Finding dinosaur toys is relatively easy. Plastic dinosaur toys come in all colors and sizes, and are available everywhere from the grocery store to the toy store. “Squishy” dinosaurs are another, inexpensive option. Made of rubber, these squishy toy dinosaurs are fairly detailed, and stretch, bend, and squish to your child’s delight!

Once you have your dinosaur toys, your kids will doubtless begin searching out dinosaur “food” and other necessities. Unless you want to lose your box of tissues and your house plants to hungry dinosaur teeth, you may want to consider helping your child create their own play accessories. Any respectable dinosaur should have his own habitat, complete with trees, volcanoes, caves, and, of course, tall grass.

Early dinosaurs saw only non-flowering trees, so tree-making can be a fun and inexpensive craft project which will inspire creativity. Consider that the completed trees will need to be able to stand upright on their own, at least until the dinosaurs come along. Empty toilet paper rolls make great tree trunks. Save a few, and pull out some extra gift tissue paper, preferably green. With a little bit of glue and paint, your child can turn these common household items into inexpensive and practical trees. Simply crush and twist the tissue paper, insert it into one end of the cardboard roll, and affix with a dab of glue. If the dinosaurs eat the trees, no problem! Recycle and reuse.

Don’t toss away that newspaper! You still need some caves for your dinosaurs. Papier mache is easy and fun. Tear the newspaper into strips, mix one part flour with two parts water to make a paste, and grab a tired out latex balloon. Coat the balloon with layers of newspaper dipped in paste until covered. Once dry, decorate with paint, and cut in half, or otherwise open. Voila, great dinosaur caverns!

If you are going to create a volcano, it may as well be an active volcano. Form the exterior of your volcano from plaster or clay, and fill an old can or bottle positioned in the center with baking soda. Mix vinegar, water, and a healthy squeeze of dish soap. Add some red food coloring for a more convincing presentation. When ready, pour liquid mixture into volcano, and watch it erupt.

Green construction paper can be cut like fringe, and glued to a piece of heave duty cardboard to create rows of tall grass in which the dinosaurs can hide. Your child will have great fun painting and arranging the various components of their very own dinosaur habitat.

Using household items to create fun dinosaur toy accessories teaches your child problem solving skills and encourages creativity, without breaking the bank. Every kids craft project that you and your child create together provides a great learning opportunity, and a happy memory.

What an adorable set for kids! This wooden picture frame is easy and fun to personalize. Create an eye-catching decoration for your room, or a custom gift to give a friend or family member.

• Brand: Melissa and Doug
• Type: Decorate Your Own Craft Kit for Kids
• Style: Picture Frame
• Size: holds 3×5 photo or drawing
• Condition: New
• Includes: wooden photo frame, glitter and craft glue, colorful plastic “gems’, paints, and a paintbrush
• Uses: rainy day activity, gift item, party activity, summer camps, schools, daycares and more!
• Recommended for children ages 4+

Involve kids in the creative process with this fun picture frame craft kit! Children will enjoy learning about the components of good design. Teach them about balance, line weight, color hues and tones, mixing paint, and more.

Give this great kit as a gift, or purchase several of them for fun party activities!

Is a special family member celebrating? Let your child create a memorable present for someone else. Kids will love personalizing this frame, and filling it with a favorite family photo, special note, or original drawing.

This is only one of many creative, fun kids craft projects available in our store!

Pick up your own Creative Kids Craft Project today!

Wow! Wonderful puzzle for young learners. This beautifully illustrated 48-piece circular cardboard floor puzzle features twelve children from around the world dressed in traditional ethnic clothing.

• Brand: Melissa and Doug
• Type: Floor Puzzle
• Style: Children of the World design
• Condition: New
• Educational Toy
• Great for schools, daycares, summer camps, and home!

Super-sized floor puzzles are a lot of fun to put together and view. Kids love scooting around to view them from all sides, pointing out various details as they go.

The Children of the World floor puzzle is a wonderful educational tool for small children.

The International Baccalaureate Organization programs within the public school system speak of “International Mindedness”, which is a term used to describe the awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the many different countries, cultures, and customs; and the presence of that awareness within everyday actions.

Instill a sense of international-mindedness in your child with this unique and beautiful floor puzzle. Teach your child to embrace differences and appreciate the uniqueness of individuals.

Give your child a desire to explore and learn about the world in which they live. Give them a sense of their own cultural heritage, and teach them about other customs and cultures as well. See the beauty and diversity to be found within this world!

The puzzle measures 32″ in diameter when completed. Extra thick pieces stand up to repeated use. Puzzles help develop hand-eye coordination, shape recognition and placement skills, memorization and problem solving abilities.

This is only one of many great floor puzzles in a variety of difficulty levels.

Select your favorite Floor Puzzles today!

This incredible six feet long alligator plush stuffed animal is sure to become a family favorite. With his highly detailed texture and massive size, he makes a great lounge around, wrestle, romp, and roll toy.

• Brand: Melissa and Doug
• Type: Plush Stuffed Animal
• Style: Alligator
• Size: Large
• Length: 6 feet
• Condition: New
• Recommended for children ages 3+

Beautiful workmanship and high quality materials are evident in this fantastic alligator. This plush stuffed animal is ideal for kids who love reptiles- not only is he an alligator, but for the imaginative dinosaur enthusiast, he is akin to the sarcosuchus!

The gorgeous green looks wonderful in the playroom or nursery, and the large alligator is definitely a conversation piece. This is an impressive gift for children who love zoos, documentaries, and wild animals.

Pick up a giant plush stuffed animal today!

Very useful and durable, this magnetic wooden alphabet set features both Upper and Lower Case letters! Kids love magnets, and this is a great way to encourage beginning language skills.

• Brand: Melissa and Doug
• Type: Magnetic Kids Toys
• Style: Wooden Alphabet Set
• Upper and Lower Case Letters
• Presented in an Attractive Wooden Storage Box
• Unique Educational Toy
• Parents’ Favorite
• Recommended for children ages 3+

Teach your child the ABCs, phonics, and to spell short words with the colorful, magnetic pieces.

Arrange them to spell short sentences (I am out / I am in), teach combination sounds (th, -ing), and emphasize long vowels (Tim + e = time, not + e = note).

Use them for tracing, or trace around them to create stencils or flash cards. Use them on the refrigerator, or magnetic dry erase boards!

This is a gift that will grow with your child as you change the way it is used.

Grab your Magnetic Wooden Alphabet Set today!

Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center

www.virginiaaquarium.com

Virginia Aquarium
717 General Booth Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA. 23451
(757) 385-FISH (3474)

Located in Virginia Beach, the Virginia Aquarium is a favorite destination for ocean lovers.  Two main buildings housing numerous exhibits are connected by beautiful trails with fun activities and displays along the way.  Climb up for a tree top view of the lovely Owl Creek area; get a hands on view of rays, horseshoe crabs, and more in the two touch tanks; see the sea turtles and sharks being fed; explore the outdoor aviary and so much more.  There are two gift shops and a café.  Plan to spend the day here.

Virginia Living Museum

www.thevlm.org

524 J Clyde Morris Blvd
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 595-1900

The Virginia Living Museum showcases the natural beauty of Virginia’s wildlife with outdoor animal habitats from woods to wetlands, and an aviary, all connected by a beautiful boardwalk.  Inside, native plants and fish fill a variety of aquariums, and education centers offer everything from fossils to a hive of bees.  There is also a nocturnal life display area, and a touch tank.  A gift shop and café are on site.

Metro Richmond Zoo

www.metrorichmondzoo.com

Metro Richmond Zoo

8300 Beaver Bridge Rd.

Mosely, Va. 23120

(804) 739-5666

The Metro Richmond Zoo is located outside of Richmond, in Chesterfield County.  It offers a wide variety of animals, a sky ride lift above the animal habitats, a petting area with herd animals, a fun “train” ride, gift shop, cafes, and more.  Feed and pet the giraffes, meander through the aviary, watch the penguins get their morning meal, and enjoy spending the day walking around with the peacock.

Children’s Museum of Richmond

www.c-mor.org

2626 West Broad Street
Richmond VA 23220

804-474-7000

The Children’s Museum of Richmond is located next door to the Science Museum of Virginia.  Featuring a variety of fantastic, hands-on, interactive displays and activities, the Children’s Museum is an excellent destination for kids.  Climb, tumble, listen, learn, and create.  From the art center to the large climbing “tree”, there is a lot to see and do.

Science Museum of Virginia

www.smv.org

2500 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 864-1400

The Science Museum of Virginia offers traveling exhibits on the lower level, as well as permanent displays on the upper levels.  There are classrooms and an Imax Dome in addition to the various museum displays.  The Science Museum of Virginia is located next door to the Children’s Museum of Richmond, and there are numerous restaurants within walking distance of both.

Dinosaur Land

www.dinosaurland.com

Dinosaur Land, Inc

3848 Stonewall Jackson Highway
White Post, VA 22663
(540) 869-2222

Fax (540) 869-0951

Dinosaur Land is a fun, outdoor park featuring large statues of a variety of dinosaurs.  There is a gift shop on site, and the facilities include an area which can be reserved for birthday parties.  It is a fun destination for little children who love dinosaurs.

More to be added:

Norfolk Zoo

Bristol Caverns

Natural Bridge

Lurray Caverns

Crabtree Falls

St. Mary’s Trails

Chris Greene Lake

Lake Sherando

Camp Friendship

Round Hill Farm

And others…

If your child will be beginning school this year, you may be wondering exactly what is on the Kindergarten Readiness Test? While Kindergarten readiness tests can vary from school to school, the types of questions and tasks which will be presented to your child are generally very similar. Also called Pre-Kindergarten Assessments, Kindergarten readiness tests involve identification, sorting, drawing, writing, stacking, cutting, walking heel to toe, hopping, and other such activities.

Your child’s teacher will be assessing the level of knowledge and skill your child has in comparison to state standards and to the other children in the class. This is so that an individual lesson plan can be created; in other words, a set of goals for your child and an overview of the steps to be taken to reach those goals. Most children beginning Kindergarten already have some basic knowledge of the alphabet, numbers, and even writing or drawing, usually learned in preschool.

The identification category usually involves pointing to, or saying the names of, objects, emotions, and colors depicted on cards or in the test guide. Your child may be asked to identify drawings of familiar things, such as household items, animals, or activities. Color and shape recognition is evaluated as well. The teacher may ask about drawings showing children who are smiling or frowning, what is happening in the picture, and how the person in the picture feels. Often the question is posed, “What would you do? How would you feel if that were happening to you?”

Your child may be directed to write his or her name, and to copy simple drawings, such as a circle, a straight line, and an “x”. Proper finger placement, pressure with the pencil, and ability will be noted. Your child may be asked to recite the alphabet from memory, as well as count to twenty. The teacher may evaluate your child’s skill in cutting shapes out with scissors.

Sorting is a category which involves shape and color recognition, the ability to count, and the ability to recognize similarities and differences. Kindergarten readiness tests usually include sorting based on both objects and drawings. For example, the teacher may have a set of ten or twenty small plastic toys and blocks of different colors. Your child would then be asked to give the teacher six red toys, or nine bears as opposed to dogs. Separating the colors into groups, counting them, and stacking are normally included in the assessment tests. Cards or pages showing a group of items may be shown, and your child may be asked to identify which items are different, for instance, an apple, orange, lemon, and shoe.

Your child’s physical development is assessed through a few fun activities. Your child may be asked to jump, hop, stand on one foot, and walk touching heel to toe. Not all children can complete all of these tasks, with the most difficult being walking touching the heel of one shoe to the toe of the other. The teacher is primarily evaluating strength and balance.

It is important to remember that the purpose of the Kindergarten Readiness Test is to evaluate your child’s knowledge and skill level prior to the beginning of Kindergarten in order to identify areas which need improvement, and formulate a plan to help your child succeed in the coming year. Kindergarten readiness tests are useful tools for both teachers and parents.

]]> http://creativekidslearningtoys.com/articles/what-is-on-the-kindergarten-readiness-test.html/feed 0 http://creativekidslearningtoys.com/articles/kindergarten-readiness-helping-your-child-prepare-for-school.html http://creativekidslearningtoys.com/articles/kindergarten-readiness-helping-your-child-prepare-for-school.html#comments Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:44:22 +0000 http://creativekidslearningtoys.com/?p=11

Kindergarten readiness:

*Varies from child to child

*Includes mental, physical, emotional and social development

*Can be assessed by your child’s pediatrician

*Is usually assessed with a Kindergarten Readiness Test at your child’s prospective school

Is your child well prepared for entering Kindergarten? Kindergarten classes today focus on teaching the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as furthering your child’s social and emotional development. In order for your child to comfortably participate in classroom activities and be able to understand and utilize the knowledge presented, your child should have a good foundation in the following areas which are used to determine Kindergarten readiness.

One of the most important qualifications of Kindergarten readiness is the ability to understand and follow the teacher’s directions. Your child will be functioning in a classroom setting, and will not have the undivided attention of the instructor. Consider enrolling your child in small group activities before entering Kindergarten. Children who have not attended preschool may find it very difficult to be separated from their parent, and may feel nervous as part of a group. Organized sports for preschoolers, summer day camps, or organized play groups are a great starting point. Additionally, places such as “The Little Gym” offer a variety of fun, age appropriate classes for infants and small children geared towards developmental progression in a group setting. Check your local newspapers or search online for activities for children in your area.

Social development refers to your child’s ability to interact with others. Does he play well as part of a group? How does she relate her needs and feelings to adults? Social development is an important part of Kindergarten readiness, but is also an area in which children quickly progress once in the Kindergarten classroom setting. To help your child, encourage open communication between adults and children, and have your child join in active play with other children. Taking advantage of playgrounds, parks, and store play areas are all fun, free ways to foster social development.

Kindergarten readiness includes the ability to react appropriately to both social and environmental stimuli. Your child’s emotional development plays a large role in her immediate response to situations. He needs to be able to identify his emotions and communicate them appropriately. Talk with your child about feelings like being sad, being happy, and what they mean. Helping children express feelings through communication better enables them to react appropriately when faced with new and sometimes difficult situations.

Physical development is considered for kindergarten readiness, although it is not as important as mental, social, and emotional development. If your child is behind in the category of physical development, your family pediatrician most likely has spoken to you on the subject. Engaging in active play with your child is very important. You might find your child enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, which can be done together, and are also learning opportunities. Discourage or limit time spent watching television, and encourage your child to participate in daily tasks as well as fun activities. Gross and fine motor skills development is very important, and even mundane daily activities like sweeping the floor or watering the plants can be great fun for a child while fostering physical development. Matters of appearance, such as height and weight, are the least important for Kindergarten readiness.