Do you have a preschooler or Kindergartener at home? Do you have preschool-aged grandkids who come to visit your home? Do you run an in-home daycare or preschool?
If so, read on for information and a chance to win a terrific resource.I recently received one month of Itty Bitty Bookworm Preschool to try at home with my son Kyle. This is a wonderful kit!
Each month, there are four lessons which revolve around a quality preschool picture book (such as I Like Me). Along with the book and theme for the week, there is a craft or activity for each day, dramatic activity suggestions, a letter and number of the week, and a color of the month, and even a parent’s guide. Using this product in my home, I would probably choose to spread out the weekly ideas over a couple of weeks, instead of beginning a new lesson each week as it is designed.
Every single thing that you need for the craft is prepackaged in a big ziplock baggie and included included (except for some very basic items such as scissors and glue) and prepackaged in a big ziplock baggie. As a mom who occasionally gets inspired to do something, this is a huge motivating factor for me. Instead of having to come up with an activity and then gather supplies, I can simply consult the lesson plan, grab the included book, and the craft kit and get going.
I was helping a friend with her kids one day, so I decided to try out an activity with her newly five year old daughter, and my three year old son. I read the book, talked about a few of the questions included, and then they did the activity (gluing beans and pasta on an outline of their name on cardstock).
Of course my kit only included supplies for one, so I added a few more pieces of pasta to the included supply and there was easily enough for the two of them to complete the activity. If you are planning to do the crafts with numerous children (such as in a daycare setting), for a small additional fee, you can receive all the prepared kits, or choose to supplement them yourself.
You can see a sneak peek of the Bo Kit (for 3 – 5 year olds) for October, as well as the slightly different Bailey Kit (for 18 – 26 months).
Tara Rison answered a few questions for me about her mom-owned business:
JD: Why did you start this business?
TR: After having my third child, I decided to quit my job as the director of a child development center to start my own in-home preschool. Once I opened I filled up quickly and became very busy. I also started to teach a night class for a local community college.
This left me with very little time to plan and organize quality lessons and activities. Therefore, I ordered several preschool programs, but was not happy with them. I felt they were very “cookie cutter†(meaning all of the projects looked the same), they did not make strong cognitive connections for the children, and they did not strive to promote pre-literacy skills.
So, I went back to creating my own. Jokingly I said to my husband one night, “I should sell my own curriculum on a website.†He thought it was a great idea and convinced me to give it a go. I am so glad I did!
JD: What kind of customers use this system?
TR: We have a variety of customers. The majority are in-home preschool providers. Many preschools have subscriptions, as well. We also have parents, grandparents, and nannies who have bought subscriptions. Our curriculum is great for anyone who cares for a preschooler.
JD: How does your curriculum differ from others out there?
TR: Our curriculum is different than others out there in several ways:
1. All of our lessons, activities, projects, etc. are based on popular children’s books.
2. All of the books are included in the kits.
3. We strive to promote early literacy skills.
4. Our activities are stimulating and creative. They are designed to teach self-expression through art.
Discounts are available if you order several months at once, or you can just order it month by month and use it at your own pace.
There is also another option, called Bella’s Kit, which includes everything in the Bo Kit, except the books, which you could borrow from the library.
Tara has donated the following prizes. If you would like to win, leave a comment below, listing your preference. We will draw a winner on Wednesday, September 12.
1. A Bo Kit (ages 3-5) for 1 child for October or November (U.S. only), a $48 value.
2. A Bailey Kit (ages 18-36 months) for 1 child for October or November (U.S. only), a $25 value
3. A CD containing the October or November curriculum for Bo and Bailey (U.S. or Canada), a $25 value
cool! 🙂
THis is great!
I would love 2.3.1
I would really love to win the Bo kit. My son would love to have something to do at home while his older brother is off to school.
I would love the Bo kit! my kindergartener loves crafts!!!
I’d love a Bailey kit!
The Bo Kit for me! That would be so helpful! thanks
A Bo kit, as listed number one, would be great for my daughter.
the bo kit please 🙂
I have kids in each category and run a preschool out my home. My preference would be the CD.
What a wonderful kit! I’d love any item as I have a 3 year old and a 16 month old. I just hope I win.
What an awesome curriculum! I’d be sharing it with my children’s preschool. The Bo kit would be perfect!
I’d love the Bo kit for my 3 year old son!
This looks really cool!
I’d love to win the
1. Bo
2. Bailey
3. CD
thanks!
1. A Bo Kit (ages 3-5) would be right up our alley.
I’d love to try a Bo kit!
I would love to win the Bo Kit for my grandkids, this would be a wonderful thing to do while they are spending time with grandma. Fantastic!!!
The Bo Kit please..
Would love the Bo kit!!! =)
Can you put me in for the CD please?
I would love to be entered in this contest. My preference would be the bo kit. I blogged about it here..
http://ourfullhouse.blogspot.com/2007/09/contestscontestscontests.html
wow! What a neat idea. I’d love the kit for 3 yr. olds. (bo Kit). Thanks!
I would love to win the bo or Bailey kit! Thanks!
I just received my first Bailey kit for October and I am loving it. I am so excited to get started and I know the kids will be too. Would love to win one for November
1. A Bo Kit (ages 3-5) for 1 child for October or November (U.S. only), a $48 value.
I would love to win #3! Thank you so much.
I have a couple of preschoolers and babysit 2 yo twins. I would love to find something easy to occupy them and teach them.
This sounds great. I’m thinking about using this to start homeschooling my soon-to-be preschoolers.
My first preference would be the Bo Kit and second would be the Bailey kit.
I would love the Bailey Kit. It looks so fun and I think my 2 1/2 year old would love it.
Thanks so much for having the contest.
I’d appreciate any of the three, as I have a child in each of the two categories!
Sounds GREAT!
I would love the Bailey kit for my 2 yr. old daughter, I am running out of ideas for things to do with her! She is always wanting to read and create something, this would be fun! Thanks!
I would like the Bailey kit for my son. Thanks!
I think the Bailey kit would be my first choice – but any would work. They look really neat!
I think that the Bo kit seems wonderful. What a wonderful idea.
I’d love prize #2! I’ve just started some home preschool w/ my LO.
I would love #3.
I’ve been wondering why someone hasn’t created this yet – and here it is. It really does exist! It’s taken me 4 months to put together a curriculum for my toddler – it’s not an easy task by any means. There is so much research out there, with no telling what really strengthens pre-math and literacy skills. This is a brilliant idea for moms at home! If picked, I’d like the Baily kit please.
i am a home schooler. I would love to win the “bo kit”
This is really neat! I’d like the Bo Kit!!
Julie
I run a daycare center and it is so hard to find activities to keep the little ones busy and learning. I would love to try out the Bo kit with my kids! Thanks
I’d love to win the A Bailey Kit. Thanks for the contest!
What a great kit! I’d love the first one for older children. Thank you so much!!
Duckabush Blog
WOW — I LOVE this idea!
1. Bailey kit
2. Bo kit
3. CD
I would love to win #1 I think my son would love it!
The CD with both would be lovely.
Wow, this sounds fantastic. Any of the options would work given the ages of my kids!
I’d prefer the Bo kit, but would take any of them. Thanks.
Love this!
Bo
Bailey
CD
Sounds awesome, i have kids in both categories
My preferences-
Bailey
Bo
CD
I have 20 month old twins so I would love to win #2. Thanks!
What a great idea! The Bailey Kit would be perfect for us!
With 3 girls under 5 the Bo kit would fit our needs perfectly!
oh! this sounds right up our alley! i have a 20 month old and love finding new things to introduce her to. ME ME ME!
I could use the Bo Kit, but would be happy to try any of them.
Thank you.
These sound great. The Bo kit would be wonderful!
Yay, so fun! I would love to do this with my son! I know, I know, I’m a little premature as he’s only 5 months, but he’ll be old enough way before I’m ready for it!
So I would like the Bailey kit and then the Bo kit or CD. We have an awesome library system here so it would work great!
I have an almost 4 year old and an almost 6 year old and a bun in the oven. A Bo kit would be my first choice. Thanks!
Oh wow! I would love to be entered in. My almost 3 year old would enjoy doing her own “school work”.
What an awesome idea! With 2 pre-schoolers in the house it sure would help.
My order of preference would be:
1-Bailey
2- Bo
3-CD
This would be wonderful to win. Sign me up for the Bo kit.
Wow! I’ve spent all morning looking for a preschool for next year for my daughter. Maybe I need to keep her at home and do it myself. Hmmmm….
I would love the Bo kit!! 🙂
Carol
i would love any of them as my son is young enough for either program
My preference wou;d be the Cd first, then the Bailey kit, then the Bo kit
Sign me up please 🙂
I have no prefrence. I want any, I have both ages
The Bo kit would be perfect for the 3 year old. Who wants to go to school
wow! again you girls come up with wonderful giveaways!!!
please sign us up for ANY of the ages 3/4+ material!
thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This looks like a terrific product! Count me in!
How cool! The Bo kit sounds great!
We would love a chance to win the Bo kit. I have three little ones in my house that I think would enjoy it. Thanks!
I would love a Bailey kit
Please enter me for kit #2!
I like the Bailey Kit!!
I would love to be entered in this contest for the Itty Bitty Bookworm. Thanks!
Nifty! Bo Kit for us, or the CD…:)
These are awesome.
My preferences would be:
1. Bo
2. Bailey
3. CD
I’d love to try the Bo kit. I’m not sure I could homeschool my three year old, but it would be great to have a chance to try some at-home early education.
A Bo or Bailey would be wonderful – I have an almost 5 year old and almost 2 year old! 🙂
I’d love the Bo kit! My preschooler loves to do craft stuff with me. She starts preschool Monday & can hardly wait!
I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and I am always looking for things like this. I read to them the story of Bo and gave them the coloring page. I am impressed at how much my 4 year old understood and remembered about the story. Now, they are creating their own “masterpieces” of Bo the bookworm. I wish I had known about this over the summer! Thanks for sharing this and for hosting the contest. I would love any/all of the prizes offered.
I would love the bailey kit for my daughter!
My son and I would have a fun time using the Bo kit! This is perfect!
The Bo Kit for sure! I’m always up for a short cut, and having things all together pre-packaged is such a great idea!
I’d love the Bo kit! What a great idea.
I would love to win the Bo kit!
I would truly love to win the Bo kit (#1) for my son. We’re doing preschool at home this year and I am definitely finding it a challenge to come up with activities.
I have a soon to be 3 year old and plan to start homeschooling in the next week or so. I would love to try the Bo Kit with him. I love literature and eventually want a PhD in Children’s Literature. Thanks for this opportunity
This is AWESOME! I have a slightly delayed kindergartner who is having difficulty learning the basics, right now, and is resistant wo let us help her! This would be a fun activity for us to do with her, and she wouldn’t even realize she was learning, until it was too late!! LOL! Pick me!! Pick me!!
I love the Itty Bitty Bookworm and with a 3 yr old little boy, I need all the hands on activities I can get.
Amanda
OH, the Bo kit sounds delightful! 🙂
I would love the Bailey Kit or the CD. 🙂
I would love the CD please.
Thank you!
I’d love the Bailey Kit for my 18 month old daughter, second choice the CD, third choice the Bo kit which I could save until she’s a little older!
I would love to be entered in this contest! (Bo Kit)
I would like the Bailey kit for my granddaughter.
I’d love the Bo kit for my 5yo. But, I’d be happy to put away the Bailey kit for my 9mo.
This sounds like a fabulous idea!!! Wow!
The Bo kit would be terrific to use with my nephew.
please count me in. 🙂 (Bo kit)
These look great!
I’d love the Bailey Kit!
My son and I would enjoy the Bo kit I believe.
I’d like the bo kit.
I’d love the Bo kit.
WOW! How neat! I would love to win. I would choose: 1,3,2. Thanks!
I thought I enetered a commetn. if this shows up twice, I’m sorry.
1. Bo
2. bailey
3. CD
Thanks you
My preference is the Bo kit, then the Bailey kit. I have two kids that could benefit from one or the other. Great find!
My twin girls are 3 years old and love crafts, so any of the three prizes would be great for us! I would say that the Bo Kit would be our first choice, though.
Count me in. My preference would be the Bo Kit. This looks like a really great product.
My son would love that kit!!
Oops- my email cnelson67 at gmail dot com
I would LOVE the Bailey kit for my 2 year old. I’m running out of ideas of things to do/books to read.
I would love a Bo Kit! Please count me in! Thanks!
My preference:
CD
Bo
Bailey
I would love a Bo Kit. Thanks!
My preference would be:
1 – The Bo Kit
2 – The Bailey Kit
3 – The CD
Thank you!
I’ll go for the Bo Kit too 🙂
#1 would cover all three of my sons, please enter me for that one, thanks!
I would love to do the Bo kit with my 3 AND 5 year old! how perfect is that!!
I think the Bo kit would be great for my son!
My son and I would love this
Oooh, the Bo kit! Thanks!
This looks really neat!! I also struggle to regularly do educational activities with my 3 year old. Thanks for the great new resource to help my little ones grow! I would prefer the Bo kid if I were to be the winner of the contest! Thanks!
Neat idea. I love that everything is already packaged with it.
CD
Bo
Bailey
Thanks!
These sound great! If I had to pick, I would choose the Bo kit.
Any of these would be fabulous. I have no preference, except to win! 🙂
Here’s my order…
1. Bo kit
2. Bailey kit
3. CD
Great idea! I’m a former preschool teacher and these sound very helpful. The Bo Kit would be my choice.
I like the Bo kit.
I would like them in that order.
I love the baily kit. Hope I win.
I’d love the Bo kit or the Bailey kit.
Sounds interesting.
My choices are in this order:
1. A Bo Kit (ages 3-5) for 1 child for October or November (U.S. only), a $48 value.
2. A Bailey Kit (ages 18-36 months) for 1 child for October or November (U.S. only), a $25 value
3. A CD containing the October or November curriculum for Bo and Bailey (U.S. or Canada), a $25 value
A Bo kit would be great for my almost 4-year-old daughter!
The Bo kit
I would love a Bo kit for my soon-to-be-4-year-old daughter! What a fabulous idea.
The Bo kit would be great…my 21 month year old daughter would Love it
Please enter me for either! I have three girls, 3 and under, so any age would be used and used well. 🙂
give me anything you’ve got… LOL. I have a kindergartener at home as well as a niece who is three. I would use any and all of them. Thank You very much!
My preference…
Bailey
Bo
CD
Thanks!!!!!
I could use either one! But it would probably be nice to have one for my 2 year old daughter since my son is already in preschool. I love the fact that they supply everything!
I would love #1! I’m homeschooling preschool with my daughter this year. That sounds really great!
I would love to try out the Bo Kit for my 3 year old. He’s in preschool but I would to do things with him at home as well.
The Bo kit would be great for my 3yr old 😀
Bo kit, please–looks great!
I would love the Bo Kit!
Thanks!
Sounds great! My preference order is
1. Bo Kit
2. Bailey Kit
3. CD
Thanks!
I’d love the Bo kit for my 3 year old!
I would love to win the Bo kit for my 3 year-old twin sons!
I would LOVE to have a Bo kit!
If I don’t win the contest, I am SURELY going to buy one to try for us. I wish I had thought of this for my girls. As a former teacher and mother of toddlers, I’m constantly looking for ways to teach my little ones with fun activities. Brilliant!
holy cow, just what i need for my 3.11 yo twins! my preference is for the bo kit, with the 2nd in contention being the cd kit. thanks for the info, i’m heading over to her website!
sounds great please count me in. i would like the bo kit
Such a neat idea!
1. Bo kit
2. Bailey kit
3. CD
The Bailey Kit sounds like a great idea for my preschooler. I use Five in a Row to homeschool my older daughter, and it’s also centered on children’s literature.
Wow..this is awesome. As a new SAHM with an almost 3 year old, I am always looking for things to do : ) The Bo kit is my choice..heading to their website now!!
3rd option please!
My preferance would be #1
This sounds like such a cool idea!!!
This is so exciting I have not heard of this before. I would love to try the Bailey Kit My son is just now 18 months old. 🙂 He is always wanting to get his little hands into things. I would love to have something for him to come to the table and do just as his siblings do .
Nikki
My daughter is right on the line, so I would probably first choose the Bo kit, then the Bailey kit.
Sounds like a great resource. I would love the Bo kit for my son!
I would love to win the Bo Kit!
Awesome! My preference would be:
1 – the CD with Bo and Bailey
2 – the Bailey kit
3 – the Bo kit
Thanks!!
This curriculum sounds just what I am looking for! I have a 3.5yr. old and coming up with continuous ideas for projects/activities can be challenging. I love the idea that each week is based on a book and that the activities are based on the book’s theme. I really want to give this curriculum a try.
I would love to do the Bo kit with my son!