Kids in the 5-to-6 year old range can easily handle the assembly part of the mat. However, kids younger than that may need some help with figuring out what pieces go where. It can get a little confusing if you have thrown the outer wrapping away because that is the only part that contains the picture. If you do buy this, consider keeping the actual picture of the puzzle. There might be some trouble with the border pieces as some of them do tend to look alike. But with a little trial and error, they should all fit.

The play area is a pretty decent size. It is certainly big enough for a six-year-old to roll around on. It also can accommodate three or four children comfortably with a few toys. Although, you may have a few arguments on which Disney Princess face they get to sit on.

The mat is waterproof but not gouge proof. It is fine with washable crayons but definitely stay away from  permanent marker because that will not come up from this surface.

You can reverse it if you want to, and it has pretty good padding if you want to borrow it from your kids to do Yoga or stretching.

The biggest issue with this particular play mat is one of storage. It does take up a significant amount of space even disassembled. So that should be taken into consideration if you have limited space for toy storage.

The other issue is that once you take it apart, it has to be reassembled. Yes, it is a puzzle — but that  still can be somewhat tiresome if your child wants to play on it continually.

It is best to wait until this goes on sale before you buy it. The retail price of about $15, depending on the store, is still a little too high for a Styrofoam mat even with the Disney Princesses on it.

Following up on lessons doesn’t have to add to your budget. There are things you can do at home with the stuff you already have. For example, for the letter of the week, have your child gather all his or her toys that start with that particular letter. You may have to help a little on the names of some of the toys.

Another thing you can do is to print out coloring sheets online. There are many places online where you can get free printable coloring pages. To save on paper, print those pages out on the back of paper that has been colored on one side, or paperwork that you don’t need. Just check the paper first to make sure it isn’t something important.

You can also take a walk outside and play a game of “I Spot” where they pick out items with the letter of the week. If you have a difficult letter such as W or V, instead set up a game of hide and seek. Hide pieces of paper with the letter on it and have your child search for the letter. Once they know that letter well, mix in other letters so that it is a bit more difficult.

You can use some of these same basic techniques with colors and number recognition. Just substitute the subject you are trying to reinforce.

These are just a few ideas to help your preschooler grasp the concepts that they need when they head toward kindergarten. Reinforcing the preschool lessons are important for ensuring that your preschooler can understand the material and retain it for future use.

In countless homes, both parents work full-time, often driving long distances, leaving much of the care of their children to others out of necessity. Also, with this economy, thousands of parents even need to have two jobs in order to be able to support their household.

How can these parent’s lives be characterized? In a word…rushed. Parents must rush to get ready in the morning…they need to scramble to pack a lunch for their children as well as for themselves. Then at the end of the day, they run to pick up the children, most of the time exhausted from a long day at work. The evening meal is then hurriedly prepared (or bought at a fast food joint).

If you are a parent of a pre-schooler yourself, you can see how this scenario can lead to increased weight gain in a young child. When children hurry through meals, not savoring the texture and taste of food, they often consume more calories than needed. And we all know that most meals offered at fast food places usually contain more calories that such a small child can burn off. Even the fact that the parents many times rush to pack lunches can cause weight gain. Consider a typical lunch for kids – peanut butter and jelly sandwich on white bread, potato chips, and cookies. Fast, but not very healthy.

To help combat weight gain from these unhealthy food choices, parents can take charge by pre-planning meals. It may be difficult at first, but once you have an arsenal of healthier food options under your belt, providing more nutritious (and less calorie dense) meals will become second nature.

Here are some handy tricks:

1. Determine what basic foods your child loves.
My children loved a type of baby food well into their pre-school years – prunes. I always had this vitamin-packed food on hand for a quick snack or as part of a meal. No, I’m not advocating keeping your child a baby, I’m merely asserting that if you find a healthy food your child loves – always have it available! It could be anything from oatmeal to bananas to wild rice.

2. Make extra food on the weekends.
Baking a favorite casserole on Saturday or grilling chicken on Sunday? Cook double for quick reheating during the week.  Also, cut up carrots and celery for quick lunch additions.

3. Always have the ingredients for two or three healthy “go to” meals.
Most children have favorite meals that you can tailor to be fast and nutritious. For example, whole grain spaghetti noodles, pasta sauce, salad, and fresh fruit takes just minutes to prepare.

Get a head start by finding out exactly what your Preschool’s fundraisers are. Not all of the fundraisers are going to appeal to you. If you do see something that piques your interest, then you can budget the funds ahead of time. Sometimes, you can volunteer your time helping out with the fundraisers rather than donating funds.

Approach friends and family with your fundraisers cautiously. Instead of asking all of them, rotate the people who you ask. Pick the people who would be the most interested in that particular fundraiser. Remember, you have many school years  of fundraising projects ahead. It is easier for relatives to buy something if they aren’t constantly asked every single time a fundraiser comes around.

Remember, also, you  don’t have to buy products on every single fundraiser either. This is the quickest way to blow your budget for school. There is no stigma attached to not selling anything, especially at this time in your child’s school life.

Volunteering for school fundraisers is a way to contribute something besides funds. Before you commit, check your schedule. You may need to arrange ahead of time for a babysitter if you have younger ones in the house. This will allow you to concentrate on the fundraiser instead of chasing after younger siblings. Just a word of warning, not all parents will be on time for their scheduled shift, so make sure you schedule yourself extra time in case you get stuck.

Preschool fundraisers are just one of those things that come along with the start of your child’s school year. They can be a pain and put a crimp in your budget. The trick is to just pick the stuff you like, rotate the people you ask, and volunteer when you can. This way you can still contribute to your Preschool without burning out.

I learned my lesson the hard way; preschoolers believe in magic, such as Santa, the tooth fairy, and the Easter Bunny; however, sometimes the expectations children have of these mythical figures can get out of hand.

When I was little, I used to ask Santa for simple things: Barbies, records, and coloring books. Never in my wildest dreams would I have asked for a building, let alone one of the most famous buildings in India!

My parents, the media, and society in general presented Santa differently in those days. A benevolent old man, one who cared for all, he made sure that each child had a gift to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Now, with the plethora of Christmas shows, many of which show Santa lavishing young children with every heart’s desire, the expectations of what will be left under the tree has risen dramatically.

It seems as if some parents have bought into Santa’s magical powers as well. Just last week I learned that a friend of a friend is giving her five year-old an iPhone (from Santa of course). Can you imagine what the other children in this girl’s class will think when they see her fiddling with the apps? Or maybe, all the parents in the class agree that Santa should be able to bring such extravagant gifts?

This reminds me of my dear aunt who used to spoil her three little girls with literally dozens of gifts on Christmas morning. Santa brought every toy that a child could have wanted. For a few years, the girls had so much “stuff” that much of it was thrown away without ever being really played with. Why did my aunt do this? She was dying of cancer. She wanted to make memories that would last a life time for the girls. She did this with the best of intentions, yet she didn’t realize she had set her children up for disappointment when Santa wasn’t nearly as generous the year after her death (or ever again).

My point is that a parent needs to temper a child’s view of Santa. Instead of telling your preschooler that Santa can bring anything, make sure to place some sort of limit on his gift-giving powers. Assist your preschooler with making out his or her list, and if your son or daughter wishes for an outrageous gift, such as a flying pony, make sure to discuss the probability he or she won’t receive that gift. Learn from my mistake…Santa can do a lot, but he can’t fulfill every desire!

Before you show up at your child’s class, you need to sign in at the office. This is for safety reasons. The Preschool keeps track of who is on campus. This way they are aware of potential strangers on school grounds.

Depending on the type of volunteering, you may need to undergo a background check. This is usually needed for things like field trips. It does take some time to get a background check, so it is important to get this done first thing. Check with your preschool on the requirements for field trips.

Volunteering a few hours in your child’s classroom gives you a chance to observe how your child is interacting in a school setting. This will let you see how well your child is adjusting to preschool and how well they are playing with others.

Another advantage is that if you see your child misbehaving, you can correct the behavior immediately. Instead of hearing secondhand reports about incidents, you can see them for yourself. This will give you a chance to discuss the problem with the teacher and make adjustments to either their seating arrangement or who they play with. You can catch problems early before they become bigger issues.

If you are thinking of heading back to work in the near future, volunteering looks good on your resume. It shows that you do have certain skills that potential employers will find valuable. Even if it has been a few years since you worked, volunteering is a good filler for the time you have spent at home.

Volunteering at your child’s preschool is good for both the school and you. There are many things to be gained from helping your child’s preschool.

One of my favorite activities to do with my preschoolers involved taking an imaginary vacation. All I needed to do — place a wooden bench in the middle of the great room and collect a few small suitcases. Each child took a turn pretending to fly the airplane (the bench), while the others boarded the plane with the suitcases packed with essentials, including favorite blankets, toys, and even a snack. Once we arrived at the chosen location, I would describe the landscape – think rolling waves of the ocean and the gracefully swaying palm trees – and we would travel from room to room looking for imaginary surprises. You’ll be amazed at how much your child will love to take these fantasy vacations.

Another fun activity to do with your child revolves around food. I learned that children prefer to eat meals that they have had a hand in making, so I would involve them in planning and even assembling their own lunches. No, I didn’t allow them to use sharp knives, but they certainly enjoyed washing fruit and counting out bread slices. Even the simple task of learning how to pour from a small pitcher into a sippy cup provided hours of fun. One thing to remember, however, is to set your child up to succeed and not to fail…give only age appropriate tasks. If you do this, you can watch your little “cook” beam with pride.

In addition to using our imaginations and cooking, my children and I spent a lot of time dancing on days that were too cold to venture outside. Of course we even have videos of some of these dance parties! If you would like to try this activity, it doesn’t matter what type of music you play, just make sure to pick something with a fast tempo that literally makes a body want to move. After dancing some fast songs, choose one that will allow your child to cool down, as well as to focus on graceful movement. Finally, don’t be shy about dancing with your child; he or she will have the best time seeing you get your groove on too!

A final cold weather activity my kids used to love – playing in the kitchen sink with dolls and water. I know, you’re thinking that’s a mess waiting to happen; however, this activity worked well when I had to cook. Sure, the counters, the kids, and the floors got a little wet, but the conversations we had were priceless.

So this winter, don’t let the cold keep you from having fun and making memories with your preschooler; explore activities you can do together inside the house.

The best way to alleviate your worry is to volunteer to go on the field trip with your child. Take the time off from work to go on the field trip. Usually, you will know far enough ahead of time to put in for the time off. Just make certain that the preschool knows that you are volunteering — otherwise, you may not be able to join them.

If you are worried about transportation, consider asking the school to let you drive your child to the designated destination. You must let the preschool know that your child is participating and that you intend to drive them. Otherwise, your child might not be allowed to participate in the activity.

Don’t let your worry about the field trip become your child’s worry. Once this happens, they might hesitate to even go. This can pose a problem for you and the preschool. Usually, this ends up in your child going home with you instead of on a brand new adventure.

If you can’t go, ask another trusted parent to keep an eye on your child for you. Consider asking the teacher to pair your child up with the trusted parent’s child. This can alleviate some of your worries about who else is supervising.

Preschools have a responsibility to see that your child is safe on a field trip. It can get a little difficult for parents because this is another one of the firsts that children face while in preschool. But there are some things that you can do to alleviate that worry.

Goldfish crackers are practically known as the default preschool snack. While not the most imaginative snack option, they are favored by many preschools. This is because most kids like them and they are very easy to dispense. They also aren’t too messy to clean up.

For a healthy snack option, cut up some apples, bananas, and grapes. If you have time, take the peels off of the apples. These are the most familiar fruit options for preschoolers. Avoid bringing in strange fruit like raspberries, because not all preschoolers will be familiar with the taste and are unlikely to eat it. Fruit does go bad fast, so it has to be prepared that morning.

Crackers and cheese are also an easy snack option for preschoolers. USe the standard yellow American cheese that most preschoolers are familiar with. Avoid any cheese with holes, or blue cheese. These cheeses are a little too complicated for a preschooler’s taste buds.

Graham crackers are another option. These crackers are easy to break apart into smaller pieces. Most kids are fans of graham crackers. Bring the chocolate and marshmallows for that familiar campfire feel. You don’t have to toast the marshmallows for this treat.

Cupcakes are a favorite birthday preschool snack. Cupcakes are easier to dispense than trying to cut up a cake. But you want to bring both chocolate and vanilla cupcakes to give kids a choice. Not every preschooler will be a big fan of chocolate.

Animal crackers are now available in individual packages. This is another preschool favorite for the same basic reasons as Goldfish crackers. They tend to be a little easier on the snack budget. They also fit very well into animal themed days at the Preschool.

Preschool snacks don’t have to be complicated. For preschoolers, the simple snacks are some of the best ones to eat.

Apple orchards provide plenty of opportunities for fun. Pick apples with your child, while also talking about how the fruit takes all summer to mature, and that it begins its journey as a beautiful apple blossom. Then, explore the ways in which we eat apples, from right off the tree to baked in apple pies or squeezed to make fresh cider. Some apple orchards have wagon rides, pony rides, petting zoos, and even corn mazes.

Before Halloween, you should also trek to a pumpkin patch. Once there, your child can either go into the field to choose the pumpkin he or she likes, or find one that’s already picked. Pumpkin patches usually feature many of the same activities as apple orchards, but some go as far as to offer haunted hay rides. (Use your discretion to assess whether your child would enjoy this feature or not). Finish the day with pumpkin carving then wash the seeds, explaining how they can either be cooked or stored to grow more pumpkins next year.

Besides these two outdoor activities, make sure to go on a nature hike with your child to appreciate the changing colors of the leaves. Relate that the trees do not die over winter; they just rest in anticipation for next spring. Encourage your little one to gather especially vivid leaves, and discuss what kind of tree they come from. If you don’t know, look them up on the Internet together when you return home. To remember the day, press the leaves between two pieces of waxed paper then iron them to seal the paper (you handle the iron, of course).

Another fun thing to do with your preschooler in the fall is attend a football game at your local high school or college. If you have a relative that plays on the team, all the better! Dress in school colors, and sip on hot chocolate to keep warm. If your team loses, you may choose to promote the idea that “it doesn’t matter if you win; it’s how you play the game,” and if they win, bask in the glory!

Finally, if you have a rainy day to fill, visit a local children’s museum. For example, southern Wisconsin has the perfect spot for less-than-perfect fall days, the Children’s Museum of Madison. Special hands-on exhibits especially appeal to preschoolers. The best part; these types of museums are fun for all ages, even parents.

Fall offers great options to help you seize opportunities to bond with your child. One-on-one time, no matter if it’s spent at the pumpkin patch or at the football field, gives you both the chance to enjoy each other’s company.