When I was growing up, I was always curious about different languages. My dad was fluent in Spanish, and we had family friends who communicated through sign language. Listening and watching my dad and our friends talk was always interesting to me, so I like to expose my children to different programs, … [Read more...]
What’s Snail Mail? Finding a Pen Pal for Kids
June 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Do you remember how awesome it felt when, amidst all your parents' boring bills and junk mail, a card or letter would show up for you? It was like Christmas in your mailbox. Nowadays, with modern conveniences like email and text messaging, the way that people communicate has totally changed. Kids rarely … [Read more...]
Prepare for Preschool: Practice Basic Skills Over the Summer
June 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Is your child starting preschool in the fall? Are you a little nervous that she won't be ready? It's completely normal to have concerns, even when your little guy or gal has always hit development milestones at a regular pace. We're parents. We worry. It's part of the job description. Still, if you'd … [Read more...]
Ice Cream Clues: When Kids Begin to Read
June 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment
When your child learns to read, many things change around your house. Accompanied by a whole new world of entertainment, your child attains a completely new level of independence and knowledge. Street signs, billboards and gossip rags in the checkout lane at the grocery store all turn from nonsensical … [Read more...]
Public vs. Private Schools: Which is Better?
May 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I grew up in a very small town and the only choice for schooling was public, so that was what I grew up with. I honestly didn't even know they had private elementary schools until I was older. My wife grew up with a few more options, but still stayed in public schools and had a very positive experience. Recently, … [Read more...]
piZone.org: Encouraging Kids to Enjoy Math
March 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Happy Pi Day! If you're scratching your head right now and questioning my sanity, then cast your memory back to high school geometry. When learning about circles, one of the basic concepts you were taught was calculating the circumference by multiplying the diameter (length across) by a strange number … [Read more...]
Teacher Embarrasses Student With Note Home
March 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A Miami-Dade teacher at W.J. Bryan Elementary School is in some hot water with a student's mom after stapling a disciplinary note to his shirt. The boy received the note for talking in class. She claims that her choice to attach the note to his shirt was based on suspicions that, in the past, the … [Read more...]
Free Vocabulary Videos for Kids on YouTube
March 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
There are so many different programs designed to teach children basic vocabulary words available for sale, a parent could go broke just trying to keep up with the trends. My husband and I have spent a small fortune on such videos, and while they've all been good, there are basic underlying features … [Read more...]
Valentine’s Day: Fun Facts for Kids
February 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The groups that receive the most valentines on Valentine's Day are as follows, in descending order: teachers, children, mothers and wives. Children between 6 and 10 share more than 650 million valentines every year. The cute cherub Cupid is synonymous with Valentine's Day, because he was the son of … [Read more...]
The Big Q: Where Do Babies Come From?
January 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Children have new questions every day. Their eyes are fresh and their minds are thirsty for knowledge. Why is the sky blue? Why do we have toes? Where do babies come from? This last question can strike fear into the heart of even the most open, honest parent. Do I tell the truth? How much will she … [Read more...]
