If you are reading this right now you might be desperate to learn how to help a sore loser. You are all too familiar with this scene: The family is playing a board game, you've already implemented all these tips for a peaceful family game night, and the game is about to come to an...
How to Help a Sore Loser Develop Good Sportsmanship
Science Fiction Picture Books for Kids
Science fiction picture books will transport your children to far off galaxies, introduce them to alien beings, and allow them to explore the intersection between reality and fiction. Science fiction picture books are more than just fantasy! The sci-fi picture books on this list include robots, fantastical space exploration, alien creatures and science with a...
Science Fiction Books for Kids that Will Blow Their Minds
Science fiction books have never really been my thing, but I had a surprisingly good time searching out and reading titles for this list of science fiction books for kids. It's fair to say I have a new-found appreciation for the genre. A few of these my middle school aged son read in my stead,...
Game of the Month: Pente - A Classic 5 in a Row Strategy Game
September's game of the month is dedicated to the glory of thrift store finds. That's right. I purchased this Pente game for fifty cents! And it has brought me hundreds of dollars of fun. I'd never even heard of Pente before and now I had been seriously missing out. Pente is the perfect board game...
Early Chapter Book Mysteries That Will Turn Your Kids into Voracious Readers
This list of early chapter book mysteries and detective stories is designed for young readers transitioning from easy reader books to longer novels. In general, they are appropriate for children ages 6-10, although some 5 year olds who are early learners will enjoy reading these titles, as well. Because the average age of learning to...
September Read Alouds that Will Power Up Your Fall
Welcome to our year-long monthly read aloud series! These September read alouds aim to get you through a month of reading aloud with your children. Each of these new monthly book lists will consist of a mix of picture books, nonfiction, poetry and chapter book read alouds. These September books evoke the cozy feeling of...
Salt Volcano: Groovy Liquid Density Science Experiment
A salt volcano is a simple science experiment which has a super high groovy factor. Your kids want their science projects to be colorful, dazzling and immediately gratifying. You want them to learn something about the amazing natural world. Well, a salt volcano is where it's at, man. While they are making a salt volcano,...
How to Make Beaded Bookmarks
Beaded bookmarks are a simple, easy craft that is fun to do with the kids. Turn a few basic materials into unique bookmarks and marking your reading spot becomes an aesthetic experience! Keep reading and we'll show you how to make the cutest beaded bookmarks! I don't collect many things (who has the space?) but...
Game of the Month: Shadows in the Forest
My game of the month today is one of the most unusual and innovative board games we've ever played. We have a closet full of board games, card games, dice games, you name it, but until now we have never had a board game that is played in the dark. Yep, that's right. Thinkfun's Shadows...
30 Days of Diverse Books for 2nd and 3rd Grade
You know how important it is to read diverse books to your children and students. You know that picture books with a diversity of characters and settings enhance the reading experience by reflecting back the world and increasing our understanding ourselves and others. And now you want to find diverse books for 2nd and 3rd...
Kids' Books About Poop (That's Right)
So you're here today because you want to learn about poop. Or more likely, your children do. In either case, you've come to the right place, because my sons are experts in books on this topic. Together, we've chooses their favorite children's books about poop that are not just entertaining, they are informative. I included...
It's the Luck of the Roll: Aces in the Pot Dice Game
You've just finished family dinner. You've somehow managed to get the kids to help clean up without whining. The kids are about to run away to their rooms and hide there for the rest of the evening. But what you really want is a little more family time. (After all, they grow up so fast!)...
How to "Read" Wordless Picture Books (Parent Tips)
After my list of Wordless Picture Books, some parents said they felt lost and didn't know how to read wordless books with kids. Others commented that their kids didn't like books without text. I'll admit that it took me some time before I learned to enjoy reading wordless books and it wasn't until I felt...
Mū Tōrere: A Traditional Abstract Strategy Game from New Zealand
So you've looked in your game closet and everything seems so tired. You've played every game a zillion times and you want something new, and you want it now. What do you do? You make your own game! If you've got the paper, a pencil and a few coins, I've got the instructions. Today we...
Cute Classroom Coloring Page: Homework Help from the Teacher
Author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg, has been creating exclusive coloring pages for us for quite a few years now and this month's selection is another cute addition to our library of school coloring pages. This classroom coloring page features a kind teacher helping a young student with her math homework. If your children are...
Fantastical Books for Kids Who Like Wings of Fire
Need more books like Wings of Fire for your voracious readers? This read alike book list will help. Chances are, if your kids are 9 years or older, they've come across the popular middle grade series, Wings of Fire. Fortunately, there are a gazillion books and graphic novels in the series to keep them reading....
Resources for Teaching with Children's Books
I share loads of children's books here at What Do We Do All Day? and while you can read my tips for reading wordless books, or choosing chapter books I haven't shared much about how to teach with children's books. This is because I am not a trained teacher, I don't homeschool and in our...
15 Brain Games for Kids to Build Mental Agility
What if I told you there is a way for your children to become better thinkers, keep their eyeballs healthy and build social skills all at the same time? Brain games for kids will do just that! Brain games are an essential part of my parenting toolkit. They fill the time while waiting in line,...
Funny Early Readers for Kids Who Like to Laugh
A funny book is a boon to a struggling reader. I learned this when my son hated to sound out words! Hated it!!! Although I stopped trying to force him to learn to read (<-- I tell you about it there), funny early readers were the ticket when he was finally ready. Elephant and Piggie is...
12 Awesomely Easy but Incredibly Ugly Indoor Activities for Kids
I am of the opinion (since you ask) that what parents want is a bunch of easy indoor activities to keep their kids busy, especially when they are stuck inside. They don't need (or want) to spend more time setting up a project then the kids spend engaged with it. Am I right? If you're...
Chapter Books for Early Readers about Friends and Families
The right chapter books for early readers can turn a reluctant reader into a voracious reader! I love these books about friends and families; they are sweet and funny stories that are age appropriate for children who are early advanced readers and yet still interesting for more typically developing readers. Think: ages 6-10 (or as...
Funny Middle Grade Books Your Tweens Will Love
Is there anything better than hearing a burst of laughter coming from your tween while reading? This list of funny middle grade books exists for the sole purpose of making your child laugh. What sets this list of humorous tween books apart from other funny book lists is that I haven't populated it solely with...
3 Preschool Science Resources that Will Last for Years!
If you are a parent who thinks you can't do science experiments at home because you don't have any experience, you are wrong! You don't want your kids to miss out on building their their scientific brains and engaging their natural curiosity! With these 3 basic preschool science resources, you don't have to. I should...
Snazzy Jazz Picture Books for Kids
Jazz books are tons of fun for kids. They tend to have wonderful, rhythmic text, colorful and dynamic illustrations, and best of all, these wonderful jazz picture books will introduce your kids to one of the few music forms that originated in North America. You do not have to be jazz fans to enjoy these...
Secret Parenting Tip: Get Your Kids To Leave You Alone for 10 Minutes
Picture the scene: The dishes are dirty, LEGO is scattered all over the floor, one child is pulling at your leg asking for a cookie, the other is dumping out his drawer looking for a missing superhero cape. Are you still with me, or have you gone to your happy place? In some parenting circles...
Relatable Chapter Books about School
These school-themed chapter books include relatable scenarios! The stories include characters navigating familiar school experiences like field trips, new kids, first day-jitters, grades, alternative learning styles, dealing with (or being) a bully and more. (Note: Book titles are affiliate links that earn from qualifying purchases.) The reading level of these books is approximately 6-10 years...
Game of the Month: Quiddler
As you might imagine, I love games that enhance literacy! Quiddler, a card game in which the objective is to spell words, is one such game, and it's my Game of the Month selection (which I am getting in just under the wire)! How to Play Quiddler As usual, I won't be including the full rules...
Camp Bus Coloring Page
I said a boom chicka boom I said a boom chicka rocka chicka rocka chicka boom Do these lyrics sound familiar? Yes? Then you've been on a summer camp bus! Whether it's a camp day field trip, or heading away to sleep away camp, the camp bus is a familiar sight for many children during...
Nonfiction Books about Explorers: Real Life Adventures
Children love to read books about explorers. I imagine it feeds their vivid imagination as they can so easily see themselves making daring journeys to new places and becoming the heroes of their own stories. That's a bit of a generalization of course, and yet I do think most humans love a good true adventure...
Road Trip Games for Kids: Travel without the iPad!
Here's the scene. The whole family is looking forward to vacation. You are going somewhere exciting and new! There will be sun! Sand! Surf! Mountains! The problem? It's one heck of a car ride. So what, you'll just pull out the iPads, right? Sure, it's easy to strap on the headphones and give each kid...
Nonfiction Earth Science Books for Kids
Earth Science is a huge topic that encompasses meterology, geology, oceanography and ecology, so creating a list of earth science picture books that would keep kids interested was a fun challenge! These nonfiction books are a great supplement to classroom science lessons and good choices for reading at home. Plus, parents will learn alongside their...
Sim Pencil Game: A Mathematical Brain Teaser for 2 Players!
Where has this game been all my life? I've always liked dots and boxes for a great on the go waiting or travel game, and the Sim pencil game, also known as "the game of Sim" is a great new discovery for us! It's more than a game, it's a brain teaser for two players!...
Swimming Pool Coloring Page
Do your kids like to hang out at the pool all summer long? Then this swimming pool coloring page is for you! Children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg, shares this sweet pool party printable coloring page that you can pack in your pool tote for the children to color when they get waterlogged...
Sweet and Delectable Children's Books about Teatime
Occasionally I curate a book list that is primarily about satisfying my 6-year-old self. My list of books about fairies and dollhouses was one of those lists, and so is this list of children's books about teatime and tea parties! This list includes sweet and funny picture books, some poetry, folk-tale inspired choices, even a...
50+ Chapter Books for Preschoolers and 3-Year-Olds
It's a tricky business, choosing appropriate read aloud chapter books for preschoolers. This is especially true for your three year old, since–as every parent all knows–there is a world of difference between "just three" and "almost four". 3- and 4-year-olds with older siblings might simply enjoy the family bonding time that comes with reading aloud...
Tricks to Finding Good Children's Books
I love curating book lists for kids so much, I've put together over 200 children's book lists. Because of my obsession this, people often ask me about how to find good children's books. Most of my parent friends confess they choose reading material for their children based almost exclusively on what their child brings home...
Tapatan: A Brain Boosting Twist on Tic-Tac-Toe
The kids and I have been playing Tapatan, a three in a row game from the Philippines. It's easy to learn how to play this strategic game for kids (and grown-ups!) and although it looks similar to tic-tac-toe, it is more fun. It is very similar to Nine Holes, but the board is slightly different....
Classic Children's Books By The Decade: 1990s
These children's books from the 1990s will spark memories of childhood! Making this list of classic 1990s children’s books was an unusual exercise for me because it is the first list in my classic book series in which there is not a single book that I read when I was a kid. In fact, all of...
Classic Children's Books By The Decade: 1980s
Here are our favorite children's books from the 1980s that are totally awesome, dude. I'm really happy with this list of 20th century classic children's books from the 1980s even though using the term "classic" is becoming more and more suspect as we close in on the 21st century. I included a mix of lesser...
Classic Children's Books By The Decade: 1970s
Compiling a list of classic children's books from the 1970s was unexpectedly challenging! Most of the books I had previously read from this decade were already quite popular so I had to do a fair bit of research to decide which 1970s titles to read so I could determine what I wanted to include. I...
