Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: Early Years

This topic has 10 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by Kristina.

Viewing 11 posts - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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February 4, 2014 at 7:28 pm
Kristina
Participant
My daughter is turning three and my mother in law is asking for ideas for an “educational or homeschool” idea for a gift. Do you have any suggestions? Anything your little ones (I also have a 4 1/2 year old) love to use to learn?
February 4, 2014 at 8:05 pm
curlywhirly
Participant
Tanagrams are always a hit around here. Melissa & Doug have a nice set for the little ones. http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Pattern-Blocks-Boards/dp/B00006JZCG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1391544245&sr=8-2&keywords=tanagrams
February 4, 2014 at 8:08 pm
MountainMamma
Participant
We have loved our Learning Resources Cash Register. The kids love to play “store”. For more ideas, check out one of the best blog posts I’ve seen about twaddle-free toys is on the Wildflowers and Marbles blog here:
http://wildflowersandmarbles.com/2010/02/10/toys-my-thoughts-on-choosing-organizing-and-managing-toys-in-the-home/
February 4, 2014 at 8:08 pm
TailorMade
Participant
My kids loved using a Magnadoodle for handwriting practice at that age. They used a large one during learning time and a small one stayed in the car for travel time.
They also liked dot to dot books (helped with number,) clay (developed fine motor skills,) and lots of living books!

February 4, 2014 at 8:12 pm
TailorMade
Participant
Oops. I wasn’t finished.
Safety scissors and a small trash can don’t seem very educational, but they can use these for practicing by cutting out pictures from magazines/junk mail.
And, a tea set was loads of fun. It encouraged manners, table setting, hand/eye coordination, and the habit of joy!
Gardening tools have always been seen as educational at our house. We also consider Audubon field guides to be important for our children to have at even three years old. You’ll need to teach the proper use/care of these books, but we’ve never had one torn at our house.

February 4, 2014 at 9:10 pm
Mysterious Lady in Pink
Participant
I agree with all of those ideas! Adding pattern blocks with or without a tray or cards. Other ideas, but a little less favorite with my crew: possibly geoboards but the rubber bands might be an issue, possibly a scale of some kind, and puzzles, books.
February 4, 2014 at 9:23 pm
Tristan
Participant
Melissa and Doug wooden puzzles and pattern block sets (they have two different ones for varying difficulty).
Wedgits
Do a Dot paint markers (there are tons of free printables to go along include alphabet and number ones)
Games like Boggle Jr (you roll dice and match letters on dice to the card), Spot It Jr Animals (or they have ABCs, etc), Roll and Play by Thinkfun.
Playdoh

February 5, 2014 at 1:49 am
retrofam
Participant
We like toy food, toy pots and pans, dishes, etc.
I bought large size uppercase and lowercase letters and numbers that are great also. I keep these in my room and use them for school only so they don’t get lost. I have an old incomplete set that my two year old uses.
February 5, 2014 at 2:09 am
Monica
Participant
-puzzles
-my girls love the Draw Write Now books
-this Birds of North America memory game was a big hit at Christmas
-DVDs aren’t ever my first choice, but the Leap Frog Letter Factory is very popular among kids learning letter sounds
-Items for nature study are always appreciated here – a bird feeder, binoculars, a kit to grow a butterfly/ladybug/frog, educational posters (birds, insects), a field guide, etc.
February 5, 2014 at 2:39 am
6boys1girl
Participant
We like the Lauri foam puzzles. They have different shaped ones as well as numbers and ABC’s. You can get them at Rainbow Resources. Here’s a link: http://www.rainbowresource.com/searchspring.php?q=lauri+puzzles
Lacing beads (we have a wooden ABC set).
Inchimals are great! We got those at Timberdoodle. My 4 year old LOVES these.

February 5, 2014 at 4:13 am
Kristina
Participant
These are great ideas! Thanks so much. I’ll be passing a few along. 🙂