Parenting resources for all who love and care for children
Family History and ReunionsEach year our family plans various family reunions to recapture the memories of family fun and to reconnect with our loved ones. The most basic family reunion includes a potluck dinner of favorite dishes that the family can share with new family members. Typically, we bring some of our children or grandchildren to these events so that our extended family can be acquainted with our newest family members. [Read more…]
Each fall teachers struggle with how to support parents who are helping their children with math homework. When conducting back-to-school meetings with parents, teachers typically summarize the math curriculum by …
Twins! Double the FunAs the grandma of twin girls, who will have their first birthday in a few weeks, I have been reflecting on how unprepared we were when we found out that our daughter would be giving birth to twins. After our initial shock and excitement, we needed to prepare a plan to adequately care for these precious bundles of joy along and their three-year-old brother. First, we read books about twin care to understand what was happening in the babies’ development. Our daughter also collected all of the hand-me-down clothes and baby gear that was offered from friends. She strategically planned on how to fit two babies in a smaller bedroom with all of the required gear. The following is a list of life-saving products that helped us care for our little granddaughters in their first months of life: [Read more…]
My young grandson loves listening to Lion King music when driving to and from preschool. Each time we get into the car he has me start the CD at the beginning. Immediately, when the dramatic music of flight from the kingdom begins, he asks why the music is so sad. Each time I respond with the same answer that the animals are sad because they have to leave their homes. I do not embellish on the fighting, the killing and the war that is part of the story; but he knows it is a sad situation. Finally, after talking about the Lion King story for several weeks, I asked my grandson what he thought was happening when he heard the sad music. He painted a vibrant picture with words of sadness, but still asked why. Part of my response to his question will be to take him to see the Lion King play. After reading John F. Barell’s book, “Why Are School Buses Always Yellow”, I was able to engage in the following critical thinking dialogue with my grandson by asking good questions:
When my grandson asked, “Grandma, why are they playing sad music?”
The potential for working with parents and families in schools through parent leadership programs has been documented as a highly effective prevention and intervention strategy for supporting student growth and achievement.
