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...]
Children & Mother Nature Are Meant to Be Together
Children and Mother Nature…I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again: Children are supposed to BE in and amongst Her! Here’s just a brief summary of some of benefits: ● Just as PLAY addresses all developmental areas in children, so too, does being in Nature by... ◦Supporting Problem-Solving and Creativity ◦Increasing Children's Ability to Focus ◦Improving Social Relations ◦Supporting Physical Development ◦Improving Impulse Control and Decreasing STRESS ●Increasing Academic … [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...]
School, Stress, Children & Play
The fun—maybe sometimes lazy—days of summer are over and the hard, cold reality of sitting in a school classroom has set in. It wasn’t all that long ago the concept of early childhood education was singing songs, building blocks, dress-up corners, easels, and plenty of time playing with new friends outdoors. Fast forward to the present, with the influence of No Child Left Behind and Common Core, young children are taught with standardized testing in mind. They’re bombarded with letters, … [Read more...]