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The Best STEM Toys for the Holiday Season
STEM toys are some of my favorite gifts to give children. If you’ve read my blog, you know I love giving STEM gifts as a way to make learning fun. I’ve found great Stem books in the past that got my kids excited about learning and over the years I’ve found all sorts of toys to keep their minds sharp. Right now it’s prime time to get shopping for STEM gifts for the holiday season. Around here it’s never too early. I plan my shopping out all year round actually so that I get the best deals, and on line shopping helps. This year, I am hunting for STEM toys…
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Our Solar System Learning Unit
Our Solar System is full of wonder. There was a time when my oldest daughter was young when she read all the things about the solar system. She was as interested in planets and solar system as she was into dinosaurs before that. This month I figured I would share a great cosmic learning unit to help get kids back into the swing of learning. You can use this seven page learning unit now or save it for later when school is in. And if you homeschool you are welcome to print it out and use it. Our Solar System is genuinely incredible. Solar System Facts Did you know there…
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Social Media Issues – How Ontario Teachers Navigate the Waters
Social media issues can be challenging. It’s a field that is in a constant state of flux. Facebook changes its algorithm. Twitter offers a new feed. One network wanes while another jets off into the stratosphere. And just when you think you have it all figured out, suddenly your high schooler comes home talking about some new chat service that nobody over the age of 20 has EVER heard of before. Social media issues can be a real danger to both children and the teachers responsible for their education. Teachers are the people who spend 5 to 6 hours a day with your child. They need to know how to navigate the…
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Mystery Puzzles Package for Your Little Detectives
Do you have a sweet little spy? Are you raising a small detective? Does your child love decoding, or enjoy a good mystery? Do they like word games too? Then these children’s mystery puzzles will be just the right thing to keep them occupied and having fun all summer. Now be warned one has a serious travel theme so don’t print it out unless you are legitimately taking a trip soon. Or the happy smiles will be frowns instead. Nobody wants that. My kids have always enjoyed word games and I was no different at their ages. I have always enjoyed words and word puzzles or word searches and crosswords are…
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10 Sensory Play Ideas with Gelatin
My kids are a curious combination of sensory seeking and sensory avoiding. That’s not uncommon for children with sensory processing difficulties. My older daughter avoids anything that feels scratchy. My younger daughter seeks out deep pressure often and also avoids any fabrics that are not soft and comfortable. Both have some sensory issues. I have written about that often here. Remember this post about 5 easy and free sensory play activities for kids with sensory processing disorder. [tweetthis]Five Easy and Free activities for kids who love sensory play https://www.thriftymommastips.com/easy-and-free-sensory-play-activities-for-kids/[/tweetthis] Both of my girls indulge in and seek out messy play. Not always but often. They like painting, gardening, crafting. They…
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The Art of Marketing Conference Coming To Toronto May 25 and a Promo Code #TheArtOf
Last year around this time, I had the opportunity to attend The Art of Leadership for Women. I spent the day hearing from a talented and diverse group of women who excelled at marketing and business. Hayley Wickenheiser was a real show stopper for me and Martha Stewart is always interesting, to say the least. Last year my personal, and business philosophy, was all about growth. I grew in a lot of ways last year and the social media consulting business at Thrifty Mom Media flourished as well. Growth took me to places I never knew I would be. I worked with World Vision Canada to tell some important stories about their…
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Microsoft Summit on 21st Century Learners – EVENT in Windsor, Ontario, April 11 Geared Towards Teachers
When I see educational opportunities like this Microsoft Summit on 21st Century Learners happening nearby in Windsor, Ontario I get excited, for several reasons. I am a parent of two children who are still in grade school. Digital kids. I arm both of my girls daily with technology at home and at school and I am abundantly aware of how they absorb media and how they learn. It’s radically different than how I learned 20 to 30 years ago. Only 20 to 30 years ago we trotted off to school with books and pencils and paper. Now kids carry tablets, iPhones, iPods and sometimes laptops too – technology that for…
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Dora The Explorer Live Show in London April 13th
Dora The Explorer Live Show in London DududududududDDDDDDORA!! Even now with a teenager and a tween, I still hear that catchy Dora tune! Hard to resist. What did I love about Dora, as a parent? Well, Dora was a cute, smart and curious little girl. I am a parent of girls and I nurture curiosity. So I loved that. Dora was a polite character without all that snark or sarcasm that is sometimes on television. She is wholesome. I know that’s a strange, and maybe inadequate, word for what I am describing, but Dora was, and still is, a child I would invite over to my home. I had no…
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Laser Pegs Ultimate Construction Toy #Giveaway
I am so excited to share this toy with all of you. Laser Pegs is a brand that I first learned about during Sweet Suite, which is a party that happened at the same time as a New York Blogging conference I attended back a couple of years ago. I remember being really interested in this one because it was a light up construction toy that makes science, technology, engineering and math totally fun for all ages and genders. Anyways, back then a couple of years ago I think the brand had just a few smaller sets on the market. But now there are endless numbers of kits to choose…
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5 Steps: How to Transition From Home-Schooling to Public Schooling
For some home-schooled children, the comfort and freedom of the home environment makes the idea of joining a public or a private school seem unimpressive at best. However, if parents begin to prepare them for the transition early enough, it goes a long way to allay apprehension. Both schooling methods have had their fair share of fierce and diverse critical views, but a change of heart is inevitable when such a transition is imminent. The challenges related to both schooling methods are different for each family, but there are a few ways to help ease the transition. Here are 5 steps that will help your child make the move from…
