I was one of many Americans glued to the TV on July 20th 1969 watching and listening as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. His “One small step” sentence summed up the feeling of monumental accomplishment not only for the USA but for the world. Fifty years on (I know how can it already be 50years?!) and space travel is still something humans are drawn to. Since that 1st landing and walking on the moon, astronauts have lived, for extended periods, in Space Stations. NASA seems to … [Read more...]
Book Lovers Day–My Perfect Excuse
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...]
Together We Can, A Book Review
The beginning of preschool was the beginning of many new friendships. It’s during this special, even magical time, the early childhood years when kiddos learn (optimally in a PLAY situation) and hone their social skills. They go from being somewhat narcissistic to being able to see things from other people’s point of views. Social interactions between kiddos develop important traits like compassion, empathy and kindness as well as cooperation, collaboration and sharing. In other words, what it … [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...]