Get Ready For Kindergarten with Dinosaur Train and a Giveaway | Toronto Teacher Mom

Get Ready For Kindergarten with Dinosaur Train and a Giveaway

Saturday, August 14, 2010

This contest is now closed.



Yes, you read that correctly. It's time to pull out those backpacks and get ready for Kindergarten. My daughter will be entering Senior Kindergarten this year and I couldn't be more excited for her. She is growing up into a little lady right before my very eyes and I'm always taken aback by her incredible use of words and her continued growth in and love of reading and writing. Sometimes I can't believe she is only five years old. I even recall tweeting recently about how she used the word "unfortunately" correctly and oh so matter-of-factly. It really is a joy to watch her morph into a mature young lady and develop the crucial skills required for school. It's times like these that I wish I were my daughter's school teacher just so I can witness her early learning years in a classroom setting. I swear, I would even love to just be a fly on the wall.



Some of the things we have been doing over the summer months include phonics study, letter-writing, word building, reading comprehension and even some critical thinking. We have incorporated this into arts and crafts, song and dance and imaginative play. Though I try not to promote a limited focus on princess themed topics, I do try to build on her interests while also giving her opportunities to explore without me hovering over her. As much as I want to correct her every mistake, I know it could do more harm than good. I want her to have the self-confidence that is needed to promote her love of learning. And I don't ever want it to turn into a chore but rather make learning fun and rewarding.

I also want her to have a well-rounded general knowledge of all the wonderful and amazing things in this world. We have spent time at the Toronto Zoo and learned that a zebra's stripes are actually brown. We have explored cause and effect as well as the law of gravity through play at Kidspark at the Ontario Science Centre. We even went to see dinosaur embryos at the Royal Ontario Museum. And all of this touches on one of my favourite school subjects - Science. (I once contemplated perusing a career in microbiology with the aim of one day finding a cure for cancer. No joke.)

The Jim Hensen Company has a website which is perfect for encouraging basic scientific and critical thinking skills for pre-schoolers. At Dinosaur Train, parents and teachers alike will find useful hands-on activities that will explore the term "hypothesis" and the science behind colours. There are activities that will help pre-school children learn the letters of the alphabet while learning about the diversity of dinosaurs. They can even learn about parts of a bird, the importance of feathers and the difference between a herbivore and a carnivore. In short, there are lots of fun and engaging activities that will be sure to please the little scientist in your home (or classroom!).

It is thus with great pleasure to offer a great giveaway to my U.S. readers (sorry Canada but you can still enter the cool Hilroy school supplies CAN-only giveaway!)


One reader of Toronto Teacher Mom will receive some pretty cool new Dinosaur Train themed products which would include a Dinosaur Train themed backpack (see above) full of Dinosaur Train books (I am a T-Rex and Triceratops for Lunch), toys and games available for the first time this summer and fall (approximately valued at $53). Please refer to the images in this post for a visual of all these great prizes.



For your main entry, which is mandatory, visit the Dinosaur Trains website and tell me which activity would be most popular with your child and why. Leave your answer in a comment on this post along with a way to contact you if you win. (You need to click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post to take you to the comment form.)

For additional entries, you may choose to do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each entry indicating what you have done. Include additional comments if indicated below.
Get ready for kindergarten with a Dinosaur Train prize pack giveaway (US only) http://ow.ly/2pxiz @TeacherMomOfTwo

Contest ends August 28 at 11pm EST and is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be selected using Random.org and must reply to the notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be drawn.

Images courtesy of Michelle Orsi. For a full press release and a description of the prizes, please visit Firefly Blog.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to o provide my U.S. readers with a chance to win a Dinosaur Train Prize Pack because of my Blogger Select membership at The Product Review Place.  I was not compensated in any way. The thoughts expressed in this post are strictly my own honest opinions.

Share This Story

Tags: , , , ,
Diana Mancuso

You Might Also Like

43 COMMENTS

  1. Shannon - Desert DesignsAugust 14, 2010 at 10:05 PM

    My little one would do best with the Dinosaurs A to Z - she knows the alphabet but we're still working on the sounds each letter makes. At 3, she's doing well and loves learning, so this would be a fun addition to our activities.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AndreaAugust 15, 2010 at 2:06 PM

    My boys would love the 3 pack of Dinosaurs so they can play together!

    tiggeraj at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownAugust 16, 2010 at 11:57 AM

    My 4 year old would love Playing Dino Ball YOUR Way because he has such an imagination at his age.
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownAugust 16, 2010 at 11:57 AM

    I follow via google friend connect
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownAugust 16, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    I like dinosaur train on facebook
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. JessiAugust 16, 2010 at 1:47 PM

    Brynna would love to make a dragonfly.

    ReplyDelete
  7. fdigsbyAugust 16, 2010 at 3:45 PM

    My daughter would love Make a Dragonfly because she likes crafts and insects.

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

    ReplyDelete
  8. fdigsbyAugust 16, 2010 at 3:46 PM

    gfc follower

    felecia@twinoaksfl.org

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:20 PM

    Definitely Dinosaurs A-Z! I am going to start teaching my little guy his letters in a few weeks! :) SO this would be great!

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:22 PM

    I follow on Twitter and tweeted.

    http://twitter.com/ThenWere4/status/21929732470

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:23 PM

    I already follow you on FB and I left a comment about this giveaway!
    Jessica A

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:23 PM

    Follow you on GFC :)

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:23 PM

    Fan of Dinosaur Train on FB
    Jessica A

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jess and the boysAugust 23, 2010 at 1:26 PM

    I have your button on my blog!

    http://giveawaysandlife.blogspot.com/p/blog-love.html

    venturesofsahm at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. JuliaAugust 23, 2010 at 4:52 PM

    I think the hungry herbivore game looks fun!

    everydaymomideas@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. JuliaAugust 23, 2010 at 4:53 PM

    I follow you on twitter and tweeted!
    @everydaymom05

    ReplyDelete
  17. AmandaAugust 24, 2010 at 11:10 AM

    Dinosaurs A to Z because my son is learning his abcs right now

    crazyforgiveaways at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. T HarmonAugust 24, 2010 at 11:24 AM

    We’ll definitely have to try “Dinosaurs A to Z” with our 4 year old daughter, since she’s still working on the alphabet, in Pre-K. And “Hungry Herbivores” looks perfect for our 5 1/2yr old son, as he already enjoys classifying dinosaur and animal types, and can expand on what he’s already learned.

    scarethesquare@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. T. HarmonAugust 24, 2010 at 11:27 AM

    Just "liked" Dinosaur Train on Facebook!

    ReplyDelete
  20. AndreaAugust 24, 2010 at 5:19 PM

    Daily Tweet:

    http://twitter.com/mommyof2andrea/statuses/22031815275

    tiggeraj at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. AndreaAugust 25, 2010 at 9:35 AM

    Daily tweet:
    http://twitter.com/mommyof2andrea/statuses/22088657376

    tiggeraj at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. degoodAugust 25, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    I think my son would like the make a dragonfly best because he love to create things and he likes bugs.

    kerrie@mayansfamily.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownAugust 25, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    My 4 year old son would enjoy the "Have a Brachiosaurus Picnic." He loves to cook with me and I know seeing his apple juice turn green would make him smile. I think he'll get a kick out making the bread into dinosaur shapes too. :)

    ehirai at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. AndreaAugust 26, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    Daily tweet:
    http://twitter.com/mommyof2andrea/statuses/22207392853

    tiggeraj at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  25. LJDAugust 27, 2010 at 11:04 PM

    The most popular activity for my kids would probably be the "Make a dragon fly" activity. All 3 of my kids LOVE the show!

    peytonsmomie at hotmail (dot com).

    ReplyDelete
  26. LJDAugust 27, 2010 at 11:06 PM

    I'm a follower on GFC.

    peytonsmomie at hotmail (dot com).

    ReplyDelete
  27. LJDAugust 27, 2010 at 11:07 PM

    I "like" you on FB (initials DL, let me know if you need full name!).

    peytonsmomie at hotmail (dot com).

    ReplyDelete
  28. LJDAugust 27, 2010 at 11:08 PM

    I "like Dinosaur Train on facebook!

    peytonsmomie at hotmail (dot com).

    ReplyDelete
  29. icefairyAugust 28, 2010 at 3:20 AM

    Dinosaurs A to Z sounds would be most popular with my kid because he loves the ABC song and this would help him match the sounds with the letters. Thanks for the giveaway!

    beatspammer at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. icefairyAugust 28, 2010 at 3:20 AM

    Follow on GFC

    ReplyDelete
  31. icefairyAugust 28, 2010 at 3:22 AM

    Liked Dinosaur Train on Facebook (Bing)

    ReplyDelete
  32. icefairyAugust 28, 2010 at 3:23 AM

    Follow and tweeted
    http://twitter.com/luckytoddler/status/22335884321

    ReplyDelete
  33. icefairyAugust 28, 2010 at 3:29 AM

    Added your button
    http://icefairys.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  34. MaryBAugust 28, 2010 at 3:31 AM

    My daughter would love the Make Your Own Buddy Costume activity because she loves to dress up and pretend to be the characters that she loves to watch!

    mcbrady 13 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. MaryBAugust 28, 2010 at 3:36 AM

    Following you and tweeted: http://twitter.com/chirpandtweet/status/22336408504

    mcbrady 13 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. MaryBAugust 28, 2010 at 3:36 AM

    GFC follower (Mary Brady)
    mcbrady 13 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. MaryBAugust 28, 2010 at 3:37 AM

    I like you on FB and wrote on your wall! Mary C. Brady
    mcbrady 13 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. AmandaAugust 28, 2010 at 10:08 AM

    My boys would love Playing Dino Ball Your Way because it is an active game!
    winnieayala at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. AmandaAugust 28, 2010 at 10:10 AM

    I follow on GFC
    winnieayala at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. AmandaAugust 28, 2010 at 10:10 AM

    I like Dinosaur Train on Facebook!
    winnieayala at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. UnknownAugust 29, 2010 at 11:03 AM

    I think my kids would love not only to play the games but they are fasinated by any kind of books with dinosaurs in them.

    danellejohns at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. UnknownAugust 29, 2010 at 11:04 AM

    I follow you publicly via GFC-DanelleJohnson

    danellejohns at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. UnknownAugust 29, 2010 at 11:06 AM

    I like/ follow Dinosaur Train on FB-DanelleJohns

    danellejohns at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment here on Toronto Teacher Mom. Hope you have a great day!

Follow on Facebook

Toronto Teacher Mom

Follow on YouTube



Follow on Pinterest