OcalaMom.com

Preschoolers are so much fun! I worked at a preschool in college and that was probably the most exciting job I ever had (except for cleaning up any sickness or accidents, lol).
Preschoolers are so smart, so energetic, so personable -- they are a great, great age.
And did I mention they're energetic?!

What are some of your favorite activities or crafts to do w/ your preschooler?

I always enjoyed sandbox time, and playing games outside like Red Rover and tag. Arts and crafts were fun as they are so creative.
I enjoyed doing hands-on projects w/ my class -- making butter was lots of fun as was any baking time. Green eggs and ham were fun to make -- and a great book to read!!

What do you all do to have fun and learn with your preschoolers?

Lets see its winter in NC but we try to use the warm days to go outside walk , ride the bike she has. We go to the library and get stories. We have storytime at home and use the sites like storyplace which has stories in english and spanish for kids. We do lots of learning activities like Studydog. A pre-reading project online. Its endless the amount of stuff I do with the little one.
Alida

Is the site storyplace.com?

We're planning on homeschooling, so I like to stock up on all these great educational sites!

You speak Spanish? Do you just go back and forth w/ languages w/ your DD? I have a bachelor's in Spanish and always swore I'd do that w/ my DD but never started to and now want to! I remember too well from my courses that I better teach her stuff before 5 to be fully versed in the language.
Any tips?

Storyplace.com sounds great! I also have had almost 5 years of Spanish and LOVED it! I try and teach Campbell little things like the colors and counting. He's really good at remembering them and surprises me daily when he looks at the color blue and says, "Mommy, look..... azul!" haha

Yes, I speak both English & Spanish. With myudaughter I speak both languages 24/7 and got her watching tv programs in both languages. She will watch Discovery Kids in Spanish or Boomerang toons in Spanish. Also the noggin stuff in English and even Ni- Hao Kai-Lan on nick jr now , Dora, Diego etc. By incorporating both all the time it comes natural for her . The languages. Since we live in the country side in NC ...she gets English all around and at home we teach her both. I'm also homeschooling her with starfall , storyplace , studydog. We did some K12 stuff too in math and science. I'm into real educational activities with her !

www.storyplace.org/

StoryPlace: Spanish & English versions. Listen to interactive children's stories, play with on-line activities, print out take-home activities, reading list

Tips - Teach the basic in both. Like numbers,colors and simple greetings. Watching Dora and Diego lets them build vocabulary in both languages at the same time. Univision has spanish toons on weekends like Pinky Doo. That helps build words. Of course u can get all the channels on DirecTV. Telemundo has programming in Spanish for kids and NBC the same programs in English. So that helps go back and forth. I use the media as a teaching too for her.There is also a BBC site for kids that help teach languages online for free. That is a good online resource. Little things like that help when they are 4-5 to pick up the languages!
Alida

Starfall is the one I've heard great things about and have liked from what I've looked at.
I don't do kid TV (at least not as young as she is) but have been trying to use more and more Spanish in conversations w/ DD. And I have some CDs in Spanish, including a kid one IIRC, I have been using more.
When I taught at a preschool, I had my 4 y/os leaving for K singing, in Spanish, Head, shoulders, knees and toes; knowing numbers, months, days, colors, alphabet, basic words, etc... in Spanish.
So I need to get off my duff and make this more of a priority. I always had a goal of having bilingual children since languages are so important to me so need to work on it!

Are you planning on homeschooling as she gets older? We are. I wonder if there's a homeschooling group in Ocala?
Thanks for the motivation!
Oh -- and I'll have to check out the BBC site. That sounds awesome!

I have found this site for homeschoolers in Ocala :

Christian Home Educators Association (CHEA) Inc. of Marion County Edit Remove More
P.O. Box 832124, Ocala, FL 34483-2124
Contact: Nancy Thomas
Phone: (352) 351-CHEA (2432)
Email: homeschoolgarden@msn.com
http://www.cheaocala.com
Our mission within CHEA is to provide Christian support to homeschooling families in Marion County through information, assistance, encouragement, and fellowship by providing a variety of educational, social, and extracurricular opportunities.

I'm not sure yet about continuing homeschooling depending on my move, my new schedule etc. I do love all the online resources and the virtual school sounds cool. There are also lots of e-books for kids online. I've volunteered my time getting links together and research info for the local Smart Start here in NC so parents could have more idea on the resources for prek/ k kids in the net.Also helped get a book drive going to get books for kids that needed a book etc....also getting educational links for the esl center