can be a daunting task for all parties involved.  Turn your next trip grocery shopping into a fun learning experience with our KinderJam Grocery Hunts.  Click on the image below and print.  Happy Hunting!!!!

How to Print:

For PC: Double Click on the image.  When the larger image appears right click on the image and select "Print Picture".


For Mac: Right click on the image below and select "Open in New Window". Click on the image to zoom out. Then print.

Check It Out!!

My little one is so intrigued by the computer…probably because Mommy spends so much time on her laptop. So every now and again, I like to visit websites that are preschool friendly. Preschool websites make for a fun 10 – 15 minute activity that you can enjoy with your little one. One of our favorites is starfall.com. They have great interactive phonics activities that are wonderful for Early Childhood and ESL students.  Click on the image and Check it out!!

Video of the Week!

What is Kinesthetic Learning?

Simply put, kinesthetic learning is “learning by doing”. As parents and teachers, we know that playing is what toddlers and preschoolers do best! So Kinesthetic learning for a toddler or preschooler is “learning by playing”.

Children have an innate enthusiasm for learning. Learning takes place when a child is in an absolutely positive state of mind…so let’s meet them at their “Happy Place”. Children learn best by moving, wiggling, exploring, and playing. In a kinesthetic learning environment children are allowed the freedom to move about in an effort to make learning tangible and fun.

Kinesthetic learning activities can be easily prepared by any parent or educator. Simply decide what skill you would like to introduce or reinforce then figure out a way to make that skill come alive. For example if you are focuses on farm animals this week, Make your home our classroom an imaginary farm. Have your little ones become the animals you wish to teach. Moo and graze like a cow...quack and waddle like a duck...gallop and neigh like horse...and watch your lesson come to life and your little ones' faces light up.

In our KinderJam blog we will share simple and fun activities that you can do in your home or classroom to make learning come to life for your little ones. Enjoy!