ACTIVITIES to encourage Talking with your little ones Encouraging talking and fostering communication is both enjoyable and beneficial. Here’s a list of fun activities that can help promote conversations with your little ones. Talk to me, Baby | Birth-6 months | Repeating what babies say lets them know you are listening and that communication is Read More
Talking Tips
Sometimes talking to a young child who can’t talk back can seem awkward. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in that feeling. Once you start talking with children, it’s easy to get on a roll. We have some great suggestions below to keep the conversation going. Also, many families use baby sign language to help their Read More
Let’s Talk
It may sound like a given, but talking to your child is extremely important. Since 80% of your child’s brain development happens from birth to age three, words are vital to building that structure. Babies are wired to pick up sounds, words, and gestures. Thankfully adults are ready to provide all of that through baby Read More
Taking Turns and Sharing Activities
Sharing Ball Super simple. Roll a bowl to your child and say “my turn” – when they roll the ball back, say “your turn”. This game will evolve as children get older and have more coordination. Alternative: share bubbles by taking turns blowing and/or popping bubbles Build a tower together (LoveEvery.com) Another simple Read More
Books about Taking Turns and Sharing
Rulers of the Playground by Joseph Kuefler (Preschool, School Age) One morning, Jonah decided to become ruler of the playground. Everyone agreed to obey his rules to play in King Jonah’s kingdom … Everyone except for Lennox … because she wanted to rule the playground, too. A gloriously rendered, hilariously deadpan tale of playground politics. Read More
Charting the Course for Alaska’s Children
This week marked a significant milestone for Best Beginnings as our Board and Staff members gathered to embark on an exciting journey – the development of a comprehensive three-year plan to guide our future endeavors. This provided us with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our organization’s history, delve deeper into our identity, explore the Read More
Winter Stem Tips
Awesome Tips for Young Explorers! STEM isn’t all about coding Sure coding is fun, but STEM does not have to be screen based or super technical. STEM is also learning about animals, following a recipe, observing the weather, building with blocks, sorting objects, and other simple things. Of course, if you have a future Read More
Exploring the Aurora: STEAM Insights and Tips for the Northern Lights
By fostering their curiosity and understanding of the natural world, you’re laying the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and discovery. Read Books Together: Introduce your child to the magic of Northern Lights through beautifully illustrated books. Look for age-appropriate stories that explain the science behind this natural phenomenon in simple terms. Reading together not Read More
Explore the Magic of the Northern Lights through STEAM!
Happy New Year! With all the darkness this time of year, there’s a great chance of catching some Northern Lights. We’re incredibly lucky to have a front seat for some amazing colorful auroras in our Alaska skies. If you don’t know the science behind the Northern Lights (aurora borealis), this month is a great chance Read More
Fun activities to Celebrate Families
Dramatic play is an essential part of early childhood. Watching children play at being a family reveals what they see, hear, and feel in their day to day life. Playing house is one of the most popular themes for young children. Possible props can be dolls, keys, stuffed animals as pets, and other household items. Read More
