5 Benefits of Reading Interactive Books

Teacher reading a book with a class of preschool childrenWhen I was a preschool teacher, I started every day by reading a book. Sometimes the book related to a theme topic, sometimes it addressed a social-emotional concern, and sometimes it was just for fun! I happen to love concept books, especially those that encourage interaction. This May, FunShine® offered Will You Help Doug Find His Dog? by Jane Caston in our preschool kit. A couple years ago, we were fortunate to offer Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson in our infant/toddler kit. Such books bring me joy because I know how much children love them. Interactive books such as these help children build so many literacy skills, but most importantly, they hold children’s attention, create suspense, and provoke wonder. Continue reading

Following Directions

by Kelley Jilek

father and sonFollowing directions is an important life skill that spans several different areas of your child’s development. What we learn about following directions in our childhood can be the difference between enjoying success or experiencing failure in our ventures as adults. For example, a cook follows directions when trying a new recipe and a carpenter follows directions when constructing a new piece of furniture. Learning to follow directions is clearly an important part of our lives. Help your child learn to follow directions successfully by trying the suggestions below:

Continue reading