Creating a theme box is a great activity to do with your child.  Most of the items can be found around your child's room, at yard sales, or discount stores such as the dollar tree or Walmart. The purpose of a theme box is to promote literacy skills and a love for reading. Try to collect items that are seasonal and popular in dollar tree stores while building your theme.

Here are a few simple tips to get you started.

Gather a few medium sized boxes.  A large shoe box or plastic storage bins work nicely.

Start with a  good book, then revolve your theme around it.  For example, an ABC theme box would include a copy of Chicka, Chicka, Boom Boom  by, Bill Martin Jr. this is a great book to build your theme around. Then add accesories, props, flash cards, fabric, paper, crayons, stencils, stickers, etc..to go with your ABC theme.  A small cookie sheet and magnetic letters are a great start.

You could also add a beach towel and beach ball to go with the theme. Here are just a few ideas for some theme boxes to help you get started! 

• Counting
• Nursery Rhymes
• Transportation
• Mittens
• Valentine's Day
• Ocean
• Farm
• Pumpkins
• Insects
• I am Thankful
• Mother's Day
• Remember, slowly build one box at a time. Before you know it, your child will have a great collection to go with their favorite stories! 

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