Book Review: Grandfather and I by Helen E. Buckley & Jan Ormerod

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This is a charming and poetic book about the time a grandfather spends with his grandson.  Written in the child's point of view, the book talks about the busy and fast paced world that he lives in.  However, with his grandfather the boy can take all the time he wants and spend quality time with him.  This book suggests the importance of spending time with family and letting children be children by learning and going on adventures.

Activity:  In the book the boy and and his grandfather go on walks to explore the earth.  Take your little one on a walk and let them play and explore.  Talk to them about what they are seeing and how things work (how trees grow, look at cloud shapes, etc.)  Let them experience the world first hand and let them take the time to learn for themselves about the things they are seeing.

Resource Spotlight: Care About Childcare

Are you looking for the best preschool for your child? Are you interested in starting your own preschool? Where do you turn for materials?  Here is a really great resource that will help you answer all of your questions!  

The former Childcare Resource and Referral Mountainland Region at Utah Valley University has changed it's name...

It's now called Care About Childcare! Here are some details on Care About Childcare Utah from a previous post. 

"Care About Childcare at Utah Valley University assists parents, providers, and community partners by providing referrals, collaboration, and early childhood education and resources."

For Parents:

Connect to the best preschool 

Find materials to start your own preschool

Contact info: 

Phone: 801-863-8589

Email: childcare@uvu.edu

See website for more information. 

For Providers and Community Partners:

Resource Night

Training Classes and Programs

CAC Resource Nights are a child-free night to come and add to your curriculum ideas and materials. You will be able to make copies, laminate materials, use the die cut machine, and check out items from the Lending Library. Offered once a month on a week night or once a quarter on a Saturday morning. Registration is required.  Call Joanne with questions: 801-863-7453

Upcoming Resource Nights:
Wednesday, October 16th 4:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, November 20th 4:30-7:30pm

Website

Baby Bargains and Free Stuff

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Who doesn't love a good deal? Or better yet, a free deal? I know I do, and when it comes to babies and infants, the costs really start to add up. Here is a list of 10 of my favorite links to coupons, deals, and even free samples of some really great and frequently used products. 

1. Brad's Deals: From baby products, to toys and clothing. this website has some of the best deals around. 

2. I Crave Freebies: This website has tons of free items that you can both pick up at stores and send away for. 

3. Enfamil, Similac, and Gerber all offer free starter kits when you sign up for their programs.

4. Amazon Mom has a free 3 month trial, which offer 20% off diapers, family products and free two-day shipping.

5. Huggies, and Pampers offer coupons and rewards programs for purchasing their brands.

6. Johnson & Johnson and Luvs have great coupons available all the time.  

7. Here's a link for a free Avent bottle.

8. Everyday Family is a great website that has many resources, deals, and coupons available for all kinds of baby products. 

9. Magic Freebies has tons and tons of free product offers and coupons. 

10. Freeflys has not only links to free childcare products, but food, beauty and miscellaneous products as well.

You may look at this list and think "this looks like a lot of junk mail" but as you start to see the saving pile up and coupons rolling in, your "junk mail" may just start to look like dollar signs. 

Book Review: One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

This was one of my very favorite books as a kid. My cousin and I would read it over and over and each time, we'd make up new rhymes. Dr. Seuss teaches counting skills, rhyming skills, and teaches that all sorts of things come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  


After reading this book, see what things you can rhyme while driving in the car, or while doing dishes.  Also, practice counting with your child. Here is a link to many activities from earlymoments.com Click here: 

As a fun snack, make your own fish bowl!

Photo Credit

What you need: 
Blue colored Jell-O (berry blue or something similar)
Sweedish Fish

Basically, make the jell-o in clear containers and once it has set, have your kids count how many fish they can get in the fish bowl! 


Activity Source

Baby Sign Language

Teaching your infant sign language may seem like a daunting task, but even a few simple signs can help alleviate some of the stress that comes with communication. With a few simple signs you can give your child a small sense of control over their environment and actions.  

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Many parents start teaching their infants signs as soon as they can sit up and be fed by a spoon, or at the recommended 8 months. Infants and children can comprehend language far before they can use it vocally. Sign language is a great way to bridge the gap of the two areas and help better your communication with your child. 

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There are many resources available to help you start teaching your child baby sign language. Libraries often carry books and videos, and many videos and charts like this one can be found online. Find the signs that will work best for you and your child. 

Some hints and tricks to teaching and learning baby sign language:
1. Set realistic expectations. Some children will pick it up faster than others, but be consistent and the signs will come. Just remember that most children can't sign before 8 months of age. 
2.Keep signs simple. Don't dive right into complicated signs. Start with a few signs that go along with routine activities like, eat, drink, all done, and please. 
3.Make it interactive. Hold your baby while you teach them new signs, help them form their hands in the right way and make it a fun and rewarding learning activity. Try to sign as often as you can in context. Encourage and recognize when a child uses the appropriate sign for something.
4. Be patient. Signing takes time. It is another language and can be frustrating if it doesn't come naturally or quickly. Stick with it and you will see the positive outcomes it can produce. 

Sign language is a great way to start early communication with your child, keep a positive attitude and the results might just surprise you.