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Take It Away! Subtraction Games for All Ages

 

It takes several years for kids to truly master subtraction. Your little learner will likely be introduced to the idea in Kindergarten and will work continue to work on “taking away”, as well as other basic math skills, through about the 4th grade. You can help support the concept at home, with simple, playful activities designed to teach the concept and fluidity of numbers, which is proven to support long term math success, versus simply memorizing math facts. Below are a few of our favorite ways to practice subtraction:

Start With… Manipulatives!

Manipulatives are the name of the game for introducing the concept of subtraction. You can find manipulatives specifically designed for math activities, including everything from ten frames and dots to sets of dinosaurs. You can also make your own manipulatives, using anything from paperclips to marshmallows, toy cars, or wooden blocks.

No matter the tool or the game, you’ll want to talk your kiddo through the process. Count your original quantity out loud, then remove some of the objects, set them aside, and count your original set again. Then count the quantity you removed. Talk your mini mathematician through the process, using math vocabulary like plus, minus, and equals. Verbally share as you go, saying things like: “We have one, two, three, four, blocks. Let’s take away one, two blocks. Now we have one, two blocks. Four blocks minus two blocks equals two blocks.”

Then Try… Dice, Cards, or Dominoes

Once your little one is comfortable with the visual concept of taking a quantity away from another quantity, they’re ready to move onto mental math. Encourage them to think of the numbers they’re seeing as objects, see the total, then remove the quantity they’re subtracting.

You can make this mental math practice way more fun with dice, cards, or dominoes! Roll two dice, determine which number is bigger, then subtract the smaller number from the bigger one. Draw two cards and do the same. Or pull a domino from the box and subtract the smaller side from the larger.

And Finally… Riddles

Mental math wizards will get a kick out of number riddles. Write one number, 1-10, on each of 10 index cards, pick three, and lay them out face up. Then give your child a series of clues to help eliminate some of the numbers on the cards and help them determine which of those three numbers you have chosen.

For example, you might have cards with the numbers 5, 9, and 2. You’ll say, “The number I am thinking of is NOT 6 minus 4.” And “The number I am thinking of is NOT 10 minus 1.” Your kiddo will use these clues to determine that you are thinking of number five.

Like all learning, the best way to make it stick is to make it fun! Try these subtraction tricks with your kids and help lay the foundation for future math success.

Take It Away! Subtraction Games for All Ages

 

It takes several years for kids to truly master subtraction. Your little learner will likely be introduced to the idea in Kindergarten and will work continue to work on “taking away”, as well as other basic math skills, through about the 4th grade. You can help support the concept at home, with simple, playful activities designed to teach the concept and fluidity of numbers, which is proven to support long term math success, versus simply memorizing math facts. Below are a few of our favorite ways to practice subtraction:

Start With… Manipulatives!

Manipulatives are the name of the game for introducing the concept of subtraction. You can find manipulatives specifically designed for math activities, including everything from ten frames and dots to sets of dinosaurs. You can also make your own manipulatives, using anything from paperclips to marshmallows, toy cars, or wooden blocks.

No matter the tool or the game, you’ll want to talk your kiddo through the process. Count your original quantity out loud, then remove some of the objects, set them aside, and count your original set again. Then count the quantity you removed. Talk your mini mathematician through the process, using math vocabulary like plus, minus, and equals. Verbally share as you go, saying things like: “We have one, two, three, four, blocks. Let’s take away one, two blocks. Now we have one, two blocks. Four blocks minus two blocks equals two blocks.”

Then Try… Dice, Cards, or Dominoes

Once your little one is comfortable with the visual concept of taking a quantity away from another quantity, they’re ready to move onto mental math. Encourage them to think of the numbers they’re seeing as objects, see the total, then remove the quantity they’re subtracting.

You can make this mental math practice way more fun with dice, cards, or dominoes! Roll two dice, determine which number is bigger, then subtract the smaller number from the bigger one. Draw two cards and do the same. Or pull a domino from the box and subtract the smaller side from the larger.

And Finally… Riddles

Mental math wizards will get a kick out of number riddles. Write one number, 1-10, on each of 10 index cards, pick three, and lay them out face up. Then give your child a series of clues to help eliminate some of the numbers on the cards and help them determine which of those three numbers you have chosen.

For example, you might have cards with the numbers 5, 9, and 2. You’ll say, “The number I am thinking of is NOT 6 minus 4.” And “The number I am thinking of is NOT 10 minus 1.” Your kiddo will use these clues to determine that you are thinking of number five.

Like all learning, the best way to make it stick is to make it fun! Try these subtraction tricks with your kids and help lay the foundation for future math success.

 READ MORE

Let’s Get Wet! Why Water Play is Good and 10 Fun Water Activity Ideas

 

The more varied your child’s play experiences are, the better off they’ll be! Enter, water, the most common substance found on Earth. Essential to all forms of life, it’s also an essential component of your toddler and preschooler’s playtime. Lifting, pouring, carrying, and splashing water build gross motor skills, while scooping and squeezing build fine motor skills. Water play also supports hand-eye coordination and balance, and, when done with friends, encourages cooperation, sharing, and turn taking. Water play with toys can build vocabulary, measurement, early science skills, and so more. Plus, water play activities can be adjusted to be either calming or energizing. Are you in? Make a splash, with one of our favorite wet n’ wild activities today:

 

1.       Fill ‘Er Up! Set various plastic containers in a large plastic bin or tray. Include smaller cups, larger pitchers, and everything in between. Fill a few of the containers with water (food coloring makes water play extra fun) and watch as your child transfers water from one container to another. Turkey basters, eye droppers, wooden spoons, and swizzle sticks make for a fun challenge.

 

2.       Sort It Out! Fill a large plastic bin with water and add a set of colorful items – math counters, letter tiles, pom poms, etc. Provide a scooper, spoon,  tongs, and bowls and see if your little one can find and sort the items into the bowls by color.

 

3.       Soup’s Up! Walk the backyard with your child, looking for items to add to their “soup”. Choose leaves, rocks, flower petals, dirt… then drop the ingredients into a large plastic bowl and stir! See if your kiddo can scoop their soup into smaller plastic bowls.

 

4.       Sink or Float? Fill your bin with water and collect a variety of items from around the house or the backyard. Ask your child to hypothesize, or make a guess, about which items will sink and which will float, then test their theories! Things to try: rocks, sheets of paper, paperclips, toy cars, plastic blocks…

 

5.       Coffee Shop! Fill your bin with water and provide plastic cups, saucers, spoons, and scoopers. Place your order and watch as your child fills the cup with pebble or dirt “grounds”, stirs them, and pours you a cuppa.

 

6.       Go Fish! Fill your tub with floating foam fish and see if your fisherman can “catch” them with a small net or spoon.

 

7.       Car Wash! Muck up your kiddo’s trike or play car, then fill a bucket with sudsy water, large sponges, and rags, and watch as they spiff up their rides!

 

8.       Bowl O Bubbles! Pour a bit of dish washing liquid into your bin, add water and a few drops of food coloring (different colors, please!), and let your little one loose with differently sized bubble wands.

 

9.       Sponge Toss! Assign each child a sponge color, then drop them into a bowl of water and show them how to squeeze them dry. Practice dropping and squeezing, then add another (large) bin or bowl full of water and see if your child can toss their sponge in.

 

10.   Color Lab! Use food coloring to color one cup each of red, yellow, and blue water. Show your colorful kiddo how to mix red and blue to make purple, red and yellow to make orange, green and blue to make light blue, green and red to make yellow. Then let them experiment, pouring and mixing their own custom colors.

 

Fun for all ages, there’s no end to the ways kids can play with water. So set up your bins and scoopers today and go get wet!

 

Let’s Get Wet! Why Water Play is Good and 10 Fun Water Activity Ideas

 

The more varied your child’s play experiences are, the better off they’ll be! Enter, water, the most common substance found on Earth. Essential to all forms of life, it’s also an essential component of your toddler and preschooler’s playtime. Lifting, pouring, carrying, and splashing water build gross motor skills, while scooping and squeezing build fine motor skills. Water play also supports hand-eye coordination and balance, and, when done with friends, encourages cooperation, sharing, and turn taking. Water play with toys can build vocabulary, measurement, early science skills, and so more. Plus, water play activities can be adjusted to be either calming or energizing. Are you in? Make a splash, with one of our favorite wet n’ wild activities today:

 

1.       Fill ‘Er Up! Set various plastic containers in a large plastic bin or tray. Include smaller cups, larger pitchers, and everything in between. Fill a few of the containers with water (food coloring makes water play extra fun) and watch as your child transfers water from one container to another. Turkey basters, eye droppers, wooden spoons, and swizzle sticks make for a fun challenge.

 

2.       Sort It Out! Fill a large plastic bin with water and add a set of colorful items – math counters, letter tiles, pom poms, etc. Provide a scooper, spoon,  tongs, and bowls and see if your little one can find and sort the items into the bowls by color.

 

3.       Soup’s Up! Walk the backyard with your child, looking for items to add to their “soup”. Choose leaves, rocks, flower petals, dirt… then drop the ingredients into a large plastic bowl and stir! See if your kiddo can scoop their soup into smaller plastic bowls.

 

4.       Sink or Float? Fill your bin with water and collect a variety of items from around the house or the backyard. Ask your child to hypothesize, or make a guess, about which items will sink and which will float, then test their theories! Things to try: rocks, sheets of paper, paperclips, toy cars, plastic blocks…

 

5.       Coffee Shop! Fill your bin with water and provide plastic cups, saucers, spoons, and scoopers. Place your order and watch as your child fills the cup with pebble or dirt “grounds”, stirs them, and pours you a cuppa.

 

6.       Go Fish! Fill your tub with floating foam fish and see if your fisherman can “catch” them with a small net or spoon.

 

7.       Car Wash! Muck up your kiddo’s trike or play car, then fill a bucket with sudsy water, large sponges, and rags, and watch as they spiff up their rides!

 

8.       Bowl O Bubbles! Pour a bit of dish washing liquid into your bin, add water and a few drops of food coloring (different colors, please!), and let your little one loose with differently sized bubble wands.

 

9.       Sponge Toss! Assign each child a sponge color, then drop them into a bowl of water and show them how to squeeze them dry. Practice dropping and squeezing, then add another (large) bin or bowl full of water and see if your child can toss their sponge in.

 

10.   Color Lab! Use food coloring to color one cup each of red, yellow, and blue water. Show your colorful kiddo how to mix red and blue to make purple, red and yellow to make orange, green and blue to make light blue, green and red to make yellow. Then let them experiment, pouring and mixing their own custom colors.

 

Fun for all ages, there’s no end to the ways kids can play with water. So set up your bins and scoopers today and go get wet!

 

 READ MORE
Sensory Fun with the Bug Finder Adventure Set

Sensory Fun with the Bug Finder Adventure Set

Learning Resources® has just released a new Amazon Exclusive, and it sure is a fun one. The Bug Finder Adventure Set is the sweetest combination of hands-on tools for any little who is crazy about critters. We decided to use it for three engaging bug-themed sensory invitations, all of which appealed to my four-year-old and eight-year-old.


Catch a Critter Dirt Tray

This tray is a great way to have some sensory fun and work on those important fine motor skills.


What you need:

The Set-Up

Simply spread out the play dirt over an area of the tray. Add a fun selection of the critter counter, and put out the Primary Science® Jumbo Tweezers™, Handy Scoopers™, bug jar, magnifying glass, and scavenger hunt checklist.


Exploring the Tray

This tray is an excellent combination of working on fine motor skills by using the tweezers and scoopers, as well as encouraging plenty of scientific investigative skills. My eight-year-old had fun ‘catching’ the bugs from the dirt and then carefully studying them under the Jumbo Magnifying Glass. He liked to try and name each type of bug before placing it in the bug jar where he could study it further.

As the play continued, there were lots of discussions about how many legs each of the bugs had, and also where you would most likely find the different types of bugs. We planned a scavenger hunt for a warmer day and looked forward to using the Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt checklist included in the set. My four-year-old also enjoyed exploring this tray later in the day. She chose to add play dirt to the bug jar to make little bug houses for her critters! The Handy Scoopers works great as both a dirt transfer tool and a bug-catching tool!


Grassy Insect Investigation Tray

Sometimes the most fun can be had simply by studying bugs up close! This investigation tray was super easy to set up but really captured by children’s imaginations and sense of scientific inquiry.


What you need:

  • Learning Resources Bug Finder Adventure Set (available on Amazon)
  • Play tray (this one is the SMULA tray from IKEA)
  • Jumbo Insects, also from Learning Resources
  • Green crinkle paper (or you can use real grass or fake Easter grass)

The Set-Up

I spread out a selection of green crinkle paper, using different shades of green for added texture and sensory interest. I then spread out some of our Jumbo Insects and placed the tweezers and magnifying glass from the Adventure Set onto the tray. Super easy and pretty mess-free too!


Exploring the Tray

This tray was all about studying those insects and how different they were from each other. Both my four-year-old and eight-year-old played with this simultaneously, and I loved the conversations they were having together. My youngest would comment on certain aspects of an insect, and my eldest would offer facts and comments to help explain why the insect was made like that.

As they explored, they were using the tweezers to carefully turn over the insects. My four-year-old found it fascinating how they had different numbers of legs and sized wings. My eight-year-old loved looking up-close at their eyes. Next time we explore this set up I plan to put out some notebooks and markers to encourage my children to draw and make notes as they study the different insects. Observation and analysis are key scientific skills that this activity will help develop.


Count & Catch Bug Bin

Sensory bins lend themselves so well to subtle but enriching numeracy play and learning. For this bug-themed sensory activity, the combination of rice, critter counters, a bug jar, fine motor tools, and dice makes for a great bug-catching game.


What you need:

The Set-Up

I filled one of our sensory bins with green-dyed rice and then spread out 20 critter counters. I also added the tweezers and handy scoopers and placed the bug jar to the side of the bin. The final item needed was dice and then we were ready to play and learn.


Exploring the Bin

As soon as my preschooler saw the dice she knew that she would be playing a fun game. You could adapt the game to suit the ability level of your child. For us we simply took it in turns rolling the dice and counting that many critters into the bug jar. We aimed to work as a team to fill the jar with critters as quickly as we could. Transferring the critters with the tweezers was a great fine motor workout.

After a few rounds of playing our counting game, my daughter simply enjoyed using the Handy Scoopers to play with the critters and rice. She filled the bug jar and turned it into a ‘grassy bug hotel.’ This period of time was well spent creatively enjoying open-ended sensory play!

We hope you’ve been inspired to team up the Bug Finder Adventure Set with some hands-on and engaging sensory play. We have so many more great ideas to explore, maybe next time the Spring weather will be arriving and we will find some real bugs!


Writer’s Bio

Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) who is passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play, as well as being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.

Sensory Fun with the Bug Finder Adventure Set
Sensory Fun with the Bug Finder Adventure Set

Learning Resources® has just released a new Amazon Exclusive, and it sure is a fun one. The Bug Finder Adventure Set is the sweetest combination of hands-on tools for any little who is crazy about critters. We decided to use it for three engaging bug-themed sensory invitations, all of which appealed to my four-year-old and eight-year-old.


Catch a Critter Dirt Tray

This tray is a great way to have some sensory fun and work on those important fine motor skills.


What you need:

The Set-Up

Simply spread out the play dirt over an area of the tray. Add a fun selection of the critter counter, and put out the Primary Science® Jumbo Tweezers™, Handy Scoopers™, bug jar, magnifying glass, and scavenger hunt checklist.


Exploring the Tray

This tray is an excellent combination of working on fine motor skills by using the tweezers and scoopers, as well as encouraging plenty of scientific investigative skills. My eight-year-old had fun ‘catching’ the bugs from the dirt and then carefully studying them under the Jumbo Magnifying Glass. He liked to try and name each type of bug before placing it in the bug jar where he could study it further.

As the play continued, there were lots of discussions about how many legs each of the bugs had, and also where you would most likely find the different types of bugs. We planned a scavenger hunt for a warmer day and looked forward to using the Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt checklist included in the set. My four-year-old also enjoyed exploring this tray later in the day. She chose to add play dirt to the bug jar to make little bug houses for her critters! The Handy Scoopers works great as both a dirt transfer tool and a bug-catching tool!


Grassy Insect Investigation Tray

Sometimes the most fun can be had simply by studying bugs up close! This investigation tray was super easy to set up but really captured by children’s imaginations and sense of scientific inquiry.


What you need:

  • Learning Resources Bug Finder Adventure Set (available on Amazon)
  • Play tray (this one is the SMULA tray from IKEA)
  • Jumbo Insects, also from Learning Resources
  • Green crinkle paper (or you can use real grass or fake Easter grass)

The Set-Up

I spread out a selection of green crinkle paper, using different shades of green for added texture and sensory interest. I then spread out some of our Jumbo Insects and placed the tweezers and magnifying glass from the Adventure Set onto the tray. Super easy and pretty mess-free too!


Exploring the Tray

This tray was all about studying those insects and how different they were from each other. Both my four-year-old and eight-year-old played with this simultaneously, and I loved the conversations they were having together. My youngest would comment on certain aspects of an insect, and my eldest would offer facts and comments to help explain why the insect was made like that.

As they explored, they were using the tweezers to carefully turn over the insects. My four-year-old found it fascinating how they had different numbers of legs and sized wings. My eight-year-old loved looking up-close at their eyes. Next time we explore this set up I plan to put out some notebooks and markers to encourage my children to draw and make notes as they study the different insects. Observation and analysis are key scientific skills that this activity will help develop.


Count & Catch Bug Bin

Sensory bins lend themselves so well to subtle but enriching numeracy play and learning. For this bug-themed sensory activity, the combination of rice, critter counters, a bug jar, fine motor tools, and dice makes for a great bug-catching game.


What you need:

The Set-Up

I filled one of our sensory bins with green-dyed rice and then spread out 20 critter counters. I also added the tweezers and handy scoopers and placed the bug jar to the side of the bin. The final item needed was dice and then we were ready to play and learn.


Exploring the Bin

As soon as my preschooler saw the dice she knew that she would be playing a fun game. You could adapt the game to suit the ability level of your child. For us we simply took it in turns rolling the dice and counting that many critters into the bug jar. We aimed to work as a team to fill the jar with critters as quickly as we could. Transferring the critters with the tweezers was a great fine motor workout.

After a few rounds of playing our counting game, my daughter simply enjoyed using the Handy Scoopers to play with the critters and rice. She filled the bug jar and turned it into a ‘grassy bug hotel.’ This period of time was well spent creatively enjoying open-ended sensory play!

We hope you’ve been inspired to team up the Bug Finder Adventure Set with some hands-on and engaging sensory play. We have so many more great ideas to explore, maybe next time the Spring weather will be arriving and we will find some real bugs!


Writer’s Bio

Lucy Baker is a Mom of two (4 & 8 years old) who is passionate about creative play and hands-on learning. She firmly believes in providing children with the opportunity to learn through play, as well as being part of their play journey as a parent. See more of her creative play ideas and process art projects on Instagram @findthelittlemind, and over on her blog, Find the Little Mind.

 READ MORE
Tony the Peg Stacker Dump Truck Math!
Tony the Peg Stacker Dump Truck Math!

Can you find the missing barrel to solve the math problem? Print out this math activity and play with Tony the Peg Stacker Dump Truck!

Print this Activity!

 READ MORE
Spring Coding Critters Coloring Page

Spring Coding Critters Coloring Page!

Get ready for Easter with the Coding Critters! Use all your favorite colors to create a spring-themed masterpiece!

 

Spring Coding Critters Coloring Page
Spring Coding Critters Coloring Page!

Get ready for Easter with the Coding Critters! Use all your favorite colors to create a spring-themed masterpiece!

 

 READ MORE

Last Minute Holiday Shopping on Amazon!

Get a head start on building someone amazing this holiday season with our fun, learning educational toys! Let us help you pick out the perfect toys for your little learner. These gifts will grow with your children and help you discover new learning fun every time you give a gift! 

Shop all now!

Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack

Give the gift of preschool readiness skills in this year’s stocking stuffers! Your little ones can learn while playing with the Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack from Learning Resources. This pack of 4 puzzle card sets includes two- and three-piece puzzles that help kids master early spelling, counting, shape, and number skills through brain-teasing puzzle play.

Each puzzle features full-color illustrations and fun holiday puzzle shapes, including an ornament, star, stocking, and tree. Designed with little ones in mind, each puzzle is self-correcting, making it easier for kids to puzzle out the right answer. The Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack makes an easy stocking stuffer for kids—split up the puzzle packs among four different stockings, or give the entire set as one larger gift! The path towards new preschool readiness skills has never looked so festive!

Hot Cocoa Time!

Curl up with some hot cocoa! This cozy set is perfect for little ones looking to warm up on chilly days. The carafe, mugs, and chocolate container create the perfect recipe for imaginative play. Stir in as much chocolate as you like and top it all off with some fluffy marshmallows. Fresh-baked cookies are the perfect snack to enjoy with your toasty beverage.

Santa's Cookies Set

Get into the holiday spirit with this imaginative set of toy Christmas cookies just for Santa! Kids can add a touch of realism to winter role play with Santa’s Cookies from Learning Resources. This 12-piece set of fun play food includes everything kids for pretend baking fun, from cut-out cookies to a rolling pin, spatula, baking sheet, and more!

When their play Christmas cookies are ready, kids can serve them up to Santa with a plate, glass of “milk,” and write-and-wipe note that helps build essential imaginative skills. The perfect addition to any toy kitchen set, this play cookie set also helps kids master hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills with pieces that are just right for little hands. Each amount of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of holiday play kitchen fun.

New Sprouts Fix It!

Reach in and feel all the textures! Help the fuzzy dog find all the bones he hid in his doghouse. All bones are textured and made of rubber or cloth and feature smooth, silky, scratchy, bumpy, ridged, and more textures. Grasping, exploring, and manipulating the different textured bones leads students to further develop their ability to use their fingers and hands purposefully and improve manual dexterity.

Rise & Shine Diner

Wake up and smell the imaginative learning fun! Kids start their day with restaurant pretend play every time they serve up pretend breakfasts from the Rise & Shine Diner from Learning Resources. This deluxe diner playset includes 23 play food versions of all your morning favorites, from waffles and pancakes to fried eggs, fruit, and more, as well as the, pretend utensils needed to “cook” and “eat” them!

Though this realistic play food looks good enough to eat, it’s even more fun to serve—the Rise & Shine Diner’s restaurant playset comes with everything kids need to open their play diner, including a write-and-wipe menu, placemat, and guest check that add a touch of authenticity to play restaurant role play. Each piece of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of play restaurant fun.

Last Minute Holiday Shopping on Amazon!

Get a head start on building someone amazing this holiday season with our fun, learning educational toys! Let us help you pick out the perfect toys for your little learner. These gifts will grow with your children and help you discover new learning fun every time you give a gift! 

Shop all now!

Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack

Give the gift of preschool readiness skills in this year’s stocking stuffers! Your little ones can learn while playing with the Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack from Learning Resources. This pack of 4 puzzle card sets includes two- and three-piece puzzles that help kids master early spelling, counting, shape, and number skills through brain-teasing puzzle play.

Each puzzle features full-color illustrations and fun holiday puzzle shapes, including an ornament, star, stocking, and tree. Designed with little ones in mind, each puzzle is self-correcting, making it easier for kids to puzzle out the right answer. The Holiday Preschool Puzzle Pack makes an easy stocking stuffer for kids—split up the puzzle packs among four different stockings, or give the entire set as one larger gift! The path towards new preschool readiness skills has never looked so festive!

Hot Cocoa Time!

Curl up with some hot cocoa! This cozy set is perfect for little ones looking to warm up on chilly days. The carafe, mugs, and chocolate container create the perfect recipe for imaginative play. Stir in as much chocolate as you like and top it all off with some fluffy marshmallows. Fresh-baked cookies are the perfect snack to enjoy with your toasty beverage.

Santa's Cookies Set

Get into the holiday spirit with this imaginative set of toy Christmas cookies just for Santa! Kids can add a touch of realism to winter role play with Santa’s Cookies from Learning Resources. This 12-piece set of fun play food includes everything kids for pretend baking fun, from cut-out cookies to a rolling pin, spatula, baking sheet, and more!

When their play Christmas cookies are ready, kids can serve them up to Santa with a plate, glass of “milk,” and write-and-wipe note that helps build essential imaginative skills. The perfect addition to any toy kitchen set, this play cookie set also helps kids master hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills with pieces that are just right for little hands. Each amount of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of holiday play kitchen fun.

New Sprouts Fix It!

Reach in and feel all the textures! Help the fuzzy dog find all the bones he hid in his doghouse. All bones are textured and made of rubber or cloth and feature smooth, silky, scratchy, bumpy, ridged, and more textures. Grasping, exploring, and manipulating the different textured bones leads students to further develop their ability to use their fingers and hands purposefully and improve manual dexterity.

Rise & Shine Diner

Wake up and smell the imaginative learning fun! Kids start their day with restaurant pretend play every time they serve up pretend breakfasts from the Rise & Shine Diner from Learning Resources. This deluxe diner playset includes 23 play food versions of all your morning favorites, from waffles and pancakes to fried eggs, fruit, and more, as well as the, pretend utensils needed to “cook” and “eat” them!

Though this realistic play food looks good enough to eat, it’s even more fun to serve—the Rise & Shine Diner’s restaurant playset comes with everything kids need to open their play diner, including a write-and-wipe menu, placemat, and guest check that add a touch of authenticity to play restaurant role play. Each piece of play food wipes clean when playtime’s done and is durable enough for years of play restaurant fun.

 READ MORE

Big Feelings About the Holidays!

Grab your Big Feelings Pineapple and color your very own winter wonderland! 

Print the Activity!

Big Feelings About the Holidays!

Grab your Big Feelings Pineapple and color your very own winter wonderland! 

Print the Activity!

 READ MORE

Holiday Snow Man Counting

Count the number of buttons on each snow man and circle the correct answer!

Print the Activity!

Holiday Snow Man Counting

Count the number of buttons on each snow man and circle the correct answer!

Print the Activity!

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Table Manners: Just In Time for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving dinner is such a special time. You’re surrounded by friends and family and about to enjoy a delicious feast at a beautifully set, festive table. With your kids. But not to worry! We’ve compiled a list of age-appropriate table manners to help you set your expectations just in time for the holidays.

Before you lay down the law, make sure your child understands why it’s important to use good manners at the table – mainly that eating together as a family is important to you and that it’s more fun for everyone when the whole family follows certain rules. Then practice, practice, practice! Don’t wait until the big day. Be consistent with your table rules and practice at home and in restaurants for several weeks before turkey day, praising your kids for using good manners and gently correcting forgotten rules.

Speaking of expectations, depending on your child’s age, you may need to lower yours, but most children, even preschoolers, can master the manners below:

  1. Sitting Still – Okay, maybe just sitting would be a more realistic goal. But your young child does need to remain in his seat during his meal. Expecting him to make it through a four-course meal without moving is somewhat unrealistic. Still, he should remain seated – not under the table, standing up, or running around – while eating his dinner and then be excused to play quietly while the adults finish their food.
  2. Inside Voice – Special occasions and unfamiliar faces can get preschoolers excited, and excitement can lead to, yes, yelling. Remind your little one that mealtime is a quiet time, where we talk in quiet, inside voices. Be sure to engage your child during the meal or task an older sibling with chatting her up – little ones can get loud when they’re feeling ignored.
  3. Hands Off – Make sure your kids understand that their food will be served to them on a plate, and the plate (or their mouths) is where it should stay. Rather than reaching or grabbing for what they want, help them learn to ask politely for more of something. And, conversely, food that’s on their plates should stay there (versus being put back in a serving dish or thrown across the room).
  4. Please and Thank You – Preschoolers love to please! Odds are, they’re already great at saying please and thank you, and mealtime is just another place to practice these good manners. Model saying thank you when you’re served and using please when asking for seconds or refills and give kudos to your kids when they do the same.

Older kids who have mastered the four rules above are capable of learning more advanced table etiquette (and modeling it nicely for your little ones), including:

  • Waiting until everyone has been served to take a first bite of food.
  • Placing their napkins in their laps. And using them. Save those sleeves!
  • Keeping negative feedback about the food to themselves. If you don’t have something nice to say…
  • Sitting up straight. And maybe even participating in the group conversation!
  • Asking to be excused when there’s a break in the conversation.

 By setting realistic, age-appropriate expectations, being clear about them with your kids, and practicing, practicing, holiday meals will be more enjoyable for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!

Table Manners: Just In Time for Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving dinner is such a special time. You’re surrounded by friends and family and about to enjoy a delicious feast at a beautifully set, festive table. With your kids. But not to worry! We’ve compiled a list of age-appropriate table manners to help you set your expectations just in time for the holidays.

Before you lay down the law, make sure your child understands why it’s important to use good manners at the table – mainly that eating together as a family is important to you and that it’s more fun for everyone when the whole family follows certain rules. Then practice, practice, practice! Don’t wait until the big day. Be consistent with your table rules and practice at home and in restaurants for several weeks before turkey day, praising your kids for using good manners and gently correcting forgotten rules.

Speaking of expectations, depending on your child’s age, you may need to lower yours, but most children, even preschoolers, can master the manners below:

  1. Sitting Still – Okay, maybe just sitting would be a more realistic goal. But your young child does need to remain in his seat during his meal. Expecting him to make it through a four-course meal without moving is somewhat unrealistic. Still, he should remain seated – not under the table, standing up, or running around – while eating his dinner and then be excused to play quietly while the adults finish their food.
  2. Inside Voice – Special occasions and unfamiliar faces can get preschoolers excited, and excitement can lead to, yes, yelling. Remind your little one that mealtime is a quiet time, where we talk in quiet, inside voices. Be sure to engage your child during the meal or task an older sibling with chatting her up – little ones can get loud when they’re feeling ignored.
  3. Hands Off – Make sure your kids understand that their food will be served to them on a plate, and the plate (or their mouths) is where it should stay. Rather than reaching or grabbing for what they want, help them learn to ask politely for more of something. And, conversely, food that’s on their plates should stay there (versus being put back in a serving dish or thrown across the room).
  4. Please and Thank You – Preschoolers love to please! Odds are, they’re already great at saying please and thank you, and mealtime is just another place to practice these good manners. Model saying thank you when you’re served and using please when asking for seconds or refills and give kudos to your kids when they do the same.

Older kids who have mastered the four rules above are capable of learning more advanced table etiquette (and modeling it nicely for your little ones), including:

  • Waiting until everyone has been served to take a first bite of food.
  • Placing their napkins in their laps. And using them. Save those sleeves!
  • Keeping negative feedback about the food to themselves. If you don’t have something nice to say…
  • Sitting up straight. And maybe even participating in the group conversation!
  • Asking to be excused when there’s a break in the conversation.

 By setting realistic, age-appropriate expectations, being clear about them with your kids, and practicing, practicing, holiday meals will be more enjoyable for everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!

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