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January 23rd, 2012
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Some days you just get blown away by the simplicity of a message. Today was that day.
Do you ever find yourself doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. What about the children do you see that in them? How do you get them to move to a point where they can set simple goals and achieve them. Concentrate and persevere in an age appropriate manner.
I’m a totally a visual person so really appreciated Dr Becky Bailey demonstrations and explanation on the importance of developing the executive state in the frontal lobe. Before you switch off thinking oh no brain science how will this impact my child let me encourage you with a few highlights.
Read More…
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June 8th, 2011
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Birmingham Public Library (AL)
Listening to audio is a skill that’s not confined to just car journeys. There are many times when we need to add some downtime or slow the pace down.
Listening is a very active form and a really easy way to provide imagination, inspiration and entertainment.
Here are 3 go to places for active listening
Listen and Play
This is part of the BBC school programming and is published on a Tuesday. They are available on demand for 7 days after broadcast.
Each programme includes familiar songs, rhymes, stories and sound discrimination games to develop children’s phonological awareness and confidence with spoken language.
Each show has kept my little one interested and we’ve subscribed via iTunes so can listen again to older versions. if you live outside of the UK access to the BBC iplayer is restricted but you can subscribe via iTunes and download as a podcast.
Listen and play
Playtime
P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E …It’s PLAYTIME! P-L-A-Y-T-I-M-E………
With the current interest in letters and singing of the ABC song along with the phonic game on the fridge this show is perfect for my soon turning preschooler. It’s full of energy and emotion that he’ll stop to listen. We pretend together and with siblings as well.
Songs, stories and movement activities for pre-school children inspired by popular themes.
This is also part of BBC programming for schools.
Playtime
Barefoot books podcast
I’m a big advocate for diversity in book and literature with my family of boys we just love the Barefoot Books as they have a range of stories both traditional and from different cultures. We always have lots to talk about seeing the people and places in these books. Now you can read along or just listen to your favourite books.
Barefoot books publish a huge range of stories and many of them for the over 5s so watch out for the themes.
Barefoot books
We’ve been experimenting with audio and listening recently and have tried them at our family dinner time. Instead of the usual hustle and bustle we listened to a story and then discussed it afterwards. It was really a different way to celebrate dinner together.
We’ve tried the traditional sit down and listen but this doesn’t work as well for us . It’s been great tidy up ‘music’ and listen to in the morning music before everyone is awake.
Photo credit: Birmingham Public Library (AL)
When do you listen to audio and what do you listen to?
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May 9th, 2011
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What’s family dinner like in your home? Probably pretty busy. Anytime for play activities?
Family meal times can be a really chaotic time of day with the bewitching hour close by/ clubs and activities/ and the general hustle and bustle of preparing a meal with children underfoot. By the time we make it to the table we’re all a little frazzled. Once we start eating we try a conversation and get mixed results.
Dinner time is a great time to connect and feel that family bond. We’ve had a lot of success with Dinner games and now were extending the fun.
Extending the fun
During the meal we try the conversation starters to get to know our children. Then move onto family night activities.
At the end of each month I’ll be sharing a download full of activities to try over the month for dinner conversation and together family activities.
Download April here
Contents
Since we’re at dinner I thought I would continue the theme………………….
Appetizer: Conversation starters during dinner
4-6 questions to promote conversation with your under 5s plus space to add your own.
First course: Recommended family game or activity
Games we recommend that encourage team work, participation, conversation and appeals to various ages.
Second course: Book recommendation
These books work really well read aloud or working together as a family.
Salad course: Podcast recommendation
Podcasts for kids or parents to enjoy
Dessert: Music
Start their musical appreciation with some carefully thought out musical journeys.
Cheese course: find some excellent play activities to do for the month.
How?
Combine them in one night and have a playful family’dinnight’ or try different parts over the month.
Happy family ‘dinnight’!
Download April here
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March 31st, 2011
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What’s family dinner like in your home? Probably pretty busy. Anytime for play activities?
Family meal times can be a really chaotic time of day with the bewitching hour close by/ clubs and activities/ and the general hustle and bustle of preparing a meal with children underfoot. By the time we make it to the table we’re all a little frazzled. Once we start eating we try a conversation and get mixed results.
Read More…
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January 26th, 2011
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It’s been almost a month now since you got your shiny new smartphone/ipad/ipod. You’ve got to grips with some features but you know it can do so much more.
You’ll be wanting to listen to shows that help you as a parent or maybe you need some light relief.
How to find shows?
- Download iTunes it’s a free piece of software that holds a vast directory of podcasts, as well as music, movies and radio.
- Once you have downloaded iTunes visit the podcast section in the iTunes store. There’s a search bar in the top right corner.
- Look at your favourite radio shows most have a podcast version so you never miss them again.
Smartphones
- Blackberry has a podcast directory where you can find shows.
- Stitcher is a free application you install on your smartphone. You can listen to content right from your phone without needing to be syncing your computer and ipod.
Podcasts to try
The (Over)thinking Mom
This is a recent find for me and I’m loving digging into the archives as Meredith has some great topics.Meredith talks about interesting and topical subjects around parenting. She loves researching and investigating- which is good for us as she shares it all in this podcast. I’ve really enjoyed her range of episodes and just like “MPR” ( NPR), I found myself listening to topics I didn’t think I would be interested in and totally got hooked. Cost : Free
Tweet with The (Over)thinking Mom on Twitter | Like The (Over)thinking Mom on Facebook
BAM- Body, Mind and Child
BAM is a radio network of many channels that caters to parents, educators and leaders in Education. The show I listen to the format is the host, Rae Pica putting questions to two or more guests with opposing opinions. It often makes for a lively discussion. Deborah of Teachpreschool.org was a recent guest. These shows are 10- 15 minutes long and are packed with lots of information and background on children. It’s the one that plays in the right sidebar of this site. Cost: Free
Like BAM- Body, Mind and Child on Facebook
Apple Juice Radio
This a fun husband and wife podcasting duo talking about the parents guide to children’s books and films. This show is based in the UK. I really enjoy the reviews as they are not sugar coated and always with a positive spin neither do the couple always agree so the discussion is spirited and you can totally get the point the view. There’s a lot of laughter and you really feel like you’re listening into a conversation in their 15-25 minute show. They are show notes that give more information about the book and the film. Cost: Free
Tweet with Apple Juice Radio on Twitter | Like Apple Juice Radio on Facebook
Classics for Kids podcast
All the previous podcasts were for parents to listen for themselves or to learn for the children. This podcast is one that was recommended to me by a homeschooling mom who uses the podcast as part of her curriculum. It’s a short podcast that illustrates a classic composer and is full of music. At 6 minutes it’s perfect “setting the table” listening in our house to keep everything moving along. Each composer lasts 3-5 podcasts but with the bite sized child friendly language and chunks it is totally accessible as an easy listen. Cost: Free.
Parents’ Perspective
One of the first podcasts I subscribed to in the mid Naughties and still a favourite today. This is a co-hosted show where the topics are on parenting and offer a wie range of material, not just focused on the Early years. The host starts with a senario and ends with the interview of a special guest expert that attempts to answer the question. With each show approximately 27 mintues long the time goes really quickly as you listen to stories and information. Cost: Free
Like Parents’ Perspective on Facebook
The Because Show
All the previous shows were information about development or parenting ideas whereas these three women from Los Angeles talk about a subject each week. It’s not a parenting show and it is a parenting show as all three are parents. They have occasional guest but usually we have girlfriends answering questions, sharing stories and commenting on life. It’s a refreshing to listen to parents who can talk about and experience other things other than children and perfect listening during the day. They do have an explicit tag to some of their material which is useful when you have little ears who would love nothing better than to repeat what they hear. You can check each show and they usually say beforehand in the intro. They really are like a magazine with the diversity of subjects and views. They have long and short shows. Cost: Free
Tweet with TheBecauseShow | Like TheBecauseShow
Raising Playful Tots
My show.
Raising Playful Tots (RPT) is a weekly podcast and Internet Radio show for mums who want to make the most of Early Childhood playtime. We offer tips, suggestions, guest interviews and conversation about how to keep appropriate play central in the under 5s in our care. Time: between 20 and 30 minutes. Cost: Free
Tweet |Facebook
Carnival of Parenting Podcasts
Why Podcasts?
What do you do once the children go to bed of an evening? Slump in front of the TV, grab a book, watch a movie, study for school, go to club, Facebook or Tweet? We all have our things we do. There’s a podcast out there for you too.
::Ones for parents to learn and grow
::Once for parents to be transported
::Ones for parents to laugh and groan.
So many different types.
As a parent who is interested in playing with their child there’s got to be time for the parents to play. Fun for your ears.
What’s a recent podcast you’ve subscribed to?
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