4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

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The Miracle all Mothers Need

The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

read more
Community Gardens Can Help Kids Go Global

Community Gardens Can Help Kids Go Global

Community gardens provide important and valuable benefits for children. Working together with others for a greater good fosters a strong sense of responsibility and enlightenment vital to becoming a productive global citizen and future leader. Last month, my family...

read more

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The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

DISCOVERS

Discovering Culture Through Collage: Romare Bearden

Exploring multicultural art exposes children to cultural differences in a creative context. A multicultural art-inspired crafting session is also fertile ground for a history lesson! This week we created collage art inspired by our recent visit to the Romare Bearden...

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

WORLD WIDE HUNTS

The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

read more

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

read more

The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

read more

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

read more

Visiting the Vatican with Kids: The Treasure Hunt Approach

This is my first in a series of posts related to my recent trip to Italy with my little global citizens, ages 7 and 9. I wish they were small babies again, that way when they get tired of walking around the vatican, I could just lay down the baby play mat and they...

read more

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

read more

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The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

EXPLORER

The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo's over the past few years (especially love the one where they...

Visiting the Vatican with Kids: The Treasure Hunt Approach

This is my first in a series of posts related to my recent trip to Italy with my little global citizens, ages 7 and 9. I wish they were small babies again, that way when they get tired of walking around the vatican, I could just lay down the baby play mat and they...

The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant-- but it doesn't make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game. Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It's...

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that's because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos...

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The Miracle all Mothers Need

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound located in the hemp plant– but it doesn’t make you high. Rather, it supplies several surprising wellness advantages that can keep busy mommies like you on top of your video game.

Being a mommy is the hardest task in the world. It’s also the best job in the world, however, some of the realities like lack of sleep, stress, back pain as well as more are sometimes inevitable.

Although prescription meds can aid with these issues, they commonly have side-effects that can provide them useless to a mother who must keep her psychological prowess, not just at the office, however also when she’s hanging out with her youngsters in your home.

That’s why millions of working (and also stay-at-home) mommies have actually turned to non-psychoactive CBD oil to assist them to remain at their absolute best, without serious negative effects.

Right here are 5 reasons why you should maintain a bottle of CBD oil in your medicine cabinet, as well as another in your bag, as well!

1. Aids with tension

Stress and also anxiousness are 2 things every mother is used to. Often, anxiousness is an outcome of the stress you feel due to all the stuff on your motherly plate. Tension is a healthy and balanced reaction when there’s much to be achieved, whether it’s job-related or kid-related. However, the mix of ensuring your children are well-fed, well-dressed, well-educated, well-everything, on top of managing a profession and footing the bill, can turn even one of the most motherly of mommies into a flat-out momzilla.

The good news is, there’s a natural anxiety alleviation treatment that won’t cost you a ton of money or leave you really feeling dazed at work: CBD. CBD oil in fact promotes performance as well as psychological clarity so mind fog doesn’t stand an opportunity.

2. Miracle for Back Pain

Pain in the back while pregnant is one of the most usual signs that females experience while lugging a human inside their abdominal area for 9 months. It only makes good sense, right? Not only does the weight of the infant reason raised spinal stress, but the volume of the child presses organs as well as nerves and also vertebrae that were extremely comfy right where they were for the last years or two before a baby decided to invade their personal room.

On top of that, hormones create females’ sensory perception to become extremely animated, many thanks again to our old pal advancement. Just as the old saying alerts, “don’t dismayed mom bear,” mothers of all types have heightened senses for approximately years after pregnancy, in some cases for the rest of their lives. While this offers an extremely deserving function, it likewise brings with it some irritating consequences, specifically, boosted discomfort sensitivity.

Combined with all that pressure from a human being continuing your spine, it’s not a surprise that pain in the back is an usual issue of anticipating and brand-new mothers, as well as mommies of any ages. Again, thanks to its inflection and rejuvenation of the endocannabinoid system, CBD oil has revealed pledge in eliminating the pain of all sorts, specifical pain in the back. Not just does it minimize the strength of pain signals en course to the mind through the spinal cord, yet it also decreases the level of sensitivity of the pain receptors on our nerve cells, which lowers the initial strength of the pain signal.

The reason that ladies around the world are transforming in the direction of CBD items for help is that CBD provides customers a safe, effective choice to prescription medicines, various other poisonous prescription drugs and also non-prescription medications that contain extreme chemical compounds unusual to nature’s ideal solutions.

3. Weight management? You got it.

Evolutionarily, the mother’s duty is to feed and also shield her young until they are independent enough to feed and also shield themselves. Because of that, it’s all-natural to gain concerning 15-20 percent of your body weight during pregnancy. This is both to satisfy the physical demands of growing an infant, along with to build adequate fat shops to nurse your child as soon as he/she is birthed.

While weight gain during pregnancy can’t– and shouldn’t– be stayed clear of, preserving a healthy weight after you deliver is more crucial than at any type of various other time in your life. It’s likewise much harder than it was the pre-baby bump. That’s why many mommies turn to CBD oil to aid curb their between-meal hunger and also preserve a healthy and balanced metabolic rate via the mayhem of increasing children and supporting a family.

The endocannabinoid system is elaborately involved in the homeostasis of power intake and expenditure. Appetite is just how we understand when we need to eat more power. Our body’s very own endocannabinoids serve the exact same feature, making us feel starving when our blood sugar drops listed below a certain point.

Nevertheless, in some cases, the endocannabinoid system can faultily generate feelings of cravings also when your body isn’t necessarily looking for more power or nutrients. In these cases, overindulging is a typical result, as well as it’s an issue that CBD has actually shown pledge in alleviating.

Because it acts as a barrier for the endocannabinoid system– elevating degrees when they’re as well low and reducing levels when they become extreme– CBD Oil has the ability to stabilize the sensation of appetite with the sensation of satiation, or volume. This has actually aided many mothers to keep their figure in check, while they’re active keeping their children and their finances in check.

4. Transforms Pregnancy into a walk in the park

The title of this section may have taken you by shock, and naturally, the noticeable question that stands out into your head is “Can CBD be utilized while pregnant?”

Well, the jury is still out on this but allowed’s use this as an example to read more about the endocannabinoid system. The Endocannabinoid System! It’s the system that is present throughout the human body, and it controls the activity levels of many different cell kinds, including mind cells, immune cells, cells in our digestive system, as well as, you thought it, the cells that make up the womb, placenta, and umbilical cord.

A healthy and balanced endocannabinoid system is needed for conception to happen. It’s additionally required for implantation of the fed egg in the uterine cellular lining, and for the healthy development of the embryo into a recognizable fetus by week 12. Also, breast milk consists of abnormally high amounts of the endocannabinoid anandamide, which is believed to assist strengthen and also establish the baby’s own endocannabinoid system.

CBD sustains the endocannabinoid system’s natural healthy and balanced feature, which consequently supports a healthy and balanced mommy and also the baby. But CBD additionally assists with a number of the secondary challenges that support the pregnancy, from mood swings to back pain to irregular desires and whatever in between, currently back to our listing!

5. Sleep like a baby

Stress and anxiety are hardly sufficient to handle, yet a typical issue that originates from high-stress degrees is insomnia or sleep problems. Even if you’ve never really been the kind to stress over things, having difficulty dropping off to sleep is something every moms and dad has taken care of at one point or another.

The absence of sleep is a specifically notorious element of new-parenthood: waking every 15 minutes throughout the night to alter a baby diaper, wipe some rips away, or say that it’s daddy’s resort to attend to the screams and wails originating from down the hall. And then there’s sharing your bed with a 30-pound person that somehow takes up more space than two mature adults.

Rest is a valuable commodity if you’re doing your parenting the right way. That’s why so many mommies trust hemp-derived CBD items to obtain the relaxing rest they require to take on the roughness of being a mother with grace.

Rest is an essential item of our wellness, as well as the hormone changes that happen while pregnant and being a mother,  can seriously change the all-natural procedures that usually control our sleep-wake cycle. The endocannabinoid system is intricately associated with the homeostasis of rest and energy expenditure. When being a mama tosses it out of order, CBD exists as a barrier to recover balance to the endocannabinoid system, which normally aids you to obtain the rest you need, without dulling your motherly reactions or making you feel dazed in the early morning.

6. So where do I buy CBD?

We’ve tried multiple different shops offering CBD, but found Hemp 2 Wellness to be one of the best among companies offering cbd products.

Resources

lifestyleabout.com
happylifestyletrends.com
petrefine.com
thepetsabout.com
purehomeimprovement.com

4 ways to deal with your Teenager (for parents)

Throw away your baby sleepsuits, the little creature is now a teenager! Bringing up teenagers is no lesser than a rollercoaster ride according to Gary from https://educationisaround.com/. And that’s because teenagers themselves are such a bundle of confusion, chaos and adding to this weird wreck are raging hormones. Teenage is the rebel phase which keeps most parents on their toes, along with fingers crossed of course. Parents want their best for their kids, but at the teenage phase the children feel that all their parents want to do is oppose and restrict their freedom and movements. After all, all they want to do is browse dfwphotographers.com right? And let’s accept the fact, bringing up teenagers is difficult and can get on your nerves too. Hell, my daughter lost one of my most expensive pieces of jewelry (it was a vespertine alexandrites warn you), and I was just standing there shaking when I found out. But hey, there’s always a way out of everything right? So here are a few ways to deal with your teenagers according to https://geteducationcrunch.com/.

 

Pump up their self-esteem and confidence:
Teenage is a phase where the body undergoes a lot of changes. While some teens thrive in this phase and become more confident about themselves, most don’t. They begin to feel that their bodies have become weird and this makes them withdraw into a shell. You need to talk to them, make them understand that growing up is a beautiful part of life and that even you went through the same. Narrating a few personal experiences – funny, weird, embarrassing– will assure your child that their changing bodies are a totally normal phenomenon!

Establish rules:
Multiple studies show that the teenage years is a rebel phase – they will want to break the rules. So what you have to do here is sit them down and make the regulations together. This way, they know that they are involved in it and will have a fair idea of the rules being established. And make sure they stuck to the rules. If something is not followed make sure you let your teen know it. You have to be pretty open in conversation and ensure that the ground rules are meant to be followed and not broken.

Get used to their freedom and independence:
Teenage brings in a newfound sense of independence and freedom. Parents have a hard time adjusting to this as it wasn’t quite a long while long ago when that san=me ki9d would listen to everything said by the parents. But this is teenage – your kid will not listen to you. You have to get used to their independence in doing things, in making decisions, but at the same time, you need to keep a watch and make them realize when they make a mistake. Ensure your teen knows that there will be consequences for every mistake they make.

Spend time together:
Nothing is more beautiful and fun than going through this phase and outgrowing it together. Ask your teen what they love to do the most and if possible, make an effort to enjoy those activities with them. Teenage will bring in a lot of differences among the both of you, so finding common ground will be really helpful. Spend time together, it will make your teen understand that you genuinely care for them and they will reciprocate in the same manner.

Turn a Trip to the Zoo into an Adventure Around the World

Time to put on some clothes and go to zoo! My boys, like most kids, love to explore and discover new things says Steven from theeducationlife.com. Although we’ve made many visits to our local Canadian zoo’s over the past few years (especially love the one where they have fresh flowers from Flower Delivery Calgary), this time we approached the trip from a global perspective. Our hometown zoo features animals from all around the world. The zoo’s largest exhibits represent different continents, and replicate some of the natural habitats in each. In preparation for our journey, we gathered pencils, notepads and a camera, and off we went on our expedition around the globe at the zoo!

Once we arrived, we grabbed a map and set the itinerary for our tour of continents.

In each region of the world, from Africa to Australia and Asia, we quietly gazed upon the native species and read aloud the information posted at each exhibit. Like scientists who record their detailed observations out in the field, my mini-zoologists jotted down what they saw on our zoo safari in their little notepads.

The boys took down the information they gathered such as: what region of the world the animal comes from; what they eat; and whether or not the creature is a threatened species. They were also intrigued to learn about which endangerment category the threatened world animals fell within.

Description of what the animal looks like, differences in a group of the same species, (e.g. their sizes or markings);
Behavior such as feeding, climbing, or playing.

Just make sure you get a good night sleep at the hotel, you’re exhausted enough being a teenager parent. Our number one tip is to keep the room as dark as possible.

Visiting the Vatican with Kids: The Treasure Hunt Approach

This is my first in a series of posts related to my recent trip to Italy with my little global citizens, ages 7 and 9. I wish they were small babies again, that way when they get tired of walking around the vatican, I could just lay down the baby play mat and they could have a refreshing break. Now they’re just grumpy when they get tired.

Vatican City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a treasure trove of traditions and culture. It’s bursting at the seams with over two thousand years worth of rich and captivating history.

The shear volume of things to view and learn about in the Vatican may be overwhelming, even for adults. Thus, it is necessary to take steps to make certain that this venture is fun for the whole family. After all, international travel can be quite pricey, and we don’t want priceless memories to be overshadowed by memories of boredom or breakdowns. Conducting copious amounts research on the Vatican led me to the conclusion that, with young kids in tow, the best way to experience a visit to a behemoth treasury of history, art and culture like this is to make it into a treasure hunt!

We’ve done museum treasure hunts before and they are always a fun interactive experience for the kids. It’s a wonderful way to introduce children into the world of art appreciation, and helps kids learn to search for small details and to discover interesting facts about new and thought-provoking subjects.

To begin this endeavor, as with any of our travel adventures, I like to prepare the kids for the journey with a well-researched plan about what we will see and why. Leading up to our voyage to Rome, I often engaged the kids in discussions about Vatican City and gave them a brief description of the history represented by the churches, the grounds and the museums contained within Vatican City.

We also discussed the role of the Pope in the Catholic religion (a hot topic right now given the news-worthiness of newly-elected pope) and how he is the head of state for Vatican City, and is elected by the College of Cardinals. They learned that the Pope is elected for life, and is the only remaining absolute monarch in Europe. Also, in addition to his title as secular ruler of Vatican City, the Pope also acts as the Bishop of Rome, and as the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.

There are always fun facts about any destination that will pique a child’s interest and build excitement before they arrive. (This is especially helpful if you’re traveling long distances as it’s a good way to pass the time and relieve boredom associated with long journeys). For example, my boys were fascinated to learn that the Vatican City is an independent state with 110 acres and a population of about 900, and that it is contained within the capital city of Italy, Rome. It made them even more enthusiastic to get there and cross over the border from Italy into the Vatican by foot.

Community Gardens Can Help Kids Go Global

Community gardens provide important and valuable benefits for children. Working together with others for a greater good fosters a strong sense of responsibility and enlightenment vital to becoming a productive global citizen and future leader.

Last month, my family was lucky enough to score the last available plot at our local community garden. We consider ourselves gardening newbies, so we are beyond excited for this opportunity to participate in such a wonderful educational and cooperative experience.

We’ve learned so much already, and look forward to gaining and sharing even more gardening wisdom with our fellow members consisting of both new gardeners like ourselves, as well as more skillful, accomplished growers.

We have been considering getting one of those neapolitan pizza ovens from Ooni before 2021.

Global Lessons of an American Holiday – Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a bonus winter holiday which provides yet another meaningful opportunity to learn about and celebrate culture with my global kids.

This week, my boys learned that Kwanzaa is an American-born celebration of African-American culture, heritage and community, and is observed mainly in the U.S, but throughout the world, for the week between 26th December and 1st January each year.Established in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Africana Studies at California State University, this celebration represents many universal principles that renew, unite and strengthen the human spirit within all of us.

These global lessons of Kwanzaa, which truly transcend cultures throughout the world, are described here in the words of Kwanzaa creator, Dr. Karenga. Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture with each providing a context and commitment of common ground, cooperative practice and shared good.

Kwanzaa is a celebration of the family which first forms us, names, nurtures and sustains us, and teaches us upright and uplifting ways to understand and assert our- selves in the world. Kwanzaa is a celebration of the community which calls us into being as a people, serves as the source and center of our strivings and struggles together to live good and meaningful lives, create, advance and sustain culture, and play the rightful role that our history, shared hope and dedication to the good demand of us.

And Kwanzaa is a celebration of the culture that brought humanity and human civilization into being, formed the first disciplines of human knowledge, gave deep spiritual and ethical insight and grounding to our ancestors and the world, and offers us valuable and timeless insights to engage the critical issues of our time.

A Wonderful Way to Globalize Pretend Play!

I was pondering the subject of world currencies recently, and came up with a creative way for my little boys to learn about coins and paper money used in other countries.

A globalized version of playing STORE!

In a nutshell, you print play money from around the world and let kids go on a pretend global shopping spree! Before you begin this activity, pull out your globe, point to a few countries and introduce your child(ren) to the currencies used there.

Once you have printed out some play cash, they can set up shops to buy and sell anything from their own crafts and artwork to play multicultural foods and candy. Children can take turns being the store keeper and choosing the country. Don’t forget to have them place “price tags” (Post-its) on each item so that they can add up the total. Depending on how particular you or your older children want to get, the little ones may need a bit more assistance with the mathematics, exchange rates and such. You can keep it simple for the younger ones by letting them purchase one thing at a time.

Learning how to count, use and identify coins and paper money is an important basic skill to learn at an early age.

Monolingual Parent Raise Bilingual Children

Is it possible for my children to become bilingual even though my level of fluency in other languages is pathetic, at best? Of course… but how?

I have been on this journey to bestow the gift of a second language upon my children since they were born. My goal is to cultivate within each of them an enthusiasm about learning new languages and discovering other cultures. In my quest to teach that which I do not know, my kids and I have accumulated a treasure trove of French and Spanish children’s books, DVDs, music, computer games, flash cards and other resources and learning tools. With this sundry assortment of materials, I have been able to introduce my boys to the new languages and help them with comprehension and pronunciation. They have picked up a considerable amount of French and Spanish vocabulary, and their enunciation is better than mine.

However, at this point, I have nothing further to offer them. So, I seek outside help.

It is a challenge because, where I live, there is very little support for parents who are trying to raise bilingual or multilingual children. I have continually searched for language programs with very little success.

We did have a couple of local options which have since fizzled out. There was an after-school language program in which my son participated, until the company folded. After that, I found a French and Spanish preschool not far from where we live. I enrolled my son there and a semester later it, like a dead fish – went belly up.

Given that there are no language immersion schools nearby, (I think the closest is in Miami, some 250 miles away), I have resorted to seeking out private tutoring services. With this alternative, I want to create an enjoyable second language environment for my kids so that they associate the learning of a new language with fun. With that in mind, I was able to find an amazing French tutor, (and native speaker – Hooray!), who comes to the house every week for a veritable French playdate.

The tutor is very supportive and truly understands that she needs to make the time she spends with the kids fun and entertaining so that they don’t see it as a chore. They sing, play board games and even scrapbook together in French!

I think it is important to combine a child’s interests with new language learning to create a stimulus, and to prevent boredom. Recently, I had let the tutor know that my older son is very interested in all things science-related. With that in mind, she found some science-based French children’s programming online, and introduced it to him during the last session. He loved it!

Teaching Empathy: 5 Ways Parents Can Cultivate Compassion

I am a big proponent of STEAM-style education. That is, an education that focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. This philosophy values the vigorous pursuit of knowledge in the STEAM fields while helping students to identify and make the connections between and across all subject areas including the arts and humanities.

The goal is to foster the development of innovation that comes with combining the thinking of a scientist or technologist with that of an artist. Ideally, with this type of education, students are able to engage in the flexible thinking, risk-taking and creative problem solving needed to solve today’s most complex societal challenges from healthcare reform to urban revitalization to troublesome environmental dilemmas.

Five Ways Parents Can Cultivate Compassion and Empathy:

1. Show unconditional love to your children, so that they are immersed in empathy and compassion, and so that they know that you love them and accept them for who they are as unique individuals.

2. Be a role model and show compassion and empathy towards others so that your kids can see it in action. A parent might say, “Your brother seems upset. Let’s ask him what we can do to help him.” Or “Dad hurt his back. Let’s ask him if we can get him an ice pack to make him feel better.”

3. Reduce exposure to violent film, television programs and video games, and discuss why violence and bullying is wrong.

4. Teach your kids how to be peacemakers and teach them how to fairly mediate disputes so that they can learn how people with differences can listen to each other in mutually respectful and productive ways.

5. Give kids opportunities to practice compassion and empathy. For example, during a sibling dispute encourage kids can put themselves in another’s shoes to gain perspective as to where the other sibling’s anger and frustration is coming from. Compassion can be exercised as a child sifts through books to donate to another child who has never had books to call his own

Birthdays Are Celebrated Around the World

My first-born son turned 7 last week (on Thanksgiving Day), and we’ve had multiple celebrations to commemorate this special event. It began last weekend with a fantastic party at the local children’s museum, followed by a Turkey Day dinner / birthday-cake-gobble with close friends, and then celebratory birthday visits to both sets of grandparents (with more cake).

The elongated celebration and multiple observances of each of our children’s birthdays has become a part of our cache of special family traditions. Last year, we celebrated my eldest son’s birthday is three different cities! The beginning of each new year of their lives seems far too special for us to honor with merely one shindig.

Speaking of shindigs … Being a globally-minded parent, I always look for opportunities to relate what we do here in America with things that families in other parts of the world do. In celebrating my son’s birthday, I thought it important to consider what another family might be doing for their child’s birthday on the same day in some other part of the world.

To that end, this week we discussed how birthdays (and other special events) are celebrated around the globe, and then compared that information with how we celebrate here at home. In researching the subject, we learned that birthday parties are very common all over the world. While some of the traditional ways of celebrating are similar throughout the countries, there are many differences, as well.

For example, in China after a baby is one year old, the Chinese only celebrate birthdays every ten years, starting with the tenth birthday!

As for the birthday meal, the Chinese serve noodles to the special boy or girl. They believe that eating long noodles will lead to a long life. I absolutely love this idea! Long noodles are definitely being incorporated into the next family member’s birthday meal. Some of the traditions we read about made the boys giggle. For example, in Brazil the birthday child receives a pull on the earlobe for each year they have been alive.

In Canada, they grease the birthday kid’s nose with butter or margarine. Based upon superstition, the thought is that the buttered nose makes the child too slippery for bad luck to catch them.

One Response to Irish Blessing

We would like to order the Irish Blessing that has a four-leaf clover on it and it looks like leaves in the upper two corners. Is it possible to get it in the any size like 4 x 6 inches or 5 x 7 inches or 8 by 10 inches? I would like to put this in a picture frame. Please let me know.

Discovering Culture Through Collage: Romare Bearden

Exploring multicultural art exposes children to cultural differences in a creative context. A multicultural art-inspired crafting session is also fertile ground for a history lesson!

This week we created collage art inspired by our recent visit to the Romare Bearden (1911-1988) collection currently being exhibited at Tampa Museum of Art.Here the boys peruse photos in a Bearden collection book and compare the artist’s pieces displayed upon the surrounding museum walls.Bearden was an African-American painter who incorporated pieces of photographs, newspaper clippings, foil and colored paper into his pieces. Many considered him the country’s foremost collagist.The artist used collage to express his thoughts and memories of growing up in the American South and Old Harlem during its renaissance. His style was also shaped by Western European art, African sculpture, contemporary American and Mexican artists. Music, particularly blues and jazz, also inspired his art.

To create collages at home, grab some old magazines and newspapers, as well as other art supplies such as scissors, craft paper, coffee cup sleeves, glue, glitter and markers. You will also need a piece of heavy paper or cardboard as a base.Next, show your child images of works by Bearden or other collagists. Discuss the themes of these collages, as well.

Let your child create their own collage theme based upon their interests or, for example, a recent visit to the park, beach or playground.

Then, let them start cutting and pasting!

Honoring Dr. King’s Dream by Teaching Peace

Take some time to celebrate the life and teachings of this American hero, who led millions of people in the crusade for equality.Sharing information with your kids about Dr. King will provide you with the opportunity to introduce them to (or reinforce) the concepts of peace and justice; character versus appearance; and daring to dream big, despite the cynics.

I recently wrote a post about PEACE in which I express my belief that, as parents, we have a moral obligation to show our kids how to live peacefully.You and your global kids can pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. King by creating crafts that symbolize peace.My boys and I created peace doves (inspired by this dove craft from bckidart).
First, we drew a dove on a paper plate.To decorate, we tapped pencil erasers and fingertips on ink pads of various colors and filled in the bird shape.

Next, we crafted these unity plants by simply tracing the boys’ hands on construction paper, cutting them out, and pasting them together.

We added a peace symbol to each plant, and affixed the stems and leaves (and green craft sticks for stem support).

Around the World in the Kitchen

This week we continue our tour around the world in the kitchen. That is, we prepare and eat a meal which is native to a particular country.Then, as part of the activity the kids and I enjoy researching and chatting about the culture, geography, cuisine and any other fun facts relevant to that particular country or region of the world.The kitchen is a perfect place to spend some quality family time preparing and enjoying wonderful foods while enhancing our knowledge of other cultures.

Given the fact that it’s been over a year since we last used our pricey pasta maker, and it has been collecting dust in the pantry, I told the kids, er… gently suggested to them that we revisit Italy this week.

The boot-shaped peninsula that reaches out into the Mediterranean Sea never fails to fascinate, and is the origin of some of the most scrumptious cuisine in the world. Plus the history, art, architecture and culture are almost beyond compare.

Sophia’s Jungle Adventure: Book Review & Giveaway

We are a yoga family and we weave the practice into our daily lives to help maintain wellness and proper balance of mind, body and soul. For example, we love to start (and end) our days by reaching up towards the sky like mighty trees and then stretching out down towards the floor to elongate and release the tension in our spines like cats after a long nap.

I introduced my littles to yoga when they were babies and we have always enjoyed it as a fun form of family fitness. It is such a great parent-child bonding activity and it makes everyone feel more relaxed and connected. I’ve written about the many virtues and health advantages of yoga, and how children can reap the benefits from it for a lifetime.

There are many ways to practice yoga with kids. If you haven’t tried it, don’t feel intimidated by the need to follow strict yoga rules. Make it fun, creative and free-flowing. We have used books, DVDs and the internet to inspire our yogic adventures.

We are always looking for fun new ways to experience the joy of yoga, so I was thrilled when I discovered Giselle Shardlow of KidsYogaStories.com and her wonderful books. I was even more excited when she asked me to review her book, Sophia’s Jungle Adventure. This lovely children’s fiction not only includes a sweet and engaging story, but also great illustrations to demonstrate kid-friendly yoga poses and an insightful parent-teacher guide.