In a world full of digital distraction and scheduled enrichment, what can parents and educators do to promote the timeless pleasure of reading a book for fun? Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty members Joe Blatt, Nonie Lesaux, and Catherine Snow distilled a comprehensive body of literacy research into a short...
Editorial Note: The July 2018 Back-to-School Drive of school supplies has ended. Financial contributions can be made to our August Back-to-School Campaign in partnership with Quicken Loans via Crowdrise. Southwest Human Development is partnering with Famous Dave's locations for the fourth annual Back-to-School Supply Drive, giving the community an opportunity to...
Break out the dinner plates and make the most of family moments by prioritizing regular mealtimes to create lasting healthy habits for your children and family. By creating a structured and healthy mealtime ritual, parents can help children learn the importance of sitting down for a meal while developing healthy habits....
Making sure that children are properly geared up to conquer the school year begins at home. Parents can be proactive by taking useful steps in helping children begin the school year with a positive attitude and the tools for success. Read with your kids Reading aloud with children throughout the summer can have...
Today’s young students are expected to arrive to kindergarten with a foundation of basic academic and social skills. From the first day of school, students must be prepared to begin learning to read, write and do basic math. Though choosing a preschool that will help your child meet kindergarten standards may...
Though summer’s heat is pushing on, children’s summer break is soon coming to an end. Amidst getting ready for kindergarten and preparing for the new school year, families are still making time for last-minute fun in the sun. Vacations offer unique windows of opportunity for family bonding time, learning and good old-fashioned fun....
Swimming is a go-to pastime to beat the summer heat, but it’s important to always consider safety precautions when children are around any body of water. While nothing replaces adult supervision, introducing young children to swim lessons can be a proactive step to helping keep children safe. Swim lessons are readily...
The “summer slide" describes a student’s tendency to fall behind in academic progress over the summer months. Each year, many children of all ages face challenges as they begin school in the fall because of the “break” from reading and learning over the summer months. Children who do not maintain steady...
June is National Safety Month, a month-long reminder to take safety precautions all year long. While kids are enjoying sun, fun and never ending Popsicles during the summer months, parents can gear up for the long summer days by keeping safety in mind to ensure a happy and safe experience to...
It’s common for adults to overlook the importance of reading aloud to young children, but the activity is more essential to early childhood development than parents may think. Reading aloud to children stimulates healthy cognitive and emotional development. Early language and literacy impacts children’s ability to focus, set goals, control impulses...