Teaching Time

Time is a hard concept for kids this age, so here are some things you can do at home to help them understand:

- Put a calendar in your kid’s room. Mark special days and birthdays with stickers. Let your child mark a day off as part of their daily routine.

- Make a paper countdown chain to help countdown to a vacation or special holiday. This way you are making them wait patiently more fun by adding a visual.

- Try using ‘time’ words when talking to your pre-schooler. Today, tomorrow and yesterday . . . If you go to church on Sundays, show them Sunday on the calendar. Try not to stray to time frames, such as next year, because that is too far away for a child this age to understand.

- Check out the 'Is It Time Yet?' clock craft in our Crafty Archive. Teach them about the hands of the clock by presetting the hands on their clock. And when the hands on their clock match the hands on your clock, it is time to . . .

Reading Material

Kids like magazines too! Not only will they be excited to get something in the mail, they'll learn a little something as they flip through the pages.

Try signing up for Highlights Magazine. They have a special version, High Five, for younger kids. Or, if your kiddo likes animals, give Zoobooks Magazine a try.

Tech for Pre-Schoolers

Here are some great entertaining and educational websites for pre-schoolers:

Speakaboos: This is a great website for children that features over 140 storybook videos, including beloved titles like Aladdin, Cinderella, and Humpty Dumpty. The stories are read by outstanding stars, including Kelly Ripa, Kevin Bacon and Nick Cannon. Each video is accompanied by activities that will keep children engaged and learning after every story, including lesson plans, flashcards and games that meet national education standards.
Ducks Alphabet: This site lets your child play games that focus on letters and their sounds, helping them get ready to read.
VeggieTales: This website offers games, videos, activities, e-cards and more! And the classic Veggie Tales characters walk you through it all. Your pre-schooler will love it!

Raising a Millionaire

Help your kiddo understand the concept of money and saving by making a chart to track their savings:

- Have a goal in mind, like a small toy or book.
- The goal needs to be attainable within about a week. At this age, your child will lose interest pretty quickly.
- Then have her/him do small chores around the house to earn money.
- And if you need help teaching your kids about money, check out this children's book: Little Critter: Just Saving My Money.

A Pre-School Teacher's Wish

There are a few things preschool teachers wish you would teach your child to do:

1. Clean Up – Teach your child to clean up toys. Make up a song or learn the one they use at school to help your child practice putting things away.
2. Clothing – Teach your child to put them on and take them off. This makes potty time much easier on the teacher and your child will be proud too.
3. Manners – Having these babies in your child’s arsenal is a good thing. Have them practice ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ but then take it a step further and try the old ‘May I have some more?’ and ‘May I be excused?’ it will make snack time more polite for sure!

Food Away from Home

What to send for lunch to daycare or mother's day out? No nuts? No worries, here are some alternatives, courtesy of Missy Chase Lapine, author of The Sneaky Chef. She knows all about kids and food:

- BB&J: Spread mashed banana and strawberry jam on whole-grain raisin bread.

- Sloppy Susie: Rotisserie-chicken shreds with BBQ sauce and pile it on a whole-grain roll.

- Hummus Hero: Hummus goes well with finely shredded carrots or cool cucumber slices on a whole-wheat roll.

- Smooth Operator: Sunflower-seed butter with a favorite jam or jelly.

- Lox Lunch: Layer smoked salmon, cream cheese and tomato slices on a mini-bagel.

- Cheese Log: Roll a turkey slice and a part-skim cheese stick in a whole-grain tortilla.

- Super Tuna Sliders: Mix chunk-light tuna (keep it around 6oz a week or less), mashed white beans, a little wheat germ, and low fat mayo, then spread on whole-grain dinner rolls.

For more awesome ideas from Missy Chase Lapine, check out her website and check back on our Got a Toddler? page for books recs.

Global Adventure for Your Pre-Schooler

Little Passports is your child's ticket to an exciting global adventure. Inspire a love and understanding of the world as your child learns about a country's geography, history, culture, and language in a fun and memorable way. Your child will love receiving their own mail every month. Watch this video and then visit the website to learn more.