Sending your child to school is a scary thing. That's something I, as a parent and a teacher, wish wasn't true. Just last year, when people asked me what I thought of our new school I'd reply, "He's safe and comfortable. What more can I ask for?" Last week, after the terrible shooting at Chardon High School, I re-assessed my viewpoint. I wished for simpler times. And, so, I researched. Expecting to find that school shootings started only in the 1980s or 90s, because times are said to be … [Read more...]
VlogMoms: Books that make us giggle
March 1, 2012 By 16 Comments
We love reading as a family. Each of the kids' rooms is over-flowing with favorite books--some saved from my childhood, some passed down and some crisp new ones that we pick out on beloved trips to the bookstore. Here are some of our all-time favorite read-togethers: books that make us giggle, wiggle and smile. Books included in this vlog: Yummy Yucky (Leslie Patricelli board books) Snuggle Puppy (Boynton on Board) My Truck is Stuck! Tickle Monster A Light in the Attic This … [Read more...]
Utter sadness for another tragedy
February 27, 2012 By 11 Comments
I was on the elliptical today at the gym. I'd read/exercised for 20 minutes and was ready to move on to my core exercises when I glanced up at big screen televisions. Breaking News alerts were being flashed on CNN. My heart skipped. A lot of things can cause a Breaking News alert but each time I see one, my heart skips. A bombing? A shooting? Yes, as you well know, today's breaking news was a shooting. A horrifying episode that leaves so many questions. I watched and read the latest update on … [Read more...]
Extending reading through cooking: A fishbowl recipe
February 27, 2012 By 3 Comments
At the end of a chapter book that Big recently picked up, he shared the excitement of the story: the happenings during an aquarium field trip. While talking with him, I recalled an easy activity to do with children: a Jello fishbowl, that would encourage us to discuss the book further. I rushed off to get the supplies, excited to extend reading through cooking and kitchen time. While Big and I quickly prepared the Jello for this recipe (after all, Jello's a pretty easy thing to make) we took … [Read more...]
Read Across America reading and books bloghop
February 26, 2012 By 7 Comments
Truth? This coming week is one of my favorite of the year. Not only is it my birthday week, but it's Read Across America Day on March 2, celebrating Theodore Geisel's (Dr. Seuss) birthday by encouraging everyone to enjoy reading with children. And what could be better than that? This week, I'll celebrate reading in all of my posts. From Reading in the Kitchen to books that changed my life, come back to discuss reading in your home, in your life and in your children's lives. If you're a reader … [Read more...]
5 toys to encourage pretend play in your home
February 1, 2012 By 1 Comment
Pretend play allows young children to try experiences that don't exist in their every day lives. Somewhere between ages 2 and a half and 4, most toddler to preschool aged children will begin acting as favorite characters, reliving, recreating and creating scenarios and trying to live out lives different than their own. Children pretend as they are figuring out who they are, and who they aren't. They give themselves new voices, carry conversations with "friends" and dress up as people they … [Read more...]
