Monthly Archives

October 2016

Why Puzzles Are Important for Fine Motor Skills Development

Cognitive activities for toddlers encourage logical thinking, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills development, and more. Puzzles can play a significant role in developing these skills, as even a simple jigsaw puzzle engages a child on multiple levels. Personalized puzzles help children learn the letters of their name and introduce beginning pre-reading skills.   Children need to explore their world and, equally important, interact with it. Making a puzzle offers opportunity for children to do just

How to Improve Reading Habits

Developing reading skills is a vital part of any child’s learning, and one which can have long lasting effects. A life-long love of reading is associated with a love of learning, creativity, and imagination. Learning how to improve reading habits helps parents ensure that their children experience the special joy of getting lost in a good book. Make Reading Fun If we were told we could only give one answer to the question “how to

10 Halloween Adventures Inspired by I See Me! Books

Looking for ideas for a Halloween costume for your child? Browse the books on iseeme.com with your child to come up with ideas! Your child will have not only a clever costume but also a “story” that goes along with it! Here are 10 dress-up ideas inspired by I See Me! books (for Halloween and year-round dress-up/pretend play, too!): 1.    Princess:  Awaken your child’s inner princess by helping her get dressed up in a

How to Make Studying Fun

With the start of school comes homework and studying—activities many kids find stressful, frustrating, or just plain boring. Homework doesn’t have to be a negative experience, however. Try some of the following tips and learn how to make studying fun. Start with Excitement Parents sometimes sabotage themselves when children start studying—it’s easy to remember our own adverse experiences with homework and assume our children will react in similar ways. If kids pick up on this

Controlling Halloween Candy Consumption

Halloween is a major celebration if you’re a kid. You get to dress up in costume and go out in public, roaming the neighborhood or local shopping center asking for treats. Sometimes it’s a little scary, but the brave kid knows the house with all the spooky decorations is also likely to be the one with the best candy. From an adult perspective, Halloween’s a little nerve-wracking. Complete strangers are handing your child candy, and

5 Custom Halloween Bags

Plastic Halloween jack-o-lantern treat buckets may get the trick-or-treating job done on October 31st, but they’re hardly the most imaginative candy containers. Instead, why not give your little one a Halloween bag that stands out from the crowd? We’ve got five suggestions for unique, fun, and slightly spooky custom Halloween bags and buckets. Frankenstein’s Monster Cereal Bags These bags are fun to make with kids, and have an added advantage—they don’t hold huge amounts of

Homemade Halloween Costumes for Kids

Halloween’s coming up fast, and the stores are filling with pre-made children’s costumes. You’ve got zombies, ghouls, and monsters to pick from—choices which many parents understandably shy away from. You’ve also got an abundance of outfits based on whatever Hollywood franchise is hot this year, whether or not it’s appropriate to use as a child’s costume. This year, why not bypass the store-bought costumes in favor of homemade Halloween costumes for kids? A little preparation

How to Make a Family Cookbook

Food is at the center of many family traditions, whether it’s a fourth of July BBQ, a religious holiday, or a birthday. Most families have a set of favorite recipes they make again and again which bring up memories of childhood and special moments. A family cookbook captures these movements, preserving recipes that might otherwise get lost in the hustle and bustle of life. With word processing and small-scale self-publishing, it’s easier than ever to

5 Gifts for a Newborn Baby

Choosing gifts for a newborn baby can be both fun and challenging. Do you go for the lovely plush toy or much-needed clothing? Is a practical gift best, or would a timeless keepsake be more appropriate? Our advice? Don’t stress about it. As long as it’s a thoughtful gift parents and child will be delighted. With that in mind, here’s a few possible ideas to help you choose the perfect gift. Personalized Books At I