ML Interest Tag: encourage

Expert Advice about COVID-19 Vaccines and Safety for Kids

by Kenzie Kramer
Partner Content

After a long and anxious wait, COVID-19 vaccines are now available for kids age 5 to 11. Getting young kids vaccinated is critical for protecting our communities, since this is a large age group, and taking this step will give millions of parents peace of mind. 

Paul Lewis, MD, a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician in Portland, Oregon, who specializes in infections in kids, says that as winter and the holidays approach, this is a good time to get kids vaccinated. He suggests using the COVID-19 vaccine authorization as an opportunity to get kids caught up on other vaccinations as well, since many people have fallen behind on regular appointments during the last 18 months. He also suggests that all children over 6 months old get their flu shot this year. Fortunately, he says, it’s no problem to get both shots at the same time.

We know parents, caregivers, and others may have questions about the safety of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine. In this Q&A, Dr. Lewis answers common questions about it.

 

How well does the COVID-19 vaccine work for kids?

For kids under 12, the COVID-19 vaccine is incredibly effective. A recent study, affirmed by the Food and Drug Administration, that included more than 3,000 kids who got the pediatric dose of the vaccine found that it was more than 90% effective at preventing infection with symptoms.

 

How does the vaccine for children 5 to 11 differ from the vaccine for people 12 and older?

The pediatric vaccine is identical to the vaccine that’s used for older teenagers and adults, but the dose is one-third of the adult dose. That dosage was chosen because it was just as effective at providing protective antibodies but had a much lower rate of side effects.

What are the most common side effects?

Of the thousands of kids who were part of that recent study, zero had serious adverse events. Some kids get sore arms, redness or swelling, and a smaller percentage might get fatigue, muscle aches or fever. But they’re getting side effects at lower rates than teenagers and adults.

 

What is the risk of myocarditis?

Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart, has occurred in young men who’ve been vaccinated but is pretty rare, with a handful of cases per million vaccination doses. Many cardiologists think that, since this is generally more common in teenagers than school-age kids, it’ll be less common after vaccination as well. 

If my child has underlying health conditions, should I go ahead with vaccination?

Studies on this are ongoing. We know that older adolescents and adults with immunocompromised conditions or on immunosuppressive medications respond less well to vaccination, but they do respond. We also know that if they get COVID-19, they’re more likely to have worse outcomes, including needing hospitalization and intensive care. If someone has an underlying condition, such as an immunosuppressive condition, diabetes, heart disease or lung disease, we recommend getting an age-appropriate vaccine.

If my child is used to wearing a mask, can’t I just rely on that for prevention?

Social distancing and wearing masks are important layers of protection, but they are hard to continue day after day, especially for kids at recess or at lunch. So the vaccine is a big, thick layer of protection to help with all those other measures, and people should use them together. 

How should I prepare my child for a vaccination appointment?

I’ve never met a kid who wanted to get a shot, but kids are resilient. You can help by explaining that you’ve been vaccinated and, while it does hurt, the pain goes away quickly and you’re there for them. At Kaiser Permanente vaccination sites, there will be people who are used to dealing with children and who know that there is a lot of emotion and fear. Kaiser Permanente staff and parents can work together to make it a minor experience for kids.

To schedule a vaccination and learn more, visit kp.org/covidvaccine/nw.

Is there anything you can do to help reduce the pain that happens in the arm after getting the vaccine? Does heat or cold compresses work better?

I don’t know of any magic or comparison between heat and cold. My advice to parents would be to avoid focusing on it; it is not much different than any other injection- actually smaller in volume. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you normally would for the degree of pain.

My son keeps taking his mask off during recess at school, is he safe since he’s outside?

Different states and different school districts have varying policies on using masks outside. In general, the risk of getting COVID outside is MUCH less than in any indoor setting. Please try to follow the school’s rules—they are doing there best in a difficult situation and parents can help by being supportive

I know the CDC says it’s safe to get both the flu vaccine at the same time as the covid vaccine, but as a pediatrician would you recommend waiting a week or two in between those vaccines?

Simultaneous vaccines are recommended because it is hard for individuals and families to make multiple appointments or to fit multiple visits into their schedules. I got mine together last week!

Are there any over the counter medications that my child should or should not take right after getting the vaccine?


CDC recommends not taking OTCs unless you need them for symptom management.

I have a 17 year old son with a heart murmur and a left ventricular bundle branch block, is he at a higher risk for Myocarditis with the vaccine?

Hard question, but I would check with his cardiologist who knows his case the best.

I have a child with a compromised immune system; with the new variant heading to the US, should I consider homeschooling during the winter months?

We will know much more about the new variant by January. It is not yet widespread enough in the US to worry and when school starts again after New Years we should know more about the risk to vaccinated and unvaccinated kids.

Do you have an estimated timeline of when kids under 5 will be approved for the vaccine?

Hard to make a guarantee but hopefully by spring of 2022.

 

 

 

 

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Why We Need Empathy & 5 Ways to Teach It to Kids

By Brittany McMillan

Empathy is the foundation of positive, fulfilling connection with others and has the power to decrease conflict by increasing kindness. It’s one of the most important things we can teach our children, but what exactly is it? Throughout the years, psychologists and neuroscientists have come to understand that there are several facets to empathy, including:

  • Feeling what another person is feeling, which is called emotional or affective empathy.

  • Putting yourself in another person’s shoes to take their perspective and see their point of view, called cognitive empathy or “perspective-taking.”

  • Taking action to help others based on your understanding of another person’s feelings and perspective, which is called compassion or behavioral empathy.

It’s also important to know the difference between sympathy and empathy. While “empathy” means feeling with another person as their equal and trying to understand their situation, “sympathy” means feeling concern (or pity) for another person’s misfortunes, which may create a power imbalance between people and keep them from truly connecting. In cases where we don’t have enough knowledge to put ourselves in another person’s shoes, we can practice curiosity and model it for our children. Modeling curiosity by having conversations and asking questions can provide valuable insights as to why a person might feel the way they do in a given situation.

So how can we teach kids empathy?

Educators and parents can create experiences that help kids exercise their ability to empathize with other people. In particular, educators can help students learn about and investigate their own points of view, appreciate different perspectives, and cooperate and communicate in a respectful, positive manner. In addition to modelling, there are a number of other things we can do as adults:

1. Teach Perspective-Taking
Use transformational moments or “teachable moments” to teach perspective-taking and cooperation skills. Whether through examples that happen between students in the classroom or conflicts in the book they’re reading, use these moments to encourage students to reflect and practice seeing the situation from other points of view.

2. Integrate Empathy Practices across All Subject Areas
Weave empathy into your day-to-day learning. For example, during reading, you can easily model and practice perspective-taking for characters in stories. I often find free empathy resources and activities on Empatico, which has “Empathy Book Club” activities that I use to guide in-class discussions to help my students relate to others’ emotions and experiences:

3. Model Active Listening & Respectful Communication
Establish norms of active listening and respectful communication at home and in the classroom. This includes learning about how body language, facial expressions, and tone can impact one’s interactions. For example, I try to actively listen to my students and children by making eye contact with them, focusing on what they’re saying (rather than thinking about what I want to say next), and using nonverbal cues like nodding.

4. Encourage Self-Regulation & Empathy
Work on making “self-regulation” a daily priority. A large part of self-regulation is the ability to be aware of your emotions and manage your reactions to feelings and situations. Teach students strategies like “body breaks,” focused breathing and “mindful minutes” where students focus on something that encourages calmness. If students are able to successfully self-regulate, they are more readily available to be empathetic towards others.

5. Design Purposeful Learning Experiences
By contextualizing learning in a way that connects classroom instruction to real-life experiences, students can apply new skills as they learn them. I’ve used Empatico to connect my students (and my own children!) with other kids across the globe for collaborative, virtual experiences that allow them to practice empathy skills with peers from different backgrounds. During class exchanges, we discuss and compare issues within our own communities. From there we come up with ideas of concrete things we can do to make a difference. In these experiences, the classes I am working with bond over what they are passionate about, what the issues are in their community and their volunteerism. It is a powerful exercise of empathy.

Empathy has the power to be an absolute game-changer for how future generations interact and connect. It is one of the most important things we can teach our students and children. At its core, empathy means feeling with another person and understanding their situation. It requires that we open our minds and become vulnerable enough to relate to others at deeper levels. It also entails acknowledging the other person’s humanity, that they are equally important as we are, and that their feelings are equally valid. When we do this, we can truly feel with another person and empathize with them. This process is what ultimately strengthens the connection between two individuals; therefore, enriching lives and making the world a better place.

 

Brittany McMillan is a wife, mother of three, and teacher in British Columbia, Canada teaching middle school. She is dedicated to helping her students and own children grow into empathetic, good humans. She also loves fishing, adventures, meeting new people from around the globe and riding bikes with her family.

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How We Got Our Kids Hooked on Playing Sports

By Holly Schaeffer

While you’re still expecting, you often get caught up in the daydream of “What will they be like.” You imagine your child’s favorite ice cream flavor, you consider a potential career, what they will like to read and watch, and spend some happy moments transporting yourself into an imagined future. 

With our kids, we had an ongoing debate as to which sport they might like and whether we should sign them up for several at a time, just to see which they are best at—never did it occur to us that our kids might not be the sporty types and that we would have to make some effort when it came to getting them hooked. Here’s how we did it.

1. Don’t Be a Couch Potato 
Leading by example is that one parenting principle we all wish didn’t exist sometimes. However, it does really work, and it also helps us parents become better humans. 

When it came to sports, we had the advantage of being athletic ourselves. Both of us used to play a lot of sports as kids, and we managed to hold on to some of these interests. I still run, and my husband still enjoys both flag football and the occasional game of basketball. 

When the kids were old enough, we started playing soccer, catch, tag, and every other sporting game we could think of. This has helped make sport a fun part of their daily lives, rather than just another chore. 

2. Let Them Show Interest 
Once you’ve exposed your kids to all kinds of different sports (and hopefully, their school has also played an important role in this process), let them make their own choice. Don’t sign them up for a sport they don’t like, even if they might have the physical aptitude for it. If they have to do something they don’t enjoy, they are not likely to stick with it. 

You can, however, encourage them. Maybe take them to a game or a practice to see how they feel about it. If their answer is no, move on and keep looking. 

3. Equip Them Well 
It also helps if kids have access to the equipment they need. I’m not advocating that you get them every bat, ball, glove, and shoe imaginable—just that you do invest in items for the sport they’ve shown interest in. 

In our case, this was baseball, so we had to find the right baseball bat in the middle of the pandemic. As a complete baseball noob, I had no idea how technical it could get. All I’ll say is, make sure to get your child the right size bat. I made the grave mistake of getting a bat that was too large, and it messed with my son’s swing to no end. 

Having a specific sporting uniform will also help them feel more important and like they are doing something super cool. And it doesn’t even have to be a full-fledged jersey (at least we never went for that). A set of shorts and a t-shirt they only wear to play the sport will do just fine. 

4. Don’t Get Too Competitive 
Naturally, we want our kids to excel at everything they do. However, when it comes to sports, we will need to learn how to deal with losses and poor performance too. 

Never get too competitive, and never discourage your child when they don’t score or have a particularly bad game. Remember that the whole point of sports is getting some physical activity (so desperately needed by our kids) and learning a bit about winning and losing. It’s meant to be a fun and healthy way to spend time. Don’t become one of those soccer parents who care more about winning than children’s wellbeing. 

5. Be Flexible 
Finally, allow your child to change their mind, join several teams at the same time, or take a break from organized sporting activities altogether. They will have varied attention spans at different times, and as they get older, they will also develop different interests.

As long as they get plenty of exercise on a daily basis, they don’t need to join a team at all. You can let them loose in the park or on a sporting field and let them play with their friends. 

Don’t be discouraged if your child is not interested in sports at all, either. Not all of us will be, and it’s perfectly okay to prefer different activities. All you do have to do is encourage physical activity—it doesn’t have to involve a set of rules. 

Getting the kids hooked on sports can be a bit of a challenge, especially when video games are so much fun these days. But with just a little bit of effort, you can nurture a passion and an interest that they will enjoy for years to come.

Holly Schaeffer is a long-time writer focusing on health, lifest‌yle, and home improvement. Originally from New Jersey, she moved to California to pursue a degree in creative writing. She now spends her days split between writing and raising her two young sons.

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5 Reasons Why Raising Kids with Confidence Matters

by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

For parents, raising confident kids means teaching them how to meet life’s many challenges and to succeed. According to experts, throughout their formative years, kids will look to their families, friends and peers to help develop their sense of self, but as they master skills, they become more secure in their abilities. And, with positive reinforcement, kids’ self-confidence and self-esteem will grow exponentially, which leads them to try new things, do their best and feel proud of their achievements. Keep reading to learn why it’s so important to raise kids with confidence. 

It Helps Them Be Successful

Gabriela Braga via Unsplash

Possessing self-confidence can help a child take on challenges and risks that may exceed their current abilities. By successfully pushing boundaries, a child’s confidence can create a virtuous circle where each win leads to the next win. Researchers at Stony Brook University wanted to see if there was truth in the adage “success breeds success,” and their study validated that early successes bestowed on individuals produced significant increases in subsequent rates of success.

Confidence has been shown to help children in education as well: Behavioral psychologist Stanley Coopersmith said, “In the critical childhood years, positive feelings of self-esteem have been shown to increase children’s confidence and success at school.”

It Super-Charges Their Creativity

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As parents, we know that children are innately creative and there are few things as precious as a child’s vivid imagination. But the wellspring of a kiddo’s creativity can diminish over time if she is discouraged from nurturing her creative confidence. A survey conducted by IBM found that creativity was the single most sought-after trait in leaders today. Children who are self-possessed and confident are more likely to retain their super-charged creativity.

According to Tom Kelley, co-author of Creative Confidence and partner at IDEO, a global design and innovation firm, “Creativity, far from requiring rare gifts and skills, depends on what you believe you can do with the talents and skills you already have.” Confidence is an oft-ignored but essential part of creativity. It’s the confidence that allows people to super-charge their creativity.

It Nurtures Their Mental and Physical Resilience

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Studies have shown that self-confidence isn’t just a feeling or emotional state of mind, but can have a direct impact on mental and physical health. A child with a strong foundation of confidence is better at coping with stress and more resilient against illnesses.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the protective nature of confidence and self-esteem, especially when it comes to the impact of stress and physical disease. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, patients with a greater feeling of mastery and high self-esteem, in combination with having close relationships, were shown to be less prone to mental or physical illness. The study reported, “Positive self-esteem is associated with mental well-being, adjustment, happiness, success, and satisfaction.”

It Fosters Empathy

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Children’s confidence and self-esteem grow when they see what they do matters to others. Letting kids help around the house or do service projects at school can help them build their confidence as well as foster empathy for others. Encouraging kids to feel secure in themselves can help them see the world beyond themselves and understand that they are part of a larger community.

Parents can nurture a child’s confidence by modeling positive behavior and being thoughtful about praise, experts say. Rather than overpraising when it’s unwarranted, which can come across as hollow and insincere, help kids set goals, then recognize and praise their effort instead of the end results.

It Helps Them Find Happiness

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Last but certainly not least, according to this study, confidence inspires contentment, happiness, and pride in any kid. By encouraging play and being attentive during playtime, parents demonstrate to their kids the importance of having fun and understanding what brings joy to themselves. Showing love, embracing imperfections, and helping your kiddo find his passions can help build his confidence and self-esteem in myriad ways that will benefit him for a lifetime to come.

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

 

RELATED STORIES: 

15 Books to Encourage Confidence in Kids

5 Ways to Build Your Preschooler’s Confidence

6 Ways to Build & Boost Your Daughter’s Self-Confidence

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6 Tips to Help Teach Financial Independence to Kids

By Denise Daniels

Photo: Greenlight

According to a report by the Brookings Institution, teenage financial literacy is positively correlated with asset accumulation and net worth at age 25. It may be surprising for parents to hear that only 28 states have some type of financial education standards in younger grades, including middle school, according to the Brookings report.

For us, this begs the question: If a school in your area isn’t implementing these types of courses, what can parents do at home to start the process?

The money talk may not be as intimidating as other conversations you might have with your kids, but it’s still a lot to think about. Believe it or not, 49 percent of parents say they’re not sure how to explain money to their child. Our answer? Start simple — explain common budgeting terms or have a chat about why saving is so important.

When kids make decisions on whether to spend or save their money, they’re learning about trade-offs. Kids learn a lot of other valuable lessons when they manage their own money, and the sooner they get started the quicker they’ll learn.

Open the conversation with something like, “You might not have enough money to buy XYZ right now, but add to your savings over time and you’ll get there!”  Another way to plant the seed? Try pointing out something that you’re saving for—maybe it’s a new TV or a family vacation. This opens up the conversation and makes it relatable.

Some tips on talking finances with the kids:

  • Get started early. Savings accounts can be created as soon as your child is born. You can do this quickly and easily by signing up for apps like Greenlight.
  • Set up recurring deposits. Deposits add up and grow over time, especially if you’re earning interest. When you’re ready, show your kids the impact of saving regularly.
  • Provide hands-on experience. Start giving your kids real-world experience with money and making financial decisions. When a night out at the movies means a delay in buying a new videogame, they’re learning. When they decide to eat at home instead of spending money at a restaurant, they’re taking action. Rather than learn these lessons when they’re out on their own, they can learn with you by their side, which is comforting for both of you.
  • Teach kids about saving. If kids can spend it, they can save it. Kids are tech-savvy so us an app like Greenlight that easily shows them what happens when they save money over time. When they start earning some money of their own—whether from gifts, allowance or chores—encourage them to save some of it, even if it’s for a big purchase down the road.
  • Talk about interest. Interest and compound interest are incredibly important for building wealth over time, but it can be tough for kids to grasp. Break down these concepts to your kids in a way that is easy to understand and fun to learn about. A hands-on approach is setting your own interest for your kids.
  • Explore investing as a family.  We encourage kids to explore real-life investing with their parents. Work with kids to pick stocks of companies whose products and services they understand and use. Have them research the companies they know to understand what they do, how well they are performing now, and how well they may be doing in the future.

To ensure our younger generations are growing up with a solid baseline of financial literacy, it’s important for these lessons to start in the home when kids are young. The greatest gift you can give your kids is to help them pave a path to financial independence.

Denise Daniels,RN, MS and creator of the groundbreaking children’s brand The Moodsters is a Peabody award-winning journalist, author, and parenting and child-development expert dedicated to putting young children on the path to positive mental health. She created The Moodsters—five quirky little feelings detectives who solve the mysteries of emotions. 

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How to Teach Your Kids to Save Money for Emergencies

By Denise Daniels

Photo: Greenlight

Most parents know a thing or two about saving money for emergencies. But with our kids, it may be hard for them to understand why we need to save for a rainy day. Right now we’re all spending a lot of time at home. Some of us are watching the news and some are answering tough questions about current events. Either way, we have a special opportunity to share the importance of saving for emergencies with our kids in a way that makes sense to them.

Put it in their world. The current economic climate provides a real-world example that can serve as a lesson-teacher for your kids. If they’re old enough, share how you or members of your community may be affected by losing work. Talk about how emergency savings can help them through tough times.

1. Set a budget. Saving isn’t always easy, especially when you have needs and wants that take up your monthly budget. Help your kids understand how to budget by putting a limit on when and where they can spend. For some families, kids can only use their money for gas. For others, they can spend anywhere. Setting a budget helps your kids get in the mindset of allocating their earnings and putting must-haves before nice-to-haves.

2. Make it visual. Kids learn by doing. As you show your kids that it’s important to save, also show them how. Work together to set savings goals or talk to them about a big-ticket item you’ve needed to save for. With the Greenlight app, kids can set their own goals and watch their progress bar advance as their savings grow.

3. Incentivize saving. Kids are more excited to save money when they have an incentive. Encourage them to continue putting money away for emergencies by matching them or setting your own interest rate for them. Greenlight parents are able to set a parent-paid interest rate so that saving more means earning more.

4. Monitor balances. Show your kids the importance of checking their balances. While it may not directly impact their emergency funds, this helps them form the habit of closely monitoring their spending so they can live within their means.

When we teach our kids about money at a young age, they’re able to form smart habits for life. The next time you run out of stay-at-home activities to keep the family busy, take some time to work with your kids on managing their money—it pays off in the long run.

 

Denise Daniels,RN, MS and creator of the groundbreaking children’s brand The Moodsters is a Peabody award-winning journalist, author, and parenting and child-development expert dedicated to putting young children on the path to positive mental health. She created The Moodsters—five quirky little feelings detectives who solve the mysteries of emotions. 

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Empowering Kids to Be Smarter Spenders

By Taylor Burton

As our kids begin their second consecutive pandemic-impacted school year, the Delta Variant is threatening the chances of a “normal” school experience, parenting can feel more stressful than ever. 

With all this uncertainty, it’s important that we continue to foster meaningful conversations with our kids to help them feel secure, grounded and connected, despite feelings of fear, anxiety and confusion. One topic families may be reluctant to discuss? Money. According to a recent survey by T. Rowe Price, 69% of parents are reluctant to talk with their kids about money, and only 23% of kids reported talking with their parents about money on a regular basis. It may seem like a strange time to talk about money with everything happening in the world, but this conversation can be an important part of daily interactions with your child to help build a strong foundation during times of uncertainty. 

Demystifying money, by making it a regular topic of discussion, is crucial to helping your kids develop smart money habits later in life. And its not just talking about money, but giving kids exposure to money decisions: what to buy, what not to buy and how to make those tradeoffs is an important muscle for them to start flexing while still at home. Without a solid financial foundation, based on conversations and experience, kids will be unprepared to function as successful economic actors when they leave the nest. 

The first step for empowering kids to be smarter spenders is collaboration. Encourage your kids to ask questions by including them in spending decisions. Shopping, whether for back to school supplies or for a hobby, is a great opportunity to give your kids a budget and allow them to buy items that will directly impact their daily experience. 

The next step: Make a plan around spending. Sit down with your kids and break down their expenses into different buckets: wants vs. needs, fixed vs. variable expenses. This is a great way to help kids visualize money and gain a firmer understanding of their financial situations. After making a plan, the final steps are to set goals and prioritize. Ask your kids what short and long term purchases they want to make and use the plan from earlier to evaluate how close they are to achieving their spending and saving goals. For example, do your kids want to save up for a new gaming console? If so, they might want to take fewer trips to the ice cream shop. 

While these steps are a great way to get kids thinking about smart money habits, tools like Till give kids hands-on spending experience by putting the power in their hands. Till is an app and debit card combo designed to encourage collaboration between parents and kids. Unlike other apps that focus on saving or investing, Till’s #1 priority is teaching kids to be smarter spenders. The reality is that we are living in a spending economy, and without developing the ability to spend effectively, kids will have a very difficult transition once they leave the nest. 

On average, each kid in the US influences family purchases of $6,000 a year. That equates to a lot of opportunities to teach them about how to spend wisely. Imagine if instead of putting some of those expenses on a credit card auto-pay, you use the opportunity to talk with your kid on a monthly basis about if it’s a worthwhile expense, and better yet, give them the exposure and the opportunity to pay the bill themselves (even if you subsidize it). Paying bills is a very real part of life that kids should have exposure to before they’re out on their own and potentially caught off guard. 

We all want our kids to grow up to be strong, educated financial actors. Taking the time to teach your kids smart money habits will benefit them for the rest of their lives. No one knows what this next year will bring, but one thing you can control is planting the seeds for your kids’ long-term financial success.

 

Taylor Burton is the co-founder of Till Financial, the first app and debit card that empowers the next generation of smarter spenders, helping families find teachable moments to learn financial literacy and demystify money management for kids. He is a proud father of two girls and lives in Brooklyn, NY with his wife.

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Time-Tested Tips for Reading with Your Kids

By Goddard School

Photo: The Goddard School

Reading with your children and sharing a story is very powerful. This experience strengthens your bond with them, builds vocabulary and language skills, supports brain development, teaches life skills through conversations about the characters in the stories and so much more. It is magical what a few moments spent with a book can do at each stage of life.

And, it’s important to focus on reading with children and not to them. Research shows that reading with your children will increase their reading and other cognitive skills. This is an early-life intervention that is beneficial throughout their lives.

Highlighting the importance of teaching through literature, The Goddard School has introduced its Life Lesson Library, a targeted curriculum built around great children’s books that authentically teach and connect with young children. The books in Life Lesson Library, which were carefully curated by members of The Goddard School Educational Advisory Board (EAB) and Goddard teachers across the country, feature award-winning best sellers, beloved classics and some new favorites.

To further support parents as they engage with their little learners, EAB Chairwoman Lee Scott offers her time-tested tips for reading to your children—from infants to school-aged students—to help everyone gain the most from their time together:

Infants (birth to 18 months old)

  • Use hardboard or cloth books
  • Interact with your little ones as you read together by showing them the book, talking about the images, making eye contact and responding to their babbles and gestures
  • Encourage your child to touch and hold the book
  • Point to pictures of animals or vehicles and make sounds as you read
  • Repeat the stories over and over again

Here are three favorites from Goddard:

  1. Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
  2. Baby Faces by Margaret Miller
  3. Calm Down Time by Elizabeth Verdick and Marieka Heinlen

Toddlers (18 to 36 months old)

  • Introduce longer hardboard and paperback picture books with familiar images and some words or short sentences
  • Ask your little ones to point to what they see as you read
  • Ask “what” and “who” questions and respond to their answers with excitement
  • Talk about who the characters are and how they might be feeling

Here are three of our favorites:

  1. Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury
  2.  No Matter What by Debi Gliori
  3. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and Jim McElmurry

Preschoolers (3 to 4 years old)

  • Add longer books with more words and sentences 
  • Focus on key concepts
  • Discuss how to turn the pages and follow the words from left to right
  • Ask your child to choose the book you will read together
  • Point out beginning letters and make the letter-sound connections together

Here are three of our favorites:

  1. The Good Egg by Jory John and Pete Oswald
  2. Me First by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger
  3. My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems

Pre-K and Kindergarten (4 to 5 years old)

  • Select early reader books to add to your child’s library
  • Read rhyming stories and repeat the rhyming words together
  • Point out words that begin or end with the same letters
  • Explain new words to your child
  • Ask your child to use predictability and picture cues to complete words and sentences

Here are three of our favorites:

  1. Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall
  2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  3. The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Early Elementary Years (6 to 7 years old)

  • Encourage your child to select the books
  • Show your child the book cover and ask them what they think it will be about 
  • Use open-ended prompts to give children more space to talk about the story
  • Ask your child what happened in the book or what the key details were about
  • Practice guided reading by having your child read recognized words and sound out new words

Here are three of our favorites:

  1. The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan, Kelly DiPucchio and Tricia Tusa
  2. The Empty Pot by Demi
  3. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires

All these books (plus many more!) are part of Life Lesson Library, which also features lesson plans for teachers and accompanying at-home activities for each book to help parents reinforce what their children are learning and reading at The Goddard School. The stories in Life Lesson Library teach children important skills around social awareness, decision-making, self awareness, relationships and self-management, all of which are critical lessons as children return to the classroom this fall and reengage with teachers and peers.

 

The Goddard School’s mission is to make the world a better place through early childhood education. As the nation’s leading premium early childcare provider, Goddard is trusted by parents and families, reaching more than 70,000 students from six weeks to six years old in more than 560 Schools across 38 states.

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Celebrate Curiosity Month with This Free Kit!

by Katie Lineberger
Partner Content

Have inquisitive kiddos? Check. 

Do they love Curious George books? Check. 

Is your crew always up for a party? Check. 

September is Curiosity Month with Curious George. And clearly, you have three good reasons to get in on the fun and celebrate! In honor of Curious George creator H.A. Rey’s birthday, a whole month is dedicated to encouraging children to be curious—just like the beloved (and quite mischievous!) little monkey. 

We have a hunch your little ones are already pretty skilled at exploring, creating and using their imaginations. (That old-box-turned-robot residing in the living room is seriously impressive). But as any parent knows, new activities—that you don’t have to Google!—come in handy and are sure to delight. Download this free Curiosity Month Party Kit to host a gathering in your backyard, school, or library. Included in the kit are invitations, place cards, fun drawing pages, cutout masks, and more to spur creativity. These activities are great for keeping little hands busy, while they learn and discover new things. 

Be sure to bring out some of your family’s favorite Curious George books for storytime. Curious George: Curious About Fall is a perfect pick for this time of year.

Good news, mom or dad: you can be the honorary “Man With the Yellow Hat” as you keep tabs on your own adorable, lovable “monkey.” 

Ready to #StayCurious? 

– Jessica Solloway

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Stonyfield Launches Breakboxes For Adults & They’ll Make Self-Care (Slightly) Easier

by Sarah Shebek

Adulting isn’t easy, especially the school morning grind. Between packing lunches, hunting down homework and making sure shoes match every single day, it’s no wonder we’re barely keeping it together. When it’s time for a breather, Stonyfield has launched the Breakbox Collection, lunchboxes for parents that encourage a little self-care!

Three themed lunchboxes are available to buy online now, with some hilarious goodies:

  • Adult Time Out: Even adults need a time out once-in-a-while, but they’re more fun as an adult… Includes everything parents need to take a load off after (another) long day: an organic mixer, Unreal Candy, Simple Mills and Forager Chips
  • You Got This: Meant to reassure parents that they’re doing an amazing job and give permission to pat themselves on the back; includes a trophy, gold star stickers, a magnet family organizer for the fridge, a “You Got This” mug – and coffee + a hydration bottle to keep them going along the way
  • Hide in My Closet: For those days when you just want to hide out from everyone in your house and squeeze in some much-needed self-care; includes a candle, Bliss Bright Idea under-eye patches, a jade roller, an eye mask and a Swear notebook to let out all your frustrations

They’re cute, but also charitable! Stonyfield is donating 100% of the purchase price ($50 each) to No Kid Hungry. And inside each Breakbox, you’ll find a packed note with a note of wisdom from parents across the country.

If you need a little extra help to make it to school day downtime, we’ve got you. Whether it’s breakfast inspo or delegating some of the morning tasks, cutting down the craziness is totally doable!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Stonyfield Organic

 

RELATED STORIES

20 Store-Bought Breakfasts That Make Mornings a Cinch

21 Lunchboxes That’ll Make It Through the School Year

Printable Lunchbox Jokes to Brighten Your Student’s Day

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