Break a World Record with Jumpstart by Reading with Your Kids!

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Reading with my kids has always been one my favorite activities.  Whether it is a book for school or just for fun, it is a great way to expand and grow their imaginations. This year, on October 3rd, we invite you to join people across the country in an effort to support Jumpstart’s ongoing mission to work toward the day that every child in America enters Kindergarten prepared to succeed!

On Thursday, October 3rd, many families will sit down to read this year’s book Otis, a New York Times Bestseller, by Loren Long, to beat the world record of 2.3 Million people who read the same book on the same day.  This record was set in 2012 by Jumpstart’s Read for the Record. Since 2006, the Jumpstart campaign has raised more than $8 million dollars for early education programs. Join families across the U.S. this year to help beat last year’s record and take the "Pledge to Read".

Mead Early Learning Workbooks, Flashcards, and Other Learning Tools

Finding good educational supplies for smaller children is difficult, so Mead has come out with a new line of products especially for children in preschool through third grade. The Mead Early Learning products help children build foundations that will help them to succeed all through their school careers. These products are both fun and innovative and help to equip parents and educators with the tools they need to set children up for success. As a homeschooling mom, I was thrilled to try out their new line for Quinn, my nearly 6 year old son.

Mead’s new line of dry erase boards and products are great for home, school, and even on the go. These reusable boards come in several varieties and we were sent the Dry Erase 2-Sided Board and the Dry Erase Activity board. The 2-Sided Board has one side that is plain for math, drawing, games, etc. and the other is printed with kindergarten-2nd grade appropriate lines. This is perfect for children to practice their writing and drawing with the included dry erase marker but easily erase any mistakes and keeps from wasting tons of paper while they practice. The Dry Erase Activity board includes three super-sized, double-sided pages that are spiral bound and include activities for practicing writing upper and lower case, numbers, shapes and more. Each of the 6 activity pages is very colorful and fun and helps teach children the appropriate way to write letters with their guides. This one comes with a marker as well and it is easy to write on and wipe off when he’s done.

File folder games are a great way to teach children a variety of things in a new and different way and Mead’s answer to making them is buying their pre-prepared educational folder activities packs. We got Colors, Shapes, and Numbers and Math Basics. Each package comes with 3 vinyl folders and perforated glossy cardstock pieces that complete the games inside and a handy storage pocket on the front so they store away neatly. The Math Basics set has over 40 pieces and each folder teaches either patterning, sequencing, or addition/subtraction. The Colors, Shapes, and Numbers set helps children learn to match various items on the colorful folders. Both sets are engaging and fun and help to teach while making it like a game.

Flash cards are always a great teaching tool, and Mead’s flashcards are appropriate for several ages and really help to build foundations for the rest of their lives. We got Colors, Shapes, & Numbers, Addition, Alphabet, and Multiplication flashcards which come in sets of 55 double-sided cards. All are full-color cards that teach their subject very nicely with an attractive yet simplistic layout, which helps keep children from being distracted by too many extras. All are well made from thick cardstock and perfect for teaching children from preschool on up.

The Mead preschool workbook we received was a little below Quinn’s level, but would be a great workbook for someone in that age group. With 320 pages that teach colors, letters, early math, science, and more plus stickers to reinforce diligent work, this workbook is sure to help any budding scholar begin their education. The Primary Journal (for grades K-2) is one of my favorite products and I’ve already purchased another for Quinn to use for another subject. This journal has kindergarten ruled paper on bottom and a large space for illustrating up top. This is perfect for little journalists because it allows them to draw their stories first and then offers just enough writing space so they can fill it up without it being too overwhelming.

Shape Builders (pre-k through 1st grade) is a learn to draw workbook that teaches pre-writing shapes. Children follow the correct sequence for the shapes and other simple drawings which help them to develop their artistic skills as well as prep them for writing letters. Quinn loves this book because he’s so artistic. He doesn’t realize how much he’s learning while he’s drawing in this, and I love that. The Problem Solving workbook features logic-based activities for children in 2nd grade and above. This workbook helps them to develop critical thinking skills and strengthen day-to-day logic. I use this book for both my kids because their logic skills are seriously lacking and I love the way these simple yet thought-provoking pages help build where they are deficient.

Finally, and my personal favorite of the lot, the 4-in-1 Learn to Letter with Guidelines workbook. This unique and extremely helpful workbook teaches children the proper way to write with their useful guides but this workbook goes a step further and features “raised ruling”: indented imprints where the letters should go. This amazing and highly successful tool really has improved Quinn’s writing. The indents help his pencil stay where it’s supposed to and he can actually feel where he should be writing. This genius little workbook is a must for any child learning to write, but especially for ones that struggle like Quinn does. I cannot say enough for how much this has ended our writing struggles.

Because I received 13 products, it is very hard to do justice to the products we received in one review. This was very broad, but I can assure you, the Mead products did not disappoint and have helped us so much with our home education and improved Quinn’s writing skills in particular. Whether you are a home educator like me or you are looking to supplement your child’s schooling, these Mead Early Learning products are sure to have something that you can use. For more information about this new line, visit www.meadonline.com. You can purchase these and all Mead products at most retail stores where office/school supplies are sold, such as Walmart.


Thank you to Mead for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon and for providing a prize pack for our contest prize.

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Review: Amazing Minds - The Science of Nurturing Your Child's Developing Mind with Games, Activities, and More

Every parent’s question: What can I do to help my child be as happy and smart as possible? Finally, a clear answer is given in Amazing Minds, by parenting experts Jan Faull, MEd and Jennifer McLean Oliver, PhD. Faull has taught parent education, child development, and behavior guidance for over 25 years and she is known as the baby brain and clever toddler expert at BabyZone.com. Oliver is a cognitive psychologist and independent consultant who provides research and analysis of topics in cognitive science, including development and early learning. Both clearly know what they’re talking about in this book.

Did you know that babies as young as one day old can differentiate your face form that of a stranger? Or that a six month old already knows what happens when moving objects collide with stationary ones therefore a simple game with ramps and balls can encourage learning at that age? This book is chocked full of information about early learning in babies and toddlers and comes complete with many great ideas to encourage learning at each age and even deals with appropriate discipline for younger children.

As a mother and daycare provider, I really enjoyed this book. It was really nice to read about what makes our youngest family members “tick”. I particularly enjoyed learning about what their little brains are like as they develop and ways to nurture their ever-growing knowledge. I wish I had gotten to read this early, when my own children were babies and toddlers, but will definitely use what I’ve learned with my littlest daycare children. I think this is a must-read for any parent or people who work with children and it’s information is invaluable and could change your child’s life.

Amazing Minds: The Science of Nurturing Your Child's Developing Mind with Games, Activities, and More can be found in paperback on Penguin.com, Amazon.com, and at other major book retailers.

Thank you to the Penguin Group for sending us a sample copy of this book free of charge to base this review upon.