LET'S EXPLORE THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The sunny days we've longed for are here encouraging us to get outside and explore the great outdoors this summer!

---

BOOKS THAT TAKE US OUTDOORS

​While we love to curl up with a good book, we can't wait to get outside!

Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch is a playful pick that's full of action and adventure. A perfect book to bring along to the park, a picnic or any favorite place outdoors. 

Check out our Great Outdoors Book List for more of our favorite books to take outside.

This post includes an Amazon Affiliate Link. A portion of any purchase supports our theater arts eduction business. Thank you!

---

---

BUBBLE ART!

Take your next arts and crafts project outside and create beautiful bubble art! Be sure to complete this project outside and make clean up a breeze.

Supplies:

• Paper, Fabric, Etc.
• Food Coloring
• Bubbles
• Bubble Wands
• Mixing Bowls/Containers

Instructions:

1. Mix food coloring and bubbles to create your palette of colors.

2. Use assorted bubble wands toblow your colored bubbles on to your paper, canvas or fabric and watch it capture the bubbles as they pop.

Suggestions: Tilt your canvas up to help catch the bubbles. Experiment with different ways to color your bubbles using tempura paint or liquid watercolors.

---

---

Letting Little Readers Lead the Adventure

Story time in our Little Stars! parent-child class is a little different because we encourage our students to dress up, stand up and move through the stories we read together. 

In a recent class, one of our Little Stars enthusiastically asked if she could read the book of the day to the class. After much hooting and hollering from the rest of the kids, our Teaching Artist Eva decided to give it a go! It was one of the girl's favorite stories and she didn't miss a beat reading it aloud to the class. The other students loved it and we relished the opportunity to give this Little Star an opportunity to shine. 

Having your little loved one snuggled up in your lap and marveling at a favorite book you read aloud is a cherished time for parents and care givers. We encourage parents to let children lead story time to encourage their love of reading and books.

Regardless of your child's reading level, here are a few ideas:

• Let your child fill in the blanks. Pause before the last word of a sentence and see if you're child can finish the sentence.
• Read the book out of order. Let your child flip through the pages and see which pages and pictures may be most interesting to your little one.
• Have emerging or skilled readers? Ask them what may have happened before the story began or after the story ends.

Is there a special way you like to share books with your little ones? Tell us in the comments below.

---