The last day of school has a particular energy. Backpacks hit the floor. Folders get recycled. And somewhere in the back of every parent’s mind, a quiet concern surfaces: will they read anything this summer, or will the whole thing just slide? The summer reading slide is real. Kids who don’t read over the break […]
Most readers can point to one. A specific book, usually read at exactly the right moment, that cracked something open. Before it, reading was a chore or just something that happened at school. After it, books were something else entirely. If your middle grader hasn’t found that book yet, they haven’t found it yet. That’s […]
Snow days feel magical until about 10:17 a.m., when someone announces there is absolutely nothing to do, and the vibe shifts fast. If you’re staring down a day of snow or dangerously cold temperatures, here are a few ideas that work especially well for middle-grade kids. They burn energy, spark curiosity, and don’t require a […]
The holidays sparkle with excitement in the world of Night Buddies; cozy stories, twinkling lights, and the thrill of wish lists and surprises! For middle-grade readers, it’s a time of big imagination and even bigger anticipation. But the holiday season isn’t just about getting—it’s about growing. Helping kids make thoughtful, purposeful choices about what they […]
Every parent wants their child to be confident, adventurous, and ready to take on the world. But somewhere between “Go ahead, you can do it!” and “Don’t you dare give up!” it’s easy to start pushing too hard. The truth is, bravery isn’t about being fearless, but about facing something new or uncomfortable, even when […]
“Without a strong foundation in reading, children are left behind at the beginning of their education. They lag in every class, year after year because more than 85 percent of the curriculum is taught by reading. And by the end of third grade, 74 percent of struggling readers won’t ever catch up. In fact, one […]
I’ve written a few times about the ways in which social media has an effect—both positive and negative—on children today, and how we as parents can best help them navigate through it. But the one thing I think we can’t separate from social media is the rise of the problem of comparison in our youth. […]
It’s no secret that I raised my son John as a single parent. What you might not know, however, was how difficult that journey was. Raising children is a huge responsibility that can keep you up at night, wondering if you’re doing everything right—and when you are in the position of raising children without a […]
It’s that itchy-eyed, sunny day time of year again! Chances are, your kids will soon have an entire week away from school and are counting on having some fun in its place. But how do you keep them excited and having a fun-filled time for seven days straight—especially when your family doesn’t have vacation plans? […]
This past Valentine’s Day, a book titled, The Toddler Brain: Nurture the Skills Today That Will Shape Your Child’s Tomorrow, hit bookstore shelves and took over the parenting world. According to its description on Amazon, the book “helps parents recognize the connection that exists between their own parenting behaviors and their child’s ability to acquire […]
Sharing bedtime stories with your child is an important night-time ritual for many parents. In fact, research has shown that children of parents who have bedtime stories show increased brain activity, particularly vocabulary and logic skills. Those skills will serve as the foundation for a better reader for the rest of their life. Bedtime stories also deepen […]
This week, an article went up on The Stir called, “Our Baby Boys May Need a Totally Different Kind of Parenting.” In it, the author discussed a study that was published in the Infant Mental Health Journal which suggested that because boys brains mature at a slower rate, they may actually be more sensitive and […]