12 Surprising Benefits of Play

12 Surprising Benefits of Play by parenting guru Dr. Michele Borba

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I actually found this post on The 12 Surprising Benefits of Play (and really, the crucial importance of unstructured play time for children) through The Goddard School and asked her for permission to post. Her exact words, “Thanks for asking. Please post. Trying to get the word out – poor deprived kids. Sigh.” You just gotta love a expert that is so easy to relate to! I met Dr. Borba on Twitter and she’s my “go to” for all things parenting and education including cyberbullying & bullying, special education, and hot button issues including biting, tantrums, cheating, bad friends, inappropriate clothing, sex, drugs, peer pressure, etc. What is different about Dr. Borba from other parenting and education experts is that she’s grounded in the real world talking constantly to parents about the issues they face every day.

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virtual frog dissection, ipad, http://PragmaticMom.com, Pragmatic Mom

Virtual Frog Dissection Science App for Kids

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I recommend this app as a way of making science an interactive and fun experience for children. I think even children as young as five-years-old would enjoy this if they show an interest in science. And I think that is the key here. This app is great for anyone who is fascinated by frogs, amphibians, nature, animals, biology, and science. It’s a great hands clean and hands on experience! To check out the app at iTunes, just click on the icon at the very top of the frog.

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best chapter books for grades 3-7th, chapter books, Massachusetts Book Award,

Massachusetts Book Awards 2012 For Grades 3-7th

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The fifth graders at my kids’ elementary school are challenged to try to read all the books for the Massachusetts Book Award. I’ve noticed many of them have won Newbery awards so it’s a great list. I found a breakdown for age appropriateness and have organized the books that way. I am excited about this list because there are beloved and acclaimed authors on the list as well as some who are new to me. What about you? Have you or your child read any of these books? Please share what you thought about these books as well as any other book you’d recommend for 5th grade (plus or minus two grades!).

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How to Get Kids to Eat Healthy Food

How To Get Kids to Eat Healthy Food

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It’s getting easier to get my oldest to make “healthy food choices” as we call it. The other day, she went on a play date and the mom said that when she offered my daughter a snack, she requested fruit. My mom friend was aghast that she actually had no fruit in the house. A different snack was consumed. Upon her return, my daughter said that she just really, really likes and even craves a lot of fruit. And not so much for cookies. She can have cookies. Just pair it with a protein!

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