No Time For Flash Cards

preschool activities, preschool crafts, and preschool books.

  • Blog
  • About
    • Terms Of Use
    • Disclaimer
    • Holiday Gift Guide For Kids
    • Advertise
    • In The Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin
  • Preschool Activities
  • crafts for kids
    Preschool Crafts
  • Preschool Books
  • sensory alphabet activity
    Letters & Numbers
  • For Teachers
  • Toddlers
  • Preschool
  • Kindergarten
  • Elementary

February 8, 2008 | 12 Comments

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

I have been getting many emails with questions from parents , so I have decided to make a section with the more commonly asked ones and my answers. Please feel free to contact me with any toddler and preschool related questions, I will do my best to help you find the resources and answers you need.


__________________________________________________

Q: How old should my child be before I do your activities?

A: Most of the activities I have featured are geared towards the 2-5 year old age group but I have done each with my son who was 15 months old when I began this site and now pushing 18 months, so it is possible you just have to adjust your expectations, shorten the activity and go with the flow.

_________________________________________________


Q: What do I do if my child won’t sit for art or doesn’t do it right?

A: Well first let me address not doing it right. None of the activities on this site can be done wrong. Your child may not be ready for a particular craft but that is ok, if they are getting frustrated stop , if you want try it again in a few weeks or months. Let them lead as much as possible.

Depending on your child’s age they may not be ready for sit down activities. Young kids learn best through play so parent directed activities should be a very small portion of their day. Our goal is to help you enrich your child’s environment and hopefully learn something in the process. When kids are forced to sit down and do a project they are not open to learning, and it is no longer fun. We want to instill a love of learning as early as possible so relax and let it happen.

_____________________________________________________


Q: Where do you get your supplies?

A: Everywhere! I buy most of my supplies at discount retail stores like Target and Wal-mart, but most of my paint brushes come from hardware stores- they are much cheaper than an art supply or craft store. Most of my books have come from thrift stores , it takes some digging but I have found awesome books for under a dollar.

_________________________________________________________



Q: Where do you get your ideas? What is your background?

A: My ideas are mostly my own , and old staples passed around schools I have worked in. I have been teaching young children in various capacities since 1993, so you can imagine I have done my fair share of crafts, songs and circle times.

I started as a day camp leader in high school, taught various preschool programs at community centers through university, worked as a tutor while pursuing a second degree in elementary education , and most recently worked as a director and preschool teacher before becoming a full time mom.

Early Childhood Education is my passion, despite a degree in elementary education my heart belongs to the little guys!

___________________________________________

Filed Under: FAQ | 12 Comments

Like this post? Share it with a friend!

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flashcards posts directly in your email inbox.

You may also like these posts

FAQ : Part IIFAQ : New and Revised
Next Post: Cooking is fun, even with toddlers!
Previous Post: Backyard Bug Adventures for your Preschooler

12 Comments

  1. LaDonna says

    April 23, 2008 at 7:07 am

    Hi,

    My son and I just love your activities. I was wondering if you could suggest good alphabet activities for a 2 1/2 year old? Thanks so much 🙂

    to LaDonna" aria-label='reply to this comment to LaDonna'>reply to this comment
  2. Allie says

    April 29, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    Thanks so much for the feedback!

    I would do a letter of the day with your son, and have a special bag or box that throughout the day he can pop things you both find in the house that either have that letter on it or starts with that letter.

    In the bath you can get bath toy letters , put them all in the bath and “Rescue the “B” and help him rescue/find the letter you choose to rescue!

    Do not worry about writing yet, although if he wants to , a magna doodle is a great way to do letter play.

    Read , read , read and point out letters naturally without forcing.

    Sing the alphabet a lot!

    Hope those help!

    to Allie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allie'>reply to this comment
  3. Missives From Suburbia says

    July 15, 2008 at 7:51 am

    I just discovered your blog and love it. Is there a way for me to easily locate the best activities for my 2-year-old?

    to Missives From Suburbia" aria-label='reply to this comment to Missives From Suburbia'>reply to this comment
  4. melissa says

    July 25, 2008 at 12:29 pm

    Love your blog–but a question–what do you do with all these craft projects? My kids are so sad to see them get thrown out–but if we don’t my house would be over flowing with them!

    to melissa" aria-label='reply to this comment to melissa'>reply to this comment
  5. momof2 says

    July 25, 2008 at 8:04 pm

    What a great site! The URL to your blogg is being passed around a chat group that I am on.

    to momof2" aria-label='reply to this comment to momof2'>reply to this comment
  6. Nessie says

    July 27, 2008 at 7:56 am

    Do
    you
    have
    a list of craft supplies to keep on ha[nd?]

    Thanks, and sorry m
    y son \is \he\ping
    me type.

    to Nessie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Nessie'>reply to this comment
  7. Allie says

    August 21, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Check out FAQ part II for the supply list !

    to Allie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allie'>reply to this comment
  8. Elizabeth says

    August 23, 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Thank you so much for the wonderful ideas. I found your site just in time, my 2-year son and I are have been just plain bored lately.

    My question is how would you respond to “Mommy do it” (my son’s insistence that I be the one to color or glue, etc.) He does seem genuinely content and interested at my efforts, but I was kinda hoping he’d be the one doing it. I’ve run across this quite a lot over the years as a nanny, and have never been sure how to best respond to this.

    Thanks again!

    to Elizabeth" aria-label='reply to this comment to Elizabeth'>reply to this comment
  9. Allie says

    August 26, 2008 at 8:28 pm

    Interesting that you asked this because my son has just started doing this. With me I use distraction right now, so when he says ” Mama mama color” I ask him what color it is, or if he can show me how he can make a circle. Then praise him and usually he moves on.

    With students I would often sit down and make the same craft, I would say “Thank you but I have my own, you can help me though.” I would keep making mine and say things like “I’m going to use the blue crayon which one are you going to use?”

    That would usually do the trick.

    Hope that helps!

    to Allie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allie'>reply to this comment
  10. Sara says

    September 24, 2008 at 5:12 am

    I love love love this site and I’m sorta sad that I found it AFTER my oldest started preschool! I must admit that I am floored that you started doing these projects with your son when he was 15 months old. My youngest is almost 18 months and I have tried painting with him and his older brother (about to turn 3) and I end up getting frustrated because he’s trying to eat the paint or paint the walls and then it’s no fun for anyone! Can you share with me how you managed to get your son to actually participate and not eat the materials/rip up the papers?
    Thanks!

    to Sara" aria-label='reply to this comment to Sara'>reply to this comment
  11. Allie says

    September 24, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Sara,

    He does eat the paint. ALL the time. I started by letting him explore things so lots of finger painting, I made sure that we did art in a place he could get messy, so he wasn’t hearing ” No no no ” from me all the time.

    I praised him for all the tiny victories like painting on the paper, not putting the brush in his mouth, and using the proper end of the marker. I try not to loose my cool, and I expect mess. If you know the mess will be a given you are much more relaxed.

    For beginners thing like sponge painting , painting with water on plain paper and finger painting is great. Also buckle them in a high chair or booster until their hands are clean if you are worried about the rest of your house!

    Good Luck!

    to Allie" aria-label='reply to this comment to Allie'>reply to this comment
  12. Infant Bibliophile says

    February 5, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    Hi – fantastic site! Please consider getting all of your ideas into a book. 🙂

    to Infant Bibliophile" aria-label='reply to this comment to Infant Bibliophile'>reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search For Activities

Now In Paperback!

Buy NOW

All Activities

Become an Email Subscriber

Sign up above and receive all new No Time for Flash Cards posts directly in your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Bloglovin

Copyright © 2008-2023 • No Time For Flash Cards - ACM Media LLC • Site Design by Emily White Designs