Use Trail Games to Motivate

Many young children enjoy trail games.  You know the type-start at the first space, roll the dice or spin the spinner and move a few spots.  Sometimes there is a message on the space with directions like ‘go ahead one’ or ‘go back to start.’  These types of games are easy to make and adapt [...]

Get the Kids Involved When You Read Aloud

Make the most of your read-aloud time by encouraging interaction!  Here are some ideas:

Ask your listeners to clap when they hear a secret word that you choose before you start.
Leave the final rhyming word off the end of a line and have the kids fill in the blank.
Have children join in repetitive sections of stories [...]

Get a Grip on Nagging

If you’re like most of of us parents, you feel like you nag entirely too much.  Nags just seem to slip out of my mouth without any thought at all, and some days I feel like the biggest beast in the world.  I know my children get sick of it too, but somehow that doesn’t [...]