Thursday, August 30, 2012

Make book reading more fun with these follow up questions!

  • What is the title of the book?
  • Who is the author? ...Words by
  • Who is the illustrator? ...Pictures by
  • What was the book about? ...Message
  • What is the main event in the book?
  • Was there any conflict in the story? If yes, what was it, and how was it solved? How you would have solved it?
  • Who was your favorite character?
  • What was your favorite part of the book?
  • How would you have changed the story? Why?
Books are fun! Asking follow up questions can also help us understand and appreciate feelings and thought process of our little ones. Staying involved is the best way to stay informed:)

Thanks for visiting and have a colorful day!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Keep faith!!

"Life is no straight and easy corridor along
which we travel free and unhampered,
but a maze of passages,
through which we must seek our way,
lost and confused, now and again
checked in a blind alley.

But always, if we have faith,
a door will open for us,
not perhaps one that we ourselves
would ever have thought of,
but one that will ultimately
prove good for us."

A.J.Cronin

Monday, August 27, 2012

Colorful fall - fun art and craft ideas!


Featured in Times-Republican

Colorful leaves, shiny apples, bright pumpkins, twigs, berries, acorns, bark, pine cones and nuts. Not to mention I am talking about the arrival of fall. Watching the trees turn color in all shades of yellow, orange, red and gold is a spectacular experience. The colors, texture and beauty of fall is so inspiring that it provides us with a wonderful opportunity to get indulged in inner self and appreciate the impermanence of everything.

Fall with its colorful beauty also compels us to be more creative and playful with what nature has to offer.

Here is a super fun and colorful art project to make fall trees using finger paints.

All you need is

• Finger paints
• Construction paper
• Card stock
• Glue
• Pipe cleaner
• Scissors
• Art paint brush

Using scissors cut tree trunk from construction paper. Stick it on card stock. Dip index finger in paints and press on to paper for leaves impression. Touch up construction paper using paints.
For flowers - Dip pipe cleaner in paints, press it on paper for stem. Make petals using art paint brush as shown. (Dip art paint brush in paints and press it on paper).

I am also listing few fun and easy ideas that are creative and educational.

  • Collect before and after fall foliage leaves. It’s a great activity to get kids to observe, stay involved and excited.
  •  Use leaves, apples and potatoes as stamps.
  •  Glue pumpkin seeds for bookmarks and fall greetings.
  •  Paint and roll corn cobs for fun impressions.
  •  Paint acorn nuts and make faces on it using markers.
  •  Paint a love you forever pumpkin and write a sweet message all over it using darker paints or markers for friends and family.
  •  Tear construction paper in small pieces and make mosaic art. 
  •  Colorful hand, fingers, thumb and feet impressions in fall colors.
  •  Collect twigs, stick them on in shape of letters on a cardboard and make a name plate. Punch 2 holes and use jute twine to hang it. Stick leaves, acorns and barks around.
  •  Collect pine cones, Peirce a hole in the stem and hang them using jute twine.
Thanks for visiting:)  Have a colorful day!