824 Activities Just for Pre-K

Have you checked out the Parenting Young Children Pinterest board lately?  We have 824 pins waiting for you to explore.  

Number Recognition Game

Preschool Number Recognition Game: Put Out the Fire!

Fire Saftey Learning Activities

October is National Fire Safety Month, with the second week in October designated as Fire Prevention Week. Here are some great ways to introduce fire safety information to preschoolers and refresh that info for elementary-aged kids.

Click here for some fire safety fun activities.

Fire Safety Week - October 6-12

C-FB Blogabilities: Fire Safety Week - October 6-12: It's never too early to start talking to your children about fire safety.  Here are some printables to help spark a conversation about...

10 Ways Moms Can Balance Work and Family

It's never easy being a mom trying to juggle a full-time job with a family life. Read on for tips on how you can reach an ideal work-life balance.

Click here to read article from parents.com

10 Best Apps for Paranoid Parents

Are you a hover mom who needs to know where your child is at all times? We've found the apps (including ones with GPS tracking) that will give any parent more peace of mind.

Here are 10 apps that will help parents feel better about letting their children be more independent.

Reading and Parent Involvement are Critical to Stu...

Reading and Parent Involvement are Critical to Stu...: Here is an interesting excerpt from an article I read recently. While I don't agree with all of the article, I do agree that reading to...

Helping Kids Deal with Embarrassment

If your child gets embarrassed easily, you can help him deal with his awkward feelings.

While feeling embarrassed can be a positive sign (it indicates the development of personal standards), a kid needs to learn how to cope. 

Here is a guide to get your red-cheeked child back into the comfort zone.

Is Your Child An Innovator?

You can encourage innovative thinking by letting your child take the lead.

Check out this article on how to help your child become a trailblazer by inspiring creativity.

Whine? NOT! Four Ways to Put an End to Whining.

Whining is totally normal. Virtually all kids become pros at the shrill mewling that serves as a desperate plea for something (usually an item they know they can't have) and yet also expresses a feeling of powerlessness that crying or talking doesn't. Three- and 4-year- olds whine frequently because they have big expectations and desires, but don't always get their way or have the ability to do the task at hand.


Click here for some expert advice on how to silence the whiner.

Pin of the Week

Check out these excellent ideas for developing fine motor skills!

Follow our Parenting Young Children Pinterest board for learning and behavior activities designed especially for children 5 and under.

Building Block #1 for Early Reading

Reading is one of the most important foundational building blocks of learning. Set your kid up for success in and out of the classroom with these helpful printables.

A new building block will be featured each week.

Sync Up with C-FB ISD!

We provide many ways to get information about the district.  Follow us and get connected with all the GREAT things happening in C-FB ISD!

Facebook - facebook.com/cfbisd
Twitter - twitter.com/cfbisd
YouTube - youtube.com/InnovativeLeader
Vimeo - vimeo.com/cfbisd
Blog - blogabilities.blogspot.com
CFB-TV - www.cfbisd.edu/cfbtv

www.cfbisd.edu/connected
972-962-6100
cfbinfo@cfbisd.edu

Pin of the Week

Ever wonder if your child is on track?  Find out here.

Tips For Building a Balanced Brain

source:  brainy-child.com

Left brain exercises are some of the best tools available to balance brain functions and boost dual brain lobe working. The left brain side indicates that the child is endowed with an ability that improves analytical abilities and enhances memory retention and recall. To enhance left brain activities, you may need to do the following:

• Boost logical reasoning
• Step by step problem processing

To help refine these abilities, there are several exercises and tools available for parents. All of them involve two approaches both of which mandatory to ensure proper results. These two approaches are as follows:

• Conditioning and
• Action

Before learning more about these two approaches, parents may need to learn some more information about left brain lobe enhancement. Left brain activities are very critical for academic success and achievements. Academics need better memory, deductive reasoning and learning through problem solving. The left brain lobe also uses logical power, is detail- inclined, memorizes facts, words and details, performs well in science and social science areas and hones the skills of perception. Follow these procedures to activate left brain cells:

Play cross word puzzles with children

Playing board games that include crossword puzzles can be a big learning booster for left brained children. Use puzzles that belong to different themes and the one that focus on verbs, nouns, technical words and science. Playing these games will help improve learning, enhance mood, put mind into deep relaxation and learn logical thinking. It will also help learn real world problems and help stabilize emotional side of the life.

Enhance word fluency

Word fluency is perhaps a great booster to enhance left brain learning. Play word games with children. Pose challenge to children to create and recite as many new words as possible with a given set of letters. Set time challenge so that they will start processing very quickly. Keep track for the count and help them improve their count in the next challenge. Give them treat upon one instance of success. This is a sure fire way to balance brain power.

Play strategy board games

Playing strategy board games are time tested techniques to enhance left lobe of the brain. Some of the most famous strategy games are Business and Monopoly. Playing such games will help children improve the skills of creating strategy and reasoning. In addition, they will also help children planning and taking action.

Creating a chart of facts and figures

This approach has been recommended by child education experts because it helps children streamline their memory power and reasoning. In addition, it can also help enhance immediate retrieval of long term memory. It will also help in organizing and prioritizing.

Learn symbols and words

Symbols and thematic words are very powerful tools to promote memory and retention. Symbols that represent words and syllables can enhance reasoning as well as pattern making. As they are visual in nature, learning also becomes very easier especially in terms of representation of words in a pictorial form.

Use mnemonics to boost memory

Mnemonics is a group of memory techniques designed to enhance long term and short term memory. This technique uses the power of imagination along with all critical senses like sound, touch, smell and sight. This will make learning very exciting and easy especially those that are involved with memory retention.

What is Brain Balancing?

To ensure optimum and productive learning, both brain lobes should work in combination and in a seamless manner. When two lobes of brain work together, children will get many benefits like:

• Better digestion and immune functions
• Enhanced intellectual abilities
• Better motor skills
• Superior digestive and hormone systems

Before balancing brain, parents may need to identify in which lobe they are stronger. Those children who are weaker in their left brain tend to be very poor in linguistic skills while those are weak in their right side tend to be poor in motor skills. Balancing brain functions also means introducing activities that help both sides and to complement one skill with the other. Balancing brain function also means replacing weaker functions of the brain with stronger ones that eventually helps in boosting acquisition of important skills.

read more on brainy-child.com

3 Easy Ways to Organize School Years Photos and Artwork

The start of a new school year is always so exciting and as parents, we take our job of chronicling our child’s year through photos and mementos seriously. But sometimes life gets in the way and it’s easier to say we’re going to do something about the many digital photos, the stacks of artwork, certificates, and precious pieces of academic work than to actually do it. Here are three easy ways you can organize school year photos and mementos with ease as you go so those many precious moments and keepsakes can be cherished for years to come.

Tapsbook for iPad is a free app just launched with rave reviews and as a busy parent of two elementary aged children, I can see why. Tapsbook is a all-in-one app that handles photo viewing, photo management and storytelling that automates the laborious task of sifting through photos from many different sources and pulls them together in one place. Simple gestures can be used to quickly rate my photos and create a yearbook with favorites that can be instantly shared and accessed even offline. Tapsbook is free to download through the iTunes store and users can store up to 500 photos for free. An additional 4GB of storage can be purchased for $2.99/month. In addition to digital photo organization, Tapsbook looks to add a printed photobook service in the next couple months.

School Years by MomAgenda is an easy and effective solution for families that provides single place to keep mementos from your child’s K-12 school career. The spiral bound book features a separate folder for each year in school, has a place to store each year’s report cards, class pictures, art samples, writing samples, and more. Kids enjoy recording special information about their teacher, friends, and favorite after school activities to create a treasured keepsake. Parents love how easy this is to use and what a pleasure it is to open up and read year after year as children grow older.

PicStitch app for iPhone is a simple way to take your many photos from a single event and create beautiful collages. PicStitch features a variety of different layouts, ability to add photos with just a tap and edit them right from the app before publishing to your social networks or saving them to your phone’s album. Parents can quickly share moments with friends and family through their Facebook wall or save them to be printed or incorporated into a Tapsbook album. The free version features 70 different layouts to choose from but the paid version ($1.99) is ad-free and provides 232 layouts, 13 different photo aspect ratios, high resolution export, and more for an investment of less than $2.

How much sleep is enough?

Preschoolers sleep about 10 to 12 hours during each 24-hour period, but there's no need to be rigid about which 10 to 12 hours these are. The most important thing is to help kids develop good habits for getting to sleep.

A bedtime routine is a great way to ensure that your preschooler gets enough sleep. Here are a few things to keep in mind when establishing one:

• Include a winding-down period during the half hour before bedtime.
• Stick to a bedtime, alerting your child both half an hour and 10 minutes beforehand.
• Set fixed times for going to bed, waking up, and taking naps.
• Keep consistent playtimes and mealtimes.
• Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine, near bedtime.
• Make the bedroom quiet, cozy, and conducive to sleeping.
• Use the bed only for sleeping — not for playing or watching TV.
• Limit food and drink before bedtime.
• Allow your child to choose which pajamas to wear, which stuffed animal to take to bed, etc.
• Consider playing soft, soothing music.
• Tuck your child into bed snugly for a feeling of security.

10 Great Books to Prepare Them for Pre-K

Get ready for the first day of preschool with picture books.

10 great books to help prepare your child for the first day of preschool:

Maisy Goes to Preschool by Lucy Cousins
Llama Llama Misses Mama by Anna Dewdney
My First Day at Nursery School by Becky Edwards
What to Expect at Preschool by Heidi Murkoff
Little School by Beth Norling
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
My Preschool by Anne Rockwell
I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas
Barney and Baby Bop Go to School by Scholastic
Preschool Day Hooray! by Linda Leopold Strauss

Create a Masterpiece Gallery at Home

Here is a website with some creative suggestions on how to display and archive all that wonderful art your child produces.

Back to School Printable

August 26th is just around the corner.  Ignite some enthusiasm about the first day of school with this back to school coloring sheet.

10 Back-to-School Tips for Parents of Kindergartners

1. If you and your child have fallen out of your bedtime routine this summer, get back into a solid routine! A week before the first day of school is a good time frame in which to begin.

2. Most schools have a standard set of requirements for student immunizations, vision, and hearing tests. View the immunizations requirements before your child starts school to help prevent any delays in registration. Learn more about immunizations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

3. Plan and shop for healthy breakfasts and lunches a week in advance. This will save you precious time and prevent much stress in the long run! Visit the C-FB ISD Student Nutrition Pinterest Board for healthy snack ideas.

4. Go shopping for school supplies together. Have your child help you pack his school backpack the night before the first day of school, and place it near the door. Click here to find school supply lists by campus.

5. Save time on those busy school mornings by preparing your child’s clothes a week ahead of time, already paired. Place a pair of socks, underwear, a shirt, and matching bottoms together in the drawer so that your child can easily grab a stack and go.

6. Talk with your child about what to expect during an average school day—from lunches and naps to snacks and bathroom breaks. Preparing your child for a new routine will help him cope with any anxiety he may be experiencing.

7. Accidents happen! Prepare a change of clothes in advance and bring it with you on the first day of school for your child’s teacher to keep in the classroom.

8. Prepare your child for socializing in the classroom. Teach her to introduce herself and make friends: “Hi, my name is Sarah; what’s yours?” It’s normal for kids to have some degree of social anxiety. Talk about those fears with your kids.

9. If your child is going to be riding the bus to school for the first time, be sure to talk about bus safety. It’s also a good time to reinforce general safety rules—whom he should and shouldn’t talk to, and when he should and shouldn’t get off the school bus (when you or a guardian is not there waiting to pick him up).  Click here for information on bus routes.

10. Parent involvement in school is important—even in kindergarten! Talk to your child’s teacher regularly about his educational and social development or, if your schedule permits, become an active participant in your school’s PTA.  Every C-FB ISD volunteer must complete and submit the online criminal background check before volunteering on a campus.  It's a good idea to get that done before school starts.  Click here to become a volunteer.

Keeping Toddlers Busy

Bottles and cap matching. Take a bunch of used bottles (washed, of course) and let children match the caps to the bottles. Added bonus? This is a self-correcting activity, so when they get to the end and all the caps don't match, they know they've made a mistake and can go back to find it.

We Call it Kindergarten Readiness...They Call it FUN!

Tell your child you want to work on kindergarten readiness skills and she's not likely to jump up and clap. But turn it into a game and it's a whole different story.

In this game, your child picks a card from the "challenge box" and attempts to do what's on it. If she completes her task, she gets to keep the card and move on to the next challenge. If not, she puts the card in the discard pile and moves on to another task. When time's up, ask your child to help you count her cards. Write down her score and see if she can beat it the next time you play! As she plays this game, she'll be developing her fine motor and comprehension skills as well as her ability to follow directions.

What You Need:

• 30 index cards
• Markers
• Small box
• Large space for playing
• Timer

What You Do:

Write one kid-appropriate challenge on each of the index cards. If your child is close to entering kindergarten, you can use your district's kindergarten readiness checklist as inspiration. This list is usually a mix of fine motor (small muscle) skills, gross motor (big muscle) skills, writing, counting, and listening. 

Here are some suggestions for your cards:

• Walk backwards, toe to heel for 20 steps.
• Copy a circle.
• Throw a ball so it lands in a circle of chalk drawn on the driveway.
• Hop ten feet.
• Skip across the room.
• Drop and catch a bounced ball 15 times in a row.
• Balance on one foot for ten seconds.
• Cut a piece of paper in half.
• Write your full name.
• Count to 20.
• Tiptoe across the room and back in 30 seconds.
• Find something square.
• Find something round.
• Find a triangle in the room.
• Find something blue.

Put the cards in a box and invite your child to play. Set the timer for 10 minutes. See how many tasks she can complete before the timer rings!

When she's done she'll be more prepared for kindergarten and she'll have had a blast in the process!

No Nagging Clean Up Strategy -- This is GENIUS!!

Check out this strategy one clever mom came up with to get her kids to do their chores. 

This could easily be adapted to homework, reading time or just about anything your kids resist doing!

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

 Kindergarten today is different in many ways than when you attended school. Many children come to Kindergarten with previous preschool or day care experience. Even though your child won’t begin school until the fall, there are many things you can do now to prepare him/her for kindergarten.

Here are some ideas:

• Make sure your child knows as many alphabet letters as possible, both upper and lower case. Practice them in random order.
• Help your child learn the sound for each of the letters.
• Read with your child on a regular basis. Point out the title, author, front cover, back cover, capital letters.
• Help your child to learn the difference between a letter, a word, and a sentence. Use books, newspapers, and magazines to find letters, words, and sentences. Count the words on a page- the words in the title, etc.
• Be sure your child can write his/her name using a capital letter to start and all lower case for the rest, using a continuous movement.
• Help your child learn his shapes and colors.
• Let your child use scissors and practice cutting both on plain paper and on lines.
• Write to your child. Encourage your child to write back even if what they write is just one letter. Let them try to sound out words themselves. Try not to spell everything for them.
• Please work with your child on self help skills: Help him/her learn to use tissues alone and to practice good hygiene. Work on tying shoes, buckling a belt, buttoning/snapping clothes and zipping a coat.
• Talk about what is more, less, or the same. Use vocabulary such as smaller, larger, longer, shorter, etc.
• Introduce your child to the difference between letters and numbers.
• Help your child learn to recognize numerals at least to 10.

Hidden Talent Tip #7

Busy like an ant and agile like a deer!

Some children are so active and agile that they always like to be on the go, active and energetic come what may! They always like action, thrill and excitement! They want to be in the center of action! These are the so called bodily-kinesthetic learners who learn by indulging in action, excitement and physical activity. Action and motion suits them the best while learning. These children have immense hidden talent and skill for sports, music and dancing.

How to boost and nurture them - Physical learners best learn when you give them enough opportunities for physical activities. Make sure that you reserve some time everyday to allow them to become physical and active. Rotate time to allow them to study and pay in between two sessions of studies. Let them play music while learning through movements and physical activities. Some children are very good using their hands while doing some work like painting and drawing. See that you give them enough time everyday to learn while painting and drawing.

10 Best Math Apps for Kids

These fun apps will reinforce basic arithmetic concepts and spark a love for learning math.

<<click here to see a list of both paid and free math apps>>

3 Genius Apps for Summer Reading

Summer is here and while there are many phrases to describe what happens to student learning over the months your children are out of school, you can prevent the summer brain drain and summer slide by making reading fun, interactive, and involving technology that will serve as a huge motivator. According to the National Summer Learning Association, “all young people experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer.” To prevent this, do a little bit each day to make the tasks manageable and fun. Here are three ways to incorporate technology to reinforce the reading that is being done at home throughout the summer months.

Reading Rainbow app - Designed for children 3-9 years of age. Delivers a library of hundreds of curated books and all new videos presented in a world of adventure and discovery.

Kindle Free Time - Appeals to toddlers and early elementary ages thanks to a wealth of content that is easy to navigate through this subscription based service that is available to Kindle owners through a monthly fee.

Scholastic’s Storia app - Provides an easy to navigate experience where reading content can grow along with children. Storia allows parents to purchase age appropriate eBooks through the ability to shop by age. Parents can assign eBooks to each child’s shelf to ensure the content is just right for them. Get 5 FREE eBooks with app download.

Hidden Talent Tip #6

Leading from the front

Have you seen some children taking charge of a situation and leading others while doing a classroom task? Alternatively, some children are born leaders and they make some of the best class leaders. They can excel in drama and play while their ability to help others is unsurpassed. Such children are more likely to be natural leader who can become the best mentors to those who find problems in life. They may become the best military leaders or turn out be record breakers in any type of sport events.

How to boost and nurture them - Put them in charge while you are taking them to a trail in the local trail. Be behind them to avoid danger happening to them. Enroll them to the local Scout or Guide association. Give them charge of some home projects like cleaning or arranging things in the house. Let them find their own options and chose an activity that best fits their abilities. See help and assistance from them if you want to solve some problems; this approach gives them the necessary confidence and will power to try out new leadership approaches. Let them be in charge of situation for some time everyday; this approach helps them learn how to be responsible and dutiful. Hear their views and opinions and ask why they want you to listen to them; this will help them explain their position in a clear and lucid manner.

Hidden Talent Tip #5

An inclination to solve puzzles and riddles

Some children are absolutely brilliant in solving any type of puzzles, riddles, Sudoku, jigsaws and incomplete mystery stories. They are not only quick in solving them, and they are also very quick and never use a trial and error approach; in other words, they are always on the right path while solving riddles and puzzles. Most children who are adept at this task are visual and spatial thinkers and they create images of most likely results and reproduce them to create a series of answers to the tasks at hand. They are also capable of creating a series of mini-images and later join them to create a whole picture.

How to boost and nurture them - Keep feeding them puzzles, Sudoku, riddles and mystery stories so that they will sharpen their analytical and deductive skills. Take children to a real-life maze so that they enter it and find their path out. A simple magnet will help them explore the nearby surrounding while a compass and map will raise their levels of curiosity while on a trekking trail.

Hidden Talent Tip #4

Day dreamers are capable of doing great things in life

Some children are day dreamers and they are always immersed in their own thoughts. They might even like to pretend play with objects and things. They may like to paint and draw their own pictures. They may even gaze at the bright blue sky and keep thinking and generating ideas. Such children are obviously creative and imaginative. Most of them are immersed in their fantasies and they may even try to imagine new things and scenarios. In addition they are very good in problem solving.

How to boost and nurture them - The first basic thing to do is to help them raise their imagination level; you can buy materials that help them to create their own world. Enroll them to an art and painting school. Let them learn music and playing musical instruments. You can even buy them great books that compel them to travel to a fantasy land.

Hidden Talent Tip #3

Playing and fiddling with objects and things in front of them

Exploring how things work and operate in a natural setting indicates that children who do it are hands-on learners. Some children are enamored by things that move and work by themselves like machines, cars, fire engines and cranes. They are most probably, visual and spatial learners who learn by observing how things work and how they are constructed.

How to boost and nurture them - You can buy them construction toys, car kits, helicopter assemblies, musical toys that move and dance, war tanks that actually make sounds and other similar toys that can be dissembled and later re-assembled. Give them things that can be of interest. Take them to play centers that offer them an opportunity to indulge in fruitful hands-on activities. Show them how water taps work, in what manner signal lights operate and anything that actually moves and acts. Please keep a close watch on children because moving and lose objects could be dangerous as they may swallow them that eventually leads to choking.

Hidden Talent Tip #2

Non-stop talking and chatting

Children, who could be rich in linguistic and grammatical skills, could be very good learners of languages. Some children are skilled in telling stories, constructing sentences very quickly and commit very few grammatical mistakes while they are talking. In addition, some children learn writing very early in their age. Verbal efficiency and capability could mean that your children are somewhat gifted and skilled in linguistic skills. Learning linguistic skills is a necessary tool to succeed in schools.

How to boost and nurture them - Ask your children to create some stories and tell them to you. If possible, ask them to visualize the scene of the story that he or she is reciting. You can even bring colorful and illustrated story books for them to read and understand. Ask children to speak in front of a voice recorder and instruct them to hear to their own voices. Reflecting on one's own though is the best possible way to develop linguistic skills. A good speaker could even be a very good listener. List the advantages listening to others' speaking and tell them that it can make them wiser and intelligent.

Identifying Hidden Talents in Children

Every child is unique and special with its own hidden talents and skills. Unlocking hidden potentials is a sure way to make children smarter and intelligent. However, parents should be able to identify to check, if their children have hidden potential before devising any strategy to nurture them. Some children have immense talents that everyone can see and appreciate while others might have hidden ones that if given a push can come open into the public. Here are some tips to identify your children's hidden talents and potentials:

Hidden Talent Tip #1

Sorting out objects and things

Some children have the habit of playing with objects and sorting them in a neat order. Sorting objects could be anything:

1. Sorting out colors and shades.
2. Dividing and segregating objects by their size and volume.
3. Lining up toys based on their size.
4. Pairing up socks and shoes by size and colors.

When you notice these activities, your children may possess an auditory-sequential ability while learning. He or she could also be a sequential and linear thinker. It could even be ability for organizing things and objects. Some children have the ability to pay attention to finest details. Pattern and ability to recognize shapes and sizes may also mean an enhanced ability for math and science learning. Children who excel in sorting out shapes and sizes also possess an ability to use their logical power to learn new meanings.

How to boost and nurture them - You can bring toys and play sets that allow your children to explore objects, things and patterns. Pattern recognition and matching could be nurtured by using building blocks, color charts, shape sorters etc. Ask your children to arrange cooking utensils, crockery and other sundry kitchen items.

Pin of the Week - American Candy Flag

Celebrate Independence Day by with your child by making a mosaic American flag out of red, white, and blue jelly beans. Kids will love gluing the candy to the cardboard base, and improve their fine motor skills in the process.

What You Need:
Red, white, and blue jelly beans
Rectangular piece of sturdy cardboard
White glue

Find it on Pinterest 

DIY Reading Camp

Everything you need to host 10 fun weeks of reading camp - a new theme each week! Created in cooperation with PBS KIDS®.

Check it out!

Take the Pledge to Read and WIN!

Cheap Summer Fun

Free (and almost-free) activities to keep kids active all summer long.

Swim-In Cinema in Carrollton

The City of Carrollton is hosting a Swim-In Cinema

Date:  7/26/2013 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location:  Rosemeade Rainforest Aquatic Complex

1334 Rosemeade Parkway
Carrollton, Texas 75007

For more information, please call 972-466-9833.

6 Benefits of Music Lessons

Learning to play an instrument can help your child fine-tune her ear and enhance skills needed for education and social interaction.

• It improves academic skills.
• It develops physical skills.
• It cultivates social skills.
• It refines discipline and patience.
• It boosts self-esteem.
• It introduces children to other cultures.

11 Basic Manners Kids Often Forget

Even if it takes a few reminders, encourage your child to be more mindful of some basic etiquette.

click here for details

Create a Cozy Reading Nook

Here are some creative ways to make a cozy reading nook for your kiddos.

Check out this Pinterest Board dedicated to reading nooks.

Summer Reading Programs With Rewards That Cost You NOTHING!

There are several Summer Reading Programs that offer prizes and incentives to kids for reading over the summer.  

Check it out!

Barnes & Noble
May 21 – September 3, 2013
Website (with reading log)


The Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program is here to help you on your way, encouraging you to read books of your own choosing and earn a FREE book, simply by following these three easy steps:
Read any eight books this summer and record them in this Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Imagination’s Destination Journal. Be sure to let us know to whom you would recommend each book, and why.
Bring your completed journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 21st and September 3rd, 2013.
Choose your FREE reading adventure from the book list featured on the back of the journal.

Chuck E Cheese
Go two weeks, reading every day, then complete and redeem the certificate on this page to get 10 FREE tokens. No more than one of any free token offer can be used per child, per day. Only at participating locations. Pizza purchase is required. Offer Expires 12/31/13.



Half Price Books “Feed Your Brain”
June 1 – July 31, 2013
Website

Back again for the 6th year – the Feed Your Brain® Summer Reading Program rewards your kids for keeping an appetite for reading over the summer. Kids 14 and under can read each day to earn Bookworm Bucks, redeemable at your local HPB store. Pick up your reading log today!

Read for at least 15 minutes each day in the months of June and July. (Grown-ups may read aloud to kids who are still learning.)
Add up your minutes and have your parent or guardian initial each week.
Once you’ve read 300 minutes, turn in your completed log to earn HPB Bookworm Bucks for each month.
We’ll award one top reader per age group each month with a TOP READER prize – a $20 HPB Gift Card!*

* Kids ages 14 and under can participate and earn Half Price Books® Bookworm Bucks. Promotion valid for June and July, 2013.

Pizza Hut Book It!

http://www.bookitprogram.com/
Pizza Hut’s Book It program offers lots of options to help your child continue reading throughout the summer. Visit the link above for Parent Printables, reading activity calendars, weekly reading games, and information on their Summer Reading Challenge Sweepstakes.


Scholastic Summer Challenge
http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013

Kids:
Log your reading minutes and earn digital rewards
Help set a new world record in reading!

Parents:
Find great book ideas for your kids
Access summer reading tips and activities

Carrollton Public Library
June 6 – August 23, 2013

Website

Click here for SPECIAL SUMMER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

Kids:
Pick up a reading log at either library
one log per participant – just use plain paper if you lose your log

Turn in your completed log between June 27 – August 23 and receive:

• a Summer Reading Program certificate
• a free book
• a free ticket to the Ringling Brothers circus, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST (Children under two do not need a ticket to the circus)

Teens:
Unearth the challenge…discover what lies beneath.
Return a completed reading challenge sheet to receive a FREE book AND be entered into the grand prize drawing.
Stop by either Library to pick up your reading challenge.
Bring your finished challenge sheet back to the Library.
Receive a FREE book.
Repeat!

Each completed challenge sheet enters you in the grand prize drawing for an Amazon gift card. More returned challenge sheets = more free books and grand prize entries!

You can also visit the Family eGuide Online Calendar or Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates on specific reading club activities for kids and teens.


See more at

Failure Can Be a Useful Tool

Teaching Children How to Convert Failure into Success - Simple Tips and Suggestions

By Andrew Loh (brainy-child.com)

Fear can be a potentially strong tool to succeed in life. When you teach children how to use fear as a tool to succeed in life, they will learn many other things in life too. Parents hate to see their children fail either in classrooms or in sports. They want their children to succeed in every task they undertake. Some of the most painful moments while parents are nurturing their children are from frustratingly watching their children fail in a class test or miss the selection for classroom soccer team. Alternatively, parents may also hate to see their children fail to make good friends in their school.

>>read more

A Day for Daddies

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 16th.

Need some ideas for the perfect gift for dad from the kids?

Check out our Pinterest page.

6 Summer Books for Kids

How do you keep your kids reading momentum going when school's out?

Experts say that the key is to get your school-age child to pick up books on her own -- ideally three or more times a week. Look for stories that spark her interest or speak to some of her recent experiences, such as starting day camp or becoming a big sister. Of the many children's books available, titles that contain basic sight words, repetition, and some challenging new vocabulary will help her continue to develop her language and comprehension skills. To jump-start your child's summer reading, we've rounded up teachers' top recommendations. Depending on her reading level, she may be able to finish these on her own or want you to read them to her. Either way, these picks will have her smiling and turning the page in no time.

These teacher favorites will get your child even more excited about books.

Protecting Your Family From West Nile Virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report saying that, in the United States, 2012 was the deadliest year on record for deaths attributed to the West Nile virus.

Texas led the nation, compromising 33 percent of all reported cases with 1,868 infections and 89 deaths. That was far above California, which had the second most reported cases at 479 and 20 deaths.

In the majority of West Nile virus cases, most people experience only minor symptoms such as fever and a mild headache. However, some people who become infected with the virus develop a life-threatening illness that includes inflammation of the brain.

Serious symptoms can include:

- High fever

- Severe headache

- Stiff neck

- Disorientation or confusion

- Stupor or coma

- Tremors or muscle jerking

- Lack of coordination

- Convulsions

- Pain

- Partial paralysis or sudden muscle weakness

Click here to learn more about how to protect your family from West Nile Virus.

Is DEET Safe to Use on Children?

Over the years there has been much controversy on the safety of using Deet on children and infants. The Center for Disease Control has released a new study that shows Deet is safe to use on children in concentrations of up to 30%. It recommends not using on the face especially around the mouth and eyes and should not be applied to cuts. It should not be used on infants under 2 months of age.

This information was found on the CDC.gov website:

Q. Can insect repellents be used on children?

A. Repellent products must state any age restriction. If there is none, EPA has not required a restriction on the use of the product.

According to the label, oil of lemon eucalyptus products should NOT be used on CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS.

In addition to EPA’s decisions about use of products on children, many consumers also look to the opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP does have an opinion on the use of DEET in children (see below). AAP has not yet issued specific recommendations or opinion concerning the use of picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus for children. CDC will post a link to such information from the Academy when/if it becomes available.

Since it is the most widely available repellent, many people ask about the use of products containing DEET on children. No definitive studies exist in the scientific literature about what concentration of DEET is safe for children. No serious illness has been linked to the use of DEET in children when used according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health has updated their recommendation for use of DEET products on children in 2003, citing: "Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) with a concentration of 10% appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on the product labels." AAP recommends that repellents with DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old. Parents should choose the type and concentration of repellent to be used by taking into account the amount of time that a child will be outdoors, exposure to mosquitoes, and the risk of mosquito-transmitted disease in the area.

If you are concerned about using repellent products on children you may wish to consult a health care provider for advice or contact the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) through their toll-free number, 1-800-858-7378 or npic.orst.edu

Q. What guidelines are available for using a repellent on children? 

A. Always follow the recommendations appearing on the product label when using repellent:

• When using repellent on a child, apply it to your own hands and then rub them on your child. Avoid children's eyes and mouth and use it sparingly around their ears.
• Do not apply repellent to children's hands. (Children may tend to put their hands in their mouths.)
• Do not allow young children to apply insect repellent to themselves; have an adult do it for them.
• Keep repellents out of reach of children.
• Do not apply repellent under clothing. If repellent is applied to clothing, wash treated clothing before wearing again. (May vary by product, check label for specific instructions.)

Summer Reading for Young Children

Summer offers many unique opportunities to weave literacy into everyday activities with your child. Beach trips, swimming in a pool or family barbecues provide ideal opportunities for conversation, book reading and looking at letters—skills that will help your child become a reader and writer later in life.

Try some of these tips for making your young child’s summer full of literacy fun.

A Recipe for Playfulness and Why It's Important

We all know that it is critical for kids of all ages to play. And we know that play can take many forms. But there’s a deeper idea about the importance for kids to learn how to be playful – and how that spirit should permeate their development.

Click here to find a four ingredient recipe for playfulness.

Practice Colors with Rainbow Bingo

Bingo doesn't have to be an inside game! This fun twist on bingo is a hunt-and-seek activity that's guaranteed to keep kids entertained. They sharpen their observational skills as they search the yard for objects that are all different colors, then write them down on their hand-drawn rainbows! Who can fill up the rainbow first?

Check it out on our Pinterest page.

Getting Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

Your child is probably more ready than you think.  Click here to see a list intended to help prepare your child in a variety of developmental areas to make the transition into kindergarten as smooth as possible. Believe it or not, just 15-20 minutes of playing and learning with your child can make a world of difference! 

If your child cannot do everything on this list, it does not mean that he/she is not ready for kindergarten!

C-FB ISD is staffed with professional educators who will take your child where they are and help them grow and learn from there.

Teach Your Kid Confidence -- from Birth

Every parent wants to raise a confident child who tackles challenges with gusto, who will try new things even if it means risking failure. While these qualities don't come automatically, parents lay the groundwork for a can-do attitude in a child's first few months and years. "Some of our kids come out as tumbleweeds and some of them come out like African violets, but from day one we love them for who they are," says child development expert Michele Borba, EdD, author of Esteem Builders. "Unconditional love and acceptance are the roots of self-esteem."

By Cynthia Ramnarace from American Baby

4 Ways to Nurture Optimism In Your Kids

One of the most important traits you can nurture in your child is optimism. The roots of optimism take hold early in life, and contrary to popular opinion, are primarily the result of experience, rather than genetics (or put another way, optimism can most definitely be taught even though some may be prone to be more optimistic than others). Optimistic kids have an edge – they are protected from depression and show much more resiliency when faced with challenges.

"The core of optimism is to perceive the realities of a situation and focus on the things you can do to help make things better." 

It’s a motivational fuel that propels behaviors necessary for success, as discussed in Paul Tough’s recent book How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character.

Want to know how you can encourage optimism in your kids?  Click here to read more.

ABC...Ready to Read?

Is your home literacy-friendly?

You are your child’s first teacher. Your home is where your child will get his or her first experiences with books and reading.

Take this quiz to see if your home is literacy-friendly and find out what you can do to improve your child's literacy readiness. 

13 Ways to Make Grocery Shopping with Kids Less Torturous

Strategies for Making Grocery Shopping With the Kids More Fun

Try out a few of these strategies on your next grocery trip and maybe it can be a connection time instead of a struggle.

A Game to Flex their Memory Muscles

The Underwear Thief Game

This game was the highlight of our week. Grab a variety of underwear from around the house and put it in one spot (3-6 pairs depending on the ages of kids). Have the kids talk about it (they think this part is hysterical) and then have them go out of the room. Take one pair of underwear from the group and hide it. Invite them back into the room and see if they can figure out which pair of underwear the Underwear Thief stole. Repeat again and again. Let the kids take a turn being the underwear thief too. This is an awesome activity for strengthening your memory.

A Healthy Beat the Heat Snack

White Grape Popsicles

Fresh grapes are suspended in white grape juice when frozen for this healthy snack.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups  seedless red grapes, halved

• 4 1/2 cups  white grape juice

Make It

Divide grape halves among eight 6-ounce pop molds or disposable cups. Pour in the grape juice and insert sticks. Freeze for at least 6 hours. Let stand for about 5 minutes before unmolding.