Family Fun Activities "Kid Concoctions"

I saw "Kid Concoctions" on Iowa Public Television this past weekend. My family is anxious to try some of the home projects demonstrated on the broadcast. The "Conccoctions" included fun projects usping many ready to use household items.

One project in particular we are going to try is the jello aquarium using blue jello placed in a clear plastic bag tied at the top. Inside the jello, gummy creatures were used to make fish or other sea life.

IPTV featured "Kid Concoctions" during their recent fund drive and have a activity kit available with memberships to Iowa Public Television. See www.iptv.org for more details.

This link will http://www.kidconcoctions.com/main/things.asp will take you to the kid concoctions home page which is full of downloads and activties.

Iowa Public Television - A Great Resource

Iowa Public Televicion, www.iptv.org is a wonderful resoure , in particular the "iptv for grownups" page which of full of down loadable resources for everything from excercise, teaching your child to read to how to get away from the television. I have copied resource page with all of the links listed below. My family used the iptv content regulary. Our kids really like the Kids Club House hosted by Dan Wardell.

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Resourcesdownloads
Activities and Books related to Healthy Snacks and Physical Activities- List of physical activities for young children, Part I (283 KB, PDF)- List of physical activities for young children, Part II (131 KB, PDF)- List of healthy snacks, Part I (370 KB, PDF)- List of healthy snacks, Part II (349 KB, PDF)
Arthur Glasses Pattern
- Arthur Glasses Pattern (444 KB, PDF)
Current IPTV Kids Schedule
- Fall 2007 IPTV Kids Schedule (PDF)
Every Child Reads Information
Fiction Books: Suggestions for Reading to 3- to 5-year-olds
English (130 KB, PDF)
Spanish (166 KB, PDF)
Non-Fiction Books: Suggestions for Reading to 3- to 5-year-olds
English (120 KB, PDF)
Spanish (126 KB, PDF)
Read With Me: Birth to 3 Years
English (120 KB, PDF)
Spanish (126 KB, PDF)
How Can Parents Help Their Children Build Strong Language Skills
English (49 KB, PDF)
Spanish (50 KB, PDF)
Teaching New Words from Books
English (50 KB, PDF)
Spanish (53 KB, PDF)
Teaching New Words to Children
English (50 KB, PDF)
Spanish (51 KB, PDF)
Ways to Read to Children
English (48 KB, PDF)
Spanish (49 KB, PDF)
Family Messages
- This section is a collection of more than 50 messages that educators are encouraged to use to increase family involvement in a child's education. Most of the messages center around what families can do at home to improve the success of their children in school. The messages are short and clear and can be used in a variety of ways.
Favorite IPTV & PBS Resources Handouts
- Early Math and Science Resources
- Online Resources for Families & Educators Working with Families
- Spanish Language Resources for Families & Educators
Healthy Minutes
- Healthy Minutes Downloads
IPTV Ready To Learn eNews - monthly electronic newsletter
- June 2007 (51 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- May 2007 (79 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Summer Reading
- April 2007 (73 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Springtime Fun
- March 2007 (67 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Get Movin'
- February 2007 (65 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Tips for Reading Aloud with Preschoolers
- January 2007 (59 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: No More Mad for Me Class for Early Care and Education Providers
- December 2006 (49 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Finding and Sharing Great Kids’ Books
- November 2006 (58 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Reading Aloud to Build Comprehension
- October 2006 (51 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: My Very First Family Book Club
- September 2006 (51 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Separation Anxiety
- August 2006 (48 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- July 2006 (56 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- June 2006 (68 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Planning Ahead for a Successful Start to Kindergarten
- May 2006 (60 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Summer Reading FUN for Young Children
- April 2006 (56 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Encouraging Children to be Scientists
- March 2006 (52 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Using Television and Other Forms of Media to Teach Vocabulary and Enhance Language Development
- February 2006 (53 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Teaching Children New Words Through Conversations
- January 2006 (52 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Messages Encouraging Families to be Involved in Their Children’s Education
- December 2005 (54 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Some Favorite Online Resources for Families and Educators Working with Families
- November 2005 (53 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: A Look at the Research on Readiness for School
- October 2005 (46 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Kids & TV
- September 2005 (66 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Learning and Teaching in Preschool
- August 2005 (39 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- July 2005 (39 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- June 2005 (50 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- May 2005 (53 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Summer Reading FUN for Young Children
- April 2005 (64 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Vocabulary
- March 2005 (144 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Helping Children Develop Fine Motor Skills
- February 2005 (52 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Encouraging Young Children to be Physically Active
- January 2005 (49 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: The RTL Learning Triangle
- December 2004 (52 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Family Involvement
- November 2004 (48 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Dealing with Feelings: Emotional Health
- October 2004 (60 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Early Childhood Mathematics: Promoting Good Beginnings
- September 2004 (70 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Phonological Awareness
- August 2004 (51 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: Story Retelling and Why it is Important for Young Children
- July 2004 (37 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- June 2004 (35 KB, PDF) no monthly feature article
- May 2004 (24 KB, PDF) monthly feature article: READING ROCKS! Motivation for Struggling Readers
IPTV's Ready To Learn One-sheet Flyer
- IPTV's Ready To Learn One-sheet Flyer (220 KB, PDF)
Learning Triangle Activity Sheets
December
Birth to 2 years old
Colors
English (126 KB, PDF)
Spanish (128 KB, PDF)
Numbers
English (128 KB, PDF)
Spanish (131 KB, PDF)
3 years old - Kindergarten
Counting, Number Concepts
English (123 KB, PDF)
Spanish (123 KB, PDF)
Winter
English (121 KB, PDF)
Spanish (121 KB, PDF)
Provider
Feelings
English (127 KB, PDF)
Winter
English (125 KB, PDF)

November 2007
Birth to 2 years old
Families
English (132 KB, PDF)
Spanish (134 KB, PDF)
Food
English (131 KB, PDF)
Spanish (130 KB, PDF)
3 years old to Kindergarten
Families
English (118 KB, PDF)
Spanish (117 KB, PDF)
Food
English (122 KB, PDF)
Spanish (121 KB, PDF)
Provider
Families
English (125 KB, PDF)
Food
English (127 KB, PDF)

Learning Triangle Planning Outline
- Learning Triangle Planning Outline (130 KB, DOC)
- Learning Triangle Planning Outline (77 KB, PDF)
Sesame Workshop's View & Do (A Monthly Viewing Guide for Sesame Street & Dragon Tales)
December 2007
English (465 KB, PDF)
Spanish (497 KB, PDF)
Tips to Tame the Tube
- English (97 KB, PDF)- Spanish (1.15 MB, PDF)



© Copyright 2007 Iowa Public Television

Youth Sports

Our third grader had the opportunity to play in a 3 on 3 basketball tournement this past weekend. This was a first for her and I. A couple of weeks ago we contacted three of her friends and assembled our team. We practiced two nights in our elementary school gym. The three other fathers and I passed on our wisdom of how to play basketball.
My goal was to make this a fun event while at the same time making sure the girls were able to pass, dribble and shoot.

For the most part the girls were extremely focused. They wanted to figure out signals and run a play. The dads showed them the old "Give and Go". One of the unique things about the format of this tournement was no parental coaching would be allowed during the games. The girls had to appoint a captain and also handle the game substitutions. The girls worked hard and allowed their competitive spirits to shine. The girls tactually wanted to run "touch and go's" at the end of the first practice. The dads were proud.

Finally the big day arrived. We found out we were the only third grade team and we would be playing two fourth grade teams. The girls were nervouse, the dads were nervous. The dads put together our best Knute Rockne speaches about working hard and having fun. Just do your best and the game would take care of itself.

The girls won one game and lost three. Hoever, two of the losses were very close and could have gone either way. Our team ended up in second place! The girls each won a trophy. Judging by the reaction on their faces you would have thought it was the NCAA Championship! The dads were extremely proud.

My daughter loves sports and is very driven for a third grader. I often ask myself am I pushing to hard and expecting to much. I make every effort to talk and listen to her and make sure she is smiling. I also make sure that the sports do not interfere with school. She knows school comes first and if grades change sports go away. I am happy that she is active and physically fit. So far so good. The sports connection is also a way for her and I to maintain our special bond that we have shared since birth. I am hoping that the sports link will keep us together during the upcomming difficult years.

Thanksgiving

The holidays are fast approaching. Our young children are excited for the family dinners. While my wife and I prepare to attend a family lunch with my family and dinner with her family it is important to remember what Thanksgiving is all about and to take time to make sure the kids understand that we are taking time out of our daily lives to spend time with those who we care about and be grateful for our families, health, jobs, etc. My wife and I also make it a point to discuss with our kids the importance of our family and being close with each other. We plan after the big Thanksgiving dinner a event for four the four of us. We will rent movies and play board games. My son and I will make a roaring fire and the girls we pop popcorn and other treats. We want to spend quality time together playing and laughing while also talking about what is going on within all of our lifes. This is a fun evening for us.

Home and School

This blog will contain positve information about family life including fun time, sports and hobbies, School issues and any other positive information that can be provided that may benefit families with elementarty school age children