http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog Informative tips and information about parenting, toys, and education from a leading retailer of quality educational toys and games. Fri, 16 May 2008 20:32:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Memorial Day around our house typically involves one of the following events: cookout, traveling (usually from a grandparents' house), swimming, fishing or visiting.  Sometimes, it includes all of these.  Those are the best Memorial Days. Being a day set aside to remember those who have given their lives for the freedom ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/memorial-day-and-a-special-gift.html Our last day of school is quickly approaching here, and my 2nd grader is definitely in tune to that.  Each day, he tells us how many more school days he has left, and then he proceeds to name all the fun things he's going to do over the summer, from ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/dont-let-summer-stop-the-learning.html May is National Museum Month!  Visiting a museum at any age can be a fascinating, rewarding and educational experience.  However, not all of us are blessed to have good, quality museums in our area, so here are a few ways to bring the museum to you! http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/national-museum-month.html Every summer, I feel the squeeze of my wallet as requests for summer camps, sport clinics and other activities come flooding through my door.  This year, I have sought out some not-so-costly ways to entertain my kids and make their summer just as much fun as that $60 ticket to ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/fun-frugal-finds-in-your-neighborhood.html A few weeks ago, our cub scout troop created a simple project which has spurred a great deal of interest for my 8 year-old.  We made a simple family tree.  Each child traced his arm and hand on a large sheet of paper and colored the shape brown (for the ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/make-a-family-tree.html Summertime is just around the corner, and my second grader will be a newly-appointed third grader.  Summer, for us, means swimming, sleepovers, and a bit of educational "stuff" to keep us on our toes. One of my favorite activities to do with my boys is so simple, it is amazing that ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/thinking-inside-the-box.html 1. Nintendo Recalls Lapel Pins Due to Risk of Lead Exposure 2. Children's Storage Bins Sold at Lowe's Stores Recalled Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/cpsc-recalls-10.html She is the one who taught your son to subtract.  He is the person who helps your daughter with her understanding of science concepts.  She is the constant influence of a love of learning in your child's life.  And, it is time to honor that special person.  Next week, May ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/05/may-5-9-is-teacher-appreciation-week.html Jenna* is a child in my pre-k class.  She is your typical just-turned-5-year-old - curious, sweet, full of energy.  Jenna comes from a strong family unit with a brother who probably tests off the IQ scale, a dad who is a high school math teacher, and a mom who is ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/04/meeting-children-at-their-level-success.html My second grader came home last week with a small note stapled to his take-home folder.  It seems that a project is to be created for a parade his class is having.  This project could be an instrument, a flag or a banner, but the idea is to make the ... http://www.wonderbrains.com/weblog/2008/04/recycled-projects.html