10 Best Summer and Beach Books for Preschoolers

by Dianna Kennedy on May 20, 2013

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the arrival of summer here. My kids are counting down the days until the pool opens.

beach books for preschoolers

To keep them occupied, and to get me in the summer mood, we’ve been reading our favorite summer books and beach books for preschoolers.

Come take a look at what we love!

beach books for preschool 1.Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!

We usually travel to Daytona Beach every year with my grandmother. While we’re there, we visit the Marine Science Center and their Turtle Rehab Unit. There, they have sea turtles who are sick or have been injured in the wild. The staff care for the turtles until they are healthy enough to return to the sea.

To reinforce some turtle learning, we picked up Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! The kids can tell you all about turtle habitats, predators, and more. DLTK-Kids has a sweet turtle craft for preschoolers.

beach books for preschool 2. How to Hide an Octopus

Learning about camouflage in nature is so much fun! This book takes a look at how an octopus can hide itself in its surroundings. My kids also try to find a pipefish, crabs, and sea dragons.

I love this octopus craft from Making Learning Fun. Print it out, then encourage your children to fill in the dots with tiny stickers or Do a Dot Markers. Yay for fine motor fun!

beach books for preschool 3. Mister Seahorse

This is one of my very favorite books from Eric Carle. My children loved learning about the different ways that sea animal fathers care for their babies.

You can use this seahorse template along with watercolor paints to create your very own seahorse craft.

Don’t miss A House for Hermit Crab for more beach themed fun.

beach books for preschoolers 4. Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea

My husband is a scuba diver, so he loves to read this book to the kids. A little boy dives for treasure for his mother, meeting loads of sea animals along the way.

You can print out these sea animal characters, color them with markers and laminate them to act out the story.

beach books for preschoolers 5. Sea, Sand, Me

Get your sand pails and shovels ready! This sweet tale from Patricia Hubbell chronicles a little girl’s day at the beach, complete with exploring, sand castles and seaweed.

beach books for preschoolers 6. Day at the Seashore

I love Little Golden Books. They remind me of being a kid.

This story follows a family’s day at the beach – I could look at the timeless illustrations all day long! When you’re finished reading, set up the baby pool for more summer fun!

beach books for preschoolers 7. Over in the Ocean

Need to work on counting skills with your little ones? Let’s do it up, ocean style!

If you can pull yourself away from the polymer clay creations that grace the pages, you can encourage your children to count the pufferfish, gruntfish and seahorses they find.

Are you musically talented? You can actually ‘sing’ the book to the tune of Over in the Meadow.

beach books for preschoolers 8. Commotion in the Ocean

Need a book to anchor your ocean unit? Don’t miss this classic from Giles Andreae. Each page depicts a different ocean animal.

I even found this fun video on You Tube! (click over if you’re unable to view the video)

beach books for preschoolers 9. What Lives in a Shell?

Discussing animal habitats? Check out this book that covers crustaceans, or animals that live in shells. Your kids will learn about how shells are homes, much like our houses.

Stop by Homeschool Creations for a Ocean Printables Preschool pack.

beach books for preschool 10. Beach Day

We read this book each summer before going on vacation. My kids get so excited, thinking about gathering their sand toys, packing snacks and frolicking in the water.

These beach dot to dot pages are great for counting and writing practice.

Looking for more ideas for summer books? I’ve got my favorite beach and ocean books for preschoolers, as well as preschool summertime crafts, over at The Homeschool Classroom.


Did I miss one of your favorite beach or summer books? Be sure to share your ideas in the comment box!

Have a Top Ten Post of your own? Link up with my good pal Angie over at Many Little Blessings for Top Ten Tuesdays. I’ll also be sharing this with my fellow mother of a big family, Amy of Raising Arrows.

10 in 10 Series iHomeschool Netwrok

For the next few weeks, I’m joining my friends at iHomeschool Network for our 10 in 10 Series – 10 amazing weeks of top ten posts on homeschooling topics. It’s going to be so much fun!

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Comfort and Harmony for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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Have you seen or tried the new Mombo from Comfort and Harmony? Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment box!

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10 Toys Twin Boys Can’t Destroy

by Dianna Kennedy on May 14, 2013


 

In our house, toys better be sturdy to stand up to two rough and tumble boys.

boy proof toys

For the past five years, these are the toys that have passed the test of my twin boys.

cozy coupe

1. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe

I’ve had one of these in my house for the past fifteen years or so. My oldest daughter, now 18, had a version when she was young.

Currently, we have a pink version in our garage. The boys didn’t mind the color -it served just fine as a getaway car.

Keep your eyes peeled for these at yard sales and thrift stores. If the colors are faded, there’s all sorts of tutorials available for customizing your child’s coupe.

melissa and doug easel

2. Melissa and Doug Easel

I’ve been a huge M&D fan for years. Their quality products are well loved in our home.

My husband picked up this easel for a steal at a local Goodwill, and we’ve been using it for school for all three children.

3. Little Tikes Picnic Table

My grandmother picked this table up for us while she was shopping the worlds longest yard sale. It’s been gracing our back yard for about 4 years now.

little tikes picnic table

We used it to transition the boys from high chairs to a regular table, craft projects, and impromptu picnics and fun in the back yard.

4. Legos
As a mother, I’m just now learning that there are stages with Legos. First comes toddler Legos. Then, little ones graduate to Duplo blocks. Finally, your kids are ready for tiny Legos.

lego education animals

I bought a huge set from Lego Education for the boys this Christmas, but I think they are still a bit too young for this style. Right now, they enjoy building cars and weapons out of the duplo kit.

balance bike
5. Balance Bike

A bike with no pedals? Weird, huh?

Not around here. Balance bikes grace the walls of our garage, instead of standard bike with training wheels.

You’ll see my kids zipping up and down our streets. Rachel outgrew her balance bike, then went straight to a standard bike with no training wheels.

The boys will be ready to move up to a standard bike by the end of the summer. Don’t forget the helmet!

musical instruments

6. Musical Instruments

Even though I’m not talented, I love to introduce my children to lots of music. We have a giant box of musical instruments that the kids love to shake, rattle and bang.

Our favorites include:

Don’t miss these free resources to teach music to children over at The Homeschool Classroom.

7. Wooden puzzles

These are great for teaching so many things: shapes, fine motor skills and more.

knob_puzzle
When the boys were small, we used these knob puzzles. As they’ve gotten older, we’ve graduated to chunky puzzles and more complicated puzzles.

magna doodle

8. Magna Doodle

Need a durable toy to keep your little boy (or girls) occupied at the doctor’s office, during church, or on a long car ride?

We love Magna Doodles around here. The kids get to draw and practice letters, totally mess free!

plasma car

9. Plasma Car

Do your boys need to blow off some stream? Let them expend some energy with a Plasma Car — even adults can take a spin!

T Rex Anamalz

10. Anamalz

I picked the kids some Anamalz for Valentine’s Day this year and fell in love. They are made from wood and have bendable legs. The boys’ favorites are dinosaurs, but we also have horses and a rhino, too.

I’d love to hear your ideas for boy proof toys! What has lasted in your house? Be sure and leave your thoughts in the comment box!

Have a Top Ten Post of your own? Link up with my good pal Angie over at Many Little Blessings for Top Ten Tuesdays.

10 in 10 Series iHomeschool Netwrok

I’m looking forward to the next 10 weeks! For the next few weeks, I’m joining my friends at iHomeschool Network for our 10 in 10 Series – 10 amazing weeks of top ten posts on homeschooling topics. It’s going to be so much fun!

Sign up for email updates so you won’t miss a thing!

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10 Ways I’m Not a Perfect Homeschooling Mother

May 9, 2013
The Imperfect Homeschool

Years before I made the decision to homeschool, I read homeschooling blogs. Ladies like Carisa and Jolanthe  delighted me with their creativity, organizational skills and pictures of their homeschool days. Watching these women from afar, I became jealous. “If they can do it, why can’t I?” “Are these women superheros?” Shortly before I headed to the 2:1 [...]

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Five Favorites: Keeping it Real

May 8, 2013
Five Favorites

  I forgot about Five Favorites this week, but chatting with @camppatton on Twitter reminded me that Grace was guest hosting this week. Without further ado …. 1. Time Alone I love my little ones to the depths of my soul, but sometimes, I just want a break. When I’m grumpy and snippy (like this [...]

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