Summer Field Trips - RAR

Summer Field Trips

Now that summer is in full swing, you will want to have some fun excursions up your sleeve. Hopefully your kids haven’t complained about being bored yet; but we know as parents that as the summer progresses we are more likely to hear that moan of despair! We would like to help you prepare this summer with some fun excursion ideas for your kiddos. Just because school is out doesn’t mean that field trips are suspended. Here’s a few fun field trip ideas for your little ones.

Summer Fun on a Budget - Red Apple Reading Express

Summer Fun on a Budget

It’s hard to believe that summer is here! Many of us are wondering how to entertain the children for the next two to three months now that school is over. If you’re like me, this prospect can seem overwhelming – especially when your family is on a tight budget. However, it is possible to have summertime fun on the cheap! Today we will look at how you and your family can have some good cheap fun!

Taking Advantage of Your Public Library - Red Apple Reading Express

Taking Advantage of Your Public Library

When was the last time you visited your public library? If you already have a hefty collection of books in your own personal library, you may not see a need to make a trip to the library in your community. However, your local library may have a plethora of resources for you and your child that you are unaware of. In this post we will explore just a few of the hidden gems you can find in your local library.

10-fun-educational-toys-RAR

10 Fun Educational Toys

One of the things I appreciate about summer break is that it gives my children some extra unstructured time during the day. Don’t misunderstand me, I am a huge fan of structure and schedules; in fact, my kids’ summer vacation is probably a bit more structured than most. However, included in our schedule is free play. This can look just about anyway the kids want it to – providing it doesn’t involve electronics. There is something wonderful about being able to play and use one’s imagination in anyway one chooses. Of course, this doesn’t mean that parents can’t have options available for their child to choose from. Which brings us to the topic of today’s post: Fun Educational Toys! There are literally thousands of great learning toys available to purchase and enjoy. Today we will look at 10.

Four Fun Father's Day Gifts - Red Apple Reading Express

Four Fun Father’s Day Gifts

With Father’s Day right around the corner, you are probably already considering what to get the men in your life on this special day. If you are like me, you find that special man in your life (father or husband) a little hard to buy for. It can be tricky to find just the right gift to give on Father’s Day, but let’s not give up too quickly and buy the first pair of socks or tie we see! Hopefully, this list of four fun gifts for Dad will give you some inspiration as you and your family prepare for Father’s Day!

Helping Your Child Thrive Socially - Red Apple Reading Express

Helping Your Child Thrive Socially

My Kindergartner came home a while back and matter-of-factly told me that she got kicked out of “the Katie club.” There are two other girls named Katie in her class, and they did what kids do—used what they had in common to create an exclusive club. Well, apparently changing your name isn’t the only thing that can get you booted from this particular club. You see, we live in Alabama, football capital of the world where even little girls talk about the game. On this particular day, the “Katies” allowed their fan allegiance to get in the way of their friendship, and the two War Eagles took a stand against my little Alabama fan.

Get-Caught-Reading-By-Your-Kids-RAR

Get Caught Reading… By Your Kids!

Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month? First launched in 1999, “Get Caught Reading” is a national campaign that reminds us how much fun it is to read!  Of course, we here at Red Apple Reading are huge advocates of the written word. So this month we want to join the campaign and encourage parents to pick up a book and Get Caught Reading by their children!

Mother's Day -Red Apple Reading Express

Mother’s Day: Every Mom Has a Story

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, our thoughts turn toward our little ones and all the blessings that come with being a mom. Whether you have one child or seven, you have special memories with each that will last a lifetime. At Red Apple Reading, we would like to suggest that this year you consider Mother’s Day in light of the theme of Story. After all, every mom (and child) has a story and each story is precious. Let’s look at a few ways you can make this special day revolve around stories!

teacher-appreciation-week-RAR

Gifts for the Teachers in Your Life

Red Apple Reading know the difference a good teacher can make in the life of a child. Hopefully, as parents we all show appreciation for our kids’ teachers throughout the school year, but this week gives us the opportunity to thank them in an extra special way. Teaching is one of the hardest and most important jobs in our society. Since they work so hard for our little ones, let’s think about how we can show teachers some much deserved gratitude!

The Literacy Challenge Facing Boys

A Crisis of Confidence to Succeed – The Literacy Challenge Facing Boys

Guest Post by Michael Gurian
Literacy matters. Reading, writing, and speaking intersect with everything in life: character development, emotional intelligence, and physical fitness. Reading is essential for successful brain development in children, and stories help build character and emotional development. There are few career areas in which literacy skills—reading, writing, critical thinking, articulation of positions in words, and even anecdotal storytelling—are not essential for success. The Boy Scouts of America’s mission to help boys be “Prepared. For Life.®” is directly correlated with the need for literacy in America and precisely why the BSA incorporates literacy skills into so much of its program.