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Prep and Organize for a Successful Homeschooling Experience

by with One Comment Education

This time of year, in addition to my other tasks, I’m also doing something very important that will ensure my success for the rest of the school year. I’m preparing my plans and organizing my homeschool. If you’re going to be working and homeschooling (or having your child attend virtual school) this year, I strongly recommend preparing now. The more decisions you make now and the more planning, organizing, and prepping you do, the fewer decisions you will need to make when you’re really busy in the middle of the school year. Because I’ve always homeschooled while also either being in graduate school or working from home, I’ve also always taken the time to prepare ahead of time. Here’s what you can do to help ensure a smooth school year.

Know Your State’s Homeschooling Laws, Keep Records Anyway

I know, I know, there are a lot of people who will tell you that you don’t need to keep records and a portfolio if your state doesn’t require it. I’m here to tell you whether your state requires it or not, keep records. This is much more important for older children, but it’s also important for children who are advanced and will need support for acceleration in school if circumstances change and you have to put them into a traditional schooling situation and for children who are behind. You are your child’s advocate.

It’s harder to show that your child is doing work, but needs an IEP or additional support because they’re struggling if you do not have a record of what they’ve done. Children also LOVE to look back at how far they’ve come in a year. Know your state’s laws, keep records. You never know when you might have to show that learning is, in fact, happening in your home. A really great resource for anyone homeschooling is Responsible Homeschooling.

They list the laws for homeschooling and provide all kinds of resources to help parents and guardians homeschooling in a responsible, respectful of a child’s-needs manner. And they offer advice for how to seek help if a child is struggling.

Prep and Organize for a Successful Homeschooling Experience

Determine Where Most of Your Homeschooling Will Happen

It’s important to have a regular spot where the homeschooling happens. This doesn’t mean you can’t move locations when the mood strikes, but just like with working from home, choosing a regular spot for homeschooling or online learning helps your child get into the right frame of mind to learn. On that note, it’s also important to create a routine. How will you start your homeschooling day? We start with breakfast, then our “morning time,” where we ease into our day with a fun activity or by reading a chapter book or by coloring. I have my coffee, and it’s just a nice way to do things.

10 Tips to Minimize Your Daily Challenges in Virtual Learning

Get As Many Materials and Supplies As You Will Need

Nothing messes up a really good learning mojo like realizing you don’t have some supply for your science kit’s project or your markers are dried up. Take advantage of sales – get extras of markers, colored pencils, pencils, crayons now. Keep extras stashed away. Go through your science, art, and history curriculum. Any projects you’re planning to do, make note of what supplies will be needed. It seems tedious, but a little planning and prep-work now mean that you don’t have to make an emergency run to the store for a ruler or for sugar or for something else.

Outline Your Year By Week

You don’t have to do this, but I find that this makes my life way easier. Rather than just opening and doing “the next thing,” I create a big master spreadsheet. Each tab in the spreadsheet matches up to each subject for that child. Our state requires at least 180 days of school, or 36 weeks. I actually plan for 210 days of school, or 42 weeks. Do what meets your state guidelines & works for your family. I then look at my curriculum and decide how we will cover that in 42 weeks, then I break it down from there into how much has to be covered to meet that goal by the end of the year.

I don’t necessarily stick with this outline – what it does is let me know if we’re moving a lot slower through something, either I was overly ambitious or perhaps we need a less rigorous curriculum. If we’re zooming through it – was I providing enough challenge? Is my child really mastering the material? Do we need to add in more rigor? Should we genuinely accelerate the plan for that subject for the year?

The other benefit of outlining ahead of time: You don’t have to make decisions about what to do next. You already know what to do next.


Make A List of Library Books You Know You Will Need And Create a Reminder for When to Request Them

We rely a lot on our local library. As such, before we begin our year, I make a list of topics we’ll cover and I’ll research what books are available. Some of these books are to have on hand in case we’re particularly inspired by a topic, some form our literature curriculum, and some supplement our history and science curricula. I try to use books as often as possible. So, I create a resource list – by weekly topic – of books we will need. Then, I copy and paste the list into my calendar on dates that I will need to request those books by (since we’re still doing curbside pickup). I try to request books 1 1/2-2 weeks before they will be needed so that they’re ready for us. Bonus: I take that email receipt of what we’ve checked out and I put it on the calendar 3 days before the books are due.

 

Plan Social Engagement

I know, we’re all physically distancing right now, and it’s likely that will get worse in the fall and winter. BUT it’s really important to plan the ways where your child will be interacting with other children. Many virtual schools will have a social component built in, but for those doing more traditional homeschooling, you’ll need to do something. We do Girl Scouts. I’m looking into different classes on Outschool.

I’m hoping our science center offers some classes. I’m always on the lookout for interactive opportunities. I’m also considering organizing a virtual co-op. Many local co-ops are online right now, so you may want to look into that as well.

Schedule Breaks – Daily and Periodically

My break time is after lunch. The kids are asked to play quietly, do learning activities on the iPad or watch a video or show. It depends upon the day. By sticking to that as part of the routine, I stave off what, for me, is a time when I typically find myself running out of patience. It lets me recharge for anything we’re doing in the afternoon, it lets the kids recharge their own batteries, and sometimes, the littlest ones still will take a nap during this time.

It’s also important to put on your calendar when you will take time off. I like starting in early August because it means I can take a lot of time off in the fall for a fall break, for Thanksgiving, for a lot of December, for spring when it first is nice out and we want to get outside, and for when we just plain need a break (or when mom is swamped with deadlines).

One Final Note:

It’s not a competition. We are all trying to do our best this year. Our homeschooling isn’t going to look like yours or someone else’s. Comparison is the thief of joy. Don’t compare. It’s going to be a challenge, because everyone will be posting “all the things” they are doing on social media. Just focus on your children and meeting their needs – and your own mental health.

Exercise Activity Family Outdoors Vitality Healthy

Get Kids Active Outdoors During Summer 2020

by with No Comment EmpowermentMental HealthOutdoor LivingTeenagers

As many people continue to quarantine their families for the summer, the question arises about what to do with children. After all, the weather is beautiful and sunny. Most children want to get outside and enjoy the fun. However, this summer looks different because of the coronavirus. Thankfully, there are ways to make sure your little ones get outside (and OFF devices) and remain active this summer.

Consider the following ideas.

1. Rollerskating/Rollerblading

There’s nothing quite like putting on a pair of roller skates. Even though it’s not quite like the experience of flying, it can come pretty close. In order to maintain distance, take your children to a local empty parking lot. If you simply go to an area that won’t have any car traffic or foot traffic, it’s okay to let the children roam freely as they enjoy their skates or rollerblades for a while.

Be sure to provide knee pads and safety gear for the children as they roll around. Even though they might not want to wear the safety gear, they have to remain safe. Plus, the hospital isn’t necessarily the safest place to go during a global pandemic. If you can avoid any serious injuries by providing safety gear, it’s better to put those protocols in place.

2. Water Play

If you have some open space in the front or the back of your home, you can set up a water park at home. If you have little children, you can purchase a kiddie pool that’s inflatable. It can provide tons of fun. If you have big kids, toys like water guns will always go over well. You can also let everyone fill up balloons

3. Walking

After dinner each day, take your children out for a walk around the neighborhood. If you’re going to be in an area where you’ll come across a lot of walkers, make sure you all walk with your masks on. The evening hours are perfect because the temperatures tend to be a bit cooler. Lather sunscreen on everyone before heading out. After a simple mile or two, everyone will be ready to come back inside to relax. It’s a simple way to get some fresh air on a daily basis.


4. Biking

Biking is the perfect way to get kids to remain active and safe. They’re not staying in one spot for too long. They don’t necessarily need to wear masks if they’re in an open space where people aren’t around. It’s so important for children to wear their helmets and any other safety gear. It’s also wise to make sure the tires are in great shape. If you’re doing your best to make sure your children remain safe from the virus, you don’t want to drop the ball in neglecting the care of the bike tires that will be carrying them around.

5. No-Contact Sports

No-contact sports can be awesome for times when you all visit an open field. Pack a picnic basket and bring the entire family out to a local park where there’s a field. You all can enjoy no-contact sports like baseball. Don’t underestimate the beauty of simplicity either. Let the children play catch. Play with a frisbee for a fun time. Soccer and dodgeball are great options that you all can play as well.

When you’re going to a local park, it’s not uncommon to find a playground. Ideally, it’s best to avoid the playground altogether. If there are children already at the playground, avoid it all costs. If no one is currently playing there, bring disinfectant spray and wipes to cover all of the surfaces. It might seem like overkill, but it’s better to remain as sanitary as possible. While you all enjoy the no-contact sports in the open field, there are other ways to remain occupied when they’d like a break. In addition to enjoying the picnic food, bring other activities like puzzles, bubbles, and jump ropes.

Though it can be a very challenging experience to get children to follow the rules when it relates to remaining safe during the pandemic, make sure they’re not overwhelmed. As a parent, you can create experiences that will keep them safe as they continue to have fun. Even though you won’t be able to experience the summer in the way you might’ve planned, get creative. It’s still possible to have the most memorable summer yet.

Far Beyond the sun

Far Beyond the Sun – Look Far, Dream Big

by with No Comment BooksKids Corner

This book may seem like it teaches about the sun but it is so much more than that. It is so important to encourage kids’ curiosity and questions. A child wondering about simple things can make for a great teaching moments and all our children can learn from each other’s innocent wondering of the world.

As we look at what is here and what is beyond, this book uses fun illustrations to help your child learn about themselves as well.

My kids and I specially enjoyed the different subject matters in this book, and that is provides a great educational tool for every child. This educational book is great for kids from age 5 and up and explores science, math, geography, and history.

As you read the book, kids learn many interesting facts as well as the values of family love and the desire to grow far beyond, through big thoughts.

You can get your copy of this interesting, learning experience here .

Get the book here.

Origin Story of the Book

One day as we laid down on our sleeping bags and watched the sky. We saw the millions of stars out there and I started telling her about our galaxy and how, in our solar system, every planet orbits the sun. Then, I moved on to talk about galaxies that are much further than the sun. And even though the sun is high above the earth, the other stars are much further away from us. She seemed puzzled about the whole distance thing and then asked me that one question I was not able to answer immediately- “Daddy, can I be taller than the sun?”

I was stunned for a couple of seconds because I had no straight answer to give her. And it bugged me. Aside from an astronaut on a mission to another galaxy, which is possible, but has never been done before, is there another way to go beyond the sun? And then it hit me and the wheels in my brain started spinning. I decided to turn it into a story, which I’m happy to share with you. It’s called ‘Far Beyond the Sun’ and it talks about a boy who wanted to be higher than the sun and that wish takes him on a journey through history, geography, math, and science as he finds the way to achieve his goal.

About Dolev Zaharony:

Dolev is the founder of Squeedeal.com, an online e-commerce platform that supports nonprofit organizations.   A tech marketer and entrepreneur by day – a writer and musician by night, Dolev started writing children’s books after his first child was born, as his children provide endless sources of inspiration. Their imagination takes him back to when he was a kid, connecting between unrelated things and blending them into a story. As a parent, he uses the same method in his stories, each time with a different message that will help children overcome the obstacles of life they have to cope with.

 

His next two books are in production now:

Milo the Albino Dino – about accepting the unique and different
The Neighbor’s Ferrari – about materialism and finding the joy of life

Click here to find out more recommendations by us and if interested in a feature, email us at contact@raisingworldchildren.com

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10 Tips to Minimize Your Daily Challenges in Virtual Learning

by with One Comment Covid19EducationEmpowerment

Is your school shifting to virtual learning? Here’s what you need to know.

The hop to home schooling during the start of COVID-19, lock down and all was challenging to say the least. It took me time to find my footing and when I did, I chose what to remove from our agenda of the day. We completed school with the lessons that were supposed to be finished, within framework but without focusing on the details of the class.

Which brought me to pen down the lessons and prep work I would be doing for the upcoming virtual school learning that my home will be adopting.

Now, before you look at my tips, I want to ensure that you know  what kind of mom I am. I identify as a mompreneur, ie I work from home which means I have the luxury to choose what our days look like. That also means I am in charge of everything, groceries, home, kids classes, cooking and all in between.

That being said, I had a lot of plans for the second half the 2020 most of which will be taking a back burner. Which brings me to the first point, which I think needs to be said.

Reduce Your Own Work Load

I need to plan for what of my every day, I need to remove. My work on RWC and as an author/entrepreneur means I am on call 24/7 and work whatever hours my kids and life allow me. I was supposed to start a podcast and ramp up my book publishing services and book.

This does not apply to working moms who are not in control of their day job’ requirements but it does apply to at home work that needs to be done and self appointed goals. Go through all your work and mark down what you can do without. Lighten your load and prioritize your daily goals as to what you can do without and what you can let go of. Meal prep will be a life savior.

Have a Working Space for Your Kids and You

You are going to be driven to make a space that’s happy and conducive to learning. Remember though, you want to make a space that is happy for you too. A space in which you can do your work  or read or do whatever jobs that you an do which the kids are in their space, listening to teaches. Things you will need are a small shelf for library, stationary, two kinds of seating for learning with laptops or learning devices and options for room change for both kids. But also think for yourself, plants, your favorite blankets, a charging station, some snacks at hand every morning.


Schedule Your Day Before and After

The good part of the virtual schooling system will be that the day will be that their days will be pre planned but make sure just like with the bus coming, your time to wake up and going up to school beginning is planned out the same day. Have a schedule for after school because the kids ARE going to be cranky after the first few weeks of sitting all day. Getting them to do any home work or extra school work or classes is going to be tough going.

Involve Kids in the Plan

I am not usually one to ask kids for what they like to do but I do talk to them about different ways that could work for them. I plan to discuss with them the kinds of breakfast they would like to have, the books we want to be reading, the activities we want to participate in and what their day hsould look like after the school day is over.

Allow for Flexibility

It’s going to be a difficult time when you begin so don’t stress out. Have your meditation and cooling methods in place because if you stress, it will translate. Remember you need to anticipate the adjustment Period, give room for errors and letting go of that which simply does not work for your family (and you can allow leeway for).

Incentives

Sitting for hours on the laptop is not going to be easy. Even half the time. So, remember to give them the rewards they so deserve to be troopers. As simple as a point system to earn bigger treats. Or let them learn to reward themselves for jobs well done. A great opportunity to become independent for kids.


Exercise

Not just for the body. Remember to have a plan to have kids exerices eyes, facial muscles, back. Print out sheets of exercises and keep them where kids can see so they get those eyes moving and back stretched out. That’s why I mentioned two  – three options to sit coz going in their bodies are not going to happy with the long hours.

Extracurricular Device Rules

Now comes the tricky part. With them being all devices all day it is going to be tough call but you need to have rules strictly in pace for how much total device time they can have. Currently my kids get a total of 6 hours of device time for games and friends in a week, excluding TV or movie time here or there. I see this reducing a lot when virtual schooling starts coz I staying away from screens is going to be crucial for personal development.


Planned Time with Friends

Yup. It’s lockdown but I think some socially distanced reading time with friends or a walk or a trip to a local park just to sit around and discuss things in the week day would be great for kids to – 1. get some outdoor sun time 2. socialize so they don’t get lose their skills.

Keep Things Light

During everything, remember, these are unprecedented times and you are doing the best you can. Remember to laugh a lot, capture moments, spend time together and let kids know they are appreciated for trying to do their best.

A situation that is new to you calls for you to understand that it is hard for all involved, specially the kids. Talk to them about being a team and working through the challenges together.

You got this !

Grab my award winning parenting book FULL of conversation starters to help kids be confident in their decision making skills and rooted in values, all with a global mindset.

 

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Have the Period Talk for Inclusion and Empathy

by with No Comment PeriodsWomen

“Auntyji”, “Chums”, “Aurton wali problem”, “those days” …

It’s interesting how even today many cultures , specially South Asians will not say periods let alone talk about them.
They still carry around the stigma attached to periods and the myths surrounding them.

In olden times women in India were given those 4-7 days OFF so they could finally relax from all the house work. They were kept out of the kitchen, even house in some rural areas. Houses were joint family so they could afford to have ONE women out of circulation at the time.

Today, imagine if every month, I stayed in a room. Who would take care of my family, my obligations?

We as a culture have been split into TWO thoughts.

Those who now include girls even after they “mature”. Many households have girls participate in traditions. Plus with nuclear families, I personally would hate my daughter or ANY daughter be excluded on this sole criteria.

Others prefer you not for personal reasons or traditional values which of course be respected as well.

This, of course is more about personal choice but I bring forward this topic today to have that conversation with your daughters about their periods and respecting others’ choices. With kids as young as 10 hitting puberty, it’s important to teach them acceptance that school won’t.

We don’t want to raise a generation divided that goes , “Hawww! Why did you come ?? ‘ OR ” I will do what I want regardless of your personal beliefs.”

Also that most girls experience this universal situation in different ways each month. I lived in a girls hostel and it was incredible that not one person had the.exact same symptoms as myself.

Let’s teach them to be kind and understanding, specially welcoming to guests. Or it ostrcize someone on this basis.

Let’s talk to our daughters before the school so it’s not a HUGE surprise. Let’s not assume our daughters have “grown up” just because they body is. They are still little with a lot to comprehend. Let’s prepare them for a lifetime of pain.

I still remember my first day. A surprise to say the least. Just blank acceptance of 7 days of Horrible pain and discomfort going forward. I am so glad TODAY there ARE resources to support us during our hardest days of the months. Educate yourself to empower your girls. Boys too

Have you had the discussion with your kids ? Would you talk to your boys?


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When Your Child Loses a Pet

by with One Comment EmpowermentPets

My eyes just swelled up when I started typing this. It’s been a little over 3 years that we lost our chirpy wagger, Tusky, a Pomeranian to an illness which rapidly overwhelmed her ever-so-energetic body.

The grief, the emptiness is still very fresh. We lost our pet when my now feisty 5-year-old was very little and understandably she has feeble memories of Tusky. Sometimes, she would see a picture and ask a few questions about her and why she is not around, questions, answers to which are not as simple as, ‘why does grandpa not have any hair’, jolts me out of my comfort zone.

I have been elusive to such questions as to what happened to Tusky or why is she not around. I have always shuddered when I thought how the young impressionable mind of a 5-year-old would react had we lost Tusky now. And as is said, whatever you try to shove beneath the carpet the most, might suddenly come and stand in front of you. Somebody said it so very bang on! My daughters’ friend from preschool very recently put their 10-year-old dog to rest and the news percolated to my girl. What started off as our effort to divert her attention from the grim realities of life to building the new LEGO bridge, took our family of 3 on a trip reliving the memories of Tusky, the slobbery kisses, the torn bed sheets {yes, unlike most dogs Tusky had her affinity towards chewing pretty bedsheets!}, the never used fancy food bowls {she had her ways of using our ‘katories’ instead} to illness and finally letting her go and embracing the happy memories.

The innocent questions like why did she have to die? Or did I do something wrong with her? Did you not take care of her? When is she coming back? All the questions resonate with everyone who has a pet or rather another four-legged child. I would be honest, initially, the questions were so in-my-face, that I had almost resorted to false comfortable statements like, ‘Dora went on a trip’ or ‘She ran away with her best friend’ or even worse, ‘she’s sleeping’. We actually started feeling bad about misleading a young mind and shielding her away from the truth fearing the subsequent grief and sadness.


A child however young has the right to grief, be sad, and miss their pet. The best support we could possibly give them is our patience rather than expecting them to quickly get over it. We told our little one, that Dora was not keeping well and that her body stopped working and she died. We were clear that we’ll not be shoving her questions into the cupboard and wanted the verbiage to be calm, composed, and direct. We had read up many child psychologists harping on avoiding vague terms and euphemisms like ‘sleeping’ or ‘gone away’. A friend of mine {who had recently lost her Great Dane, Cindy} suggested what she did when faced with a similar situation. She told her daughter that Cindy was not well and that God took her away so that she could get better and might someday return as a small cuddly pup to her. The idea was indeed ingenious and even had room for a future addition!

But I wasn’t sure if I could deal with all the separation agony again. Because all the pet parents out there, we all know with the joy of having a furry baby comes the latent fear of heartbreak, agony, and the feeling of void.

From the outset, we were clear about being truthful to the child and that we wouldn’t mask the adult emotions as well. We would show her that we were sad too and that being sad and missing her furry friend was absolutely normal and in fact completely appropriate emotion for the situation.

We as parents in the best interest of our child try to shield them and sometimes that means even in their grief we tend to hover around them.

Tusky – Copyright Ananya

Again, we do that because we do not want to leave them on their own. But sometimes, letting them be could be one of our approaches as well. I was sure my daughter would get over this sadness and all we could give her is time and our patience.

Ok, so can’t harp on this enough, we promised ourselves that we’ll encourage her to express emotions and honor her feelings. We would absolutely try not saying that it’s ok and quickly move over to a Dr.Seuss book. We would let her ask her side of questions and be respectful if she cries, howls, or just wants to be quiet for some time.

Grieving is a cathartic process; don’t press your child to overcome it because it’s been a long time. As I just mentioned our patience could be a great healer for their grief.

Stringing together the good memories and creating a poignant goodbye. We have this on our mind but we’re not there yet. Dora was not our pet but she was an important part of my daughter’s life. My girl, her friend, and Dora would often play together in the lazy afternoons after their 4K class. We have plans to put a picture of my daughter and Dora on our mantle but not just yet.

Ever since we came to know about Dora we had decided that bringing in another pet into the household would not be our way of compensating this loss.

We reminded ourselves that now might not be the right time to get another one, at least not right away. After all, we were not looking for a replacement. I’m sure many would agree with me!

After Tusky, we had always shuddered at the thought of bringing in another furry baby in our lives, the pain of separation is just too much to bear. Dora somehow had filled in that vacuum. And we were heartbroken to hear her news, it was a whole dejavu feeling just in a negative way.

Just a few hours later we broke the news of Dora’s death to my daughter, she was quiet. It was a bit unusual for a child who asks almost 10 questions in 10 minutes and tries to speak even in her sleep! We tried books. I read ‘The Rainbow Bridge …a Dog’s Story’ by Judith Kristen to her. At that point I am not too sure that she was processing much of what I read but she listened. We are reading the ‘Dog Heaven’ by Cynthia Rylant now and she has gradually started asking questions. Reading to her was my way of bringing solace and I’m sure there are tons of other ways.

Did you ever confront a similar situation? How did you cope with your child’s reaction? Tell us a bit about your experience and the way you chose to comfort your child. After all, we are all here to raise strong and resilient children.

Hey all, I am Ananya. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a Master’s in Strategic Communication in 2018 I took to freelancing. Currently, I freelance as a SEO Writer. Writing blogs on travel, lifestyle, wellness, and food is my jam though I would love to write a campaign critique on any given day! I write blogs, articles, and sales web copies for websites. And when I am not fretting over a delivery deadline or running errands, I am probably trying to keep up with my ‘always-so-energetic’ 5-year-old girl or indulging in a bit of self-love on the elliptical at Planet Fitness! I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a MBA in Marketing, from India.
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Get Kids Excited About Science :

by with One Comment Education

You’re starting a new and exciting job teaching science, but you aren’t sure how to get kids excited about science. The following are a few helpful tips that’ll make this goal more attainable.

Taking it Outside

One thing you can do is go outside. You can find science in nature, and you can use that to your advantage. Kids can learn about living organisms, or you can teach them about foraging. If you take science outside the classroom, you allow your kids to connect your lessons to everyday life.

This is exciting for kids who think science is not something you can take outside a book or classroom. Ideally, you want to go to a nature preserve where your kids can be guided by an expert. Doing this could help support the nature preserve by raising awareness since the kid’s parents are going to hear about the experience.

Let Them Create it

It would be a good idea to allow your students to create science. Something is exciting about being able to create nature in the palm of your hands. This is the reason kids get excited when they see their hairs stand when learning about static electricity.

You can take things much further with bigger projects. One of the most popular is the volcano project, but there’s so much more you can do in the comfort of your classroom. You could create stream tables in your classroom to help the students learn more about this world’s ecosystem. You’ll get to explore some of the biggest questions kids have about this natural world.

Take it Home

Another thing you can do to make science exciting for your kids is to allow them to take the lessons home. You are going to be asking them to experiment at home so that they can bring it back to you. Teach them a few things about science, and let their little minds figure out the rest.

You can come up with a list of interesting and safe experiments that your kids can do. Ask them to see which one interests them the most so that they can do it at home. Most likely, their parents are going to help, which is going to make this experience more fun for your kids. Have your kids present their experiments in your classroom. Doing this makes them little teachers at least for the day, which is exciting as well.

What Lies Beneath

A fun way to teach your kids about science is to lead them to discover what lies beneath. There’s so much science in everyday things that kids aren’t aware of that you can teach them. For example, you can teach them why a cake rises when you bake. This fun experiment doesn’t open up their eyes to things they didn’t know before, but it’s also just tasty.

You also teach them about magnets and how powerful they are. To most kids, a magnet is something you place on the fridge, but you know there’s much more to it. You know magnets are so powerful they can lift heavy items. Show them how and see their eyes brighten with excitement. Kids who don’t like science will see they can’t escape it because it’s everywhere.

Ask Questions and Wonder

General wonderment is going to help you get your students excited about science. You want to get them to see there’s always a question to ask. Talk about things you don’t know but are excited to learn about. Doing this is going to get your kids excited about their questions.

You also want to ask your kids about everything. If you treat your kids like scientists, they are going to start thinking they are. Ask them about their experiments, work, and why they like the superheroes they like. Every question you ask is important, and make sure you follow up. If you treat kids like their opinion matters, then their curiosity should grow.

These are some things you can do to excite your students about this subject. It might be a good idea to talk to other teachers in your department who have a little more experience to see what they’ve got to offer you.

Sensory Overload Prepare Your Car for Sensitive Children

Sensory Overload: Prepare Your Car for Sensitive Children

by with No Comment CareChildren's Safety

Preparing your children for long journeys in the car can be difficult. When you have sensory sensitive children, it can be even more challenging. Here are some helpful tips that you can implement to ease the effect your car has on your sensitive children and ensure they have a great trip.

Integrate Safe Features from Home

A change of environment can be extremely overwhelming for a child. When taking a trip in your car, you should try to incorporate many safe features from your own home into your vehicle to make the change less apparent to your sensitive children. This could be taking pillows or blankets from their bed. If they have a favorite cup they’re used to using, then bring it. You know the items in your home that make your child feel safe. Incorporate as many as possible into your vehicle.

Get Your Mechanics Checked Out

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to traveling with sensitive children is the possibility of unexpected delays or accidents. It’s a good idea to take your car into the auto shop to get its mechanics checked over. Any noise issues should be handled. If there are any hindrances to a smooth ride, such as tire flat spots, then get them replaced with Nissan tires. You want to prep your car ahead of time to ensure that it has a smooth ride for your passengers.

Prep with A Map Ahead of Time

If you’re undergoing a family road trip, then you should prep your child for the sites ahead of time. You can do this in a number of ways, like having them craft a map of the sites. By sharing what to expect with your children, they can better mentally prepare for the journey. When the sites come along, it will no longer be an unexpected and scary incident. Rather, they have had the time to prepare their mind for the site and will be able to go along with it.

Promote Relaxing Times

Long trips are some of the hardest to take with sensory sensitive children. To help keep their nerves at bay, you should implement a mandatory relaxation period every few hours. This is a time where everyone in the car is quiet. You can play some classical music, put on a movie that your child loves, or something similar. Whatever promotes relaxation in your sensitive kid should be used during this relaxation time to allow their brain to rest.

Life is full of challenges. When you take your sensory sensitive children on a road trip, you should try to prepare them beforehand. By implementing the tips above, you’ll be sure to have a nice road trip with your children.

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Top 25 Indie Books that Encourage Diversity and Inclusion

by with No Comment Books

In a time when we are so secluded, it is so much more important now than ever to teach kids about diversity and inclusion. For the danger is now more than ever for them to get a one sided view of the world, that is more a rainbow than just one color.

Today, I bring to you books by various authors from around the world who have written books that promote the same.

What is diversity?

It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies.

What is inclusion?

The action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure.

A global world view, building kindness and social skills all need a child to understand the essence of these two.

And what better way than books that are different in the WAYS they bring these topics forth.

For if we hope our children to grow to build a world together, to be allies of each other and stand tall, we want them to know all the above, from within.

Download our FREE ACTIVITY BOOK for helping kids build a global mindset early.

 

UNIQUE CULTURES

The Secret about Hummingbird

Created by an elementary teacher to educate and inspire, children will love learning about the Taíno culture through the retelling of their indigenous folklore, bringing an ancient cultureー and a young loveーto colorful life. This is a beautiful retelling of an old Taino legend about how the hummingbird was created. The way the story is retold is both easy for children to understand but not “dumbed down” either. I enjoyed the story and found the illustrations bright, colorful, and descriptive.

Adventures of Neel and Maya

Join Neel and Maya as they tour India and celebrate festivals full of color and joy. You will be astounded by the various traditions and cultural traits the books in this series have. It is so wonderful to show a bridge between our US Diversity and the country of cultural origins and to show young people engaging in understanding their heritage. It was so well written to explain the celebrations.

Hasta Mañana Mexico City

This book takes kids to a world away and opens their minds to a cultural experience outside of their world. It’s an English book with references and details on real locations. This story takes children through the heart of the city, which is full of wonderful history and vibrant places.

Travel, Learn and See Your Friends : Adventure Series

This bilingual book is targeted at Mandarin Immersion students, but can be read by non-native speakers of Chinese.About the Author: Edna is a physician anesthesiologist and mom, who was motivated to write a bilingual Chinese children’s book, inspired by her son’s friendship after he enrolled in a Mandarin immersion school. She found a limited selection of books for this age group. So she created these stories to include English and Mandarin with pin yin, to facilitate different reading levels. Her stories celebrate friendship and cultural diversity.

Womagis – First Multilingual Children’s Book in 18 Languages

Womagis is illustrated as an innovative template, displaying 18 languages simultaneously, as a multilingual frame. Each language changes its place from page to page, so the book is also a game, where you must look around in order to find your native tongue, just like a smart detective. It includes some activities to inspire parents and educators so they can work together with the children by creating a universe of adventures and games around the book. Womagis is a new book that inspires children to create their own language of tolerance and love, all in one story, all in one page!

BODIES & ISSUES

Devin’s Discovery

Devin’s Discovery is a story about an ordinary boy who happens to wear orthotic braces. He realizes he’s not as different as he thought as he discovers there are many other children who need special orthotics and prosthetics to support them, too! A story of acceptance and embracing what makes us all unique, this is a book for EVERY child! Devin and his three friends represent four unique ethnic backgrounds, which adds to the elements of diversity and inclusion already portrayed throughout the story.

B is for Breathe

From the letter A to the letter Z, B is for Breathe celebrates the many ways children can express their feelings and develop coping skills at an early age. Fun, cute, and exciting illustrations, this colorful book teaches kids simple ways to cope with fussy and frustrating emotions. This book will inspire kids to discuss their feelings, show positive behaviors, and practice calm down strategies.

Hi! I’m Me

In this heart-warming tale about a mother and daughter, first-time author Kelly Vurinaris captures the beauty in human differences.She takes the reader through everyday experiences in the life of Chloe, a little girl with facial differences. Since she’s been going out into the world, Chloe notices people staring at her. To connect with others and break down initial barriers, she quickly discovers that she just needs to introduce herself. It helps kids identify that being different is okay, and that we are all people. It is the perfect story for parents or teachers who want to teach children about inclusivity, and how everyone has equal value no matter how they look.

Orange Sparkles

Relocating to Israel is bound to be an unforgettable adventure for 11-year-old Megan, 8-year-old Noah, and their little sister, Elise. But a whole new country, backwards-written language, and leaving everything they’ve ever known? Should they be excited or terrified? While their dad starts his new job and their mom works out the details of the clinical trial for Elise who has Cerebral Palsy, Megan and Noah explore a nearby tunnel – discovering magic and cryptic messages. Noah’s excited about the amazing flips he can do, while Megan is certain the magic must be an incredible opportunity – but for what?

 

Beyond the Clouds

My book is about a girl named Kippi who goes to visit her grandfather in his cloud house after he passes away. She learns that even though he’s gone, he’ll always be with her, watching over her. I think it’s a very important topic for children, especially in today’s world.

How Our Skin Sparkles

How Our Skin Sparkles is a book of empowerment through acceptance, of self and others. With easy to read rhymes, sibling love and thoughts to explore, this story talks about how one can truly see everyone as they are inside. This book is a must have for any child who wants to learn a little more about themselves, the world around them and how we truly sparkle! The Raising World Children – Empowerment Series for books for global kids is geared for kids aged 3-10. Perfect for boys, girls, early readers, primary school students, or toddlers. Excellent resource for counselors, parents, and teachers alike.

Where Am I From

How do you answer this question, when a child is ‘from’ multiple countries, can speak and understand many languages and is not living in the country they were born in? Children from seven countries each have a turn to answer in their own way. Each answer is correct, and yet still not the whole picture. When the youngest takes his turn, he shares a different view, one that has nothing to do with borders on a map.

ANIMALS THAT HELP

Schneider the Spider and His Unusual Friends

Schneider the Spider is the biggest and brownest daddy longlegs in the woods. His big stature and spiky hind legs scare other spiders away. Sad and alone, Schneider finds an unusual friendship in a butterfly. Together, the duo flies around the lake and meets other unique and kind friends along the way. Schneider finds something special with all his friends and begins to accept his differences. This story sends a message that we are all different and unique. Schneider the Spider pairs well with any Character Building Curriculum to encourage kindness, compassion, appreciation, respect, attitude, and empathy.

The Unstoppable Rexie

Rexie is one cool dinosaur. He loves an epic imaginative adventure and he has one, every day of the week. Rexie has a bionic arm that he uses for daily tasks, like brushing his teeth. He doesn’t mind being a little different than the other dinosaurs. Although he may seem like a pretty ordinary T-Rex, he is extremely unique in how he views his world. Rexie and his sidekick, Dax, go to some exciting places and escape some powerful characters along the way. The Unstoppable Rexie is about being kind, being yourself, not letting any obstacles get in your way, and having some major laughable fun. Everyone can be Unstoppable, just like Rexie.

The Purple Grasshopper

The Purple Grasshopper follows the journey of a quirky grasshopper who struggles with accepting that she is different. She tries to be like the other grasshoppers at first, but quickly learns the power of self-love and that friendship is abundant. Celebrating your uniqueness is not as difficult as it might seem!

Shells

Helix and Sammy live on opposite sides of the garden fence. When Helix discovers what life is really like on Sammy’s side, there begins an adventure of revelations and revolution. Every evening, best friends Helix and Sammy meet at the vegetable patch to feast on delicious lettuce. Shells is a book aimed at helping young children better understand systemic racism, the nature of privilege and the importance of standing up for equal opportunities for all.

Hannah the Honeybee Has a Dream

Industrious honeybees are a great way to deliver the message that working hard and contributing to society are important. This book will offer great opportunities to parents to discuss the importance of bees to the well-being of the planet and all of us who enjoy it. This first book is about ‘making a difference,’ with the aim to show readers that we can all contribute to society in our own way. We don’t have to be rich or famous or like anyone else to make a difference. It is more important to be ourselves.

DIVERSE CHARACTERS

J.R.’s Biggest Fan

J.R. ‘s Biggest Fan shows the never-ending encouragement a mother gives her son. This heartwarming story teaches that with every failure, keep trying, believe in yourself, and you will always have the love and support of your biggest fan, your mom. It is critical for children to see diverse characters in a book to broaden their world view.

Aurora’s Orchid

Aurora, a beloved mom to four young children, is determined to create memories with them in her childhood home in Rincon, Puerto Rico. One year, she plants an orchid with her children and spends the summer teaching them to tend to it in the hopes that it would grow into the beautiful plant she knew it could. As the days, weeks, months, and even years pass, Aurora teaches her children patience as they skeptically wait for the flowers to bloom.

Sister Girl Collection

Readers are left with a sense of pride in family, and also themselves. Sister Girl is easy to relate to and the message of not giving up can be received by anyone, at any age. The Sister Girl Collection is an empowerment tool to encourage young girls to be courageous, creative, and live productive lives. Each book teaches a new lesson, skill, or touches on exploring the world. Readers can grow with Sister Girl as they also experience new things in their own lives. Families can add this collection to their home library, sharing the stories and lessons for years to come.

My Journey with Jimmy

My Journey with Jimmy is a simple story about a girl who grows up befriending a boy from school of a different race named Jimmy. She expresses her appreciation of Jimmy’s kindness towards her over the years. As their friendship grows. she admires Jimmy’s helpful personality. When Jimmy decides to help others as a police officer she decides to follow his lead. This is a great story to start a discussion with early readers about diversity and civic responsibility. The story is written in meter and prose to make it easy for young readers to follow along.

What Should I Do Today

Join 6 cute kids with beautiful curly hair in a colorful, fun story as they deal with the biggest daily hurdle for any toddler: What should I do today? mTargeted to children ages 0 – 4, it is a fun and engaging read that features simple wording, bright colors and whimsical artwork.

FOR PARENTS

Strong Roots Have No Fear

Winner of the global literary Author Academy Award and Royal Dragonfly Award, this book is a must for your personal library for growth as a parent. Aditi Wardhan Singh is a leading voice on growth mindset and cultural sensitivity. This book has heart warming stories, easy to implement ways and conversation starters that enable you to use your child’s strengths to make them independent, with good decision making skills. Building a global mindset that helps children stay rooted in their heritage and values.

 

How to Raise Confident Multicultural Children

This is the uniquely empowering guidebook to the bilingual / multilingual and multicultural parenting journey. It includes practical tips and ideas for even greater success raising confident and resilient kids of mixed ethnic backgrounds who can speak many languages.

 

To have us feature your book, email contact@raisingworldchildren.com .

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Yoga and Calming Meditation for Kids – Yogi Superhero Series

by with 2 Comments AnxietyBooksEmpowermentKids Corner

Life today is not how it used to be years ago. The stress levels are astronomical, even for kids. This Yogi Superhero book series gives you the opportunity to help children build calm from the inside out.

We got these two books from the author to review and found it very interesting to say the least. What is specially nice is the way the author has explained the different poses in the simplest of ways.

Yogi Superhero

A Children’s book about yoga, mindfulness and managing busy mind and negative emotions

Key points about the book  –

  • “Yogi Superhero” is an introduction to yoga for children ages 3-8.
  • A meaningful book which demonstrates mindful yoga poses and breathing exercise.
    The perfect picture book for parents, carers, and Yoga teachers.
    It teaches basic poses which help to self-soothe and self-regulate in our crazy world and help with managing negative emotions.
  • Easy to follow poses are perfect for a bedtime or morning yoga, or to be enjoyed as a bedtime read.
  • Readers will learn techniques for relaxing the body and the mind.
  • Book is based on the Yogi Superhero programme for children ages 4-12, delivered for the last few years, which combines passion for yoga and creative teaching.

Book Review

When we began reading the first book, my son loved that the superheros element was used in the book. He figures it would be very exciting for kids who love superheroes. It is so important actually to help kids learn about different concepts, but built around the things they love already. It makes imbibing things very easy.

Fun illustrations make this book a charm to read. I specially liked how the author has made it appealing to kids with describing each pose and connecting it to how yoga can make us feel. The steps to managing breathing was a great help to us and we found ourselves doing the actions along with the book.

The different kids in the book help make the book much more visually diverse. It is a book I imagine would be a must re-read for kids who you want to help imbibe calm into. Also, never hurts that yoga is one of the best exercises to do.

This colour book tells a story which allows children to understand that we are already a Yogi Superhero, we just sometimes forget about it.

 

You can get the book from USA here – Yogi Superhero

Yogi Superhero Adventures in Nature Forest

A Children’s book about yoga, mindfulness, kindness and managing busy mind and fear.

Key points about the book –

  • Basic yoga poses are related entirely to the forest story, they help to self-soothe and self-regulate in this crazy world and help with managing emotions.
  • An introduction to yoga for children ages 3-8.
  • Book is based on the Yogi Superhero programme for children ages 4-12.

Book Review

What a wonderful read it turned out to be.

In a forest, one wants to find the peace of mind that we all crave In our busy lives. The kids here inspired my little one to get into the poses with them. She specially loved that all her favorite animals have been mentioned. The colorfully bright illustrations made for a calming read. We again found ourselves doing the exercises as we read since they were so well explained.

Get your copy here – Yogi Superhero – Adventures in Nature 

About the Author –

Anna Smithers is a yoga teacher and yoga therapist for children and adults.

yogi book series super hero forest

Poetry and writing were always present in her life. Even as six year old girl, she was creating the stories and drawing her own illustrations. Later in life, poetry took more serious direction, and she was using poetry to express her feelings and emotions. When she was 18, her poems were published in local and national newspapers and magazines. Some of these won competitions. However, life has taken her on a completely different journey. After Anna gained her degrees in Science and Business Management, she stopped writing.

It was only when she started Yoga that the inspiration to write returned to her.

You can connect with her books via  – http://orangelotusyoga.co.uk/yogi-superhero-book-kids-yoga/

More book recommendation lists and reviews here – Kids Corner Books

 

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A Children’s Book in 18 Languages – Womagis

by with No Comment BooksKids CornerLanguages

In Womagis, her mom tells Olivia, she’s talking gibberish. What follows in a wondrous discussion about languages and how amazingly important it is to partake in multilingualism and create your own language even. Today we review Womagis USA. The book available to us in the United States.

If you would like your child to open up to learning new languages, this just might be the place to start. Experience many languages at ONE time. Multilingualism directly translates to a different way of thinking. When you have another language to use as a resource, it opens your mind and makes you more empathetic. Womagis USA gives you an opportunity like no other. To get a glance into what another language, one that you have not yet seen or even heard of feels like.

In today’s world where we are more divided than united, it is imperative we take every single opportunity we can to introduce our children to different worlds.

If you want your child to be a global citizen, this book is for you. Even if you do not understand the languages mentioned, it is a wonderful way to introduce your child the many ways different languages feel and read. To try to sound them out and let the story grow with you.

In every page, the position of each language changes places, making the book a game. This book really blows your mind though, in the fact that all the text is side by side.

Marta Villegas is the spanish children´s book author and founder of Womagis. Through this book, she hopes to help children build a world of their own. To get creative in their play and reading methodology.

This is one book when the methodology of story telling is more important to focus on when reading than the story itself. Consider it an experience and you will take more about it than just reading a book. 

In short, she and her creative team, aim to shake things up!

Get your copy now!

Parents with different nationalities have the possibility to read Womagis with their children.
Children that want to learn new languages can take their first steps with Womagis and in the process make them realize that there are other alphabets and cultures in the world, increasing their sense of tolerance.

At first glance, it is a daunting book. It is so important though, to stay with this book. I would say, this is a great book for kids 5+ and an interactive experience for kids with parents on the first read.

The final pages of the book are filled with activities that help kids get creative with building language blocks of their own. As for the languages themselves, you will find 18

English, Navajo-Diné, Lakota-Sioux, Inuit-Eskimo, Hawaiian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Tagalog, Italian, Chinese, Polish, German, Greek, Hindi, Korean, Portuguese & Vietnamese,

out of which the Hindi and English parts read true to the language which was very reassuring.

The message itself is one of hope and love.

My kids found it interesting and after a few reads now have found their own ways to use this book to get inventive.

You can connect with them here. Write a letter or get the books into your stores.

You can also find a number of activities to do via their website.

We at RaisingWorldChildren.com, pride ourselves in finding books that break barriers and build a growth mindset that is global in nature. For more of our book reviews and lists, you can find them all here.

Review of Womagis

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The Truth about the Nepotism Debate in Bollywood

by with One Comment BollywoodDiversityEmpowerment

There is a raging insider vs outsider debate going on in the Bollywood industry. The fact is that this concept doesn’t apply just to any one industry. Throughout my childhood days, I have always been an outsider.

My family would move from one location to another, every one or two years. Therefore, I would always find myself in a new place, with new kids in school and my neighborhood.

What I would find is that in the new school, groups had already been formed. They were friends and classmates who had been together since kindergarten. So there was no place in the group for that awkward new girl in school. Not that I didn’t have any friends, just that I never felt part of any group and that for some reason made me sad.

But practical that I was at that age, I told myself it would be a waste to be a part of any group. I always knew that one day, my family would move again and then I would just have to start from scratch. Moreover, none of the kids went out of their way to make me feel comfortable. They were too busy hanging out with their group as I quietly sighed and probably felt a little …no, a lot jealous of them.

I also noted that none of them really cared that I appeared lost in that huge network. Nobody really tried to be my friend. So my heartbroken self told myself that it was all a waste of time.

And that is the real fact about this insider vs outsider debate. People who are pointing fingers at the Bollywood insiders only just need to look back at their own childhood days. How many of them can honestly say that they have included every outsider in their circle as a kid? How many, as parents, ask their children if they became friends with someone who doesn’t seem to fit in their protective circle? Do we honestly have any right to pass judgement on others when we might ourselves have been guilty of the same crime at some point in life?

Does that mean we don’t question this? Or does it mean that the first person we need to question is our own self?

Change can never start from outside. An ideal change, a productive change is inside out.

It seems like a cliched statement and yet that doesn’t make it false. It hurts to feel like an outsider, I’m a living proof of this. But I also grew very strong and empathetic because of my experiences. Its not all dark and gloomy for an outsider.

But that doesn’t give a person any right to exclude anyone or make them feel small in any way …period!

First published on – SurSangeet2000

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How Do We Teach Kids to Accept Differences

by with No Comment DiversityEmpowerment

We live in a vast and diversified world. It’s mixed with unique cultures, personalities, opinions, objectives, and it’s undeniable; we are always learning something apart from what we know on a daily basis. As we all know, little ones are the fastest learners.

And it’s also true that they would develop the same thinking process as their parents do. So the process of teaching our child starts from us. What would you ideally want to see in your child? A simple attitude and smart thinking because knowledge would anyways be an input during their academics in school.

We need to teach our children the difference between what’s right and what’s wrong along with appropriate social behaviour.

Imagine a situation; we take our kids to a park. And they see children there with different skin complexions. And it wouldn’t be of any surprise if they ask us with immense curiosity why his/her friends look different from him/her. Even when it comes to various religious aspects, everyone has their own way of worshiping God and how do you explain that. Below are the few key points that should be kept in mind while you’re communicating to your child about such crucial topics.

Don’t shush them

When kids ask you any sensitive questions, don’t stop them. In private or public. Ask them to continue talking about it. Instead, even ask them what they think about. But by restricting their questions, we might be putting in a wrong thought process. They probably might think that their question was not appropriate or they were wrong asking in the first place. This might lead to a decrease in their curiosity levels. At that age, they should have a good learning process and shouldn’t be denied it any minute.

Talk as much as you can

You might be busy with your professional life. But this is the only golden period you get to bond with your kids. Don’t stop listening to them. Ask for their opinions, correct them and again ask whats their thought about this particular topic. Judging anyone around is not a mistake, but it’s important not to make their first judgement as to their final one. They need to learn the art of mingling with as many people as possible and always have a positive vibe.

Consume diverse content consciously

Movies and other sources of entertainment are always direct influences on our kids’ minds. In fact, we prefer showing them so that they can learn faster. So why not we opt for more movies that help highlighting such issues and it would be easier to understand these concepts. But be careful to show them age-appropriate shows. Maybe animated is more preferable. These topics may not be essential to understand at first glance but understanding it in the right way is important.

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Yes, we are unique, we all look different, we talk different languages, and we need to teach our kids to see these things as different cultures, but everyone should be treated the same. Maybe someone might need a wheelchair to move around, some can be blind, or perhaps some may not be mentally stable enough like we are. But it’s not their fault. We should be able to teach our kids that ‘it’s ok’, not everyone is fortunate enough, but we don’t have any rights to judge them. Instead, teach them how to approach these people and make them feel better. Teach them how to deal with such situations and always have a smile on their face.

Like I already said, a kid’s thinking process is just the photocopy of their parents’. So before we teach them something, we should be aware of what opinions we have. Everyone can’t view the painting with the same opinion, but we can always appreciate the efforts.

And teach them the art of accepting, show them the art of appreciating and not just pointing out mistakes and differences.


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15 Books to Empower Preteen Boys for Tomorrow

by with No Comment BooksKids Corner

The emotional and personal growth of boys is often less looked after. It’s harder if you had a child who does not like to talk much. But if your child likes reading, the below books help empower them to be the best version of themselves by preparing them, through stories, role models and literal situations to derive life lessons from.

Preteen boys are specially curious and struggling with a lot going on internally. It is so much more important to give them the right tools to deal with or learn about challenges everyone faces. Highly essential to raise kind humans who are empathetic and accepting of all.

Just a mention, while my son has read quite a few of the below, he has also read the American girl series for girls which is divided into a number of topics like Staying Home Alone, Worrying, Finances, Relationships and more that are important for boys to know as well as girls.

In this digital age, there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun—building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world’s best paper airplanes.

How Our Skin Sparkles

Does your boy have friends who look different than him? Or does he look different from his peers? It is overwhelming how many insecurities we carry within our selves, specially as children of the world. This book is perfect for kids of color to learn about how their actions speak louder than their appearance. With easy to read rhymes, sibling love, Indian culture and concept, this story talks about how one can truly see everyone as they are inside. This book is a must have for any boy who wants to learn a little more about themselves, the world around them and how we truly sparkle!

I am

In this book for boys, author Ayesha Rodriguez uses rhyming verses, followed by a positive affirmation. I am and the words that follow are powerful. Repeated affirmations will build up your child’s self-esteem and transform his sense of self!

 

Guy Stuff : The Boy Book for Boys

From the author of the bestselling Care & Keeping of You series! This book will provide you with the answers that will help you take care of yourself better, from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to shaving, acne to voice changes, and everything in between. With tips, how-tos, and facts from a real pediatrician, it’s the perfect book to help you learn about your body’s changes.

American Boy’s Handy Book

Long before The Dangerous Book for Boys became all the rage , there was the American Boy’s Handy Book. Every father and grandfather should have this on his shelf, waiting there for a boy to pull it off and start leafing through. Dozens of awesome (and unlike another book, some actually dangerous) hands on projects for boys to tackle from how to build kites and forts to how to rear wild birds and trap animals. Originally published in 1882 and still a must for every boy today.

 

 

I appreciate the way this book so very warmly and passionately displays ultra positive and inspirational images of young men of color. I’ve read books that trail along similar empowering themes. My kids literally become enchanted by the messages and images, so much so, that they would crave re-reads of the stories. What I cherish the most is seeing my precious students self-select one of these books for independent reading!

Best of Iggy

Meet 9-year-old Iggy Frangi. He’s not a bad kid, he’s really not. Okay, so he’s done a few (a few is anything up to 100) bad things. And okay, he’s not very sorry about most of them. People make a big deal about nothing. What’s a little pancake here and there? Is that something to get mad about? Iggy doesn’t think so. No one got hurt, so there’s no problem. No one got hurt except for that one time, that one time when the Best Idea Ever turned into the Worst Idea of All Time.

Stories for Boys Who Dare to be Different

You won’t find any stories of slaying dragons or saving princesses here. In Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different, author Ben Brooks-with the help of Quinton Wintor’s striking full-color illustrations-offers a welcome alternative narrative: one that celebrates introverts and innovators, sensitivity and resilience, individuality and expression.

Middle School is the Worst

Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he’s got an ace plan for the best year ever: to break every rule in his school’s oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class: 5,000 points! Running in the hallway: 10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm: 50,000 points! But when Rafe’s game starts to catch up with him, he’ll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he’s finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he’s been avoiding.

Tight

Lately Bryan’s been feeling it in all kinds of ways. He knows what’s tight for him in a good way–reading comics, drawing superheroes, and hanging out with no drama. But drama’s hard to escape where he’s from, and that gets him wound up tight.

And now Bryan’s new friend Mike is challenging him to have fun in ways that are crazy risky. At first, it’s a rush following Mike, hopping turnstiles, subway surfing, and getting into all kinds of trouble. But Bryan never feels right acting wrong. So which way will he go when he understands that drama is so not his style? Fortunately his favorite comic heroes shed light on his dilemma, reminding him that he has power–the power to choose his friends and to stand up for what he believes is right . . .

He may be clueless, but the comically self-confident Timmy Failure is CEO of the best detective agency in town, perhaps even the nation. This is a series full of humor that help you aspire to greatness.

Timmy Failure

August Pullman was born with a facial difference that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can’t get past Auggie’s extraordinary face. WONDER, now a #1 New York Times bestseller and included on the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, begins from Auggie’s point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.

Okay for Now

In this companion novel to The Wednesday Wars, Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that some people think him to be. He finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer, who gives him the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Schmidt expertly weaves multiple themes of loss and recovery in a story teeming with distinctive, unusual characters and invaluable lessons about love, creativity, and survival.

The Boy Who Never Gave Up

It is the inspiring true story of NBA superstar Stephen Curry. This Fully illustrated picture book biography tells the story of a young boy who many said was too short to play in high school, too weak to play in college and not good enough to play in the NBA.
Against all odds, this small boy who follows his dream, not only makes it to the NBA, but becomes one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball.

Boy’s Body Book

Things can get rocky during puberty. That’s why we made the Boy’s Body Book. The updated fifth edition of this #1 bestselling book made just for boys contains everything you need to know about growing up, even the embarrassing stuff; it also includes topical issues like school safety and consent. Author and nurse Kelli Dunham covers everything from body changes to planning for college, giving pre-teen boys the answers they need to prepare for puberty and beyond.

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Recognize the Signs of Eating Disorders in Kids & Preteens

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Eating disorders can emerge much earlier than you might expect. As the concepts of body image, self-confidence and identity begin to evolve, young people compare themselves to others and “ideal” images portrayed online in the media. In today’s hyper-connected society, children and pre-teens are conditioned to believe that certain body types and appearances are more acceptable than others.

The need to fit in and belong is inherently human, but children and pre-teens are more likely to validate themselves based on others’ approval. Those who are overweight or don’t fit a certain image may be bullied at school or online, which only reinforces the idea that who they are is not good enough. Being liked becomes equal to being pretty or fit, and children can start to develop the beliefs that lead to eating disorder behaviors early.

If you are concerned that your child or pre-teen may have an eating disorder, here are some telltale warning signs to look out for.

Avoiding Food or Eating Non-food Substances

In children under 12, one of the most common expressions of an eating disorder are food aversion. Children may frequently complain of a stomach ache, claim to be ill, or flat-out refuse to eat.

Children in this age may also begin to eat substances like dirt or soap, a condition known as pica. This behavior typically falls outside of their developmental stage, e.g. a 10-year-old eating chalk or paper vs. a 2-year-old curiously sampling a handful of dirt.

Digestive Problems

If your child or pre-teen uses the bathroom excessively or frequently complains of stomach aches related to constipation, they may be malnourished. These symptoms are also associated with changes in appetite or food consumption. This undernourishment may be because they are not eating enough or because they are purging what they do eat.

You should speak to your child and their doctor about these changes immediately. Early intervention is the most important factor of recovery in eating disorders. Eating disorder treatment facilities for children can help stop the progression of anorexia and bulimia into life-threatening stages.

Hoarding Food

Some children will hide food in their rooms or somewhere else so that they eat later. Others may try to conceal their lunches or other meals to convince parents they’re eating more than they actually are. Some children will restrict their consumption to virtually nothing while others fast for periods of time only to binge large portions later. They may make themselves sick afterward and attempt to “clean” their body of the food they’ve eaten.

Closely monitor your child’s food consumption and comfort levels when eating. Are they claiming to eat regular meals despite losing weight? Some children, especially pre-teens, can be quite crafty about disguising their eating disorders. parents have to do a bit of investigative work to truly get to the bottom of their behavior.

Being Overly Concerned With Their Appearance

Children begin to compare themselves physically to their peers around age 7. Pre-teens are even more worried about looking “cool” and fitting in with their classmates. However, if your child is extremely worried about appearing fat or thin, they may be struggling with an eating disorder. Keep in mind that beliefs precede behaviors; early anxieties can and often do turn into harmful behaviors when left untreated.

Remember to approach your child with love and concern. Do not force them to eat or scold them for their feelings. They are just as confused and pained by the experience as you. Eating disorders are not a choice, and they are not something that can be resolved by simply eating more or dieting. The best thing you can do in this situation is to reach out to your child’s doctor and a licensed psychologist right away.


: Anita is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.