Summer is here! And with the heat comes cooling down in pools, oceans, springs, and lakes. Swimming is a great way to stay cool and get the kids out of the AC and into the sun. But with younger kids who are just learning to swim, sometimes getting in the water can be a challenge. …
Simple Pleasures of Summer with Summertime Books Summer begins officially this year on June 20th, and already we are seeing and feeling the pleasures summer brings. School is out, the days are long, and we want to be outdoors to enjoy the sunshine and warmth. Summertime seemed simpler back in the olden days when I …
Gemini: May 21 – June 21 For those of you who have been blessed with Gemini children, hold on to your hat! You’re in for a ride with these curious, active, busy bees, who are always thinking and talking about whatever is on their mind. Mercury is their ruling planet, so they like engaging with …
This past weekend my husband and three-year-old daughter went camping for the first time together. I had previously camped in college, but Steve and Ava had never been. None of us knew what to expect and I only reserved one night at a campground as I figured we would either love it or hate it. …
Taurus: April 20 – May 20 It’s time for more fun with the astrological star signs! Four out of five family members were born under the Taurus sun sign, so I’ve had plenty of time to observe these sweet, practical, loving, down-to-earth characters. Venus is their planet, so they like nice things that appeal to …
What is a Fairy-Tale? What is a fairy-tale? Why are they so entrenched in our culture, and in cultures around the world? And why might some parents hesitate to read them to their children? I’ve been delving deep into fairy-tales lately, and the deeper I go, the more complicated it gets. According to Merriam-Webster, a …
Happy Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! Celebrated in the United States the entire month of May, the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was designated in 1992 to commemorate the role and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The term Asia/Pacific covers a huge area – it is defined by asianpacificheritage.gov as the …
In this post I want to talk about modeling behavior through play, specifically putting the child in the role of the decision-maker. Role-playing during playtime gives the child autonomy to make decisions for themselves. (I talk more about modeling behavior and how it relates to children’s books here.) Something my three-year-old and I have been …
books are a key resource for providing kids with good behavioral role-models. Children are Mimics Kids model their behavior based on the actions and words of the people around them. They watch and mimic what we as parents do and say. They watch and mimic their friends and teachers. They mimic what they see on …
What should you get the book-loving child in your life? The default answer is, of course, books! Books make amazing gifts and for specific book recommendations check out just about any post on this site! This post is a good place to start, and this one has great recommendations for the younger crowd. But sometimes …