 It's a scavenger hunt! Inspired by a birthday party we recently attended, we loved how the host family created a scavenger hunt to keep the kids engaged and exploring the area they were in. It was so much fun to see their excitement. This activity is perfect for ages 3 and up (though could easily be done with a two year old at a slower pace).
Things to Find:
How to Create this: Keep it simple! You can write the list on a piece of paper or you can get fancy and add on to the activity by printing it out and using graphics that match through a simple image search on google. This helps your little babe connect that the word equals the picture. Or feel free to download our free scavenger hunt template! Just print it off and take it with you around whether you’re going around the block or on a new adventure. It’s yours - on us, just click here Pro Tip! If you put it in a sheet protector, you can use a white board marker that will easily wipe off, so that you can use the hunt sheet again and again for whenever you need a quick pick me up or change in that neighbourhood walk routine!
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Toy Rotations are all the rage. It’s so smart though right. Pop a few toys away, and after your little babes lose interest, bring a few out and tuck away the others. There is significant research that shows children do better with less. Not only does it decrease clutter, make clean up easier and save you money, it can foster creativity and increase the amount of time your little babe likes to play.
So what about your books? It works with some of the same principles! We’ve all been there, you’ve told your little to grab a book off their shelf, and they stand there humming and hawing because they have too many options. Keeping a simple shelf of a few books helps eliminate the stress (and time) it takes them to make a choice. Highlighting a few key favourites at a time, increases the likeness that reading is enjoyable and less like a daunting task. When move books around our house, or choose some new ones from our hidden away pile, all of a sudden the stories have found new excitement. An old favourite reappears, a new story becomes a top interest pick, and excitement has been generated. The best part? You can easily see what books they are enjoying and what books they are avoiding. So get curious, what is it about certain books that steer them away? What is it about the books they love that grabs their attention? This can help you make informed choices when purchasing or borrowing books from the library. Amazing right? So how do you actually rotate it? Here’s a few key tips!
xo. J&A  We are officially into summer! Woohoo! So why not get out your favourite blanket, take it to a quiet spot and pack your bag with a few good books. Oh right! Because you likely have little people who demand your attention that getting through a book on the regular can prove quite challenging. So! Pack your bag with your little babes' favourite stories and head outside to read together.
When the weather gets warm and sunny we love taking our students outside as it is one of our favourite activities to promote calm, quiet and engaged thinking. There’s something about reading in the sunshine, under a tree amongst nature that is blissful for both avid and hesitant readers. But did you know, that there are some serious benefits to reading outside?
 Just Because June Is Over Doesn't Mean We Should Stop Talking About #QueerKidsLit The end of June Marks the end of Pride Month, but that doesn’t mean these great titles can’t be on your shelves all year long. So as we head into June, we thought we’d share our favourites for 2022. These are titles we love, some of which are 2022 releases! We love seeing more and more titles written and authored by members of the LGBTQ+ communities. Queer voices have a place in children’s lit, and it’s a shame that up until recent years, it’s been hard to find those spaces. So how can you support? Make sure you are purchasing titles authored and illustrated by folx within this community. The best way to show demand to publishers is to create the demand! Without further ado, check out these titles below.
June 21st marks National Indigenous Peoples day which is one small day throughout our year that is meant to recognize the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis Indigenous peoples of Canada. In the act of reconciliation, many events these days offer a land acknowledgement. This is widely stated in schools on an ongoing basis in our school district and our learning and unlearning is meant to be weaved into as many areas of our curriculum as possible. However, because these acknowledgements become just second nature to your school aged children, it doesn’t mean it is second nature for you - nor does it mean they are actively participating in acknowledgement. So what’s one way you can support yourself and your little babe to better understand the histories of folx who cultivated and lived on this land long before any of us? BOOKS!
We love the mix of stories in our list. From Non-fiction anthologies of change makers to stories mixed with origin languages, there are so many ways to learn and unlearn alongside your little babes. The best part, is picture books make learning accessible to a variety of ages. From day one introducing texts outside of "the traditional" picture books opens up your little babes world.
 This week we were talking on the gram (do people still say that) about the benefits of re-reading the same stories with your little babe. Some of the tips we included were:
Familiarity Exposure to the same thing over and over again helps their growing brains retain new information for longer periods of time. Basically the message of the book gets easier to understand each time. Word Recognition Hearing the same words over and over helps them learn new words. Listening to the rhythm and pronunciation of words helps build their vocabulary. It introduces the phonetic sounds of words which helps them understand how to pronounce it. Also, the visual representation of the word which is the very basis for learning to read. Improves comprehension Each reading of the same book provides more insight. It allows your little babe to add another layer of understanding the story’s narrative and characters. With each read, your little babe is forming thought patterns, beliefs and making connections to themselves and the world around them. They are processing the information differently with each read. Cool eh? Future Learning Environments Reading can help reduce stress, and if you’ve ever watched your toddler try do something on your own, you know it can be a stressful time for all. So yay for reading the same books and reducing stress. It can help promote self-confidence with their early learning skills helping them take risks and persevere when learning to read as they get older. Well! Here you have it. There are many benefits to re-reading the same story. I’m not sure it will make reading that one favourite for the thousandth time any better, but maybe just knowing a few of the benefits of repeated exposure, will help keep you sane tonight at bedtime! Hey! We’re so glad you’re here. If you are new to Little Babe Collective, we are so glad you’ve found us! If you've been around for a while, we’re grateful for your support. Whether a new or seasoned follower, you are most likely here because you love reading to and with your little babes, just like us!
As Little Babe Collective has grown and changed over the last year, what has always remained the same is our love for children’s literature. We are passionate about literacy and learning and we come by it honestly as teachers and avid personal readers ourselves. It only makes sense that we love finding high quality, engaging and inclusive texts for our own families. We totally get it though - choosing great quality books is HARD. We are raising children in an era where we want them to be aware of all the things but we also are raising them in an age where digital literacy is at the forefront of everything. However, we believe that there is so much power in picture books. Physical copies of stories that can create connection, comfort and conversation within your homes. We see it everyday in our classrooms. Stories that have meaning and are relevant open up important conversations and ideas. Books have a way of speaking to us through imagery and characters that allow us to access entry points to difficult conversations and make it relatable and easy for children of all ages to understand. We know - you’re probably thinking - but Jenn & Andrea, I don’t have time to comb through all of the latest releases to know what stories my kids will like. This is why we’ve created Little Babe Collective. We want to be the place you come when you are looking for a new book. We want to guarantee that you’ll find inclusive, diverse and affirming books from a wide range of authors and illustrators. Contemporary stories for our next generation to feel inspired and curious. So we hope you’ll stick around. We doubly hope you will find value in what we share. And even more so that you’ll consider joining our Subscription Collective. This is the best way to get amazing books onto your shelves at home. Want to learn more? check this out! Wanting to get to know us a little better, Click here! |
J & AMoms, Teachers and Picture Book Enthusiasts sharing what we can to make reading fun and enjoyable for you Archives
August 2022
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