educational

Summer Fun and Learning with Green Kid Crafts!

Abby H.

Yesterday I posted about all the fun toys from Dollar Tree, today we are turning to some fun educational toys.

My kids love doing science experiments, playing, and learning. We’ve got Green Kid Crafts boxes in the past and they are a huge hit.

Green Kid Crafts has recently restocked some of their best-selling kits. I’ll be picking up a few and stashing them in the hall closet to keep us entertained during the “I’M BORED!!!!” moments that will be coming up over the summer.

A broad range of box themes, all STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) focused.  Explore Ecosystems like Rainforests, Oceans, and Desert Science. Learn about Endangered Animals, Volcanoes, and Rocket Science. And teach your kids to be environmentalists with Alternative Energy, Save the Oceans, and Climate Change! 

One of the things I like about Green Kid Crafts is that you can opt into a subscription where the boxes come each month, or you can purchase specific kits. Here are a few of the kits that I know my kids would LOVE.


Backyard Science Box

Backyard Science Kit

 

 

Color Science Box

 

 

 

Mad Science Box

 

 

 

Nocturnal Animals Activities Box

 

 

 

Down on the Farm Box

 

 

 

Reptiles Box

 

 

 

 

Rainbow Science Box

 

 

 

Endangered Animals Box

 

 

 

And if you have littler kids, there are options for them too! Ultimate STEAM 5-Pack Junior Ages 2-5

With a mission to raise the next generation of environmental leaders, Green Kid Crafts leads by example.

  • Through a partnership with One Tree Planted, Green Kid Crafts plants one tree for every order placed.
  • As a member of 1% for the Planet, we donate up to 1% of sales to environmental nonprofits.
  • Together with the Carbon Fund, we offset 100% of carbon dioxide emissions produced by our business.
  • Eco-friendly practices are used as much possible to produce Green Kid Crafts boxes.

Virtual Parent Workshop: Self-Monitoring Tools in the Home

Abby H.

This flyer showed up in my email inbox this morning and is a great opportunity to learn and help support your kids. My son’s class does Self & Match and it’s a great way to help kids learn about personal responsibility.

This Self & Match Virtual Parent Workshop takes place on May 11, 2021 at 9:00-10:30 am.

This interactive and hands-on workshop will provide an opportunity for parents and home providers to learn a well-defined, systematic self-monitoring intervention and motivational system to use in the home and school settings. A discussion of self-monitoring procedures incorporating a “match” component will be presented with a specific focus on Self & Match, a user-friendly, easy to implement.

Parents will be shared practice tools and tips that can be implemented immediately. Great workshop for individuals and/or teams (parents and in-home behavior analysts).

Make a note on your calendar and add this link to your online calendar.

At Home Educational Opportunities for Kids!

Abby H.

Most of us are burned the heck out from distance learning, hybrid learning, or jumping feet first into homeschooling. This last year has put us through the wringer.

I’ve been doing some research on apps, online programs, and ways for my kids to learn without them feeling like the weight of school is pressing down on them. I’m tired of Zoom Meetings, regardless of what they are for (the least useful for me at least was the telehealth appointment for physical therapy for one of the kids).

Here are some of the cool stuff I’ve found:

I’m sure most of you have heard of ABC Mouse. Right now when you sign up and receive a 30 Day FREE Trial of ABCmouse.
When I discovered this deal, I signed up for it. Bitty Bird needs a little help with phonics and reading, and I figured with a deal like this, we should give ABC Mouse a shot.

Membership includes: 8,500+ Learning Activities, Access on All Devices, Comprehensive Online Learning, and Advanced Progress Tracking.

Add up to 3 children for the price of one.

If your kiddo is older than 2nd grade, ABCMouse isn’t for you, but there is still a great program for your big kiddos!

Adventure Academy is a great way for older kids to learn, and you can try the first 30 days free.

Membership includes: 8,500+ Learning Activities, Access on All Devices, Comprehensive Online Learning and Advanced Progress Tracking

Add up to 3 children for the price of one.

 

And did you know that Hooked on Phonics is still around? Your first month is $1!

Here ‘s What You’ll Get Monthly:

  • Unlimited access to the Learn to Read app
  • Get a FREE Disney Bookbag with your welcome package. Your FREE gift will be automatically added to your cart. Offer valid for new members only.
  • Workbooks that direct you through each step of the program
  • 2 or 3 books specifically written to reinforce the lessons learned
  • Discussion questions about each book designed to strengthen reading comprehension.
  • Celebration stickers to reward reading milestones
  • Tips & ideas on how to extend the learning at home and on the go
And one of my favorite freebies is the amazing varieties of free Kindle e-books available on Amazon when you have a subscription to Amazon Prime!

Kids Learn to Read in 30 Days for Free with Reading Eggs!

Abby H.

ReadingEggsLogo.jpgLittle Bit is 4 and Kindergarten is in the fall for her. We want her to be as prepared as possible, which is why we are excited for her to start Reading Eggs!

Reading Eggs is the multi-award winning reading program for ages 2 to 13 that uses scientific research to help your child learn to read, in just weeks!

I’m excited because we can unlock the complete reading and math adventure with a 12-month Reading Eggs subscription, plus get a BONUS 12-month Mathseeds subscription absolutely FREE!

Their mission has always been to make learning easy and fun for young learners, and they feel there’s never been a more important time to do this. That’s why they’re giving you 30 days’ free access to the Reading Eggs and Mathseeds online learning programs.

This is Reading Eggs effort to ensure your child can continue learning at home with a quality educational resource designed by experienced educators and used by over 10 million children worldwide.

And there are tons of great resources too! Free downloads for Grades K to 6th. Reading Eggs just compiled a comprehensive list of FREE resources for parents!

I’ll be reporting back with an update in a few weeks or so. Fingers crossed we’ll have a reader!

leaderboard_readingeggsleaderboard

Details: 12 Months of Reading Eggs and Bonus Mathseeds for $45 – 12 months of Reading Eggs + BONUS Mathseeds – Unlock the complete reading and math adventure with a 12 month Reading Eggs subscription, plus get a BONUS 12 month Mathseeds subscription absolutely FREE – valued at $108.95, pay only $45!* New Subscribers only. Offer for 1 child only. Customers can only claim a maximum of 2 promotional codes per year. These offers cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other offer and are only available to United States and Canadian residents.

Parents Helping Parents: Behavior Training 3/10/2020

Abby H.

download.jpgOn Tuesday, March 10, 2020, the Santee School district is presenting a behavior training with a “Make it, Take it” for behavior resources at home.

Visual Schedules: Children benefit from increased structure and predictability. Help take the stress out of your daily routine by providing
your child with a visual schedule.

Behavior Contracts: Contracts help keep kids on track and reduce family battles. Let us help you create one for your home!

Zones of Regulation: Help teach your child how to identify how they’re feeling and then utilize a co teach them about self-control.

Positive Reinforcement: Learn how to shape your child’s behavior with positive discipline. This will help to reinforce behaviors we want to increase in the home.

Santee’s Behavior Team Come meet Santee’s behavior team and find helpful strategies to implement at home. You’ll leave with individualized strategies and resources that you can begin implementing right away. You’ll have access to three team members to help you create individualized systems for your child! Listed above are just a few of the strategies you’ll go home with!

 

This event is free- If you have any questions, or wish to RSVP, contact the school district office at: (619) 258-2300

Date & Time: 3/10/2020 9:30am-11am
Location: Santee School District 9625 Cuyamaca. Santee, CA 92071

Educational Programs on Sale this weekend with Age of Learning!

Abby H.

Age of Learning is a great company for parents to know about: They are the people who brought you ABC Mouse! But for those of us with older kids, Age of Learning also has Adventure Academy (For kids 8-11), and Reading IQ- which has tons of great books for kids to read online.

This weekend, through 2/17/2020, Age of Learning is offering 60%+ off on all 3 of their programs for Presidents’ Day!

I’ve already signed up for Adventure Academy and the big kid is loving it!

Receive over 60% OFF on Annual Subscription to ABCmouse.com.  Get 12 months for just $45 total.

(Fine Print: Your payment information on file will be charged now at the price selected above (1 payment of $45.00 or 3 monthly installments of $15.00). Your subscription will renew automatically every year at the same price until canceled.)


Receive over 60% OFF on Annual Subscription to Adventure Academy.

Get 12 months for just $45 total.

(Fine Print: Your payment information on file will be charged now at $45.00. Your subscription will renew automatically every year at the same price until canceled.)

Receive over 68% OFF on Annual Subscription to ReadingIQ.

Get 12 months for just $29.99 total.
(Fine Print: Your subscription will renew automatically at $29.99 and be charged on an annual basis to the above payment information until canceled within the Parent Section.)

STORM BOY Opens Nationwide on Friday, 4/5/19!

Abby H.

Have you or your kids read Storm Boy? We started reading it about a week ago, and both kids are hooked. It’s really best suited for ages 10+, but my 8 year old loves stories featuring animals. It’s now a movie- starring Jai Courtney, Geoffrey Rush & Finn Little.

_STORM BOY art.png

Check out the trailer here

The movie is a beautiful and contemporary retelling of Colin Thiele’s classic Australian tale. ‘Storm Boy’ has grown up to be Michael Kingley, a successful retired businessman and grandfather. When Kingley starts to see images from his past that he can’t explain, he is forced to remember his long-forgotten childhood, growing up on an isolated coastline with his father. He recounts to his grand-daughter the story of how, as a boy, he rescued and raised an extraordinary orphaned pelican, Mr. Percival. Their remarkable adventures and very special bond has a profound effect on all their lives. Based on the beloved book, Storm Boy is a timeless story of an unusual and unconditional friendship.

The Storm Boy is a wonderful book and movie about selflessness, courage, perseverance, and love. I cant wait to finish the book so we can go see the movie in theatres. In addition to the book (for sale on Amazon here), there are printables available for download to help continue the message from the book, including:

Talk Back: Have you Heard of Storm Boy? Do you think it’s a movie your kids would enjoy?

Making Plans for Spring Break? Visit the Nat!

Abby H.
NGS Picture Id:521743
Microorganisms add red and yellow hues to Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring.

My kids love the Nat! The Natural History Museum in Balboa Park is a fun place for kids (and adults) to explore.  The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is one of California’s oldest and most respected cultural and science institutions. Founded in 1874 by a small group of citizen scientists, today the Museum studies and works to preserve the incredible diversity of life in this amazing region we call home. The Museum is located at 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 in Balboa Park and is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information, call 877.946.7797, or visit sdnat.org.

I am looking forward to taking the kids to check out the new photography exhibit: Photography Exhibitions Bring Nature to Life this Spring and Summer National Geographic’s 50 Greatest Landscapes, which opened on March 9, serves as a virtual tour of the world’s most stunning landscapes, from underwater vantages to the expansive countryside to dominating mountain peaks. The exhibition, inspired by the book “National Geographic Greatest Landscapes: Stunning Photographs That Inspire and Astonish,” illuminates the beauty of our planet through its exquisite collection of 50 images shot by some of the world’s finest photographers.

The kids love the 3-d movies at the Nat too! Did you know that Paid general admission to The Nat also includes access to the Subaru 3D Experience in the Charmaine & Maurice Kaplan Theater? The Theatre features the recently opened Flight of the Butterflies 3D showcasing the extraordinary migration of the monarch butterfly. National Parks Adventure 3D is also currently playing, and will be replaced by Conquest of the Skies 3D on July 1. The film invites visitors to travel through time to unravel the 320-million-year story of how flying animals first appeared and then evolved into the huge variety of aeronauts that fill our skies today—from nectar-drinking hummingbirds to armored airborne beetles to bats hunting in the dead of night. Ocean Oasis, a 2D, 40-minute film produced by the Museum, continues to screen daily. The theater schedule is available at sdnat.org/giantscreentheater. I love the theatre because it’s totally kid friendly, the seats are comfy, and the movies are always so well done, even my three- year old will sit mesmerized (and quiet). 

If your kiddos need to get their wiggles out and play, don’t forget to stop by The Backyard, a fun place for littles to play and parents to relax.

The Nat participates in the Free Tuesday in the Park program, which gives locals free access to museums in Balboa Park on Tuesdays. For the complete schedule of free museums, click here.

Mark your Calendars- Saturday is FREE MUSEUM DAY!!

Abby H.1 Comment

Screen Shot 2018-09-20 at 10.18.52 AM.pngHooray, It’s back! This is one of the kids favorite “holidays”, free museum day! If you’re looking for some adventure on Saturday, September 22, check out the event website here, and pick a museum!

Luckily for us here in San Diego, there are TONS of museums for us to chose from. One thing that I like about the site is that it shows you which museums are free every day. So if it’s something that appeals to you and your family, you can chose to go another day and not have to fight the crowds.

This event is taking place all over the US, so regardless of your location there should be a few participating museums near you!

 

Talk Back: Which museums are you interested in visiting? 

 

Planning for Pregnancy with Sharp Hospitals

Abby H.

My sister-in-law is about to have her first baby. Some months ago, we loaned her husband, my brother-in-law a copy of The Expectant Father.  While he was reading the book, he discovered that we had left a set of our oldest’s ultrasounds in the pages of the book.

She texted me a few days ago to let me know that they were mailing them back.  I received the ultrasounds today, and it really took me back to when I was pregnant with my oldest. I had no idea what I was in for. He was unexpected, and so neither myself nor my spouse knew what to expect beyond what modern media tells us (and what I’d experienced babysitting family and neighbors growing up). Reading the books we had purchased blindly at the bookstore (so many books on being pregnant and birth are available!) were helpful, but learning about what we needed to know first hand from professionals would have been so much better. I wish I had known about Planning for Pregnancy Events from Sharp.

CORP00264-Planning-for-Pregnancy-B-1080x1080.jpgComing up July 23-26 at 5 different Sharp locations throughout San Diego County is a free Planning for Pregnancy event where you’ll meet doctors including a Sharp-affiliated reproductive endocrinologist, OBGYN and other experts.

 

In addition to getting your questions answered about pregnancy and preparing for pregnancy, you will learn more about:

  • Preparing your body for pregnancy, including diet, birth control and what to avoid
  • Having a baby later in life
  • Choosing an OBGYN and pediatrician
  • Reproductive planning
  • Determining your natural fertility schedule and optimizing your ability to get pregnant
  • Fertility challenges and treatments, including how common conditions — such as endometriosis and fibroids can impact pregnancy
  • Support groups and classes at Sharp HealthCare. We used a lot of these support groups after our oldest was born. I had a lot of challenges with breastfeeding and PPD.

What I really like about these classes besides that they are free and open to ANYONE, regardless of which insurance company you have, is that doctors and specialists are there to help you on your journey to parenthood. Wherever you are in your journey, even if you’ve just gotten married or are thinking about kids someday in the future, this class at Sharp can help you.

I’ve taken a lot of classes at Sharp- all of which were free, and easy to sign up for. If this Planning for Pregnancy Event sounds like something you are interested in, you can learn more, and RSVP here.

This post was sponsored by Sharp, however all opinions are my own. You can read my disclosure policy here.