Everyday Sensory Alphabet Activities Ebook Review

I have really enjoyed Melitsa Avila's website Raising Playful Tots.  I started subscribing to Play Activities when my son was a toddler.  Now that he is a preschooler, I'm looking for more ideas from Melitsa.  I came across this Everyday Sensory Alphabet Activities ebook especially for preschoolers.  I have been teaching my son the alphabet, but I wanted to get a little more multi-sensory, but being challenged in that area myself, I was at a loss for ideas.  My son is also a bit sensitive to sensory activities, but I think we both need to learn to loosen up and have some fun!  Melitsa sent me her book to review and I was so excited!

Everyday Sensory Alphabet Activities is a 99 page ebook with three audio interviews (plus transcripts) and an appendix including more extension activities.  Melitsa created this book to show parents and teachers the fun way to experience the alphabet using all the senses!  This is not a craft book, but a book for PLAY!  Melitsa is a mom with three active boys and she created this book to accommodate the learning styles of these wriggling, squiggling youngsters.  While these are not crafts, they are definitely complimentary to craft time which is what I did with my son since he loves moving and loves crafts!  PS.  There is a coupon from Allie at No Time for Flashcards Alphabet Craft Book if you purchase this ebook.

Building letter E

For each letter of the alphabet there are SEVEN different activities!  First, you make the letter and talk about the name and sounds and what it starts with.  Next, you trace the letter.  Then find the letter in the world (your child's environment). Then mark the letter using a variety of everyday substances for the sensory experience.  Build the letter by using objects around the home.  Then do the action for that letter of the alphabet and read a recommended book.  Whew!  I was amazed at the variety of activities for EACH letter and there are so many different ideas within this book.  Melitsa goes into more detail for each of these.

Finding letter D

Building letter D

Marking letter D with ranch dressing and carrots

Shrade and I LOVED doing these activities together and I was astounded at his retention of what we did during our play.  One thing that stood out to me was when he started finding letters on books that we did during our sensory play.  He also loved the action time.  The next day he remembered that D was for dancing!  Another part of this that I was hoping would help him was making the letter with sensory substances.  At first he didn't want to, but today when I sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on the plate, he was able to lick his fingers after he drew the letter.  AND he drew the letter perfectly!  There is no greater joy than seeing your child light up when he can do something and they understand it!  There is so much for me and my children to experience with this book.  I have only scratched the surface, but I encourage you to take a look at this book and see how it could enhance your learning time with your child with FUN and EASY ways!  Thank you, Melista, for all of your hard work to create this book for parents like me!

Marking G in cinnamon and sugar

Look at Shrade's G!

Mmmm!

Check out

Everyday Sensory Alphabet Activities

Today!

Also, check out these great podcasts:
69. Everyday sensory alphabet activities tells you the story behind the ebook.
Two sensory related shows:
56.Sensory play for babies and toddlers
62. Sensory Play Activities is as easy as Play to Z

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway!

Hi Friends!  I reviewed this great digital scrapbooking software on my other blog and I'm having a giveaway and I want you to get in on it too!  Here is a sneak peek of what I made!

Just go to THE KNOWLTON NEST and enter by 12/21!

Books for Christmas Day 14: Trouble with Trolls

Trouble with Trolls by Jan Brett is a fun book that I just loved reading to my students.  It's about Treva who is having trouble with trolls.  The trolls want her dog.  What is she going to do?  See how clever Treva is!  I love it!  (Although, not a "Christmas" book, but a great one for the winter season)

Activity: Because we learned about "trolls" we will make snowman with on white paper.

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones Book Review

Song of the Stars by Sally Lloyd-Jones is a story of anticipation for the One who has come.  Each creatures' movement is focused on the great event like "wild stallions drummed it to the ground," and "the big brown bear sniffed the air."  All the earth is saying "It's time! It's time!"  The illustrations are simple and unique.  I love who the entire earth knows who has come and the last sentence pulls it all together that Jesus is now sleeping under the stars that he made.  This is a wonderful, fresh perspective of the Christmas story to join hearts to sing of the One who came to earth as a little baby boy.  Your family will enjoy this extra special story this Christmas season.

*This product was provided to me free of charge for purpose of this review. This is my honest opinion of this book and no monetary compensation was received for my opinion.*

In the book, which Publishers Weekly hails as "a fresh, circle-of-life take on the Christmas Story," Lloyd-Jones takes young readers on an alluring, awe-inspiring journey as she gently retells the story of the birth of Jesus from the lyrical perspective of creatures around the world.  

Zonderkidz™, a division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imagination and innovation. As the leader in Christian children's communications, it produces bestselling and award-winning Bibles, books, board books, graphic novels, audio, video and digital products that awaken the hearts and touch the souls of kids under 16 and the people who love them, from family members to educators. Zonderkidz is the publisher of the NIrV (New International Reader's Version) Bible translation, the 3rd-grade reading level edition of the NIV that is ideal for children and those who speak English as a second language. Visit Zonderkidz on the Internet at www.zonderkidz.com.

Books for Christmas Day 13: A Child Was Born

A Child Was Born by Grace Maccarone is a first nativity book where the story rhymes, but tells in short sentences the story of Jesus' birth.  It has very large pictures and young children can follow the simple story and learn the true meaning of Christmas.

Activity: We will water paint a J is for Jesus printable.

Food Fun: Dehyrating Apples

As you can see from our kitchen in the background, we have lots of homemade canned food (applesauce, grape juice and pasta sauce, just to name a few).  We also do a lot of dehydrating.  You can see 2 big bags of dehydrated apples right above Shrade's head.  My husband is the one who does ALL of this.  I help sometimes when I'm not busy doing other things, but this year we are trying to get Shrade more involved.  So we had him put apple slices on the dehydrating trays.  He also took many snacks.  He LOVES dehydrated fruit, so we thought it would be appropriate to show him how it's done and have him be a part of the process.

A few weeks ago we were playing up in the loft and Shrade put a bunch of blocks in a bag and told me he was going to take them over to the dehydrator and he promptly walked across the room and put them by the fan.  It was so cute to see him imitate his daddy using blocks!

Books for Christmas Day 12: The Twelve Days of Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett is the classic song, but with Jan Brett's wonderful illustrations!  I will sing this to my son.

Activity:  We will do a Christmas stocking dice game. Skills- counting, recognizing numbers and learning about dice.

Shrade loved rolling the die!