"Just 20 minutes a day reading aloud with young children strengthens relationships, encourages listening and language skills, promotes attention and curiosity, and establishes a strong reading foundation. These skills are essential for success in school and in life."
- The National Children's Reading Foundation
"What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we
make them learn." - The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.
Easter Activities
April is such a nice kind of month ... warm and rainy. I just love the rain, but a rainy day can lead to disgruntled children that complain about being stuck inside with "nothing to do." This presents the perfect opportunity to take out a Kid Kit and get creative!
When a child gets really involved in a creative activity such as a Kid Kit, it's called the creative flow state. The brain becomes engaged and time just passes without realizing it. Then at the end of the day, instead of sitting in front of the TV, they have created something wonderful and fun to show for their efforts. When kids do something creative with their hands it increases fine motor skills, which has been shown in improve cognitive functioning and general well being.
This is true for people of all ages. Research of the elderly had shown that performing activities involving fine motor skills actually helps relieve stress and increases life satisfaction. That's why I continue to stress the value of having kids work with grandparents on Kid Kit activities because they have the time and it is an opportunity to spend quality time with their grandchildren.
Some of the kits I would suggest as activities for rainy days would be: Mermaid Things to Make & Do, Dream Catcher Kit, Friendship Bracelets, Chinese Calligraphy Kit, Book of Magic Tricks, Card Tricks, Old Steam Train.
Let the child's interest be the guide. Keep the kids happily occupied during the rainy spring season.
Happy Spring!
Having trouble viewing this e-mail? View it in your web browser.
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welcome to Usborne Books & More's quarterly customer newsletter! | April 2011 Vol. 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |  |  |  |
| Easter Stencil Cards $9.99 | Easter Fun $12.99 | Easter Activities $6.95 | 50 Easter Things to Make and Do $9.99 |
Personalize your child's Easter Basket with Usborne and Kane Miller Books!
 |  |  |  |
| That's Not My Teddy $8.99 | Farmyard Tales Coloring Book $5.99 | My Scrapbook $19.99 | I Love Words $14.99 |
 A Garden for Pig $15.99 | Spring is the perfect time to start a garden (even a small container garden) with your children and fill it with your favorite herbs, or fruits and vegetables! "A Garden for Pig" is a wonderful treat to share with your kids as they experience the fun of creating, caring for and watching their garden grow. This picture book also has helpful instructions on how to start your own garden and directions on how to make your own compost! |
 |  |  |
| Sticker Dolly Dressing Weddings $8.99 Royal Wedding Special Edition | First Coloring Book Weddings $5.99 | Sticker Dolly Dressing Bridesmaids $8.99 |
Download Royal Wedding activity and coloring sheets »
 |  |  |
| Animals Fact Cards $9.99 | Number Puzzles $9.99 | Picture Puzzles $9.99 |
Win one of these new activity cards
10 winners will be drawn on May 1st!
Enter Here »
Download printable play pages for these Kane Miller titles and add a little "fun stuff" to your day!
 Sally and Dave, A Slug Story $7.95 | Sally and Dave, A Slug Story Sally is a sleek, slim and simply stunning slug...and she knows it. She can't resist reminding her neighbor, Dave, that he's just a common fat slug who spends his time sitting on his slimy slug bottom. But when Sally's life is at stake, Dave steps in and saves the day! View this title read by the author » |
 Jukebox $14.95 | From disco to opera, hip hop to jazz, David Merveille's unique style makes this practically wordless book sing. A non-fiction journey through the musical universe, Jukebox is filled with details, revealing as much about the people who listen to music as it does about those who create it. View the musical book trailer » |
Could you use an extra $200 or more a week? It's a GREAT time to start your own business with Usborne Books & More. Contact me for all the details.
Host a Home Party and receive FREE, and ½ price books, for your family! Ask about our new three booking hostess specials. Contact me now for more details.
Receive up to 50% in Free Books with an Usborne school event. For more information, go to the Usborne books for schools website.
Click here to forward this newsletter to a friend.
To register yourself for this month's Drawing for $50.00 in FREE Usborne Books, click here. While there, don't forget to check out our fabulousInternet Specials!
Spark a child's imagination, creativity, and love
of reading with gifts from Usborne Books & More!
This email has been sent to you from Usborne Books & More on behalf of Marni Raney,
your Usborne consultant. To ensure receipt of our emails, please add
UsborneAlive@aol.com to your Email Address book.
Usborne Books & More | 10302 E. 55th Place | Tulsa, OK 74146.
Fun with Frog all month long for all ages.
Frog on a log Created in consultation with a language expert, this book is part of an engaging new phonics-based series, especially written to help your child learn to read.
