Felt Board Stories

Wonderful Ways to Love a Child

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:17:00 +0000

Wonderful Ways to Love a Child
By Judy Ford , 1944

Really love yourself.
Allow them to love themselves.
Learn about parenting.
Handle your children with loving care.
Give your presence, empty of distractions.
Listen from your heart
Speak kindly.
Encourage, encourage.
Try to understand, even the things not said with words.
Answer their questions.
Ask their opinions.
Learn from them.
Say yes as often as possible
Say no when necessary.
Honor their noes, because they sometimes mean “Not now,” or “I’m not ready.”
Celebrate mistakes, teach your children not to be afraid of failure.
Admit your mistakes
Touch gently
Teach that all feelings are acceptable. Feelings are neither right nor wrong.
Speak to their true feelings by helping them discover feeling they cannot express.
Let them cry.
Don’t hide your tears.
Make room for the crankies and the quarrels by managing conflicts and negative feelings, and not by suppressing them.
Teach values by example.
Honor their differences.
Share your dreams.
Change your routine, take a chance, try a new approach.
Laugh, dance, and sing together
Call them love names.
Send them love letters
Build lots of blanket forts
Fly kites together
Lighten up, don’t be so strict and serious all the time.
Take time away, you and your children need some time away from each other.
Read books aloud.
Create a circle of quiet by learning to slow down and take life a little more easy.
Play hooky together.
Don’t let guilt keep you from breaking away.
Go barefoot
Frame their art and hang it on the wall.
Stay up late together.
Delight in silliness, don’t forget to have fun in life.
Splash a lot, and have a playful squirt-gun water fight.
Giggle.
Keep messes in perspective. Remember that happiness is more important than an immaculate house.
Enjoy dinner together.
Generate family festivals: Simple, fancy, planned and unplanned.
Thank them for the little things
Focus on the joy they bring
Believe in possibilities by trusting in God’s divine nature.
Open up to the miracle of transformation
Remember that they have not been on the earth very long.
Marvel at how they are growing.
Let them help.
Cherish the innocence.
Listen for the spiritual language.
Build family-friendly neighborhoods.
Let go when it’s time
Let them come back
Show them compassion and ask for theirs
Protect all our children

Keep them in your hearts and in your prayers.It is not enough to feel love for your child; you must be able to express your love through your words and actions.

If you enjoy this update, forward it to a friend!
www.glitterfulfeltstories.com

New Stone Soup Flannel Board Felt Board Story

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 21:24:00 +0000

New to Glitterful Felt Stories!

Stone Soup Felt Board Story!!
$12.00

www.glitterfulfeltstories.com
www.funfeltstories.com

Free Shipping at Our Etsy Store!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Summer Water Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Summer is almost here and the weather is starting to warm up! Time for my favorite activity that I love to do with my kids!

Materials:

*Paint Brushes
*Buckets
*Water
*Outside walls or fences

Directions:

Let the children be as creative as possible by painting fences or walls with the water! This is an amazing activity to allow your children to express their creativity!

Nature Collage Coasters

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:23:00 +0000

This is a fun craft to do with almost all ages of children!

Ingredients:

*Grass or leaves that can be pressed flat
*4" cardboard circles
*4 1/2" squares of clear self-adhesive contact paper

Directions:

1. Lay the grass or leaves between two pieces of newspaper. Place heavy books on top of them and leave them for one day.

2. Have the kids arrange the cuttings on the cardboard circles. Then use a small amount of glue to hold them down.

3. Help the children lay the contact paper over the circles. Trim any excess contact paper around the edges.

Suggestion: Have the children go on a nature hunt to collect their favorite leaves and grass clippings.

Our Mother's Day Gift To You! Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:58:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day!!

At Glitterful Felt Stories we LOVE all our Mother's! We want to offer a free* "Tiny Tim" felt story to all our wonderful customers!

To redeem your free* Mother's Day gift from us, please visit our new partner website www.funfeltstories.com. Select "Tiny Tim" felt story and add to your cart. At checkout use the coupon code Mothers at checkout.

We hope that you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

This coupon is valid to be redeemed on Mother's Day only
(May 9th from 1amPST - 11:59pmPST!
(*Buyer must pay for shipping)

Make Your Own Crystal Garden With Your Kids!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Your children will love watching these beautiful crystals grow!

Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup ammonia
* 1/4 cup non-iodized salt
* 1/4 cup water
* 1/4 cup liquid bluing
* a couple pieces of charcoal
* food coloring

Directions:

1. Mix ammonia, salt, water and bluing in the mixing bowl
2. Put charcoal in the bottom of the ceramic or glass bowl
3. Pour liquid mixture over the charcoal
4. Drop food coloring onto the garden
5. Let stand and wait for crystals to appear!

Tip!

*Crystals will form overnight!
*Adding more water and ammonia every few days can encourage the growth of more crystals!

Make Homemade Potpourri with Kids for Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:35:00 +0000

Ingredients:

* 1/2 teaspoon flower oil (tea rose, lavender or rose geranium)
* 1/2 cup of eight different kinds of flowers picked from your yard or park. Have your children choose the flowers to be picked. :)

Directions:

1. Place dry ingredients in bowl.
2. Spoon flower oil over dry ingredients
3. Blend Mixture.

Suggestions:

*To dry flowers, pull off petals, spread them evenly on a screen and store in a dark, dry place for about a week.

*Set potpourri out in a bowl for one day before wrapping in cloth.

*Make a sweet smelling sachet. Wrap potpourri in a lace handkerchief or square pretty fabric. Tie with a ribbon

Free Five Little Monkey's Jumping On The Bed Felt Story!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:34:00 +0000

We would love to give away one of our favorite felt board stories to one lucky reader!
Five Little Monkey's Jumping on the Bed!

You can also purchase the story on either of our websites

http://www.glitterfulfeltstories.com/ or http://www.funfeltstories.com/

To enter to win:

Follow our blog here!
Leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!

We will end the giveaway on April 21, 2010 at 11:59pm PST. Giveaway is open to all readers worldwide! Winner will be chosen via random.org

Textured Bunny Cards

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:06:00 +0000

This is a fun activity to make for your younger children!

Draw an outline of a bunny shape on each of twelve index cards and divide the cards into pairs. On each pair glue bunny tail shapes made from the same kind of textured material (sandpaper, cotton balls, velvet, corduroy, etc.)

Mix up the cards and let the children take turns matching the bunnies by the textures of their tails!

Make Space Clay!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:22:00 +0000

This is a fun clay to make for your children to play with!

Ingredients:

* 2 Cups white glue
* 1 1/2 cups water at room temperature
* 1 Cup hot water
* 2 1/2 level Tbl. Borax
* Food Coloring

Directions

* Combine glue and room temperature water. Blend thoroughly. Add food coloring.
* In a larger bowl, combine hot water and borax, stirring until borax is completely dissolved.
* Slowly pour glue mixture into borax mixture, stirring constantly

Suggestions:

* The final mixing stage may require 2 or 3 students to help stir.
* Space Clay will not stick to dry surfaces, but may stick to wet or damp clothing and surfaces.
* Keeps for at least 5 days in an uncovered bowl, longer if bowl is covered with a damp cloth.

Children can cut Space Clay with a plastic knife, tear it apart with their hands, or watch it slowly "melt" off the edge of the table. Make more than one color of Space Clay and mix them together for a marbled effect!

Making Stone Soup Preschool Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:02:00 +0000

Pick up a stone and put it in the pot,
Pick up a stone and put it in the pot,
Pick up a stone and put it in the pot,
Making Stone Soup Today!

expand on this song by letting the children name other ingredients for the soup!

Make A Rock Sorter Preschool Activity

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:59:00 +0000

Make a rock sorter by cutting four or five holes from large to small in the top of a shoe box. Give the children a number of different sized rocks. Then let them sort their rocks in the rock sorter by placing each rock in the hole closest to it's size!

This is a wonderful activity to teach children about sizes and also a wonderful language opportunity!

Snowflakes Are Falling Preschool Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:46:00 +0000

With all the snow falling I thought this would be a fun song to post today!

Snowflakes Are Falling
(To the tune of Mary had a little lamb)

Snowflakes falling,
from the sky,
from the sky,
from the sky.
Snowflakes falling
from the sky.
To the earth below.

Watch them as they
Dance and whirl
Dance and whirl
Dance and whirl
Watch them as they dance and whirl
Soft white winter snow!

Indoor Balloon Race's

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:34:00 +0000

Here is a great balloon activity you can sponsor without have to find a helium tank.

Tape a short length of plastic straw to the top of each balloon (already blown-up). Set up pairs of chairs a room-length apart, and cut string long enough to stretch between the backs. Feed the string through a straw on one of the balloons, then tie the ends to a pair of chair backs. Repeat this procedure for each player, then start the clock. This time everyone will have to blow the balloons while walking. One important rile: Players may not touch the balloons in any way.

On your mark, get set, blow!

(This activity is intended for older children only! Younger children should not play with balloons because of the possibility of suffocation!!)

Spoon Fun Rainy Day Game

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:37:00 +0000

Here's an entertaining and challenging activity you can do with an individual child or a whole bunch of kids!

The idea is simple! Hold a ping-pong ball on a spoon and walk around the house. But what if you make it more challenging? For example, see if your child can get around the house following a certain course without dropping the ball. As your child gets better at it, make up an obstacle course or a list of tasks to be done with your child's free hand, like moving a book from one table to another, opening and closing a door or drawer, patting his or her head, and so on!

If your child is older, see if he or she can hop around the course without dropping the ball. To really boost the difficulty, place the ball on an infant or medicine spoon.

Groups of kids can have the spoon races or play hide and seek: all of the people who are hiding must balance a ping-pong ball on a spoon as they dash for a hiding spot. If it falls, that's where they have to hide!

Make Your Own Ant Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Materials Needed:

* Two Jars
* Soil
* Ants
* Cereal or candy for Ants

Directions:

This activity shows you how to make an ant farm with a few common household items.

All you need is a clear, large, wide-mouth plastic container and a smaller plastic container or drinking glass that fits inside, leaving a space about one-half to three-quarters of an inch wide. Careful- if the space is too wide, you won't be able to see the tunnels.

Fill up the area between the two containers with dirt. Add ants from your garden or back yard, and place a screen over the top for air. (If you can dig up a queen ant - she's larger - you'll extend the life of the ant farm.) Every few days drop in a bit of candy, jam or cereal. In a week or so, you should have a top-notch tunneling operation.

When your child has finished observing the ant farm, have him or her release the inhabitants back into the yard - their natural habitat. This is a good way to foster respect for all the critters on the planet!

Adopt A Tree Family Activity

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:52:00 +0000

The next time you take a walk, encourage your children to "adopt" a tree in a park or other public place. This makes for a personal connection between your child and his or her environment, and also builds a sense of local knowledge. Explain that no one can really own a tree, but that a person can take on the role of the tree's special friend and caretaker.

What are the responsibilities of tree keepers? First and foremost, they must get to know the tree- do bark rubbings with crayons and paper in the winter, look for flowers and fruits in the spring, and do leaf rubbings in the summer.

One walks, your child should bring along a drink of water for the tree. Older kids might also keep a little "log book", noting the tree's characteristics: height, leaf color, flowering time, fragrance, and so on. In addition, you might show your child how to use a tape measure - and note the tree's girth on a chart.

Finally, be sure to take pictures of your child standing next to the adopted tree once or twice a year. As your child gets older, the three will serve as a reminder of the patterns of growth common to all the residents of your community.

I would also recommend reading the book, "The Giving Tree" with your children!

I'm a Happy Little Heart Valentine's Day Preschool Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:06:00 +0000

Sing to the tune "little white duck"

I'm a happy little heart
That's pink and white and red,

A happy little heart
with lace around my edge.

I have three words
on the front side of me

That say, "I love you,"
Oh, Can't you see?

I'm a happy little heart
That's pink and white and red.
Happy Little Heart!

This Little Heart Valentine's Day Preschool Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:02:00 +0000

This little heart is here to say
(wiggle thumb)

That this little heart loves you today.
(wiggle index finger)

These little hearts
(wiggle next three fingers)

Wish Mom, Dad and you
A terrific Valentine's Day, through and through!

I'm a Little Groundhog Preschool Groundhog Day Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:51:00 +0000

I'm A Little Groundhog
(Sing to I'm a Little Teapot)

I'm a little groundhog, furry and brown,
See me pop while I look around,
If I see my shadow, down I'll go
Six more weeks of winter, oh no!

Heart Puzzle Box Valentine's Day Craft

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:54:00 +0000

Trace around a heart-shaped candy box on a piece of red or pink construction paper or poster board. Cut out the heart shape, then cut it into puzzle pieces. Then let the children take turns using the box as a puzzle holder while putting the pieces of the heart together.

I've Got a Big Red Heart Valentine's Day Preschool Song

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:50:00 +0000

Sing to: "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

I've got a big red heart,
I've got a big red heart,
I've got a big red heart
That I will give to you.

It brings you love and kisses,
It brings you love and kisses,
It brings you love and kisses
Because you are my friend

VALENTINE'S DAY SONGS & ACTIVITIES!

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:45:00 +0000

It's almost time! We will be adding new posting's here every day to help get our little one's excited about Valentine's Day!

I've got a big red heart Song

Heart Puzzle Box Craft

This little heart song

I'm a happy little heart song

PLAY DOUGH IMPRESSIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Shelby Barone) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:37:00 +0000

You can purchase play dough at the store, or make some of your own with flour, salt and water. Add in food coloring if you want to color the play dough you make.

Have your child close their eyes, and press something into the play dough, like a coin, a belt buckle, a watch band - or anything that has a pattern that will leave a mark on the play dough.

Then show the play dough to your child and ask if she can guess what made the mark? If she has trouble guessing, show her how you made the mark in the play dough. Then let her make an impression in the play dough while you are not looking.

She will have a great time trying to make impressions that you will not be able to guess!

Here is a recipe for play dough that does not need cooking! (Very simple)

Mix together:
* 1 cup flour
* 1/2 cup salt
* a little less than 1/2 cup water (just enough for the dough to mix together)

This activity helps your child learn about patterns. When she sees a copy of an object in the play dough, and figures out what it was, she is building her problem-solving and memory skills!