Did you know August 9th is Book Lovers Day? They say the 1st step in dealing with any problem is acknowledging there is a problem. Well I have made it known, over and over, I have a weakness for children’s books. And especially on this #BookLoversDay I wouldn’t think of trying to rein in my obsession!
I got to thinking about fun activities families do during the summer and camping came to mind. Why? Because one of the de rigueur duties associated with camping is telling stories around the campfire. Another must is making s’mores!
So I decided I needed some camping-themed books!
I started scrolling through the card catalog of my local library, checking out books. Then I was off to the bookstore as well as using Amazon to buy some to keep. If you’re off to your favorite camp grounds or are pitching a tent in your own backyard, think about including some of these books to share by campfire…or flashlight.
After looking through some of these I thought…
Why not share a story or two?
You know I love reading to children. And maybe your schedule today didn’t have time to get to the library or the bookstore to be able to celebrate Book Lovers Day with some new stories. So if your kiddos would like to hear Goodnight Campsite and 1 2 3 Make a S’More with Me just click below!
FYI: I made my ‘campfire’ flannel pieces, and if you’re interested in how I did it, just contact me. IF you’d prefer a 3D option that’s already set and ready for your kiddo to PLAY with check this.
What’s fabulous about PLAY are learning opportunities come forth organically. And that applies to both teacher AND student! While I was making the flannel pieces an idea plopped into my mind.
My 1st choice is using real materials for all kid-related activities. This idea was no exception. I decided to turn S’mores into a memory game! Why you ask? Continue reading for some of the benefits for kiddos.
Playing memory games:
- improves concentration
- hones visual memory
- increases short term memory
- increases attention to detail
- improve the ability to find similarities and differences in objects
- improves/increases vocabulary
For kiddos just starting out with this kind of game it can be helpful sometimes to make more clear, separate areas. If your kidlet seems to be confused or overwhelmed by all the stuff on the tray you might want to try this trick.
A general rule of thumb with memory games is to have the number of items equal your child’s age or your child’s age +1. If you have a 4 year old beginning a memory game like this with 10 items is a set up for failure. Instead work up towards that.
New to the camping idea and not sure what to do? As a longtime REI member I was pretty sure I could find some tips on their website. And I did–lots of good tips for camping with kids! Whether you’re at a campground, your backyard OR throwing some sleeping bags in the family room find a good story (or 2) to share and enjoy!
Yours in PLAY!
Teacher Karen
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