For those lucky enough to be born in March, count yourself among a select group of creative dreamers who are empathetic and optimistic. According to studies (and a smidge of astrology, if you believe in that kind of thing), here are eight cool traits and factoids that make March birthdays special.

Looking for other months? Check out interesting facts about people born in April, people with February birthdays, and facts about people born in May.

You might end up with a night owl

According to this sleep study published by the National Library of Medicine, sleep habits are affected by when you’re born. The findings suggest that kids born in spring and summer tend to stay up later than those born during the winter months due to the increased photoperiod directly after birth, which leads to phase delay (your body telling you it’s nighttime and therefore bedtime) of the human circadian system.

March is a month of dreamers and heroes

Those born under the sign of Pisces are also charismatic, affectionate, and generous. If you’ve got a Pisces baby, support their boundless imagination with plenty of pretend play, creative outlets, and games. Because those born under this half of March’s zodiac sign are empathetic, they’ll go above and beyond for their loved ones. 

The birthstone for March represents youth, good health, and hope

The aquamarine gem is a luxurious blue, and while it isn’t considered a precious stone, is often associated with not only good health and hope but a feeling of calm, trust, and fearlessness. According to Truly Experiences, sailors used to carry aquamarine with them on sea voyages for protection, as the semi-precious gem was thought to be the treasure of the mermaids.

March babies have pretty good eyesight

While winter-born babies have the best vision overall, babies born in spring have been shown to have better eyesight than their summer friends, according to a study of 300,000 military applicants. A co-author of the study explains that babies born in the summer months have a 25% chance of becoming nearsighted. The reason? The study suggests that the cause might be long-term exposure to natural light in early life.

Solitude is a must for some of those with March birthdays

Pisces babies (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) love people, but they love solitude just as much. Known as super creative and imaginative, March babies enjoy getting lost in their thoughts and are content to spend time alone.

March babies are romantic and soulful

Guided more by intuition than by structure, those born under the sign of Pisces are ideal partners and friends. They tend to be compassionate and have an open heart that forgives and forgets easily. They can tap into the feelings of their loved ones and be empathetic, which is a plus in moments of conflict.

There are plenty of celebrities with March birthdays

Famous people like a little extra luck too! People born in March share their birthday month with lots of famous people, including Justin Bieber, Shaquille O’Neal, Chuck Norris, Queen Latifah, Reese Witherspoon, Bruce Willis, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Park, and more.

—with additional reporting by Karly Wood

 

Test their keyboard skills with fun typing games (most of them are free!)

Your kids are probably really good at tapping away on a phone or iPad. But how are their old-fashioned typing skills? It matters. After all, they’re not going to be typing their future term papers on a mobile phone (we hope). Thankfully, there is a slew of fun—and free!—typing games that’ll teach them to know their way around a QWERTY keyboard. Read on to learn more about these cool online games for kids.

Tommy Q: Zombie Defender

Tommy Q: Zombie Defender is a typing game
Typing.com

There's a zombie apocalypse, and the first responders need your help! Become Tommy Q with his baseball launcher, and type the right letters in order to take out the zombies wandering through your backyard. Use the arrow keys to move up and down and line up with the approaching monsters. Type the letters to launch the balls and put the zombies down. Choose from easy to hard (zombie pace) and easy-to-challenge letter sequences (from easy to hard words, top row to bottom row). 

Play it here.

Keyman

Keyman is a typing game for kids
typinggames.com

This maze-based puzzle typing game will have your kids guiding the world's top scuba divers through three different levels. Somewhere along the way is a treasure chest, but to open it, players have to type the number they see on the screen to move Keyman in the direction indicated by arrows (think Pac-Man but with letters). You'll face letter-eating Pirhanas, red barriers that require players to think and type ahead of time, and once you grab the treasure, there's one minute left to collect all the gold coins you see. You can select different levels of difficulty, so even the youngest kids can practice typing. 

Play it here.

TypeTastic.com

typetastic has typing games

This is, in our opinion, the best typing game site available without a subscription. The site features 13 fun games, all of which were "created in real classrooms together with teachers." The approach is simple: Instead of making kids start their typing lessons using all 10 fingers right off the bat, the lessons focus on three or four keys at a time, and kids are encouraged, in the beginning, to just use one finger to type the letters. The idea is that once they know where all the keys are, they'll naturally become better typists. 

The games are split into three sections: "Let's Build a Keyboard," which focuses on showing kids where the keys are on the keyboard. The first lesson, for instance, is a construction-themed game that asks kids to type three adjacent letters at a time—QWE, for instance—then guide a crane to drop the letter blocks into the keyboard grid.

The next section, "Let's Hop on the Keys," asks kids to enter specific keys, one at a time, to make something happen (there's a ducky maze game that is super fun!).

The last section, "Keyboarding Kickstart" finally asks kids to use all their fingers to type away (each game shows kids which fingers go on which keys).

All in all—we still can't believe this site is free. 

Play the games here.

Type-A-Balloon

type-a-ballon is a popular typing game for kids

What'll keep kids playing this game (at least for a little while) is the simple satisfaction of popping a balloon. Over and over. Typists simply have to type the letter beneath the balloon before it floats away. Then—POP! There are three levels and four different keyboard regions to practice before taking on the whole keyboard. 

Play it here.

Keyboard Ninja

Keyboard Ninja is a fun typing game

Slice up fruit ninja-style by typing the letters that are shown beneath each fruit. The tricky part of this otherwise simple game is that if you accidentally hit the letter shown above a lit bomb, it's GAME OVER. So pay attention! The game has three levels of difficulty (parents, we invite you to TRY the most difficult level; it's hard!) and allows players to pick which section of the keyboard they'd like to practice. 

Play it here.

Spacebar Invaders

If you can get past the pop-up ads, this "Space Invaders"-style typing lesson is super fun! To play: Type the words shown beneath each alien invader to blast them out of the sky before they reach the ground. There are 40 variations of the game, each of which emphasizes a different skill on the keyboard. Typists won't just learn their letters, they'll also have to practice typing punctuation marks, capital letters, and numbers. Bilingual? There are also Spanish, German, and French ways to play the game.  

Play it here.

Nitro Typing Racer

You have to watch an ad before you can start the game, but if you've got kids who enjoy race car games, this will be their go-to typing training. To play, maneuver your car around other cars as fast as you can by typing the words that appear in whichever lane you want to take. It's a lot to think about in very little time so brand new typists may want to steer themselves elsewhere. 

Note: This game is made for typists who already know their way around a keyboard.

Play it here.

Dance Mat Typing

This BBC-sponsored typing program starts at the beginning by showing kids basic hand positions for typing and which fingers to use for which keys. It then lets them build on their skills slowly with the help of singing cartoon animals who act as personal coaches. At the end of each level, typists can print out a special certificate of accomplishment to reward their hard work. 

Play it here.

Alpha Munchies

The alien Alpha Munchies want to eat your food! The only way to stop them? Type, type, type! Kids will love blasting the bad guys out of the sky by punching letters on the keyboard. The simple game, which pays homage to '80s-themed arcade games, lets kids practice specific sections of the keyboard before finally using the whole keyboard as their typing progresses. 

Find it here.

Related: The Very Best Online Games for Kids

 

 

The Menorasaurus is our favorite DIY menorah idea!

Want to jazz up your Hanukkah with a homemade menorah that your kids will love? It’s easy! The secret ingredient to your hip homemade Chanukkiah is the 3/8″ hex nut—these little metal bolts are perfect for holding Hanukkah candles. Basically, if you’ve got something that can hold nine hex nuts, you’ve got yourself a menorah. Want to get started? We’ve got three easy tutorials for DIY menorahs, and when you’re done, be sure to check out our other favorite Hannukah crafts for kids.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to place all menorahs on a level, non-flammable surface away from drapes, decorations, and fabrics. Keep them out of reach of children, and never leave a lit menorah unattended. To be extra careful, we recommend menorahs not made out of metal be coated with a fire-retardant spray (like this one) before use to reduce the risk of fire.

The Menorah of Misfit Toys

DIY menorah for kids

If your junk drawer is anything like ours, it's probably full of left-behind kid stuff you wish you had the heart to throw away. Don't toss those treasures; use them for this menorah that will make your kids love their misfit toys all over again.

What you'll need:
-Nine small toys or figurines (think Barbie heads, Happy Meal toys, lone blocks, etc.)
-Nine hex nuts
-Wooden plank (or a few simple wooden blocks glued together to make a platform)
-Hot glue gun

What you'll do:
Have your kids dig through their toy boxes (and your junk drawers) and pick out nine small toys to use as candle holders. Be sure they find one that's a little taller that can serve as the shamash. You can also place the shamash toy onto a block to set it higher than the others, as shown above.

Glue hex nuts onto the top of all the toys, and be sure to cut off any hair or string that poses a fire risk when candles are lit. Let your kids decide which toy will go where and then glue them all onto the platform.

Related: All-New Hanukkah Books Your Littles Will Love

The Menorasaurus

Go ahead: Type it into Pinterest and you'll see the whole kingdom of prehistoric menorahs for sale. Why not make your own? It's super-easy, and takes less than an hour to make!

Good to know: This menorah doesn't leave much for the kids to do (hot glue guns and spray paint aren't exactly child-friendly), but your kiddos will love seeing their dinosaur transformed into an instant Hanukkah heirloom.

What you'll need:
- Plastic dinosaur
- Nine hex nuts
- Metallic gold spray paint
- Clay (for leveling the hex nuts)
- Hot glue gun

What you'll do:
Let your kids pick out their dinosaur (Hello, Dollar Store!).

Using a hot glue gun, glue eight hex nuts onto the back of the dinosaur and another atop the head for the shamash. To make sure all the candles will stick up straight, squish a little clay onto the bottom of the hex nuts before gluing them onto the dinosaur (it helps to also dab some glue onto the bottom of the hex nut themselves so they really stick into the clay)

Spray the whole thing with metallic gold spray paint and you're done!

 

Hot Lights (or, the Hot Wheels Menorah)

What you'll need:
-Nine Hot Wheels cars (with flat tops)
-Nine hex nuts (or 10 if you want to raise the shamash candle a little higher)
-Wooden plank
-Paint
-Hot glue gun

What you'll do:
Have your kids pick out nine cars and paint or decorate a plank of wood however they wish. While the paint is drying, glue the hex nuts atop the cars as shown. For the shamash (middle) candle, use a taller car or glue two hex nuts atop so it stands higher than the others.

Let your young assistants help you arrange the cars in whatever order they want. Then, glue the cars onto the plank.

 

 

 

 

Apple TV is offering free viewings, no subscription required

Last year, Apple TV+ threw the world a hail Mary when it allowed It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to be broadcast on PBS in October. This year, the streamer is going a different way to show the special, and it will still be free for non-subscribers!

Back in 2020, Apple bought all the rights to the Peanuts specials, which means that the only place you can catch the beloved classics is on Apple TV+. That is still the case today.

Existing subscribers will happily put It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and the other holiday special on repeat, but what if you don’t want to pay for another subscription just to get your dose of nostalgia? There are several ways you can watch––for free.

Related: The ‘Secret’ Netflix Codes for All the Family Halloween Movies

Apple TV

First, if you’ve never subscribed before you can head over to Apple TV and sign up for a free 7-day trial. There’s no need to wait until Oct. 31 either––It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is already available for viewing.

You can also watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas while you’re enjoying your trial! You will need to enter credit card info however, so set a reminder to cancel after seven days if you don’t want to pay $4.99 a month.

New this year, Apple TV is providing special free windows for non-subscribers to stream! From Oct. 28-31, you can watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown without having to sign up for a subscription.

Free windows will also exist for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving from Nov. 23-27 and A Charlie Brown Christmas from Dec 22-25.

Related: Boo! Freeform’s ’31 Nights of Halloween’ Schedule Is Hauntingly Good

Courtesy of ABC Television Network

Another way to snag Apple TV+ for free is to take advantage of Best Buy’s three-month offer. Head to bestbuy.com, add the offer to your cart, check out and enjoy 90 days for free!

If you don’t mind shelling out a little dough so you can watch the movie whenever you darn well please, both a DVD and 4K disc version is available on Amazon for just $14.

As my kids grow into adulthood, I’m learning how to love them differently.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them equally and fiercely—sometimes with an intensity that frightens me. But as they move from teenager to adulthood and I get glimpses of the young adults they’re becoming, I realize that they see and hear love in very different ways.

Take my eldest daughter, Skylar, for instance. She’s bright, cheery, and lights up a room when she walks into it. She’s also warm, affectionate, and very free with her hugs. We can converse for hours and simply telling her I love her is enough to start the waterworks.

Her sister, Elise, couldn’t be more different if she tried. She’s strong-spirited, independent, and determined. She hates asking for help, and parenting her has been a tricky, intense experience especially since she has struggled with depression in the past. Seeing my baby girl going through depression for most of her adolescence broke my heart. It wasn’t until she was on her way to recovery, and I learned how to show her love differently, that we started connecting.

Then there’s my son, Ryan. Like most teen boys, he would rather eat dirt than be seen hugging his mom. He’s uncomfortable with overt shows of affection and prefers a pat on the back or a fist bump to a hug from his father or me.

Raising kids with such varying personalities means that I needed to find new ways to show and give them love, even when it’s not always reciprocated:

I show them that I love them by being present.

Both Elise and Ryan play sports, and I dutifully show up to all their games. Most times they don’t acknowledge my presence because it’s just “not cool,” but I love being there, and it matters to me that they know they have my support. So I show up, cheer them on, listen when they talk or vent, and do my best to give them my time and attention.

I’ve learned to speak love in other languages.

Sometimes the best way to express love is with actions. I leave notes or send my kids texts, letting them know how proud I am of them. I make sure we’re fully stocked with the protein bars my son wolfs down after practice and ensure Elise’s shampoo never runs out. These small acts of service might not seem like much, but they’re my way of showing my kids how much I care.

I’m learning that love exists in small moments.

Mindful parenting has taught me that there are dozens of small, wonderful moments that I should be grateful for every day. I’ve learned to be thankful for all the awesome things my teens bring into my life. The moments Elise strikes up a conversation or when Skylar makes dinner or when Ryan, ever the comedian, has us in stitches.

For me, these are the moments that make parenting worth it.

I still say, “I love you.”

I still say these words even when they’re not acknowledged or returned by my children because no matter what, they’re still true, and it is important to me that my children can look back and know I actively expressed that I loved them.

Loving children is easy: It’s showing them love in a way that they can understand and appreciate that’s the hard part. I’m still learning, changing, and adapting as I go, but as of right now, I am happy knowing that I am always trying to let my loved ones know that I genuinely care.

Cindy Price would like to say she's a parenting expert but she knows better than to do that. As a parent educator and writer for over 15 years, she's well-aware how quickly parenting practices evolve. Family is her greatest joy and she hopes her writing can help make families stronger. 

Strollers wagons for kids have tons of benefits you should know

You know who loves stroller wagons even more than kids? Parents. Stroller wagons are kids’ favorite places to ride since they’re roomy enough for friends, stuffies and snacks. These sweet rides will serve your family long after your child can walk, for toting tired kids, park gear, pets and more. If you need more convincing, read on.

Larktale

1. You don’t have to rush home for nap time.
A wagon lets your kid curl up when sleepytime hits. The Larktale Caravan Stroller/Wagon ($480; shown above) has padded seats that individually recline for each rider's comfort. Flip down seats for a flat base where kids can stretch out.

2. It holds multiple kids.
Whether you have a large family or a friend group of kids to tote around, stroller wagons like the W4 Luxe Quad Stroller Wagon ($900) can hold up to 4 kids.

3. You'll give your back a break.
If you're wearing all the babies (and carrying all the gear), let a wagon do the work. A stroller wagon has room for kids and deep pockets for necessities. Plus, the push/pull system makes maneuvering the unit easy on your core muscles.

4. It folds flat.
If you have a full-size stroller, you're intimately familiar with the lack of free trunk space you have once these monstrosities are loaded into your car. Stroller wagons usually fold flat and take up less space, leaving room for that cooler you want to tote in your can-do-all wagon.

5. It can handle rough terrain. 
If you find yourself carrying your stroller (with baby onboard) over grassy patches and rocky paths, consider a wagon that can handle off-roading, like the Veer Cruiser ($700; shown above) or the Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon ($316). Bring it to the beach, park, nature trail, wherever your adventures take you. Pop the Veer Misting Fan ($49) into the cup holder on your Cruiser—or any wagon with a standard-size cup holder—to keep cool on warm days.

6. It can haul more than just kids.
A wagon makes it easy to tote all of your baby stuff along with anything else you may need for the day. Going to a park? Bring a cooler filled with food and drinks for the family. Headed to the beach? Pile all the beach toys, chairs and boogie boards in these double-duty cribs-on-wheels. Some even have cupholders to carry beverages.

7. Your big kids can use it too. 
If you have an older child who still gets tired on all-day outings but is too leggy (and heavy) for a stroller, you'll want a wagon. While most strollers max out at 40 pounds, a stroller wagon's seat can hold kids 50 pounds and up. Most top out at 65 pounds, but the overall capacity of these heavy-duty units starts at 100 pounds, so even kids who no longer fit in seats can still take a rest.

8. It's easy to clean.
Due to the wagon's boxy design, there aren't many hidden spaces for goldfish and raisins to hide. Some wagons have extra padding to make the utility design more comfortable, but these cushions can usually be tossed in the wash for easy cleaning. You can even hose down the models meant for rugged terrain. Yes, you read that right: You can take your hose to the Keenz wagons—no spot cleaning here.

Gladly Family

9. It gives adults a place to rest.
Wagons like the 3-in-1 Tailgater Wagon by Radio Flyer ($110) feature a drop-down side so anyone (yes, we're looking at you, tired parents!) can grab a seat. Take this wagon to a kids sporting event or pull it along on your next outdoor adventure and you're guaranteed a dry, elevated seat for those who don't want to criss-cross applesauce on the grass. Plus, there's a stow-away caddy to hold a cooler or folding chairs.

10. Kids can self-board.
Older kids will love to hop on and off the stroller wagon, but some wagons even have a zip-door entry so younger kids can self-board, making trips on the go easier and faster. Brands like Wonderfold make it easier for kids of all ages and abilities to enter the wagon on their own (but the zipper deters stealthy kiddos from hopping off without some assistance).

11. It offers sun protection.
Wagons have canopies that stretch horizontally to cover the entire unit, which means your baby's delicate skin isn't in direct sunlight. Gladly Family's Anthem4 4-Seater All-Terrain Wagon Stroller ($649, shown above; also comes in a 2-seater, $499) has two extra-large canopies that zip up for total protection from sun, wind and rain.

12. It's useful long after your kids have outgrown it.
There will come a point when your child will no longer fit in the wagon (sniff). But the wagon has lots of life and purpose left in it. From camping trips to picnics in the park and gardening out back, wagons are the Giving Tree of strollers, holding all sorts of gear and tools. Kind of like wipes, you'll wonder how you ever lived without one.

Editor’s Note: Here at Tinybeans, we respect and celebrate every mom’s feeding journey. Bottle? Boob? It doesn’t matter—we believe fed is best. Our Voices Contributor Network is inclusive and open to all parenting journeys—yours, too!

I always pictured my babies to be breastfed. I used to see breastfeeding as this natural and spontaneous thing that both my wife and I were going to experience (my wife carried our first child, I carried the second). I never even considered the scenario where our children would be bottle-fed. Yet, life had different plans: our first daughter ended up being bottle-fed, and I really struggled during the first few weeks of breastfeeding with our second daughter.

What my wife and I experienced with breastfeeding really taught me a lot. I’d love to share with you a list of 6 things I wish I had known about breastfeeding when my wife was still pregnant, before either of us had babies. Had I known these things, I think we could have better prepared mentally for what was coming and avoided so much stress and pain.

1. Breastfeeding does not come naturally. Not always, at least! All those stories of women happily and seamlessly breastfeeding soon after birth are not the norm. The first time I breastfed my daughter I was being stitched up due to a tear during vaginal delivery and the latch hurt like hell. It did not come naturally and it took me several days, a session with a lactation consultant and several midwives showing me how to do it, before I could finally say I got how to hold my baby while breastfeeding.

2. There are multiple positions that you can use to breastfeed your baby. Holding your baby in your arms across your belly, supported by a feeding pillow, is not the only position to breastfeed you baby in! That is the classic “cradle hold” position we are used to seeing in pictures of breastfeeding moms, but it’s not the only one. I was shocked to find out how many different breastfeeding positions there are.

My wife had big breasts and a c-section, so she was shown the “rugby ball hold” When it was my turn, I was struggling with very sore nipples and a midwife must have shown me at least 3 other different positions to try and relieve the pain. Then my lactation consultant showed me the “reclined feeding” position, which totally worked for me and saved my poor nipples. There’s no one right way to breastfeed your baby, you just need to find the one that works for you.

3. It’s important to know of a lactation consultant before you give birth. When my wife gave birth to our first daughter, we didn’t know the importance of seeing a lactation consultant to help us with breastfeeding. It took us several days of struggles, with my wife experiencing extremely engorged breasts before we finally got in touch with one. What we learned from the first appointment with her was priceless. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough and we ended up bottle feeding our baby. But it sure came back in handy with our second child a couple of years later.

When I gave birth to our second daughter and I started experiencing sore nipples we didn’t hesitate one bit and went to see her straight away. I really wish we had known about the benefits of seeing a lactation consultant from the start. Who knows, maybe our journey with our first daughter could have been different.

4. Skipping or delaying feeding is never a good idea. My second daughter was a few weeks old and we were out at a Christmas parade. She started showing signs of hunger, but the wind was blowing and it was so cold: I didn’t feel like feeding her in the open air. So, I decided to walk all the way to the car and feed her there: she was screaming at the tops of her lungs, poor thing. The walking soon turned into running.

By the time I got to the car and fed her, one of my breasts was so huge and hard! That’s when I learnt that skipping or delaying feeding can cause plugged milk ducts, which can subsequently lead to mastitis. I was lucky enough to avoid mastitis, but it took me quite a few days of massaging a very sore breast to get the plugged duct to drain completely.

5. It can take up to five days for your milk to come. I had no idea it could take that long so, when I was at day four postpartum, and all I could see was colostrum, I started panicking. I was so afraid I wasn’t going to produce enough milk and I spend so much time trying to hand express under the shower. Milk eventually came on day five. I really wish I had known better and relaxed a bit more during those first few days after birth.

6. It’s not the end of the world if you can’t breastfeed. When my wife and I came to the realization that she could not breastfeed it was devastating. We really wanted our baby to be breastfed. We didn’t really prepare for any other option. But what we soon realised was that bottle-feeding her was not going to be that tragic. On the contrary, we ended up loving the fact that I could also be more involved with feeding and we could share the night load.

Looking back, it was silly of us to react the way we did. It is definitely not the end of the world if you can’t breastfeed. Whether it’s because of some medical reason, or because it’s just too hard and is not working for you, it’s okay to stop. You can still have a perfectly healthy and happy baby!

—Monica Greco, conqueringmotherhood.com

Feature photo: Brytny.com on Unsplash

Monica is the proud mom of two beautiful girls and author of the blog Conquering Motherhood. Here she shares tips, suggestions and recommendations on how to have the best pregnancy and birth experience, as well as how to survive the first year of motherhood.

When I was little, I always knew I was in trouble by the size of my mother’s eyes. If I did something wrong, her eyes widened to reveal every inch of white and her disappointment. My Mom was never a yeller—she always spoke in an even tone, and communicated very well about what we needed to correct regarding our behavior or attitude. I believe the way she reacted taught me and my siblings many lessons about respect.

Remember respect? I feel like this is a lost virtue in the world today, especially between children and adults. Somehow we have communicated to children that they are equal with adults, and I don’t know about you, but that’s not the world I grew up in! We were taught to respect our elders; to learn from our elders.

Now, let me clarify: respecting our elders does NOT mean we teach our children to not respect themselves, or suppress their voices or discourage them from even finding their voices. Respect is something we have to teach by example, and once that is accomplished, respect should be a mutual dance that is done easily and instinctively. But, it starts in the sandbox. And it starts with you.

First, it’s gut-check time: how are you showing your children what respect means and what respect is? I am a visual learner, and I believe most kids are. You want to show them how to treat people, not just tell them. As a parent or caretaker, let’s take inventory of how you treat your friends, family, strangers, etc? More importantly, how do you treat others when you don’t agree with them?

I see parents yelling at the TV because they’re watching the news and they disagree with commentators. To think your kids aren’t watching you, hearing you, or taking in your energy is shortsighted. That moment, as small as you may think it is, speaks volumes. What you are teaching your child, as they watch your emotions get the best of you, is that if you disagree with someone or something, you can yell/scream/cuss—whatever you want because you “feel like it.”

I understand that we can’t edit our reactions, nor should we try and suppress emotions, but I do believe we need to teach our children that there is a right and wrong way to react and to communicate our feelings. Perhaps they are just getting in tussles on the playground right now, but they will have bigger problems later in life that you need to prepare them for now. They will be faced with challenging moments that stress them out; hurt them; incite them, etc. It’s our job to give them the tools to react to whatever arena they’re dropped in with the self-respect, and respect of others, that they and we all deserve.

This may sound like a daunting task what I am asking, but if you step back, I am not asking anything from you that isn’t basic: it comes down to manners. Saying “please,” “thank you,” “pardon me,” “I appreciate you,” etc. We need to give our kids this language and we need to remember to practice it, too. Holding doors for people, being a helper when we see someone in need, approaching people from a place of empathy and compassion, etc—these are all lessons we need to teach our children, and the only way to successfully do that is by showing them how we treat others and how we treat them. Yes, you read that right—treating our children with respect is how they learn to respect themselves and respect others.

We also have to be mindful of our village: the people influencing our children. Maybe this is extended family, grandparents, friends, teachers, or even our children’s friends. You are the company you keep, as they say. This is yet another lesson our kids need to learn from the jump. If they hang around troublemakers, chances are they are going to get into more mischief. You can’t always control who your children choose as friends, but you certainly need to be paying attention to it. Sometimes your child’s behavior, especially if erratic or if you’re seeing changes over time, is being influenced by something or, more likely, someone.

If you ever witness your children’s friends being disrespectful, I give you permission to step in. I am not telling you to spank or punish, but you certainly have the authority to let that child know that there are rules in your house and specific behavior won’t be tolerated. Of course, there is a fine line we don’t want to cross when it comes to correcting or disciplining other people’s children, but try to remember that you’re measuring it based on the values of your home. It’s simple: either they align with your values or they don’t. And, if they don’t, then maybe that friendship isn’t meant to be.

Regardless of your definition of respect, there is one thing we can all agree on: we want the best for our kids, and we want to raise them to be kind and spread it. The way to do that? Respect.

RELATED STORIES:

Florence Ann Romano
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Florence Ann Romano, The Windy City Nanny™ (WindyCityNanny.com), is an author, philanthropist and web series star/host who has always had a special place in her heart for children. 

123 Sesame Street is getting a new resident! Sesame Street will be home to Elmo’s new adopted puppy, Tango. And today Sesame Street confirmed that Tango will be a live-action Muppet!

In today’s new 30-minute special airing on HBO Max, Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy, Sesame Street watchers will learn how this petite pup found her new home amongst the Muppets. The first preview photo from the show is cuteness personified.

In the special, Elmo, Grover and Tango meet and head out on an adventure to find her a forever home. The trio will also be joined by Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby and Oscar the Grouch and will show how Tango got her name.

The sweet puppy is sticking around for future episodes and will serve as a model for kids and how to help with family pets. Littles will see how to properly play and care for a pet, in addition to showing all the love they bring to a family.

Furry Friends Forever: Elmo Gets a Puppy airs Thursday, August 5 on HBO Max as part of the 52nd season, and will stream on PBS KIDS in 2022.

––Karly Wood

Feature photo: Richard Termine, Sesame Workshop

 

RELATED STORIES

Shake Your Tail: My Little Pony Is Returning to Netflix!

Sesame Workshop’s New Content Will Help Your Family Talk About Race & Racism

Surprise! L.O.L. Dolls are Hosting a Concert & It’s Free

 

I reflect fondly on the nights reading bedtime stories with my two boys. I loved watching them scurry and giggle in their pajamas as I asked them to go pick out two or three of their favorite books from their bookshelf. Looking back, the stories that I loved reading the most were the ones which initiated a conversation that ultimately lasted longer than reading the book itself.

With that in mind, here are five children’s books (some old, some new), that touch on the importance of friendship and love and can easily spark an interesting discussion between a parent and child:

1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein: 
This Shel Silverstein classic focuses on the relationship that develops between a tall tree and a young boy. With simple words and black-line illustrations, Silverstein quickly draws the reader in as a believer of this unconventional friendship. It’s a warm and wonderful story, yet it is quite sad on some levels. The tree is so giving and loves the boy unconditionally. The boy takes what he is able to from this generous tree throughout his entire life. But who is happiest at the end: the individual who gives or the one that takes? It’s truly open to interpretation, which makes for a nice conversation. Parents and kids can talk about the importance of giving, equally weighted friendships, and the benefits of showing appreciation.

2. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch:
Our copy of Love You Forever is probably the most tattered of all our children’s books. Maybe it’s the colorful illustrations or the repetitive rhyming chorus, but it is a story that can be read over and over again. It is a confirmation of the heart-felt relationship parents have with their children and vice-versa. Life can be funny and each stage has a way of being awkward or self-serving, especially when we are kids. The text taps into how parents both “love” and “like” their kids, which in itself is a good conversation topic. The lump-in-the-throat moment is at the end of the book, when he rocks his mother, and then introduces the song to his infant daughter. After reading the book—plan on singing the song together, be prepared to talk about family dynamics, the concept of growing older, and how love (and like) endures the circle of life.

3. Avery’s Gift by Jonathan Hoefer: 
Waking up in a dream-like setting, and discovering that she has lost all of her colors, Avery goes on a quest to find them with a new friend, Dalton. Though the story of Avery’s Gift is inspired by a heavier topic, this modern fable can be used to discuss the importance of love and friendship. After reading the story, parents can discuss the feeling of being lost or “colorless.” The journey within the story not only shows the importance of being open to making new friends, it also demonstrates how being generous and kind can bring “colors” into another person’s life. This book contains many metaphors of love and loss, with the opportunity for dialog to run deeper if the parent so chooses.

4. The Sandwich Swap by Kelly DiPucchio:
Friendships are built on strong foundations, especially in grade school. Forming true friendships is a wonderful process, though sometimes challenging. Through our formative years, we are introduced to many people with different families, backgrounds, and cultures. As simple as showing the oddities of a hummus sandwich and a PB&J, The Sandwich Swap embraces the beauty of friendship by appreciating the differences we all possess, not just recognizing what we have in common. In today’s climate, it is nice to point out what makes us unique and how these individual qualities can be the building blocks for a solid and true friendship. Let this book spark a conversation with your children about what makes them unique and what interesting aspects of their culture or heritage would they want to share with a new friend? What food do you serve as a family that could be viewed as odd to another person?

5. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams:
The Velveteen Rabbit is a classic tale of friendship, love, and becoming Real. The version illustrated by Don Daily is especially intricate and mesmerizing. There are so many life lessons that can be found inside this iconic story, but an interesting thing to point out is that the letter “R” is capitalized whenever the author uses the word ‘Real.’ The reason? According to the author, being Real is a very big deal, and worthy of its capitalization! The rabbit searched for friendship and love, and he found all of this with the boy who cherished him. This love created an abundance of self-worth in the rabbit, ultimately allowing him to become Real. Ask your young reader how the book made them feel? Does your child have a favorite stuffed animal? What would it be like if they loved it so much – it became Real? Do they ever feel like the velveteen rabbit? Use this book as an opportunity to tell your young reader how much you love them – it can make a real difference.

Children’s books are full of beautiful imagery and wonderful words. But, I find, some of the most intriguing words come from the minds of young readers sharing their thoughts about what was just read. Feel free to create your own prompts after reading your child’s favorite book and wait for their response. It might just be the best story you’ve heard all day.

RELATED:
5 Friends We All Need In Our Lives
Why You Need to Make Time for Friendships

Jonathan Hoefer is an author, illustrator, and art director that has been involved in the printing and publishing industry for over 20 years. His new book, Avery's Gift, is available now.