Blog - The Learning Basket

Toddlers and Puzzles

April 10, 2013 by The Learning Basket 10 Comments

My Little Sir loves puzzles. He always carries his dress-up bear puzzle around with him and rummages through a drawer to get more of his sister’s old ones. He tries hard to put a puzzle piece in to the corresponding slot and bites his lower lip in concentration, a family trait. Let me tell you why puzzles are treasured among the toys we have. What to Love Puzzles are one … [Read more...]

Meaningful Celebrations

April 1, 2013 by The Learning Basket 4 Comments

One of the things that I didn’t learn from school but learned along our family’s homeschooling journey is that Easter lasts 50 days. My friend Truly Rich Mom Tina first brought that to my attention a year ago. So let me greet all of you a happy and joyous Easter season! Easter Sunday is special to our five-year-old daughter. It’s one of the few times in the … [Read more...]

Introducing Children to Classical Music

March 17, 2013 by The Learning Basket 4 Comments

I didn't grow up liking classical music. The little exposure that I had made me think that it's boring. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't enjoy it and didn't make sense to me at all. My second career as a Kindermusik educator has remedied this and broadened my taste in music. Listening to, dancing with, and playing along music are now some of my favorite things to do … [Read more...]

Exploring Russia with Domes, Dolls, and Tea Cakes

March 5, 2013 by The Learning Basket Leave a Comment

We've never been to Russia before, and two dancing bears were just the perfect companions! First published in 1991, "Another Celebrated Dancing Bear" by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk is one of the amazing books that we're reading because of Five in a Row. Boris is a "heavy-footed" bear who is unhappy with his job at the animal hospital. He is quite envious of his friend Max … [Read more...]

Let’s Play Pretend!

February 28, 2013 by The Learning Basket 22 Comments

On any given day, you’ll see Little T running around in a gown or a ballet outfit. Sometimes, she has on her head a white rag that her brother Little Sir holds gingerly after her. Depending on her mood, she is a princess, a ballerina, a bride, a cook, a singer, a guitarist. Two-year-old Little Sir, on the other hand, is up-to-speed with his sister’s make-believe world, and … [Read more...]