If you’re looking to give back and make a measurable difference in a family’s life this holiday season, but don’t know where to start, turn to The National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN). They recently launched a GoFundMe to help struggling families provide diapers for their children. With one in three families experiencing diaper need, it’s time to read on to find out more about this campaign and how a donation of only $18 can provide diapers for one baby for one week.
It’s no secret that families are struggling—both emotionally and financially—because of the global pandemic, In fact, the NDBN estimates that they are giving out 50% more diapers now than before COVID-19.
Their solution to help increase donations and awareness? NDBN partnered with GoFundMe to launch a centralized hub with verified fundraisers to #EndDiaperNeed. All donations to this GoFundMe will go directly to the National Diaper Bank Network of more than 240 diaper banks across the country.
It only takes a modest $18 to provide diapers for one bay for one week. A donation of any amount means that babies will stay dry and less exposed to health risks and families won’t have to worry about choosing between diapers for their children versus paying for rent, food or utilities.
As of time of publication, the GoFundMe has raised close to $57,000 of the $100,000 goal. To donate and learn more visit the campaign here.
While there is an official Something Nice Day, we think the idea of spreading kindness and compliments should happen every day of the year. Show your kids that a few kind words go a long way. Scroll down for a few compliments you can pay to the people in your life.
Experts agree that specific praise (What a nice job you did writing your name) boost self-esteem more than general compliments (You are so smart!). Here’s a few examples:
You did a great job putting your shoes on.
I like your singing voice. Please sing me another song.
Very nice writing skills.
Good job making your bed.
You are so good at making me laugh.
You have a beautiful smile. It makes me so happy to see it.
When you do a good job, it makes me feel proud.
I love your choice of colors.
Compliments at a Restaurant/Service
These compliments are pretty universal. Try one at the local coffee shop or even the person who put you on hold at the cable company (patience is a virtue!):
You did a great job listening to us. Thank you.
I appreciate how calm you are amidst chaos.
You were our favorite part of lunch.
Thank you for being so prompt!
You really are poised no matter how busy it gets. It’s impressive.
You made us feel welcome and that made my day.
Compliments to the chef!
Compliments for Teachers & Caregivers
Although they dole out the praise to your little ones, it’s not often enough we give it back to them.
I am always moved by how patient and kind you are.
I wanted you to know how much my kids admire you.
I love how attentive you are to every child here. It’s amazing.
You have really made a difference in my child’s life.
You are a source of inspiration for my kid.
What’s the best compliment you’ve received? Share it with us in the comments.
Thinking of introducing a second (or third) language at home? Valicia Saucedo Trowbridge describes her approach to multilingualism, centering around respect for language and culture … and her love of books!
We interviewed Valicia to get the scoop on her method. Check out her answers below!
What’s your background?
I’m a mom, first and foremost, of N and F (5 and 1.5 years old). For languages, I’m a native Spanish speaker and learned English when I was in elementary school. I am proficient in Japanese and can understand some Korean. I’m an Associate Attorney at an immigration law firm in Boulder, Colorado (and by night, the voice artist for Habbi Habbi Spanish Books!). I studied Political Science and Japanese in college, so my interests in the law and in culture and language started young!
Tell us how young your interest in (the three!) languages started! Some parents are curious about what the right “age” is.
Well, learning Spanish comes from my family and heritage—so that started before I can remember. My grandparents were immigrants, and my parents placed great value on the Spanish language. They raised my brother and me as monolingual Spanish speakers until we started school in order to preserve the language.
My interest in Japanese started when I was about 7 years old. There was a sister-city program we had between my hometown in California and Ono City in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture. My family had exchange visitors stay with us, and this was my first exposure to Japanese. I remembered I loved the bright vowels —because they were the same as Spanish vowels, which made Japanese feel accessible, and I took a personal interest in it. I started learning it, spent six weeks in Japan during high school, and minored in Japanese in college.
I learned Korean after college actually—my friend recruited me to teach in Korea after college. I was fascinated by Korean because it is a scientifically created written language. Linguists created Hangul—so when you look at written Korean, you can pronounce it correctly (vs. character memorization).
What do languages mean for you? Why do you value multilingualism?
For me, language has always about connecting with people. Spanish meant connecting deeply with my grandparents and my community. With Japanese, I wanted to be able to talk to people in the exchange program and folks when I visited. It makes such a difference to be able to talk to someone in their native language. It opens up a whole new level of connection, empathy, and understanding. Also, Spanish, for example, is spoken natively on three continents, so language opens up a substantial part of the world!
How do you think about the role of language and learning for your kids?
It’s deeply important to me. But my approach has to be different from my parents’ approach for me because my husband does not speak Spanish fluently. When I was at Stanford, I did a ton of research on dual immersion schools, and my big takeaway was that the *respect* that the “instructor” has for the different languages makes all the difference. So that’s how I treat language learning at home—I try to show respect and value to both English and Spanish, so my boys know that both are important.
What about other languages with your kids? Do you think it’s “too much” to bring in other language exposure at a young age?
My philosophy (and each parent’s may be different!) is that the more the better because kids’ brains are such good sponges at such a young age. That’s why even though we are a Spanish-English household, I have the Habbi Habbi Chinese books as well. That’s why we also carry Japanese and Korean books too.
One fun story—early on, N learned the word “bilingual” and now identifies himself as a “bilingual” person—knowing Spanish and English. One day, we went to our favorite neighborhood Japanese restaurant, and I started speaking to the owner in Japanese. N turned to me and said, “Mommy, you’re not bilingual. You speak more than two languages.” And I told him, “Yes, I’m multilingual.” And he said “I want to try.” And I think that’s wonderful.
How do you support their interest in language learning?
Like so many parents, it is books! That’s why I am so tickled that my “other” job is as a voice artist for Habbi Habbi, because I am in love with the mission. I also love that we have the Chinese set here at home—so N and F can get exposure with the Wand, even though I don’t speak Chinese. It’s fun though because my husband took online Mandarin classes in college. So now that N has picked up a few words, it’s a secret language only N and my husband know, and N is really enjoying that.
I also have tons of books collected over the years. I pick up books whenever I am in a new country. My friends gift books to me because they know how much I love them. It might sound crazy, but I started collecting books when I was in Japan at 17 years old, so you can see how long I have thought about this!
What does success in language learning look like for you?
So much of it depends on the kids! So, it’s not so much the number of languages and fluency in them but more the things that language exposure brings. I so badly want my kids to be global citizens, to have the world open to them through language, and to have real friendships with people across the world. So if they take any interest in any language, I’m on it. I want to nurture that interest and I’m confident it will open a whole new set of doors and life experiences!
Habbi Habbi Reading Wand & Bilingual Books is the easiest way to start kids on Chinese & Spanish. Just turn on and tap. Every inch is tappable, and our books are as intentional in content as they are beautiful - topics like kindness, emotions, and more. @BeHabbi | habbihabbi.com.
These words have become a familiar refrain: stay home, stay safe and socially distance. But while most of us were hunkered down during the first few months of the pandemic, these parents (and kids) knew if they socially distanced themselves from those in need countless others would struggle to survive. These amazing individuals decided to do what they could to stay safe while also reaching out their hand (figuratively) to those that needed help. Here are some of those parents – and one kid – who have made a difference in the DC metro area.
photo: courtesy of Peggy Morgan Tyree
Peggy Morgan Tyree with PPE Donations
Peggy has always operated under the principle that if there is something she can do to help out, she should do it. So when Covid-19 hit and everyone was feeling helpless, she jumped at the chance to make a difference. In her role as a Loudoun County Elementary Instructional Facilitator, she had been teaching about 3D printers and authentic uses for them, such as restoring coral reefs and preserving artifacts. She immediately saw another use for the printers and with the full support and permission of her school’s principal, she took the 3D printers home and got to work making PPE. Peggy and three other moms, all while working and raising their children (some young, some teens), ran the printers nonstop since March., creating 7,000 shields from home. Their husbands and children assisted with assembly after the shields were printed. They sent them to local facilities like hospitals, dental offices, preschools, group homes and fire stations. But they also shipped them to other states and even to a hospital in Mexico.
How you can help: You can donate to Peggy’s efforts below or try your own hand at 3D printing at your local library.
This teen isn’t a parent, but his parents made a difference by raising a kid who put his woodworking skills to generous use with his project, Desks for Distance. Colby was inspired by theDesks by Dads initiative, a couple of dads building desks for students in their community in MD, to do the same for students closer to his home. Colby launched his Desks for Distance Facebook page in early Sept. as a solo project and quickly caught the attention of both donors and collaborators. With the help of MOSS Building & Design, Colby and Desks for Distance plan on building 50 additional desks in a single day on September 28th!
How you can help: You can donate via the Facebook link below to help Desks for Distance raise additional funds for materials. While Colby does not take any profit from this project, he wanted us to inform readers he is not an officially registered nonprofit.
Jamila Larson of Homeless Children’s Playtime Project
After 17 years of offering in-person services, Jamila Larson had to quickly pivot to providing contactless services that would still help children and their families feel as if someone cared about them in the middle of a pandemic. The Homeless Children’s Playtime Project now offers Playtime to Go kits to kids living in shelters, as well as play costumes, diapers, groceries, and other emergency supplies homeless families may need.
How you can help: Jamila and her staff are working remotely during the crisis, but if you want to get involved, you can make a donation that will help them continue to provide the above mentioned items to kids and families in need.
Feeling the weight of parenting during a pandemic? Rachel Bailey is there to help! Parent coach Rachel Bailey has been providing private coaching and online parenting tips in the DC area for over a decade. Her Facebook group, “The Parenting Long Game” Podcast community, is free to join and offers support and advice to DMV parents. She’s coined the term “Yuck” for all those times your child may display signs of being uncomfortable—from feeling hangry to throwing tantrums—and doles out ways to peacefully parent your child and restore order in your home. Now, more than ever, kids (and their parents) are feeling a nasty case of the yucks from technology hiccups to virtual classroom frustrations on top of the all-consuming pandemic yucks. Rachel (virtually) holds parents hands and helps them navigate everything from distance learning to post-pandemic parenting stresses.
How can you help: We’re all struggling with Yuck these days. Take a deep breath and check out Rachel’s podcasts for distance learning tips and healthy ways to deal with pandemic-related stresses.
Though she created Greater DC Diaper Bank nearly a decade ago, the need for Corrine’s services has tripled during the pandemic. She opened the bank when she realized that diapers were falling through a crack in the systems designed to help low-income families and children survive. While there were options that provided food, formula, and medical care, none ensured that parents could buy diapers. So Corrine stepped up and filled that gap. The Greater DC Diaper Bank offers more than just diapers these days, though. They also offer other baby needs, including certain types of gently used baby gear, as well as feminine hygiene products.
How you can help: While volunteer operations have been suspended during the pandemic, you can still get involved. With more than140 drop locations throughout the greater DC area, you can easily drop off diapers, formula, or any of theother items they accept for distribution.
Shop and make a difference. With the election right around the corner, you may have noticed that some of your favorite celebrities and public figures have been making statements with their jewelry. There’s nothing better than hopping on a fashion trend while contributing to the greater good.
New York jewelry brand mazi + zo wants to inspire and support women to show up as their whole selves. Their chic yet simple VOTE necklace launched in July to strong sales. The necklace is sustainably made with recycled solid 14k gold ($192) and .925 sterling silver ($72). mazi + zo also donates 35% of the purchase price to When We All Vote, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, nonpartisan organization committed to increasing participation in elections.
According to Sara, a mazi + zo customer in Tucson said, “I love my necklace. I haven’t taken it off since I got it and I don’t plan to until the election.”
For most kids, learning to save money is not nearly as fun as spending it. That’s why opening a youth savings account can make all the difference in building a strong financial future.
Last Halloween, Target introduced Hyde & EEK! Boutique costumes designed with all kids in mind. These adaptive and sensory-friendly designs were not only adorable but they were affordable as well. This year, Target is doubling their costume options and adding designs for adults too.
The latest collection from the Hyde & EEK! Boutique features robots, dragons, space travelers, mermaids, unicorns and more. Each costume is designed with open backs for easy dressing, wheelchair-friendly fits, hidden openings for pockets for abdominal access and removable accessories, creating extra flexibility for those with sensitivities.
These costumes can only be found at Target and come at an incredible value, starting at $20.
“Whether you’re simply getting dressed every day or dressing up for special moments like Halloween, everyone deserves to feel included and celebrated,” says Julie Guggemos, Target’s senior vice president and chief design officer. “And at Target, we know that great, inclusive design makes all the difference. That’s why we’re continuing to invest in Cat & Jack adaptive apparel, Pillowfort sensory-friendly home goods and more and creating twice as many practical, affordable, super cute costumes that invite all guests to make their own Halloween memories.”
Your favorite book series (have you heard the Rebel Girls podcast? We highly recommend it)! is at it again, this time with a remarkable new collection of stories all about immigrant women. Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World publishes on Oct. 13, and you can preorder it now. This wonderful collection covers famous females from Josephine Baker to Rhianna. In the signature style, it is beautifully illustrated and full of relatable stories and facts for rebel kids to learn about these fierce and awesome women.
Dedicated to women who leave their homeland in search of a better life, readers will be treated to the same stunning layout with rich illustrations and heroines who span across time. You’ll find politicians, musicians, artists and more, all of who have shaped and are continuing to shape and change our world for the better.
Now you don’t need to work for Michael Scott in order to receive a Dundie Award. You know you definitely deserve one for parenting (and homeschooling) your kids through the pandemic. Target is selling these fun replicas so grab one for yourself and a few for your friends.
If you are not a fan of The Office, a Dundie is an award given to each of the employees of Dunder Mifflin at a yearly ceremony. The categories are always hilarious and slightly inappropriate.
With a Dundie you can congratulate your friends or co-workers on a job well done. Although it may be nice to receive the “Jim Halpert Award” or the “Whitest Sneakers Award.” Really, there’s a Dundie for everything!
The Dundie replica stands 8 inches tall and is a fun collectible for any Office fan. There are actually two varieties available on the Target website. The only difference is that one has 3 interchangeable award plates where the other has six.
The Summer Olympics may have been postponed until 2021 but that doesn’t mean we can’t still have Team USA spirit. American Girl just announced an exclusive product collection launching today paying tribute to the inspirational athletes and popular summer sports in celebration with Team USA. The new collection is part of American Girl’s larger summer product unveil to encourage girls to dream, lead, grow, make a difference, and shine.
Designed to inspire girls to dream big and cheer on our country’s amazing athletes, the exclusive doll sets feature 18-inch doll-sized Team USA gear for the following six summer sports: gymnastics, soccer, swimming, track & field, softball, and beach volleyball. A Team USA Medal Ceremony Set and a girl-sized Team USA “Go for the Gold” Tee will help fans gear up for next year’s celebrations. Fun new video content, inspired by the new collection, is also available at americangirl.com/play and on the brand’s popular YouTube Kids Channel. The Team USA doll sets are available to purchase individually or as play packs as part of the customized American Girl Gift Trunk experience.
Timed to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote this August, the new set—including a ballot box and sheets, a “VOTE” banner and buttons, and a recording megaphone—empowers girls to say, “Yes, we can!” Other summer items new to Truly Me include an array of high-quality playsets with themes ranging from travel to arts appreciation.
Empowering with A Smart Girl’s Guide
With nearly 6 million books sold, American Girl’s popular A Smart Girl’s Guide advice series has been a trusted go-to resource for girls (and their parents) since its debut in 2001. Available today are the following two new titles:
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Crushes helps all kids embrace and understand the emotional feelings they are having for others during puberty. Written by award-winning author Nancy Holyoke, the new guide is an update from the original title, A Smart Girl’s Guide to Boys, published in 2001. The new book has evolved to be more inclusive in its use of language and addressing questions about same-sex crushes to better reflect how kids ages 10 and up think and talk about romantic relationships today. As before, the book’s goal is to provide kids with thoughtful, age-appropriate information, while sharing real-life guidance on how to approach romance confidently and staying true to one’s self.
A Smart Girl’s Guide: Making a Difference gives girls the tools to be positive changemakers in their community and beyond. From protecting the planet and helping animals to raising funds for causes they care about, Making a Difference offers young readers plenty of ideas—big and small—to make the world a better place.
Insta-stars Leah and Ava Clements are helping girls channel their inner fashionista with the debut the new AG Fashion Show x Clements Twins Cute at Heart Collection. The new mix and match collection features several on-trend doll and girl outfits, including a gold moto jacket, a heart print dress, a summery skirt, and sparkly kimono, plus many more styles and accessories.
2020 Girl of the Year Joss Kendrick’s Beach Break
Joss Kendrick, American Girl’s 2020 Girl of the Year, is a fierce athlete born with hearing loss and a passion for surfing and competitive cheer. Given her love of the ocean, Joss’s product collection expands this summer with the release of her new Beach Jumper and Beach Grill Set, featuring a portable grill with color-change technology that “cooks” the pretend food with grill marks after being exposed to the special lighting inside. These items join the Girl of the Year’s other Southern California-inspired accessories, including Joss’s Volkswagen Surf Bus.
All of the new summer products and books, plus American Girl’s full assortment of items, are available on americangirl.com and at American Girl stores that have safely resumed business.
