We love the library.  Sadly, because of preschool, we miss the story time but we still try to go regularly.  A couple of months ago we checked out a Magic School Bus DVD that my boys la-la-loved! They’ve been begging me since then for more, but sadly they are always checked out.  Well, we hit the jackpot this week and walked out with 3 (cha-ching) Magic School Bus DVD’s and our TV has been going ever since.

I had no idea these movies were so educational!  The boys are currently learning about the human body and they love it.  As we were eating breakfast H started to tell me all about the different parts in his body and I am pretty sure he didn’t learn it from me.  I give full credit to the Magic School Bus.  

I did a search and found that Scholastics has a whole site dedicated to the Magic School Bus including games, tours, parent and teacher links, and much more!  Sadly, we are having a bit of a sick day. Luckily for my boys, they will probably get to waste the day away playing the games and watching the movies.  Should I feel bad about not getting out of the house even though we are sick?  I will.  I just don’t do well sitting on my kester all day, but at least my boys will have a somewhat productive sick day inside full of Magic School Bus, homework, and some other projects I’ve got lined up.  Meanwhile, I am off to bleach everything in site!  We will not let this flu/cold bug get us down (positive thinking, right?)

We have a few things we use regularly that have really helped my boys learn their alphabet, so I thought I would share those with you….

{3-D Think & Blink Alphabet Flashcards}

Santa Claus delivered these super fun flashcards to my boys last year for Christmas.  They have loved them!  Here is a sample of what they look like….

The picture on the left is the kind where you tilt it one way and you see one picture and then you tilt it the other way and you see a different picture.  I don’t know what is so joyous about it, but my chick-a-dees love them.  

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{Leap Frog’s Letter Factory}

OH. MY.  If you have not seen this movie yet you are in for a treat.  Its slightly annoying to me and my impatient self, but seriously, it has helped my boys recognize the sounds of letters so much!  Beware:  The lyrics will be stuck in your head for days.  (Maybe thats why my boys have learned so much from it though.)

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{My LapTop from VTECH}

We invested in this baby for H (J was still pretty young) when we were going on a 20 hour drive halfway across the country.  He played it the WHOLE ENTIRE TIME (minus a few food, potty, and nap breaks).  It was heaven sent.  We have since bought a second one for J to use.  We don’t pull it out too often, maybe once or twice a week, but when we do, I have a hard time getting them to shut it off.  There are 30 different games to choose from ranging from alphabet learning to math to language skills.  

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{BrainQuest’s Pre-K Workbook}

This book cost a whopping 12 dollars and is so worth every penny of it.  It is FULL of worksheets that teach not only the alphabet but also matching, math, language skills, science, and more.  You will not be disappointed.  The only downfall that I can see is that I didn’t buy 2.  My boys do not like to share this book at all.  

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{V-Motion by VTECH}

This thing is the kid version of a Wii.  When we bought it, I didn’t realize it was educational.  I just thought it would be a great way to get my kids off their booties during our cold winters.  To my surprise, the two games we have are very educational.  The games come in different age categories, so I am sure the older you get the harder the games are, but for right now, we are sticking with alphabet games. It’s fun, it’s easy, and my boys really enjoy it.

My boys love themselves a good game!  As I type, they are patiently working on putting a puzzle together and I love it!  They are working together and really doing it on their own (for the first time…wahoo!!) So I thought I would post some of the games/puzzles we love and use often.  They are perfect gift ideas for young kids….

Oh Candy Land, you bring back many fond memories.  My sweet pops used to get down and play this game with me OFTEN when I was a child.  Only now do I realize that he was doing it strictly for me. There is nothing fun about this game for an adult, but boy oh boy do my kids love it!  Surprisingly, they play by the rules and usually with minimal debate.  

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My boys were given this game as a gift, 2 of them actually.  I don’t recall playing it as a child, but turns out it was pretty popular back in the day.  I kind of enjoy it.  My boys REALLY enjoy it.  This game is not for the faint of heart.  It could take F.O.R.E.V.E.R.  Cheating is bound to happen by mom or child, but it’s fun.  An added bonus of the fun factor:  It is educational.  It will get your child counting in no time at all!

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Oh how we love thee Diego.  This game is pretty fun.  Takes some time, once again, with little fighting.  Matching games have got to be good in helping develop their memory, right?  I personally, don’t have a very good one.  My husband on the other hand, kicks some serious bum when he plays with us.  I am hoping if my boys play the game often they will turn out more like their father.

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Much fighting happens with this game.  J tends to just grab the marbles and shove them down his hippo’s throat because he “really wants to win”.  H panics and ends the game.  My personal recommendation:  A referee is neccessary.  

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Melissa & Doug has some of the coolest kid things ever.  This puzzle is one of them and is the one my boys are trying to tackle on their own.  Really, from an adult point of view, this puzzle rocks.  We have had it for about 2 years now and my boys never get tired of it.  Every time I pull it out they get giddy with excitement.  I get giddy with excitement.  I can’t tell you what is so fun about it.  Maybe its the large size or maybe its because I don’t recall having a floor size puzzle as a child.  Whatever it is, we like and should probably get more before we wear this one out.

While browsing my way through Walmart I ran into this…

and had to have it.  

{It is awesome}

It comes with a bunch of different pieces of white paper full of patterns.  In the back of the book is some colored paper with the same designs on it, or pieces outlined that when glued together will make the pattern. 

For example….

My boys have absolutely loved cutting and gluing these together!  And honestly, I see a huge difference in their hand eye coordination because of it.  Obviously, with the more practice they get the better they will be…but why not give them practice on something super fun like this.  

Oh wait…it gets even better.  Snip It is not the only one to choose from.  Click here to see all of the different options available.  There are SO many.  Snip It was one of the beginner one, but I am thinking I need to go snag all of them up.  

We inherited a Graco baby swing from a family member.  I was hesitant on taking it because I am not a huge fan of big pieces of baby gear cluttering up my house, but I figured it was worth a try.   I am so glad I did!  This piece of equipment has made my life so much easier.  I have a good baby in the first place, but I love that when I am busy she is happily being swung into a peaceful sleep.  

{The Pro’s}

Plays music, has volume control, and a timer.

Different settings for speed.

No bars on the top which makes for ease when getting the baby in and out.

The fabric is really cute and best of all, WASHABLE.

It isnt huge and completely in the way.

Holds a lot of weight (my boys, 35lbs, sit in it often).

Seat is adjustable.

Breaks down easily for transport.

[Best of all]  My baby LOVES it!

{Cons}

Pricey (Generally around $100)

It is not huge, but it is still there. (Remember how I don’t like clutter?)

And…

that might be it.  It really is that good!

Ok, so its not real ice cream, but it sure is fun to play with.  The hubster has been camping with our youth group from church while the kidlets and I have successfully been wasting the day playing with this…..

My boys have absolutely loved this thing.  J and H spent a good three hours making ice cream for me yesterday.  Yes, you read right.

 AT. LEAST. THREE. WHOLE. HOURS.

 It was fabulous.  The only reason they stopped playing was because I made them.  It was a fight, but dinner is important right?  

So this morning I was woken up by two sweet little voices asking if they could play with it again.  

THEY. LOVE. IT.  

It is the best 15 buckaroos I have spent on a kids toy in a long time.  Well worth it.  And while they were playing I was spending my time with the cutest little gal in the world.  She has officially started laughing.  It makes my heart melt.