Yesterday, as I was thinking about a few more Valentine’s Day activities to do with my two-year-old, I ran across a Facebook post in which another super mom created an adorable Valentine’s hopscotch game for her kids – teaching them about numbers and shapes all while having fun. It looked simple, doable, cute and educational.
HOMER Co-Founder Stephanie Dua with her daughter.
It’s February. Love is in the air. There are also a lot of spitballs flying in our national conversation. This Valentine’s Day, we could all use a dose of some good old-fashioned kindness.
As moms (we’ve got six kiddos between us), and founders of HOMER, the digital learn-to-read program that partners with parents to teach young children to read, we’ve been thinking a lot this season about books and activities that teach kids the importance of kindness, tolerance, empathy and understanding.
Valentine’s Day seems like the perfect holiday for spotlighting kindness and teaching our kids that even the smallest acts of generosity can have an outsized impact on the world.
What is kindergarten readiness and why is it so important? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students enter kindergarten at different skills levels, which is natural given that children come from a variety of early childhood experiences, ranging from highly-skilled-focused pre-K programs, play-based preschools, Head Start, or no preschool at all. An average kindergarten class may have children with a five-year skill range in terms of reading ability, from children who don’t recognize letters or letter sounds to those who can read short books. This makes the kindergarten teacher’s job particularly challenging.
Homer, the #1 Learn-to-Read app, is offering tips to help parents and students be better prepared for the start of kindergarten.
The transition to kindergarten can be a tough one for both children and their parents. To make the transition as easy and fun as possible, you want to make sure your child is prepared! Your teacher will probably provide a list of necessary school supplies, but in case you’d like a head-start, here’s a list of the must-have items for any incoming kindergartener!
1. Backpack
It may go without saying, but your child needs something to hold all of their supplies in! In addition, having a cool backpack can help your child feel confident and excited to begin this new experience. They may want a backpack with their favorite color, television character, or more! Check out these bags from Amazon for a starting point.
Maggie, age 8, with her favorite back to school book!
Can you believe your little one will be going back to school in just a few short weeks? We understand how some children may be feeling anxious to go back, so we’ve come up with a list of our favorite children’s books to help combat those back to school nerves!
1. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
