Tag: Kids

Over the past month of staying at home, my 4-year-old, Lilah, has asked me a lot of questions. We have explored dozens of animals, from the mucus of a tree frog’s foot pads to the mysterious tusk of the narwhal. Lilah has wondered why a volcano "interrupts," how rocks have sparkles, and why she can’t eat the boozy cookies I made the other night. Yes, I have even been graphically asked about how babies are made. 

Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash

As we all know, it’s summer, and ever since the public school system as we know it was instituted some 150 years ago, one of the pillars of childhood has been to escape from the classroom as quickly as possible when the school year ends. With summer vacation comes travels away from home, either as a family group on road trip, to visit relatives, or independently as we head off to summer camps. This year may be the first time your kids are flying solo, which is sure to be a huge, exciting new adventure for them.

Traditional nursery rhymes are a fun way to connect the generations, but when you're tired of those, what can you listen to with your kids? There's actually a lot of kids' music coming out that's got a fun, modern sound that appeals to all ages but features kid-appropriate content. Here are some of the best new-school kids' albums available for check out from your local Anythink:

Poetry can open a window, allowing for a fresh look at a familiar view. These books of poetry for kids all focus on nature, word play and pictures, in ways that help readers rediscover the world outside. I found all five books to be delightful, providing both a quick read and a deep experience. The lyrics and images combine to recreate forest, ocean or sky. Exploring them expanded my sense of the exterior world while strengthening the quiet of my interior self.

Children who are surrounded by books learn to incorporate reading into their daily habits.

As a parent who raised two avid readers and also had a number of child literacy experiences here at Anythink, I would like to share my ideas to get kids to love reading. I am lucky enough to talk to caregivers of all ages every day, and I have seen many behaviors that help our children get excited about books. I am leaving Anythink for a new adventure and wanted to pass along the wisdom that I have gained in my time here. Thanks to all the customers, young and old, who have made this a wonderful community. 

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred

This past winter my family had the chance to visit Mexico. We all tried our best to brush up on our Spanish language skills before we left. We did OK, but I think we'll need more work if we plan to return. Spanish skills aren't just helpful when traveling; they're useful here at home, too. To make it fun for everyone I came up with a plan: we have bi-lingual snack time. My son's favorite part of the trip wasn't the beach or the theme park we visited, but the food! And it's no wonder. Mexico has some of the best dishes of any place on the map.