Free Preschool Printables: Learning Colors

Here's a brand new set of preschool printables I've created.  It includes 5 different activities for teaching colors.

I have moved all of my homeschooling posts to christianhomeschoolfamily.com. You can go here to read this post at the new site.

You can go here to read this post at the new site.

Free Printable Scripture Verse Valentines

Are you looking for some printable Scripture verse valentines for your kids to give out this year?

I've created these for you to print and use!

The valentine verses for kids included on these cards are:

• I John 4:19
• Jude 1:21
• I John 3:1
• Romans 8:35
• John 3:16
• I John 5:1

All scriptures are from the King James Version.

These would be great for your kids to use at school or church!  Use the form below to download.

For more Christian valentine ideas, you can consider some of the below:

Thanks for being the “write” kind of friend Valentine – this Valentine is an adorable pencil holder!

God's love is like a Circle Valentine-this Valentine features the poem “God's Love is Like a Circle” and goes on top a bag that holds super balls.  Perfect for a non-candy valentine!

Countdown to Valentine's Day  –Use this printable to show your children how much you love them with a 14 day countdown to Valentine's day.  Such a simple, yet meaningful way to strengthen your relationship with your children.

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Help Kids Listen in Church {Free Printables}

Our 2 oldest children sit with us in church on Sunday nights.

I want to make sure that they are not only quiet, but that they are also learning something. Even if the message is over their head, they can still learn something if they are taught to pay attention and try to understand as much as they can.

Up until now, we have just helped them find their place in their Bibles and made sure they are sitting up straight and listening to the preacher.  (Read: To the Mom Whose Kids are Wiggly in Church.)

Crayons, pen and paper, and the like have not worked out very well when we have tried to let them draw or color.

I feel like I spend more time and brain power making sure they don't draw on their clothes or spill crayons everywhere than I do actually listening to the message myself.

Perhaps it's not distracting to others around us, but it sure is distracting to me!

But I thought it would be nice to have something to actively engage their brain in trying to understand what the preacher is saying. Just because they are sitting up straight does not mean their brain is necessarily focused on what he is saying.  They could be counting the windows, crossing their eyes to make the lights look like prisms, or looking at the picture in the baptistry.  (I know I did all of the above when I was a kid!)

I came up with several printable pages for kids of various ages to help them listen more proactively while in church.

I purposely kept these simple  so that children can easily learn the instructions and know what to do each week without continually asking you questions during church.

I also made these available in both 8.5×11 size as well as half size sheets.  I've found my children have a hard time holding a full size binder on their lap, so I'll be doing the half size sheets with a half size binder.  But at the same time, some children need to write larger, so I still wanted to make the option of larger pages available to you.

Age 4-6

Download half size sheets here

Age 6-8

Download half size sheets here

Age 8-10

At this age, my children should be old enough to start taking actual sermon notes. I will allow them to start by copying mom or dad's notes if they want until they have gotten the hang of taking their own notes.

Download half size pages here

DIY Preschool Matching Activity

Guest post by Nicole at A Living Sacrifice.

This DIY Preschool Matching Activity is perfect for preschoolers.  Use it in a busy box, Sunday School, or daycare setting to occupy the littles.

I have moved all of my homeschooling posts to ChristianHomeschoolFamily.com. You can go here to read this post at the new site.

10 Ways Kids Can Help in the Kitchen

My children are always begging to help me in the kitchen, but sometimes I have a hard time thinking of things they could do.  I did a little brainstorming and compiled a list of 10 ways kids can help in the kitchen. These are things that children as young as age 2 can do.

1.Dump ingredients into a bowl.  You measure it and then allow them to dump it into the bowl.

2. Stir.  Since they will probably not stir it as well as it needs to be done, you can tell them that you will start and they can finish.

3. Put toppings on pizza.  Lay out the toppings and let them have fun spreading them on the pizza.

4. Put forks, napkins, and condiments on the table.  Of course you're not going to let a very small child put the breakable dishes on the table, but they can set the forks and napkins around and help you put small items on the table like ketchup or salad dressing.

5. Sweep the floor.  A child is not going to be able to get the floor completely swept, but they will feel like such a big boy or girl using the broom.  It will probably keep them occupied for a while.  You can also teach them how to hold the dustpan for you while you sweep the dirt into it.

6. Tear up salad greens.  If salad is on the menu, you can keep children occupied tearing the lettuce.  They may even do a better job at it than you!

7. Wash dishes.  Give them a chair, a sink full of soapy water, and some unbreakable dishes, and let them have at it!  They may end up a little bit wet, and you will most likely have to re-do the dishes, but they will have fun!  They will also be developing the skills they need to wash them them right way when they get a little older.

8. Dry dishes.  If you're not in the mood for a wet kitchen, you could wash and let them dry.

9. Chop Vegetables with an enclosed chopper.  If you have a hand chopper that is enclosed, they could take a turn at chopping.

10. Help you unload the dishwasher.  Kids as young as age 1 love to help unload the silverware from the dishwasher.  They can hand you one piece of silverware at a time while you put them away.

Children will probably not do everything perfectly in the kitchen, and you may get frustrated when they use the spoon more often as a bat than as a stirring utensil. But when you allow them to help, they will develop skills that will allow them to really be a help in the future.  You are also spending valuable time with them, and they will know by the time you spend how much you love them.

What did I miss?  I'm sure there are more things that kids can do in the kitchen that I didn't think to put on this list.  I'd love for you to leave a comment and give some more ideas!

For even more ideas and practical advice for getting kids involved in the kitchen, check out Adventures With Kids! In the Kitchen.  It's normally $14.95, but when you buy it as part of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle, you'll get it plus another $1000 worth (yes, that's one thousand dollars) of resources for $29.97!

Disconnecting to Connect

The following is a sponsored post.  As always, all content and opinions are 100% my own.

Computers.  Smart phones.  Tablets. .

They're so helpful, but so much of the time they end up sucking away our time and attention from the ones who should matter the most.

The Tech Timeout^TM challenge started by Foresters encourages families to take a daily break from technology. Participating families are encouraged to disconnect from all things electronic with the goal of helping spouses, parents and children build stronger bonds, communicate more personally and get more involved in each other’s lives.

And I think it's a great challenge!

I was recently asked if I would like to participate and share our family's experience with the challenge.

I don't have a smartphone, so checking Facebook or email throughout the day is not a temptation for me.  We also don't have T.V. or video games.  Pretty much the only electronics we have are the computer and Kindle, but I did want to disconnect a little more than I normally do and see if I thought it made a difference.

When I would normally be on the computer writing here on the blog, or just relaxing on Pinterest while the kids nap, I decided to stay off and spend time outside with the kids.  We enjoyed the extra time spent together outside, but since that was during their naptime I can't do it on a regular basis.

I think if I had a smartphone I would be really bad about messing with it and not giving my undivided attention to the kids.  Having a designated time each day to specifically have it OFF no matter what would be really helpful in making sure I'm not getting distracted from paying attention to my kids.

Do you think you would benefit from a designated Tech Timeout?

Here are some GREAT ideas of things you could be doing rather than being connected to technology:

Which of these fun family activities would you enjoy most?

Visit techtimeout.com to make the pledge with your family!