The pandemic has hit everyone hard, but trying to supplement schooling is definitely one of the biggest challenges parents have faced. Cara Zelas knows this challenge and she knows it well. A mother of tow, an educator and an entrepreneur, Cara saw a specific gap in the social-emotional learning critical to the preschool age and decided to do something about it. Enter, the Kindness Learning Company and The Big World of Little Dude’s school-in-a-box. Read on to find out how it can help your child and children in need thrive.
As Cara says, “When I arrived in the U.S. nearly a decade ago, I spent a lot of time teaching and assisting teachers in the classroom, and it was there that I had a stark reminder about the importance of themes such as kindness, empathy, courage and manners. When learning about the core curriculum and other standardized teaching platforms, I noticed a gap and these social and emotional themes largely missing. It was out of this realization that I formed the Kindness Learning Company and from there, developed our first book series, The Big World of Little Dude.”
The books aim at teaching the core principles of topics like kindness, empathy, respect, manners and feelings. But with COVID-19 closures, Cara knew she needed to do something more. So she partnered with ACS (children’s services), New Yorkers for Children (501c3), to create school-in-the-box curriculum that not only entertains kids, but offers them stimulation, learning and support. Plus, for every school-in-the-box purchased, she donates a box and curriculum to children in the care of ACS & NYFC.
Every school-in-the-box offers:
50 individual items that correspond to Little Dude’s “At-Home Lessons” curriculum.
Neatly organized and compartmentalized materials to make teaching out-of-the-box easy and enjoyable.
Ideas and tips to ‘up-cycle’ the box for additional activities with your child.
Check out The Big World of Little Dude for an array of at-home lessons geared toward preschoolers, including the complete school-in-the-box series, all of Cara’s wonderful books, and a way to donate even more. Lesson range from $49 to $150 for the complete box. Remember, not only will you help your preschooler thrive, you also help another little one out there get the learning tools they need.
Educational publisher McGraw Hill wants to help parents and teachers during the pandemic. The company has just released a new virtual “care package” packed with materials and activities to use with kids to help foster bravery, courage and learn new ideas.
As we all navigate these unprecedented times, McGraw Hill’s virtual care package is tackling bravery head on. The free resource comes with boredom busters, a bravery playlist, activity book, bravery cube game and more.
photo: iStock
The team at McGraw Hill says, “everything in this package is designed to be used by anyone looking to develop courage. We hope that you enjoy this package and that it also serves as a source of inspiration for your own courageous ideas and learning experiences.”
You can find the completely free care package here.
Do you dare watch this show until the end? Grover is begging fans not to. Sesame Workshop will launch its first-ever animated Sesame Street special The Monster at the End of This Story on Thurs. Oct. 29.
A reimagining of Sesame Street’s all-time best-selling picture book The Monster at the End of This Book, the special follows Grover’s reluctant journey to the end of the story, where, based on the title, he believes a monster awaits. Drawn in the unmistakable style of the beloved book first published in 1971, the special adds new sequences, songs and surprises, and introduces other familiar Sesame Street characters, including Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and Rosita, to the tale.
“After nearly 50 years, the lesson in The Monster at the End of This Book remains timeless: It‘s okay to feel afraid, but also important to have courage and keep moving forward in spite of those fears,” said Kay Wilson Stallings, Sesame Workshop’s Executive Vice President of Creative and Production. “We brought this classic story from page to screen in a way that will feel familiar to longtime fans and exciting and engaging for young viewers. By expanding the original narrative and adding new layers, we share a strong lesson in friendship, showing how Grover learns to manage his fear with the support of his friends.”
In celebration of the upcoming special, Sesame Workshop released a new video of The Monster at the End of This Book being read aloud by celebrities Kelsea Ballerini, Sofia Carson, Ciara, Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Josh Groban, Mykal-Michelle Harris, Lil Nas X, Ben Platt, Billy Porter, Maggie Rogers, Jordin Sparks, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Sudeikis, Jonathan Van Ness and Olivia Wilde.
The Monster at the End of This Story is the official special of Sesame Street’s 51st season, set to launch on HBO Max later this fall.
This special caps off the release of Sesame Workshop’s series of “Monster”-themed content, digital activities, and product releases, which to-date have included an interactive The Monster at the End of Your Story video on Sesame Street’s YouTube page, a “Monsterize Me!” avatar creator, the release of new editions of The Monster at the End of This Book and more.
A few weeks after I had my first child, my Mom passed away. This unfair twist of fate has been one of the greatest challenges of my life. So many times over the past twenty years, I have longed to talk with her, get her advice and wisdom, and hear what she thinks of the life I have created for myself. Thanks to a random sequence of events, I remembered I had long ago packed away a bag of letters, mostly written by my Mom and two Grandmothers.
These letters were sent to me when I first went to summer camp, at age nine, until I graduated from college. I had forgotten about them, even though I knew exactly where they were in my house. Sitting in the back of a drawer in my family room, in a worn Ziplock bag, these letters had been waiting for me to find the courage to open them.
Rereading these letters, after so many years, has been an unexpected blessing. As I sat on the couch that cold January evening, with the bag of letters on my lap, crying what Oprah calls the “ugly cry,” I felt like I was having a conversation with my Mom. I could hear her voice, feel her personality, and I got a much needed dose of the wise words of wisdom she and my Grandmothers often shared with me. I had no idea that rereading the letters would have such a positive impact on me. I was able to get a glimpse into who my Mom and Grandmothers were, from my adult perspective. I now had an opportunity to get to know the women who loved and raised me a little bit better. I was blown away by the wisdom contained in the letters, and the timeless advice that feels incredibly relevant now more than ever.
Here are my 5 favorite pieces of advice:
1. Throughout all of our joys and hard times I have found that the secret ingredient to life is a positive outlook. At times it has been difficult, but I have managed to hold my head up high because of that strong determination to go for it.
Life isn’t always going to be easy. We will all experience challenges, but having a positive outlook will be a determining factor in how we each overcome the challenges we face. I haven’t always been positive. For a long time, I felt angry and sad because my Mom passed away so early. I needed to hear these words, and be reminded that each day we get to decide how we’re going to approach the day, regardless of our circumstances. The older I get, the more I realize finding happiness isn’t about dodging challenges. It’s about having the courage to decide to maintain a positive attitude, even when things get hard.
2. There will be times when things are going astray. What will help you through? Talking to yourself and saying, “I can cope and make life work for me.” “Remember this, Dara,” my mother said, “It will assist you through some hell that life throws to you.”
What we think matters. A lot. Believing in yourself and practicing positive self talk is incredibly important. We can build ourselves up or tear ourselves down. It took me a long time to realize this, and I’m so glad I did. Telling myself my life sucked or my family was dealt an unfair hand, didn’t serve me well at all. It just made me feel worse. Instead, intentionally practicing positive self talk and using daily affirmations can help shift your mindset.
3. Stress can make anyone crazy. In today’s world we all strive to be accomplished and to do so many things with our lives. However, we must make time to relax and unwind. Make time for yourself. It’s very important because it helps you to regroup, to revive yourself and to relax, not to mention how healthy it is for your body.
It is important to give yourself permission to have a daily self care practice. There will always be things to feel stressed about, but staying grounded and having tools that really work will make all the difference. Daily meditation, yoga, and exercise are the biggest ways I help myself show up each day feeling my best. I find myself leaning on these practices now more than ever, and I’m so grateful to have them. Figure out what tools work for you, and make the commitment to practice them often.
4. It is good to aspire to win, but it is important to be satisfied with your best effort even if it is not good enough to win or to be the best. Honest and sincere effort is being a winner.
I’ve tried and failed at a lot of things in my life. Knowing you did your best, and trying to let go of holding onto a specific desired outcome, is important. Letting go of my ego and serving myself a big plate of grace has helped me a lot with this. Plus, things often turn out so much better than we could have ever imagined.
5. “Love life, enjoy life and make each day so special that you see the beauty.”
There’s a lot of beauty in the world. We just have to be wililng to open our eyes, pay attention, and notice everything around us. It’s easy to get distracted with all the external noise in the world, especially right now. But, we have to remind ourselves to stay present, release anything that isn’t serving us well, and remember every day is truly is a gift.
I’m incredibly grateful I found these letters, and received this relevant and timeless advice. There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my Mom and Grandmothers, and I miss them a lot. Reading my Mom’s words, I got a much needed reminder to rise up and make the most of my life. This experience reminded me how important it is to tell the people you love and care about how you feel, not to hold back, and the power of the hand written word. For in the end, it’s the relationships we have with the people we love that truly matters.
Dara is a writer and speaker with the goal of using her life experiences to help people strengthen their relationships and create more happiness and joy in their everyday lives. Her latest book, I am My Mother's Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love, will be released in September.
When choosing a name, parents hope to find one that conveys something positive. In order to discover the trendiest lucky baby names of 2020, Compare.bet examined Nameberry’s Top Baby Names of 2020. The list was narrowed down to reveal which ones are bringing parents-to-be hope, luck and good fortune.
According to the research, the most popular lucky girls name is Iris which means “rainbow” in Greek. Asher which means “happy” in Hebrew tops the charts for lucky boy names. Of those surveyed, 94% of those using lucky names think that this will help their child later in life. Of the parents who don’t favor lucky names, 38% would avoid them because they are too mainstream.
The Top 20 Most Popular Lucky Girls Names and Their Meanings:
Iris – Derived from the Greek word Iris, meaning rainbow
Evangeline – Has Greek origin, meaning ‘bearer of good news’
Beatrice – ‘She who brings happiness; blessed’ in Latin
Jade – A precious green stone transmitting wisdom, clarity, justice and courage
Kiara – ‘Bright’ or ‘light’ in Italian and ‘God’s precious gift’ in Hindi
Felicity – Derived from Latin word Felicitas, meaning ‘luck, good fortune’
Winfred – ‘Friend of Peace’
Clover – A traditional symbol of good luck and prosperity, particularly when found with four leaves
Octavia – Derives from Latin Octavus, meaning 8 – which is a lucky number in many cultures and represents infinity
Amber – derived from the Arabic, Ambar, which means jewel
The Top 20 Most Popular Lucky Boys Names and Their Meanings:
Asher – Strong religious connotations such as happiness and joy, or blessings in abundance
Felix – Derives from Latin, meaning happy or lucky
Quinn – Irish Gaelic origin, meaning sense and intelligence
Chance – Often found in Middle English to mean good fortune
Bennett – Stems from Latin and means blessed
Edmund – Meaning prosperity and riches
Benedict – Derives from the Late Latin name Benedictus, meaning blessed
Fisher – Meaning ‘fisherman’, linked with superstitions
Seven – Has English origin meaning inner wisdom
Arley – Rooted in American and Hebrew meaning promise
American Girl wanted to thank real-life community heroes helping out on the frontlines during the pandemic. As part of their #ThankYouHeroes program, they held a “Heroes with Heart” contest.Five Grand Prize winners were selected and received a one-of-a-kind, custom-made American Girl doll and outfit in the hero’s likeness, along with a $200 American Girl gift card for the nominator.
“At American Girl, we’ve always celebrated the idea of acting with courage and compassion,” says Jamie Cygielman, General Manager of American Girl. “That’s why we’re proud to recognize these local heroes who all play critical roles in helping our friends, families and communities every day. It’s this kind of dedication and service that shows true strength of character.”
There was an amazing response with more than 1,000 nominations of really moving stories. Five “Heroes with Heart” contest winners have been announced.
April is a paramedic nominated by her niece for working on the frontlines in Virginia.
Xavier is a grocery store worker nominated by his sister for working five days a week at a grocery store during the pandemic.
Pam is a teacher nominated by her students who visited each student’s house with a smile, an encouraging sign, and a bag of books.
Sarah is a Nurse assistant nominated by her granddaughter for her dedication and patience as a caregiver and in feeding the homeless in her community.
Laurent is a pilot for Spirit Airlines nominated by his daughter for volunteering to fly a team of American doctors to Haiti to help them fight COVID-19 and a return flight full of stranded U.S. citizens.
“Heroes with Heart” is part of American Girl’s #ThankYouHeroes program, which also includes an exclusive Scrubs doll outfit to honor frontline healthcare workers with a donation of books benefiting First Responders Children’s Foundation.
When parents take my parenting workshop, one of the most popular exercises when parents create their family’s coat-of-arms. They are asked to think of values that they want to impart to their children to put on an imaginary shield, just as families in the past did for their kin. My family likes to tease me about the aphorisms I am famous for spouting or would display as our family heraldry if I could. Here are some of my favorites:
Find work you love.
Your failures sometimes teach more than your successes.
Be kind to all people.
It isn’t what happens; it’s what happens next.
It isn’t every day that I get to see these values play out in real life. But, that is exactly what happened last week as I tuned into a panel discussion that my daughter, Cinematographer, Mia Cioffi Henry, participated in. The panel, “Through Her Lens: Creating a Truly Inclusive Film Industry,” was sponsored by Panavision and award-winning non-profit, Made In Her Image. It featured a round table discussion about the inequities in the film and television business, through the lens of six women of color, who are behind the camera.
Listening to my daughter’s contributions to the discussion filled me with a myriad of emotions. First and foremost was an appreciation for her passion for her work. Indeed, she has found work that she loves! She is both a natural storyteller and a visual artist, so being a cinematographer plays to her strengths. But just as importantly, she is a teacher and a collaborator, also essential attributes when it comes to filmmaking, which is the ultimate collaboration.
When she answered a question about the obstacles she has faced as a black woman in the industry, she was brutally frank about the challenges. She spoke honestly and bravely about the injustices present for women and people of color, from only being considered for projects about black folks, to being mistaken for the talent or a food service worker upon her arrival on set.
Yet, despite these experiences, she has persevered and thrived. When asked by an audience member about fear of failure, her encouraging advice: to be courageous, do your homework, and don’t give in to your fears…mentioning how much one has to learn from their mistakes, made me proud!
She emphasized an openness to others and a commitment to make the most from every opportunity. Citing the recent cancellation of the SXSW Film Festival, where she was to have her first feature film “The Surrogate” premiere, she explained the importance of “what happens next.” The disappointment and frustration she felt were strong emotions to get through, but a quick pivot by the Director, Jeremy Hersh, and the entire filmmaking team allowed the film to be successfully reborn on Vimeo and other streaming sites.
When your children are young, it is hard to imagine their future journeys—which will be theirs alone to take—but communicating to them what’s important to you, will go a long way in helping them to create their own mottos and mantras.
While I may have witnessed the embodiment of values that I believe in, my daughter gets all the credit for working hard and going out into the world with courage, curiosity, and a positive attitude… words she could proudly display on her own coat-of-arms!
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
It’s coronation day! Princess Elena’s heroic journey to become queen culminates in an epic prime-time finale special of Disney’s Elena of Avalor on Aug. 23. New episodes leading up to the finale will debut on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW every Sunday beginning Jul. 26 at 5 p.m. ET/PT.
Inspired by Latin culture and folklore, Elena of Avalor premiered in 2016 and tells the story of Elena, a brave and adventurous teenager who has been learning what it takes to be a great leader by ruling her enchanted fairytale kingdom as crown princess until she is old enough to be queen. The series, which airs in over 150 countries around the world, has been lauded for its messages of leadership and inclusiveness.
In the prime-time special titled Elena of Avalor: Coronation Day, as plans for Elena’s coronation are underway, Esteban’s team of villains unleash legendary spirit misfits, the Four Shades of Awesome. In order to save her kingdom, her family and her friends, Elena must journey to the Spirit World and back, and face the ultimate test of her courage and character, before becoming queen. Jenny Slate, Mark Hamill, Fred Armisen and Andy Garcia guest star as the Four Shades of Awesome and Patrick Warburton voices Grand Macaw, ruler of the dark side of the Spirit World.
The finale also features returning guest voice cast members Constance Marie, Lou Diamond Phillips, Jaime Camil, Justina Machado, Gina Rodriguez, Mario Lopez, Rachel Brosnahan, Tony Shalhoub, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, John Leguizamo, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, Cloris Leachman, Chrissie Fit, Tyler Posey, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, Kether Donohue, Nestor Carbonell, Andrea Navedo, Eden Espinosa, Ana Ortiz, Gina Torres and Gaby Moreno, who also sings the series’ theme song.
The series stars Aimee Carrero as the voice of Princess Elena; Jenna Ortega as Princess Isabel; Chris Parnell, Yvette Nicole Brown and Carlos Alazraqui as jaquins Migs, Luna and Skylar, respectively; Emiliano Díez as Francisco; Julia Vera as Luisa; Christian Lanz as Chancellor Esteban; Jillian Rose Reed as Naomi; Joseph Haro as Mateo; Jorge Diaz as Gabe; Keith Ferguson as Zuzo; and Joe Nunez as Armando.
Elena of Avalor will continue to air on Disney Junior and Disney Channel platforms around the world. The series’ first two seasons are also currently available on Disney+.
Whether you are studying potions and spells in the classroom or over Zoom come fall, this captivating new collection will have you outfitted for a trip to Hogwarts. Vera Bradley’s new line is simply enchanting. This Harry Potter-inspired capsule includes backpacks, handbags, travel duffels, accessories, cozy favorites and more.
Featuring an exclusive Home to Hogwarts pattern with nods to iconic symbols from the Harry Potter film series, this new collection brings together magic and Vera Bradley’s signature bright and colorful touch.
Select pieces are available in patterns named and styled after each Hogwarts house. No matter where the Sorting Hat places you there is a bag for everyone.
“So many of our fans grew up with Harry Potter the same way they grew up with Vera Bradley. In fact, this was one of the most highly requested collaborations from our customers and associates,” said Rob Wallstrom, Chief Executive Officer of Vera Bradley. “The Harry Potter + Vera Bradley collection embodies the imagination, courage, and spirit of adventure that the Harry Potter movies are known for, and we couldn’t be more excited to finally bring this collaboration to life.”
The Harry Potter + Vera Bradley collection is now available in Vera Bradley Full Line stores, participating Vera Bradley retailers, and on www.verabradley.com.
If you are looking to get your kids up and active this summer your options may lie right in your backyard. The North Face is bringing together its diverse group of global athletes to offer two free weeks of online and offline programming that will safely bring the spirit of the outdoors to kids wherever they are. Families can register now for The North Face Summer Base Camp, which will begin Jul. 20.
The free two week program includes three interactive half day activities per week hosted by members of The North Face athlete team and each will offer a video tutorial and instruction on how to complete the activity, all encouraging campers to explore the outdoors and spark curiosity and courage to embark on adventure.
Week 1
7/20 — Adventure Photography with Jimmy Chin
Campers join photographer and mountaineer Jimmy Chin for a crash course in snapping epic shots and learning to make their own pinhole cameras.
7/22 — Geometric Designs with Nina WIlliams
Climber Nina Williams teaches campers about natural formed patterns and shares how to create a masterpiece with items found in the backyard
7/24 — Snacks to Pack with Ashima Shiraishi
Who’s up for a snack attack? Campers head to the kitchen with climber Ashima Shiraishi for tips on making healthy (and delicious) trail-friendly treats
Week 2
7/27 — Map Making with Coree Woltering
Ultrarunner Coree Woltering teaches map making and other handy navigational tricks for getting out (without getting lost)
7/29 — Survival Skills with Manoah Ainuu
Campers circle up with climber Manoah Ainuu to learn sic essential skills for surviving in the wilderness
7/31 — Backyard Basecamp with Hilaree Nelson
Ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson shares what it’s like to climb Mt. Everest and teaches campers how to build (and pack for) at-home base camps.
