Game Book

In an effort to help M develop some pre-writing skills (since he is forever wanting to “draw letters” but gets frustrated when he can’t), I made him this little game book.  It’s full of mazes mostly right now, and a couple of dot-to-dots.  Dot-to-dot is a new idea for him, but I think he’ll catch on quickly. 

I simply printed a few pages I found online, put them into page protectors, and popped them into a 3-ring binder.  He can use his window markers on the page protectors, then wipe them off and do them again. 

Eventually I’ll add shape tracing pages, maybe some “draw a line from the dog to his doghouse” type of worksheets (do you know what I’m talking about??), and even some large letter patterns to follow.

This was super-easy and super-fast to put together. 

Here are some of the links I found for good game pages to print.  I copied some of the smaller mazes into my photo-editing program, enlarged them, and then printed them out.

• Simple dot-to-dot pages
• Simple mazes (.pdf file)
• More simple mazes
• Mazes ( a tiny bit more difficult)
• Website full of game links, rated by difficulty

 

I hope you enjoy this idea!

Have a beautiful day! :)

Books of the Week - {#5}

Matthew’s absolute favorite this week is Minerva Louise and the Red Truck by Janet Morgan Stoeke.This is the first book we’ve read in the Minerva Louise series, but we will definitely be back for more of them! Minerva Louise is a very silly, very loveable chicken who thinks a handkerchief is a cape, upside down flower pots are a table and chairs, and work trucks grow on truck farms. For some reason the silliness that this book is filled with really appealed to my child. Go figure. :) He even took this book to church with him and it kept him occupied and quiet the entire time so it is a winner with me too! :)
My favorite this week is a classic – Ten Apples Up on Top by Theo LeSieg (aka Dr. Seuss).This book somehow escaped my notice until I had M, and I am so glad I found it. It’s been mentioned in a few blog posts by other bloggers doing apple themes with their little ones, and I just had to get it again, so off to the library we went. The last time we had this one M was pretty small and he wasn’t crazy about it (although hubby and I thought it was hilarious!) – something about the mop scared him. He talked about that mop for a long time, silly boy. This time around he loves it as much as I do. A lion, a tiger, and a dog keep piling apples on their heads and do all they can to keep them there, despite some angry bears who are chasing them out of town. The crazy idea of having to keep apples on one’s head, no matter what, just tickles my funny bone. :) I highly recommend this one if you haven’t already read it!
For more Books of the Week posts on other blogs, click here.
Have a beautiful day! :)