Tea, chocolate cake*, and silly rhymes.  What a great way to spend an afternoon!  My personal favorite Seuss book is Great Day for Up.  My hubby used to read it every single morning to our older son when he was a baby and into toddlerhood. 

Even before “phonemic awareness” was a buzz word in education, Dr. Seuss understood the importance of “playing” with sound.  Now, reliable research shows us that children who can manipulate letter sounds (trading beginning sounds, mixing endings to create rhymes, etc.) are better prepared to learn to read.  Plus it’s just plain fun.

* The chocolate cake is the “Winning Hearts and Minds” cake from A Homemade Life.  Only 1 tablespoon of flour.  Amazing!