Month Review : Thanks Sponsors!

August has been another amazing month here on hands on : as we grow.

The first part of the Raising Kids is Tough : Eating Battles series was a success! Lots of questions came in throughout the month as well, and we tried our best to answer them on Facebook as well as from the experts each Monday.

This month, Raising Kids is Tough is focusing on Unwanted Behaviors! Can't wait to kick off this new part of the series on Monday! What would you like to talk about in October? Submit a question!

Apart from the Raising Kids is Tough series, August has brought about some opportunities for me! One being the twitter party I hosted on preschool readiness. It was a blast to host it and talk to you all about getting ready for preschool, and seeing what to expect! I also had a wonderful giveaway last week for an amazing memory game that was almost too beautiful to play with! And on top of all that fun stuff, Deborah of Teach Preschool hit a major milestone on Facebook and asked a few of her blogging friends to collaborate together to create The ABCs of Teaching Preschool, even though I'm not a teacher, I was proud to contribute to the letter P - P is for Play!

It's Playtime! has been booming with play ideas as well! Breaking records for the number of entries a couple of times this month! There's always over 100 ways to play each week! Thank you Playtimers for a fun week, every week!

Here's to September! I wonder what's in store this month. But for now, we'll recap August and hopefully get everyone caught up!

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August's top ten referring blogs. I appreciate the features that these blogs have given hands on : as we grow, or the opportunity to link up in a great party [like It's Playtime!].

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Simple DIY Calendar for Preschooler

My preschooler doesn't really like preschool.

What do I do?

I decided to create some structure to our day.

I created a simple calendar of the week, so Henry can see what days he has preschool.

As well as seeing what he can do when he gets home from preschool!

[That's my hope, to get him excited about both preschool and an after-school activity.]

 

In addition, it helps him learn the days of the week.

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Contribute to hands on : as we grow

Now you can submit your content to be included at hands on : as we grow!

What kind of content?

• Playful
• Kid-friendly oriented
• Parenting oriented
• Ideas and tips for stay at home moms!
• Browse around and you'll get the idea of the content that I'm looking for. 
• It doesn't have to be art, craft or activity related. Your opinions matter, too!
• It does not have to be unpublished idea of yours, but it does need to be rewritten.

How to submit your contribution idea?

• Email the following to handsonaswegrow@gmail.com
• A short description of what you'd like to contribute about.
• Include a picture if its appropriate. [Please only use your own images.]
• If you're interested in doing a blog swap and having me post on your blog as well, let me know at this time!
• I'll then get back to you if I feel that your content would be a good fit for hands on : as we grow and a tentative date for publishing.

How do your send in your full contribution?

• Write the post like you would for your own blog.
• Include your own images, if appropriate.
• Include links back to your blog when appropriate.
• Email the following to handsonaswegrow@gmail.com
• Copy/paste the HTML into a .txt document [using Notepad or Word] or email me the HTML
• Include a short bio about you and your blog.

What can you expect from your contribution?

• I'll let you know when your contribution will be published.
• I'll write a brief introduction to your contribution.
• At the end of your contribution, I'll include a short bio on you [that you provide] as well as links to where you can be found [socially, online].
• I will promote your contribution just as I would my own [on all the social networks I'm associated with].
• The content you publish on hands on : as we grow becomes property of hands on : as we grow. [i.e. I may submit it to other sites, or publish it in an ebook - only dreaming! -, of course with reference to the original author.]
• After 30 days of your contribution being published on hands on : as we grow, you may post the content on your site. In order to comply with Google and not publishing duplicate content, please leave a link back to the post found here on hands on : as we grow.

Can't wait to see your ideas!

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It's Playtime! : The Areas of Play

In yesterday's post, P is for Play, I went through a few of the ways I look at play, and how I believe it is an important part of learning for a young child.

Luckily enough, I find inspiration for all kinds of ways to play every week from It's Playtime! [Yay Playtimers!]

Here are your ways to play in each area of Play that I outlined yesterday.
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P is for Play!

P is for Play. One letter and only one part of the ABCs of Teaching Preschool. Deborah of Teach Preschool has hit an amazing milestone on Facebook: 20k fans. Yes, that's right, 20,000 fans!

I'm thrilled to be included in Teach Preschool's celebration! This is only one post in a collection of the "ABCs of Teaching Preschool".

I don't teach preschool, but I do teach my own preschooler as his mom. And one of the most important parts of our day is play, as it is in preschool, too.

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P is for Play

If you haven't noticed, hands on : as we grow is a lot about play.

Children at play.

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Modern Art Memory Game : Giveaway

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

Congratulations to sweetheart!

Due to the previous winner not responding, I drew a new winner and notified her via email.

AMMO Books will be sending her one of these beautiful Modern Art Memory Games!

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I received this beautiful Modern Art Memory Game from Sara of AMMO Books. 

It combines two of my favorites: kids and art.

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Raising Kids is Tough : Eating Battles

For the Raising Kids is Tough series, August has been all about your Eating Battles. This is the final edition of Eating Battles.

This week are all the questions that came in throughout the month and I've posted on Facebook to have fans, as well as the experts, give you their answers!

The Hands On Experts:

• Mom Expert: Jill of A Mom with a Lesson Plan
• Parenting Expert: Erin of The Intentional Parent
• Teaching Expert: Deborah of Teach Preschool
• Lifestyle Expert: Sarah of Füdoo Boards

These hands on experts have given their professional and personal answers to help lessen your eating battles that you submitted.

Your Eating Battles:

• Dinner Table Battles
• Going Out to Eat
• Picky Eaters
• Healthy Snacks 
• More Eating Battles [The Experts' advice below] : 
• Eating Independence
• Slow Eating
• Constant Hunger
• Eating Manners

[Do you have a question that wasn't listed? Submit your Raising Kids is Tough questions!]

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