I for I-Pad Apps

Top six iPad apps for tots and tweens.

Little Dude's Top Three iPad apps

1. Tea Party by Toca Boca   Cost $2.99, but there is an An open ended game that allows the child choices of table cloth, beverage, food and other things.  We love all the games by Toca Boca.  When I am in need of a diversion for the Little Guy this is my go-to game.  He can play this for an hour.  His big sister can play with him too.

2. Letter School - Cost $2.99 but there is a free Lite Version This is the Little Dude's new favorite game, but it isn't a game.  It is learning how to write letters.  He loves it.  There are so many fun surprises as the child identifies and learns to write his letters. There are three letter sets and two levels that lead the child to greater and greater independence in writing.  

3. Fish School by Duck Duck Moose Cost - $1.99 Another app that allows the child to play around with the alphabet, numbers and colors too.  It also has nice music, a plus for mom.

Zippy's Top Three iPad apps

1. Mittens by Disney  Cost $.99 (there are also optional in game purchases).  The user has to get the cat from point A to point B.  Lots of problem solving and physics.  

2. Where's My Water by Disney Cost $.99  (there are also optional in game purchases).  Another physics based game, the user solves water based problems. 

3. Candy Crush by King Cost Free (there are optional in game purchases).  This is a math them up game.  Lots of different kind of puzzles based on the match three.  There are several kinds of goals.  Really addictive, we all are playing this in our free time.  

I am blogging through the alphabet with Marcy over at Ben and Me. 

Letter H Books

Here are five books that feature words that start with the letter H.  They are all picture books, great for reading aloud or early readers.

No Roses for Harry by Gene Zion - Harry gets a sweater with roses.  Harry doesn't like roses and tries very hard to get rid of the sweater.  

The Little House  by Virginia Lee Burton - The story of a house over years as the city overtakes her. 

Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson - Harold takes his purple crayon and draws an adventure. 

Old Hat New Hat by Stan and Jan Berenstain 

Handmade Alphabet by Laura Rankin.

Here is a bonus book:  Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden.  A personal favorite of mine, for obvious reasons.  The story of a little orphan girl, a doll and Christmas wishes come true.  This book is a little longer than a picture book, but would still make a nice read aloud, it does have pictures. 

 

{Linking up} with the fabulous Marcy over at Ben and Me with blogging through the alphabet. 

*There are affiliate links in this post. 

DIY Toy Project: Plastic Lids

Little Dude has a problem with low sodium.  To keep his sodium levels up he takes salt twice a day, eats a salty diet and drinks Gatorade.  A while ago I decided to start saving the lids, thinking there must be some way to reuse them creatively.  We have a lot of lids.

Turn Plastic Lids into fun Learning Tools

This took about five minutes to make and cost me nothing because I had a gift card from one of the big box craft stores.  

Foam Letter Stickers
Plastic Lids

Stick the stickers on the lids.  I just gave them to the Little Dude because he likes to sort, count and organize.  They could also be used as stamps although we haven't yet.

Extra bonus for me. The letter stickers were not completely punched out so there was lot of scrap foam stickers that the Little Dude used to decorate his box.

A is for Acorn and Apple

Blogging Through the Alphabet

Marcy over at Ben and Me is starting a new round of Blogging Through the Alphabet and I've decided to join in.  

I've wanted to make an alphabet picture book for the Little Dude for some time now.  I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity to go through the alphabet one letter at time, one page a week, sharing the pages here on the blog.  At the end of the twenty-six weeks the book will be complete as well. 

  

A is for....

 Acorn

Apple