This time of year, when I speak at schools and consult with families, shiny new devices are on everyone’s mind. For many families, gift-giving comes pre-packaged with excitement, but also sometimes with anxiety.

On March 23, 2023, Evanston Public Library announced that Tera Kelley and Marie Hermansson’s Listen To The Language of The Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground was the winner of the Blueberry Award,

What if we have been looking at food the wrong way when it comes to caring for our families? What if we have missed something more critical to our kid’s well-being than just healthy eating and becoming a competent eater?

Gone are the days of Nature vs. Nurture debates. A child’s development is an interplay between their biology, experiences, and environments.

000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national early literacy program designed to encourage families and caregivers to read 1,000 books to their children before kindergarten.

As educators, we often talk about the importance of play in young children’s lives. We see the joy that play brings to kids: How it opens opportunities for moments of meaningful and creative interactions with the world. 

When my youngest was 2, 3, and 4, he always asked for “sticks, lots of sticks” for holidays and his birthday. He’s not alone! Children love to play with sticks; however, some adults may feel uncomfortable with stick playing.

"So often, children experience joy and wonder, even awe--but as adults, we no longer do." I hear this misconception all the time. Does being an adult mean no longer experiencing awe or wonder?

You’re sitting on the playground bench chatting with a parent you just met as your 5- year-olds race through the wood chips, chasing each other up the ladder and down the slide. You are half paying attention, feeling confident that the shrieks and sounds are happy in nature.