Experiencing Hurricane Sandy has been a life-changing event. We have lived on the East Coast for about 15 years now. We have lived through many intense storms and watched closely as many hurricanes were near misses. We have watched in shock and awe as natural disasters have struck hard in other places around the world—but we have never been so up-close and personal with such a tragic event. I have to start out by saying…
We are down the homestretch of the presidential election and now that my daughters are a bit older, they have more questions than ever! I love that they are taking an interest in this important event, so I have gathered some helpful resources for explaining and engaging them in this process. I love hearing their views and seeing them take their first stances on certain issues. It is the beginning of long and rewarding journey…
I am happy to introduce you to Rebecca, another Playful Learning contributor. Rebecca has a lovely blog called, ThirteenRedShoes where she documents the wonderful things that she does and explores with her two sons. I was thrilled when she offered to share her favorite children’s books on London, as a way to build excitement and a deeper geographical and cultural understanding, as we get closer to the Summer Olympic Games. I love the Olympics. I…
In Chinese culture, writing is a sacred art form. School children are taught to regard calligraphy with reverence, and are encouraged to practice it only during moments of calm and tranquility. – Barbara Aria, The Spirit of the Chinese Character There is something very relaxing about the act of practicing and learning Chinese characters. We love using our Buddha Board to explore, practice, and discover new characters. One of our favorites is the symbol for…
I love engaging in learning experiences that inspire great conversations and encourage new insights. The girls are at a point developmentally where they are starting to take an interest in history, which opens up a whole new exciting avenue for exploration and discovery! A good starting point is to encourage children to research their own personal histories. Through this process they are able to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how they have changed…
In today’s world it is more important than ever to raise children with a global perspective. We live lives in which we are inextricably interconnected as a planet—where behavior and actions in one place can and do have far reaching effects across the globe. While it would be wonderful if we could travel as a family to see and take in different cultures and way of being, it is not always possible. Yet, I still…
