One day you’re reading board books to your baby (while he or she simultaneously tries to chew on them). The next thing you know, that little one has grown into a big kid who’s ready to read independently. Scholastic’s early reader line, Acorn, is perfect for children ages 4-7. Here’s why kids (and their parents!) love them:
The Format Is Fun!
Each book contains three to five short stories about endearing characters. Kids can read the stories in a row or in any order they’d like. FYI: Giving kids this simple choice in how they read creates a sense of accomplishment. In addition, each page contains vibrant full-color illustrations—making them inviting and accessible (not intimidating!)—and text is easy to read and its humorous tone is a crowd-pleaser for silly kiddos. Some of the books have color-coded speech bubbles, just like graphic novels. This feature helps introduce dialogue, making reading aloud even more entertaining.
They Build Confidence
It can be a challenge to find early chapter books that kids actually enjoy. Acorn make them feel confident in their reading abilities and encourage them to keep going! Activities at the end of each book maximize the reading experience with “how-to-draw” instructions and writing prompts (hello, future authors and illustrators!). These extension activities give kids additional ways to engage with the characters, while offering parents insight into their reading comprehension.
There’s a Series for Every Reader
There are 12 series in the Acorn line, with more in the works. From friendship to magic, the wide array of genres makes it simple to find a just-right read for your kiddo. There’s even a “horror-lite” series on the list for kids who like spooky stories, called Mister Shivers! The Dragon series by Dav Pilkey (author of Captain Underpants and Dog Man) is a fan favorite. BFFs Unicorn and Yeti are great for those who love magical creatures. Princess Truly is an empowering series about a young girl. And Hello, Hedgehog is an adorable friendship series focused on achieving big childhood milestones and helping pals overcome fears.
No Levels, No Problem.
Kids are used to seeing levels on their books. Not on these! Although books align with leveling guidelines, Acorn doesn’t put levels on the covers to keep kids from feeling pigeon-holed. They meet kids right where they are on their reading journey.
They’re Educator Approved.
Acorn executive editor Katie Carella was a teacher herself! She saw how difficult it was to find high-quality, interesting early readers for her students, which inspired her to create this line. Teachers across the country are big fans—making sure their classroom bookshelves are stocked with Acorn essentials! “The format made it feel similar to the higher-level books they see their older siblings reading, such as Captain Underpants and Dog Man, so they were excited to read it by themselves,” says a first-grade teacher, Sharon.
Beginning on Skyler’s first birthday, I started a tradition of writing a letter to him highlighting his likes, dislikes, achievements, funny moments, family adventures, playmates, and favorite television shows. In addition, I take a photo of him wearing a necktie as a way of charting his growth.
My vision, when creating and continuing this annual time capsule, was to present to Skyler, a ribbon-tied stack of letters and photos containing eighteen years of memories on the day of his graduation from high school.
Coming to the realization, many years following his autism diagnosis, that graduation, in a traditional sense, would not be a likelihood for Skyler was hard. However, it never derailed me from crafting those special birthday letters because I know one day in the future, I will share them with him.
Perhaps the silver lining or renewed perspective of Skyler not fleeing the nest this year, like his peers, is that I am privileged to share his daily experiences and accomplishments into adulthood.
I’m confident the day will come when Skyler communicates to me, on his own timeline, that he’s ready to receive my gift of thoughtfully crafted memories. Watching Skyler read and absorb every word, whether he’s 24 or 44, will be the equivalent of a graduation day to me—and I will be extremely proud.
So, on this eve of Skyler’s 18th birthday, I grabbed a few sheets of the special stationery that is used to pen his letters and a full box of tissues while I revisited every achievement, new adventure and challenge he experienced this past year.
This is my 18th birthday letter to Skyler:
To my handsome and admirable son,
I honestly can’t believe I am writing my 18th birthday letter to you. This past year has brought with it dramatic and unprecedented events both in our world and in your life.
It was around this time last year that the word Coronavirus became a part of everyone’s vocabulary. Due to the severity and vast spreading, our daily routines and public gatherings came to a drastic and lengthy halt.
You were unable to return to your ABA center for almost two months, which was much milder than most of the population who were forced to learn from home for an entire year—causing a significant regression of many skills.
While at home, Josh and I were desperate to keep your communication moving forward, so void of any therapist assistance, I created a PECS board and eventually transitioned you to an AAC device to revisit that method with you.
You clearly appreciated having the ability to make choices for yourself through the pictures which were evident by your smile when we all seemed to understand each other.
For the first time in years, you appeared eager to share your thoughts, needs and wants with us, so when the concept of “Spelling to Communicate” (S2C) was introduced to me, it seemed like divine timing.
Wow! I am SO glad we took that leap of faith and brought S2C into our lives.
Watching you utilize the letter boards to answer age-appropriate reading comprehension questions for the past eight months has been nothing short of incredible.
I frequently feel an overwhelming need to apologize to you, Skyler—for underestimating you and for my failure to recognize how intelligent you are and always have been.
From a health perspective, you have remained at a standstill. Thankfully, you have always been healthy and are very rarely sick. However, the hitting, banging and hair-pulling seem to be on the increase instead of you aging out of those ‘stims’ as I’d hoped.
I’ve never been convinced that your challenging behaviors are “just part of having autism” as we’re so often told and given medications to treat. I know deep in my heart that you’re demonstrating anger and suffering due to Ulcerative Colitis. I promise you that I will never give up researching and looking for answers to improve your quality of life. I pray every day that the solutions will come quickly so you will finally be relieved of your pain.
Despite your constant discomfort, your smile and deep belly laugh, especially when Josh wrestles with you, lights up the room.
If given the option, your daily meals would always include a Qdoba burrito bowl and Tucker’s bun-less cheeseburger with mashed potatoes in the rotation.
Watching Sesame Street, particularly Elmo’s World is still a favorite pastime of yours as is listening to an eclectic array of music. During our countless car rides to nowhere, you bounce perfectly to the beat of any song and launch into a hardy giggle when I freestyle my own lyrics—which are usually about food or bath time.
As I reviewed the very first birthday letter that I wrote you in 2004, a particular statement really stuck out to me. “My hope for you over the course of your life is that you continue to be happy and free-spirited. I want you to always try new things and never let anyone or anything stand in your way. I love the light in your eyes that seek out to learn and never quits even when times get frustrating.”
I didn’t know of your autism diagnosis on that day or even that year.
My greatest hope for you today is the exact same, 17 years later. Please never lose that spark in your eyes and determination in your heart to keep growing and achieving.
I love you with all my heart Skyler, exactly as God made you. I truly believe you were sent into this world as a vessel to teach me, and possibly everyone you encounter, some valuable life lessons.
I am forever grateful that I have been entrusted to guide and nurture you through this life. You are perfect, just as you are.
As I’ve always said, “Out of all the little boys in the world, how did I get the very best one?”
Encourage your little one’s curiosity. Award Winning ed-tech startup Thinker-Tinker Inc. recently launched a new children’s activity storybook that inspires kids to explore the world. Octobo’s Big City Adventure was created in response to COVID-19, to create activities that families can enjoy during lockdown.
Octobo’s Big City Adventure helps kids ages 2-7 boost their imagination and storytelling skills with different interactive activities. Octobo takes readers throughout the city, and assists them with learning activities like identifying various objects on the page to expand kids’ vocabulary and teach the spelling of new words.
To help accompany children’s imaginations and reading comprehension, this book includes:
A hardcover storybook filled with different items and prompts to discover.
New Discovery Card game system, that includes six reusable dry-erase cards that foster creativity and encourage imagination that will lead to collaborative teamwork in future years!
A new audiobook app that has the ability to switch between different modes to be used standalone or can connect to the Octobo plush robot companion, giving parents a resource for their kids to continue to interact and read on their own.
“Inspired by the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, we see that children are more open-minded and have an equally valid view of the world,” explains CEO, Yuting Su. “We want to provide a channel for parents and kids to discover and learn about the world together (especially at this special time with a lot of uncertainties around us). This provides parents an interactive, fun resource to teach their children.”
Octobo’s Big City Adventure is now available to order on Thinker-Tinker.com or Amazon, and is also included in the Octobo Expanded Everything Bundle.
The Octobo Audiobook app can be downloaded on Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon Fire.
With the start of yet another school, we’ve found ourselves equal parts excited and nervous—what will the return to classrooms look like for our kids during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Let’s look at some of the ways to ensure that our kids are safe, but that they also still enjoy school and make the most of their time there.
Get All the Information You Need
1. Talk to your children’s teachers about the safety measures that will be implemented, and make sure you are ready to adhere to them. Schools across the country will have different precautions in place, so make sure you are up to date with yours.
2. Talk to your child’s pediatrician as well if you have any specific concerns, especially if your child is prone to colds or if they have any health issues.
3. Talk to your child about their fears and concerns.
4. Talking to your child about everything they can expect this school year is very important. Make sure they understand all the measures their school will be implementing, and more importantly, why they matter.
5. Talk about the importance of washing hands and wearing masks again, in an age-appropriate way. It will certainly be difficult for younger kids to understand why they shouldn’t hug their friends but ensuring they understand the importance of social distancing is key.
6. Older kids might have health and safety concerns, and talking through them before they actually return to school can help them alleviate some of their fears.
Keep Them Healthy
Our body’s own immune system is one of the key defenders in our battle against the coronavirus, so making sure your kids are as healthy as possible is a great first step in ensuring they are as safe as possible.
7. Start every day with a healthy breakfast, pack them lunches and snacks that are also full of healthy vitamins and minerals, and make sure they are getting their five a day every day. Get them involved and find and make delicious meals they will want to eat together.
8. Kids need plenty of sleep, between 8 and 12 hours, so focus on providing it. Limit their screen time before bed, as blue light can keep them awake, make sure they get some exercise in, even if it’s just in the home, and mind what they eat before bed (cut out sugars and anything caffeinated, like tea).
Get Your Routines down
Chances are it will take you a bit longer to prepare for school than usual, and you also might need to look into different modes of transportation.
9. Before in-school learning rolls around, compile a list of everything that needs to get done, and plan out your plan of action. Purchase all the school supplies, any new items of clothing, backpacks, and everything else a new school year usually entails.
10. Think about getting to and from school. Is there a school bus, can you carpool, or does your child need a ride? When and where do they wash and disinfect their hands, do they need to wear a mask or other protective clothing? Teaching them a new sanitary routine is the best way to ensure they stick to it.
If They Don’t Go to School, It’s Still Okay
Depending on how the situation with the pandemic will keep developing, you need to be aware of the possibility that your child might need to stay at home again. Instead of having to scramble for entertainment and educational resources then, why not give yourself plenty of time to prepare in advance.
11. Start by assembling worksheets and workbooks you can use if you need to, or even as just an addition to your kids’ regular schoolwork. Workbooks for reading comprehension are a great way to pass the time and work on these skills, and the same goes for math worksheets.
12. Compile a list of educational videos or series you can watch, and arm yourself with plenty of fun activities if you are ever stuck in the home again.
Try to Stay Calm
While it is incredibly difficult to plan ahead or know what the future brings, as long as you have a plan in place and know what the recommended precautions are, you should be safe and should focus on remaining as calm as possible.
13. Try not to let your negative and fearful emotions show. Kids will pick up on them very quickly and will begin to feel scared and uneasy themselves.
Take a Moment to Celebrate
No matter what the state of the world actually is, you should still take the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of a new school year, as it is a significant milestone after all.
14. Plan a celebratory dinner, make a cake, organize a socially distanced party if it is safe –find a way to make this time of year special for your child, and don’t let the coronavirus stop you.
When any system grows too big, it begins to break down. This is evidenced all around us. The education system, various systems of religion, the healthcare system, the justice system, the banking system, the insurance system – all are too big to operate efficiently or effectively. Entropy and inertia win.
Let’s take the education system, because it’s the one I know best. I have taught at the college level, worked on magazines for teachers at all levels, and written and edited scripts for training videos intended to help school staff members from grades K through college.
Where to begin? Let’s start with curriculum. There is currently a great debate about what America’s children will learn. The pressure on textbook publishers to deliver something that can be approved by one or more states increases every day. Texas and California, the largest textbook buyers, have an outsized influence on what the rest of the nation’s school children will learn.
One major problem is that no one can agree on what the nation’s children should learn. Any attempt to standardize curriculum is shouted down from various directions. (Can you say “Common Core”?) Should we present a positive history of our country or one that discusses its missteps and flaws? Should we teach the facts of science or “teach the controversy.” (Or both?) Should we teach using whole language or phonics? Should we teach computer programming to everyone or just a few? Should we teach civics at all and if so from what perspective – left, center, middle, all of the above? (When I was in high school I took a course called Comparative Political Isms. Such a course could likely not be taught today in an American high school, but if it were at least citizens would understand the difference between fascism and socialism.)
Various attempts have been made to rectify these problems, but all they seem to lead to are more and more standardized tests. The teachers of necessity teach children what will appear on the test – what answers they should fill into the little bubbles and how to construct a three-paragraph essay.
Other subjects are much harder to test. Reading comprehension is nearly impossible when stories must be so bland that any student anywhere with any background can understand every word of the story. Try writing a story like that (I have) and you’ll end up with nonsense – and not the good, Lewis Carroll kind.
While larger systems are seldom the answer – indeed they are usually the problem – there is a lot to be said for standardized curriculum rather than standardized tests. In order for students to enter higher education and even business on a level playing field, it helps if all the graduates have a grasp of the same basic information. Since every state seems to have its own take on history, health, civics – even math and science – students are coming out of high school with wildly different ideas and significant gaps in their learning. When they get to college there’s no telling whether they will have an understanding of geology or American history or how to spot fallacies in an argument.
If states and local communities want to add to a basic curriculum, by exploring the history of their particular state or community, that’s just fine. Although with the way people move around from job to job these days, it seems a little odd that a child must learn about the history of Ohio when he or she is going to be living in Alaska.
Another worrying aspect of today’s schools is their switch from the agricultural model to the business model. It has for quite a while been evident that the agricultural model is no longer effective for schools. The business model is better in the respect as it allows for year-round schools and longer school days to mimic the environment that students will enter after they leave school.
However, there is more to life than business. Along the way art, music, physical education, and such frivolous amenities have been neglected dropped or ignored. Even recess for elementary students has become a casualty of the work ethic.
Entrepreneurship classes and STEM teaching are all very well, but not all students are going to become business and scientific leaders. The country also needs janitors, fry cooks, receptionists, and convalescent home caregivers who can balance a checkbook, read a newspaper, and understand our system of government. And where will we find the artists, the poets, the musicians, the writers, sculptors, woodworkers, and the craftspeople who provide us unique and spirit-uplifting experiences that can be found in no cubicle farm?
At this point you may well ask whether I have any solutions to offer. I have a few.
Read Jonathan Kozol’s Savage Inequalities. It’s every bit as true today as it was in 1991, when it was written. Then after you’ve read it, work to change the ridiculous system of funding K-12 education. Have a little faith in teachers. English teachers do not assign readings in hopes of changing a child’s religion or traumatizing them with challenging topics. Teachers cannot be expected to give everyone As. They are not the problem. Bad teachers are often the result of a flawed system and good teachers often leave the field, frustrated and disheartened. And they don’t make great money, despite what you may have heard. Remember that athletics, while important, are not the reason schools exist. Getting into a powerhouse college with an exceptional sports record is not the best preparation for life. Even pro athletes need to be able to do something else after their sports careers are over. Spend money on school infrastructure, including computers, up-to-date textbooks, and adequate supplies. No money? See point 1, above. Make sure children are ready to learn. Educational preschool programs and affordable or free breakfasts and lunches will go a long way. No money? See point 1, above.
Our present system of education is too complicated, with every state, county, district, and city having a say about funding, curriculum, expenditures, and more. Simplify governance, establish a basic curriculum, and revamp the funding system and you will still have a large system, but a streamlined one better able to meet the needs of students.
Even if you don’t agree with one – or all – of the above points, please take them as intended: food for thought and debate. After all, thought and debate are important skills, too.
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Hi! I'm a freelance writer and editor who writes about education, books, cats and other pets, bipolar disorder, and anything else that interests me. I live in Ohio with my husband and a varying number of cats.
The backyard is a kid’s safe haven. When the days heat up, everyone will be heading outside, so now is the time to get your backyard makeover going. With these easy DIY ideas you can turn your ho-hum backyard into a kid-friendly oasis of fun. Get the kids involved in building a gnome home, setting up the Giant Jenga and outfitting the mud kitchen. There’s so much fun just waiting outside!
1. Add some magic with a fairy garden.
Sara Olsher
Tiny chairs, mini teacups and some succulents will get you on your way to making an awesome backyard fairy garden. You can even use all those extra LEGO bricks you have around the house to make a mini house for your fairies to live in.
How many different kinds of birds come to visit your yard each day? Build some DIY bird feeders and get your amateur birdwatchers out there to see what might fly in. There's even one made out of, you guessed it, LEGO bricks.
Wind chimes are a fun DIY craft that adds some pizzazz to a yard. Bust out some paint, extra silverware, egg cartons or even paperclips and you are on your way to creating an awesome wind chime.
Planting native flowering plants is a great way to encourage butterflies to come into your yard. Stay away from pesticides and try plants like lavender, flowering rosemary, milkweed and whatever else is recommended by your local garden center.
With just a few objects snagged from around the house, your backyard can become an obstacle course for aspiring American Ninja Warriors. Set up a balance station, do a somersault through a hula hoop, do three spins before you throw a ball through a loop and more. Grab an inexpensive stopwatch so they can practice improving their time.
Keep budding entomologists as merry as crickets with a cool bug catcher (that you can make at home). Then, send them outside to fill it up with all kinds of crawling critters.
7. Create a home for a gnome.
Jennifer Pilcher
The Travelocity gnome might stop by for a visit if you’ve built a wee home in the side of a tree, it’s that irresistible. A mini door—easily found where miniatures are sold—rocks, twigs and other teeny tiny items create a welcome spot for those ground dwellers. Check out some gnome inspo here.
Give the kids the freedom to get messy with their very own mud kitchen. Sinks, scoopers, funnels and colanders are perfect additions to this station where they can make mud and learn to wash it off. Don't want the mess? Make it a bubble kitchen with soapy water or use colored shaving cream for sensory play.
Set up a backyard chalkboard to allow for opportunities to create art. Whether they are drawing the birds coming to the yard, tracing their hands and making them into people or playing tic tac toe, a backyard chalkboard is a cheap investment for hours of play.
10. Plant some fruits and veggies.
iStock
Teach the kids where their food comes from by including them in all the steps of a backyard garden from seed to stomach. Learn what plants do well in your area, buy seeds, add your soil amendments and get planting. A backyard garden is a labor of love and will give kids a better appreciation for the food on their table.
There's nothing that screams summer more than outdoor movie night. Get your projector set up, spread out the blankets and pop that popcorn. We've got the full scoop on what you'll need over here.
12. Up your kiddie pool game.
Jillian Leslie via Catch My Party
While these are traditionally used for splashing babies, there are endless ways you can transform your kiddie pool. Think about making it a sandbox, a water table or a dinosaur digging station.
Grab those earplugs. It’s true, the noise coming from a music wall like this one we found over at Suzy Homeschooler might be a tad loud, but the sound of your kiddo’s happy laughter will be sweet music to your ears. The upcycled wood, toys and tins make different sounds, look way cool and are all budget finds. Head over to Suzy Homeschooler to find out how to make your own version.
We love the addition of painted rocks to a backyard because it's super easy to do, and you can always repaint them when you want. Use them to mark your veggies, add some happy faces around the yard or create your own backyard creatures use in a game of hide and go seek.
A hammock, a big blanket or even a chair under an umbrella are great spots to set up a backyard reading nook. The kids will get some fresh air while they practice their reading comprehension skills—double win!
Trees provide endless options for awesome backyards. You can add a tire swing or a hugglepod, strap up a slackline to work on balance or use it as the base of your tree fort.
Set up oversized backyard games like Giant Jenga or Connect 4. We especially love this Giant Snakes and Ladders. It's an awesome game for little ones as it's super easy to use (and think of how cute they'll look playing with the huge game pieces!)?
A giant water inflatable is just the thing you need when the temps creep up. Turn on the hose, get the kids in their swimsuits and let them run through the water all afternoon.
Quality (summer)time isn’t just about camps and popsicles. When it comes to spending time together as a family, we thought up 10 summer family activities to get you logging serious togetherness and serious fun. So grab the sunscreen and read on for inspiring ways to bond all summer long.
Now that it stays light out well into the evening, there’s even more time to spend outdoors after camp, work or other summertime activities. So commit to an after-dinner stroll once a week or use the weekend to go exploring. Best part? No matter where you live, awesome national parks are within reach. You can skip the summer crowds with our list of under-the-radar national parks in every state!
See Stars and (S')More
Allison Sutcliffe
When the sun does set, and those stars come out, turn off the TV and head into the backyard or out to the front stoop for some stargazing. If you want to go all out with forecasts, gear and snacks (even more than s’mores!), plan a complete astrological adventure with our how-to-stargaze guide. If you like your stars with a splash of spontaneity, give one of these interstellar apps a go.
Dive Into Major Fun
Great Wolf Lodge
From north to south and east to west, nothing says summer quite like a dive into a refreshing swimming pool. So be sure to get the whole family splashing about. If the kids are water safe, spring for passes to a community pool this, hit up a local splash pad with tots of any age, or check out one of the awesome new water resorts opening across the country this summer.
Who doesn’t love a good story? Taking the time to bond over books gives everyone in the family a chance to listen (and read, depending on age level) and compare takeaways afterward. Talking about what we read is a great jump on reading comprehension, too. For a whole summer’s worth of inspiration, check out our list of 100 best books to read before the kids turn 12.
Whether you spread out a blanket in the backyard, load up for a table spread at a local park or playground, or invite the neighbors over for a full-on picnic party, a picnic is a fun way to shake up mealtime with al fresco dining. It’s a novel way to have the kids help out too, from prepping lunch to packing up the basket to picking that perfect spot in the sun or shade.
Fire Up Family Game Night
Yeti in My Spaghetti
Raising little competitive spirits? Put them to fun family use with a weekly game night. For preschool players, go for Go Fish, Guess Who, or classic Candyland. For older gamers, get out Otrio or one the many Monopolies now available. Our roundup of the best board games for every age and stage also promises to get everyone participating.
Find a Fair or Festival
Vermont Festival of Foods
Is it even summertime if you don’t hit up a carnival, county fair or street fest? This is the season of hayrides and Ferris wheels, cotton candy and ring toss, movies or concerts in the park and prizes and laughs galore. If you’re looking for summer festivals that are a little off the beaten path, we have you covered. And be sure to check out one of our local or nationalRed Tricycle guides for the kind of summer fun the kids will be sure to remember.
Everything’s more fun if you’re not the only first timer, so work in bonding time by taking a family vote and trying something brand new. Take up rock climbing or dune surfing. Learn about flora and fauna at a local nature center. Fearless fliers may even fancy aerial trapeze. Who knows, by the end of summer you or the kids may just have a new hobby or passion to pursue throughout the year. If you need ideas, we found something fun to try in every state.
If summer feels just as busy as the rest of the year, you can still commit to a family meal as often as you can, especially when summertime cooking can be as easy as quick pasta, fresh salads or throwing something on the grill. In the spirit of gathering around the table, we have mealtime tips to share that sound good year round.