ML Interest Tag: fifth-grade

New Law Prevents Schools from ‘Taking Away Recess’ for Disciplinary Reasons

by Julie Scagell

A new mandatory recess law went into effect in Georgia stating that students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade must have “unstructured break time” daily while school is in session. They will now have mandatory recess every day.

Earlier this week, Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed the bill into law, making recess a requirement for all elementary students. “Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, each elementary school shall schedule recess for all students in kindergarten and grades one through five every school day,” the bill reads. This means teachers can’t take away recess for “disciplinary or academic reasons.”

A report called, “The Crucial Role of Recess in School” published in the American Academy of Pediatrics states that, “Recess represents an essential, planned respite from rigorous cognitive tasks. It affords a time to rest, play, imagine, think, move, and socialize. After recess, for children or after a corresponding break time for adolescents, students are more attentive and better able to perform cognitively. In addition, recess helps young children to develop social skills that are otherwise not acquired in the more structured classroom environment.”

Georgia joins Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Missouri, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia in making recess mandatory, according to the National Association of State Boards of Education. The law does make exceptions for things like scheduled field trips, weather, and all-school assemblies.

Giving kids time for unstructured play not only gives them a break during a long school day, it helps build confidence, strengthen relationships, builds trust, and helps kids develop fine motor skills. It also gives them the opportunity to run and play and just be kids.

Rep. Demetrius Douglas, D-Stockbridge, has been asking Kemp to sign the bill (which was previously vetoed in 2019) for five years. The former Georgia Bulldogs football player cited, in part, his concern about obesity among children as a factor for considering the legislation.

“Speaking as a teacher first, I think we will all be liberated because we’ve always been the voice of our students. They want to play,” Reese Road Leadership Academy teacher Caprisha Battle told WTVM. “They want to go outside. Because the academic pressures have increased, our students need an outlet.”

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Pregnant Kindergarten Teacher Gets Parenting Advice from Students in Viral TikTok

by Karly Wood

Before Mrs. Bullard went viral for her “where do babies come from” video on TikTok, she spent her pregnancy navigating the whiles of being a science-lab teacher. The Huntingtowne Farms Elementary mom-to-be with a great sense of humor decided it would be fun to ask her students some parenting advice and they came through with a few gems!

As a prompt, she asked “If the baby is crying Mrs. Bullard should…” and well, you can see the hilarity that ensued in her video below.

@mrs.b.tv

From the drafts! 😅😂

♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

From “make it a fruit salad” and “let it watch TV” to “give him cotton candy,” the list seems like a kindergarten or first grader’s dream come true––not necessarily a baby’s. It even appears some of the students are already prepared for their own parenting one day, embracing the cry it out method (“let it cry”).

Mrs. Bullard released a similar video before she went on maternity leave asking the same question and there were just as many nuggets of wisdom then as well. Some of our favorites include “run away,” “put on Cocomelon,” and “Just do your best and I just want to tell you’re not going to sleep.”

@mrs.b.tv

Oh, you learned that on TikTok? 😂 #parentingadvice #learnontiktok #kidssaythedarnestthings #teacher

♬ original sound – Mrs. B TV

While the teacher releases some quirky videos on kids parenting advice, she is best known for her science videos on TikTok and Instagram. @Mrs.B.Tv has three million followers, all eagerly watching as the educator turns science into a tangible and exciting subject.

Started during the pandemic when all her students were remote learning, Mrs. Bullard wanted to create content that reached students from kindergarten through fifth grade. She’s done videos on everything from greenhouse gases and Boyle’s Law to working rainbows and elephant toothpaste.

She shares with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, “One of the most challenging things about being a teacher is staying relevant. Whether it is the latest dance trend or Fortnite, we have to find our kids on the platforms they’re comfortable with. A kindergarten student may not know how to log into Google Classroom or Canvas, but they can watch an Instagram video.”

Judging by her 43.2 million views, Mrs. B. is doing a great job at staying relevant.

 

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Pink Explains Why She Won’t Give Her 10-year-old a Phone

by Tinybeans Team

Pink and Carson Daly just had every parent’s park-bench conversation about the struggles of parenting during the technology age, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that she’ll make herself available to tell our kids exactly what she told hers. Because she’s our best friend. Just kidding. But wouldn’t that be cool?

The Grammy-winning superstar told TODAY’s Carson Daly she won’t let her daughter Willow, 10, have one. “There’s a light side and a shadow side to technology in general for adults, as well,” she said. “For kids, I’m not there yet. I have a 10-year-old who does not have a phone, although she pointed out to me yesterday, ‘You know most of the kids in my class, fifth grade, have a phone.’ That doesn’t move my needle. I don’t care.” Hells yes, Pink. Come on over and deliver that news to our phone gremlins, why don’t you?

https://twitter.com/Pink/status/1496539428667691010

Pink, who is also mom to son Jameson, 5, isn’t kidding herself, though. “We can’t be dinosaurs ourselves as parents, we have to sort of embrace it and go with it,” she said. And when Pink embraces something, we’re not talking about liking something on social.

You’ll find her collaborating with the meditation and wellness app Calm, available Wednesday. She’s recorded a trio of bedtime stories on the app, to which she’s no stranger.

“I’ve been using Calm for years and that’s how I fall asleep, so when I heard they were doing a Calm Kids, I was like, ‘I want to do that. I want to read stories to kids,’” she said. “And so I tested out my stories on Jameson and he requests them now.”

But she still sumo wrestles with them before bedtime, too. Because she’s the coolest. And our best friend.

Not really, but still.

—Shelley Massey

 

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Celebrating Kindness One Book at a Time

By Keira Pride

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

 

Anyone, no matter how young, can help make the world a better place through their thoughtful actions. It’s never too early to set a good example for children by modeling simple acts of kindness. When children are encouraged to see things from another’s point of view and be shown how their actions can help uplift others, they often grow up to be more caring, responsible, and compassionate members of a global community. Books can teach children that they don’t have to perform a heroic act to make the world a better place because even the smallest acts of kindness ripple across the world in ways that no one could imagine.

Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade

Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
Mrs. Ruler is an unconventional teacher who decides to teach her unruly students that kindness is cool. Each kindergartner must perform five acts of kindness, and while most of the kids catch on, there is one student who needs a rescue of the class gerbils to get in a last-minute act of kindness. Parents and teachers will appreciate the list of 100 acts of kindness at the back of the book to inspire kids with ways to put kindness into action.

Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
When Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, the pair becomes fast friends. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?

Written with a warm, rhyming text that includes a subtle anti-bullying message even the youngest reader will understand. New York Times bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld imbues Stick and Stone with energy, emotion, and personality to spare.

Second & Third Grade

The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
The children in this book are inspired by Aesop’s fable The Lion and the Mouse after their teacher, Mrs. Bloom, reads the story in class. She then instructs each student to perform an act of kindness and present it to the class. Minna cannot choose just one and decides to make a quilt with all of them. Other classmates add theirs to the quilt, and it soon takes over the school. The unique cut-paper illustrations present a variety of ways in which the important lesson of kindness can be shared, and displayed.

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein
Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, so her neighbor Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send a care package of cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. The cookies give Lionel an idea, and his idea inspires a student, who in turn inspires a ballet troupe in England! And so the good feelings that started with Amelia’s smile make their way around the world, from a goodwill recital in Israel to an impromptu rumba concert in Paris, to a long-awaited marriage proposal in Italy, to a knitted scarf for a beloved niece back in New York. Putting a unique spin on “What goes around comes around,” David Ezra Stein’s charmingly illustrated story reminds us that adding even a small dose of kindness into the world is sure to spur more and more kindness, which could eventually make its way back to you!

Fourth & Fifth Grade 

El Deafo by Cece Bell
After a serious illness at the age of four, CeCe discovers that she’s no longer able to hear. Hearing aids and lip-reading involve unexpected challenges, and as she goes out into the wider world she realizes how little people understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss. To succeed in school, she gets a bulky device called a Phonic Ear that allows her to hear her teachers—even when they forget she’s listening. This delightful autobiographical graphic novel provides an uplifting and humorous glimpse into the life of a hard-of-hearing child. A great novel for raising awareness and promoting understanding.

New Kid by Jerry Kraft
A wonderful choice by the 2020 Newberry Award committee as the first graphic novel to win the prestigious award. Seventh-grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. Instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds. Jordan is not really fitting into either one. This book allows readers to learn about different sides of the tensions that children and adults face every single day, yet have few opportunities to really discuss.

Middle School

Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories by Amanda Li
From surviving a plane crash in the jungle to striking against climate change, you won’t believe the incredible stories of the challenges these brave kids from around the world have overcome! This book features 29 tales of amazing young girls and boys who have achieved the unimaginable. The stories range from triumphing over illness and injury to overcoming bullying. Entries include Sweden’s Greta Thunberg, whose youth climate activism sparked a global movement, and Pakistan’s Ayesha Farooq, who became Pakistan’s first female fighter pilot at age 25. Each section gives advice on how young people can participate in activities similar to the ones in the accompanying biography.

Pay It Forward: Young Readers Edition by Catherine Ryan Hyde
A moving and uplifting novel about Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy in a small California town who accepts his teacher’s challenge to earn extra credit by coming up with a plan to change the world. Trevor’s idea is simple: do a good deed for three people, and instead of asking them to return the favor, ask them to “pay it forward” to three others who need help. A heart-melting story of a boy who shows how each of us can make a difference. If your family enjoys this book, watch the movie together afterward.

Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California. 

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Audiobooks & Literary Podcasts for Kids That Encourage Gratitude

By Keira Pride

When we are asked if audiobooks are a good choice for our young readers, our reply is a resounding, “Yes!” Listening to good books read aloud has established benefits—both cognitive and in terms of convenience. The variety, overall quality, and availability of children’s audiobooks have skyrocketed over the past several years. There are wonderful audiobooks for children of all ages, narrated by high-quality storytellers, including, occasionally, a book’s author.

Children’s first experiences with written text is in the form of narration—parents and teachers reading aloud to infants and toddlers. At some point in their progression, and even before formal introduction to phonics and decoding, children quite naturally begin to recognize certain words on the page. At all points in their “learning to read” journey, children benefit from listening to books that stretch their capacity to read, books that are at a higher level than what they can read on their own.

Regular exposure to new vocabulary and more complex sentence structure is beneficial whether a child is reading from a page or listening to a narration. Audiobook narrators, who are often actors or other speaking professionals, model fluent reading, with pacing and emphases that enhance the story and impact readers’ own oral reading fluency, listening comprehension skills, and ability to visualize. Audiobooks can be a unique motivational tool for reluctant or struggling readers, especially if they can simultaneously read and listen to a book.

Finally, listening to an excellent book (or podcast) read by an expressive narrator is great fun! It is a wonderful family activity, and with earbuds and mobile devices readily available, it is a pleasurable personal activity. Listening to an audiobook can enliven the most mundane of activities—household chores or car commutes, for example. In fact, we decided to finally publish our list of favorite audiobooks in time for the winter holidays. With a second nod to the holiday season, our selections lean toward stories that honor kindness, generosity, and gratitude. We hope there’s something here for each of you.

Preschool

Little Stories for Tiny People  Written and performed by Rhea Petcher
Bear’s Big Sleep: A Thanksgivingish Story for Kids is one of the many short tales on this ten season long podcast site for small children. Stories can be sorted by topic, such as: Friendship, Big Feelings, Growing Up, and Life Changes. Each story features characters like Sophie the Sloth and Strumbly Bear who learn life lessons as applicable to kids as they are to imaginary animals. Children love the recurring characters as well as Rhea’s soothing voice.

The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley and Friends by Sesame Workshop, narrated by a full cast
Foley, the soundmaker monster, is the host of this high-energy podcast that will captivate young children. Foley, along with all of the regulars from Sesame Street talk about subjects such as the importance of family, making friends, feelings, and understanding what it means to share. Elmo and Foley chat in episode two about being sad, feeling scared, and how having friends that make you feel happy makes a difference. Songs about emotions, attitudes and friendship are sprinkled throughout this incredibly meaningful children’s podcast.

Kindergarten

Winnie The Pooh: The House at Pooh Corner written by A.A. Milne, narrated by Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and others
This amazing collection of short stories which take place in the 100 acre wood are just about to become the same age as the forest in which they occur. The incredibly diverse group of characters take children through so many whimsical situations, all the while teaching them important lessons about childhood. Perhaps the finest in all is the lesson that little Piglet, Pooh’s constant friend, has in one of his many heartfelt thoughts, “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” You and your children will never want this treasure to end.

Grades One & Two

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Hosted by Jane Lindholm
This Vermont Public Radio podcast takes actual questions that kids have asked parents over and over and again, and takes the time to really answer them. Some of the questions may seem silly, such as, “Why are Cactuses Spiky?” or, “Why Can’t Kids Vote?” But to a child, these are very important. There are also entire episodes dedicated to emotional or ethical issues, such as, “Is It OK to Break a Rule?” and, “Why do Things Seem Scary in the Dark?” Each episode comes with resources and a learning guide to deepen a child’s understanding of the lesson.

Third-to-Fifth Grade

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, narrated by Kirby Heyborn
Newberry Medalist Katherine Applegate conveys a magical story about friendship, forgiveness, empathy, and resilience. As a family deals with a stressful circumstance, young Jackson copes by spending time with his friend Crenshaw, an imaginary cat. This audiobook has a serious tone and enlightens readers to the fact that some kids lead a not-so-perfect life. The narrator brings the imaginary Crenshaw to life in a way that is relatable to children and provokes thoughts of gratefulness.

Middle School

The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
This Peabody award winning podcast that is performed by a cast of middle schoolers begins with an eleven-year-old Mars and his friends awaiting the end of 7th grade. They hope to gain their entrance to the exclusive Pruitt Prep High School, founded by tech guru genius Oliver Pruitt. Then one of them suddenly goes missing.  Mars listens to Pruitt’s podcast daily, and finds clues and discovers that kids are disappearing all over the world. Mars and his friends are seemingly normal, but they all have certain abilities or talents that get amplified as the story goes on. Listeners gain a sense that anyone could be a sort of superhero, and that friends who help each other are priceless.

—via Stratford Schools

Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California. 

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The Very Best Online Games for Kids

by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

Tablet-based edutainment apps are great for busy families on the go, but for kids who have access to a laptop or desktop computer, browser-based online games can provide a much-needed reprieve from tablet fatigue. There are plenty of kid-friendly, educational online game sites to choose from, and many offer a selection of content free of charge. Read on to see our picks of the best online games for kids of all ages.

MarcoPolo World School

MarcoPolo

This award-winning platform offers a dynamic, relatable STEAM curriculum featuring over 450+ lessons and over 3,000 activities, with new content added weekly, this is your go-to for kids from 3-7. With a diverse array of projects, including hands-on arts & crafts, stunning videos and more, your kiddo can travel the world learning about science, technology, engineering, art and math without ever leaving your house. 

marcopololearning.com

Click here to try for FREE for an entire month. 

ABCMouse.com Early Learning Academy

Featuring more than 850 lessons across 10 levels of learning, ABC Mouse is a one-stop-shop for pre-school and early elementary online education. The website’s online curriculum includes more than 9,000 individuals learning activities in reading, math, science and art. Young learners will be delighted by the website’s interactive games and activities, which are brought to life with colorful animations and fun music, but older kids may find some of the lessons a bit too easy. ABCmouse.com members also can download the mobile app to access many of the same lessons, compatible with most smartphones and tablets.

Preschool to third grade, subscription plans start at $9.95/monthly, abcmouse.com

ABCYa!

ABCYa! offers more than 300 online games for students ranging from preschool to fifth grade. While many of the website’s large collection of gamified math and reading lessons are available free of charge, an online subscription removes ads and gives access to additional content. Nifty video tutorials on the website show kids how to make a variety of crafty projects, like origami tulips and slime. Like an increasing number of formerly online-only gaming sites, ABCYa! is also available as a mobile app for Android, Kindle and iOS, which provides access to most of the website’s catalog of games and activities.

Preschool to fifth grade, subscription plans start at $6.99/monthly, abcya.com

BrainPOP Jr.

While BrainPOP Jr.’s website offers some free content, including select games and videos, the good stuff can be found behind a subscription paywall. Designed for students in kindergarten through third grade, BrainPOP Jr.’s curriculum is standards-aligned and features movies, quizzes, games, and activities that cover subjects ranging from science, reading and writing, math, health, social studies, and arts and technology. As learners graduate to more advanced learning, there’s BrainPop, for fourth graders and older, and GameUp, a companion educational gaming site.

Kindergarten to third grade, subscription plans start at $9.45/monthly, jr.brainpop.com

Fact Monster

Not so much an online educational gaming website, Fact Monster is a neatly organized, kid-friendly online resource for elementary school students to discover fun facts and get homework help on a wide variety of subjects. Curated by educational professionals, the detailed content is rich with information that’s easily accessible and comprehensible to young learners. Students can easily navigate through the website and select specific skills and concepts that they want to explore. Think of it as an interactive, virtual encyclopedia.

Kindergarten to fourth grade, free, ad-supported, factmonster.com

Fun Brain

Started more than 20 years ago, Fun Brain is a leader in free educational online games for kids, offering hundreds of games, books, comics, and videos that help students develop skills in math, reading, problem-solving, and literacy. Although there are plenty of banner ads on the website, the collection of fun, interactive games will engross students who may not even realize that they are learning while they play. As a bonus, site visitors also can read a variety of popular kids’ books and comics, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket.

Pre-k to eighth grade, free, ad-supported, funbrain.com

Mr. Nussbaum

Boasting more than 3,500 pages of content, including plenty of learning games on a variety of subjects, Mr. Nussbaum is free educational gaming website created by a school teacher named Greg Nussbaum. The look and feel of many of the games are decidedly old school, but unexpectedly addictive. Students can learn math skills, language arts and geography, among other subjects, through engaging interactive games and activities.

Pre-k to sixth grade, free, ad-supported, with paid ad-free memberships coming soon, mrnussbaum.com

Multiplication.com

Imagine playing Super Mario Bros. and in the middle of collecting coins, you have to answer a multiplication question in order to move on. That’s a little bit like the experience of playing the interactive multiplication games on Multiplication.com. Which is to say, the gameplay is super-fun—at least for students who like math and gaming. Although the website has a generic look and feel, the games are engaging and effective. Most games are free, and a paid subscription removes ads.

Second grade to sixth grade, subscription plans start at $9.45/monthly, multiplication.com

National Geographic Kids Games

National Geographic’s free gaming hub for kids is chock-full of more than 100 fun, interactive games and activities themed around science and geography. Gameplay range from quizzes to puzzles, as well as videos and beautifully photographed stories and essays. Parents and kids can register for a free subscription to monitor and save progress on the website, and a link to Nat Geo’s online store sells neat educational products like STEM toys and science- and geography-related books.

Kindergarten to fourth grade, free, kids.nationalgeographic.com/games

PBS Kids Games

The appeal of PBS Kids online game hub is the free access to a huge number of browser-based gaming experiences based on popular character franchises like The Cat in the Hat, Curious George, Sesame Street, and more. Online games are organized by subjects that include math, healthy habits, science, reading, and teamwork.

Kindergarten to fifth grade, free, pbskids.org/games

Prongo.com

Prongo.com is an educational website that offers fun, interactive, and educational games for kids. In addition to engaging interactive games and activities, the website also features free downloadable clip art, wallpaper, kids jokes, screensavers, and more. Online games are sorted by age groups, ranging from matching and memory games, mazes, puzzles, tic-tac-toe, and more. Brain Teasers are timed quizzes that cover topics such as dinosaurs, the human body, outer space, and inventors.

Preschool to fifth grade, free, ad-supported, prongo.com

Scholastic Games

Education publishing house Scholastic’s online hub offers a fun place for kids to spend time and learn while they play. With content organized by age and interest, the site features web-based games and quizzes as well as links to Scholastic’s growing catalog of mobile apps. Much of the content is geared toward parents and teachers, but there’s plenty of fun stuff for kids that’s interesting and engaging, including Scholastic book-themed games, like Captain Underpants, Goosebump, and The 39 Clues.

Kindergarten to fifth grade, free web games, with additional purchase options, scholastic.com/kids/games

Sheppard Software

This barebones educational gaming website features a collection of hundreds of interactive games aimed at young learners. From science to math to language arts and more, the Flash-based gameplay lets players click-and-drag through different activities that will engage young students with sounds and visual effects to make learning fun and more memorable.

Preschool to second grade, free, ad-supported, sheppardsoftware.com

Starfall

Funded by the Starfall Education Foundation, a publicly supported nonprofit organization, the Starfall website was created in 2002 as a free, public service to help teach children to read wtih phonics. Using audiovisual interactivity, games on the website are suited for kids in preschool through second grade. An optional membership expands the free content to include additional music, math, and reading activities.

Preschool to second grade, free with additional membership options, starfall.com

—Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

Feature photo: iStock 

 

RELATED STORIES: 

The 10 Best Educational Apps for Kids

9 Fun & Easy Typing Games for Kids

12 Games That Add Up to Serious Fun

 

 

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Noah’s Ark at the Skirball’s Video Series Brings Storytelling & Mindfulness Home

by Jamie Aderski
Partner Content

You may think you’ve exhausted every online learning resource by now, then in sails the mighty Ark—Noah’s Ark at the Skirball: The Art of Imagination virtual experience, that is! Known for its incredible design, Noah’s Ark at the Skirball is a much-beloved cultural landmark in Los Angeles with a one-of-a-kind storyline.

The Skirball is a cultural center rooted in Jewish tradition and American democratic ideals. They’ve found great success with kids and adults alike through vivid storytelling and participatory experiences. The Skirball’s student-centered cultural programs foster empathy, encourage collaboration and focus on community values. You can now experience the wonder at home, with The Art of Imagination digital content for you to share with your kid, ages Pre-K through fifth grade. Read on to learn more!

 

Social-Emotional Learning at Its Best

Bring the artistry and community-minded messages of Noah’s Ark into your home! Inspired by culturally diverse flood stories, the suite of new digital content focuses on the ways that each of us, including the youngest members of the community, can make a difference. It's all about helping others and self-expression; keys to self-esteem and a better world for all!

Exploring the Series

In the Noah's Ark video series, kids will be taken on a storytelling adventure! They’ll explore cultural flood tales, experience mindful moments and learn to practice compassion and creative expression. These videos aren't meant to just be part of a school lesson, they stand on their own as ideal edu-tainment for any kiddo! If you are looking for a deeper dive on a particular subject, just download one of their free lesson plans. Topics include being a good citizen, caring for the earth, learning about animals on the Ark, creating love and gratitude within your community and more.

Why We Love It for Families

While these resources include lesson plans designed for educators, they are an excellent resource for parents and caregivers to share the joy of storytelling and mindfulness with young learners. Like their original Noah’s Ark at the Skirball exhibition, the content is engaging, unique and fun! The Noah's Ark videos are each around seven minutes long, which is ideal for younger kids. These free videos are hosted by the creative voices of Skirball, who are well-skilled in keeping kids interested, entertained and curious—even through the screen.

It's Free & Available Now!

View the videos on YouTube for free here.

You can read more about The Art of Imagination here. 

 

—Jamie Aderski

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Best Oregon Overnight Summer Camps

by Annette Benedetti

Editor’s Note: we do our best to make sure all of the information on our camp picks is accurate. Please make sure to contact the camps directly for specifics as COVID regulations are changing all of the time.

Summer camps encourage kids to adventure, explore and build resiliency while creating memories that last a lifetime. It’ also gives parents the break they need after a year of COVID together time with the whole family! Fortunately, there are awesome overnight summer camps that are running in 2021, and they give your kids the opportunity to gain independence, learn new skills and make friends in exciting and beautiful settings (while you get a little time to yourself in). We’ve put together a short list of some of the best! Read on to find out more.

photo:Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington 

Camp Westwind
Camp Westwind is open for overnight summer camps! This non-profit residential camp is located on more than 500 acres of woodlands along the Oregon coast just north of Lincoln City. Summer youth camps focusing on providing integrated, exceptional wilderness experiences have been offered at Westwind since 1937. Activities for campers in grades 2 and up include kayaking, archery, disc golf, horseback riding, backpacking, games, crafts, and of course beach fun and games. Coed sessions run all summer and there are options for campers of every level, from three-day camps for young beginners to multi-week teen leadership programs. For program fees, check the website at information is being updated according to COVID guidelines regularly

Camp Westwind
Otis, OR
Online: westwind.org

Camp Namanu
Camp Namanu is cautiously optimistic about being able to offer summer camps this year. It has been operating on the banks of the Sandy river since 1924. Now operated by Camp Fire Columbia, this is the place to go for an iconic summer camp experience that includes cook and camp outs, hiking, boating, swimming, and challenge courses. Camp Namanu prides itself on fostering friendship and community and encourages cabin groups to tailor their experiences to their interests- there’s even an option to stay in tree-house cabins! A wide range of possibilities exist for program length from three-day mini camps to extended stays and special programs for horse-lovers are offered at the Namanu Ranch! Camps for K through 12 run all summer. This camp is taking reservations and will update according to COVID guidelines.

10300 SE Camp Namanu Rd
Sandy, OR
Online: campnamanu.org

via Trackers Earth

Trackers Portland
Trackers Portland is a beloved overnight summer camp that families clamor to sign their kids up for each year. This multi-faceted program offers training in outdoor skills from several locations in the greater Metro area throughout the year to kids ages 4 and up and adults. Their summer camp program focusing on outdoor adventures, leadership, and traditional skills is based out of Sandy, Oregon, but also offers expedition-style excursion camps to adventurers in fifth grade and above. They also offer weekend camps and extended stay options for explorers that just can’t get enough of ranching, wilderness survival, gardening, or outdoor role-playing skills and activities. Camps run all season check the website for times and rates.

4617 SE Milwaukie Ave.
Portland, OR
Online: trackerspdx.com

Big Lake Youth Camp
Camp Big Lake, located outside of Sister, Oregon, offers traditional camp activities like canoeing and swimming in addition to BMX, cross country, digital photography, drama, gymnastics and more along the shores of Big Lake. While there, campers ages 7 and up get to choose their daily focus activity, or they can enroll in a week-long intensive program in their area of interest. Big Lake plays an important role in the camp itself, enabling campers to participate in a broad range of water sports including wake sports, paddle boarding, wind surfing and sailing! Week-long sessions run all summer.

Big Lake
Willamette National Forest, Or
Online: biglake.org

Avid 4 Adventure Camp

These cool camps take campers on weeklong expeditions in the Oregon Backcountry. The backpacking expeditions consist of a tight-knit group of up to 13 campers and 2 skilled, supportive instructors. Expedition backpackers will spend up to six hours hiking and exploring the park’s spectacular terrain. Throughout the week, they’ll make camp in picturesque places, pitching tents and cooking meals together on backcountry stoves. They’ll learn to adapt to a range of weather conditions and environments, use backpacking best practices, hone their interpersonal skills, and develop an increased appreciation for the natural world. There are also multi-sport expeditions to choose from. Visit the website for information on dates and prices.

Online: havid4.com/oregon-portland-camps

Vapatrajama

B'Nai B'rith Camps

Located on the beautiful Oregon coast, B’nai B’rith (BB) Camp is a vibrant and inclusive Jewish camp serving the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington and British Columbia) since 1921. BB Camp is a home away from home for campers of different ages, backgrounds, denominations, and abilities. The camp's unique culture is built on sharing fun experiences in a welcoming environment that inspires all campers to  grow, and develop enduring Jewish identities. BB campers eagerly look forward to our summer camps and all-age year-round programs where they join their camp family in activities like boating on Devil’s Lake, challenging themselves on the ropes course, or laughing with friends while learning a new dance. Head to the camp website for camp dates and prices.

phone: 503.496.7447
Online: bbcamp.org/summer-camp

Royal Ridges Overnight Camps

This popular faith-based over night camp is currently waiting on more information and guidelines from the state before opening registrations for their overnight camps for 2021. But, there is a waitlist available for resident programs. Campers get to learn new outdoor education skills throughout the week plus add mountain boards, climbing wall, canoes, pool, human foosball, gaga ball, sling shot row, archery and more! There is even a ropes course and zip line for the braver set. See website for schedule and pricing.

20115 NE 354th St.Yacolt, WA 98675
Phone: 360.686.3737

—Annette Benedetti

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Pop Quiz: Are You Winning at Pandemic Parenting?

By Krissy Dieruf

Parenting in the time of coronavirus is like walking a blind dog down a dark alley while wearing sunglasses. There is a lot of bumping into walls, crying, and flailing around, trying to grab hold of something seemingly sturdy or concrete. It’s a whole new type of parenting. Scary, weird, aimless, and sprinkled with impulsive maniacal laughter. Or is that just me?  

The floor has been pulled out from under us. Nothing fits anymore. We are in crisis mode, doing our best but likely letting go of some higher standards we once held when we possessed the time, energy, and wherewithal to enforce them. Frankly, the things we used to fret about, like an early bedtime and a low screen limit, have turned into rules working against us in our utterly unchartered lives. Late bedtimes are in, or rather, no bedtimes. And screen time is more like the best time and, sure, have another hour or two, kiddos. Because what else is there for you to do? All of the stress, confusion, emotional exhaustion, life responsibilities, and oh yeah, the lurking coronavirus threatening every move we make, can cause a parent to feel like a spinning cap trying not to spin out of control.

Rest assured, if you have felt any of this, you are not alone. If at any point you have found yourself sinking into guilt or anxiety over the difficulty of balancing everything on your shoulders, or your new habit of letting your kids eat popsicles for breakfast, try not to worry. You have not failed them. If you’re freaking out about how all of the mandates and changes in the schools and communities will affect your kids, take a deep breath. Fear and worry can grab ahold quickly when we doubt ourselves and feel lost in a forest of fog and trees too high to see the sky. Remember, the sky is there. It has not abandoned us. Reach deeper into the darkness for hope and light, and look deeper into yourself and trust that you already have everything inside of you that you need to get through this. You are a good parent.

Ask yourself these questions about ways you may already be weaving strong bonds and cultivating resiliency in your kids to help them strive despite having to go through hard times such as this:

1. Do I hug my kids?
2. Do I tell them I love them?
3. Do I laugh with my kids?
4. Do I listen to them when they have something to say?
5. Do I ask them questions about who they are, what they like, what they think, and how they feel?
6. Do my eyes light up when they walk into the room?
7. Do I compliment their hair, st‌yle of clothes, ideas, and little things they do?
8. Do I read to my kids?
9. Do I show them trust and respect?
10. Do I spend time with them?
11. Do I know their love language and try to try to show love in that way?
12. Do I keep boundaries for safety and security even if some of the other limitations like bedtime and screen time are a little looser?
13. Do I talk about my feelings and validate theirs?
14. Do I show interest in their interests?
15. Do I apologize when I make mistakes?
16. Do I help them when they need help?
17. Do I get support for my kids’ mental and behavioral health needs?
18. Do I hold them when they need to be held?
19. Do I try every day to do my best?
20. Do I forgive myself when the day is over, and it wasn’t perfect?
21. Do I wake up and do it all over again?

If you answered yes to most or even some of these, your kids are good hands. You are already doing the most important things during this new and bazaar situation that we are still trying to figure out how to handle.

This year will be hard, and school and sports will look different. Kids will not be doing all the things they were supposed to do. There may be a time when we have to catch up, or relearn some things, resocialize and process all the big feelings from all the days inside. That’s okay. Right now, talking, connecting, rolling on the floor, grabbing your belly laughing because a rerun of America’s Funniest Home Videos is on for the one-hundredth time, and it’s still hilarious, is the most important stuff right now. That’s enough. Hugs, hope, snuggling reading together, talking about whatever your kids want to talk about even if it makes your eyes roll into the back of your head with boredom, are the essential things. Good job. Keep going. Your kids are lucky to have you.

When you start to worry that your kids are missing out, or that you’re not ready to become a teacher 3-5 days a week because you have no clue how to teach a kindergartner to read and you don’t remember a single thing from fifth-grade social studies, close your eyes and wipe the sweat off your brow. Look back at times you thrived through adversity. Think about the hard places you’ve worked yourself out of, and the times in your life you grabbed hold of your spirit and grit and incredible sense of humor and made the most of a lackluster situation. These are the skills that serve you well in a long beautiful life. Your kids are learning everything they need to know about life right now from you, and they will be all the better for it.

Krissy Dieruf is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children, loves to sing and dance around the house and has a soft spot for rebels and crazy hair. 

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