By Beth S. Pollak
Caribu salutes our Veterans! On this Veterans Day, we pause to honor the soldiers in our families and communities. Many of our friends, grandparents, and relatives have served in the armed forces at home and abroad, and connecting on Veterans Day is a powerful way to recognize them and all that they have sacrificed.
Schedule a Caribu Video-Call to share a favorite book or activity together, and explore the selection in our Blue Star Families collection. Here are our picks for ways you can bring your family together with Caribu on this special day:
Color Together
Pick from Caribu’s many coloring pages to spend quality time together in a video-call. Choose a Veteran’s Day coloring page, or go for a picture of your favorite animal or cartoon! Look out for dinosaurs, unicorns, and spaceships. There are also many Blue Star Families coloring pages that focus on positive messages to inspire confidence, share feelings, and show appreciation for loved ones. Get a head start on the holidays with our Thanksgiving pages, or practice handwriting with our letter tracing pages. Try using different colors, and take turns filling in the pictures. Share some stories of what it is like to be a soldier, and build meaningful connections through coloring and conversation! You can find all of the coloring pages in the “Play” or “Activities” section of the Caribu library.
Share Storytime
What’s it like to have a parent serving at a distance in the military? What’s it like when that parent comes home? Explore this topic in the book We Serve Too, A Child’s Reunion Book, by Kathleen Edick and Paula J. Johnson. Read along with a young girl who prepares for a big reunion when her dad returns after being deployed. She is proud of him, and she is so excited! But she also has to readjust to having two parents in the house again. How does her father help her stay calm? Join the narrator for a heartwarming and realistic tale about families who serve. Read it together with your family in your next virtual playdate. You can find this book in the “Blue Star Families” category of the Caribu library.
Bond Over Games
Get ready for laughter and competition! Caribu’s new games are an exciting way to connect with friends and loved ones from a distance. Schedule a Tic-Tac-Toe tournament, make plans for a Memory Match, or try our Tile Games! Choose from different themes for your game: animals, monsters, trucks, space, magical creatures, and many more. Who will be the winner? Play one-on-one together, or invite friends and families members to join the fun! You can also choose from Sequence Games, Sudoko, Spot The Difference, Surprise Eggs, word searches, mazes, and more! You can find all of the games in the “Play” or “Activities” section of the Caribu library.
Share Your Dreams Together
Bedtime is a magical opportunity to connect with loved ones. Star Light, Star Bright, by Melissa Everett and illustrated by Oksana Pasishnychenko, is a beautiful book to share before going to sleep! Schedule a nighttime Caribu Call to read this touching story together. As you turn the pages, discuss what brightens your day, and what you love about each other! Make a wish on a star to celebrate your dreams, even if you are far away. Blow a kiss to say goodnight at the end of your family video-call! You can find this book in the “Bedtime Stories” category of the Caribu library.
If you have not yet signed up for Caribu, visit our home page to create an account and invite friends and family! Caribu is free for families of currently serving military through a partnership with Blue Star Families. Check their website for more information.
Beth S. Pollak is a writer and educator based in California. In addition to working with Caribu, she consults with educational organizations and EdTech companies. Beth has worked as a teacher and journalist in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. She holds degrees in journalism, bilingual education, and educational leadership. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, biking, picnics, and dance.