You can never have too many coloring activities! Here is a random list of FREE, fun and educational non-commercial coloring pages that feature children and characters of color! More pages to come as they become available, so check back often!
(Click on the pages to be taken to the printable version)
Seasonal
Big Heart
Big Hug
Best Friends
Girl and Boy
girl and boy
boy in car
African Children
African girl and boy coloring page
African Children
African Boy
Animals of Africa
African child and animal
Map of Africa
Boys
Boy with a laptop
Boy and his turtle
Boy and kite
Girls
Charming
Be Yourself
Be Confident
Fairies
Princesses
African Princess
Massai Princess
Another Massai Princess
Aztec Princess
Another Azteca Princess
Comanche Princess
Spanish princess
Mayan Princesses
Indian Princess
Moroccan princess
Chinese princess
Chinese Princess
Coloring Page Links:
Just one of the cooler things hubby brought in for the kids. My daughter adores ducks, so this really made her day. Bubby, ofcourse, is the first one to spy a couple of inch worms trying to escape from the nest, while it was sitting on top of our kitchen table. The third little angel sitting at the table is my daughter’s bestie, her name is Bunny.
During outside time, they are usually gathering all types of twigs,sticks, leaves, pine needles and dirt to create their own nests or “salads”, so it was really fun for them to get a first hand look at the pro-construction of our fine feathered friends.
**Disclaimer:No birds were harmed in the process of obtaining this nest. It was discovered in a fallen tree after a thunderstorm.**
After inspecting it, the kids took it back outside and placed it (with dad’s help) back in a high tree, just in case another bird wanted to move in. Only, I am not certain what type of nest it is? Looks a bit tight for any bird bigger than a sparrow, hmmm……
Purposeful play is playtime with PURPOSE! It is taking advantage of every minute, moment and second of time and valuing it as a opportunity to impart, educate, or benefit your child in some way. MBC Parents understand that time itself is a precious gift. If you have ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat”, the same is true of a child’s living environment. Because our children are always learning, even while we adults may be preoccupied with other things, it is important that we surround our children with powerful tools that will advance their young minds in a meaningful way.
It won’t be enough simply to have cool gadgets, games and gizmos for our kids to interact with. There must also be a balance. For example, a child may have access to early learning materials or even an academic tutor, but if that child also regularly interacts with music, television shows etc that emphasizes, or glorifies irresponsible behaviors and contains no educational substance, that is what a child is more likely to embrace and academic performance will be sluggish at best. This is what we at MBC call “Interference” and what we consider to be one of the most counter-productive to a child’s success.
Why is Interference Such a Big Deal?
Interference distracts from the ability to focus, process information more deeply and even affects healthy decision making. Children are natural copy cats, it is unrealistic to expect them to behave in a manner opposite of the environment that has been created for them. It also sends mixed messages of parental expectations.
When parents allow children to interact with stimulus that conflicts with the ideals and goals that they have for their child’s success, should there really be any surprise when a child falls short of them. For a child to reach their maximum potential, they must be allowed an environment that cultivates success.
How to Filter Out Interference
Because children are learning 24/7, parents must be vigilant in screening the various activities their children interact with. It is a wise parent who understands that although a television show is animated, colorful and targets a youthful audience, that it may be severely lacking in educational content and appropriate social etiquette.
Boredom is another element of interference, when a child is bored, the tendency is to be distructive. Unsupervised boredom is usually the cause of mass destruction and parental frustration. Boredom is also often mistaken for “playing alone” or “just playing by themselves.” Look closely, there is a difference. A child who is still interested is actively absorbed in imagination and at the height of contentment. They may not realize their parent even exists.
A child who is bored, on the other hand, is all over the map, a wandering vagabond that desires attention at any cost. The price of gaining that attention may be high if not tended to immediately. Water faucets may be left running, colors on walls, toilet paper rolls completely unraveled in the restroom or worse, a child gets injured.
Most young children are unable to channel their energy constructively until they learn to do so. Rather than expend all of that precious mental ability and natural energy unproductively, parents can guide their children into meaningful activities that would not only engage their minds for the present, but also create for them a solid learning foundation that will benefit them well into adulthood.
Purposeful Play Prep List:
- What will my child learn from this activity?
(will it positively impact their education, behavior, future?)
- Does it reinforce life lessons I am currently trying to teach my child?
(this is important, it is a good idea for parents to concentrate on specific goals and messages that they are trying to convey rather than too many all at once)
- Is this an activity that I will need to supervise from start to finish?
(Some activities are fun, but only if you are there to guide your child. Leaving a child to their own devices (even for a second) during these types of activities could cause a number of problems, from a huge mess, to a child getting frustrated and negatively viewing similar projects.
- Is this activity age appropriate?
(the activity objectives need to be relevant to the child’s current stage of development)
Won’t Too Much Exposure to Education “Burn Out” My Child?
This is a question many parents might worry about and the answer is no. With gentle guidance and paying close attention to your child’s verbal and nonverbal cues. Your child will let you know when they are ready to call it quits and move on to the next activity. As parents, we set the bar of expectation that our children strive to meet and when our children are having fun, educatiing is easy and flows naturally. In fact, a child’s entire concept of what “fun” is comes from parents themselves.
Sissy, Mommy and Bubby
“psuedo kids names are kewl!”
. . .and I only now decide to start blogging. Honestly, I had thought about creating one for a while now, but I am just really excited to be getting underway. So here are the particulars, my husband and I live on a pretty modest income so we are always trying to find ways to stretch our enormously tight budget. In the current economy I can imagine this is probably a story none to unfamiliar for many people. God bless you folks going through it, I feel your pain!
Getting on with things, I am mommy to two amazing kids(I know, I know all parents say this 😀 ). Sissy, my daughter, is 5 and Bubby my son is 2. This blog is basically about them, detailing our early learning strategies, books, tools, activities and tricks and erm…pitfalls as they progress. These are their stats:
Sissy 5yrs old (6 by the end of March):
Virtual Academy/K12 Curriculum
Grade: Kindergarten
Reading Level: 3rd grade (highest before she looses interest, any higher the book content goes right over her head)
Math Level: 2nd grade (I supplement her regular school work with School Zone math books, printable worksheets and other activities to keep her on track)Currently Reading: Anne of Green Gables, Pinkalicious and adores picture books!
Extracurriculars: Piano (Primer B, six pages from Level 1) and Gymnastics: Beginning level 3
Loves: Ducks, Princess Squirrels, Alvin and the Chipmunks, WordGirl, Art
Personality: Sweet, strong, independent, good-natured, friendly
Science, History, Art and French, she is pretty much grade level. I have no complaints about the K12 curriculum on the whole. I find it very thorough. It does take some getting used to though. There is A LOT of work and it can get overwhelming if you allow it to. For me I think it is the best thing since ever! Before I got started I read so many reviews about the program, some positive, some negative, some scary to be sure..(lol).. but if you’re like me, I NEED structure, otherwise I tend to procrastinate. This program keeps me accountable.
If you have read anything about virtual schools, its basically public school at home. Everything is done through the approval of the Board of Education. Your child WILL be regularly tested to make sure their scores are meeting or exceeding the required standards of the state. Each school usually has its own student life so, if socialization is something you are interested in, definitely ask around. So far my daughter has attended several social gatherings, math events and field trips. I will post pics of that soon. It was pretty much like going to a regular field trip as I remember it as a kid except there were many more parents present. There isn’t a bus, you will need to take your own child. The school offers many of the same programs and incentives for students as they do in public school (Book It, Study Island), with some additional perks; Art, music and other contests, that can be entered online.
Now about my son Bubby:
Bubby 2 years old (3 by the end of August):
Knows his letters, numbers, colors, basic shapes.
Can sound out three letter words
Speaks in full sentences but does not fully pronounce his words. (we are working on this)
Loves: Cars, trucks, planes, trains, ABC’s, making mischief in Sissy’s room, good food, riding his bike round the kitchen table, grandma and teddy bears
Currently Potty training =)
Personality: Confident, funny, amazing sense of humor, helpful, cuddly, warm, friendly, territorial, doesn’t give up.
I try to allot my time equally between the two children during the day, needless to say, Sissy usually ends up getting the better part of it. Bubby and I will spend more time together during the later part of the day. Right now Bubby is interested in playing the violin like mommy (yep, over 23 years) he wants to sit on my lap touch it, strum it, hold it up to his ear. It is so cute! He will get one after he is three, but I will be working with him on note recognition and familiarizing him with more classical pieces in the mean time.
So this is pretty much where we are right now, Stay tuned, more updates to come!
Quvenzhané Wallis
CONGRATULATIONS to the beautiful and talented Quvenzhané Wallis! (pronounced kwuh ven zhuh nay)
Though her resume may not be extensive, at only 9 years old this pint-sized power house’s filmographic acclaim is quite impressive. Her most recent of conquests— the Critic’s Choice Award and an Academy nomination to the 85th annual Oscars award ceremony, while also being the youngest recipient ever!
Buy on Amazon
At only 5 years old, her featured role as “Hushpuppy” in the movie,”Beasts of the Southern Wild” is what catapulted her into the media spotlight and public radar. The movie itself is a fantasy drama film that is set in a small Louisiana bayou community that has been separated from the rest of the world by a levee.
Watch Trailer
Wallis at 2012 Cannes Film Festival
Quvenzhané was born in Louisiana on August 18th in 2003. The first part of her name “Quven”combines the first names of her parents and “Zhané” means “Fairy” in Swahili. Although she had little to no previous acting experience she beat out 4,000 other young audition hopefuls and secured the role as “Hushpuppy”. The movie director Ben Zeitlin said that Quvenzhané’s reading ability was part of the reason she had been chosen. Quvenzhané say’s in a later interview how reading the part of “Hushpuppy” in the movie helped her to develop a greater love of reading, of which she had not been very fond of previously. She is the proud owner of a kindle and loves filling it with the latest books!
Acting: Does Your Child Have What it Takes?
It may look like fun and games, but being a child actor is work indeed! When it’s time to work, they must be on time, able to tolerate long hours, inclement weather, travel, miss school, and if necessary, unusual job requirements.
Having talent, good looks or being outgoing is nice, but in the world of acting, it simply is not enough. Aspiring child actors must also have good memory, above average temperament, likability, listening skills, ability to focus and follow directions. Being a good reader is a necessity and if a child is very young, it may even set them apart from the crowd.
These are skills that begin and may be practiced at home. Parents who expose their children to early education to develop these life skills, can give their children an edge in the highly competitive world of acting.
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