There are so many benefits to reading. From the more practical benefits such as comprehension, concentration, and wider vocabulary to the more nuanced benefits of empathy, creativity, and understanding, people of all ages can improve themselves by reading often.

When it comes to building good habits around reading, there’s no better time to start than early childhood. As soon as children are willing to sit still long enough for a story, bust out the books. Make it a part of your routine, and make it fun! Soon, they will be asking if it’s time to read yet. [Read more…]

Mealtime can be a challenge, especially if you are serving healthy ingredients. Instead of resigning yourself to chicken nuggets and PB&J, consider how you can shock your children into taking the first bite of something new. You’ll need to use a combination of tactics, so put on your trickster hat and prepare to amaze your kiddos.

Here are FIVE clever ways to feed your kids healthy treats.  [Read more…]

Inclusion, allyship and other forms of advocacy have been a hot topic recently, as well they should be. Welcoming those who are different from you, offering kindness and being inclusive are not just a part of being a good person, but of creating a better world for everyone to live in, including your children and teens. Teaching your kids about inclusivity is one of the best things you can do to make them good citizens of the world, and one of the great things about it is that it’s never too late to start.

While there are a lot of resources out there about teaching young children to be inclusive, there isn’t as much information about encouraging the same behavior and education specifically in teens. Though it may come as a surprise, many of the ideas and techniques behind teaching people to be more inclusive can apply to all age groups. So when you’re teaching your teenager about inclusivity, here are a few of those tips you can keep in mind.  [Read more…]

The subject of drugs can be a difficult subject to approach with anyone, let alone your children who have likely not been exposed to any conversations or topics surrounding substances. While it might seem like a tough conversation, it’s one that needs to be had, in the interest of protecting your children from danger and bad decisions. However, there are certain ways you may want to talk to them about drugs, and certain techniques you may want to avoid.

While it’s best to talk to your kids early on about drugs, before they’ve had any exposure whatsoever, it’s never too late to hold the conversation. Plus, even if you talk with them early, you may need to bring things up again as people in their lives change around them and they learn about the world. They may have questions about things they see or hear in the world, or someone you know may start struggling with addiction. Just like other important and difficult conversations you encounter when raising children, the conversation around drugs is an ongoing situation that may take many forms over the years. No matter what stage you happen to find yourself in, there are a few key ways to talk to your kids about drugs and substances. [Read more…]