Yesterday I shared how we made a homemade geoboard and ways we have played with it. Today I am sharing a ton of free printable geoboard activities. You can learn all sorts of things not just math concepts. I hope you enjoy some of these free resources as much as we do.
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We heard about this a little late last year and didn’t get in on the sale. Gasp, I bought it at full price and we were rushed to get some of the things done or just picked and choose which to do. With the advent season upon us I am going to prepare Truth in the Tinsel and use it on a tray for Lil’ Red’s Tot School.
This will help us in many ways. We will have planned activities that will be done each day focusing on Jesus. Time and frustration will be saved on my part will I have a pretty busy blogging month, but do not want to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas among the hustle and bustle.
Here’s a quote from Amanda White the creator of Truth in the Tinsel An Advent Adventure for Little Hands:
“And Christmas, I think, is the best vehicle to do so. Just tonight, on the way home from Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt’s house the kids were oooohing and aaahhhhing over Christmas lights. Their excitement has already started! If I take a few minutes to plan it out and to think about it I can ride that excitement and make a huge, living impact in their lives about Jesus’ birth.
Will you join me? Will you take the first 24 days of December to impress your kids? Will you give your kids 30 minutes a day for 24 days? Will you turn down the attention and energy put into the elf on the shelf, the presents and bows, the Santa and his reindeer and pump up the focus and excitement on Jesus? Will you be flamboyant in teaching them about the greatest gift of all this year? I’m challenging you this December to help your kids find the truth in the tinsel, to experience Christmas and to get to know Jesus.”
I think Amanda sums it very nicely. The season of Christmas seems to fly right by beginning with back-to-school, Fall, Thanksgiving and then Jesus birthday! I am guilty of thinking “it’s to early to plan Christmas projects” or “we’ve got plenty of time”. Well, I’m gonna tell you NO YOU DO NOT. We do not know what tomorrow brings, but we can have hope in the Lord.
This is what I mean. Just last week I realized our first born will be 10 soon. TEN YEARS OLD already? That could mean that half of his unmarried life is already spent if he gets married young like us! That is truly earth shattering to think about. How have we prepared him to enter adulthood so far? How much more do we need t tell him? How much more wisdom can we impart on him to make his life Christ filled?
Here’s a sample page from Truth in the Tinsel:
One simple way would be to take the true meaning of Christmas and impress it upon his and his siblings hearts so they can share the good news with friends and family. So will you join me this Advent season and make a difference on your child’s life?
If you do not have children of your own then please consider gifting Truth in the Tinsel to a family with young children that you know. You may even consider gathering some supplies to help prep the crafts ahead of time:)
Please follow along with us as we discover the TRUTH in the TINSEL! There’s even a Truth In the Tinsel Facebook page to share your ideas! If you place an order and use code 2OFFER for 20% off.
Here’s a place to enter to win Truth in the Tinsel until 11/28!
WHAT WAYS DO YOU CELEBRATE ADVENT IN YOUR HOUSE? I would love to read what you do and even follow links to your posts or pictures of what you’ve done or plan to do.
Disclaimer: The links within this post may be affiliate links which would provide Something 2 Offer a small percentage of sales should you click on a link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Find more great mommy ideas here:
Want to have your tot make gifts for Christmas? How about a Simple Gift that any glue stick loving toddler will enjoy? Do you have extra scrapbook paper? How about decorative punches?
I’m sure you have business card magnets from fairs or festival cluttering up your fridge. We happen to have hundreds left over from an old business that need put to good use. What better use than something cute and cheerful fro Grandma’s fridge?
Lil’ Red loves glue sticks and I have to admit we DO NOT ALLOW him enough time to glue! Shame on me. I’m a craft loving and mess loving mom, so why not more gluing? I guess I forget that he is a “big” boy now and can handle glue sticks very well.
Some more Christmas and Advent ideas:
I heard about Tot trays from Counting Coconuts and 1plus1plus1equals1 when Lil’ Red was still too young to use them or need them. (Boy, do we need them now! He is a smart little whipper-snapper.) We have been using them off and on.
Tot trays are activities placed on a tray for your children to do. Very similar to Montessori Work Trays, (cute video about 1 1/2 yr olds) but tailored to your child or a theme you want to explore with your child. If you have girls you won’t want to miss Playing House in Maryland‘s tot trays and if you have boys check out The Princess and the Tot’s tot trays.
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Nature program- petted a Grass Spider and Collected Hickory Nuts
Homeschool Gym Day- got to learn some gun safety and take a hike. Big brother and big sister got to play kickball.
Pumpkin Patch– he got to ride in a hay wagon and pick HIS VERY OWN PUMPKIN! His first time at a pumpkin patch:)
Grandparents stopped by, so he got to see both sets in one day!
Tot School table time-He got a little wild with his markers! He took his dry erase marker to the wall next to his table area. I cleaned it up and he did it again. I took the markers away for that day. Next he wanted to work on his notebook, but ended up drawing on the wall and shelf again!
Cut Broccoli for soup– we put him in his seat to help make some yummy cheesy broccoli and carrot soup!
New Hair-do-He got a haircut by grandma and looks like a little boy- no longer a baby!
Scarecrows at local festival-Lil’ Red helped put up scarecrows made from recycled materials for a local festival. He waited patiently while mom and dad were busy securing the scarecrows (for a little while anyways)!
Outdoor time Tricycle Riding-He learned to peddle his tricycle! This was a big accomplishment. I thought he wouldn’t be tall enough until Spring. I guess we will need to clean the house up even more so he can ride around the kitchen and livingroom this Winter!
Nature Time-We went on a Nocturnal Wetland program looking to catch frogs and insects. We did not catch any, but got to see some!
Each day he amazes me at what things he knows and has picked up. His vocabulary is increasing especially if he can repeat a “bad” word or phrase that he hears others use. He thinks it is hysterical if he repeats something that drives the rest of the family nuts! That’s just a typical 2 1/2 yr. old.
