Jax still has quiet time every afternoon while Em naps, and now that it’s warmer, a lot of it takes place outside. Most of the time all he needs is a stick and his dog to keep him occupied, but sometimes he needs something new and intriguing.
Enter fishing for magnets!
This one is easy enough. Every parent under the sun has at least one set of these ABC magnets–got ours for $1 at Walmart–and every parent hates them because they end up all over the kitchen floor and kicked under the fridge and under the stove. Just add a magnetized fishing pole–ours came with a fishing puzzle–and any kid would be enchanted, even if they’re not obsessed with their letters like somebody I know.
I sat next to him and read a book while he fished for letters that formed a word, and only had to occasionally prompt him to fish for a vowel–yeah, he knows them thanks to Word World. Even if he couldn’t find the right combination, the act of fishing was challenging and fun, plus it was like eighty degrees so he loved when I moved the fun to the water table.
And after a while, when the novelty wore off, he went off to hunt for bad guys and little sister picked up where he left off.
I loved this because although Em knows all her letters, she still can’t tell a 4 from a zebra. This was a great way to work on number recognition without her realizing it. I would ask her, “What’s this number?” and she’d reply, “This number.” Well played, little girl, well played.
Thanks to Teach Beside Me for the great idea!
I know it! They seem so inundated with letter recognition sometimes, that the numbers go unnoticed. Great little fishing game. I know my little one would love this.
I'm visiting from delicateConstruction. I hope that you can stop by my blog too.
Thanks for sharing,
Laura
Thanks Laura! I'll definitely swing by. I hope your little one enjoys this game, too!
The magnet fishing game is a good learning and at the same time, bonding moment for kids. Pretty nice entry. Good work on the photographs.
- Blake
Thanks Blake! I don't know how much we bonded over it–it's not exactly sitting in a boat sharing an afternoon at the lake–but I'll take it
OH how I wish I'd thought of this when my kids were little!! We still have a big box of these letters! Brilliant idea!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
I know, isn\’t it always the simplest things that elude us? I loved this idea, too!
Great idea! I'm pinning it to the Kid's Co-op Pinterest board!
Thank you!!
What a great idea! Pinning this now!
Thank you!! It was a big hit with the kids–hope you enjoy it
This is an awesome idea. I bought alphabet and numbers magnets for my boys around Christmas. They ended up lost or in the little one's mouth, so off to the closet they went. This idea for fishing would be super fun in the pool. I know my kids will love it. Thanks so much for the idea. I'm sharing it on FB too.
Oh great!! I love having something useful to do with something I'd rather just throw away
Thanks for sharing!
This is such a sweet and EASY idea! It could easily be taken on a camping trip, or to the beach as well. Not to mention the bathtub! Great thinking and thanks for sharing. Oh, if you have the time, I'd love for you to share on Sweet Sharing Monday! http://saynotsweetanne.com/2012/sweet-sharing-mon…
Exactly! I love the simple things that require so little for so much fun! I will try to get over to your site this week!