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The Whole Child, Issue #024 - Oops, its Sunday!
August 06, 2006
MAXIMISING POTENTIAL

The Whole Child e-zine brings you free preschool activities each week to maximize your child's potential, build skills and parent-child relationships in just a few minutes per day. Useful tips, quotes, resources, opportunities and articles will added for extra value!

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6August 2006, Issue #024

CONTENTS

1. Hello from Shirley
2. Updates at Shirley's Preschool Activities
3. Book reviews
4. Tips!
5. Quotes
6. Readiness Activities

1. Hello from Shirley

Wow, as I write this, it is Sunday night already and my ezine is not yet done! I must admit that I am finding it quite heavy-going to do one per week, so I have decided that in two weeks time, I will change this to a bi-weekly ezine and send you two weeks-worth of activities at a time.

If you are not receiving this email in html format or you find white gaps where there should be images, then use this link for a much more colorful and easier-to-read version!


2. Updates at Shirley's Preschool Activities

With the school year in USA starting I have added some activities for a Fall Preschool Theme which includes a sensory activity
a birdfeeder craft, some free printables, nursery rhymes and more. The easiest way to find the latest pages added to my site or pages that have been recently updated is to look at my preschool activities blog.


3. Book Reviews


As you know I am building a range of literature-based preschool activities that you can use as part of an Around the World Preschool Theme
On that page, you will find a link to a site where there is a list of  award-winning multi-cultural children's books, including Asian-American and African-American stories.
You will also find the pages I have created so far using children's books from China and South Africa.

Please send me stories that you recommend from YOUR country too!

4. Tips


Regular tidying up blitzes

Its a good idea to train children not to let their activities and play cause a mess that gets out of hand. To avoid major chaos erupting in your home, train them to have regular tidy up sessions during the day. This way, the amount of tidying up at any one time is manageable, not overwhelming.


5. Quote


"An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones." Proverbs 12: 4  

Make sure that you speak only good of your children's father, especially when they are around. Help them to learn respect for him from your example, (whether he lives with you or not!)


6. Readiness Activities


To download the printable pdf you will need to have installed
Adobe Reader - opens in new window.

The Whole Child - Week 23 Activities - printable pdf

Week 23

Gross Motor Skills

Create 'stepping stones' for your child, either by pieces of folded newspaper on the floor, using old magazines, or perhaps drawing with chalk outside on the concrete. Encourage your child to jump from one to the next and move them further apart as she improves. 

Fine Motor Skills

Make some edible play dough together using this easy recipe. Allow it to stand a while before using it. It can last up to a week, but it will probably be eaten long before then!

1/3 part honey
1/3 part peanut butter
1/3 part powdered milk
 
Auditory Perception

Listen to some lively, upbeat music and encourage your child to either clap her hands in time with the music, or play a home-made percussion instrument in time with the beat - hit a spoon on a bowl, bang cutlery together, shake a container with beans or rice inside it. etc.

Language and Thinking

Play an association word game with your child. One person says a word and the other player must say as many others that she associates with that word. eg. you say 'water', you child says: bath, swim, drink, boat, lake, ocean, river, rain, etc. Take turns so that your child can learn new words from your associations.

Visual Perception

Teach your child to play the card game, Snap. Divide a deck of cards between you. You each turn over the top card on your pack simultaneously. Continue until there are two cards of the same number. The first one to say 'snap' wins the pile of upturned cards. Continue playing.

Faith Building

Use this (with simplification if needed) as a fun way to pray with your children.

THE FIVE FINGER PRAYER

 

Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  

 
 

1.          Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones  is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

 

2.         The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.  They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

 

3.         The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4.         The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify.  It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

 

5.         And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.





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