Tell Me a Story by eeBoo

When I saw the eeBoo Tell Me a Story cards, the special ed teacher in me immediately thought how great these would be for speech and language therapy.  Many of the pictures are fairy tale related and would allow for familiar fairy tale retelling in traditional or more creative manner.  Justin immediately got to work telling a story, quickly rejecting the first half of his story because it was going to be too scary.

There are directions for a few different ways to play, but basically the point of the cards is to get kids (or adults) coming up with fun creative stories.  I think it would be fun to have a child make up a story and then type it up for them.  Justin likes to try to use most, if not all, of the cards and has a lot to say about each one.  His would be more like a novel than a story.  No way I can remember what he says!

This was a Grandma gift.  I am probably too cheap to buy something like this (unless it is on sale).  It could be made my printing out pictures or drawing some of your own.  Of course by the time I found what I wanted, printed them out, and laminated them for durability, I am sure it would be more cost effective to just buy the things.  In the future I might add a few cards to add some additional variety.  Right now 36 is enough though.

Our first time playing the "game" we played for almost 30 minutes.  I was getting bored rather than the kids.  I have a feeling that this will be a regular in our house.  Would be good for small groups, for a child playing with an adult, for a child playing alone, or for speech/language or ESL sessions.

The 36 story cards fit inside this sturdy cardboard box.

Justin trying to put his story in order.

Ryan trying to do whatever Justin is doing.

January/February 2011

 January continued to be a rather relaxed period.   So many new things to play with since the boys have Christmas AND their birthdays in December.

We took a trip to Swakopmund on the Namibian coast.  The boys loved the water and the playground.  The snake house, crystal palace, and other more typical tourist attractions were not as exciting for them.

The beach at Swakopmund, Namibia.  Ryan LOVED the waves and the sand. Justin was a bit more cautious of the ocean.

Ryan and Justin LOVED the bouncy castles and various other inflatable climbing and sliding structures.  Justin must have gone up (and down) the water slide a million times.  I think this was his highlight for the trip.

  

To help celebrate my birthday, Justin and Ryan made birthday crowns for everyone.

February still pretty laid back.  Justin is more interested in doing his own thing rather than doing a lot of structured activities.  He loves all of his games, old and new.  He plays them the correct way and also his own creative versions.  If I am playing, I would rather stick with rules I understand. :)

There are a lot of different spins on the traditional three bears!

J was more creative with his valentines than I am.

Ryan's version had the whole word to match rather than individual letters.  Good practice cutting, something Justin really needs.

Activity related to Mama, Do You Love Me? book.

One of the robot valentines we made for friends,  Body is a Hershey's mini candy bar.  Justin really enjoys folding the paper for the arms and legs.  Ryan is all about the wiggly eyes.

Some of the Valentine books we read over and over and over...

Even more Valentine/love books

Ryan "writing" his alphabet letters.

Justin and his writing.  He needs to work on appropriate grasp and letter formation, but doesn't want to hear about that from Mom!  I get in the way of his creativity.

Watching the video show how to make the letters is better than listening to Mom.  If it is on the TV it HAS to be good, right?  This is from the Waterford early education series.

We taped markers to Thomas trains and drew on some of the paper that was used as filling in packages we received in the mail.  A great activity for a rainy day.

We had MANY trains available for drawing/racing.

We have to drive by this church regularly and, though a major tourist attraction, had never gotten out of the car to look at it.  We FINALLY did.  Justin calls it a gingerbread church and Ryan says it is a castle.  Although it was supposed to be opened, the doors were all locked.  I have read that the inside is nothing special, but the boys were a little disappointed.  At least now when we drive by I don't have to promise that someday we will stop to look at it.  We finally have!