Summer break is speeding by at an alarming rate! While some school children have another month of vacation to enjoy, many students are heading back to the classroom in just a couple of weeks! While returning to a structured routine is appealing, beginning a new year can be stressful for both kids and parents! Red Apple Reading has a few tips to help your family get the school year off to a positive start.
Are you planning a family trip this summer that involves long hours in the car? Everyone loves a vacation; but the actual road trip itself can be tedious – especially for families with small children! Do you wish you had a dollar for every time a child asks, “How much longer?”? Is it possible for a Mom and Dad to arrive at their destination with their sanity intact? If you’re looking for ways to keep your children entertained on your approaching car trip, then look no further! Red Apple Reading has some tips for not only keeping your kiddo entertained but also intellectually stimulated during your upcoming road trip!
Summer is in full swing! Hopefully you aren’t already hearing the dreaded phrase, “I don’t have anything to do!” But in case you have, Red Apple Reading is coming to the rescue! Here’s a list of 10 outdoor water activities we’ve found on the web that will not only help your little one beat the heat, but will keep her entertained as well! And you know what we like best about these activities? They are super simple!
Do 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 coffee cup or tie we see! Hopefully, this list of fun gifts for Dad will give you some inspiration as you and your family prepare for Father’s Day!
Ready or not, another summer season is upon us! For months children have dreamed of an extended break from the structured school schedule. While summer is a wonderful time to decompress, parents need to be mindful of the phenomenon that has become known as the summer slump. The result of not receiving enough educational stimulation over the summer months, the slump often leads to a loss of previously acquired education. What can parents do to avoid this reversal of learning? Red Apple Reading has some tips to help your child beat the summer slump!
Although the season doesn’t officially begin until June 21, with Memorial Day now behind us, it feels like summer has already begun. If you’re like me you have mixed feelings about summertime. While I’m happy that the kids have a break from school, I cringe at the idea of them sitting around watching television and playing video games for 2 months! That’s why I attempt to have some fun educational activities for them to do throughout the season. A quick perusal of the internet reveals an endless variety of ideas for fun summer learning. Here are some of our favorites!
Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month? First launched in 1999, Get Caught Reading is a national campaign that reminds everyone how much fun it is to read! However, in our fast paced and hectic society, it can be challenging for kids to even find time to get caught reading! Red Apple Reading would like to encourage parents to use this month to help their kiddos discover (or rediscover) their love for reading!
The majority of moms would agree that parenthood is a blessing. However, the truth is, it’s not always fun. I’ll give a personal example. Last week was the kindergarten field trip to the zoo. I’m going to be honest; I don’t relish chaperoning field trips – but I do it. So, after driving an hour to the zoo to meet the bus, I collect my group of 4 active little boys, and spend the day exploring the zoo. Suffice it to say, it was a long day. By the end of the afternoon, the fitness app on my phone had logged over 5 miles. As I was tucking in my 6 year old that night, you’ll never believe what he said to me. For those of you who are thinking something along the lines of, “Thanks mom for going on the field trip with me today – you’re the best!” Wrong! He said, “Mom, next time we go to the zoo, could you not come?” Really?! Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It’s not always pretty and very often it’s a thankless job. This Mother’s Day I thought I’d offer a few thoughts to keep in mind when the day is especially hard and long.
Friday, May 1 is Mother Goose Day. Most of us probably remember reading from some version of Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes while growing up. I often read nursery rhymes to my babies from a board book we had in our home library. I have very fond memories of chanting Hickory Dickory Dock, The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Humpty Dumpty, and Jack and Jill to my little ones. When I was reading these rhymes to my kids, I mistakenly thought I was just reading a bed time story. Little did I know that I was actually laying a foundation for reading in their lives. Today Red Apple Reading would like to remind parents why the simple nursery rhyme is so important
Do you need a little help deciding how to spend Earth Day with your kiddos? Red Apple Reading has compiled a list of fun activities you can enjoy together today or any ordinary spring day! Take a look at these kid-friendly Earth Day activities!