- Awareness, Books, Creativity, Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Relationships, Slideshow
Teaching Our Children About Civil Rights
My kids play with anyone without question. No matter what color hair or skin; regardless of their parents’ preference to vaccinate or choice of religion or method of education. They don’t care. What they care about is that the kids they play with are friendly and inclusive and compassionate. As I prepare my research for a forthcoming children’s nonfiction book about the Civil Rights Movement I am reminded that there was a time when it was commonplace to draw dividing lines based on skin color. When schools were segregated and children were limited to friends who looked the same. We made so much progress. Sadly, too often, I find…
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June is National Fruit and Vegetables Month
Did you know that June is National Fruit & Vegetables Month? I didn’t until recently, and I think June is the perfect time to celebrate fruits and vegetables. Summer yields a delicious variety of fresh produce. Here are some of the fruits and vegetables that are in season now: Fruit: Peaches, Plums, nectarines, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, tomatoes, passion fruit, melon, and apricots. Vegetables: Radishes, beets, cucumbers, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, corn, garlic, and rhubarb. What a wonderful assortment of fruits and veggies! And with school out, now is the perfect time to get in the kitchen with your kids and cook up some fresh recipes with some of these…
- Art, Awareness, Books, Crafts, Creativity, Culture, Dwell, Entertainment, Food, Garden, Laugh, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Spotlight, Writing
Brain-Boosting Activities to Prevent the Summer Slide
Studies show that during summer months kids who don’t read can lose two to three months of the skills they learned in school. Use it or lose it right? But how do you go about getting in daily activities that help prevent summer slide? It’s easier than you might think, and it doesn’t have to be limited to sitting at home reading a book. Yes, go to your library and get books. Join some summer reading programs. And encourage children to read for at least 20 minutes a day on their own. But here are a few other ways to keep their brains in business so they are ready for…
- Awareness, Culture, Family Travel, Life Management, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Plan, Relationships, Slideshow, Spotlight, Travel, Wellness
Travel :: A Lesson In The Desert
The Joshua tree is commonly found in the Mojave Desert, the Sonoran Desert, and some areas of the San Bernardino Mountains. Native Americans used the rough leaves of this tree to weave baskets and sandals, and ate the flower buds and seeds. Unlike other trees, Joshua trees have no rings so we are unable to accurately determine their age. They may grow quickly through the first five years if the conditions are right, but the average Joshua tree grows only ½ to 3 inches per year. Out in the desert, insects, birds, reptiles, and small mammals make homes out of the majestic Joshua tree. National Park Service celebrates…
- Art, Awareness, Crafts, Creativity, Culture, Kids, Laugh, Life Management, Lifestyle, Plan, Play, Slideshow
Education :: Complete Preschool Curriculum
This is our second year as a homeschool family. I have a preschooler who will be going into kinder this fall and a second grader. Last year I didn’t do anything formal with my three year old since figuring out homeschool with my first grader was hard enough. When she wanted to participate I gave her manipulatives, things to color, sticker books, or our wipe-clean books to help her practice pen control. This year I was more structured and always had something available for her to do that counted as “school work”. She likes learning, so it’s important to me that I always have something for her to do.…
- Awareness, Books, Creativity, Culture, Entertainment, Kids, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Travel
Reduce Stress and Reconnect with your Kids
Winter break was a welcome treat for me and my family. My kids and I needed it. Badly. Like many other parents, I spend most days doing schoolwork, shuttling kids around to activities, running errands and trying to keep up with the chores. When we started homeschooling last year, I thought we would be less pressed for time. That just isn’t the case. Before Winter break I found myself struggling to keep up. I was irritable and anxious. My kids were seeing a lot of “Grouchy Mommy”. Over the break I realized that I needed to back off of our schedule and take breaks for us to reconnect. We were…
