Getting kids to wash their hands regularly can be a challenge. With the recent spread of Covid-19, it is especially important to reinforce washing as more schools reopen and play activities return to normal. Making your own soap at home can motivate your child to wash more often, and you can even have them assist by choosing their favorite colors. It might also be helpful to sing a hand washing song while they use the soaps you have made. Click here to sing along! 

Materials:

Most of the supplies needed can be found at either your local grocery store or nearest craft store. Make sure to only use a silicone soap mold as you will be pouring hot soap base into it and plastic molds may melt.

• 1 lb of soap base
• Microwave safe measuring cup
• Silicone soap mold (small enough for kids)
• Lemon essential oil
• Food coloring
• Wooden stirring stick

Safety gear:

Oven mitt, apron, safety glasses

Step 1. Start by cutting the soap base into small 1 inch cubes and place 5 of them into the microwave safe measuring cup. Heat in microwave for 20-30 seconds until melted.

Step 2. Be careful when removing cup with soap base from microwave as it may be hot, add in 4-5 drops of essential oil and 3-4 drops of any food coloring. Stir well and pour into mold.

Step 3. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with any other color of choice.

Step 4. Let soap cool at room temperature for about 2 hours until firm.

I hope you and your child will enjoy making and using these soaps as much as we did!

You’re juggling parenting, teaching, work, health and plenty more these days. In challenging times, re-acquiring some semblance of routine is perhaps the most important first step. So we hope the tips and resources below will help you and your family add to and strengthen your daily routines.

And remember – you’re doing great! We’ve been so inspired by the stories from parents and teachers – the ups, downs and everything in-between. Keep connecting with us using #mothergooseclub on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Morning: Healthy Habits

Starting the morning off right can set the tone for the rest of the day. And developing healthy habits early in life can bring lifelong benefits, so it’s never too early to start. And now better than ever!

Mother Goose Club videos use song and dance to model these types of positive behaviors. Tidy up the bedroom with Eep, Baa Baa and Mary in “Mulberry Bush”, and then get those pearly whites right in “Brush Your Teeth” with Teddy. And remember to practice good manners, please!

Midday: Reading & Writing Practice

Keep the momentum going with some reading and writing practice. Our collection of free printables for preschoolers are based on our nursery rhyme videos, so pair them with a Mother Goose Club sing-along for some interactive learning. Or use them to supplement your existing homeschooling lessons.

Afternoon: Get Active

Time to stretch and get those wiggles out! If you’re hunkering down indoors, our catalog offers plenty of videos that inspire movement and play-based learning. So gather the family and get active with the below:

• ABC Dance With Me
• Rockin’ Robot
• Dinosaur Stomp
• Dress Up Theater
  
• How to Make Your Own Play Dough

Nighttime: Wind Down

Wind down with some family-time – explore our craft ideas and stream Mother Goose Club tunes in the background. Or keep it even lighter with a movie and some popcorn – we love this list of 25 kids movies with an activity to go-along.

And once the kiddos are tuckered out and tucked in, remember to take some guilt-free me-time!

More Resources

Another successful day! It wasn’t perfect, but as long as you’re communicating, connecting and chipping away at learning goals, progress is being made. For more brain boosting and lesson planning throughout the day, we also recommend checking out Khan Academy, Wide Open School and YouTube Learning – all offering free tools to help parents and educators adapt and thrive in their new virtual environments.

Also browse this curated list of live events for preschoolers and work them into your daily routines. The events include virtual storytimes, virtual drawing lessons, music classes and more. We’ll see you there!

Strong dental hygiene is a must, but developing this habit can often be a major obstacle for young ones. Crafts are a fun way to engage children in developing positive habits and important new skills – try this one together by following the simple instructions below. Once your alligator is ready to go, practice the brushing motions while talking about the importance of making this a daily habit. Keep the craft in a visible spot around the house as a daily reminder!

For some additional reinforcement, follow along with Mary, Teddy and Jack in “Brush Your Teeth” as they use song and dance to teach the importance of brushing each night, especially after some late-night ice cream!

Materials:

All the materials you need are below. Most everything can be found around the house or at your local store. Get creative, improvise and let us know what works for you!

• Cardboard (roughly 14” x 7”)
• White lego pieces
• Black sharpie
• Toothbrush and floss
• Glue
• Scissors

Step 1 – Draw:

Referencing our example above, start by drawing the outline of your alligator on the cardboard.

Step 2 – Cut and Fold:

Parents should take the lead for the cutting. And remember – it doesn’t have to be perfect. Feel free to approach your design differently, or even try making a different animal!

Follow these steps while referencing our example above:

• Cut off the corners of the cardboard, along the diagonal lines we just drew. Then, cut along the curved lines and push the flaps out to create the alligator’s eyes.
• Next, apply some glue in the middle section where we drew the dotted line (try to avoid going over the solid lines with the glue).
• Fold the cardboard along the dotted line and apply some pressure. The glued area should stick together, leaving the flaps (mouth) free to move.

Step 3 – The Teeth!

Add in those pearly whites! Glue the lego blocks along the open mouth. Just the bottom can work well for this exercise, but if you have extra lego blocks and glue, fill out the top too.

Use colored markers to add some finishing touches – we drew in eyes and nostrils!

Share With Us!

We hope this craft inspires some fun playtime and positive habit-building in your household! Share your creations with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub.

Happy brushing!

Start with a small and simple task to build momentum and a sense of accomplishment. Encourage children to learn from their mistakes along the way. It’s also important to lead by example, so don’t forget to brush YOUR teeth too!

Try using the videos below to help strengthen and reinforce some of your family’s daily habits.

Bedtime Routine:

We know bedtime can be beyond frustrating, but what they say about routines is true – they can help make the process go a little smoother. Use this video as a signal bedtime is near, or to build familiarity and comfort. Have the kids follow along with Caralyn as she takes us through her routine and work up to accomplishing your own checklist each night.

Brushing Your Teeth:

This is often a major bedtime obstacle, but encouragement from your favorite characters and a fun song and dance can help keep those pearly whites clean. Follow along with Mary, Teddy and Jack as they teach the importance of brushing your teeth each night, especially after some late-night ice cream!

Practicing Good Manners:

Instilling good manners at an early age can have behavioral benefits that last well into adulthood. Start simple by teaching the importance of saying “please” and “thank you”. Mastering this habit can help children develop empathy, perspective and kindness.

Tidying Up:

Just like bedtime, it’s helpful to get each day started with a routine – even if it’s as quick and simple as tidying up the bedroom and making the bed. Eep, Baa Baa and Mary once again use song and dance to encourage kids to model this positive behavior.

Share With Us!

How does your family encourage positive habits? What other Mother Goose Club videos have helped your early learner? Reach out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub!

For children in their formative years, screen time is a double-edged sword. Our growing dependence on technology can have negative effects on how children develop social and other abstract problem-solving skills in everyday life. But at the same time, smart devices allow children access to so much useful and practical information necessary for raising productive members of society, including an intuitive understanding of developing technology. This is why it’s important to find a healthy balance for children when it comes to the amount of time they spend on their devices.

1. Don’t Use Screen Time as a Reward

One of the most significant effects of humanity’s growing dependence on technology is how parents sometimes use screen time to reward children. While this can feel like a harmless way to veer away from problematic rewards like sugary treats or expensive gifts, using screen time as a reward only serves to further make digital devices more addictive. First Moms Club argues that it’s in your child’s best interests to minimize the special status that’s all too often awarded to digital devices. Digital devices should be seen more as useful tools instead of addictive treats.

2. Set Tech-Free Zones at Home

Being assertive about restricting screen time at home is a given. But what most parents haven’t tried is creating tech-free spaces at home. Bedrooms are a good start, and this comes with the added bonus of improving sleep patterns. The dining table, the family room, and the backyard are also good places to declare tech-free. This shows children that some parts of life are best experienced without glancing at a screen every 10 seconds.

3. Help Your Child Commit to a Sport

One of the best ways to counter the highly addictive effect of electronic screens is by finding a sport that your child is genuinely interested in. Not only will this provide a distraction against digital screens, it can also give him or her an early opportunity to develop crucial mental and physical skills. If it’s a team sport, there’s also the added bonus of promoting mixed-aged play, which can foster unique opportunities for growth. Nonetheless, whether it’s committing to a team or solo sport, it’s a developmental opportunity that doesn’t involve your child staring at a screen.

4. Curate and Limit Your Child’s Screen Time

Too much screen time is not a unique problem in households, as it’s something that is happening across the country. Communication experts from Maryville University reveal that there was a 63% year-over-year increase in global media traffic in 2016, and these rates are only expected to skyrocket with the continuous growth of technology. On average, children now spend around 2-3 hours a day in front of screens — more than double the maximum number recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. And while it’s not possible or practical to completely cut off your child’s access to media, it is useful to be selective about how they interact with the screen.

When curated and limited properly, quality interactive media that is age-appropriate with specific educational goals can help your child with topics like language and literacy. In fact, research from the University of Wisconsin found that toddlers learn more from interactive digital media than from watching television or videos alone. This means that when your kids use the interactive and engaging features on the Mother Goose App, it will both entertain and teach them crucial concepts that will help in their cognitive development.

5. Follow Your Own Rules

Practice whatever screen time-related rules you preach. NBC News recently got in touch with parenting specialists to determine realistic screen time solutions for children, and they determined that hypocrisy is a primary challenge for parents in policing screen time.

Indeed, it’s especially hard to set limits for children if parents don’t have any for themselves. It’s all about setting a good example: For starters, respect your own home’s tech-free zones. And remember that how you conduct yourself around digital devices will inevitably be picked up by your kids.

For more information and tips regarding screen time safety, Mother Goose Club’s Facebook Group, Parent Resources for Children’s Media, is a valuable resource. Join the conversation there!

Encouraging kids to eat their vegetables can be quite the challenge, but here are five tips I’ve found to be quite effective when dealing with a stubborn eater!

Tip 1: Mix vegetables with foods they already love

Instead of regular pizza, I make a deep-dish pan pizza for my nephews and niece. The sauce is rather thick so I’m able to chop up a whole green pepper and stir it into the sauce. Because each serving is as dense as a piece of pie, they don’t even notice the extra serving of greens they’re eating!

Or, next time you make spaghetti, try adding small portions of zucchini pasta along with their favorite noodles. And throw in some small pieces of cauliflower with the next serving of orange chicken. They likely won’t complain and may even grow to like the veggie versions of their favorite foods.

Tip 2: Experiment with different presentations

Even if your kids have resisted eating certain veggies, changing up how they are presented can make a big difference. They may turn their nose at salads, but it’s harder to turn down shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes on top of delicious-looking tacos. One of my nephews intensely dislikes carrots and broccoli, but gobbled them up when I cut them both into half-inch pieces and mixed them into garlic noodles!

Tip 3: Get kids involved in the cooking

I’ve found that kids are much more willing to eat dishes they helped make, even if that dish contains vegetables they’ve considered their mortal enemy! There’s something about them getting hands-on with their food that becomes an effective form of persuasion. So let them brush a little olive oil on grilled eggplant slices, and ask for their help tossing some greens in a large bowl.

Tip 4: Tell them how important vegetables are for growth

Vegetables contain nutrients and antioxidants that are extremely beneficial for growth. Young children usually want to grow bigger as fast as possible! Remind them that if they want to become as tall as their sibling, as fast as their favorite professional athlete, or as strong as a superhero, then they need to eat their veggies!

While there are endless ideas on this topic, the important thing is to keep trying. I’d also highly recommend directly asking kids what might encourage them to eat more veggies – you might learn from what they tell you!

Sunday, April 7th is World Health Day, so we’re sharing four of our favorite videos that promote healthy choices and habits for kids and families! We wish you and yours health and happiness and we hope you’ll share your favorite educational videos for teaching healthy habits with us.

Not only is bath time is a great time for parent-child or sibling bonding, but it’s also an important habit to instill for good hygiene and self-care.

Exposure to new, healthy foods is a great way to encourage healthy eating. “Alphabet Train, Food Train” is full of a variety of colorful, healthy foods (and only a few treats)!

Grab your toothbrush! This fun song-video is a great way to get your kids excited about participating in one of the most important daily routines that keeps us healthy.

This one is a compilation (bonus!). Exercise comes in many forms, and getting kids moving in new and interesting ways can help them find their passion for movement.

Share With Us!

How does your family plan to celebrate World Health Day? What other Mother Goose Club videos have helped your early learner? Reach out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub!