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All this week and next, we'll be revisiting our favorite family photos and memories of 2009. Here is our first entry. This photo of my daughter Ramona captures a wistful but joyous moment this past October at a local farm outside of Portland, Oregon. This snapshot memorializes her two front teeth, which she yanked out herself the following week. (As you can see, they're barely hanging on in the picture!) Read More »
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Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree is one of the many books that our generation has rediscovered upon becoming parents. It's ubiquitous -- found in every library, bookstore, and preschool classroom. And yet, rereading it again for the first time in thirty (or so) years can come as a bit of a shock. Many parents we know have commented: "It's so depressing!" And on one level, that is perfectly true. A boy and a tree have an idyllic, playful, nurturing relationship that is forever transformed when the boy, inevitably, begins to grow up. Now he doesn't want to play; he wants apples for money. And then wood for a house. And then a tree trunk to make a boat. And then, finally, a stump to rest upon. The tree offers him everything he needs, and each time he accepts, the progressively shorn and mutilated tree is "happy." Read More »
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The turning of leaves and crispness in the air signal that autumn is officially upon us. With the advent of fall comes many holidays and opportunities to celebrate that for which we are thankful--our families, the food on our table, and our general well-being. Thanksgiving is a holiday as American as the apple pie sometimes served during it (for those who aren't big fans of the pumpkin variety), but did you know that it's not a holiday exclusive to the United States? We didn't either. Well, ok, we had a suspicion; we did some research and are here to share with you how people give thanks around the world. Read More »
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It's gift-giving season and instead of throwing yourself into the mosh-pit that is the shopping mall, discover a fantastic alternative, especially to give to those who "have everything." Read More »
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Every family is unique. Different sets of values, morals, traditions and routines are what make us all special. But when we bring our children together, the one behavior they should all have in common is good manners. And with the holiday season quickly approaching, there is no better time to discuss how we instill gratitude -- and polite manners -- into our children's everyday lives. Read More »
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Halloween’s hedonistic greediness is past (has the candy “gone bad” and disappeared at your house yet?), and the Thanksgiving season is upon us. For those of us with young children who tend to mark the passage of time according to holidays and seasons, this new phase of the year offers a chance to focus a bit on gratitude. Many preschoolers, of course, would be glad to skip straight to the December holidays, but when they ask us what season it is now, we’ll be telling them that November is the season of thankfulness. Read More »
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This may be a familiar scenario for many of you: you've been asked to chair an event at your child's school, handed a binder full of information, and been set loose to make this year "the best ever!" Now what? You make some calls, round-up some helpers, and pore over last year's information. But putting everything together in a way that makes sense, that can be daunting. Read More »
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Of the many dilemmas that come with choosing a preschool, the question of schedules is one of the most vexing. You may know what kind of philosophy or community you prefer, and everyone has an ideal location in mind, but schedule? What is the optimal preschool schedule for a two-year-old, a three-year-old, a pre-kindergartner? And what is the ideal schedule for their parents? No one seems to agree on any of this. Read More »
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Book series seem tailor-made for stories of adventure. Once we’ve had a fantastic adventure with an author, we’re always ready to saddle up for another one. We know we’re in good hands and in for a great ride. Our preschoolers feel the same way. There are certain characters and authors they would follow anywhere. The series below take them on thrilling adventures around the world, or sometimes just around the corner. Either way, they’re hooked, and so are we. Read More »
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What drives a great series? What is it that makes children, or adults for that matter, want to read the next book, and the next, and the next after that? The answer, of course, is an entrancing main character. A vividly imagined setting helps too, as do compelling storylines. But the character is the thing. At the end of one book we need to be left wondering, what will that girl get up to next? Read More »
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