Young Thriving Minds

Preschool printables, craft & activity ideas for parents and educators of early learners.

Curated Just For You

Early Learning Resources on Etsy

Freebies

Free Printable Animal Tracks Identification and Matching Cards

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Have fun with these printable animal track cards! Perfect for playing matching games or identifying tracks.

Little ones are naturally curious about animals! Its exciting for them to discover the habits of animals, where the live, what they eat etc. Most animals do not want to come in close contact with humans, but if you learn to notice and recognize their tracks, you will be able identify which animals visit your neighborhood, pay visits to your backyard or like to walk along the same trails as you do. Animal tracks can become a window into a hidden curious world—the presence and habits of wild animals.  In a playful and engaging manner, this printable activity is a great way to introduce the subject of animal tracking to children.

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Must haves for preschool at home.

An awesome round up of essentials for homeschooling your early learner!

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Many parents may be considering preschool at home for a number of reasons. Perhaps its an option you’ve always wanted to consider. Maybe you are considering preschool at home because of the state of our nation as were are in the midst of a pandemic. Maybe its a more economically sound decision for you and your family. Whatever your reason may be, you will find Preschool at home must haves in this post. All of these suggestions will be wonderful for an easy transition and more organized homeschool life. Staying home with my son through these amazing early years and having been an early childhood educator for many years, I have definitely managed a list of ” can’t live withouts”.

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Summer activity ideas for kids on ETSY

A fantastic round up of summer craft and activity ideas for your little one(s)

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Looks like we’re in the thick of summer! Our days have been filled with backyard games, lots of crafting and adding to our book nook:) The summer months are such a fun time for learning! While it doesn’t usually remain quite as “stick to the curriculum” at our house during summer break, I have a fun time coming up with themes that still inspire a joy of learning for my son like dinosaurs, under the sea, down on the farm, the solar system, around the world and so much more! I hands down include loads of opportunities for crafting and hands-on learning activities.

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Mindfulness Alphabet Cards

The A to Z of Mindfulness! Use these printable alphabet cards to introduce words that represent the practice of mindfulness.

Mindfulness is beneficial for our little ones

Improves Attention

Promoting mindfulness with in children begins with the practicing and gradual strengthening of focusing skills. A fun way to introduce this concept to early learners is through a 5 five senses theme. When we learn to focus on just one thing, like taste, a sound, what we see, what we feel or smell we teach our children to hone in on this skill. Focusing on one of these or our own breath, will help the mind calm down and separate from distractions. For example:

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Book Round Up

Picture books featuring african american characters

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As an African American parent, it is important to me to present my son with an array of brown and black characters in learning resources, toys, and books.  I want his experience with literature, stories, and representation found in day to day experiences and all around the world to include people of color. I think its important and beneficial for him to be able to identify with these instances. To see himself in persons like the African American man who owns the local trucking company, or the African American woman who owns the local bakery, the African American teacher at a school. The African American doctor he visits for check ups. Michael Jordan, Barack Obama, Misty Copeland, Oprah Winfrey- or even simply the fictional characters  found in endearing children’s stories all with whom he can identify.

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