The 4th of July is filled with all sorts of fun activities: block parties, fireworks, barbecues, and parades to name a few! Little ones enjoy participating in these events; but do they realize what they are celebrating? Unfortunately, many children don’t understand the significance of Independence Day. This year give your kiddos a tutorial about this important holiday using these fun activities!
Do you find that special man in your life (father or husband) a little hard to buy for? It can be tricky to find just the right gift to give on Father’s Day, but let’s not give up too quickly and buy the first coffee cup or tie we see! Hopefully, this list of fun gifts for Dad will give you some inspiration as you and your family prepare for Father’s Day!
The majority of moms would agree that parenthood is a blessing. However, the truth is, it’s not always fun. I’ll give a personal example. Last week was the kindergarten field trip to the zoo. I’m going to be honest; I don’t relish chaperoning field trips – but I do it. So, after driving an hour to the zoo to meet the bus, I collect my group of 4 active little boys, and spend the day exploring the zoo. Suffice it to say, it was a long day. By the end of the afternoon, the fitness app on my phone had logged over 5 miles. As I was tucking in my 6 year old that night, you’ll never believe what he said to me. For those of you who are thinking something along the lines of, “Thanks mom for going on the field trip with me today – you’re the best!” Wrong! He said, “Mom, next time we go to the zoo, could you not come?” Really?! Motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It’s not always pretty and very often it’s a thankless job. This Mother’s Day I thought I’d offer a few thoughts to keep in mind when the day is especially hard and long.
Easter is coming up quickly – time to dust off those baskets and decide what to buy for fillers! If you’re like me you don’t want to create a basket with enough candy to send the kiddos bouncing off the living room walls! It can be challenging to come up with a nice variety of items to fill out the basket without breaking the bank! If your creations tend to be a little lopsided, don’t despair! This Easter you can fashion a basket that will make Peter Rabbit himself proud! Red Apple Reading has some great ideas for creating a balanced Easter basket that will put a smile on any kid’s face.
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. What’s there to do after putting on your green garb? Don’t get all dressed up without anything to do! Spend the day with the literacy leprechaun and enjoy these fun activities with your kids!
Read Across America Day is right around the corner – March 2nd. Read Across America is observed every year on Dr. Seuss’ birthday; and Red Apple Reading wants to help your family prepare to celebrate this special occasion! Check out our list of fun Seuss-themed activities that will inspire your kiddos to read, read, read!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! How will you make this day memorable for the little loves of your life? This year make the entire day special from start to finish with these fun-filled activities that even Cupid himself couldn’t resist!
When Martin Luther King Jr. was attending Morehouse College, a professor introduced him to, Essay on Civil Disobedience, by Henry David Thoreau. This essay, along with many other works of literature, helped to shape one of our nation’s greatest civil rights leaders. We should never underestimate the importance of reading in the lives of our children. If we want to raise a generation of great leaders who dream big, then we need to encourage them to read. In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Red Apple Reading is sharing 5 ways reading helps your child dream big!
My husband and I have a little inside joke when the holidays come around. We say to each other, “Remember, the holidays aren’t about being happy – they’re about being with family.” 😉 Actually, both sides of our extended family are pretty great! The holidays can be stressful though! What would happen if this holiday season we focused on the strengths that our family members bring to the table? November and December provide the perfect opportunity to learn about the traditions and values of other family members when we gather for the holidays. Red Apple Reading has some suggestions for making the holidays especially meaningful for all the generations in your family this year.
Have you ever considered how precious the gift of literacy is? We often take the ability to read and write for granted; but many people will never experience the joy of getting lost in a good book. This holiday season celebrate the privilege of reading by giving gifts that promote literacy. Red Apple Reading has compiled a list of presents that are not only literary friendly but are also a lot of fun!