Thrift Schooling

  Bedtime seemed hours away. It did not help that they had recently dropped their afternoon naps. "Go jump on the trampoline twenty-seven times. Then, run around the house three times," I commanded, half-joking. They were up for the challenge and were back in no time, proud of their accomplishments. Although my previous teaching experience had not prepared me for the continuous demands of motherhood, it did help me to think outside of the box when needed.  This afternoon, it was needed. Still filled with energy, I sat them down on the living room floor and we played our own version of charades. Instead of having me guess what they were acting out, I would give them something to act out, and they would have to figure out the best way to impersonate it. It lasted for almost an hour, and they were active the entire time. From fire trucks to helicopters to made-up words that I would throw in there for fun, my little ones were active, using their brains, and having a great time wi...

  If you are looking for sensory activities for your little ones this fall then why not experiment with some pumpkins, gourds or the like? Here are a few, fun, pumpkin-related activities that are sure to get your preschooler (and some of your older ones) excited about fall. Read more at Our Homeschool Forum .  Stop by again next Monday for another  Thrift Schooling Monday Memory  where I share my published content on other websites created to encourage, equip, and edify homeschooling families.

  It's safari time with Safari Park Jr. ! If you are on the lookout for an educational game for your preschooler or kindergartener this Christmas, this game is sure to keep your child entertained for hours. Timberdoodle has yet another incredible one-player game that we have added to our collection. I love having these on hands for my youngest to enjoy while I am homeschooling the older ones, cooking in the kitchen, or working on homesteading tasks (soap making was on this week's agenda). Little ones tend to get antsy this time of year when outdoor activities become less and less. Safari Park Jr . has been a fun new addition to our rotation of toys! This educational Christmas gift for preschoolers has four color-coded levels. Green is the easiest, moving on to yellow, red, and then purple is the master level. This game could absolutely be used with children as young as three years old, up unto about five. Older children with developmental delays would also benefit from this tas...

  Is your preschooler bouncing off the walls? The weather in our area is up and down. Some days are outdoor-friendly. Others, not so much. The heat kicked on in our home this week after some nice warm days. My preschooler needed hands-on activity during these home-bound days and  Jump 1  was the perfect go-to game!  Right out of the box I have to say that this is packaged extremely well. After enduring my preschooler (and first grader's) heavy use, the box is still intact, we still have all of the cards (amazing, right?), and it is continually a family gameschooling favorite. My biggest pet peeve with games are the boxes. They always seem to break in our house. This one hasn't and I am impressed. It has a neat little box that slides in and out for easy usage. These cards are larger than a traditional deck, perfect for little hands. I have noticed that when I ask my preschooler to clean up this game and his Uno game, Jump 1 is cleaned up much quicker. It seems that th...