Did you know August 9th is Book Lovers Day? They say the 1st step in dealing with any problem is acknowledging there is a problem. Well I have made it known, over and over, I have a weakness for children's books. And especially on this #BookLoversDay I wouldn't think of trying to rein in my obsession! I got to thinking about fun activities families do during the summer and camping came to mind. Why? Because one of the de rigueur duties associated with camping is telling stories around the … [Read more...]
Screen Time: Dreaming of Toys Guest Post
How much screen time would you guess kiddos have each and every day? According to Childwise, a market research firm, children aged 5 to 16 spend an average of 6.5 hours/day in front of a screen compared with around 3 hours back in 1995. Does this concern you like it does me? I'm grateful for the following guest post--read on! Back in the Day... Though I’m loathe to admit it, I’m old enough (and have been for awhile) to tell stories that begin with, “When I was a kid…” but in this case … [Read more...]
It’s Your Move: Why Playing Board Games is Important
A fact: Children learn best through PLAY. The genius of PLAY is there are many and varied types of PLAY. When you understand what is possible with PLAY, you’ll want to facilitate as many PLAY situations for the children in your Life as possible! Board games are a type of play; namely playing with rules. Since board games are a type of PLAY, playing board games provides ample learning opportunities. Below are some. Family That PLAYS Together Stays Together When I’m out at a restaurant, I’ll … [Read more...]
Bike Riding with Your Child
Bike riding with your child(ren) is a great family activity! I have many wonderful memories of bike trips over the years with my family, as a kiddo, and, later as a parent. To get your kidlet enthusiastic about riding, you'll want to start them straightaway. At the moment, I’m technically carbo-loading and psyching myself up to get out on my bike for another training ride. Problem is—I’d rather ride WITH someone and in temperatures not quite so hot! But, because my departure date is looming, … [Read more...]
It’s Still Summer…Go PLAY
As July gives way to August you might be starting to wonder how to keep your kidlets active and engaged in PLAY—especially if you’re trying to limit electronic device use…which I applaud! One option is to get the Summer Set of Go PLAY Activity Cards—the dual goals of the cards are to promote literacy as well as PLAY. They’re perfect for the preschool set, but I’ve known many older children than have thoroughly enjoyed doing the activities AND activities can always be amended as needed for … [Read more...]