Kids ask questions. Some kids ask A LOT of questions. While advice on dealing with questions can range from revisiting the question at a later time to asking your child what he or she thinks the answer is, I believe this powerful phrase can shape the way your child looks at questions for the rest of their life: “I don’t know . . . but let’s find out.”   It’s not always easy to admit when we don’t know something, but using this phrase with your child can help teach them several important things about you, about themselves, and about the way the world works:  It’s okay to not hav ..read more

It’s August, which means it’s time to get ready to go back to school. When I was growing up, getting ready to go back to school meant shopping for school clothes, going to bed earlier, getting up earlier and of course new school supplies. There was always excitement in the air as I met my friends at the bus stop and we talked about our summers and wondered if we would have the same teacher in class that year. The beginning of the new school year still brings a certain energy and the hope of a fresh start and a successful school year. Here are some tips for success as you and your child prepare ..read more

We teach our children about stranger danger, stop drop and roll, and fire safety; but do we teach our kids about keeping their bodies safe? Think back to your childhood–did you have an aunt who plopped a slimy kiss on your cheek or an uncle who gave a rib-cracking hug? Were you told it was rude to say no, so you bore the awfulness until you could escape and go play with your cousins? I know I did. We hated this experience, so why are we teaching our children they must do the same? We don’t have to! Unfortunately, statistics in Utah report that 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before tu ..read more

I have had the opportunity to teach struggling readers in grades 1 – 3 for the last 8 years in a public school setting. We are a Title 1 school and have a fairly large percentage of students that come from poverty and generational poverty. Because of that, I see students who struggle with reading and learning in general. I believe that much of that struggle is the result of parents who were not taught the skills needed to be successful with learning and so they are not able to teach them to their children. With that said, I believe that all children can learn. I also believe that all children ..read more

Some parents may be wondering when to start reading to their children. Both of my parents are educators – under their guidance, I learned the value of reading from an early age. Simply put, it is never too early to read to your child. In fact, studies have shown that introducing books beginning at 4 months increases the chance that parents will continue to read to their children throughout their childhood. There are ample benefits to reading early. Let’s take a look into some of them together. Bonding with Baby. Reading with your baby between the ages of 0-6 months can giv ..read more

Growing up reading was my escape. Through reading I was able to travel to faraway places, learn about different cultures, and imagine living in different eras. I was allowed to be mischievous and go on adventures that would have been impossible otherwise. However, I always felt like a guest in the author’s adventure, a “fly on the wall” per se. I never felt like I could be a supporting character let alone the protagonist of the story. I immigrated to this country at the age of eight, in the middle of 3rd grade, and since then I have considered Provo, Utah my home. As American as I felt, I neve ..read more

Children who have experienced trauma often react to both positive and negative feedback a bit differently than other children. Brookes Publishing discusses some ideas for teacher-student interactions on how to give both positive and corrective feedback. These ideas can also translate to how you respond in the home. For positive feedback, make it: Low-key and private. Use nonverbal signals like giving a thumbs-up, a hug or, jotting a few words on a sticky note as a signal that they are doing well. As trust grows, feedback can become more specific and public. Highly genuine and po ..read more

As a parent, worrying about your finances every now and then is probably second nature, however, it is also something that you probably never want your child to experience. If you’re hoping to instill financial wellness in your child at a young age, there are plenty of places for you to start. Consider the five tips below as you navigate raising your kids to be smart with their money. Educate Them Firstly, educating your kids on the topic of finances from a young age is crucial for them to understand its value in the future. The next time your little one picks up a toy they want in the store ..read more

 Have you ever heard the saying “boys will be boys”? Or “girls are so emotional”? These may seem like harmless phrases that explain our parenting experiences, but they may actually be limiting our children’s potential. Gender Differences We are always hearing about another new finding on the “many” differences between boys and girls – whether that’s in how they learn, who’s better at math, who’s more aggressive, etc. Researcher Christia Spears Brown shares in her book “Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue” how these differences have either been exaggerated or made up. The few differences that a ..read more