We know kids learn more when we use learning games and hands-on activities. But life’s busy. Sometimes it’s hard to gather ideas, keep track of them, and gather all the necessary materials. Wouldn’t it be great if someone put together an amazing resource so we could have tons of these games right at our fingertips?!
That’s exactly what the authors of the brand new book 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids did! And lucky me. I received a copy of the book from the publisher to get a sneak peek and share it with you.
About the Book
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100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids is full of hands-on activities the are just right for kids ages 3-7. The authors did a great job of including activities that can be done with everyday household items, so there isn’t a lot of preparation time or extra expense to doing these activities.
There are a 100 learning games that emphasize skills in a wide range of fundamental areas like reading, math, science, writing, the world, art and music. Each activity also has three ideas for variations, and they can be played over and over again. That means this book has more than enough games to play throughout the preschool years! And most importantly they’re FUN! As they always do with new activity books, my daughters have already filled nearly every page with post-it notes to remind us of the activities they want to try…so it looks like our summer learning plans are made!
In addition to the games in the book, I really love the extra little touches added throughout the book. In the introduction the authors share fantastic tips for preparing a playful learning environment, emphasizing early literacy, encouraging creative exploration, and more. There are also Community Corner pages throughout the book where other parents respond to questions about early childhood education. It’s always interesting to hear what works for other parents!
Get Your Copy Here
Sample Learning Game
The variety of activities in the book also appeal to different learning styles. There are quiet, seated activities. There are creative activities. And there are active movement-based games. As part of our review I let my youngest child choose one of the activities to try first, and I wasn’t surprised when she chose the Zip-Line Letters game. With the movement and slight science twist, I knew it was right up her alley.
The publisher of 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids gave us permission to reprint the activity so that you can see an example of the content you’ll find inside the book.
Zip-Line Letters
Zoom the alphabet across the room in this high-flying zip-line adventure. Uppercase letter names and sounds are traditionally taught first. If your child has mastered the uppercase letters, then consider writing all lowercase or even making a set of both and matching the letters before zooming.
Focus Skill: letter identification, letter sounds
Great For: moving while you learn
Materials
- 2″ (5-cm) tag board squares (one piece of paper will make 20)
- Black permanent marker
- Paper clips
- Tape
- 15′ (4.6 M) of yarn
- Write one uppercase letter on each tag board square until all the letters have been used.
- Bend the paper clip to create a hook.
- Tape the paper clip hook to the back of each letter square, making sure that one half is sticking out of the top of the square.
Directions to Play
- Tie one end of the yarn to a solid stationary object, such as the handle of a closed door. Hold the other in your hand.
- Slide a letter card and hook onto the yarn near your hand. Pull the yarn tight.
- Raise your arm and watch the letter soar.
- As the letter zips across the room, make its sound. Example: BBBBB, MMMMM or ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!
- Build another zip line parallel to the first.
- Invite a friend or family member to race letters.
Game Variations
- String the letters on in order or zoom your name.
- Put three or more letters together on the zip line to spell a word.
- Pictures with beginning word sounds can zip after the letters.
Get Your Copy Here
Learn more about the book here on the main 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids page.
About the Authors
Amanda Boyarshinov is a National Board certified teacher with extensive experience in early childhood education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in reading for grades K-12. You will often find her in her backyard exploring nature with her kids or doing a hands-on science project at the kitchen table.
Kim Vij is a certified teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching in early childhood education. She transitioned from classroom teaching to have a wider and stronger impact on early childhood education through advocacy. Her live and online appearances have helped her spread her message and become one of the leading experts of early childhood developmental activities. You can find her on pinterest at www.pinterest.com/educatorsspinon.
Amanda and Kim are the co-founders and writers of the children’s activity site TheEducatorsSpinOnIt.com.
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