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Which Websites Work Best For Preschoolers?

by Oona Baker

July 27, 2009

My daughter has been using a computer since she was very young, we are big technology freaks in our house. She's learned to be quite self sufficient with a mouse and navigates her way around the desktop with ease. Children feel empowered when they can print out a picture they drew, interact with familiar media characters or select an audio book to listen to--all on their own! Finding quality websites that aren't chock full of advertising or questionable content can be a chore. Here are three websites that are sure to delight any preschooler!

1) Up to Ten This website scores high points for having a massive amount of content for ages 0-6. With over 1341 games, stories, crafts and activities, Up to Ten can be a welcome diversion for young children. The site is easily personalized and friendly animated hosts Boowa and Kwala recognize your child and even respond to emails. Up to Ten has games, short animated films, printable crafts, coloring pages and stories. Each activity on the page has an educational element, whether your child is learning about symmetry or learning fine motor skills as they cut out a paper craft. Website is free, but membership can be purchased that eliminates sidebar of advertising (which is very low-key) Games and activities update weekly and children can save their work or bookmark favorite games online.

2) Starfall Preschoolers love to interact with the ABCs and cheerful interactive graphics on this site, and parents are impressed with the skill building. Pre-readers begin with letter recognition and move on to sight reading simple three letter words. There is also a component that teaches sign language and simple songs reinforce literacy concepts. Children can work their way up to sounding our short books, or enjoy classical pieces, tongue twisters and poetry. Seasoned readers will be enthralled by the selection of Greek myths, folktales or Chinese fables. Best of all, parents can print out worksheets for added fun and the website is free!

3) Space Station 42 is an amazing clearinghouse of printable paper crafts, models and projects. Great for a rainy day when you're stuck indoors with a bored kiddo, this website has links to just about anything you would ever want to make out of paper. Make paper mice complete with high fashion outfits, historical paper dolls, or a cardstock steamroller. These crafts promote creativity and keep a sick preschooler comfortable when they're stuck on the couch. Once you get started with paper models, you'll be hooked!

Parents should always use caution and supervise their child when they're navigating websites with external links. Have regular dialogues regarding what web content is ok in your family: Do you do Disney or would you rather get ideas from homeschooling sites?  Read more...

It's a box, it's a plane, it's........recycled fun!

by Oona Baker

May 26, 2009



We've been talking a lot in our house about repurposing items. My daughter's school is in the process of getting "green certified" and they have enacted a very progressive recycling program. They have cut their dumpster usage in half, and compost lunch waste, as well as wash melamine trays. This heightened awareness at school is translating to many discussions at home about buying less, and using what we have in creative and frugal ways. Instead of just recycling items around the house, we have been thinking of ways to take simple objects and create new, useful things. Take a cardboard box (cereal box, soap box, vitamin box, shoe box, pasta box) and make these cool things:

1) If you have a large enough box (cereal box works best, or sturdy box from Horizon individual milks or wine) you can make your own recycled magazine holders/chapter book organizers. We also use these boxes to hold magazine subscriptions (save all those Ranger Ricks to refer to or use for collaging !) Measure a line across (four inches from the bottom of the box) and then draw a diagonal line from the mark to the upper opposite corner of the box. Repeat on other side and cut out with an exacto blade. Your child can cut out pictures and decoupage the box (go with a theme that reflects the contents or go wild with a variety of your child's favorite things!) They can also freehand decorate the box, or you can use patterned contact paper to jazz up your organizers

2) One of my daughter's favorite things to do when she's cooped up on a rainy day, is make a diorama or her very own television set out of a cardboard box. She gets to control her very own little world and Mama gets a little time to read the paper. Your child can decide if they want to make a mini replica of something from their own life, or something from out of this world! Use other recycled goodies to fashion knobs, knights, or kitties in capes!

3) Make a doll house, dog house, or firehouse from a cardboard box. Use fabric scraps to make carpets (you can often get wallpaper books, carpet scraps from flooring stores or check with SCRAP for awesome supplies on the cheap) watercolor the walls, and fashion vehicles out of smaller boxes (you could even make a car wash!) Use shoe boxes to make an entire apartment building or go bigger and make an whole city!

4) Create some kid-friendly "electronics"! Why not make a cardboard camera from a small box and toilet paper roll, a faux iPod, or a rubber band guitar (you can make the accompanying maracas from recycled materials too)

5) If you visit Trader Joe's, you may be able to get your hands on a cardboard box with dividers which would be perfect for an emerging collection (think shells/stones picked up on vacation, bottle caps, marbles, or corks. Your child can decorate the box and keep their special found objects organized (instead of taking over the coffee table like my daughter's "important collections" are prone to do)





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Marking a historical day with collage

by Sarah Gilbert

January 20, 2009

My six-year-old comes running to me nearly every day with a newspaper or magazine in hand, shaking it excitedly. "Mama, can you cut this out for me?" he asks, jumping up and down with glee. It's a photograph of Barack Obama, (unless it's of Michael Phelps, his other hero) and now history has clicked over one more time and these photographs will be precious memories one day.
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More of Our Favorite Activities and Things to Do in portland

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Creatures & Critters:
Our Urban Jungle

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Do, Re, Mi! Places to Hear, Sing & Play a Tune

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Artistic Endeavors:
Our Favorite Art Venues

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Room to Run:
Run, Jump & Wiggle Outdoors

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Rainy & Quiet Days:
Cozy & Crazy Indoor Fun

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A Sense of History:
Our City's Stories

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Tot's Science Fair:
Science & Nature Sites

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Splash, Spray, Play! Local Spots to Get Wet

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The Most Fun in Life Is Free!

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The Best of... Our Top Can't-Live-Without Spots

The Voice of Being Savvy portland:
Oona Baker, Sarah Gilbert

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