COVID-19, Family

‘Pandemic Pods’ And ‘Micro-Schools’: How Parents are Finding Ways To Help Their Kids — And Themselves — Manage Schooling At Home

30 Jul

After spending months keeping her 6-year-old daughter occupied with nature hikes, scavenger hunts and virtual playdates, Julia Devetski was hoping she could finally return to work full time again once the energetic rising first grader was back in the classroom this fall at her school in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. But as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage — and after learning that her daughter and her Chicago Public Schools classmates will be doing remote learning at home at least part of the time when the new school year starts in September — Devetski joined the soaring ranks of parents who are counting on “pandemic pods” or “micro-schools” as a solution to their dilemma.

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Camp Caribu, Family

Cooking With Kids: Life Lessons Abound In The Kitchen

28 Jul

Are your kids or grandkids looking for things to do this summer? Besides being a fun project, encouraging kids to prepare and/or cook food can be a great opportunity to teach them life skills such as kitchen and food safety, tips about nutrition/health, hygiene, and even math. It can also give kids a sense of value, accomplishment, and maturity as they enjoy the reward of eating the delicious finished product. Over time as their skills improve, they might even be timesavers for you in making food for the family.

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Camp Caribu, Family

Cook And Connect With Your Family This Week In A Virtual Playdate

27 Jul

Bring out your pots and pans — it’s time to cook and connect with your favorite family members! This week, #CampCaribu presents a menu of ‘Fun With Food’ books and activities for you to try together in a video-call. Each day, Caribu will feature two books: an “Entrée” book that tells a story involving food or cooking; and a “Side Dish” book that shares a specific recipe. Pick one or both to read and inspire your kitchen staff, and prepare some treats together!

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Family

The Important Role Of Aunts And Uncles In Children’s Lives

26 Jul

Aunts and uncles can also be the adult friend a child needs. For example, a child could be too nervous to talk about their crush in math class or the bully on the playground with their parents. They certainly want to address these issues with someone but may feel their parents will be dismissive or explosive about what’s bothering them. Cue in the “cool uncle” who listens without the judgmental and presumptive attitudes parents could show when addressing touchy topics with their kids. Aunts and uncles may have a more relaxed approach with their nieces and nephews, offering different and more encouraging solutions to a child’s problems. They are more likely to tell their nieces and nephews embarrassing stories about their parents. These and other entertaining exchanges could help solidify a powerful and trusting relationship between aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews for many years.

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Family

Why Children Like Repetition, And How It Helps Them Learn

24 Jul

People often say that practice makes perfect. Research certainly supports this, especially in children. In fact, studies have shown that repetition can be critically important for learning in general—especially for memory and language learning. So while adults can easily pick up new information from a single exposure, when kids ask to watch the same movie they’ve already seen a hundred times or read the same book before bed for the 10th night in a row, it might just be their way of learning the storyline. And although it might be boring or even annoying to do the same thing over and over and over (and over and over) again, this extra practice might be just what children need to learn new things.

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Family

It’s ‘Potty Superhero’ To The Rescue! Share Some Toilet Training Inspiration On Your Next Caribu Video-Call

24 Jul

Potty training can be one of a parent’s hardest jobs! While some kids catch on quickly, others might take months. Investing the hours needed for toilet training requires patience, kindness, and encouragement. Once your family decides to practice the potty, it’s important to have some positive motivation! To help inspire your little one, take a look at two new books in the Caribu app: Potty Superhero: Get Ready For Big Boy Pants! and Potty Superhero: Get Ready For Big Girl Pants! by Mabel Forsythe.

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Camp Caribu, Family

7 Superhero Activities For Summer That You Can Enjoy With Your Family From Home

23 Jul

Looking for ways to keep your little ones active, engaged, and smiling this summer? Take some time to celebrate their superhero selves with homemade costumes, activities, and adventures. With most theme parks closed, festivals cancelled, and Comic-Con moving online, you can use these ideas to spark fun summer days for the superhero kids in your family. Here are seven superhero activities to try from your home.

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Family

Why Ages 2-7 Matter So Much For Brain Development

23 Jul

Young children need to enjoy the process of learning instead of focusing on performance. Educators and parents can emphasize the joys of trying new activities and learning something novel. We need to help children understand that mistakes are a welcome, normal part of learning. This period is also the time to establish a growth mindset—the belief that talents and abilities are developed through effort instead of being innately fixed. Educators should avoid labeling children or making universal statements about their ability. Even compliments such as “You’re so smart” are counterproductive. Instead, emphasize persistence and create safe spaces for learning. Children will learn to love learning if we show enthusiasm over the process rather than fixating on results.

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COVID-19, Family

How To Talk To Your Grandkids About These Turbulent Times

22 Jul

Being a grandparent is one of the greatest joys of life, but even the best nanas and pop-pops may find themselves struggling with how to handle the questions, anxiety and other emotions coming from their grandchildren as they take in the world right now. As elementary school children express anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic, feel the associated boredom and also absorb what they can of the complex discussions of institutional racism, law enforcement policy and white privilege, there are bound to be a lot of questions.

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