Educational Snacking

During the past few months, Alexa has definitely endured her fair share of my subtle (and not so subtle) tactics to promote her interest in phonics and numbers.  A few weeks ago, I happened to be shopping at Safeway and saw what I thought was the greatest dual-purpose item....Scrabble Junior Cheez-Its.  Essentially they are simply normal Cheez-It crackers with a letter inscribed on one side, but I was more than happy to pay a premium to buy this educational snack.  I was so proud of myself and thought I had discovered the best snack ever (not the best in the nutrition department, but I was willing to overlook that.)

Initially, Alexa loved the Scrabble Cheez-Its, but after a few snack times in which she had to say the sound of the letter on the cracker before she could eat it, she was over it.  I knew I had turned her off when she opted for raisins instead of Cheez-Its for an afternoon snack.  Point taken.  I don't think I have ever had a "special treat" sit on the pantry shelf as long as these dang Scrabble Cheez-Its.

I don't know if it was the three-week break from the academic snack or if Alexa was simply tired of nectarines and plums, but this afternoon Alexa asked me if she could have a bowl of the Cheez-Its.  I was overjoyed, but I made sure to downplay it so Alexa wouldn't feel like the alphabet was being forced upon her.  Even though the crackers featured upper case letters (she's learning lower case), I was beaming as she began to properly identify each of the letters in her bowl of about fifteen crackers. 

I know it's the Summer Program at her school and not my multi-functioning snack that's prompting her learning.  Nevertheless, I was very proud to eek out a short phonics lesson at snack time, and Alexa was just as proud of her newfound academic prowess.  There's still a half of box of these Cheez-Its to go....:)

Showing off the "X" Cheez-It....one of the "easy" ones.