Thoughts from the Fun Van

What is your favorite game to play with your kiddos? My favorite game is Feed the Kitty! My daughter loves to play tic tac toe. Here are some more activities to prepare your 4-5 year old for Kindergarten. What are some things you are doing to help get ready for the big transition?

Here are the tips for preparing your 3-4 year-olds for Kindergarten. Have you tried any of the other activities we’ve posted this week? I love the suggestions for the emotional intelligence. Social Emotional skills are one of the most important things we can teach our children before they head into kindergarten. Understanding how you feel, and how to handle those feelings and understanding other peoples feelings will set you up for success in life!

Kindergarten Readiness Tips for ages 2-3 year olds! At Fun Van we LOVE to use painter’s tape to make roadways or things to jump over. Check out some of the other amazing tips!

First Things First has created some activities that will help your child to be prepared for Kindergarten! These have been shared on our Facebook page.

This flyer shares how to prepare children birth-2 years old. It’s never too early!

What was your childhood ambition?

To be a teacher or a librarian.

What book are you currently reading?

Bewilderment by Richard Powers.  Next up is Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone by Diana Gabaldon…been saving that one until I have time to enjoy and savor it.

What was your favorite toy as a child?

I had a stuffed St. Bernard dog that I loved dearly. 

What’s one of your funniest parenting  or teaching moments?

It’s either being asked by students what dinosaurs were like when I was a child or who is my favorite super hero and then being informed that I am wrong about my choice. 

What’s a fun fact about you?

My parents used to own an orchard and I have become very particular about apples, peaches, pears, and plums.  I will only eat certain varieties at certain stages of ripeness. 
  
How many years have you been with the Fun Van?

I am brand new and just starting!

What did you do before working at the Fun Van?

I taught first grade for 30 years in Michigan, then moved to Arizona and worked at the Apache Junction Library as a page for over a year before joining the Fun Van team.

How Did you hear about the Fun Van?

Two of the library supervisors separately came up to me on the same day to let me know about an opening. 

What do you enjoy most about working at Fun Van?

I enjoy seeing children grow a love for reading.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Read, take walks with my dogs, travel when I can.

What advice do you have for parents?

Spend as much time as you can with your wee ones…they grow up so fast!  They won’t always remember what you did, but they’ll remember that you cared and spent time with them. 

What’s one of your favorite books or activities for your Fun Van families?

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff…I relate way too much with the mouse!