Play and Grow

YOUR TOYCHEST

  • Time to Go Out of Town: Have Grandma Will Travel
    • Go PLAY Activity Cards™
      • Cards QR Tutorial
      • Rent the ToyChest
  • FREEBIES
    • Hands-On Activities to Do with Your Child
    • Story Time!
    • Playdough Recipe
    • Daily Schedule
  • Recommendations
  • About
    • Teacher Karen
    • Play 101
    • Play & Grow News
      • Kelly’s Thoughts on Things…like Go PLAY Activity Cards™
      • Seattle Times and Rent the ToyChest
      • Kids and Families Have Voted Us a FAVORITE!
      • Sammamish Neighbors Shares Holiday Gift Advice
      • Plateau Living Magazine on Rent the ToyChest
      • Seattle’s Child & Rent The ToyChest
      • 24/7 MOMS & Rent The ToyChest
      • Macaroni Kid on Rent the Toychest
      • Seattle Refined on Rent the ToyChest
      • Listen about Rent the ToyChest on KIRO’s Ring My Belle
      • Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter on Rent the ToyChest
      • Red Tricycle on Rent the ToyChest
    • Testimonials
  • Teacher Karen’s Thoughts
  • Contact
You are here: Home > Archives for preschoolers

Signs, Signs! Everywhere a Sign!

November 1, 2019 by Karen Whittier Leave a Comment

Signs, Signs! Everywhere a Sign!

Signs, signs everywhere there are signs. As a parent, you look for signs your kiddo’s making milestones. You’re also helping them recognize signs in their own bodies as they grow and learn. A few BIG signs during those early years relating to children recognizing their bodies’ signs: 1. Needing to use the toilet 2. Being hungry and/or 3. Needing rest and/or sleep Back in my preschool days, my advice to folks regarding these, and the other big one (Getting dressed), was: It does no one any … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Life, Growing & Developing, Parenting Tips Tagged With: child development, dad life, family life, mom life, parent resources, parenting, preschoolers, routines, sleep, threenagers, toddlers

Toddlers with One Track Minds–The 2 Year Old Experts

July 9, 2019 by Karen Whittier Leave a Comment

Toddlers with One Track Minds–The 2 Year Old Experts

If you're anything like me you've been amazed at many 2 year old experts and their apparent breadth of knowledge on a topic. A variety of different things might interest young children, toddlers and/or preschoolers. However, their brains are hard-wired to focus on only a few items of interest. This will change later on as their brains continue to develop to allow for a wider range of topics. Besides that physiological reason, fixating on one interest gives children a sense of control. They … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Benefits of PLAY, Family Life, Growing & Developing, Learning Activities, Parenting Tips, Play Ideas, Uncategorized Tagged With: art, block play, children's books, developmentally appropriate, developmentally learning, grandparents, hands-on learning, kidlit, learning activities, preschoolers, toddlers

Work Your Body Grow Your Brain, A Book Review

January 12, 2019 by Karen Whittier Leave a Comment

Work Your Body Grow Your Brain, A Book Review

In teaching a yoga class recently I realized how similar yoga is to ECE developmentally appropriate practice. By that I mean, both address the individual in a holistic way: Either in a practice that unites mind, body and spirit OR activities and/or experiences that address all areas of development ( Physical, Emotional, Social and Cognitive). Often it’s the promise of physical benefits that draws students in to yoga. Before too long, the other aspects naturally follow. I received the book, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Learning Activities, Parenting Tips, Play Ideas, Requested Reviews Tagged With: brain development, children's books, cognitive development, developmentally appropriate, ECE, executive functioning, family fun, homeschoolers, physical development, preschoolers, sensory activities, sensory experience

I Think I Can–I WILL!

July 11, 2018 by Karen Whittier Leave a Comment

I Think I Can–I WILL!

Determination, persistence, drive, perseverance and the attitude that the tough get going when the going gets tough. These are hallmark characteristics of….every BABY! Babies are inherently instilled with a can-do spirit and a never-say-die attitude! Think about it. I'm sure you witness it all the time! As they work to roll over for the first time; start crawling; pull to a stand. When they hold onto furniture and cruise around; and then take that first, tentative step away without … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Benefits of PLAY, Growing & Developing, Parenting Tips Tagged With: babies, determination, developmental, motivation, parenting, perseverance, play, play benefits, preschoolers

Lego mania or DUPLO delusions

May 7, 2018 by Karen Whittier Leave a Comment

Lego mania or DUPLO delusions

I’m a huge fan of Lego as is my son. In fact, when he was a kidlet he knew just how to play his dear old Mother by just-so-happening to let me know when a new set was out and available. You know, like he was doing me a favor…. Fast forward a few decades, and there are literally thousands of Lego pieces in his PLAY attic. Some are still assembled in awesomeness. I look fondly at the pirate ship or the soccer pitch. Others have come apart and it's anyone's guess whether or not they can ever be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Life, Parenting Tips Tagged With: building, DIY, hands-on learning, hands-on play, legos and duplos, parenting tips, preschoolers

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

(425) 894-3210 teacherkaren@playandgrow.com
Copyright © 2019 · Play & Grow · Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy