The Calm Down Space, and Managing Feelings.

One thing that has really helped in my classroom and in my home in regards to meltdowns and tantrums (for both my 10year old and my 3 year old) is being able to hold space for my children’s feelings. Whether it’s having a specific “Calm Down Area” with calming toys, or changing my dialogue to acknowledge and help understand emotions, I find that my kids (and I, by extension,) are much more capable of navigating their feelings and their reactions when things are uncertain or don’t go their way. Here are some of my tips and tricks to starting that process in your own home or classroom.

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Making Snow Dough

It’s Winter, and even though it’s a BIT warmer than we’re used to, we’re still getting into the seasonal spirit. After reading “The Snowstorm Surprise” By Richard Scarry, we were itching to play in some snow ourselves! Since Mother Nature wasn’t really cooperating, we decided to take matters into our own hands, and make some 2 ingredient “Snow Dough” to mold and squish.

Welcome to the Family By Mary Hoffman and Ros Asquith

There are many different ways to make a family. You can have two parents of the same gender, two parents with different genders, blended families, foster families, adoptive families, and more. Welcome to the Family is a book that attempts to introduce and normalize the ideas of Surrogacy, IVF, Foster Families, Adoptive Families, and more, but does it hit the mark? Find out below!

Best Gifts For Kid Booklovers!

It’s surprisingly hard to buy for kids when “books” are their favorite things. I mean, besides “books” what do you get them? (To be fair, Books are still a GREAT gift!) Well, here is a list of some great book-themed gifts that aren’t more books. (Though, they’d go great WITH a book.)

Reading is Power

Reading takes you away to far away lands. It lets you live the life of another person, in another time. Reading informs you, and educates you. And reading comforts you. When life gets rough (as it so often can) reading can soothe your soul.

During Goober’s surgeries, I read to him. He heard about the boy who lived, and I hoped it would inspire him to do so. He said Goodnight to the moon, the stars, and the little old lady whispering hush. He made mischief with Peter Rabbit, and started a wild rumpus with Max and the Wild Things.

Guppy focuses when she reads. The girl who can’t sit still at school, who climbs every tree in the forest, who cartwheels in the outfield can read the BFG in 2 days flat. She’s memorized every spell in Mal’s Spellbook, and harshly judged her school librarian when there were no books on Alexander Hamilton for her to read.

Reading empowers our household. It unites us, and makes us unique. Guppy loves magic and spells, and it always reminds me of the line from Into the Woods: “Careful the spell you cast, not just on children. Sometimes the spell may last past what you can see…Careful the tale you tell, that is the spell. Children will listen”

This blog is here to streamline that magic. To document our family journey through books, and maybe entertain and lighten hearts along the way.

Hope you enjoy!