Kindergarten Readiness – Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP'S

It’s Back to School Picture at the Door Time!

Kim — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:23:02 +0000

Smile or Acting Goofy

I just love to see the pictures of children heading to their first day back to school. The posed smiles with likely some challenges on some days of keeping still, shirt tucked in, holding the sign just right and knowing that there likely was some acting goofy and some crazy cheesy smiles in between.

The day filled with excitement and some nerves heading into the next class… and for parents, likely some of the same feelings plus some relief too It’s amazing to see the growth that happens in a year when parents post comparison pictures, often in the same spot.

What’s Written on the Signs

While I’m usually not one to focus on the negative thoughts, it’s important to be intentional and aware about those cute signs and what information you post when it comes to your children. Like many things, you hear the stories and think, surely it wouldn’t happen to me, and then it does. Or to someone close to you. Identity theft, non-custodial parent issues, stalking, all with information handed to them on a platter.

I believe that each parent needs to make the decision about what they post on the internet (and permit others to post) regarding their children, but I also believe that they need the information in order to best make that decision.

What is Posted on the Internet… Stays on the Internet and Other Tips

What is posted on the internet, stays on the internet
It doesn’t matter if it’s a private account, information can get out easily to people you didn’t intend to see it.
Watch what is in the background of your photo. Is there a street sign? House number? School name or logo?
This can be information that you think you are not giving away, but prominent for a person that’s looking to do harm.
Privacy and geotagging automatically will add the location of where the photo is taken.
This can include when that photo is posted on Social Media. Review your settings on your phone and social media platforms.

But, I like those Signs

You know what? I do too. I even made the one in the picture for Grand7 (have you noticed that I do this? It’s intentional). But think about either omitting or blurring some information from the signs on pictures to post on Social Media or even use a different generic sign that says “First Day of PreK” for those you will post. You can text the picture of the cute signs to the grandparents directly.

Be safe… and enjoy this back-to-school season,

Maze Puzzles for Early Elementary Age

Kim — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:20:41 +0000

Summer Camp Fun

We’ve been having a blast at our Summer Camp and we are in the second half of our summer program already – it’s hard to believe it! There has been no shortage of fun, even on the rainy days or quiet time for Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’s when the campers get to choose activities to do while most of the children at the school are sleeping.

Puzzles, Drawing, and….. MAZES

Among other things, Mazes are a favorite with our group. So I created a handful and thought… these might be enjoyed by other children that are not at our camp this year. With a clip board in hand – download these for road trips, rainy days, waiting for meals at a restaurant, or… anytime! I’m happy to share these in hopes of providing some smiles. Feel free to pass them on to others too!

Easy Shark Maze Cat Maze Cubed Maze

Flower Maze Honeycomb Maze Spaghetti Maze

Unicorn Maze

Education Through Play

Kim — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 13:49:11 +0000

Play to Learn

Yes, play is actually work for children and how they learn! Bonus is that it is usually also fun for them.
(At another time, we can talk about how I hope people can find the same fun in the work they do as adults. #Don’tBeJealous)

Worksheets not Required

You’ll see we do have worksheets but not what you may remember doing as a child if you’re my age. It was almost like teachers didn’t feel they were doing the right work if they weren’t sending home completed worksheets with the red pen markings showing the expected measure against result.

Ensuring Challenge and Progress

We include some challenges or steps of learning to keep appropriate developmental age activities and although we do not have assessments as a judge or formal grading, we do some measuring of skills to keep parents informed and to keep our activities focused around any gaps that we see need to be reinforced. So when you visit or see pictures of the invitation for children to cut up spaghetti or tear paper… it might look like just play… but it is so much more.

3 Examples:

When children play with:

puzzles they are learning their colors & shapes; sorting; patterns; counting; taking turns.
playdoh they are learning how to manipulate; feelings; planning and execution; squeezing and fine motor skills.
rattles, cars, blocks they are learning cause and effect; tracking images and focusing; imagination and pretend play.

Let’s go play!

Reading from the Start

Kim — Fri, 03 May 2024 23:45:08 +0000

I Read, You Read, we all Read Together!

At Just Like GRAMMY & POPPOP’S you will find a lot of books and a lot of reading happening. We believe that everyone can learn from reading and it is important to have a variety of options and different types of books for the children to choose from. Each of our classrooms will have a reading area filled with books appropriate for the age ranges within. Teachers will read books and GRAMMY & POPPOP will even read!

At home, reading is fun too. Using animated voices, pointing to colors and items on pages, and letting the child turn pages can all be ways to engage. Children seeing parents read can be motivating for them to read too. If you have many family members, maybe even start a twenty-minute reading party before bedtime routines begin – it’s a great example for all of the children.

(Hint: It’s ok if the little ones aren’t able to stay focused the entire twenty minutes on a book… keep going and it will improve over time.)