You know those claw machines at the arcade that kids go crazy for? Fishing for ABCs is basically that game, but instead of spending $5 to (most likely) not get a toy, why not play this far more rewarding AND educational version using vocabulary words and letter tiles instead?

Kids decorate their own “fish bowl” using an ice cream carton or tissue box. Parents (or older kids) build a “fishing rod” using a wooden dowel and some magnets, and then fill the fish bowl with letters and early vocabulary words. Kids go “fishing” for letters to create words, or simply to practice saying the letters of the alphabet. Older kids can fish for words and create sentences. There are endless ways to play!

Especially in the early stages of learning, kids crave sensory play to help connect mind and body. Physically handling the fishing pole and fetching the letters keeps them engaged, while also practicing fine motor skills. This game is also great practice for letter recognition (I know this shape is a letter “L”) and letter sound correspondence (The letter “L” makes the /l/ sound).

Ayla (age 7) was excited to paint her fish bowl, fetch words to make sentences, and sort her letters by color (sorting is another awesome skill to flex in this game).

Lennon (age 3) had a great time spelling her name and winding up the fishing pole.

Did you try this activity out with your kids? Let us know how it went! Tag us on social media @mothergooseclub #ShowMeHow.

SHOW ME HOW!

Supplies:

• Cleaned ice cream carton, tissue box, or similar
• Paint in various colors, including white for priming
• Paint brushes
• Construction paper
• Marker
• Drinking straw or wooden dowel
• String
• Small magnet
• Paper clips
• Use our free printouts:
  • Fish printout
  • Shapes printout
  • Squares printout
  • Alphabet printout

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the fishing container: Find a suitable fishing container like an ice cream tub, a tissue box or a cake box.

Step 2: Cut a hole on the lid at least 3 inches in diameter at the center of the container’s lid.

Step 3: Prime the container by painting the outside with white acrylic paint. This layer of paint hides the print on the tub or box and prepares the surface for the final colors of paint.

Step 4: Paint the container: Once the layer of white paint dries, paint the container with various colors of tempera, poster paint or acrylic paint. You can make stripes, dots, swirls or other patterns. You can also paint an ocean theme or any design you like.

Step 5: Make paper squares or fishes: Cut out several 1-inch squares or small fish shapes from construction paper.

Create alphabet letters: Write a letter on each paper square or fish using colored markers or crayons. If you intend to level up to a spelling activity, make sure to add more vowel tiles. Put a metal paper clip on each of the letters. Put the letters in the fishbowl.

Tip: Make this activity a fun challenge by asking your kids to fish for the letters of their name.

Make a fishing pole: Cut string to a length of about 1½ to 2 feet. Tape one end of the string to a small magnet. Tie the opposite end to the tip of a drinking straw or wooden dowel.

Fish for letters: Finally, have kids use the fishing rod to catch alphabet letters inside the container. The magnet on the fishing rod will attract the metal paper clips on the letter squares. Have kids identify each letter they catch.

Level up! Spell some words: Fish for a few letters and see how many words you can spell. As a math activity, count all the letters caught or the words created. You can also incorporate shapes learning by making the letter tiles out of different shapes instead of just squares and using numbers.

Make it a game! Set a timer and see how many words your kids can form in 3 minutes. Winner gets to help clean the next ice cream carton

It’s December 23rd, and you suddenly realize you have not done a single bit of Holiday shopping all year. Instead of panicking, take a deep breath, be thankful we live in an age of technology, and keep reading! There are more options today than there ever were for the last minute shopper. Before getting into some gift ideas, let’s go over some of the best ways you can approach your last minute shopping list.

Option #1: Local bookstore

Although they are harder to find these days, locally-owned bookstores are great places to find quick gifts for children. Not only will you be supporting an independent business but you can often find books you may not find at other large retailers. Pick up a copy of one of your favorite childhood paperbacks, or select one from NPR’s 100 Favorite Books for young readers. Suggested item: This Old Truck $17.95

Option #2: Local toy store

Independent toy stores are ideally suited for the last minute shopper. Their selections are just as good if not better than what you can find at any superstore chain, but also offer some things you won’t find anywhere else. Many offer unique handmade products made by local craftsmen as well as rare toys that are difficult to find elsewhere. The best reasons to visit a local toy store though, are the holiday decorations and music playing inside that remind us of what the season is really all about.

Option #3: Physical gift cards

One of the best choices for gifts this year is a gift card. Local pharmacies offer a wide variety of gift cards that can be used at online retailers, specialty stores and even restaurants. With so many families spending more time at home this year, giving the recipient the choice of what movies to watch or what winter sweater to order may be the perfect gift. Make sure to check store hours as many locations will close early on Christmas Eve.

Option #4: You can’t go wrong with something yummy

Sometimes the best last minute gift is not a traditional one. Does your child have a favorite pastry or cake? Maybe there is a custard pie with their name on it at your local bakery. If you are like me, you know of at least one little one in your family who would easily choose a present that goes into their belly rather than under a tree.

Option #5: Surprise, it’s December 25th!

For those that woke up in a cold sweat at 6am on Christmas Day wondering if a frozen burrito from the local gas station would pass as a last minute gift, you still have options! Last but definitely not least on the list are electronic gifts. In less than 5 minutes, you can hop on a computer and email a gift card or purchase a subscription for your family streaming service or app. We recommend the Hellosaurus: Interactive Shows app on the Apple App Store $17.99 (3 month subscription)

If you have any last minute gift shopping tips, we’d love to hear from you. Post your suggestions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub. Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a duck, E-I-E-I-O.
With a quack quack here and a quack quack there,
Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack quack.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a sheep, E-I-E-I-O.
With a baa baa here and a baa baa there,
Here a baa, there a baa, everywhere a baa baa.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a horse, E-I-E-I-O.
With a neigh neigh here and a neigh neigh there,
Here a neigh, there a neigh, everywhere a neigh neigh.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a pig, E-I-E-I-O.
With an oink oink here and an oink oink there,
Here an oink, there an oink, everywhere an oink oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

View on YouTube!

There are so many ways to exercise your creative and fine motor skills with this activity! Try out our three approaches below, or come up with your own ideas. Then share your finished masterpieces with us!

Materials:

All the materials you need for each approach 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!

• Construction Paper Hair: construction paper, marker, scissors and glue stick

• Paint Hair: construction paper, marker, paint and paintbrush, straw and water

• Macaroni Hair: construction paper, marker, macaroni and craft glue

Construction Paper Hair:

Step 1 – Draw the Head:

Draw a head. Copy our design or make your own!

Step 2 – Cut the Construction Paper:

Cut strips 1-inch wide in each color.

Step 3 – Fold the Construction Paper:

Accordion-fold each strip of paper.

Step 4 – Glue the Construction Paper:

Glue one end of each folded strip to the top of your head. Let it dry.

Paint Hair:

Step 1 – Draw the Head:

Draw a head. Copy our design or make your own!

Step 2 – Paint:

Add drops of paint to the hairline. Use a straw to blow the paint in different directions!

Step 3 – Play With Color:

Experiment with another color. Talk about how colors can mix to make new colors while your paint is drying!

Macaroni Hair:

Step 1 – Draw the Head:

Draw a head. Copy our design or make your own!

Step 2 – Glue the Macaroni:

Glue around the head where you want to add hair and attach macaroni. Let it dry.

Share With Us!

Let’s see those crazy hair masterpieces! Did you enjoy creating your own crazy hair art? Share your ideas and creations with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #mothergooseclub!

You’ve seen our educational nursery rhyme videos, but have you checked out our board books? Based on some of your child’s favorite nursery rhyme videos and characters, Mother Goose Club board books engage children and parents with beautifully illustrated pages that are designed to educate and entertain. Each board book has thick pages and rounded corners to withstand the daily use and encourage the development of fine motor skills when little fingers page through.

Even very young children feel like readers with Mother Goose Club board books. Memorizing and reciting familiar nursery rhymes and songs are among the first steps in learning to read. Each page features large text so children begin to associate printed words with the content they know and love.

Why Read Nursery Rhymes?

Many parents ask, “Should I read to my child even if they can’t understand all of the words?” Although a child may not yet fully understand every word, it’s never too early to start reading to them. Reading aloud is one of the most effective early teaching tools – you can even start before your baby is born. When your child hears you read (at any age), they internalize the basic sounds and patterns of language. When your child sees you read, they aspire to read and begin to understand that printed words have meaning. So start now!

Our “Favorite Nursery Rhymes” book features a collection of familiar nursery rhymes so children can develop phonemic awareness (the ability to recognize the different sounds that make a word) and build vocabulary. Even before your child can name all the letters in the alphabet, they may be able to point to the farm animals you’re reading about in “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” or tell you the words “pie” and “sky” sound the same when you read “Jack B. Nimble”. Celebrate when these things happen! Your child is on their way to becoming a reader!

Tips for Reading

Because children are familiar with nursery rhymes and able to memorize them quickly, they feel empowered, in control and like experts. Take advantage of their confidence and foundational knowledge as you explore and discuss new vocabulary or related stories.

Teach your child that printed words have meaning by pointing to words as you read them and run your finger under sentences so that they can learn that English is read from left to right.

Any time spent with books is good for your child. Let them flip through the pages, turn the book upside-down and play – they are exploring the book’s texture and function. The durable pages are designed to withstand experiences like this – children acquire most of their knowledge from sensory experience so playing with books is another important step to learning to read.

Also try acting out the rhymes! Pretend-play with your child to help them understand a nursery rhymes’ story more deeply and perform the hand motions where applicable to develop the fine motor skills necessary for future tasks associated with language development, such as writing. For example, try mimicking the hand motions in “The Wheels on the Bus” or “The Itsy Bitsy Spider” to develop motor skills!

When you make time to read with your child, they associate positive feelings with reading. These positive feelings will remain with your child throughout their life and predispose them to be lifelong readers.

We Want to Hear From You!

Have you tried Mother Goose Club’s books yet? Which are your family’s favorite children’s books? Share your tips and learning experiences with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Happy reading and rhyming!

View on YouTube!

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a pig, E-I-E-I-O.
With an oink oink here and an oink oink there,
Here an oink, there an oink, everywhere an oink oink.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a dog, E-I-E-I-O.
With a woof woof here and a woof woof there,
Here a woof, there a woof, everywhere a woof woof.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O.
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there,
Here a moo, there a moo, everywhere a moo moo.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a duck, E-I-E-I-O.
With a quack quack here and a quack quack there,
Here a quack, there a quack, everywhere a quack quack.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O,
And on that farm he had a horse, E-I-E-I-O.
With a neigh neigh here and a neigh neigh there,
Here a neigh, there a neigh, everywhere a neigh neigh.
Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O.

View on YouTube!