Celebrate! Flying Colors
Child’s Vision
The American Optometric Association gives an excellent outline of the eye and vision development of young children, including when they are able to distinguish between certain colors and when they can visually track objects around them.
Spending Time Outside
Child Mind Institute offers 7 strong arguments for spending more time outside with your child.
www.childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/
The National Wildlife Federation examines the benefits of children spending time outdoors, including reduction in ADHD behaviors, improved vision and improved critical thinking skills. Links to studies supporting each claim are included.
www.nwf.org/What-We-Do/Kids-and-Nature/Why-Get-Kids-Outside/Health-Benefits.aspx
UMKC School of Education’s Edgar L. and Rheta A. Berkley Child and Family Development Center preent this resource packed full of information on the impact of outdoor play on a child’s brain and offers age-specific practical ideas for outdoor play for children infant through school aged.
www.education.umkc.edu/download/berkley/The-Importance-of-Outdoor-Play-and-Its-Impact-on-Brain-Develpoment-in-Children.pdf
The Amazing Lives of Butterflies
Monarch Butterflies are fascinating! The resources below will help you teach your child more about these amazing migratory insects:
Here is a song by “Singing Zoologist” that sings through the monarch’s life cycle and migration from the North United States to Mexico.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_1xC_nTDCYAnd here is National Geographic Kids information on the Monarch Butterfly. Did you know they fly over 2,000 miles to the forest where up to a billion monarchs gather each winter?
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/monarch-butterfly/#monarch-butterfly-grass.jpg
Celebrate! Flying Colors mentions the Yellow Tiger Swallowtail on our yellow page. Click here for Enchanted Learning’s information for children about this species of butterfly!
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/species/Tigersw.shtml
The Red-Spotted Purple Butterfly is native to the Eastern forests of the United States and may commonly be found in parks and backyards in the Eastern states. Here is more information on how to identify this species in each of its forms, as well as its diet and anatomy.
www.animalstime.com/red-spotted-purple-butterfly-facts/
Bird Facts
Hummingbirds are fascinating animals to watch and an easy bird to attract to a window feeder in most parts of the United States. Here are some more facts about hummingbirds to share with your little ones.
www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/hummingbird.html
Fun Flying Color Activities
Enjoy this printable coloring page from Enchanted Learning of a bluebird with tips on how to identify them!
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Easternbluebird.shtml
This fun coloring page from Enchanted Learning can help your child learn to identify a robin!
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/books/butterflylifecycle/
This fun, printable book follows the lifecycle of a butterfly in a format that’s perfect for preschoolers to enjoy coloring, cutting and fastening together.
www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/butterfly/books/butterflylifecycle/