15 Books to Teach Kids About Gratitude

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I can really get behind a day of feasting, relaxing and visiting with family and friends, and remembering all the things we have to be thankful for.  Gratitude is such an important factor in our lives.  Practicing gratitude can relieve stress, lower blood pressure, create contentment, improve our relationships, and even further our career. And here we are, right in the middle of National Gratitude Month. Could there be a more appropriate time to teach our children about gratitude? Unfortunately, it often seems that Thanksgiving is overshadowed by the big commercial push of Read More

Get Caught Reading: 15 Favorite Read Aloud Books

May begins in one week. That’s right, just one week. When I think of May, I think of end-of-school activities, Mother’s Day gifts, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and that hint of summer in the air. I recently found out that May is Get Caught Reading Month. In honor of this, I’m hoping to share some of my favorite reads all month long. What better way to start than with a list of my favorite read-aloud books to share with children. I love children’s books. My own kids are past the read-aloud stage, but I still have shelves and cupboards full Read More

21 Craft Kits and Ideas for Kids

I spent the morning hanging out in Kindergarten. It’s a really fun place to be. There is always a fun song to sing and a fun craft project to do. Kids love crafts. I also teach art to students ages 8 to 14. Kids love art. It is a joy to watch them explore their creativity and produce some amazing work. If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that March is National Craft Month. The kid’s craft market is flooded with kits and ideas to do with your little ones and not so little ones. Arts and crafts help Read More

March is National Craft Month

,Are you feeling crafty yet? March is National Craft month and there are crafts for virtually every interest out there. If you’re one of those “I’m not creative” types, sorry, nope, you’re wrong. Everyone can create something. Check out my post from October. It explains why being creative increases our happiness. and how everyone is creative in their own way. The key to enjoying crafts is to let go of the need to be perfect. Being crafty doesn’t require being professional. That’s what makes it fun. Don’t compare your creations with others (especially those perfect pictures on Pinterest). No doubt comparison is Read More