Archive for the ‘Writing Activities’ Category
Letter to Santa
I have fond memories of writing letters to Santa, first dictating it to my mom and after writing it myself. My favorite was in grade one when I wrote to Santa and Santa wrote back ! So in that spirit this acitivy is one where your child writes or dictates a letter and you send it away to Santa . Ours was send via Grandma who has a “contact” at the north pole and will make sure that Santa’s letter to my son gets here! I hope when it does my son’s wonder will be the same mine was so long ago .
- Gather your materials. You will need some paper, a pencil or marker, some fun holiday stickers , an envelope , stamps and an eager child to write or dictate.
- Explain to your child why and what you are doing, if your child is young like my 3 year old they may need some explanation. Encourage them to not only ask for things but to ask Santa questions and tell him about things they have been doing. We chatted while he ate lunch!
- Start writing.
- Have your child sign their name even if you did the writing.
- Add stickers.
- Label your envelope and add stamps.
- Mail!
- Don’t forget to watch the mail for Santa’s return letter!
Books
My Penguin Osbert
Inside, Outside Christmas
Posted in 
DIY Framed Chalkboard !
* Updated to add this super cool link to another chalkboard at infarrantly creative that blows ours away! don’t miss it! *
Cereal Box Mosaic
- Gather your materials. I used Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint, a roller, paint tray, painters tape, an old picture frame, an old sheet, 4 nails and a hammer.
- Start by deciding where you want the chalkboard. Have your child show you how high they can reach so that it’s all usable space. I’m no good with measuring tape so I just eyeballed it and thumb tacked it to the wall to decide. You may want to measure where on the wall you put it.
- Tape off the area to paint.
- Apply your first coat. Wait 4 hours or more and add a 2nd. Let dry.
- Take off the tape.
- Place your frame on the wall so the painted area is centered, and secure it to the wall. I nailed mine but depending on your walls you’ll want to use the appropriate fashion. I particularly liked using a frame because it creates a ledge for the chalk as well.
- Add chalk and child!
Become an Author With This Giveaway !
When I received our kit I ripped it open and read through it. What I loved was that it wasn’t just a work book with a place to write in words. It had step by step instructions so that you can turn your kitchen table into a writers workshop. The story kits are a little old for my son so I enlisted the help of a 9 year old friend, and together we followed the instructions .
First, we looked through the illustrations and got the inspiration for the story. Next, using the note pad they provided, she wrote the text for each page. We had to sharpen the pencil they provided because she was writing so much that it was dull! When I asked how she was enjoying it she said, “It’s really good…the pictures make it so that I am never out of ideas.” The way her pencil was flying I would agree!
Now if we want we can follow the instructions on the think it ink it website to turn this workbook into a real hardcover book! How cool is that? For $29.95 your child can be a published author with a book to prove it! Also you don’t have to buy the workbook first, you can go straight to the hardcover on the think it ink it website.
What I loved about this whole process was that it really turned her into an author. When I asked her if it felt too much like school during her spring break she said, “This is way cooler!”. A great thing about this is that often kids are told they can’t do something they dream about. For kids who dream about being authors, they don’t need to dream, just write!
There are 4 different Creative Writing Story Kits to choose from with unique illustrations done by professional illustrators, and I get to giveaway one kit to a lucky reader! Here is what you have to do to win :
- Go to the think it ink it publishing site and check it out, come back here and let me know which story kit you think your child would love.
- For extra entries : Tweet about this on Twitter , Post about it on your blog , Stumble it and Add my button to your blog ! One extra entry for each of those , make sure to add a separate comment for each.
