The holidays can be a great time to practice conflict resolution skills. More people + more perspectives = more conflict. Whether it’s with partners, family members, or children, some of the same skills can work for us all. Try using the four C’s of Conflict Resolution: Calm, Curiosity, Collaboration and Connection when conflict emerges.
1. Calm: Try using positive self-talk or taking deep breaths to calm yourself when conflict emerges. Maybe say to yourself, “I can handle this conflict, I’ve got this.” We are much better able to navigate conflict when we have our body calm and regulated. This also helps those around us regulate too since emotions can be contagious.
2. Curiosity: Use curiosity to explore what the other person is trying to communicate. You don’t have to agree with them, but try reflecting back to them what you hear them say. “I see, you are thinking that pumpkin pie would be better than pecan this year.” This helps the other person feel heard and understood and helps you move into a place of understanding, from which you can problem solve.
3. Collaboration: Explore the possibilities of problem-solving the conflict. Take the time to express your own perspective and see if you can encourage the other person to engage with you in coming up with creative solutions. Even children can learn to do this. Is there a solution that could lead to everyone being happy? If not, what would be another creative option.
4. Connection: Whether you came up with a mutual solution, or ended with an “agree to disagree” scenario, we can almost always find a way to connect and repair with the ones we love. Letting a child know, “it’s okay to be sad about my decision” or letting a relative know, “I hear how disappointing it is to change plans this year. I feel sad about it too. I cannot wait to see you again next year.” can remind us that conflict is a natural part of relationships and we can get through these moments with love and connection.
There are many resources and tools available these days to support young children in learning these conflict resolution skills early on. Slumberkins Conflict Resolution Collection with Hammerhead Shark offers more tools and support for moving through these moments together.
Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen are co-founders of Slumberkins, a children's brand supporting social-emotional learning for children. Kelly has a dual master's degree in family therapy and school counseling, and Callie has a master's degree in teaching. Both are passionate about teaching children social-emotional skills to thrive in our modern world.
We have all been guilty of being too “plugged in” some days, and our kids are no exception. Screens are here to stay, and finding a happy medium between being online and being in the real world is more critical than ever. Teaching our kids how to balance technology and screen time with hands-on play and discovery is key, and we could use all the help we can get.
Life lesson alert: “You can plug in, but only learn by doing.” No, these words of wisdom didn’t come from Oprah, but from a robot on an uber-cool new kid’s show. Based on the beloved book by Dan Yaccarino, Doug Unplugs is a robo-centric story with a twist from the geniuses at Dreamworks and Apple TV+; and we are here for it. Read on for four life lessons preschoolers (and the rest of us) can learn from Doug and his human and robot buddies!
Doug Unplugs the Joys of Learning
Our hero Doug is driven by curiosity and a sense of wonder as he learns the computer screen doesn’t reveal the full picture. Instead of turning his back on technology, he uses it to enhance his real-life experiences. By combining the usefulness of technology with active learning in the real world, he teaches kids that you can learn by doing!
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Doug and his high-energy human best friend Emma are the most dynamic duo around! Emma helps Doug navigate the excitement of new experiences in the human world, and for Doug, everything is new! With her natural exuberance, Emma embodies the joy and heart of learning. Combined with Doug's insatiable curiosity for knowledge, Emma and Doug thrive—everything is more fun when you share it!
Community Mindedness
Doug is part of a unique robot crew. Rather than staying contained in his small world at Reboot factory, he goes forth into Megacity! While exploring the real world, he never forgets his roots. Doug shares his knowledge gained on his adventures with his buddies at Reboot! His robo-community thrives while relationships with his family and friends grow as they all enjoy the excitement and discovery together!
Technology With a Purpose
In this show, much like life, tech is essential, but it can't replace a real-life experience! Doug is immersed in tech; heck, he is tech! When he steps away from his automated world of robots to engage with the unpredictable real world, he's in awe of everything around him, big and small—a great reminder that sometimes, it's the little things!
This series encourages kiddos to not just turn to technology when it's time to learn but to use tech to fuel their curiosity, inspiring them to get out and start exploring. Let's face it: sometimes...you just gotta unplug!
With a mix of hybrid and remote learning models parents are looking for ways to keep their kids entertained while learning. The Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle and the Britannica Family Holiday Bundle are the perfect gifts this holiday season. Plus, both bundles are on sale just in time for the holidays.
The Britannica Kids site is overflowing with hands-on activities to make it fun for kids of all ages to learn about math, science, social studies, and language arts. Did we mention that Britannica Kids is the world’s safest search engine for kids? CuriosityStream has thousands of on-demand videos that ignite curiosity. You will get unlimited access to award-winning, on-demand movies, documentaries, and films.
Gift 12 months of discovery with the Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle featuring CuriosityStream, Britannica Kids and Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia. The Britannica Kids Holiday Bundle includes an annual membership with access to on-demand video streaming, hands-on activities, over 130K fact-checked articles, and homework help. This package is currently 50% off for a limited time.
Gift a Britannica Family Holiday Bundle featuring Britannica Premium, CuriosityStream, Britannica Kids and Britannica All New Kids’ Encyclopedia. The Britannica Family Holiday Bundle includes on-demand video streaming, games, quizzes, & activities, over 230K fact-checked articles, and roundups on trending topics. This package is currently 50% off for a limited time.
Disney Junior’s Ready for Preschool short-form series premiered in October 2019. Featuring favorite characters from hit Disney Junior series including T.O.T.S., Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, Puppy Dog Pals, as well as Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, the series features fun and playful tunes that prepare young minds for preschool. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Disney Junior is premiering a new Spanish-language version featuring age-appropriate lessons for young kids with favorite Disney Junior characters and fun, upbeat music.
The first four shorts debuted today on Disney Junior’s YouTube page, with additional shorts continuing to roll out later this year on Disney Junior YouTube and DisneyNOW and a Spanish-language EP, “Disney Junior Music: Listos para el Preescolar Vol. 1” will be released on Walt Disney Records. The short follows Mickey Mouse as he explores different shapes found in common objects like doors and trees. Also included is a quote from Disney Junior executive, Lori Mozilo and additional info on the Ready for Preschool short-form series and attached is a fun activity sheet for kids and families to enjoy together.
“The new Ready for Preschool Spanish-language shorts will provide more young viewers with the opportunity to follow along with their favorite Disney Junior characters and learn simple, preschool appropriate lessons in subjects like math, language arts, cognitive thinking and social-emotional development”, said Lori Mozilo, Executive Director, Original Programming, Disney Junior. “Having both the English and Spanish versions available for our audience encourages curiosity, not only about the lessons being presented, but also about different languages and by extension, different cultures.”
If there’s just one goal every parent in the world has in common, then it is to make their children street smart and able to fend for themselves, if not super-successful. The very fact that you clicked through to this article shows that you’re no different.
Is there a guaranteed way to do this? I’ve written umpteen blogs on parenting and early education, and believe me, there isn’t! But yes, researchers and scientists have (fortunately) shown us that there are a number of steps parents and guardians can take to grow an Einstein at home. Check out the 5 ways to help your kids achieve their best.
1. Expect Your Child to Succeed. OK, this is counterintuitive. Most parenting blogs advise against holding high expectations from your children, for fear of pressurizing them or burning them out. However, a study titled Cognitive Ability at Kindergarten Entry and Socioeconomic Status published in the official journal of the American Association of Pediatrics found that the expectations—well as the encouragement, support, and resources (such as books and computers)—that parents gave their children early on were critical to their academic success at school. Kids who performed best in kindergarten had parents who expected them to eventually attain a college degree. The lesson here? Don’t be a helicopter mom or dad, but do make it clear to your kid that you’d absolutely love it if she did well at school, in sports, or any other pursuit of her choice.
2. Hold Real Conversations. Kids with stronger communication skills are likely to have better grades, better jobs, better relationships, and so on. No surprise there, if you ask me. That said, talking to kindergarteners like you would to adults—holding actual two-way conversations instead of barking “Shut the door” and “Wipe your feet” can be instrumental in developing strong communication skills that will serve them well throughout their life, a joint study by researchers from MIT, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania found.
“It’s almost magical how parental conversation appears to influence the biological growth of the brain,” said John Gabrielli, the senior author of the study. “Children coming from families with lesser income or parental education [also] showed the same benefits from conversational turn-taking,” he clarified.
3. Encourage Science. It is widely recognized that traditional education is no longer effective at stimulating children’s natural curiosity and bridging the gap between academics and actual learning. STEM education—a pedagogy involving Science Technology Engineering Mathematics—promotes schooling policies, curriculum choices, training methods, and skillsets that can inculcate a growth mindset and curiosity in kids in their growing years. Research shows that young children who’re starting their school already have divergent thinking capabilities. They are curious learners with natural reasoning, logic, and spatial skills. Strengthening these innate abilities should begin at the earliest.
You can introduce science, math, tech, and engineering to kids as early as two years. Doing experiments, reading, and discovering stuff on their own increases children’s metacognition and wires their brains to be receptive to (and not fear!) these significant subjects throughout their lives.
4. Let Them Solve Their Own Problems. One of the most difficult things to do (by not doing anything) is watching your child fail. We all walk a fine line between protecting our kids and letting them tackle tough situations on their own. In a famous TED Talk, Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise an Adult, emphasizes the need to let children make mistakes, solve their own problems, and compel them to do household chores.
In fact, this is very easy to do today, as both kids have access to a lot of resources. Your duty as an adult is to get them to focus on the task at hand and keep at it until they arrive at a solution. Don’t lecture them; ask open-ended questions instead. Subtly encourage creative thinking with “how” questions and teach them cause-and-effect with “why” questions. And yes, let them use Google. Or YouTube, for that matter.
All this develops their resilience, resourcefulness, and their ability to think critically—and sets them up for success down the line.
5. Keep Them Happy. Happy Kids = Successful Kids. The importance of a caring, supportive, and fun-filled environment at home cannot be overstated. Help your children construct their own vision of a happy and fulfilling future (don’t mind if they keep changing their version) and tell them what they need to get there. According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, author of The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness and one of the country’s foremost ADHD experts, kids need
to be deeply connected to at least one other person
the opportunity to play and imagine
the time and encouragement to practice one or two things well and ultimately to feel mastery of it
recognition of hard work
Above all, love is the radiant force that keeps children on the path to a stable and successful life ahead. In order to “practically” teach your children to love, respect, and trust, you need to start with being happy yourself. Help them build deep connections and relationships with family members and other kids.
Kids suffer a lot more “setbacks” than adults (like broken toys). They need to know it isn’t the end of the world. Give them a healthy dose of optimism every day and show them the bright side of things.
Remember that intelligence isn’t everything. In the race to make your kids smarter, don’t forget to instill empathy and ethics in them. As P. J. O’Rourke proclaimed, “Smart people don’t start many bar fights, but stupid people don’t build many hydrogen bombs.”
Shreiya Aggarwal-Gupta is the owner of the early education startup Kidpillar, which aims to provide developmental opportunities & resources for young children in the field of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) via kid-friendly journals, practical DIY-kits, and simple project-based learnings & workshops.Shreiya is also a passionate blogger, computer science engineer, finance whiz
Disney has launched a virtual family festival to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story. Pixar Fest premiered last month in EMEA and is now available here throughout the month of September.The month-long celebration of all things Pixar features weekly activities, digital activations, Disney+ watchalongs, product launches and more.
Pixar revolutionized the art of animation with the release of Toy Story, and has since continued to inspire curiosity, creativity, and imagination through beloved characters and emotive stories that are cherished by families everywhere. This September, #PixarFest will honor the animation studio that has brought fans around the world together with some of the most iconic moments in filmmaking history.
To join the celebration families can tune in to their favorite films throughout September, including Onward, The Incredibles, Up and more.
While planning for movie night, you can try out six tasty original recipes inspired by Pixar films.
There are also some great product launches associated with PixarFest.
Follow along the Pixar social handles and join the conversation using #PixarFest.
We’re looking for talented San Diego-based writers with the skills to join our Red Tricycle family. You know which areas have family destinations that are worth the travel, where to eat out(side) in San Diego, the best-hidden hikes for kids and more! Most importantly though, you’re a local San Diego parent, with kids ages 0-10, who is passionate about defining and setting the family scene in the San Diego area. Think you fit the bill? Then Red Tricycle wants you! Ideal candidates must:
• Love going out on adventures with your kids and being in the know about family destinations like family-friendly openings, creative museum spaces, pop-up shops, secret hidden gems, kiddie events and more.
• Have a firm grasp of the English language, excellent grammar and punctuation skills.
• Have a working knowledge of WordPress.
• Be active in the writing and blogging community with published work (either print or online).
• Possess an intense curiosity and excitement to explore the city and dig deep (both online and in the real world) to find off-the-beaten-path story ideas and insider tips.
• Be active on social media, whether it’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or all the above!
About Red Tricycle:
Red Tricycle fuels the parenting universe with daily inspiration for family fun. We believe the best memories are created when families do fun things together and we believe every day is an opportunity to create new stories. Our mission is to help every parent feel like a rock star by inspiring them to do fun things with their kids. Each month Red Tricycle reaches 20 million parents with ideas that are aspirational and actionable that you can do at home, in your city or wherever your adventures take you.
To apply, email us at beth (at) tinybeans.go-vip.net your cover letter, resume and writing sample with “San Diego Writer” in the subject line.
Your little one is probably always asking, “Why?” Now preschoolers and their families can take a trip to Animal Town with the premiere of the newest PBS KIDS series, Elinor Wonders Why. The new animated show premieres Sept. 7 on PBS stations, the PBS KIDS 24/7 channel and PBS KIDS digital platforms.
Elinor Wonders Why encourages children to follow their curiosity, ask questions, figure out the answers, and learn about the natural world around them using their science inquiry skills. The multiplatform series, created by celebrated cartoonist and robotics engineer, Jorge Cham, and physicist and educator, Daniel Whiteson, produced in partnership with Pipeline Studios.
In the upcoming premiere, Elinor, the most curious and observant bunny rabbit in Animal Town, plays hide-and-go-seek with her friends and finds out how animals hide in nature; investigates a strange nighttime sound made by an owl and realizes many fascinating creatures are doing interesting things at night; makes “Backyard Soup” with vegetables from her family’s garden; and sells lots of cupcakes by learning how flowers attract bees, through color and smell, and applying those concepts to baking.
“We’re so excited to invite audiences nationwide into the fascinating world of Animal Town and introduce them to Elinor and her friends as they ask questions and explore the remarkable ways that our everyday lives are connected to nature,” said Linda Simensky, Head of PBS KIDS Content, PBS. “Kids learn best when their parents and caretakers are engaged in their learning. Elinor Wonders Why will spark preschoolers’ curiosity with an innovative science inquiry curriculum and will encourage the adults in children’s lives to help them answer their questions by exploring together.”
“Elinor Wonders Why helps give parents the confidence to say, ‘I don’t know the answer. Let’s explore it together,’” said Whiteson. “Asking questions and investigating the answer are at the core of scientific discovery, and we designed the series to model and encourage children, parents and educators to do just that together.”
“Much like my own daughter, Elinor, who inspired the series’ main character, kids everywhere love to wonder about things around them and find out the answers,” said Cham. “Our hope is that the show will help foster the natural curiosity of young children and make them want to explore and learn, just like Elinor and her friends do in these stories.”
Developed for children ages 3-5, Elinor Wonders Why centers on the adventures of Elinor and her pals, Ari, a funny and imaginative bat; and Olive, a perceptive and warm elephant. As young viewers explore Animal Town along with Elinor, Ari and Olive, they will meet all kinds of interesting, funny, and quirky characters, each with a lesson to share about respecting others, the importance of diversity, caring for the environment and working together to solve problems. Elinor models the foundational practices of science inquiry and engineering design in each episode, using her amazing powers of observation and willingness to ask questions. When she encounters something she doesn’t understand, like why birds have feathers or how tiny ants build massive anthills, she perseveres until she figures it out. In discovering the answers, Elinor often learns something about nature’s ingenious inventions and how they can relate to aspects of our designed world, as well as what it takes to live in a community.
Elinor Wonders Why will offer digital content for kids, parents and teachers, also debuting in September 2020. Elinor Wonders Why games will be available on pbskids.org and on the free PBS KIDS Games App, along with clips and full episodes streaming across PBS KIDS’ video platforms, including the free PBS KIDS Video App. Parent resources, including tips and hands-on activities to extend the learning at home, will be available on the PBS KIDS for Parents site, and PBS LearningMedia will offer classroom-ready materials for teachers, including video excerpts, games, teaching tips and printable activities.
Did you know that all children are born with intrinsic attributes of a successful scientist? Well, they do. It is in their nature to experiment with new things, seek answers to endless questions, and they are always curious about everything within their sight. Young kids pick-up everything they find and show genuine interest in the world around them. That is basically what scientists do.
But what happens when they get to school and hate everything about it, including the science tasks they so readily undertook as toddlers? Everything seems complicated, boring, and completely out of touch with their lives. At one point, you too probably thought that most science projects at school were unnecessarily tiresome.
As a parent, what can you do to ensure that your kid doesn’t lose their interest in science even after joining the school? Simple answer: By creating a science-friendly home and encouraging your kids to experiment, ask questions, and take part in all science programs in the community.
Here are 6 techniques:
1. Take them to science camps. On top of providing your kid with hands-on learning opportunities, science camps bring together hundreds of young scientists who can influence your kid positively through one-on-one interactions. When kids come together to explore and analyze science, learning becomes fun. Science camps are easy to find within your locality but in case you have no idea where to begin, you can visit one of the universities in your hometown. Most science camp organizers liaise with local universities and museums to run science programs.
2. Allow them room to explore. Many parents don’t warm up to this idea because of the mess kids make when they explore, but there isn’t any way around it if you want your kid to love science. Even the greatest scientists became who they are today through experimentation, sometimes through trial and error. Allow your kids to try things out on their own. If they want to observe a pool of water under the microscope, let them be. If they want to build something using dirt and water, the best thing to do is to dress them appropriately. Make it acceptable to get dirty in your household and while at it, buy them a science kit in order to make their work easier and more fun.
3. Allow them to play video games. Video games such as Minecraft will introduce the virtual world to the kid and nurture their interest in the science of coding. Not all games will teach your kid the language of programming, but there are many that will. Help the kid to choose the right ones. Video games come across as an excellent way of enhancing your child’s problem-solving skills. Skills such as negotiating, customizing player qualities, and different game levels equip children with the needed skills for progression to higher levels. Such qualities come across as necessary in later life.
4. Help them keep up with the latest discoveries. Kids are naturally eager to learn about how the earth came to be and how it operates. Topics such as Earth’s rotation and how day/nights came to being are very interesting for everybody. Now build on that interest by letting the kid follow breaking news about major scientific breakthroughs. Now build on that interest by letting the kids follow breaking news about major scientific breakthroughs.
5. Go hiking. By walking through nature, you will be igniting the kid’s curiosity in regard to the world around them. You will create a terrific environment for the kid to bring up scientific questions on their own. For example, hiking can arouse the kid’s curiosity about photosynthesis, how plants eat, breathe, and grow. Besides, you will be seeing lots of animal species, birds, and insects, all of which you can photograph and try to research their adaptations. Your kid will love doing that. They won’t even realize they’re learning.
6. Squash science-related stereotypes. Many kids have the wrong impression of science, especially girls. Make it your job to demystify these stereotypes and change your kid’s attitude towards science. Explain to them that physics is as simple as building with blocks, or that the simple act of breathing and excretion is biology. The key here is to make the kid see that he/she uses science every second.
We cannot emphasize this enough: Learning, especially in science, is founded on curiosity. It is your job to create a climate for discovery for your kids. Don’t force the kid to love science. Just answer their questions and stimulate curiosity. Everything else will naturally fall into place.
Fatima Salahuddin is a preschool teacher with 8 years of experience teaching 3-5-year-olds. In her experience, she has devoted her professional life to give her pupils the best she can, teaching them how to love themselves first, and improve student’s learning and behavioral skills.
As soon as kids can reach a faucet, it seems they are drawn to splashing around in the water—much to the chagrin of your kitchen floor. Turn your little bit’s intrigue into intellect with these simple water-based science experiments for kids that you can do at home
.
Cloud in a Jar
What you need: A jar with a lid, 1/3 cup hot water, ice, hairspray.
How to: Pour hot water into jar. Place lid upside down on top of jar. Place a handful of ice cubes on the lid and let sit there for approximately 20 seconds. Remove the lid and quickly spray a spritz of hairspray into the jar. Replace the lid with the ice on top back onto the jar, and watch as a cloud forms inside the jar. When a good amount of condensation forms, remove the lid and watch as the cloud escapes.
How it works: Some of the warm water in the jar turns to water vapor as it rises to the top of the jar and comes into contact with cold air. Water vapor condenses as it cools and a cloud forms when the vapor has something to stick to (i.e. pollution...or hairspray).