I Spy Jar {The Very Quiet Cricket}

As part of the Virtual Book Club for Kids, Miss E and I read The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle.  I created an I Spy Jar for my daughter to hunt for the bug characters in the book.

I filled a jar with dyed green rice, artificial flowers, and pictures of bugs in the book.  The pictures were laminated with clear packaging tape to give more durability.  I filled the jar a little more than 3/4 full with rice to allow room to shake and move the rice and pictures.  If your child is likely to dump out the contents, seal the lid shut with packaging tape.


Miss E and I made an I Spy worksheet to help hunt for the bugs.  She glued the pictures onto a sheet of a paper and we wrote the names of each bug next to it's picture. She helped identify and write the first letters.


The I Spy Jar has been endlessly entertaining for Miss E.  She gets a kick out of shaking the jar and looking for the bugs. This activity supports reading comprehension since children learn the characters in the story.  Writing words together and identifying first sounds and letters in words fosters early literacy skills.  Identifying bug names builds science knowledge.  Moving, holding, and shaking the jar helps kids develop gross motor skills and hand and arm strength.

My one complaint of this activity is the pictures tend to pile up together probably because of the static caused by all the shaking.  This is easily remedied by taking out the pictures and mixing them up again in the jar.  This may not happen if they were glued to thicker paper or cardboard.  Plastic toy bugs would probably be the best, but the pictures allow for a budget friendly alternative.  In addition, I suggest a wider mouthed jar because it can be hard to get the pictures out of a smaller opening.

Our I Spy Jar is just one of many other fabulous activities for the The Very Quiet Cricket Virtual Book Club. Check out the links below for other great ideas.  If you have a blog post with an idea based on the book, please share it in the blog hop below.

{We Get It} Jealousy

It's normal for young children to adore the attention of their mothers, but some kids feel negatively when their mothers need to pay attention to someone else.  My daughter shows jealousy when my husband and I hug by trying to separate us.  It took her awhile to get accustomed to our new cat because she didn't like it that I showed someone else, the cat, love.

Since I have a girl who acts jealous,  I have been waiting eagerly for this week's We Get It post on jealousy by Angelique from Angeliquefelix.com: The Magic of Play.  Angelique is a mother of a beautiful six year old girl who is passionate about educating others on the importance of play and developing the whole child through play, music, drama, art, massage, and learning.

Click here to read Angelique's perspective on parenting an only child who displays jealousy.  She offers a mindful and loving approach to handling this negative behavior.  Her introspection offers a valuable lesson for us all.   

For more positive advice from parents who have handled challenging situations with their kids, go to the We Get It Page for links to other articles in the series.  Next week Kim from The Educators' Spin on It will be sharing her experience with parenting a strong willed child.  

Joy in Minutes #19

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Jump!

Natural Playhouse {Outdoor Play Party}

Welcome to another Outdoor Play Party hosted by myself, Mama Pea Pod, Greening Sam and Avery, Learning for Life, and our newest host The Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
  
I have always admired natural playhouses like a tree branch teepee, sunflower fort, and bean pole teepee, but I haven't found the time to make one.  While in our backyard, I realized two of our trees form a natural canopy creating a little den.  In the nook, I set out a tray of colored water and various toys.  


It creates the illusion of a secret playhouse, and she enjoyed imaginary and sensory play here.  She has grown weary of her play corner in the yard because it's so hot from lack of shade, so she relished the protection from the sun brought by the trees.  Being enclosed by these natural walls captured the spirit of play because she stayed for over an hour engrossed in creating a play scene. 

Some other outdoor fun we have had is growing sunflowers, painting with bikes, exploring flowers, and lying in the grass.  
I just LOVED all the outdoor play ideas you shared at the last Outdoor Play Party.  Thank you!  
There's no better place for messy play than the outdoors, and Growing a Jeweled Rose isn't afraid to get messy with her little girls.  She shared play with shaving cream and bubble wrap.  Her daughter sure POPPED with excitement for it!  

Photo by Growing a Jeweled Rose
Now, it's your turn to share your outdoor play with kids!  

We'd appreciate it if you included a link back to this post (either in your post or sidebar) to help us spread the word about the importance (and fun!) of outdoor play! In return, we'll gladly further share your post on Facebook/ Twitter/ Pinterest. Please feel free to grab the Outdoor Play Party button from the sidebar and/or include a text link back.

Please note that by contributing you are giving permission for an image and link to your post to be republished if featured. (If you have been featured, please feel free to grab the 'featured' button from the sidebar.) Share your ideas for outdoor play activities with us every other week! The linky goes live every second Friday at 12:01 GMT+1. 


This post is linked up to the Weekly Kids Co-Op.

Grow Sunflowers with Kids

This is the second year that Miss E grew her own sunflowers. Take a look at last year's flower garden.

I designate a small garden patch by creating a stone border and filing it with soil.  Here in Central TX, our rocky soil is hard for little hands to dig, and that's why I add a top layer of rich, loose soil.  In areas with good soil, you can plant directly into dirt.

Miss E is given the responsibility of planting the seeds and tending to her garden.  She diligently watered her garden for over two months.


And her care, persistence, and patience paid off.  

She grew something TALLER than herself, and she experienced the satisfaction that comes from watching something beautiful emerge from her daily effort.  

Have you tried growing sunflowers with your kids?  It's pretty hard to grow much here in HOT Texas, so if my four year old can do it, I bet your kids can too.  Happy Gardening!
This post is linked up to It's Playtime!, Weekly Kids' Co-Op, Link & Learn,  Sunday Showcase, and the Flower, Plant, & Garden Blog Hop.

The Golden Gleam Celebrates the First Year!

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One year ago, I started The Golden Gleam because I wanted to document the joy that I was bringing to my daughter's life.  By focusing on the beauty of parenting in the present, I hoped I could see the abundance of love and light in my life (Gratitude for Time and Place). Little Laundry Helper was my first post, and my audience consisted of a handful of friends and family who gave me a standing ovation with the loudest applause coming from my mom.  Thank you, Mom, for being my biggest fan. 

Most Popular Post

Now, sometimes close to a 1,000 people read my blog each day, and it still makes me happy when my mom (and other readers) leave thoughtful comments.  Thank you, dear readers, for lifting me up with your praise.  It's these positive comments from readers that make what I do worthwhile.  It's wonderful to know that my words, ideas, pictures and feelings have positively influenced another person's life even if only in a small way.  Here are some of the wonderful comments I have received. 

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 Thank you so much for this series! You have inspired me to create wonderful play experiences that will become happy memories for my children :)-HappyMumma on Devote Time to Play 

Sometimes we just let too many "other things" get in our way and we need a gentle reminder of how pretty life can be... - Wanda on Pinterest Pin for Earth Friendly Meal 

 I'm a little teary reading this. I've never read my son's behavior described in such a loving way. He needs to touch everything....I've had a lot of conversations with people eager to put a label on this behavior. Thank you for writing about it in such a positive and understanding way. -Meg on Kids who Touch Everything

I can tell you have a teacher's heart. Wonderful post. And your blog looks so cheerful.  -Susan Case on Egg Carton Math  

The Golden Gleam has a magical series call “Joy in Minutes”. The posts in this series are short and sweet and offer simple ways to find joy in the little moments. - Ness at One Perfect Day

Most Popular Outdoor Post

The Golden Gleam's growth could not be possible without my fellow Kid Friendly Bloggers.  They have offered invaluable knowledge, inspiration, and support that have allowed me to dream big dreams and motivate me to continue the daily effort of creating,writing, and promoting my blog.  

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So one year after the start of my blog, my blog has a brighter look and more readers. But I am most proud that I have maintained my original vision for my blog of sharing inspiration for joyful, playful, and thoughtful parenting.  


Thank you for following along with me, and I hope you continue this parenting journey with me.  

{We Get It} Perfectionism

Some kids are afraid to make mistakes.  They don't want to color outside the lines.  When they first learn to write, they get frustrated with their inability to form perfectly shaped letters.  They might be uneasy about trying something new because they are afraid they won't do it right.  While being a high achiever can be positive in many ways, it can cause a child stress.

This week's We Get It post about perfectionism is written by Jen from Kitchen Counter Chronicles.  She is a mother of two girls who is an amazing cook, writer, crafter, and lover of the green life.  

Photo by Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Click here to read about Jen's views on her daughter's perfectionism. Jen shares how she helps her daughter manage her perfectionism,  and she gives ideas that help her daughter take risks.  If you have child who is afraid to try something new because of a fear of making a mistake, you don't want to miss Jen's wisdom about mothering a child with perfectionism.

For more parenting advice from mom parents who have gone through tough issues with their own kids,  head on over to the We Get It Page .  Next week, AngeliqueFelix.com- The Magic of Play will be writing about her insights on parenting a child with jealousy.