Free Educational Resources

The federal government is one of the organizations that continue to compile information, images, audio and video recording for general public use.  

Visit Free Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (http://www.free.ed.gov/).  You will find lesson plans, curriculums and supporting data to teach your child.  

Want to teach your child about the blues, botany or business, not a problem.  You will be linked to national archives that have thousands of images, presentations, activities and recordings.

Happy learning! 

Give Credit Where Credit is due...Happy Father's Day

Many keystrokes and much ink has been used to implore men to be good fathers.  Statistics notwithstanding, the vast majority of fathers are loving, caring, providing and sharing.  For all the fathers that are on their job and doing it fabulously, I say BRAVO!

Now get back to work.....lol

It's so simple

I typically use this blog to give you tools and information to educate and enrich your child.  This week my son flipped the script.  He schooled me.  

He and I talk about eating fruits and veggies daily.  He knows that what he eats will affect is body. We talk about his muscles getting stronger, his brain's thinking power and him growing into a tall man of great stature.  He is completely onboard being healthy, strong and smart.

He received a party bag recently and when he was about to eat a Now or Later candy he asked me if it was good for him.  I, of course, told him that candy in general is not good for him and that's why he is only allowed a small amount occasionally.  He then said something simple and profound, "I don't want it."

If only we all simply stopped eating things we know are not good for us.

 

Mama...did you know you are the most powerful group on Earth

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

Children come to us as clay.  The resulting sculpture depends on what we mold and what we allow to affect the clay.  When they are adults, they choose their own way and are responsible and accountable for their actions.  But while we have them young, let's work the clay.  Ladies, please work to be exceptional.  

Mothers are powerful and motherhood is a huge job.  

Happy Mother's Day!

The "Mommy why"

Children's incessant questions are a source of smiles, giggles and sometimes frustration.  But some questions can be profound.   Like this one:  "Why do babies come to mommies and daddies so small?"

I automatically said, "because if you came to me big it would be too hard to teach you things like talking, walking, how to eat and much more."  I went on to demonstrate not knowing how to walk as a grown up.  He laughed and we moved on.

The answer lingered... 

There are things we need to teach children while they are small or it will be too difficult to teach them later.  Am I teaching him everything he needs to know?  

1. Walking and talking - check 
   
2. Manners and eating - check  
   
3. Dealing with rude kids - mostly a check  
   
4. Stranger danger - and unfinished check  
   
5. Loving and respecting yourself - a work in progress check  
   
6. Having a goal, making a planning and perservering - no check  
   
7. Having a budget, making choices and sticking to it (self control) - a work in progress check
   

Think about those intangible "need to knows" that don't come in a text book but that you must learn to get on in this life.  It is not too early to do some age appropriate life lessons.

Here are some books to check out:

• The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy, Confident Kids (Paperback) by Dr. Jenn Berman
  
• Not Everyone Is Nice: Helping Children Learn Caution with Strangers (Let's Talk) by Frederick Alimonti, Ann Tedesco Ph.D., Erik DePrince, and Jessica Volinski
  
•  7 Secrets Of Highly Successful Kids: New Edition (Millennium Generation Series) (Millennium Generation Series) (Paperback) by Peter Kuitenbrouwer
  
•  Kids Finance 101: A Guide to Financial Success for Parents and their Children (Paperback) by Yvonne Brooks
  

Free workshops for children at Home Depot and Lowe's

Did you know that both Home Depot and Lowe's conduct free building workshops for kids ages 5-12. They provide smocks, building materials and instructor-led classes. 

Home Depot's Kids Workshop 

• Click the following link for details:  Home Depot's Kids Workshop  
  
• When:  First Saturday of each month
  
• Types of projects:  birdhouse, mail organizers, toolboxes
  
• Where: Every Home Depot

Lowe's Build & Grow 

• Click the following link for details:  Lowe's Build & Grow 
  
• When:  Two Saturdays of each month
  
• Types of projects:  planters, storage boxes, birdhouses
  
• Where: Every Lowe's
• Requires online registration

Have a Great time!

Watch Out!

We all know it --children mimic what they see. Any Hollywood or video game exec denying the impact of images with a straight face should get an Oscar. The "children's cartoons" on the "cartoon networks" should be closely screened before you let your child watch the program.  Children will, not might, will copy the interactions they see with other children.  

Violence or cursing is easy to identify, but watch out for the more subtle messages.

• How are the characters treating one another? With respect and kindness or teasing, envy and rivalry?
  
• How the adults are portrayed; are adults mocked, tricked and resented?
  

The American Academy of Pediatrics "recommends no television viewing for children younger than 2 years, and no more than 1 to 2 hours a day for older children."  Make the few programs they are allowed to watch worthy of their brilliant minds.

Here are my recommendations:

• WordWorld
  
• SuperWhy
  
• Little Bill
  
• Handy Manny
  
• Backyardigans
  
• Dora the Explorer
  
• Go, Diego Go
  
• Sesame Street (by popular demand)