Free to Learn by Peter Gray: A Book Review As a public school educator and a parent, I am constantly reading topics about education, inquiry, and play. I love public schools, but there is no secret that time for play has been replaced with standardized test preparation in schools. At home, structured activities in the form […]
The problem with parenting experts So I started writing this blog because I feel like I have a ton of advice to give. I love giving advice. Seriously. Maybe it’s because I love to teach people. Maybe it’s because I find happiness in helping others, especially mamas. Maybe it’s because I just like to hear […]
We know kids should play outside, right? Right….If you need a refresher you can read this article about the ever growing importance of outdoor play. If you don’t believe me or just LOVE learning about the benefits of outdoor play then here are some additional articles you can dive into. 5 Big Benefits of Outdoor […]
Choosing how you will educate your child is probably one of the most important and most stressful choices you make as a parent. In this article I argued that early childhood education was more important than college. Education during these early years will help shape social, emotional and physical health, as well as develop intrinsic […]
One of the biggest complaints I hear from moms is that their house is filled with toys. They have so much stuff–especially after the holidays. They feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ve always loved a good purge (thanks mom!) so I started thinking about how I could share my process with you […]
This article is an excerpt from my upcoming book Simply Play: Everything You Need To Know About The Most Important Part of Childhood. Click here to purchase! The Concept of Play At its core, play is one of the most important needs of a child. In fact, play is so important that it is recognized […]
A special thank you to Michelle DiMiceli, owner of Meaningful Education Support, for her help with this article. Parents are their child’s number one advocate. Being involved with your child’s education will not only encourage success, but it will give you the knowledge and power when your child needs additional help. The special education process can […]
Parents See Problems with Self-Directed Learning I recently read a post by a frustrated mom of a middle school aged child. She was upset that her son was being given “independent studies” that were not taught by the classroom teacher. The teacher was, for a few select units, only providing or directing students to videos, […]
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) One of our main goals as parents and caregivers should be to guide the child towards independence. As hard as it is to accept, our little ones will, all too soon, be off and dealing with life’s challenges. In order for true independence to emerge, kids need to feel […]
Rise of mental health issues in children Did you know that mental health diagnoses among U.S. children increased 30% between 2011 and 2017 alone? That is a scary statistic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20% of children in the U.S. have a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. Signs and symptoms of […]
