Summer camp finished for my six-year old grandson – but school doesn’t start until the day after Labor Day. So you know what that means, right? GRAMMY CAMP!

We’ve been having so much fun. Every day we continue our epic Monopoly game. He helps me water our plot of veggies (and himself) with the garden hose. (Mist and Stream are his favorite settings) We go to the library almost every day and enjoy a special ice cream treat from the local village shop. And one of his favorite activities is sliding down the slide and swinging on the swings.

Most kids love going to the playground – so when I saw a new book called, “The Children at the Playground”, I knew I had to grab a copy and review it for you.

THE CHILDREN AT THE PLAYGROUND

Written by Tracey M. Cox

Illustrated by Dolores Costello

Publisher: Xist Publishing

Ages: 2-7

Themes: Friendship, diversity, playground activities

 

Opening Lines:

The children at the playground
Run, run, run.
Run, run, run.
Run, run, run.
The children at the playground
run, run, run while they play.

 

Synopsis:

From Amazon:

The Children at the Playground is a fun picture book set to the rhythm of “The Wheels on the Bus.” Perfect for active story times or to read before, after, or during a playground visit.

 

Why I like this book:

• The Wheels on the Bus is an iconic finger play/song for young kids and they will love joining in to sing about the activities at the playground.
• Sweet illustrations depict a diverse group of young children.
• Repetition and rhythm are great for literacy building.

 

How a parent can use this book:

• Wonderful read aloud
• Great book to encourage listening and literacy skills

RELATED ACTIVITIES

Nature collage suncatcher

Photo courtesy: http://handsonaswegrow.com

You will need: Paper plate, small flowers and leaves, clear contact paper, ribbon, scissors, hole puncher.

1. Cut out center of paper plate.
2. Cut sheet of contact paper to fit plate.
3. Choose small flowers and leaves and press onto contact paper.
4. When finished, cover with another piece of clear contact paper and cut to fit.
5. Punch hole at top and thread ribbon through and hang in a sunny window.

For detailed instructions and many more wonderful craft ideas for young kids: http://handsonaswegrow.com/craft-for-toddlers-nature-collage-suncatcher/

 

A trip to the playground can be an adventure into the world of science.

“Swings, slides and climbing structures are loads of fun. And they offer first hand experiences with pendulums, ramps, and levers, not to mention forces such as gravity and friction. Just paying some attention to how things move provides children with important early experiences in physics.” For more ideas of how to use playground time creatively: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/science/activities/preschooler-kindergarten/playground/

What other picture books encourage kids to enjoy being outdoors? I can think of two right off the bat: The Tree Lady and Me..Jane. Can you recommend any others? If you can, please share.

And I think it’s time for a School Starts Soon giveaway! Sign up for my email list and you will be entered to win a copy of Show Me How! Build Your Child’s Self-Esteem Through Reading, Crafting and Cooking.

Click on this link: http://eepurl.com/8pglH

This is a great book for any parent, grandparent, day care provider or early childhood education teacher – chock full of hundreds of fun-filled quick and easy activities for young kids. If you are already subscribed, you can get an entry by sharing this post on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media. Just leave a comment, telling me where you shared…and for every share, you get another entry! We’ll announce the winner in 2 weeks.

Have a beautiful weekend, dear friends!