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There is no substitute for family; sisters, brothers and cousins are our first friends in life! In the years before Pre-K, our relationships with these family members grow strong – and often continue as we grow. No matter how many friends we make in school, on the playground or even at our jobs – our very first memories are with family members! Growing up, we spent every holiday at my grandmother’s house. Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and even days like L …

People today live in a world made possible by software. Everyone can shop online, make calls via software-controlled networks, or navigate roads through apps. Companies are working on building houses controlled by software, providing medical care with robotics, and even creating cars that can run on their own.  Taking that into consideration, it's clear that a lot of the things kids use run because of code. By the time they grow up, their world will be even more digitalized, and the importa …

Five tips for teaching kids how to cope with and react effectively to rumors.Have you ever been targeted by a rumor? I have! In seventh grade, I accidentally burned my neck with a curling iron. The burn resembled a hickey. I tried to cover it up with makeup, but it took less than two hours for a rumor to circulate at school that I had made out with someone, was easy and loose and was most likely pregnant! Growing up in an extremely conservative area, I lost most of my friends by the end of …

Reading is a lifelong skill that benefits students of all ages. As a teacher, I have seen that a student who is a good reader will be more successful in almost every subject in school. This is one learning area that children can continue to work on all summer. And it can be fun! The goal is to encourage your children to read and improve their comprehension as well. You can help with this easily. Here are some tips on how you can do this: Read with your child. It will help your child improve his …

When it comes to mental health, there is no ONE right approach or treatment. Every story is different; every child is different. Helping a child or teen work through their mental health issues extends outside of the home. Teachers and counselors are an essential part of this journey. The following is a Q & A with Dr. Dan Daly, current Director of Youth Care Emeritus and former Executive Vice President and Director of Youth Care at Boys Town. This article originally appeared …

Teachers / Counselors, Have you ever asked a child how his or her day was and heard the standard response of “good,” but deep down it seems like something is just a little bit off? In my experience as a school counselor, I find that more and more children are dealing with sadness, but it I also find that children can be masters at hiding these feelings. They may feel embarrassed about the feelings, or may not even be aware of what the feelings are – they just might feel different. Her …

Excerpts taken from full article originally featured on boystown.org/parenting.We’ve all heard “Mom, I have this permission slip for a field trip. It’s due today.” If I’m being honest, I hear it several times a year! My daughters struggle to stay organized once they leave school for the day. They’re so excited to come home and watch Netflix or play with the neighbor kids, that they forget I’m supposed to sign them up to go to the zoo.From their teacher’s perspective, it has to be frustr …

What if you came across a picture book that captures autism in a way children can truly understand? A story that breaks down common behaviors on the spectrum using kid‑friendly, accessible language? One blogger — a mother of two, including a child diagnosed with autism — discovered that Uniquely Wired: A Story About Autism and Its Gifts does exactly that. Her experience with the book reveals how powerfully it helps children grasp what autism looks like, feels like, and means for the …

“Shoe!”...“Book!” My daughter’s first, simple words perfectly capture our family’s vices and values. From the time she could barely sit still long enough to listen to three pages of beginner board books, a request for reading together has rarely been denied. She never cared about how well we read, or if we did voices or not. The experience was really about taking the time to engage with her. Reading Builds Connection Reading together with her as a toddler and …