Monthly Archives: August 2020

Back to School, Blog

Great Tween Reads

A lot of emphasis has been placed on books for young children, but it’s just as important for tweens to have access to inspiring and entertaining reading material. There are dozens of good stories and parents need to remember that their tweens can have significantly different reading tastes and interests than they do.

As long as it’s appropriate for the age and sensibilities of the child, it doesn’t matter whether tweens are reading religious, fantasy, horror, or mystery stories. The important thing is that they’re reading. The following are just some of the books that represent great tween reads.

All of Me by Chris Baron

Body positivity and image isn’t just a “girl thing.” Ari is bullied for being overweight, his mother insists he start a diet, and his parents are divorcing. Despite everything that he’s experiencing, Ari finds friends, a way to be positive about himself, and feel comfortable in his own skin.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

The heartwarming story is the tale of Pax the fox that’s rescued as a baby by Peter. When Peter’s father joins the Army, he sends Peter to live with his grandfather and demands Pax be returned to the wild. Peter is determined to be reunited with his friend and Pax waits patiently for the return of his boy. It’s a New York Times Bestseller that will touch the heart of readers in deeply profound ways. It’s won several awards, is a New York Times Bestseller, and an Amazon Book of the Year.

Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

Any of the books in the Percy Jackson series are excellent reads. The son of Poseidon, Percy struggles to find himself and how he fits into the normal world, along with one filled with demigods and heroes of old come to life. The series has won numerous awards in the U.S. and abroad.

The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

The community is afraid of Xan the witch and sacrifice a baby to her once a year – which she nourishes and sends to good homes. When Xan accidentally feeds Luna with starlight, she raises the girl herself. Luna turns 13 and discovers she has magic of her own that has dire consequences. A New York Times Bestseller, it also won a Newberry Medal.

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Challenging Your Picky Eater

Few things are as frustrating to parents as dealing with a determinedly picky eater. The situation can be exacerbated during quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic as many supermarkets are still experiencing shortages of some items and limiting others. The following are some tips that will introduce youngsters to new foods and make them more well-rounded eaters.

  1. Calling a child a picky eater can actually make the situation worse and lead to other undesirable food-time behaviors. Similar phrases such as “He won’t eat that” or “She only likes pasta” serves to reinforce the behavior and gives tacit approval of what children are doing.
  2. It may sound harsh, but you buy the groceries and children need to eat what you purchase. Stock the pantry and fridge with a variety of healthy foods that you want them to eat. Stop buying cookies, beverages and other foods that cater to their pickiness. The transition won’t be easy – stand firm.
  3. Don’t turn the dinner table into a battlefield. Simply serve the meal and let children eat as much or as little as they want. Eliminate phrases such as “Just try a bite.” Kids are more astute than you think and those types of phrases open the door for children to try to negotiate terms for the return of their picky favorites.
  4. Remember that food isn’t a reward – it’s the fuel the body needs to live, work, and play.
  5. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with serving breakfast foods for lunch or dinner. Mix up the selection and try not to always serve the same dishes for the same meals.
  6. Youngsters want to feel as if they have some control and you can provide that while still getting them to eat healthy. Letting them choose blueberries or strawberries, carrots or cauliflower, or a bagel versus cereal will make them more agreeable about their mealtime selections.
  7. It can be helpful to involve children in the meal preparation and you’ll also be teaching them some valuable life skills.
  8. Keep trying, no matter how long it takes. Youngsters can be extremely resistant to change, just like their adult counterparts. They may try staging “hunger strikes” or throw a tantrum. Stay neutral and don’t give in to manipulative behavior.

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Blog, Bounce House Rental

Keeping Kids Active During Pandemic

Every parent knows how quickly children can become bored, especially while quarantining due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the attention span varies with age, eventually every parent will hear the all too familiar refrain of “There’s nothing to do.” To help relieve the boredom, the following are some ideas that parents can employ to keep youngsters active and limit screen time on mobile devices.

  1. There are dozens of inflatable amusements that can be rented ranging from waterslides and bounce houses to obstacle courses, mazes, and yard games.
  2. Bike riding combines healthy exercise with fresh air that will also benefit restful slumber.
  3. Children of all ages love forts and it’s easy to build one at home with sheets and blankets.
  4. It’s easy to enjoy the fun of camping in the great outdoors from the safety of the back yard.
  5. Chalk art has become a popular way of getting children outdoors while encouraging their artistic abilities.
  6. An at-home scavenger hunt is easy to stage and will keep youngsters busy for hours.
  7. Go old school with hula-hoops, marbles, hop-scotch, and jump ropes, all of which are outdoor games.
  8. Tag and freeze tag are perennial favorites for children of all ages.
  9. Hide-and-seek is a game that never goes out of style.
  10. For families with a pool, a game of Marco Polo can be invigorating.
  11. Wall ball is great for building coordination and works particularly well if children don’t have siblings with which to play.
  12. Virtually every child has played “the floor is lava” in the house and it’s equally fun when played outdoors.
  13. Dance parties provide fun and active movement. Parents can look up new dances for the kids to learn.
  14. The classic game Twister is easy to play outdoors and will have participants laughing – something everyone needs right now.

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Why Arts Education is Important

Many schools have eliminated a variety of traditional classes as cost cutting measures or to accommodate curriculum courses that prepare students for standardized testing. Art is typically one of the first classes on the chopping block, despite the many ways in which it benefits students.

Art is important at every age, whether it’s a first grader expressing themselves with color or high school students learning how to work with clay. While what they learn usually won’t turn into a profession, the knowledge and skills they gain will be useful throughout their lifetime, particularly in creative careers.

Most people automatically think about painting in regard to art, but it includes much more. It encompasses the disciplines of painting, sculpting, dance and drama – to name a few. The following are just some of the reasons that arts education is important.

  1. Youngsters learn problem solving skills. How to convey emotion through color or dance are prime examples.
  2. Just as learning to color within the lines teaches control of motor skills, so does learning new forms of art at any age.
  3. Art expands perspective and encourages critical thinking, thereby providing an opportunity for students to view the world in new and different ways.
  4. Education in the arts is inclusive and provides students with a chance to connect with their own culture, along with others around the world and how art relates in societal and historical contexts.
  5. The ability to take risks arises from self-confidence, an essential element for success and one that students learn through participation in the arts.
  6. Students at all levels of education are four times more likely to achieve greater academic success when they participate in art classes.
  7. Some studies have indicated that students that receive arts education in school experience fewer disciplinary actions, have higher attendance rates, score better on tests, and have increased graduation rates.

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