Time-Tested Tips for Reading with Your Kids

By Goddard School

September 17, 2021

Photo: The Goddard School

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

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

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

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

Infants (birth to 18 months old)

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

Here are three favorites from Goddard:

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

Toddlers (18 to 36 months old)

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

Here are three of our favorites:

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

Preschoolers (3 to 4 years old)

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

Here are three of our favorites:

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

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

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

Here are three of our favorites:

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

Early Elementary Years (6 to 7 years old)

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

Here are three of our favorites:

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

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

Goddard School

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

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

10 Fin-tastic Lessons to Get Kids Swimming

by Aimee Della BittaMay 30, 2021

Since pool parties and beach outings are year-round activities in San Diego, it’s essential that kids learn how to swim so they can have fun in the water while staying safe. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 great swimming lessons San Diego has to offer, so everyone from babies to big kids can build their swim skills. Grab those goggles and slather on the sunscreen––it’s time for your little fishies to kick it out, learn the basics and have fun. Scroll down and make a splash this summer!

Alga Norte Aquatic Center

Ready, set, go to the coolest aquatic center in North County, for a one-on-one lesson with a skilled instructor. There are classes available for 2 and under that require no pre-requisite and focus on building comfort in the water and setting up groundwork for future skills. For older kids, coaches teach at five different levels and swimmers move on to the next class once they pass the pre-requisite. Further, kids learn in an outdoor, very warm instructional pool in 30-minute classes.

Good to know: The Aquatic Center is part of Alga Norte Park which has tons of sports fields, a playground and a skate park. So there's plenty to do pre- and post-swim lesson.

Cost: varies, based on age and skill level

Alga Norte Aquatic Center
6565 Alicante Rd.
Carlsbad, CA
760-268-4777
Online: www.carlsbadca.gov

Sunsational Swim Lessons

Looking for your babe to learn to swim in the comfort of your backyard? A top-rated instructor will come out to your home and deliver private swim lessons that fit your needs. Whether you have a beginner or a kiddo who wants to up his or her game, your Sunsational instructor will tailor-make a lesson plan that works for your family.

Good to know: Lessons are private but you can schedule back-to-back lessons for multiple swimmers.

Cost: from $61-$84/hr., depending on class size and time

Online: sunsationalswimschool.com

YMCA of San Diego

Swim lessons for all ages that teach good strokes, water safety and water rescue. You're in good hands at the YMCA––after all, this is where Olympic gold medalists learned how to swim. Teachers promote a healthy spirit, mind and body. 30-minute private or semi-private lessons are now available for ages 2 and up. Group lessons are formed by skill levels. Once your little one passes a class, they move to the next level.

Cost: varies, check website
Locations throughout San Diego County.

Online: ymcasd.org

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Floaties Swim School

Safety first is the main goal of a swim class that teaches kids how to pull themselves out of life-threatening situations. Swimming skills are honed in on later. The facility is an impressive 6,000-square feet with a playroom, outdoor patio and huge observation hallway. Games, toys and races help kids to enjoy lessons even more than they already do. Three kids per class are taught by CPR/AED certified instructors. Floaties offers birthday parties plus classes for little swimmers with special needs, adults and water aerobics.

Cost: four group lessons, $98/kid

13180 Poway Rd.
Poway, CA

851 Showroom Pl., Ste. 102
Eastlake, CA

877-277-7946
Online: floatiesswimschool.com

Lawrence Family JCC

Kids ages 3 and older will enjoy splashing into swim lessons at this local JCC that currently offers private lessons with certified, highly qualified instructors who teach kids the basics of swim technique and safety. Each month consists of a package of eight lessons (two per week) and must be completed within the four week time period. There will be no rollovers of lessons into the following month. Kids learn in the shallow end of the heated Olympic pool swimming where Olympians and the Barracuda Swim Team also make a splash.

Cost: $360 for group lessons; $290/8-lesson package for JCC members

4126 Executive Dr.
La Jolla, CA
858-457-3030
Online: lfjcc.org

Noonan Family Swim School

Need a place to dip your toes? Try Noonan Family Swim, where your little one can splish-splash in the warm water during lessons that are truly a beginner's best bet for swim and water safety. For wee ones, try the Splash Babies program. For toddlers and older kids, there are six levels. Little swimmers feel a sense of accomplishment jumping to the different levels. Further, there's a play area to keep little hands busy before swim time and a parent watch deck inside with chairs for you. More still, swim-themed birthday parties are available. Restrictions due to Covid-19 may be in place, please call to confirm.

Cost: available upon request

4S Ranch
10710 Thornmint Rd.
San Diego, CA

Carlsbad
6070 Avenida Encinas
Carlsbad, CA

Linda Vista
2230 E. Jewett St.
San Diego, CA

Del Mar
5555 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, CA

858-451-0794
Online: noonanfamilyswimschool.com

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Swim Labs

Little fishies learn to swim in a tank that has a swirl current to provide water resistance. The cool thing is that tiny swimmers learn in small spaces that include bars and other safety devices that make kids feel secure. Originally developed to perfect the strokes of water polo players and Olympic swimmers, this technology works just as well for developing basic ability in young novices.

Cost: 4 weeks group lesson, $100/kid

519 Encinitas Blvd., Ste. 100
Encinitas, CA
760-230-2500
Online: swimlabs.com

Lomas Santa Fe

Warm up little guppies three years and older in this heated pool that's set between 88 and 91 degrees. No matter what your kiddo's skill level, with only four students per swim teacher, your kid gets personal attention. Instructors teach all levels from blowing bubbles to stroke improvement. Joanne McDonald leads this team of seasoned pros. Parents pull up a chair to watch while Littles jump into the outdoor pool.

Good to know: They expanded their adult/tot classes to prepare kids under age 3 for the group lessons.

Cost: 10 classes, $152/kid

1580 Sun Valley Rd.
Solana Beach, CA
858-755-4173
Online: lsfswim.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_gTSuXpNSY/?hidecaption=true

Callan Swim School

Bubble-up in the 93-degree custom teaching pool. Teachers let little swimmers learn at their own pace and have a soft-touch and no-fear style. Truly a great place for beginners. Group classes are 30 minutes and max out at three students. Also, half-pints rotate instructors for better learning.

Good to know: They require two classes per week, and encourage three, for best results.

Bonus: This is the only Hall of Fame Swim School in San Diego.

Cost: 8 classes, $170/kid

Pacific Beach Neighborhood
1012 Law St.
San Diego, CA
858-273-7946
Online: murraycallanswimschools.com

Peace of Mind Swimming

Your pool or mine? Peace of Mind swim lessons will travel to your pool (May through September only) or have you out to their 86-degree heated pool in Fallbrook. Owner/Instructor Caroline M. is a mom of four and understands that accidents happen within seconds and knows that many accidents can be prevented with preparation. She customizes swim techniques to meet your Little where they are and to make sure that they have fun and you have peace of mind.

925 E. Alvarado St.
Fallbrook, CA
Online: peaceofmindswimming.com

––Aimee Della Bitta, Nikki Walsh & Beth Shea

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Taking the (Parenting) Plunge

By Melanie Forstall

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 19, 2021

Photo: Melanie Forstall

I never thought that I would drop my young daughter into a giant pool when she didn’t even know how to swim. Yet here we are.

Motherhood can be such a head trip because you are often forced to make really hard decisions and there are no real directions. I think we can all agree that children need to learn how to swim. There’s really no argument there, right? In order to raise a healthy family, our children must be safe around water.

While we may agree with that part of the equation, what happens when our children hate it? Do we just throw them into the water? In my case, yes.

Several years ago, when we put our oldest in swim lessons, we thought this was going to be an easy process. She could not wait to start! Each day after school she would ask about swim class. We prepped with everything in her favorite color—green! Green suits, green goggles, and green flip flops! She was giddy with anticipation!

The day finally arrived.

Up until the point of actually getting into the water, the first day was great! Our teacher motioned to us that it was time to get in. Standing at the edge of the pool, I felt my child start to freeze. Understand, I was eight months pregnant with our second child, so wrestling a toddler on the edge of a pool was not something was I prepared for, or could gracefully manage. “Mommy, I don’t want to go,” she said as she tried to become one with my legs.

Her grip grew tighter and I could see her start to swell with tears. She began doing circles around me—hiding behind my swollen belly.

I look down at her precious swim teacher, who was about college-age, and asked what I should do. She shrugged her shoulders. But my eyes were pleading with the teacher to give me some direction, some answer as to how to make this work. Fantasy negotiations do not work with my child. Telling her that Minnie Mouse is in the pool will not work. Ever. She knows way better than that.

At some point during my stress, sweating, and balancing my very pregnant body on the edge of the pool I cracked my own internal whip. “Melanie! Get your sh*t together! She has to get in the water! Quit relying on the swim teacher to solve your parenting dilemma!”

In order for her to ever learn to swim, she has to get in the water. I did what I never thought I would or could do! I stood there, at the edge of the pool and dropped my crying child into the pool, into the hands of a stranger.

Oh, dear God, what have I done?

As parents, my husband and I balance each other out quite well. If it were up to him, he would have certainly taken her out of the pool area after ten minutes. Sometimes his way is better, sometimes it’s mine. But in this instance, we followed my lead.

Her lesson began and we could see her face was still a bit red and blotchy. I watched my husband as he paced the deck. All of his belongings next to me—wallet, phone, keys—all in the event he had to jump in and rescue her.

What seemed like four hours later, her lesson was done. Having her back on dry land was a relief to all of us. We hugged and celebrated how well she did. I asked her if she had fun and she answered with a resounding, “Yes!”

Really? I thought she looked totally miserable! On the way home, I asked her if she wanted to go back and she said that she didn’t. However, not going back wasn’t an option, so I rephrased my question into a statement. “Well, we are going back.” We were at a stoplight and I watched her in my rear-view mirror. She turned her head, thinking, then looked at me. “Mom, I can go back. I think I will be fine.”

The next lesson arrived and I wasn’t sure what it would be like so I did my best to hide my worry. We sat on the bleachers together enjoying a few goldfish before being summoned into the deep. At the time we saw the call from our teacher, our daughter happily took off her flip-flops and said, “See, Mommy, I’m not scared anymore!”

Overwhelmed with pride I helped her step right into the water and sit happily on the water bench. Throughout the lesson, she would look back at us for reassurance. My husband gave several thumbs-up and I smiled and waved. As she floated with her teacher across the pool, 25 yards away from us I said to my husband, “Well, she was right. She said she would be fine and she is.”

So even at three, our kids sometimes know more than we sometimes ever realize. I’m amazed and proud—of all of us! When I think about what life hands us as parents, it becomes clearer to me every day that it’s not always parents teaching children. Sometimes it’s all of us learning and growing together.

Now if we can just get her to put her face in the water.

This post originally appeared on Melanie Forstall – Stories of Life, Love, and Mothering.

Feature image via iStock

Melanie Forstall

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Melanie Forstall is a full-time mother, full-time wife, full-time teacher, and never-enough-time blogger at Melanie Forstall: Stories of Life, Love, and Mothering. She holds a doctorate in education and yet those many years of schooling have proved to be utterly useless when it comes to actual mothering.

Finding a Healthy Way to Overindulge My Kids

By Nataly Blumberg

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

May 19, 2021

Photo: Monique Banks via Instagram

The pandemic has been hard, if not impossible, for everyone around the world. I have friends that lost young spouses, a grandparent whose health is just not the same after being in isolation and kids that are relearning how to make it through a day of in-person school.

I know that my family is lucky. But I had this nagging desire to do more for my kids that just wouldn’t go away. Throughout the day, I swing from wanting to give and do everything they ask in an effort to make up for lost time, to knowing that these acts of overindulgence will create a new set of problems. Saying yes non-stop is bad for the rules my husband and I tried so hard to put in place and we are getting on a path where the kids feel like it’s never enough. Truthfully, they seemed more content when we were more judicial with our yesses. You know when your kid is eating ice cream for breakfast and can’t sit still for five seconds that you’ve crossed the line when it comes to good parenting skills. It’s not that terrible, but it’s a slippery slope.

It then dawned on me that the perfect opportunity to indulge my feelings of wanting to show that we understood all that the kids have gone through the past year and mark a new beginning (albeit with guidelines from the CDC) would be at their birthday. This is a time when we make a big deal about being older, it’s a natural time to evaluate the new responsibilities they can take on and it is the perfect day to overindulge them. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that this year’s birthday would be a celebration like no other. Not in terms of the number of people invited or money spent, but the way that we celebrate.

The M&M & Pizza Methodology
Of course, the first place I went to for inspiration was Instagram. For me personally, it was a bust. I felt intimidated by the perfection of it all and started adding up the costs which gave me anxiety. Plus, the setup and clean-up sounded like a drag.

Then I remembered a story from Morgan Oliveira who told me that her mom, Denise Oliveira who is a High School English teacher, would order pizza for Morgan’s birthday parties when she was a kid. Before the pizza was served at the table, Denise would sneak into the pizza boxes and sprinkle M&M’s onto the pies. My first response was M&Ms and pizza? It didn’t sound so tasty, but apparently, it is extremely exciting for everyone. As kids, Morgan thought that it was the “birthday special” pizza pie made just for her. As an adult, it is one of her fondest memories from her childhood.

Focus on Your Child’s Personality & Likes
I loved this idea because it’s about making your kid feel special by understanding who they are and what they love. It wasn’t about big balloon displays or hiring a magician. So, I reached out to my friend Monique Banks who has been a party planner for decades. Currently, she and her daughter, Ariel Banks Baker, have a successful event planning company. Years ago, Monique had a children’s party studio, and the mother-daughter team just launched a new company called Blueprint. With over 3,000 kids’ parties under their belts, Monique and Ariel offer DIY downloadable plans with 27 themes that are fully customizable. hey confirmed my hunch about what kids really want, which is a day that makes them feel like they are the focus of the day.

It’s not about how big or fancy the party is, but rather if you are thinking about your child in a way that makes them feel special. What type of candy do they like to eat, what type of games do they like to play, do they have a favorite color? These are the things that make kids feel that they are having a magical experience. Monique and Ariel also let me in on a very important secret: The best parties have constant high-energy games where there a no winners and no losers.

Adults Need to Have Fun Too
The best part is that the adults get to have a good time too. Fewer worries about setting up and cleaning up mean that kids get more attention from their parents which is exactly what they are looking for on their birthdays. Kids know when parents are stressed and tired and it’s not the vibe that you want on a day that is supposed to be about them. Organizing games where kids are having the time of their lives is a gift for parents too. Seeing the little person that you love so much laughing and having a good time is the best present of all.

Lessons Beyond the Birthday
By creating a special day that includes everything my child loves most, makes them feel important. That came with a positive lesson for all of us. When you know how happy someone is because you are thoughtful and that effort makes them feel great, it is an important life lesson. I’m hoping that the kids will want to do things for their friends and family, not because they have to or because it is expected, but because they know that it will make the person feel terrific.

Even though we were stuck inside together for so many months, I had to make a special point of making fun family time and it never felt like it was enough. Being at home for more hours and days meant more laundry, more dirt, more dishes to wash, more schoolwork and homework, cooking more meals, and also juggling my own work. As so many of us know, it was a stressful time. This birthday, I hope, will mark a new beginning. I’m ready to celebrate! Responsibly, of course.

Nataly Blumberg

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I'm a mom of two children, wife, and love my fur baby, traveling and playing UNO. My passion is discovering services and products by entrepreneurs, especially those that can cut down on some screen time and help our family create lasting memories together.

Are Parents Good at Teaching Their Kids Financial Literacy? New Survey Has Answers

by Karly WoodMay 7, 2021

Parents wear many hats and it can be difficult to make sure we’re raising our kids with all the necessary life skills. A new survey from the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) is shedding light on a very specific life lesson that is key to raising independent adults: financial literacy.

Using over 1,000 respondents, the survey asked the question “Which parent taught you the most about money and personal finance?” The overwhelming answer? “Neither.”

photo: Pexels

While respondents did say that their mother was more likely to teach financial literacy than their father (23.7 percent over 22.6 percent), it’s clear that the majority has grown up with little to no instruction on finances.

The study grouped respondents into age groups that included 18-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, and 65+ years old. Interestingly, the two youngest groups, 18-24 and 25-34, reported “Neither” more than all other age groups making this issue a relevant topic for today’s parents.

“It’s essential for parents to make a conscious and consistent effort to discuss finances, model good financial decision-making, and provide opportunities for kids to practice earning, budgeting, saving, and spending, especially while they still have the safety net of living at home and receiving family support,” says Vince Shorb, NFEC CEO.

So how can you make sure your kiddos are prepared financially as they become adults? One of the main goals of the NFEC is to encourage and provide tools for parents to teach financial literacy skills to their children from an early age. You can head to their website for tons of info.

You can view the full survey results here.

––Karly Wood

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

by Jamie AderskiMay 2, 2021

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

Arnold Schwarzenegger Is Captain Fantastic In New Stan Lee Kids’ Series

by Erica LoopApril 19, 2021

Arnold Schwarzenegger is back—and he’s coming to the small screen in an all-new animated series. Not only does this superhero-themed adventure star Schwarzenegger, it’s the brainchild of none other than Stan Lee.

Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten is one of the last creations from the icon. Now your littles can get to know Lee and his completely creative form of genius in a totally new way.

With 26 half hour episodes, there’s plenty of animated awesomeness for your kiddos to enjoy. This children’s series tells the tale of Captain Fantastic, a superhero-turned-kindergarten teacher. With laughs, action and even a lesson or two, this soon-to-be fave series has everything your kiddos want in a new show and so much more.

Find Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten on Kartoon Channel!, a free streaming platform for kids, starting Friday, Apr. 23.

—Erica Loop

Feature photo: Kartoon Channel via YouTube

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The LEGO Wizarding World Collab Is Turning 20—And There Are New Sets to Celebrate

by Erica LoopApril 16, 2021

The Wizarding World is expanding—and your child can build it all! LEGO and Warner Bros. Consumer Products recently announced the launch of brand-new Harry Potter sets.

Your kiddo has spent years building with Potter-themed plastic bricks. Now they can add to their collection with sets themed after Harry Potter’s second year at Hogwarts. As if the sets aren’t enough on their own, several of the new options come with an exclusive 20th Anniversary golden minifigure.

That’s right—20 years have passed since the Wizarding World was first introduced in LEGO form. Along with the magical bricks your child has built over the years, the newest additions keep the Hogwarts theme going with scenes your young Potter fan knows and loves.

The new line includes the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts: Polyjuice Potion Mistake, LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts: Fluffy Encounter, LEGO Harry Potter Hogsmeade Collage Visits, LEGO Harry Potter Chamber of Secrets, LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Wizard’s Chess, LEGO Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, LEGO Harry Potter Fawkes, Dumbledore’s Phoenix, and LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts: First Flying Lesson sets.

Marcos Bessa, LEGO Harry Potter Design Lead, said in a press release, “Two decades ago, we launched the first LEGO Harry Potter set—which I played with as a 12-year-old—and fans have remained just as enchanted by the magical adventures that they can relive and replay with the LEGO sets today as they were in 2001.”

Bessa added, “These new products are packed full of captivating features and exciting design twists that we hope will excite and enthrall builders of all ages as they explore some of their favourite moments from the films.”

Nab one of these sets in LEGO Stores, select retailers, or online at LEGO.com starting Aug. 1. Check out LEGO.com for pre-order options right now.

—Erica Loop

Photos courtesy of LEGO

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A Call for Resilience, Resourcefulness & Gratitude

By Deanna Pope-Toth

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

April 12, 2021

Photo: Annie Spratt on Unsplash

The last few days and weeks have been nothing short of chaotic. Fear fills the minds and hearts of parents who desperately want to protect their families and vulnerable loved ones.

There is a sense of relief on the minds of parents who realize Covid-19 doesn’t have staggering fatality rates in children or generally healthy people. Yet there is excruciating fear for our parents, grandparents and family and friends with compromised health. Uncertainty with health, jobs, and the education of our communities is another big question we’re twirling around in our minds.

As panic becomes the only constant in our communities and feeling like we’re in a race against time, we must remember that our children are in their most formative years. The events that unfold and the way we handle them will become a lesson for many children and teens.

Dire times not only produce fears, but incredible opportunities for self-reflection, resourcefulness, and leadership. The silver-lining is what we as parents must be searching for each day, and finding out ways to keep the wheels moving despite challenges.

Here are some tips for how we can maintain leadership in our families and promote self-growth, despite dire times.

1. In all times, including uncertain times, focus on what you have. Everyone has blessings—it’s time to start counting them. These are anchors in times of uncertainty. My son is my anchor as when I’m busy reading the news or worrying, I’m grounded by his sense of wanting to live in each moment. Whether it’s just hugs, laughter, listening to his stories, he grounds me.

2. Use social distancing as a chance to refocus. In our daily lives, we are so bombarded by activities, schedules and trying to be all things that we often lose sight of what we really want. Now’s the time to take an inventory of your life—what you want, what you don’t. Maybe you can even start writing a list of the things you’d like to accomplish. While each day presents new findings and advice and it’s important to stay informed, do yourself a favor and try to tune out of the social media and get excited about your plan. Social media can become like a vortex in times of uncertainty—and I can tell you, that’s counterproductive.

3. Once you’ve nailed down your list, get resourceful. We all need each other to survive. The world is not over—despite the tone of many doomsday sayers. Historically, there will always be people who think the world is coming to an end, and despite what they say, we keep going. We will grow from this—it’s in our human nature and history proves that we will adapt. Now’s the time to figure out how we’re going to do it. Self-isolation has come at a time where we can keep the gears moving with the technology that’s available.

4. Know that sometimes the darkest times in our lives prepare us for the best outcomes. William Blake was famously known for his romantic poetry that focused on comparing opposites: If we didn’t know hell, we wouldn’t know heaven. If we didn’t know darkness, we wouldn’t know light. If we had no hardship, we wouldn’t be able to recognize when life is really good. Greta Thunberg set a tone at the end of 2019, warning us that we had to make some changes. Let’s embrace hardship as paving the way for positive change.

What we do now matters so much as our kids grow up in a changing world. Let’s leave them with a sense of resilience. Let’s show our kids how to do it. Let’s not let fear and panic define us. Let’s define our futures, and let’s show our kids how it’s done. That’s the best lesson we can teach them.

This post originally appeared on Mom's Candid Conversations.

Deanna Pope-Toth

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Hi, I'm Deanna. Mom and step-parent and I'm dedicated to positively contributing to the parenting community!

Lupita Nyong’o’s “Sulwe” Is Getting a Musical Makeover

by Karly WoodFebruary 18, 2021

Lupita Nyong’o’s number one New York Times bestselling book, Sulwe, just keeps getting better. In addition to being released in an audio version, Netflix has just announced the children’s story will be turned into a new animated musical feature. The film will be produced by Nyong’o and based off the book.

The story follows Sulwe, a young girl with skin the color of midnight. One night, she heads out on a magical journey where she learns the story of the sisters Night and Day and a subsequent lesson in self-esteem, colorism and true beauty.

photo: Courtesy of Netflix

Nyong’o shares, “The story of Sulwe is one that is very close to my heart. Growing up, I was uncomfortable in my dark skin. I rarely saw anyone who looked like me in the aspirational pages of books and magazines, or even on TV. It was a long journey for me to arrive at self-love.

Sulwe is a mirror for dark-skinned children to see themselves, a window for those who may not be familiar with colorism, to have understanding and empathy, and an invitation for all who feel different and unseen to recognize their innate beauty and value. I am thrilled that the book is being adapted into an animated musical that we hope inspires children all around the world to celebrate their uniqueness.”

Netflix has not revealed details as to the release date.

––Karly Wood

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