1. Foster an “Outside” Connection to Learning Summer is the perfect time to show kids that learning doesn’t just happen at school. And one of the best ways to make at-home learning fun during the summer is to take it outside! You can conduct simple experiments that may be too ...read more
Three, four, and five year olds are like sponges. They are eager to learn, excited to experience, and perpetually asking questions. They are curious answer-seekers, and that makes this time the perfect opportunity to kick start their education. “Young children have the ...read more
With the first two months of the academic year wrapping up (how is that even possible?!), parents might be looking for ways to be more intentional about their children’s intellectual growth. No doubt about it, focusing on learning with all those distractions and temptations ...read more
My little slugger just joined a tee-ball team. Or rather, his eager mom (that'd be me!) and doting dad signed him up, bribed him, dressed him, drove him, and maniacally cheered for him from the bleacher stands... as if he was actually playing a real, competitive game. (Let’s be ...read more
How do you work to build character in your kids? I've been thinking about this question a lot recently. I think many parents think developing character will just happen. Kids will just "pick it up" from watching good examples. And modeling character traits IS important, but I'm ...read more
I’m not all that proud to admit that, when it comes to finances, I'm not very knowledgeable. Savings and account types and all that bank and money mumbo-jumbo tend to go over my head. I have very little patience and even less prowess. Just try to talk to me about an IRA, and my ...read more
What do your kids think about math? Perhaps more importantly, what do YOU think about the subject? Some studies have shown that a parent's view of math ("I'm so bad at math! "Oh I hated math in school...") can inadvertently rub off on your child, impacting their view of the ...read more
My all-time favorite teacher was Mrs. Pfeffer. She was a music instructor and a choral coach, and she directed the high school’s theatrical productions. But she did a lot more than help a room full of off-pitch teens sing in tempo and instruct a 16 year-old “Eliza Doolittle” how ...read more
A few months ago, I received a package in the mail with a gift for my two-year-old son and a gift for my newborn daughter. We opened the box to find charming children’s books. But these weren’t your ordinary run-of-the-mill reads. These were beautifully illustrated and absolutely ...read more
Confession time - I am not crafty. The ability to cut straight and glue sparkles on effectively is not in my DNA. So for the summer, I'm looking to subscription craft boxes to provide the inspiration, directions and supplies to keep my kids crafting. One of my favorites is Kiwi ...read more
Our kids are incredibly tech savvy where smart boards and tablets are becoming the norm in many schools. During a press event yesterday, I learned about the latest incentive in school with the launch of Bing in the Classroom (bing.com/classroom). As of now public and private ...read more
Summer vacation is just around the corner and Volunteers of America - Greater New York (VOA) is gearing up to launch Operation Backpack, its 10th annual campaign to collect brand-new backpacks and school supplies for thousands of children living in New York City shelters. ...read more
Did you know that there are over three billion searches related to learning and education take place monthly, but research shows that these searches frequently end with more questions than answers. To help parents and students out, Noodle Education was launched as the first and ...read more
In Denmark mobiles are a traditional craft. Artist Ole Flensted and his wife Aase are partly responsible for the modern mobile design. And I can't thank them enough. It's not that I have something against rotating bunnies and bears, but why not put something more unusual in the ...read more