The first day of school is a cinch, it's the process of getting there that's a hassle. I remember being excited about my own entree to kindergarten — slipping into my plaid uniform and putting on my brand new backpack hoping for homework. I was five-years-old and now twenty-six years later, I will relive that moment with my daughter in a matter of months.
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The Pledge of Allegiance has been routinely said in classrooms since the 1800s. Many youngsters mumble it out of habit, but students at Woodbury Elementary in Vermont are well aware of the words they are stating. The school has banned the practice of the pledge in the classroom so students who wish to partake in the morning routine do so in the gym and then return to their studies.
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Vans are my son's shoe of choice — he slides them on and is on his way. But, the stylish slip-ons popular with aspiring wee skaters aren't appropriate for certain occasions. For fancy affairs, I invested in a pair of shiny black Kenneth Cole lace-ups, but because weddings, holidays and funerals are so few and far between, he outgrows them quickly.
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My daughter hates the taste of most toothpaste. She says even the mild, children's versions are "too spicy." In an effort to appease her and get her pearly whites clean, I turned the task into a lil science experiment and added a bit of baking soda to a splash of water and had her mix the slightly salty paste.
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There's something magical about sitting down with your children during weekend arts and crafts time. It's the perfect opportunity for stories, creativity and inevitably, a whole lot of mess.
These adorable paper houses and store fronts will help you deliver the same soothing creative time without any of the paint or pencil marks.
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Do you know the capitals of all 50 states? I'm guessing the chances are slim. You may have at one time and will again when your tot reaches third grade and must know them by heart.
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If there's one thing that most tots do well, it's building things up and tearing them down. Aside from giving them the literal building blocks to make their imaginations come alive, the quirky and delightful book Iggy Peck Architect ($11) will help them to see the positive side of being eccentric, creative, and persistent.
Appealing to elementary-age children, author Andrea Beaty tells a tale of a young boy who has always delighted in building creative structures — even a tower of dirty diapers!
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What happened to the good old days of court jesters, witches, Raggedy Anne and teddy bears? Our society has certainly become less prudish, as evidenced by foul language on TV, pants with MILF written on the rears and sex education in kindergarten.
This Halloween, we are sure to see some young girls trick-or-treating in scantily clad costumes that will have their male counterpart's tongues wagging and parents gasping.
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If your child's room looks like a hurricane whipped through it, it may be time for you to enlist the help of your wee ones to get things done around the house. Chores can help take the burden off of mommy and teach the tots a thing or two about responsibility and pride.
Invest in a Melissa and Doug's Magnetic Responsibility Chart ($16) to help keep track of the youngster's accomplishments.
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ABCs, 123s and the birds and the bees? Most people anticipate two of these three subjects to be taught in kindergarten, but parents usually expect to take on the sex ed conversation on their own or much later in school.
In England, a new national curriculum will require teachers to introduce lessons to their five-year-old students about their body parts, gender differences, friendships and feelings.
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