When we are asked if audiobooks are a good choice for our young readers, our reply is a resounding, “Yes!” Listening to good books read aloud has established benefits—both cognitive and in terms of convenience. The variety, overall quality, and availability of children’s audiobooks have skyrocketed over the past several years. There are wonderful audiobooks for children of all ages, narrated by high-quality storytellers, including, occasionally, a book’s author.
Children’s first experiences with written text is in the form of narration—parents and teachers reading aloud to infants and toddlers. At some point in their progression, and even before formal introduction to phonics and decoding, children quite naturally begin to recognize certain words on the page. At all points in their “learning to read” journey, children benefit from listening to books that stretch their capacity to read, books that are at a higher level than what they can read on their own.
Regular exposure to new vocabulary and more complex sentence structure is beneficial whether a child is reading from a page or listening to a narration. Audiobook narrators, who are often actors or other speaking professionals, model fluent reading, with pacing and emphases that enhance the story and impact readers’ own oral reading fluency, listening comprehension skills, and ability to visualize. Audiobooks can be a unique motivational tool for reluctant or struggling readers, especially if they can simultaneously read and listen to a book.
Finally, listening to an excellent book (or podcast) read by an expressive narrator is great fun! It is a wonderful family activity, and with earbuds and mobile devices readily available, it is a pleasurable personal activity. Listening to an audiobook can enliven the most mundane of activities—household chores or car commutes, for example. In fact, we decided to finally publish our list of favorite audiobooks in time for the winter holidays. With a second nod to the holiday season, our selections lean toward stories that honor kindness, generosity, and gratitude. We hope there’s something here for each of you.
Preschool
Little Stories for Tiny PeopleWritten and performed by Rhea Petcher Bear’s Big Sleep: A Thanksgivingish Story for Kids is one of the many short tales on this ten season long podcast site for small children. Stories can be sorted by topic, such as: Friendship, Big Feelings, Growing Up, and Life Changes. Each story features characters like Sophie the Sloth and Strumbly Bear who learn life lessons as applicable to kids as they are to imaginary animals. Children love the recurring characters as well as Rhea’s soothing voice.
The Sesame Street Podcast with Foley and Friends by Sesame Workshop, narrated by a full cast
Foley, the soundmaker monster, is the host of this high-energy podcast that will captivate young children. Foley, along with all of the regulars from Sesame Street talk about subjects such as the importance of family, making friends, feelings, and understanding what it means to share. Elmo and Foley chat in episode two about being sad, feeling scared, and how having friends that make you feel happy makes a difference. Songs about emotions, attitudes and friendship are sprinkled throughout this incredibly meaningful children’s podcast.
Kindergarten
Winnie The Pooh: The House at Pooh Cornerwritten by A.A. Milne, narrated by Judi Dench, Stephen Fry and others
This amazing collection of short stories which take place in the 100 acre wood are just about to become the same age as the forest in which they occur. The incredibly diverse group of characters take children through so many whimsical situations, all the while teaching them important lessons about childhood. Perhaps the finest in all is the lesson that little Piglet, Pooh’s constant friend, has in one of his many heartfelt thoughts, “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” You and your children will never want this treasure to end.
Grades One & Two
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids Hosted by Jane Lindholm
This Vermont Public Radio podcast takes actual questions that kids have asked parents over and over and again, and takes the time to really answer them. Some of the questions may seem silly, such as, “Why are Cactuses Spiky?” or, “Why Can’t Kids Vote?” But to a child, these are very important. There are also entire episodes dedicated to emotional or ethical issues, such as, “Is It OK to Break a Rule?” and, “Why do Things Seem Scary in the Dark?” Each episode comes with resources and a learning guide to deepen a child’s understanding of the lesson.
Third-to-Fifth Grade
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, narrated by Kirby Heyborn
Newberry Medalist Katherine Applegate conveys a magical story about friendship, forgiveness, empathy, and resilience. As a family deals with a stressful circumstance, young Jackson copes by spending time with his friend Crenshaw, an imaginary cat. This audiobook has a serious tone and enlightens readers to the fact that some kids lead a not-so-perfect life. The narrator brings the imaginary Crenshaw to life in a way that is relatable to children and provokes thoughts of gratefulness.
Middle School
The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
This Peabody award winning podcast that is performed by a cast of middle schoolers begins with an eleven-year-old Mars and his friends awaiting the end of 7th grade. They hope to gain their entrance to the exclusive Pruitt Prep High School, founded by tech guru genius Oliver Pruitt. Then one of them suddenly goes missing. Mars listens to Pruitt’s podcast daily, and finds clues and discovers that kids are disappearing all over the world. Mars and his friends are seemingly normal, but they all have certain abilities or talents that get amplified as the story goes on. Listeners gain a sense that anyone could be a sort of superhero, and that friends who help each other are priceless.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
Today I’m going to tackle the world like Wonder Woman.
I may not have the gold bracelets and lasso like when I was younger and watched my idol fight on TV while wearing the same outfit, but friends, I have my Wonder Woman mug to fill me up with the strength to take on today.
I may not fight off any of the bad guys, jumping over burning cars and tying up a bank robber today, but I will be strong.
Because yesterday was a hard day.
I felt defeated. I felt a bit lost. I felt sad.
I miss my friends.
I miss long walks, meeting for coffee in town, and sharing the depths of my soul with my beloved friends. I miss hearing every little bit and piece of their life. Those pieces that forge trust and unbreakable bonds and right now texting is not cutting it.
I felt sad. I miss my girls being young.
And now I’m in the countdown mode for a departure for college and all of them growing up rapidly in front of me each day. I knew it was going to be hard, but I didn’t expect all of the air to be sucked out of my lungs while thinking about it.
I felt sad. I miss the freedom my girls once had.
The freedom to go to school, knowing they are safe and not ever have to worry about quarantining. The freedom to walk into a store without a mask on and not worry about the potential danger. The freedom to not worry if their grandparents will be able to find a vaccine anytime soon.
I felt sad. I miss being a part of things.
I miss volleyball games, dance recitals, and reunions with old friends. Heck, I miss every single activity I used to complain about and how we were overscheduled and running around all over with barely enough time to think or let alone breathe. But today, I miss the busyness.
I felt sad.
I felt sad for those struggling each day, with their child at home who is beyond frustrated and giving it their all, but still not succeeding.
I felt sad for those who make a promise each night, that tomorrow will be a new day…a better attitude, more patience, and gratitude but by mid-day, they are worn out and feeling depleted.
I felt sad for our little ones who don’t recall what being in school feels like. The bustling hallways, walking into the art room and breathing in the subtle smell of paint, and the excitement of the new science experiment.
I felt sad for the middle schoolers who rely on their friends, as their life support, navigating the murky waters of adolescence and not being able to see them daily.
I felt sad for the high schoolers who have been patiently waiting for the rites of passage for each grade level and now sit at home behind a screen for class, behind a screen for FaceTime, and silently sit there alone, not really engaging and missing the vibrance of the building.
I felt sad for the college kids who haven’t even stepped foot on campus, attempting to bond with the best friends of their life, but can’t even enter another dorm room.
Friends, some days are just hard. Really hard…and yesterday was one of those days.
But today, I am prepared.
I have my Wonder Woman mug providing me with the armor I need to tackle today.
If I could only find my old Wonder Woman bracelets, I could maybe, just maybe, feel as if I could take on the entire world.
Ali Flynn Is excited to share with you the joys and hardships of motherhood with an open heart, laughter and some tears. Ali is a monthly guest contributor for Westchester County Mom and has been seen on Filter Free Parents, Grown and Flown, Today Parents and Her View From Home.
Have a brainiac in your life? Keeping them challenged can be, well, a challenge. Dedimus Potestatem provides fun, academically challenging programs for students in elementary, middle and high school. Dedimus Potestatem‘s student-focused programs aim to create the next generation of well-informed, well-spoken leaders, advocates and diplomats. Their programs include Debate, Model UN, Model Congress, Mock Trial, Etiquette, STEM, Leadership, speech writing and more. They’re currently offering both virtual and in-person private and semi-private classes, group sessions and after-school programs. Read on to learn more about this cool school that will send your kid straight to the head of the class in no time!
All of Dedimus Potestatem's programs strive to empower students and integrate essential leadership skills sought after by top universities and employers. Through action-packed and exciting programs, Dedimus Potestatem teaches students to communicate, delegate, negotiate, resolve conflict, take initiative, adapt to new situations, empathize, effectively plan, manage time and more. (Do they offer these classes for adults?!)
Fun fact: Studies have shown that students who are highly engaged in their learning process learn more and retain information longer. Dedimus Potestatem has it covered, by emphasizing student proactivity and practical application of skills taught (because use it or lose AND practice makes perfect!).
Innovative Classes for the 21st Century
Dedimus Potestatem's curriculum is packed with classes to develop your kiddo's leadership skills, critical thinking abilities, and their creativity!
Many of Dedimus Potestatem's programs help learners become engaged citizens. Through Speech and Debate, students will build their literacy and multi-media research skills, work on public speaking and learn about civil engagement. With Fairy Tale Mock Trial, kids will get to experience a hands-on simulation of the American judicial system done through the role-playing of characters in children's favorite stories. Model Congress and Model UN let students take on their own worldly challenges, debate international policy and understand how to create compromises with other delegates.
Dedimus Potestatem's also has classes like STEM Bioethics to challenge kids' ethical thinking (while learning all about DNA) and programs to encourage creative thinking, including a new Visual Storytelling class that teaches kids how digital platforms are changing the arts and activism (What kid wouldn't get excited about a TikTok class?) and Finding Your Voice; Understanding and Writing Poetry—a course on understanding and building a love for poetry.
Too advanced? They've got Little Leaders covered with a Pre-K and Kindergarten class that gives students the skills they need to succeed in life. The play-based syllabus centered around character traits most sought and admired in leaders: initiative, honesty, self-control, adaptability, empathy, persuasiveness, resourcefulness, diligence, tolerance, determination, generosity, punctuality, courage, reliability, endurance, deference, creativity and integrity.
“The benefit of Dedimus Potestatem’s enrichment programs for the students went beyond raising one’s self-confidence and debate skills. The programs teach leadership and critical thinking, empowering students to stand up for what is right, fight for the truth, learn to value teamwork, develop goals, become engaged in civic discourse, and feel empowered to become beacons of peace for a better world. Just a fantastic leadership organization!” — Dr. Lidana Jalilvand, Director of After-School Programs, The United Nations International School
“Having a debate team at our school has boosted the confidence and curiosity of our participating middle-schoolers. I’ve seen huge growth in critical thinking skills and a more polished approach to expressing thoughtful opinions,” — Monica Masterson, Director of auxiliary programs, BASIS Independent Manhattan
"As a mother to a tween who first met Ms. Elizabeth at age 8 and grew up with her leadership, mock trial & debate classes, I'm simply astounded by her at 3 levels. First is her ability to connect with children. My son simply adores her, as does my 6-year-old daughter. All of her other students love her, to the extent that the parents are all fighting to have her teach their children’s classes! Second is the passion she has for her mission: to create a young generation of intellectuals with morals and integrity who critically appraise what they are presented with. When faced with an unfounded accusation of academic misconduct, instead of fear or defense, my son cautioned me against the use of ad hominem in my email response to the teacher. I was simply dumbstruck. And humbled. No price for guessing whom he’s learned that from! Last but not least is Ms. Elizabeth's ability to connect with her parents. Her smile, her enthusiasm, and the intellectually stimulating conversations are simply the best! — Vicki Tse, parent
"One of the best things to happen to my son, Sasha, was starting after-school debate and court trial classes with Elizabeth. At that time he was a nine-year-old 5th-grade student. Fast forward almost four years and he is a confident 8th grader, ready to argue what he believes in and open enough to engage adults and kids alike. Working with Elizabeth and participating in these classes has taught him teamwork, public speaking and the importance of fact-checking. Elizabeth knows how to work with kids, how to motivate them and always encourages them to do their best. She's fun, warm and always there for them—we're truly fortunate to have her be an influence in Sasha's life." — Ivana Krizanic, parent
Assemblies with special guest speakers are offered throughout the year. Click here for more info or to join their upcoming
assembly, The Frontlines of Peace, with special guest Dr. Severine Autesserre.
Let’s be honest: navigating puberty is hard and we’re all pretty glad when it’s over. From raging hormones and over-the-top emotions to the awkward body changes and meddling parents, no stone is left unturned in the transformation from child to teenager.
If there’s one person who’s managed to capture all the glory of this crazy time in life, it’s comedian Trey Kennedy in his “Middle Schoolers Be Like” videos. Despite being an adult, Kennedy’s portrayal of the all-out frustrating middle school years is so spot on.
Kennedy performs all the roles in his videos: the exasperated middle schooler, the well-intentioned mom and even the obnoxious sister and authoritative dad—which somehow makes it even funnier.
As if he didn’t hit the nail quite squarely on the head in his first video, he returned recently with part two, which offers even more painfully true scenarios between tweens and parents.
This may be the parent inside all of us, but watching Kennedy take out those trash cans? We’re seriously holding back the “go to your room” right now! In addition to a good laugh, we’re also way more sympathetic to our parents-in-arms raising tweens right now!
If you can’t get enough of Kennedy’s Middle School gig, then head to his Facebook page, where you can catch up on the entire lineup of Middle School Maddox videos.
For many, Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday—in part because it is relatively less commercial than many holidays, but more so, because of its focus on rituals that bring families together and inspire a bit of introspection. Part of the Thanksgiving tradition is joining hands around the table and sharing what—or whom—we are thankful for. Social skills are built as even the youngest members of the family are encouraged to consider their blessings, express their gratitude, and hear the same from others. This ritual builds and reinforces positive cultural norms in an entirely natural and authentic setting.
Another entirely authentic path to introspection that leads to increased empathy and feelings of gratitude is by harnessing the power of stories—stories of characters who model exemplary behavior or who themselves are introspective. Stories “show” rather than “tell,” grounding abstract concepts like gratitude and perseverance in examples of real people who rise above adversity, benefit from the generosity of others, discover beauty in places or cultures unlike their own, or discover the pleasure of even small acts of generosity. Such are the stories we have recommended for reading this long Thanksgiving weekend. The book selection is intended for children from kindergarten through middle school, but you might enjoy them as well. Conversations with children about these stories can extend the exercise of “giving thanks” beyond Thursday’s holiday dinner.
Here is a list of some of our favorites:
Grades Kinder to Second
When Grandma Gives you a Lemon Tree by Jamie L.B. Deenihan, Illustrated by Lorraine Rocha
An upbeat take on the old fable, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Charming, bright illustrations of a young girl who realizes by the end of the story that material possessions aren’t nearly as special as family, community, and the spirit of giving. Look for the book’s companion by the same author/illustrator team When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox.
Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora
Mixed-media collage art along with patterned papers and book clippings bring this story of sharing to life. The scrumptious scent of grandmotherly Omu’s stew wafts out her apartment window. A little boy inquires after the delicious smell, followed by a police officer and more until Omu’s generosity means that she has no stew left for dinner. But everyone returns, this time to share new ingredients for stew. The little boy tells her “Don’t worry, Omu. We are not here to ask…We are here to give.” The book speaks to the importance of kindness and not taking others for granted. Read the book together, then spend time as a family creating your own version of Omu’s stew!
Grades 3-4
The Boy Who Dreamed of Infinity: A Tale of the Genius Ramanujanby Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, we meet Srinivasa Ramanujan, a brilliant mathematician from early 1900’s India who grew up with a misunderstood passion for numbers. His story is especially compelling because when he was young, one hundred years ago, the world was big and communications were slow. “Back then, if you had an idea—even a rare and wonderful idea—on one side of the world, people on the other side might never know.” Ramanujan found it difficult to connect with other mathematicians so that he could continue to learn and work with scholars. He had to set out and explore the world, and eventually, through his persistence and patience, found Cambridge. His ideas have helped shape areas of science that were not even discovered in his lifetime: computers, black holes, and string theory.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogersby Fred Rogers, Illustrated by Luke Flowers
This GoodReads Choice—Best Picture Book of 2019 will help any child feel thankful to be alive and appreciate the world. Rogers sang many of these poems on his PBS show, but the words are so meaningful as mini-lessons about figuring out life as a child. Flowers’ illustrations are energetic and feature characters from the iconic television show as well as vignettes of young children. After reading this book together, consider watching the show or the Tom Hanks movie as a family to learn more about Mr. Rogers.
Grades 5-8
Prairie Lotusby Linda Sue Park
Newbery Medalist Park explores prejudice on the American frontier in this sensitively told story about a multiracial girl in 1880’s Dakota Territory. Great for fans of the Little House on the Prairie series who want to read about a different perspective. The detailed description of daily frontier life will leave young readers thankful for what they have. After reading this together, consider researching customs of the Lakota tribe, as discussed by the author in her note at the end of the book.
Race to the Sunby Rebecca Roanhorse
In this fantasy inspired by Navajo legends, the main character, Nizhoni, discovers that she has powers that other middle schoolers don’t have. Reading about other cultures’ mythologies is a way to expand children’s imagination, empathy, and offer a new way of seeing their world. This is a stunning tale of adventure and family that brings the history and stories of the Navajo people to a contemporary setting, with characters who feel real. There is a glossary of Navajo terms as well as a note from the author to keep readers interested and ready to research more! Part of the “Rick Riordan Presents” imprint of books for middle-grade readers, each one in the series draws from mythology and folklore.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
The stigma and the misinformation surrounding mental illness are staggering.
How many adults believe that depression is “just being sad”? That the weather can be “bipolar”? That you can call yourself OCD because you’re a little too organized? That suicide threats are never acted on? That mentally ill people are dangerous? That prayer, or sunshine, or positive thinking will cure all mental disorders?
We can’t do much about educating and informing the adult population that all those beliefs are false. But we can avoid raising another generation that buys into these misconceptions – if we start now with mental health education in schools.
Whenever someone proposes this idea, there are common objections. You want kindergartners to learn about schizophrenia. You’ll have impressionable kids thinking they have every disorder you teach about. Discussing suicide will give teens ideas.
Again, those are misconceptions. Mental health education in schools could look like this:
In kindergarten and grades 1-2, part of the health curriculum should be a unit about understanding emotions and how to deal with them. This is already being done when teachers tell kids to “use your words” or “use your indoor voice.” But more could be done in the area of teaching children how they can keep from letting anger, sadness, frustration, and other emotions cause them difficulties. Yes, this may involve techniques that resemble meditation and yes, these may be controversial, but the outcomes will be beneficial.
I also think that young children ought to be taught about autism. They will certainly meet autistic children in their classes at this age. Helping them understand the condition at their age level will, one can hope, lead to more inclusion and less bullying of kids who are “different.”
Older children can learn about mental illness in their science or health classes. This should be a unit that covers the basic facts: that mental illness is like physical illness in some ways, that treatment is available, that mental or emotional disorders will affect one in four Americans in their lifetimes, and that mentally ill persons are not generally dangerous.
Middle schoolers can be taught some more specifics: the names and symptoms of some of the most common disorders, the kinds of treatments available, famous people who have succeeded in spite of mental disorders and ordinary people who live fulfilling lives despite them. Speakers from local mental health centers or the school guidance counselor would be helpful.
The topics of self-harm and suicide should be brought upat the middle school level. It is sad but true that children in the middle school age range are affected by both – if not directly, by knowing a classmate who is. And suicide is the third leading cause of death for children ages 10-14. Learning the facts may help students who need it find help before it is too late.
In high school, the focus can shift to human psychology; more detail about serious psychological conditions; and the possibility of careers in mental health treatment, nursing, or advocacy. Topics of self-harm and suicide should be covered in greater detail, with discussions of how suicide affects the families and loved ones of those who die by suicide, how to recognize possible signs that a person is thinking about suicide or self-harm, and what does and doesn’t work when a person shows those signs.
The details of mental health education in schools still need to be worked out. These suggestions come from my experience as a person with bipolar disorder, who began showing symptoms while I was a child. Organizations such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) provide resources that can help in understanding the need for mental health education among school-aged children.
Understanding mental health is as important for schoolchildren as understanding physical health. Why should one get all the attention and the other virtually none? Mental health education that begins early can help children and their families in ways that will resonate far into the future.
Most adults have little to no understanding of the realities of mental illness. It doesn’t have to be the same for the next generation.
Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.
’80s kids can tell you how valuable their Garbage Pail Kids trading card collection was. Now fans can expect things to get even slimier. Goosebumps creator, R.L. Stine has teamed up with The Garbage Pail Kids to create the first-ever GPK illustrated middle-grade series.
The Garbage Pail Kids live in the town of Smellville in a big tumbledown house. People may think they are gross, but they are just Garbage Pail Kids living their best lives. This hilarious new series features all of your favorite kids, from Adam Bomb to Brainy Janie to Junkfood John to Nervous Rex. These middle schoolers get into mischief all while battling bullies and their archenemies, Penny and Parker Perfect. As an added bonus, the book comes with four exclusive GPK stickers.
“The Garbage Pail Kids are ghastly, loud, messy, out of control . . . out of their minds. In other words, MY kind of kids!” says Stine. “I’m hoping to create a book series that captures all the loopy slapstick fun of these uniquely awful characters, to get all middle-grade kids reading—and laughing.”
Our series, Family Tales, is an honest peek into the daily lives of families across the country who are on this crazy ride we call parenthood! From divulging childcare costs to breaking down family finances to managing a virtual school year with multiple kids, we tap into the Red Tricycle army of parents to find out how they’re making it work. This series is a judgment-free zone.
Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.
I’m Surprised How Well My Family Has Adapted to Distance Learning. Here’s Why We Prefer It.
Name and occupation: Kate Loweth, Bay Area Editor & Content and Calendar Manager at Red Tricycle My partner’s occupation: attorney City: Campbell, CA Grades my kids are in: daughter in 7th, son in 6th and son in 4th. They all go to the same private school. School set-up in 2020: Our school started everyone with distance learning as our county is still on the COVID watch list. Our family will be doing distance learning at least through the first trimester even if the school is approved for in-person learning. When in-person learning is approved for our school, the middle schoolers would go two days a week, home for three, and the elementary school kids would be there full time. We just felt that having three kids on two different schedules (plus the in-school mask-wearing and COVID precautions) made the distance learning option better for our family.
Well, the 2020-2021 school year is underway without the usual fanfare. I didn’t get my annual excited-mom-dropping-kids-off-on-the-first-day photo this year because there was no drop off. Thanks, COVID. We’re back to distance learning again and I’ve definitely learned a lot from last year. Honestly, distance learning wasn’t that bad for us last school year so I didn’t dread it like many parents do. Yes, I consider myself very lucky in that regard. Our school did a great job pulling everything together quickly and with older kids I don’t have to spend my days teaching and entertaining them while also trying to hold down my full-time job. Yes, again I know I’m lucky that my kids are older and more self-sufficient.
My three kids are in fourth grade (elementary school), sixth and seventh grades (middle school) and this is how our days typically play out (unless we lose power because, California).
Morning: My husband does the morning routine & I’m more than fine with it
Alarm goes off at 6:15 a.m. and I shut it off while my husband gets up to make coffee (yay!) and shower. Most likely our two boys are already up as they’ve always been early risers. My seventh grader is almost 13 and she can sleep until noon if we don’t wake her. Middle son makes himself breakfast (almost always involving Nutella) while the youngest watches a show on his Kindle Fire.
My husband usually makes breakfast for the youngest as we try and get as much protein as possible into him in the morning (to help with focus) or he will make one of these Just Crack an Egg cups for himself. We wake up the oldest around 7:15 a.m. and I usually get up then as well, after checking my email from my bed. Coffee for me, breakfast for my daughter and during this time my husband usually heads off to work after loading the breakfast dishes in the dish washer.
Morning School & Work: Everyone’s in their own room & we stick to our rigid schedules
Kids need to be online at 8 a.m. This school year they have to wear their uniform shirts any time they have a class meeting (they go to a private school). This means we usually have a lovely combo of fleece PJ pants with that red polo shirt but it’s better than constantly asking them to change out of their jammies like last year.
We live in a tiny-ish rental house in the Bay Area and just before COVID hit we swapped the kids’ rooms so that the boys were no longer sharing. I gave up my home office (which was becoming just a dumping ground anyway) and now each kids has his/her own room. This has worked out well for us with everyone doing distance learning as they can be on group class meetings without bothering each other.
We got desks for the kids (this one for the youngest and two hand-me-downs for the other two) and shelves/bins to organize their school gear. The school sent home iPads for each student in grades 2-8 which is great. My daughter uses hers with a Bluetooth keyboard and the boys have old laptops of mine that they prefer (bigger screen). My daughter will be getting a new laptop for her upcoming birthday. The older two use headphones with mics for their meetings. The youngest doesn’t like to wear headphones all the time so he skips them. Over the summer I had my kids learn to type using Type to Learn. While they are anything but proficient, it definitely put them in a better place to start this school year.
The older two are totally on their own for the school day. I only have to provide technical assistance on occasion or help them to find the colored pencils or notebook that they need.
The school day is set up by period. Using Google Classroom they are able to log into their classes throughout the day. The distance learning school day goes until 1:30 p.m. for the middle schoolers with recess and lunch breaks. They all have independent work time until 2:45 p.m. when they meet back up with their classes for check out. They’ve continued all the same classes they would have had in-person including PE and Art. I can always tell when one kid has PE as the jumping jacks shake the house!
Mid-morning: I love seeing my youngest son thrive with distance learning. I feel a huge sense of relief
For my youngest, he needs a little more help and direction throughout the school day. He’s in fourth grade and has some learning differences that make focus a struggle for him. We’ve actually felt that distance learning has worked well for him because he doesn’t have the distractions from other kids like he did in the classroom. He finds that the Google Classroom learning is great as he can set his screen to only show the speaker (usually the teacher) and that way he isn’t bothered by what other kids are doing. When he was doing in-person learning, he had a hard time with other kids intruding on his space. He also felt a lot of pressure to get his work completed quickly when others were done. Because his brain works differently, it often takes him longer to get to the answer and he felt a lot of pressure when in the classroom. At home he can work at his own pace.
The distance learning schedule has him in classes until lunchtime but usually it’s just a short class meeting (15 minutes or so) where the teacher teaches the lesson and then the class (about 20 kids) has time to work on an assignment on their own before the class meets up again. I have his weekly class schedule posted in my office (a.k.a. my bedroom) as well as his bedroom so that I can keep him on track throughout the day. For the elementary school kids, the distance learning schedule is set up with 30-minute blocks for each class, and two 15-minute recess breaks. They are done for the day at 12:15 p.m. and then meet back up again at 2:45 p.m. to correct the work they’ve done during the interim independent work time. He’s mostly able to do the work on his own, but he does like to come into my “office” to work alongside me sometime (as pictured above).
One thing that has helped us tremendously is that he has a FitBit that we charge every night. He uses this to keep on schedule. When he’s excused from a class he will set the FitBit to alert him just before he has to be back online. It has totally helped us and I am not constantly screaming at him to get back online.
Mid-morning: I lock myself in my bedroom (aka the office) to try and work
While the kids are in school, I’m working from home. We had to bump up our internet service when COVID kicked into gear (at an extra $40/month) because it just couldn’t handle three kids plus me home all day on google meets and Zoom meetings. I have always worked from home full time which definitely meant something different six months ago (hello, new office mates)!
Before distance learning began, I was pretty much working from different spots in the house like the kitchen, TV room and my bed (ugh, it’s true). But when the kids came home I really needed to be in a room with a door. With a small house the only option was our bedroom. Even though it’s only about 12 x 12, I swapped out my husband’s nightstand for this desk (that I love) and that’s where I work. I think this helps my kids to see that I am actually working (and not just watching reality TV on my phone) since it’s more of an official work space.
I keep my door closed (“close the door!” is shouted at least a dozen times a day when people come in to ask a question. Can someone please invent a button I can push to close the door from across the room? I would love you forever). We have a HEPA air filter running outside the door that provides a nice white noise and also helps with the poor air quality we’ve been having due to nearby wildfires. If I’m in a meeting and don’t want to be disturbed, I’ll put an “IN A MEETING” post-it on my door and lock the door. Locking the door is KEY because apparently my kids cannot read.
For the most part this arrangement works for me. I do have quite a few video meetings throughout the day (why, why do they have to be on video??) but since my job is in the parenting sphere and almost everyone I work with is a mom with kids at home, they get it if kids come in during a meeting. If there’s something that I really need to focus on, I usually tackle it when the school day is over as I’m more likely to have fewer interruptions then.
Afternoon: It’s independent work time for all of us
Lunch is usually DIY unless I have a frozen pizza or mini tacos that I can throw in the oven. My middle son can eat the microwavable mac n’ cheese cups every day of the week but I do require a fruit (it’s almost always a banana). The other two kids prefer more of a charcuterie-style lunch with salami, almonds, Wheat Thins and strawberries taking center stage. They all have lunch around the same time but the middle schoolers have to go back to class after lunch as they have a longer school day.
The afternoon is independent work time for all the kids (starting at 1:00 p.m. for elementary schooler and 1:30 p.m. for the middle schoolers) and then the classes reconvene at 2:45 p.m. to check the day’s work and sign off for the day. Usually my youngest still has some work to do after the official school day ends so I either carve out some time during my work day to sit with him and help, or I save it for when my husband comes home from work and he does it.
If my work schedule allows, we try and get out for a late afternoon hike. Luckily where we live is super close to lots of options for getting close to nature.
The Evening Hours: We’re now a family that eats at 5:30 p.m. and I’m okay with that
TBH, everyone’s kind of on their own in the evening. I’m not great about restricting devices after the school day so often you’ll see one of the kids out in the backyard hanging out on my favorite pandemic purchase, the backyard hammock. I eat dinner with my kids at the early bird hour of 5:30 p.m. (the natives get hungry so I’ve given in to this early dinner time). My husband is home by 6:30 p.m. and eats on his own. If the kids are up to it, sometimes there’s a bike ride around the neighborhood.
I’m able to look at all my kids’ work online to make sure they’ve turned everything in for the week. I am pretty hands-off with the middle schoolers but I do like to check in to make sure they aren’t having any issues. They turn in assigned work to the teachers by uploading photos of the work to Google Classroom or by using shared docs and sometimes there are tech issues when submitting docs.
Not every day is sunshine and roses: Here’s what’s made it all easier
I’ve definitely turned to outsourcing grocery shopping a lot more during this time at home. While I used to go to the grocery store almost every day to pick up this or that on my way to school pickup, I’ve gotten a lot more organized about groceries. I’ve been ordering fruits and veggies from Daylight Foods, a local restaurant and school food delivery service that pivoted to offer home deliveries when their other business dried up. I hope this service never goes away because their produce is the best. I’ve also been using Amazon Fresh a lot more lately since same-day delivery is always available.
While distance learning does have some additional challenges, we’ve been able to make it work for our family for the most part. We are all just doing our best to cope with the situation as it is!
Interested in telling your story? Start by filling out our questionnaire here. All stories are anonymous.
The recent period of stay-at-home orders has caused screen use to skyrocket, with a 56.5% increase for kids and a 50.4% increase for teenagers from pre-pandemic use. As parents across the country are discovering their kids won’t go back to school this year, Katie Mills, VP of Product at Circle, a screen time management tool for parents, shared some great ideas of online activities for all ages.
Online Classes
Teens (13-18)
Khan Academy is a nonprofit program with free online classes, including SAT prep
Teens can learn from masters in photography, acting, and more in MasterClass
Universities like Cornell offer pre-college classes for high school students
Kanopy has educational shows and videos for littles with a library card
The silver lining of sheltering in place? More time with the ones we love. Here are ways to make the time count (and cure your cabin fever) online. Katie suggests the following family-focused activities online and off:
Go on a bike ride and wave hello to neighbors from a distance
Using screen time creatively can expose children to new places or perspectives and can even help them to build new skills. For a complete list of suggestions, including podcast recommendations for kids, teens and tweens, check out Circle’s guide to making your kids’ time online and off more creative and educational. And if you are wondering how to get kids off their devices, check out these creative and educational ideas.
It’s one of San Diego’s best kept secrets and we’ve got the scoop! You can take a delicious Joy Factory Tour to learn all about Chuao Chocolatier right here in Carlsbad––and yes, lots of chocolate samples are included! Appropriately pronounced (chew-wow) and named after a legendary cacao growing region in Venezuela), Chuao Chocolates are truly wow-worthy. Just wait until you taste all their amazing flavors! Read on for the sweet deets about this San Diego chocolate factory tour you don’t want to miss.
photo: Beth Shea
Joy Factory Tours
Joy Factory Tours are offered on Thursdays and Fridays and last approximately one hour. The guided tour is led by a fun and enthusiastic member of the Chuao Chocolatier team. You’ll learn about the hard work, passion and of course, joy that goes into every bite of Chuao chocolate creations. Tours cost $15/person and you can sign up for one onlinehere.
photo: Beth Shea
Learn the Inspiring Story Behind Chuao Chocolates
Your first stop on the tour is part tasting/part presentation. You’ll see a slideshow and learn about Chuao Chocolatier’s co-founder and creative chocolatier Chef Michael Antonorsi’s passion and inspiration behind making chocolate to spread joy. You’ll gain an understanding for why Chef Michael’s flavors are so unique, witty and bold––and why he views making chocolate as a form of art and a way to create happiness and gratitude.
Before you head to the factory you’ll get to sample several flavors of Chuao Chocolate bars and truffles. Some favorites include Potato Chip, which is the perfect blend of sweet and salty with crisp kettle cooked chips and milk chocolate, Sprinkle Dreams, which boasts waffle cone, hazelnuts, and rainbow sprinkles in milk chocolate, and Firecracker which tantalizes your tastebuds with a dash of chipotle and crackling popping candy in dark chocolate. The decadent truffles were also part of the sampling treats with luscious flavors like passion fruit and dulce de leche.
photo: Chuao Chocolatier
On to the Factory Where the Magic Happens
Next you’ll put on the provided hair nets and then head into the factory to see how these magical chocolates are made. Kids may be asking about Wonka’s chocolate river, so be sure to point out the spinning chocolate wheel that calls this factory home. This engaging tour will teach about chocolate tempering and other chocolate handling processes. You’ll see cooling tables, large chocolate holding tanks, assembly lines and the chocolate making staff hard at work, while also learning about the ingredients being used from the bacon that goes in the Baconluxious bars to the fluffy vegan marshmallows in the Oh My Smores bars.
Fun facts: Chuao Chocolatier makes the LEGO bricks chocolate you’ll find at neighboring LEGOLAND California. They also donate chocolate to local San Diego food banks.
photo: Beth Shea
Shop the Boutique & Plan Your Next Visit
Once you’ve finished your tour, you’ll want to grab some goodies to go. Good thing there’s a delightful boutique where you can buy bars, truffles, bon bons, Banana Jerky, joy-filled caramels and every creative product currently be produced by Chuao Chocolatier! You’ll also find vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and soy free chocolates. Be sure to check out their Moon Bark chocolate.
Good to know: Joy Factory tours are for kids age 10 and older. Be aware that some of the machinery in the factory tour makes loud noises.
Mark your calendar! Chuao Chocolatier hosts several events geared for younger children too. Stay tuned to their website for details on their upcoming Easter event which will feature snacks, crafts and mini tours.
Chocoholics will also want to note that Chuao Chocolatier offers truffle rolling and bar-luxious experiences wherein you can make your own chocolates!
Chuao Chocolatier Factory & Boutique
2350 Camino Vida Roble, Ste. 101
Carlsbad, CA 92011
Online: chuaochocolatier.com
