In honor of #WorldTeachersDay, I wanted to do a post to celebrate my love for learning and educational experiences. My professional background is in Early Childhood Education. Before becoming a mother, I taught kindergarten and first grade, tutored children in various grade levels, developed curriculum, conducted professional development sessions and taught college teacher preparation courses. Some of this I still do professionally but I mostly enjoy pouring my knowledge and training into my children. I take my role as their first teacher very seriously and with great pride.
My oldest daughter is in a toddler-three year old program. My youngest is home with me during the day. I am intentional about incorporating learning in their everyday experiences. This includes when we travel as well. Here are some things that are good to pack to encourage learning while you travel.
A few things that I like to pack for our family adventures that you may find beneficial for your little ones includes the following items:
Chick-Fil-A Books- these are great collectibles from the kids meals. They are small, easy to pack, cover a range of topics, and are very convenient. These are typically available upon request and is considered a 3yr old and under.
Flash Cards and subject books- these serve as great items to use for drills and practice. They are typically very inexpensive and easy for the kids to manipulate. These were purchased from Target for just $1 each. Additional topics are available and increase in difficulty by age.
Brain Quest- funny thing, I remember my 3rd grade teacher using these with us as we lined up to transition to the next activity like going to lunch, recess, or an elective class. I was tickled pink to see them in the store. They pose various riddles and ask questions that develop comprehension, critical thinking, general knowledge and problem solving skills.
Activity coloring packs- these come in different themes that appeal to children. The learning packs include stickers, crayons, and a coloring book that has a story line to read along with. The color wonder packs includes mess free markers that makes them easy to use anywhere.
Board book boxes- these are very convenient, easy to pack, and an awesome way to have books covering various topics in one storage container. They are also easy to manipulate and encourage your child to be responsible for keeping up with them.
Children’s Magazines- these are fun for kids to receive in the mail for their monthly subscriptions. They also enjoy reading them in public spaces like adults do when reading newspapers and magazines. Most times, they also include word puzzles, coloring pages, activities, and picture finds.
Fostering lifelong learning and daily exploration is fun for me to do with the kiddos. I enjoy working with the girls on developing their academic skills. Making it engaging for them allows them to be involved and take pleasure in the process. In addition to the learning tools used during our travels, I always incorporate a day of exploration on our trips to include a visit to the local zoo, children’s theatre or museum, city art tour, historical monuments, and other attractions. Creating these family moments and making memories with my children is the absolute highlight of being their first teacher.
Enjoy teaching! Xoxo