In a rapidly changing world, empowering children with strong character traits is crucial. Character development goes hand in hand with academic success, emotional well-being, and life success. Beyond the development of literacy skills, reading has the incredible...
Tips for Families Living in an RV and Traveling the United States Our family is about to embark on an exciting (and somewhat scary) adventure! My husband, twin girls (Kenna & Layla), two mini Goldendoodles (Riley & Lucy) and I will be moving into a fifth wheel...
As parents, caregivers, and teachers, we try to encourage kids to take creative risks and understand that mistakes are a good thing. We called mistakes “growth spurts” in my classroom because we grow from them. I announced to my students on the first day of school...
The thing I hear most from parents is, “I feel like I’m not connecting with my kids. They don’t listen or cooperate. We’re stuck engaging in power struggles and I feel terrible about our interactions, especially after I yell and lose my cool.” The truth about...
I miss reading picture books with my kids! They’re both teenagers now and prefer reading on their own. Which of course, was always the goal. The great thing about reading with young kids is that it’s so interactive. There’s more to it than just the story. You create a...
“She looks like me!” exclaimed 6 year old Anisha excitedly, on first seeing the character Rocket in Rocket Says Look Up. “This is my favourite book now!” That is the power or representation in books. Positive Representation Every child should have the right and the...
Can you believe the end of the year is just around the corner? Sheesh! It feels like the years keep getting faster and faster. Well, don’t let the passing of time stress you out because we’re going to check out some ultra-fun activities to do as a family on New Year’s...
I am Melanie Adkins, and I am a Picture Book writer and illustrator wannabe! I am hoping that one day I will reach my goal and see my work in print. Today, I am here as a guest writer to think about character. It always amazes me to think of how all the characters...
My mom is amazing at reciting poetry, memorizing phone numbers and birth dates. She also has an amazing gift to remember stories of growing up in rural Honduras. There is one particular story she tells of going into the city riding on Macho, the mule, with her dad, my...
Ah, it’s that time of year again. One thing I have noticed about the topic of Autumn is that people either love it or can’t stand it! I can imagine Autumn is a particularly difficult transition for those that are their happiest in the Summer. There are still...
Nothing is quite as serious at our house as game time. And while football reigns supreme in my part of the world during this crisp time of year, I’m referring to another kind of game. The board game. My family loves a good board game. Whether it be one requiring skill...
Being a differently abled mom, I know firsthand what it is like to feel different. Right before my high school graduation in the year 2000, I was a passenger in a head-on collision, leaving me an incomplete quadriplegic. After years of physical therapy, I regained...
What are the expectations for kids nowadays, besides attending school and getting good grades? Kids have more voices now than before when I was a child. Today children have essential roles in society. They become activists and can impact the world in different...
Storytime is a critical foundational step for developing strong family bonds. However, this fun activity helps foster much more than healthy relationships. It helps instill lifelong skills and passions that children of all ages will carry with them well into...
When I present workshops during author visits, I remind children that we are all storytellers and they can use their voices to tell their own stories. I encourage them to think about their families as they search for ideas. What better place to start than with your...
Reading is a way to be swept away to another world, learn something new, or even connect with another person. And there are so many ways as a parent or an educator that you can nurture a love of reading in children, and making reading interactive is just one way to do...
As parents and caregivers, we love our children so much it hurts. I am known to look at my daughter on our video monitor and tear up. I can’t tell you how many times I have said to my husband, “She is so cute it’s literally painful.” With all the love we have for our...
All parents want to have a positive and supportive relationship with their child’s teacher. Some years parents are closer with teachers than others. So what makes the difference? Is there a way to encourage a positive relationship? Is it possible even with the current...
Just LISTEN. When a child wants to talk or needs to talk just LISTEN. We all fight battles daily. We all fight battles that we wish were not ours. We all fight battles to be able to help others. In the silent moments that feel lonely, we are never alone because our...
As a teacher in kindergarten and first grade for many years, one of the most common questions I get from friends and family is “How can I get my child to enjoy reading?” There are a number of ways to do this, but I have 5 ideas I typically give every time. 1....
We’ve made it! Whether we have been homeschooling, hybrid learning, virtual only, or learning face-to-face, our kiddos have earned a summer to relax and enjoy time with their families. Having fun and creating memorable self-care in our kids this summer doesn’t have to...
My role as a librarian, or one’s role as an educator, parent, or conscious citizen, is to read and promote a diverse, well-rounded collection of reading materials for the youth in my charge. From a young age, children should see themselves and learn about others in...