Johnny Appleseed Day is a little-known holiday; no one gets the day free from work or school, but you might choose to mark September 26 with your kids as a way to reinforce harvest time and generosity. The story of Johnny Appleseed was one of my children’s favorites. We had a fairly recent biography rather than the more fabled version of his life. But his quirky commitment to the apple tree, as well as the good he tried to spread … Read More...
naturalist- an expert in or student of natural history.
Synonyms- life scientist, wildlife expert, biologist, zoologist, ecologist, environmentalist…
Children, given the opportunity, are often intensely interested in nature, how it works, who lives there with them, and how all the pieces interrelate. For many, they only need a little support to spend hours watching ants or birds, to follow tracks through the snow or mud, or to monitor the growth of a garden plant. They like to learn the names … Read More...
Children are born explorers. From newborns with wide-eyed absorption to babies tasting and testing, mastering their hands and developing mobility to toddlers building, destroying, climbing, and mimicking. This curiosity is their early education and as parents and caregivers, we can bolster their confidence and support their explorations through the experiences, environments, and playthings we provide.
Reduce Stimulation
For newborns and small babies, parents can resist the cultural trend toward increased stimulation. When we foster situations that help a baby settle … Read More...
Our family has lived in Vermont for over 13 years, and this place is very generous with seasons. January brings intense cold and some snow. With the returning light around Candlemas, the bitter weather abates and the season of snow really begins. On the first day of spring, we might have snow, but from mid-March to the end of April, you can feel nature speeding up. In fact, when our children were small, I found it very easy to make … Read More...
With the gift giving season fast approaching, parents can struggle to find ways to include their children in more of the giving side of holiday time. We all love the surprise and joy of a child receiving a gift, but it can be hard to make the equation less lopsided. If gift giving is part of your holiday tradition, finding meaningful ways to include children can be tricky. I remember a school store that opened just before winter break when … Read More...
Halloween can be one of the most fun festivals of the year, but it often presents challenges to parents trying to foster a meaningful relationship with holidays. Add to that the current traditions that include so much candy and a sense of being “owed” treats and a family might want to sleep through October 31. There are ways, however, to bring meaning to Halloween. It shares qualities with traditions across many cultures that can inspire you to bring your own … Read More...
Every season seems more alive the more time we spend outside enjoying it. With all the demands on our time, it can be hard to remember to take just a minute here and there to enjoy the wonder of a changing season with our children. Here are a few ideas to mark the glory of fall. Some are quick, the sort of thing you can do between the house and the car, and some mean a few hours of fun.… Read More...
“Fine motor skills” refers to the small movements we do with our hands; they are the combined efforts of our thumbs and fingers as well as the coordination of the hands with one another. You might even think of the ability engendered by the term “fine motor skill” to be one of our most human traits, facilitated by our very mobile digits and our bipedalism. Children begin developing these skills very early; we’ve all seen ultrasound images of babies sucking … Read More...
In the hubbub of a busy morning, not many food choices will seem easy enough to bother with. The idea of making a sandwich can be insurmountable when you already know your child won’t eat the bread or can’t take peanut butter or only eats ham every third Tuesday when the moon is full. All your ideas of healthy food choices suddenly seem less important than just knowing your child will at least consume a few calories between breakfast and … Read More...
To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark. – Victor Hugo
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. – Emilie Buchwald
We all know the importance of reading to our children, but there are many small things you can do in the course of your time with your baby, toddler, and preschooler in addition to reading to them that will help build the foundations of reading. The … Read More...
