This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NutrishRealMeatTreats #NutrishPets #CollectiveBias 
Dogs are amazing. They are fiercely loyal, friendly and happy creatures that can give you unconditional love. I have always loved dogs, and we had pet dogs when I was growing up. Our dog Sheldon (yes that is really his name!) is now my daughter’s best friend, and she loves playing with him and reading to him. I have always encouraged her to read to him because reading to dogs can be extremely beneficial to kids. Since he is such an important part of our family and her life, we like to make sure that we make is life extra special. I decided to encourage their special reading time by creating a comfortable place for them to read and snack together.
Category Archives: Raising Readers
Grandma’s Kitchen: Baking with Kids
My mother loves to bake and cook. She bakes a birthday treat for every single person at her work and is always finding some new recipe to try with all of us. I have fond memories of baking cookies with her in our kitchen, and now it is also one of my daughter’s favorite things to do. Baking with kids provides so many opportunities for learning and creating memories. Today’s book acknowledges all of the love and special memories that many people associate with baking with their grandparent, and it has quickly become one of my daughter’s favorite books!
ABC See, Hear, Do: How to Teach Reading to Different Learning Styles
I’ve always been interested in different learning styles. One of my favorite parts of studying education was coming up with different lessons to reach various learning styles. That passion spilled over to this blog, giving me a chance to come up with lots of different activities to inspire learning from a single book. I try to give my daughter lots of ways to practice any given subject. Recently, she has been showing increasing interest in letters and letter sounds. Since she is only 2 years old, I wanted to encourage her interest in a fun way that felt less pressured. Enter ABC See, Hear, Do – a fun new way to teach reading to different learning styles!
Teaching Kids to Read with ABCmouse!
I am always looking for different kinds of learning resources to use with my daughter. We read lots of books, take field trips, do crafts and activities, and also use technology to make learning fun. When I was in grad school, we did a lot of research on the benefits of using technology when teaching kids to read, and the topic has interested me ever since. I have previously talked about how allowing my daughter to have some screen time has actually helped her on her path to reading. So I was thrilled when we were given the opportunity to check out ABCmouse, and see how this platform can make learning fun!
Benefits of Reading Interactive Books with Your Kids
Reading to kids who are full of energy can sometimes be frustrating. My 2 year old is constantly on the move. I’m always amazed and thrilled when she wants to just sit with me and read a book. But there are plenty of times when a traditional book just can’t hold her attention. Thankfully, there are plenty of interactive books available to keep your little ones interested in reading, and there are lots of educational benefits of reading interactive books with your kids!
Teaching Simple Concepts with Educational Board Books
Reading to kids from the beginning of their lives is so important. From the very first day, they can benefit from curling up with a loved one and listening to a book. As they get a bit older, every time they read with someone, they are learning invaluable lessons and skills. For babies and toddlers, great board books can provide them with entertainment, while also teaching them a variety of subjects. Today I have the opportunity to be part of the blog tour for two new board books that will do just that!
Spread Smiles with These Children’s Books on Kindness!
Random Acts of Kindness Day is observed on February 17th every year. I love the idea of recognizing the power of small acts of kindness and encouraging kids to make a difference. My mother is the kindest person I have ever met. She encourages every person in her life to spread kindness to others. Whether she is baking birthday treats for every single person at her work, or just smiling at every person she passes, her goal is to brighten people’s days. I absolutely want my daughter to look at life that way as well. I love that this holiday encourages everyone to do the same. To spread some smiles this year, I decided to gather a list of great children’s books on kindness to help families start their own traditions.
Teaching Kids to Get Along!
Teaching kids to manage their emotions and monitor their behavior can be a difficult task. It can be hard to explain to them why certain actions are hurtful or will cause others to not want to play with them. My daughter is currently 2 years old, so we are spending a lot of time working on sharing, controlling our temper and learning to be a good friend. So I was really excited when we were introduced to this new series about teaching kids to get along and given the opportunity to check it out.
Library Fun with The New Li-Bear-ian!
I have very vivid memories of getting my first library card. We walked to the library from our school and I probably still have the card with my little 5 year old signature on it somewhere. That library is now a medical building, but I will always have fond memories of going there and taking out books. I was very excited to take my daughter to the library for the first time, and she loves going and looking through the great selection of kid’s books. Since February is National Library Lovers Month, I decided to share this fun book about a new librarian, as well as some great activities you can do with your family!
Introducing Babies to the Classics with Musical Board Books
Music is a universal language. I love that music can elicit big emotions, and allow the imagination to soar. Music can be tied to art, movement, math, writing and more. Even before babies can talk, they can react and respond to music. There is so much they can learn from it. Today I’m excited to share some fun activities and a series of musical board books that encourage young kids to experience classical music in an exciting way.
