123…Kindergarten! Snack-sized tidbits to help prepare preschoolers for elementary school, by Preston Blackburn

Why 123…Kindergarten?  Most human brain growth happens in the early years before age 5 when children use their bodies to explore the world, laying neural wiring for social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive success.  In other words, the more children move, the more connections then make, the stronger the connections, and the more their brains understand how to use their bodies for school.  Children’s bodies and brains crave this kind of movement int he form of big-body, physical play.

Whether you have a 2-year-old, a 5-year-old or something in between, Kindergarten is in their future. Getting ready for what lies ahead in the world of elementary excitement and learning is important, particularly at this crucial stage.

123 K is filled with snack-sized tools to get kids moving to support a world of learning by honing specific strengths for holding a pencil or sitting comfortably at a desk to motor patterns needed to support language and math.

Are you in? Then bring it on!  Get yours here.

If Broccoli Were A Cookie: Recipes to Expand Kids’ Palates One Teaspoon at a Time, by Preston Blackburn

Preschoolers are notorious for saying “YUCK!” to new foods, but that doesn’t mean they might not like getting messy making something new and in the process, tasting their handiwork. “If Broccoli Were a Cookie” is a collection of recipes that have been successfully replicated for more than a decade with hundreds of picky preschoolers. Incorporating math, language, science and social studies, we share our tips and tricks to engage young minds and small hands in the magical art of cooking.

The Pop, Hop & Rock™ program Snack & Roll™, is a cooking and powerful play program, geared towards preschool and young elementary aged children. “If Broccoli Were a Cookie” is a collection of fun recipes pulled from the Snack & Roll™ vault which includes delicious messiness, counting, tasting, comparing and even some palate expansion.

With gorgeous photographs to tempt, fun facts to engage, conversation starters and tips to get little hands involved, you and your preschooler will delight in these delicious recipes designed to sway even the pickiest of eaters.

Get yours here.

Stomping Helps with Schoolwork?

You betcha!  And so does logrolling, spinning, swinging, running, crawling, climbing, and more…

Big-body physical play drives success in the classroom.  It is the foundation on which children build everything from self-regulation and self-control to sitting still, attending, and even reading and math!

What does that look like practically speaking?  We gotcha!  Check it out here.

Still curious?  We can load you up!

Check out some of our blogs and articles for others:

Heavy Work Calendar

Kids need to push, pull, jump, climb, dig, wipe, sweep, and crawl.  All of these things help prepare them to write with skill, sit comfortably at a desk, and hold their heads up to read.  In other words, success with the 3Rs comes from heavy work, heavy chores, and heavy play.  And we have got you set up for success.  Our heavy work calendar is two months of amazing ideas to help kids build the strength and skills they need to be ready for the classroom.   Get yours here.

Playground Fun

Make a list and check it twice!  Make a list of the playgrounds in your hometown and visit each one, checking each off the list afterward.  After each visit, give that playground a rating with our scorecard.   What was good about it?  What was it missing?  What would you add to it?  Ready to double the fun?  Incorporate a scavenger hunt into your playground trip.  Use our hunt or make your own!  Get yours here, here, and here.

Walk On!

Weekend mornings, evenings after dinner?  Why not go on a walk?  Take advantage of low walls to balance on or jump off, sticks and cracks in the sidewalk to jump over, low branches to reach and touch, bugs to count, things that might be different than the way they might be seen from the car.  The conversations can flow, the questions can bubble up and the curiosity can be amazing.  Even better, the benefits are countless for kids and grownups, and you can up the fun by adding a scavenger hunt.  Use ours, or make your own!  Get the goodies here and here.

Obstacle Courses

Over, under, through.  Jump up on or down off.  Balance, shimmy around, hop from target to target.   Obstacle courses can be built outside in the grass, on sidewalks, using water, or keeping it dry, inside on rainy days, and even in the dark!  We are made of ideas, and have a few to get you started, but we dare you to come up with your own as well!  Get the fun stuff here and here.