COVID-19 has revealed many failings, including the uneven distribution of responsibilities in the family unit, overall public health vulnerabilities in school populations, and the government itself. Education policymakers have shown a refusal (or outright inability) to modernize and evolve. However, one positive that could emerge from this wreckage is that parents have no choice but to take command of their children’s education as the de facto classroom has relocated to the kitchen table. Perhaps no area is more primed for innovation and disruption than K-12 education, particularly the one-in-five children who have learning differences.
Enacted in 1975, the Individuals with Disabilities Act establishes a substantive right to a “free appropriate public education” for eligible children with disabilities in the public school system, which includes special education and related services. The law requires that schools offer students individualized education programs that are reasonably calculated to result in progress. These individualized and specialized plans are supposed to be prepared by the child’s teachers, school officials, and parents in order to measure academic and functional goals for the child. But be forewarned, the individualized plans are far from a panacea. Instead, they are the first step in a Kafka-esque journey for families fighting for their educational betterment that they are entitled to by law.
Why is it then that so many inconsistently performing students are overlooked and unexamined? Schools and teachers deliberately by-design refuse to label certain learning conditions by what they actually are because they know that they will then be responsible for trying to remediate them. They recognize that they lack the resources, the expertise, and, frankly, the will to try to address these problems. As a result, these problems often go unaddressed for far longer than they should and cause far more emotional and academic damage than would be the case with early intervention. The burden of child advocate rests entirely on the parents to cajole, nag, and become a well-versed education policy expert in order to eke out a suitable education support plan that is legally-owed the student. Unsurprisingly, many IEP plans are anemic and devoid of real remediation.
Nine years ago, I distinctly remember meeting with my daughter’s first-grade public school teacher regarding her slight, but perceptible and growing, academic struggles relative to her peers. A no-nonsense veteran teacher leaned over and said in an unsettlingly hushed voice, “I think she may have a language issue.” I did not realize it then, but even that level of candor is verboten in the education world. It was not until several years later after various assessments and many thousands of dollars that we confirmed my daughter was exhibiting signs of a language-based learning disorder dyslexia.
Like similar learning disabilities, such as ADD and ADHD, dyslexia is known and unfamiliar at once, shrouded in misperceptions, and cloaked in mysterious-sounding euphemisms, like “processing issues.” Similar to other disabilities, it can wreak havoc on a young person’s life, affecting self-esteem both in and out of the classroom. For families of those with learning disorders, of course, there are also the economic costs of bringing one’s child to various specialists for examinations that do not come cheap. And those are the fortunate families who can afford to seek assistance. Many cannot.
This is where the parent advocates can make a huge difference, particularly in the current environment where almost all students will suffer from not receiving needed attention in the classroom setting. Of course, in the time of COVID, the burden may lie squarely with the parents to support their child’s learning differences and get up to speed. Online communities can be a great place to start. The National Association of Dyslexia, Understood.org and Child Mind Institute will arm you with a much-needed new vocabulary. But buyer beware: simply hiring “tutors” is not likely to close the widening knowledge gap. Evidence-based literacy programs, very particular teacher training, and certifications are necessary. Objective benchmarks must be employed to measure and gauge where your child is progressing.
COVID or not, our current education solutions for different learners are disgracefully two-tiered and malnourished. However, as society pivots, we have an opportunity to create break-the-mold solutions that leverage evidence-based programs and technology, along with the lessons of decades of failed public interventionist programs. It just so happens that this might be the perfect confluence of events to take these risks. Wouldn’t that be a teachable moment?
After struggling with her child's Dyslexia diagnosis in 2014, Jen partnered with her former tutor to address and repair material deficiencies in the specialized learning marketplace.Braintrust seeks to remove traditional barriers between pupil and teacher while offering academic transparency, metric-driven results, and accountability for everyone in a scalable product.
As new parents we live for the developmental milestones of our babies. Smiling at six weeks, starting solids at six months, potty training… and on and on. Our excitment even starts while baby is still in the womb: “Look honey, she’s the size of a kidney bean this week!” As time goes on though, we realize that we as parents have milestones, too!
Below is a completely unscientific and yet 100 percent accurate chart of Baby Milestones for Parents.
Milestone: The day your baby can hold his or her own bottle
Typically occurs: Around 10 to 11months old
What it’s really like for parents: Confusion and disorientation in parent; for several days you will not know what to do with your free hands and lap. Then expect a feeling of liberation. Parents report their homes become moderately cleaner upon reaching this stage.
Milestone: The day breastfeeding feels as natural as everyone keeps telling you it should be
Typically occurs: Anytime between day 1 and day 90
What it’s really like for breastfeeding moms: Overwhelming joy.
Milestone: The day your baby sleeps through the night for the first time
Typically occurs: Anywhere between 12 weeks to 5 years old
What it’s really like for parents: Also known as “The Holy Grail of Parenting,” once parents feel what it’s like to have a child go to sleep from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., they can never go back. Parents report feelings of wanting a second child upon reaching this milestone.
Milestone: The day you decide your child watching “a show” is okay
Typically occurs: Most frequently once toddler drops their nap or when toddler welcomes newborn sibling
What it’s really like for parents: Slight guilt followed by urge to allow child to watch “just one more.” There are LOTS of opinions on this one but only you know the right decision for your family. (Just go with it.)
Milestone: The day that diapers are no longer on your Costco list
Typically occurs: Varies
What it’s really like for parents: Utter disbelief. Parents later report sadness as there are no more babies in the house.
What Parenting Milestones have you reached? Which ones are you excited about? Let us know in the comments!
With twin girls and a boy born 17 months apart, I'm the owner of the world's most ironically named business, Let Mommy Sleep. Let Mommy Sleep provides nurturing postpartum care to newborns and evidence based education to parents by Registered Nurses and Newborn Care Providers.
We took a cue from Mr. Rogers and looked for the helpers, and when we did, we found some truly inspiring parents. Theses local moms and dads remind us that simple ideas really can make a big difference in the lives of others. Read on to discover Seattle parents who are making a difference and keep the good vibes rolling!
It wasn’t the pandemic that inspired Alison Scott to try her hand at entrepreneurship. It was her years of experience as a pediatrician, watching parents share the same questions and concerns that lead her develop babydocbox. This northeast Seattle mom of two launched babydocbox in November. It’s a thoughtfully curated subscription box that puts a pediatrician’s expertise at parents’ fingertips. Each themed box focuses on a different first-year developmental milestone, like sleep, feeding and illness to name a few. The boxes are filled with high-quality, safe, practical and fun products from local small businesses (and a few big ones too), alongside practical tips and advice straight from the pediatrician’s mouth. There’s a little something for moms in there too. (As a doctor, Scott realizes the seriousness of postpartum depression and includes postpartum resources and information in each box.) A year’s subscription includes six boxes, but parents can jump in any time during those first twelve months to get in on the action.
When the pandemic first hit, Tara Clark decided to call three friends each day just to check in on them. It was the call to her friend Vikki Cha that set things in motion for these three Seattle moms. Vikki was concerned about the impact the Pike Street Market’s closing would have on her parents, both farmers who sell their flowers there. So Tara offered to help, imagining she could sell the famed flowers on the sidewalk outside her Capitol Hill home. She spread the word through her social network and within five hours had pre-sold 50 dozen flowers to be picked up the next day. The next day she sold 100 dozen…then 200 dozen… then 250 dozen…and things blossomed from there.
Vikki, Tara and Xee worked non-stop those first few months coordinating with the Hmong farmers, and they saw first hand how excited people were to support the growers. As Tara explains, things came together organically, from the Mercer Island friend who sold over 100 dozen flowers on the island in a day, to a man who volunteered to build the group’s website, to connecting with Matt Galvin, co-owner of Pagliacci Pizza, who helped them set up pick-up spots in Madison Park, West Seattle and on Mercer. In the end, 53 Hmong growers sold with them and the season isn’t over yet.
Extra impact: Tara is also the force behind the Believe Love Unite signs you’ve probably seen (and possibly have) around town that start,“In this house, we believe…” Since she started selling the signs just three short years ago, she’s donated over $75,000 to non-profits like KUOW, The Village of Hope Seattle, Planned Parenthood, International Rescue Committee, It Gets Better Project and more.
Connect:Order flowers from the Pike Market growers through the end of the fresh flower season and get your Believe Love Unite merch here.
Donte Felder
courtesy Donte Felder
Award-winning teacher and father of four, south Seattle dad Donte Felder is the force behind the innovative South End Stories arts program. Funded by a Best Start Kids grant, the program focuses on engaging kids in four-dimensional learning experiences through the arts. Kids in the program make films, write poems and produce plays that are culturally-relevant and meaningful to them. Now going in to its third year, the program started at Orca K-8. It has since expanded to include partnerships with Pathfinder, Center School and Chief Sealth High School, and this summer it included free classes open to everyone. The programming was an invaluable resource for many kids during the pandemic, as they learned the basics of music production, how to create great characters and even got to deconstruct Hamilton, the musical. The team behind South End Stories’ innovative trauma-informed arts practice will offer another iteration this fall when students are engaged in distance learning.
Connect: Learn more about South End Stories, its programs and how to support it here.
Jane Park
Jane Park
When Jane Park, Queen Anne resident and mom to two teens, started Tokki in October of 2019, she had no idea where her next entrepreneurial adventure would take her. Then Covid hit, and in April she got a call from fellow entrepreneur Lisa Sun, CEO of Gravitas, saying her frontline worker friends were in need of fabric masks. Jane and Lisa put two and two together—Lisa’s sewing and design resources, and Jane’s 100% tight weave quilter’s cotton fabrics—and started making masks. Within a few hours, they had hundreds of orders. As Jane explains, they “wanted to do some good in these crazy times,” so the pair decided to donate one mask to a frontline worker in need for every mask purchased as a way to give back. To date, over 14,000 masks have been given away, many to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
Extra impact: Everything about these masks is made is the USA, and the cotton fabrics are eco-friendly. They biodegrade in five months, compared to synthetic fabrics that take 20-200 years. Find out more about Tokki’s commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and being socially responsible.
The day the statewide school closures were announced, South Park resident and mom to two teens, Lashanna Williams got things together to cook hot breakfast for the kids in her community. As the Covid safety measures evolved, Lashanna realized she needed a way to feed people outside, where they could stay socially distanced. This is how the Neighborhood Pantries came to be. Lashanna and four neighbors—Shawna, Robin, Brad and Tim—got to work. They set out tent-covered tables in four different spots, started taking donations and planned buying trips using Tim’s truck to make deliveries. Each Pantry is stocked with food and other necessities, like soap, menstrual products and masks. For over 200 days the group has kept the tables going using 100% community-donated funds. Lashanna, working with organizations like Food Lifeline and Urban Fresh Food Collective, has also arranged food box pick-ups (about 300 each Friday) and hot meals for kids (about 400 weekly) at the South Park Community Center. Although the Neighborhood Pantries will scale back their offerings at the end of this month, the South Park Community Center efforts will continue.
Connect: Contribute to the Neighborhood Pantries and Fridge by Venmo-ing Lady Lashanna or help with area rent-assistance efforts online.
Erin Ashe & Rob Wiliams
Jackie Hildering
If you and the kids tuned in to the Virtual Marine Biology Camp last spring, you’re probably familiar with Seattle-based whale researchers, Erin Ashe and Rob Williams. When schools closed, they wanted to do something fun and engaging for their six-year-old daughter and her friends, so Rob texted 10 families asking if they wanted to join their virtual marine biology camp. And that's where it all started. When the camp ended in May, over 30,000 kids had tuned in twice weekly on the Elevenses, from at least 10 different countries, to learn with Erin, Rob and their colleagues. The scientist parents loved connecting with curious kids and found their enthusiasm for all things whales and dolphins to be a bright spot in the early days of the pandemic. When the research season started, they had to close up camp, but they have plans to bring it back this fall.
Extra impact: Erin and Rob’s friend and colleague, Karen Sinclair spent hours transcribing episodes and combing through kids' questions to create this downloadable ebook everyone can enjoy.
Connect: Support Erin & Rob’s marine conservation efforts and get caught up on episodes of the Marine Biology Camp online. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to see where and what they're studying around the Sound. Psst... they'll be at the Ballard Locks until September 14 using a cool underwater sound device to protect the salmon, if you want to stop by.
Parents of the West Seattle BLM Mural
Erik Bell
In the heart of West Seattle you’ll find the collective work of this group of parents who are concerned about racial justice and are working for change. From the artists and organizers, to the volunteers, financers and vendors, the West Seattle Black Lives Matter mural is truly a group effort. One of the group’s organizers, Mary, noted that the mural is a way to amplify the voices and value the work of the artists who painted it (they were paid to work on this community project). It’s also, as art often is, an accessible point where anyone concerned about racial justice can reflect, interact and share their thoughts using a QR code. The group hopes the mural continues to be a focal point for racial justice and community building. They plan to keep up with the mural’s maintenance and will host a commemoration next year, with some community activities in between.
It was while on a walk in his West Seattle High Point neighborhood, passing signs congratulating graduating seniors, that Andrew Mead had an idea. He wanted to do something to help launch the neighborhood kids into their next life chapter, and he knew from experience that something as seemingly simple as a $500 scholarship could do just that. So Andrew is organizing a $10,000 fund to be divided into 20, $500 scholarships for High Point’s class of 2020. His scholarship goal is inspired in part by the High Point community vision that strives to “foster the development of a vibrant and caring community in High Point, committed to service, inclusiveness, lifelong learning and well being” and in part by the Martin Luther King, Junior scholarship, offered through the Mount Baker Community Club. Andrew and his wife, both local business owners, are parents to three young kids, and they want the seniors to know the community has their backs. His hope is to make this an annual award, and he plans to hand out this year’s scholarships in early October.
It was on a trail in upstate New York that Elisabeth Lepine stumbled upon a StoryWalk with her daughter. She was instantly struck by how engaged her kiddo was, running excitedly from sign to sign to see what happened next. When she returned home, she knew she needed to bring this same exciting literary outdoor adventure to her local community. She recruited friends Jasmin Thankachen and Beth Yost, and together these Eastside moms started PopUp StoryWalk. They see the PopUp StoryWalk as a way to bring the community together. From working with local publishers, writers and illustrators, to highlighting local indie bookstores on each book’s end panel, these moms are thoughtful in their approach to making literature accessible and equitable. This fall (and beyond) families can find PopUp StoryWalks at nearby parks and libraries in Seattle and on the Eastside.
Connect: See where the PopUp StoryWalk will be next or make a donation online.
Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman
courtesy Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman
Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman, who calls the Laurelhurst neighborhood home, has always been passionate about fashion and about helping refugee and immigrant women. An immigrant herself, this pharmacist mother of two teens was able to bring her passions together in 2016 when she started the non-profit Refugee Artisan Initiative. The program gives women artisans the chance to use their sewing skills to earn money and support their families, with the end goal of helping them become entrepreneurs. When Covid hit, Ming-Ming knew the RAI could help. She started a Go Fund Me and was able to raise enough money to make 75,000 masks for healthcare providers in the PNW.
The group has also started sewing BLM and Vote masks so people can wear what they believe. Twenty percent of these sales go to support the ACLU. Other innovative mask designs include the window mask, designed with people who are deaf and hard of hearing in mind, and the newly launched Sip ‘n’ Snack mask that will allow people to eat and drink without removing their masks.
For more than seven years, Redmond resident, Dhaarmika Coelho has been actively working to spread kindness in her community. She’s the mom of two daughters and the founder of Camp Kindness Counts, an Eastside non-profit working to “empower kids and families to embrace kindness as a core value to community building.” The program started as a summer camp for 15 kids in 2012, and has grown to include camps, family service days, partnerships with local school districts and more. It also led her to partner with University of California Berkely’s Greater Good Science Center to develop the Kind World Explorers guidebooks. Part of the Families Building Communities of Compassion initiative, these guidebooks bring research-based practices to parents, with a focus on fostering specific character traits like gratitude, generosity, forgiveness, authenticity and flexibility. In the time of Covid, Dhaarmika has continued the kindness summer camps virtually.
Extra impact: Families can download the free kindness curriculum developed by Camp Kindness Counts to enhance distance learning.
Connect: Learn more about Camp Kindness Counts or make a donation here.
When Seattleite Julie Keegan, mom of three, set out to start a leotard company over two years ago, she knew very little about the fashion and manufacturing industry. What she did know was that if she was going to bring a product to market, it would have to follow ethical practices, use organic materials and be sourced locally. Thus Beautiful Uproar was born. Julie’s company makes adorable striped leotards (sizes 2-14), with as little impact on the environment as possible. She’s considered everything about this product, from the California-grown cotton and 100% organic liners, to the eco-friendly packaging that’s fully compostable and recyclable (psst…even the backing on the sticker labels can be recycled). To further reduce the environmental impact, Julie uses a family-owned, Seattle business to manufacture the leotards, and that’s good for our local economy, too. What’s up next for this mom-prenuer? Giving back to the community through charitable donations.
Connect: Get your organic leotard from Beautiful Uproar online.
Ivan Kerbel
Ivan Kerbel
Like many parents in his Mount Baker neighborhood, Ivan Kerbel, father of two young kids, found himself in a familiar rock vs. hard place situation when schools shut down in spring—how to support kids' social, emotional and educational needs while trying to work. So he sat down and created the Nano School Project, aimed at connecting families based on geography, interests and kids’ ages as a way to solve this overwhelming problem. Since he started, he’s had more than 1,500 families fill out the group’s basic survey. With the help of a couple of UW computer science professors, he’s recently been able to pair families into nano groups of three to five kids. His model relies on things like safety, scheduling and pay for tutors being coordinated and decided hyper-locally. It’s here that groups are also addressing issues of equity, with many groups including one student in need and absorbing the cost. For Ivan this is about setting the right frame of mind around a real problem, understanding that doing something, whatever that may be, and using technology to bridge distances and gaps, is an important legacy we leave for our kids.
If you’re planning your baby registry or stocking up before the big day, focus your to-buy list on these essentials that will get you through those first weeks. High chairs, toys and even the crib can wait. This is what you’ll really need when baby arrives.
Diaper Changing Pad
Skip Hop
A changing table is handy if you have the room, but for outings and travel, a portable diaper changing pad is all you'll need. And as your child gets older, you may prefer the simplicity of changing them on the floor, couch or bed. This one, from Skip Hop, has a wipe-clean, zip-off changing pad and roomy pockets for diapers, wipes, bum cream and hand sanitizer. It also features a zippered front pocket for your phone, keys and wallet. Best of all, it folds up into a sleek clutch you can wear on your wrist, clip to your stroller or toss in a diaper bag.
We love: the Pronto Signature Changing Station, available at skiphop.com.
Infant Hat
MORI
Hats on babies are not only adorable, they're necessary in certain conditions. A hat will keep baby warm and comfortable in cooler temps and block the sun from their sensitive scalp. As a general rule, put a hat on your baby if you feel the weather is cold. And if your baby looks or feels flushed or appears uncomfortable while wearing a hat, take it off.
Keep track of baby's feeding, sleep and diaper schedule, as well as developmental milestones, immunizations and illnesses, with one of the many awesome apps out there. You'll be able to pick up patterns to help you establish a baby routine that maximizes comfort (yours and baby's), and you can more easily answer any of your pediatrician's questions.
You can start reading to babies the day they're born, and you should! Babies love your voice and find it soothing, and bonding with your babe over a book is a great way for you to get some relaxation amid the stressful, sleepless early days of motherhood. Studies show that regularly reading to your baby builds language comprehension and reading skills too. So visit your library for board books; stock your shelves with classics; or sign up for Literati's baby book club and have age-appropriate books sent to your door.
Tiny babies can make big messes. And when you're a new mom, you want your cleaning products to be safe and toxin-free, but you also want them to be super effective. Truce cleaning products have you covered. We especially love the peppermint-scented all-purpose cleaner, which cuts grease, leaves a streak-free finish and contains only five ingredients (water, isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, organic castile soap and essential oils).
We love: Truce cleaning products, available at truceclean.com.
Diapers
Abby & Finn
A stockpile of diapers and wipes is essential for any new parent. Take the guesswork out of when to reorderwith a diaper subscription service that brings the goods to you. Perks of ABBY&FINN include a convenient "set it and forget it" approach, mix and match with multiple sizes and designs in the same box, and the ability to select from a range of frequencies. All of their diapers are eco-friendly and toxin-free, and are comparable in price to Pampers subscribe and save.
Wraps are a helpful carrier option in the early months as the fabric keeps babies close and is soft on their skin. Some look tricky to fasten, but if you ask a sales associate or watch a YouTube video, you'll catch on quicker than you think. You can also pick a style (like this one) that makes it as easy as putting on a t-shirt.
We Love: Baby K'tan PRINT baby carrier, available at babyktan.com, $60.
Swaddle Blankets
aden anais
Loose blankets are a safety hazard for the first year of baby's life, but swaddling blankets are a life-saver. Wrap baby like a burrito to keep restless arms and legs from jolting them awake. These are also great as stroller covers, nursing covers, park blankets, and more.
Top priority: the car seat. You'll need one installed in your car before you leave the hospital with your newborn, so this is one purchase that can't wait. Look for one with a high safety rating. If you plan to buy a stroller from a different brand, check that there's an adaptor for your brand of car seat.
Diaper changes can leave sensitive baby bums irritated, and rashes from wet diapers, certain soaps or baby wipes, or even food intolerances are common. Keep a diaper cream like Triple Paste (a mom favorite!) at the ready to smooth on at the first signs of redness, and you can stop discomfort in its tracks. This ointment is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and thick to create a protective barrier on baby's skin. Buy a set of smaller tubes so you can keep one in your diaper bag, another at your changing station and a third at the grandparents' house.
We love: Triple Paste, available at amazon.com, $30 for a 3-pack of 2 oz. tubes.
Bassinet
Chicco
With multiple nightly wakeup calls, you'll want to keep baby within reach. A bassinet by your bedside keeps baby close enough for you to soothe them quickly, and to peer over to watch them sleep.
Give your arms a rest during breastfeeding or bottle-feeding with a fit-to-your-body pillow. In later months, baby can use it to practice tummy time and sitting up.
Your newborn doesn't need a fancy wardrobe at first, as newborns spend most of their time sleeping or snuggling at home. An arsenal of onesies makes dressing your baby quick and easy, and soft cotton in solid colors will match your other baby clothes.
We Love: Primary Organic Babysuit 5-Pack, available at primary.com, $45.
Infant Tub
Boon
A tub that's designed for newborns makes bathing baby easier in those early months. Choose one that converts to a toddler tub to get maximum use out of it.
We Love: Boon Naked 2-Position Collapsible Baby Bathtub, available at amazon.com, $70.
Bibs
Bumkins
Bibs aren't just for babies who eat solids. They're handy for bottle-feeding and catching spit-up and drool. Buy them in bulk. You'll be swapping and washing them often!
We Love: Bumkins Super, available at target.com, $13.
Diaper Bag
7 a.m. Enfant
Getting out of the house with your baby is a must in the first weeks, not just for your sanity, but also for the little one's doctor's appointments. Arm yourself will a well-organized diaper bag so you're prepared with everything from a fresh onesie to a burp cloth and warm blanket.
We Love: 7 a.m. Enfant Soho Diaper Bag, available at 7amenfant.com, $85.
Baby Monitor
Nanit
Video is key for checking in on your baby without disturbing them. Some monitors, like this one, work with an app so you can monitor from your phone when you're away from home. Even grandparents can tune in to watch baby sleep.
We Love: Nanit Pro Camera, available at nanit.com, $299+.
Slow-Flow Baby Bottles
LUX
Whether you're feeding your baby formula or pumped milk, look for bottles that mimic the shape of the breast and slow down the flow of liquid to reduce colic, spitting up, burping and gas.
Middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes go a lot smoother with a soft light that doesn't wake up baby or your partner. Better yet, choose an illuminated gadget that doubles as a sound machine. The repetitive sounds of white (static) or pink (rainfall) noise can help soothe your newborn throughout the night.
Swaddling from scratch isn't for every parent (especially in the middle of the night), and some infants can wiggle out of a swaddle blanket like a mini Houdini. These sacks make it easy on both of you with simple zippers and Velcro. Baby will feel snug, and you'll feel like a superstar swaddler!
We Love: HALO SleepSack Swaddle, available at halosleep.com, $25.
Natural Pacifier
Natursutten
When your baby is crying and you've tried everything from shushing and milk or formula to a diaper change, a pacifier gives baby some comfort. Sticking to orthodontic designs may protect your baby's future teeth, and a one-piece design isn't only safer but also easier to clean.
We Love: Natursutten Orthodontic Rubber Pacifier, available at amazon.com, $12.
Whether you are navigating the trials and tribulations of a certain pandemic or simply trying to stay on top of a busy school and work week, staying organized can make the difference between enjoying the weather or spiraling into chaos. From paying the bills, cleaning the house and feeding the kids, there is a lot that parents have to track. Here are our top picks for the best apps to help keep you calm, cool and collected. Most of them are free or very affordable! Keep reading to see them all.
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft
As task manager apps go, we’ve always been a fan of Wunderlist. However, it has gotten even better (and it's totally free!) with its integration with Microsoft To Do. From shopping lists to task lists, they’ve got you covered, and these lists can be shared with multiple people (or be private), sorted in folders, and they're organized by topic. Assignments, due dates and comments can be added to specific tasks or to entire lists, and real-time, instant syncing between smartphone, tablet and computer means you can access to-dos from anywhere. Plus, you can capture tasks from different Microsoft apps and sync them together in one place.
It’s time to let go of those stained index cards in that ratty-old recipe box. Savvy home cooks can now store and share family recipes with Cookpad, a nifty app that provides a social and safe environment for foodies around the world to search for and save recipes, publish recipes and food pics, and share recipes or chat with friends and families about their cooking adventures. What started as a global initiative to help make home cooking easier and more fun, Cookpad has grown into a worldwide repository of some of the best home-cooked recipes currently available in seven languages.
Cozi Family Organizer already has a well-earned reputation as an indispensable organization app for busy families. With its newest release, Cozi ups the ante with improved performance and bug fixes that make it all work even better. Easy-to-use and well-designed, the app serves triple duty as a shared family calendar, digital recipe box and shopping/to-do list keeper. The free version of the app is ad-supported, but the premium subscription service ($29.99 annually) offers additional features such as contacts, birthday tracker, mobile app themes, more reminders, mobile month view, change notifications and more.
You’ve kept your family schedules in check and organized the zillions of lists you have to juggle on the daily, so why not take a moment to get your head straight? Headspace is a practical app that claims to make meditation simple. Through hundreds of guided meditations, the app aims to help improve focus, increase mindfulness, relieve anxiety, and reduce stress. The free version of Headspace provides access to The Wake Up (real-life stories and advice from experts) and Move Mode (exercises for your mind and body at the same time). Headspace Plus ($12.99 monthly or $69.99 annually) includes Sleep by Headspace (orginal sleepcasts and relaxing sounds to snooze by) as well as the entire content library.
Track and manage all of your family’s bills in one place to help eliminate late payment fees, penalties and the dreaded low credit score. The dashboard-styled view allows you to quickly see approaching bills, and it sends payment reminders for upcoming bills before their due date. Create recurring bills with different billing periods (weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly etc.) and one time bills as well. The app will send payment reminders regardless of whether the app is open or closed. Secure access to the app with a passcode, touch ID or face ID of your device. Advanced bill editing capability lets you update the selected bill and all future bills as well. If you accidentally mark a bill as paid, you can easily mark it as unpaid; there are lots of other features, too. The main program allows you to manage up to five accounts for free. Add on additional unlimited accounts for $2.99.
Instead of spending all of your time creating lists and reminders to get things done, imagine an app that automates some of those basic tasks for you. That’s the beauty of IFTTT (an acronym for “if this, then that). This handy app lets you automate Internet-based tasks that range from sharing adorable vacation pics of your kids across your social channels to adjusting your connected thermostat and turning off your connected lights at home while you’re out of town. With more than 600 apps that work with IFTTT, including Twitter, Telegram, Google Drive, Twitch, Weather Underground, Gmail, Instagram, Spotify and integration with devices such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Nest and Philips Hue, IFTTT aims to simplify your life through smart automation.
Whether you’re organizing a week-long family vacation or a quickie weekend getaway (for the coming months) half the battle is figuring out a fun itinerary at your destination of choice. Localeur helps answer the question, “What should we do?” More than a travel guidebook, this useful app features recommendations from people in the know—aka, the locals—in many major and not-so-major U.S. cities. Through engaging videos and detailed content, a diverse community of local tastemakers provide locals-only tips on the best places to eat, drink, shop, and get outdoors (about 10,000 places are included). A must-have app for getting the inside scoop on where and how the locals eat, live, and play.
Who has time to read when the backyard or pool beckons? Stay on top of your reading with Pocket, a surprisingly useful app that lets users discover, save, and organize web articles and videos for later viewing. The premise of the app is simple enough: you see something online but you don’t have time to read or view it right away. Saving links to Pocket allows you to quickly and easily collect web content, which also can be viewed offline. The Pocket Premium subscription service ($4.99 monthly or $44.99 annually) lets you save articles to a permanent library as well as offers full-text searching.
Some days it takes all your energy to match all of the socks from the laundry. Who has time to plan meals? Mealime creates customizable meal plans and recipes personalized by your family’s unique tastes and lifestyle. Just pick a meal, and cook it in 30 minutes or less with step-by-step instructions. Healthy variations of favorites dishes include flexitarian, pescetarian, low carb, paleo, keto, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and more. Within the app, you can also create grocery lists that can help save money by only buying what you need for the week. The basic version is free, and Mealime Meal Planner Pro is available for $5.99 a month or $49.99 a year.
The old baby book got a huge makeover with Tinybeans. You can track and share your child’s milestones from “baby bump” to “first steps” with photos and uploaded videos with unlimited storage for free! Perfect for parents, new moms, grandparents and moms-to-be, you can invite as many people as you like. Loved ones automatically get emails when developmental milestones, family videos and baby milestones are posted. You can even create your own baby books to print too. Fun features include a calendar view, photo album, photo editing, charts, milestone tracker, diary, quotes and more.
Despite its name, men are allowed to use the FlyLadyPlus app, which helps to break down daily home chores into “zones” and gives you cleaning lists for each day along with some wit and daily musings to keep you motivated to keep your family’s chaos in check. Simply check the tasks off in the app as you go, and by the end of each month, you will have worked your way through cleaning, organizing, and decluttering your whole home! The free app includes morning, afternoon and evening routines and detailed cleaning lists. FlyLady's Agenda automatically includes your events from your calendars as well as most of your emails too.
While just finding a few minutes to go to the bathroom alone can be a chore, the idea of finding time to exercise can seem overwhelming. But can you carve out just seven minutes a day? Seven’s workouts are based on scientific studies to provide the maximum benefit in the shortest time possible. With personalized workout plans, Seven also makes sure you get the most out of your training whether you want to get fit, lose weight or get strong. Work out anywhere, anytime with no equipment needed and learn from instructors like the Drill Sergeant, Cheerleader and many more. Join the 7 Club for more workouts and guidance for $9.99/month or $59.99/year.
While there are plenty of all-in-one personal organization apps out there, few can match the simplicity, flexibility and visual appeal of Awesome Note 2. Building off the success of its nearly-as-awesome predecessor, the latest edition of this useful app features integrated note and schedule management that lets you add photos, voice recordings and even drawings to calendar events. Syncing via iCloud provides seamless access across multiple iOS devices and sharing notes via AirDrop is a nice, ingenious function that you never knew you needed. Whether you’re planning your next summer getaway or keeping tabs on the kids’ summer camp schedules, Awesome Notes 2 makes it easy.
This award-winning calendar app features natural language parsing that lets users type or dictate reminders, appointments or tasks that automatically get turned into alerts, to-dos or calendar events. Reminders are created by starting sentences with “reminder,” “to-do,” “task” or “remind me to”—then the app does the rest. It's also got a clean and easy-to-use DayTicker, calendar and a 3-day weather forecast. Fantastical Premium works on all platforms (Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad) and subscriptions are $4.99/month or $39.99/year.
Just as we strive to keep our kids safe every time they cross the street or go to the playground, it’s up to us as parents to keep them safe online, too. From classic common sense to the era’s latest parental control apps like Qustodio, read on for 10 ways to manage healthy digital diets for the whole family.
1. Model a well-balanced tech lifestyle. Like everything else we teach our kids, we start by showing them: how to walk, how to use a spoon, and—as we take photo number 5,428 in a constant chronicle of their young lives—how to use tech. If we never bring our phones to the dinner table, we may avoid future power struggles about screen-free spaces. If we step away from checking email when we know it’s time to power down for the day, they will see how much we value connecting “in real life” and will have loads of practice when it’s time for them to manage their own “online” and “IRL” lives.
2. Talk about why screen time needs to be monitored. When we expect our kids to make their beds or clear the table, we are teaching the personal responsibility they will need to lead independent and organized lives. If they understand the dangers associated with tech use, they may be more motivated to maintain a safe online space as well—with privacy settings, thinking before they post, and doing their best not to let online activities hamper their physical activity or emotional health.
3. Come to an agreement on the amount of screentime they’ll have. After adding up watching shows, using the computer for homework, as well as any phone, app, or game use, decide together what a healthy amount of screentime might be. For guidance, turn to parental control app Qustodio, a true hub of data and info., via both an online dashboard and Parents’ App, that makes it easy to understand what kids are up to on various devices and help them make smart choices—a skill they always need IRL too. Rather than just preventing or logging screen time use, Qustodio puts you in the driving seat with various cross-platform functionalities while helping you advocate for an open and healthy digital lifestyle for the whole family.
Learn more about Qustodio and download the app for free here.
4. Give your kids agency—and accountability.
Setting rules for and as a family also ensures your kids feel part of the process. Go a step further and outsource some of the rule making: download a digital contract that everyone in the family can sign with a sense of ownership and abide by if rules are broken.
5. Keep up your digital fluency. Check in with the latest findings and age-appropriate recommendations from the World Health Organization about sedentary behaviors like screen time. Discover the content that can add value to our children’s lives when they are online with the help of trusted organizations like Common Sense Media. And just as you have an eye on the horizon for your child’s next developmental milestones, think about what your elementary school kid might be interested in as a tween (we suggest reading educator Ana Homayoun’s Social Media Wellness: Helping Teens and Tweens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World.)
6. Remind them of natural—and irreversible—consequences. The internet doesn’t come with a giant “delete” option, and kids should know what might result from conducting online lives unchecked. Share the news when Harvard acceptances are revoked because of poor or offensive online choices. Talk about it. As your kids start using social media especially, see if they open up about their own online etiquette or gauge their thoughts about what their friends post.
7. Decide which apps you’re comfortable with them using. Maybe you’re OK with YouTube, but not TikTok. Or vice versa. Either way, be explicit about which apps your kids may or may not be allowed to use. Qustodio also makes it easy to stay up to speed on what your kids are doing online (you can even see exactly what they are searching for and watching on YouTube, too).
As parents we often love data, and that is just what Qustodio delivers, from reports on internet activity to child location capability. Qustodio also gives added peace of mind with the ability to set limits on games and apps, monitor social media use, block inappropriate content in real-time, all while providing the talking points and questions to ask to maintain open communication about device use.
Learn more about Qustodio and download the app for free here.
8. Continue to watch with them. Just as our kids learn from watching us, we can learn a lot from watching them. Sit down together for their current favorite movie or check in on homework. See how they navigate online, what websites they visit, and what they want to watch. You may learn something new while continuing to encourage that spirit of openness.
9. Check in with other parents. As kids conduct increasingly independent lives at school and with friends, you can expect them to be one step (or several) ahead of your own experiences—and device-use is a whole new frontier. Talking to parents, especially with older kids, about what they have dealt with in the digital landscape (i.e. “finsta” accounts) will help us meet our kids where they’ll need us.
10. Don’t forget a digital detox! Unplug! Go screen free! Get outside! Encourage it as a family and individually. Be it a certain hour of the day or day of the week, make it a habit to disconnect in order to reconnect.
Learn more about Qustodio and download the app for free here.
These days, there are apps for just about everything—even pregnancy tips for men. While a pregnancy app specifically designed for people who can’t get pregnant might seem strange, these apps are actually very helpful for men who want to support their partners through the process of carrying a baby.
Here’s why you should download pregnancy apps if your partner is expecting a baby, plus recommended downloads to try out.
There’s a Lot to Think about during a Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be all over the map. Some moms feel great throughout their pregnancies and even get that mythical “glow.” Others suffer from near-constant morning sickness and find themselves uncomfortable during most of their pregnancy.
Expectant dads can use pregnancy apps to get advice and learn more about what their partner is going through. They’ll also help men prepare for the birth and support their partner through any health concerns that may come up during the pregnancy. These can include:
There’s a lot to think about during pregnancy, and expectant dads can do their part by getting educated and being prepared to help out in any way they can. The following are five pregnancy apps that dads can use to make life a little easier for expectant moms.
Known as “The dad’s field guide to pregnancy,” DaddyUp is designed to be a fun, informative tool for expectant dads. Besides the customizable preparations checklist, a journal to take down notes during the pregnancy, and a weekly progress report, the app offers dads “rugged” comparisons for the baby’s size at every stage (no more peach-sized babies!).
Dads can use DaddyUp to do their part and keep track of their pregnancy responsibilities in a fun, approachable way.
Feeling overwhelmed? Quick Tips for New Dads gets it. The app was created for new dads by the guys who have already been there and have wisdom and encouragement to share. The tips are bite-sized and easy to use, offering practical advice and ways to cope with the stress of being a new parent. Plus, you can post specific questions for other dads to answer!
Want to set your baby up for the best start possible? Of course, you do! With BabySparks, you can start learning about early learning and prepare for enrichment from day one. The app has a huge library of video activities for different developmental milestones that you can use to help your baby grow and thrive.
BabySparks adapts to your child’s unique needs, adapting based on their actual development and allowing you to track their progress. It’s a great program for bonding with your new baby while helping them achieve important milestones. The app is available in English and Spanish.
Based on advice from midwives but written by and geared toward men who are trying to help their partners during pregnancy, Who’s Your Daddy takes the mystery out pregnancy. With funny, straightforward advice, the app guides fathers-to-be through the entire pregnancy, offering tips and updates.
Pregnant Dad provides tips for each phase of pregnancy, even letting expectant dads know when it may be time to go shopping for larger bras. An appointment tracker, “survival” tips, and a birthday calculator are just some of the features Pregnant Dad offers. There are even built-in features for couples expecting twins!
Sharing the Responsibility
Today’s dads are more engaged than ever before. It’s a great time to be a father! Attention from both parents can help kids live happy, healthy lives. Since maternity and paternity leave can vary depending on a couple’s situation and more women today stay in the workforce after having children, it’s very important for both mothers and fathers to be involved in early childcare.
Sharing the responsibility and getting prepared for the birth signals your support and shows your partner that you care about her health and well-being. Pregnancy and parenthood is a shared responsibility—and seeking out knowledge via apps for expectant dads can help you prepare for your share of the responsibilities.
Sarah Daren has been a consultant for startups in industries including health and wellness, wearable technology, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her children. Sarah enjoys watching baseball and reading on the beach.
I was in another part of the house when my 4 year-old daughter shouted out that she needed to be wiped (she had dropped a dookie in the loo). A relative was visiting and closest to the bathroom so she said she would help out.
The following conversation happened between them.
My Daughter: WAIT! Don’t flush it. I want to see my poo!
Relative: Yuck! Gross! No. Why do you want to look at your poop?
That was it. A short, fairly typical conversation between kids and the adults who wipe their bums.
Who cares? I never did…but then I learned some stuff which made me care, and I wanna share it with you.
Pooping Is Often Associated with Feelings of Shame
Over the years I’ve worked with clients (both adults and children) who experienced psychological and/or physical issues associated with defecation. One thing they all shared was a feeling of shame associated with pooing. (Many different diagnoses exist in both medicine and psychology that are used to identify clusters of symptoms shared by individuals around this issue. I’m not going to get into all of this here but you can explore more if you want on your own time.)
The bottom line about all of this is the following:
WHEN YOUR CHILD TAKES A POO DON’T SHAME THEM!
This is where the tricky part comes in because a lot of jokes in society are associated with pooping AND laughing/joking about poop is easier to do than sitting down and having a serious conversation about it.
As a result, we (humans) often make fun of or joke about our own poop as a way to deflect our feelings of uncomfortableness when talking about the topic.
When you are changing a dirty diaper or wiping a poopy toddler’s bum please be thoughtful in what you say in front of their little ears. I know it can be challenging and I bite my tongue a lot of the time because I want to say stuff to my kids as if they are my college roommates.
For example, DON’T say these things to your children (even though I’m sure they pop into your head as they do in mine):
Ew, it smells in here!
OMG what died?
**make retching sound** I’m gonna be sick!
Dude it’s toxic in here! I need a gas mask….**take deep breath before entering loo**
What you CAN say and SHOULD say is stuff like this:
Let’s see if it is hard or soft. (Gross, I know. But it tells you if your child needs more fiber and less cheese) :)
Wow! That’s a HUGE turtle log…well done. Your tummy must feel better.
Hmmm….little rabbit pellets. Looks like we need some more fruit and veggies.
How do you think it smells? Strong or mild? (Again, a poop reflects the diet of the defecator. Balanced diet usually = mild smelling poos. Off balanced diets usually = off smelling poos.)
Bottom line: Be aware of what and how you comment on your child’s droppings.
Remember, it is completely normal for young children to be interested in looking at and exploring their poop, especially during those early potty training days. Pooping/peeing are one of the first things a child learns to control about their bodies.
Potty training is a huge developmental milestone both psychologically and physically. During this process issues of control often arise for children (parent’s asking for children to use the loo and kids not wanting to listen to parents etc) which if not managed well may create “issues” later on in life. This is why it’s so important to be positive during the potty training process.
Think about your childhood experience with poop and how your parents/siblings/caretakers made you feel about it. How do you feel about it now?
EXAMINATION of ELIMINATION= EXPLANATION
I know you’re thinking I’ve completely lost my marbles. I will admit to having misplaced a few, but not the majority of them. Let me explain what I’m talking about.
In all the baby courses my spouse and I took before the arrival of our first kid, every single instructor spoke about and taught us the importance of knowing how to understand/interpret our baby’s various poops. From the color to the texture and everything in between.
Did you know that people have been known to try and steal the poop of world leaders? They take the poop to a physician who examines the “sample” and provides an extensive health report about the leader. Our fecal matter tells physicians how our bodies are functioning. Let’s not teach our children that poop is something to be ashamed of and ignored but rather explored and understood.
When we take our pet’s to the vet what do they always ask for? A poo sample. I laugh out loud imagining what a waiting room at a physician’s office would look like with a bunch of patients sitting there with their “poo sample.” I mean, what do you bring it in? Tupperware? Plastic baggie? Foil?
After your little one has a poop, check it out. Examine it (from a distance of course) :) and talk about it with them. Read up on different poos and what they mean if you don’t know. Knowledge of any kind is power….even poo power!
The Wipe-Up
Our poop tells the sordid tale of how our bodies are functioning. It’s important to teach our children more than their letters and numbers. We need to also teach them how their bodies work and how to use everyday poos…oops, I meant clues, to help manage their body and mind.
After each poo I always “analyze it” with my children. It teaches them and helps me know what to feed them over the next few meals.
It’s a look-and-learn experience. Most poos my kids do we check out together (they are still young and need help wiping). We discuss how their body is functioning (which is why my daughter asked our relative to look at her poo) and if appropriate, have a little chuckle about something they find funny.
Don’t worry. I won’t be chasing after them once they are older asking to look at their poop. I will however ask them questions about it if they complain of stomach aches or not feeling well.
The fact that I have never shamed my kids and we openly talk about (sometimes laugh about) farts and poos is a healthy thing. Of course I have limits…such as no poo/fart jokes at the dinner table.
EVERYBODY POOPS. SO LETS (AS A SOCIETY) STOP SHAMING IT AND START CELEBRATING THE POO.
I am a 42-year-old biological mother of two young children in a same-sex relationship, a clinical psychologist with a specialty in neuropsychological assessment, a music therapist, a trainer of therapy dogs and ex-communicated Mormon from Indiana with a wicked sense of humor.
Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching just won a Totally Awesome Award for Best Parenting Program in Southern California. We recently spoke to Joanna Clark, the founder of Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching, about her experience as a business owner, the best advice she’s ever received and more. Hear what she has to say below!
Red Tricycle: Your community recently voted you “Best Parenting Program” – what do your customers value most about your business? Joanna Clark: Sleep is bliss. You may have known that before becoming a parent, but you really know it now. And, when you’ve had a bad night of broken sleep, you really, really know it. My clients often reach out to me when they’re overwhelmed and completely exhausted. No one in the house is sleeping, and parents feel hopeless and irritable. My expert guidance and “hold-your-hand” Gentle Sleep Coaching approach resolves families’ sleep challenges. Ultimately, I help parents reclaim peaceful nights, and doing so has a huge positive effect on the whole family. The whole family enjoys consolidated, restorative sleep and the dynamic completely changes. Sleep—for parents and for their children—is fundamental to good health and happiness. It’s a magic elixir for wellbeing. With less stress, less guilt, and more free time for themselves and as a couple, parents thrive. That’s why I say, “Sleep is bliss, let’s get you some more!”
RT: What do you want people to know about your business that they don’t already know? JC: Going to sleep independently and peacefully—and staying asleep—is a learned skill. As parents, we sometimes assume that sleeping is a developmental milestone that comes naturally, yet healthy sleep habits and the ability to self-soothe is learned skill. Babies and children need the right coaching, the right circumstances, and the right environment for practice and mastery. In teaching and coaching your child how to self-soothe to sleep, you give a lifelong gift to your child. What makes Blissful Baby Sleep Coaching different is that I offer an alternative to “cry-it-out” approaches to sleep training. I am a trained and certified Gentle Sleep Coach. I offer a full-service, proven system and live support to promote a gentle, reassuring, gradual change that results in healthy sleep habits.
RT: How did your business get started and what was the motivation? JC: When I was a new mom, my child did not sleep. I was exhausted and I found it infinitely harder to meet my child’s needs with the energy and enthusiasm of which I knew I was capable. Searching for answers in a sleep-deprived haze, I found Kim West and her book Good Night Sleep Tight. This gentle and accessible methodology was my lifeline out of my own most-challenging time. From that point forward, “all things sleep” became my passion. I knew I had the skills and empathy to help other tired parents out of their own most-challenging times. In July 2011, I became one of the first 50 graduates of her Gentle Sleep Coach℠ Program, which is currently the most comprehensive and professional infant and child sleep coaching certification program available. As a pediatric sleep expert and certified Gentle Sleep Coach℠, I have helped over 500 families across North America. With all clients, I develop and implement a customized sleep plan to help the child to independently fall asleep and stay asleep. I offer an alternative to “cry it out” methodology. As a result, parents benefit from reassuring, parentally supported, gradual change that results in improved sleep habits and a well-rested family
RT: Tell us, what do you start your morning with: 1. coffee 2. tea 3. mimosa 4. water 5. all of the above. JC: I start my morning with a freshly brewed pot of loose-leaf oolong tea.
RT: What is the most awesome thing a customer has ever done for you? JC: A grateful client once bought me the most beautiful bud vase with a single rose. I was deeply touched and thrilled. My client didn’t know it, but I put fresh flowers on my desk and dining room table every week as a ritual to keep me grounded in beauty and the wonder of nature. So every week, I add a new flower bud to this vase. Doing so, lets me appreciate nature while simultaneously reminding me of the kindness of a client and how important my work is to families. It’s my mission to help families reclaim peaceful nights.
RT: What is your biggest pet peeve as a business owner? JC: It’s time! I wish I had more of it. As a female-operated small business owner, as well as a mother and wife, I wish I could “expand” time so that I could not only help more clients each day, but also get “back to the mat”…yes, sadly my yoga mat sits rolled and dormant.
RT: How do you keep your stress levels down? JC: In order to monitor my stress and tame the relentless “to-do” list scrolling through my mind, I always brew a fresh pot of Oolong tea every morning. I sit quietly in my yard, whether it is hot or cold, mosquitos or mist, and I sip my tea and I listen to the birds. I absorb a moment of gratitude and stillness before the bustle of the day. I am joined in this ritual each and every day by my fluffy, always loving, and always happy standard poodle, Hansi.
RT: What’s your secret superhero power as a business owner? JC: I believe my superhero power is being incredibly perceptive while at the same time being an active and empathetic listener. These superhero powers allow me to masterfully guide parents to the right next steps to get them to where we all want to be: well-rested.
RT: Tell us, what is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received (as a parent or business owner)? JC: As a business owner, the best piece of advice I’ve ever received is to consistently offer exquisite customer service and responsiveness. As a parent, the best piece of advice I’ve received is to make healthy sleep habits a priority for each and every family member. We model for our children what we want for them to incorporate in their own lives when they grow up.
RT: How about the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received? JC: I am deeply dismayed by our cultural sentiment that time spent sleeping is “time wasted.” Sleep is critical to our health and wellbeing. As humans, we need consolidated sleep to recharge, refresh, and perform to our true potential each and every day. Sleep is just as important to health as good nutrition, physical activity, and wearing your seat belt.
RT: Is there a special offer you’d like to include for Red Tricycle readers? JC: I’m offering Red Tricycle readers the chance to win a 45-minute consultation or a $50 discount on a full sleep coaching package. In order to enter the weekly drawing, readers must complete the following two tasks between now and 12/31/16: Task One: Go to http://www.blissfulbabysleepcoaching.com and download the Free Gift & Tips titled “Was your Child Awake Last Night?” Task Two: Go to Facebook and LIKE: Blissful Baby Sleep (https://www.facebook.com/blissfulbabysleep/) By completing these two tasks, readers will be entered into a weekly drawing. All winners will be notified by email and Facebook messenger.
Preschool and pre-kindergarten children are ready to fly. At this age, they are eager to investigate the workings of their expanding world and experiment with their emerging sense of skills mastery. It is a time of enormous strides—when communication and conceptual thinking and the development of self and social skills flourish.
Our curriculum aligns preschool and pre-kindergarten program goals and practices with families’ expectations of educational excellence, helping young learners grow into confident students. Our nurturing teachers are all child development specialists, focused on each individual child’s personal achievement of educational and developmental milestones.
The program prepares children for kindergarten and beyond, with the skills and confidence needed for a lifetime of academic success.
