RockIt Times AmuseLetter
Tea Time And Teddy Bears!

Keep the good times rolling for your preschooler!

May 2004 - Issue 2

• Quote Of The Month
  
  
• Editorial
  
  
• Reading Rocks! Recommendations
  - The Teddy Bears' Picnic
  - Corduroy's Party
  
  
• Kid Rock "Party In The Spotlight" -
  Tea Time & Teddy Bears
  
  
• Craft Of The Month
  - Circle Bear Craft
  
  
• Snack Of The Month
  - Teddy Bear Pool Cake
  
  
• Music Rocks! Recommendations
  -Bill Shontz - Teddy Bear's Greatest Hits
  -Rosenshontz Rock 'N Roll Teddy Bear
  
  
• Motor Activity Of The Month
  - Bear Hunt (fingerplay)
  
  
• Subscriber Talk!
  
  
• Great Links and Freebies
  
  
• Next Month's Issue...Preschool Hawaiian Luau!
  
  
• General & Unsubscribe Info

If a child is to keep his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.
~Rachel Carson

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Hello and welcome to the wonderful month of May!

May is a month filled with sunshine and flowers, green grass and puffy clouds. There is no better month to grab your favorite child, their fluffy friend and a blanket and enjoy a Teddy Bear picnic of your own! Whether in your own backyard, or in the park with friends, it's a "can't be beat" interaction with your child.

Although I turned 40 in April, I have to admit that I still have my own favorite Teddy Bears tucked away in my bedroom. Maxy Bear, Minnie Bear, and Marshmallow Bear (I have always lacked creativity in the naming department) and I had wonderful adventures together when I was a child. Long and exciting train rides across the country (using the lined up kitchen chairs, as my Mother mopped) and cave exploration (a blanket over a card table with a flashlight) were just a few of our favorite things.

Of course, there is no one like your bear to listen when you have something to say, give you a hug when you are sad, or share your excitement!

So often, in these days of videos and television, our children's imaginations find difficulty being nurtured. It is our job as parents and caregivers to do everything in our power to ensure that the children in our care know how to pretend! It is vital to their futures and to our world.

Our children look up to us as role models. It is our responsibility to be silly, to have fun, to jump and laugh, to run and play, and to make sure that they understand that being a child is nothing to be ashamed of! So go, find your own old bear, and make adventures of your own with your child today! I promise you won't regret it. :-D

Have a rockin' day!
Mari Peckham
Publishing Editor, RockIt Times

P.S. If you enjoy this issue of RockIt Times, please recommend it to a friend! We make it easy for you by including a "Refer a Friend" button with every issue. Simply click to email your friend with a link to our publication! Thanks so much!

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Tea Time & Teddy Bears

Who doesn't have a favorite teddy bear? I know that I do, and my favorite teddy just LOVES to play!

May is the perfect month to spread out the blankets and have a teddy bear picnic of your own! Invite your child's friends for some quality time with their own bears at your Kid Rock Tea Time & Teddy Bears party!

This party theme may include the following songs or other tea time and teddy bear related songs:

• Tea Party Shuffle
• I'm a Little Tea Pot
• Jellyman Kelly
• Roc-a-Bye Bear
• Me and My Teddy
• Nursery Rhyme Medley

Reserve your party date today! Email to parties@rockitkids.com or call us at 847-961-6584.

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Circle Bear Craft

This craft doubles as a fun learning game for your child! Take this opportunity to talk about the different shapes and colors you are using and to count your pieces. It is also a perfect time to practice scissor skills and introduce or reinforce size concepts (big vs. small).

Materials:

• Something for your child to color with
• A printer
• Paper (construction paper is recommended)
• Scissors
• Glue

Instructions:

OPTIONAL: Circle bear will fit nicely on an old CD Rom. You can cover with clear contact paper and use as a coaster.

1. Print out the template and color the pieces. Clicking the template links below will open a NEW browser window. To return to this page, close the template window once you have printed your template.
   Template 1 - Black and white version
   Template 2 - Colored version
   
2. Sort the circles into big, medium, small, smaller, smallest (this is harder for the little ones than it sounds but is great practice!)
   1. Glue the medium circle (the muzzle) onto the big circle (the head).
   2. Glue the smallest circle (the nose) onto the muzzle.
   3. Glue the small circles (ears) onto the head and the smaller circles (ear middles) onto the ears.
   4. Glue on small eye circles.
   
   Decorating Alternatives:

1. Print the template on heavy construction paper or card stock.
   
2. Once assembled (see directions above), glue a popsicle stick or tongue depressor onto the bear to make a puppet (if you don't have either, you can always tape a pencil on).

Note: If you having problems fitting the template on one page, set page margins to zero (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers).

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If you are in our neighborhood, we happily provide stress-free, interactive children's party entertainment for any function. Or, make it a Kid Rock day no matter where you live, with our perfectly assembled gift bags and party favors!

Visit the official Kid Rock website at http://www.rockitkids.com
for more information!

Teddy Bear Pool Cake

Ingredients:

• A white or yellow cake mix (microwave cakes work best for this project)
• Teddy Grahams
• little tubes of gel frosting
• Life Savers™ or other similar candies
• gum (fruit strip gum works best)

Directions:

1. Make the cake according to the package directions.
2. Frost with blue frosting.
3. Have your child decorate the teddy grahams with gel frosting to make swimsuits on the bears.
4. Decorate using Life Savers as innertubes and gum for air mattresses.

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Bear Hunt (fingerplay)

You: Let's go on a bear hunt. (Imitate walk by slapping knees alternately.)

Your child: Follow and repeat your actions.

You:
I see a wheat field.
Can't go over it;
Can't go under it.
Let's go through it!

(arms straight ahead like you're parting wheat)

I see a bridge.
Can't go over it;
Can't go under it.
Let's swim it.

(arms in swimming motion)

I see a tree.
Can't go over it;
Can't go under it.
Let's go up it.

(climb and look)

I see a swamp.
Can't go over it;
Can't go under it.
Let's go through it.

(pull hands up and down slowly)

I see a cave.
Can't go over it;
Can't go under it.
Let's go in.

(walking motion)

I see two eyes.
I see two ears.
I see a nose.
I see a mouth.
It's a BEAR!!!

(Do all in reverse very fast. End with "Home and safe.)

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I was very excited to receive my first edition of the Rock-It Times! It is so fun!! It may be neat to include one or two CD or tape selections each month as well as book suggestions. Although it may not always be possible for it to be totally theme related, it could be manipulated a bit.... I know there are several CDs about teddy bears out there. I'd be happy to research specific titles if you want. Thanks again for my copy!
Kim

Thanks Kim! I'm so happy you enjoyed your first issue of the RockIt Times. Great suggestion and I would LOVE to have recommendations!
Mari

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Mari Peckham
IPRA "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" Award Recipient
Publishing Editor, Rock-It Times

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Preschool themed lesson focusing on tea time and teddy bears.