Parenting is not rocket science, but this is one not-technical mama's experiment in raising curious, adventuresome explorers.
Science is so cool. Sometimes it feels like magic. But it's science, so here's the explanation for what's happening in this fun experiment. It took only a few minutes to round up these household items and completely wow my 4-year-old: a clear bowl, a clear pitcher, a tealight candle and lighter, and food coloring just …
I sat through a talk yesterday meant to equip mothers of young children (birth-5 years) to fully engage in their kids' education. We were challenged not to force formal education on our babies, but create an environment of learning from the get-go of their young lives. It was not about when to start teaching letters, …
Living in the city, there is high priority placed on playtime in greenspace for our kids. For calling Los Angeles home, we are so privileged to have access to more than concrete and asphalt. Parks are plentiful. The mountains and beaches are not far. Diverse hiking trails abound. Botanical gardens offer affordable memberships. We're even …
Having grown up on the prairies of the Midwest, living in the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains is a treat. Their looming presence is such a constant, anchoring beauty. They turn green with the winter rain, sometimes wear the clouds like a blanket in the early morning hours, and reflect the sunset colors in …
The other day, while playing in the backyard, Eddie got ahold of the hand-held skimmer net and was having a blast with it, filling it up with leaves and sticks, swishing it through the air with dramatic sound effects, etc. When I explained it was actually a tool, served a purpose, and therefore he could …
All the gusto in this kid, tell you what. You know how they say, "Each one is so different!" "They're all their own person." Well, it's still amazing as it actually unfolds. Eddie was always cautious, observant. He'd turn something over in his pudgy toddler hands as if figuring out all the ways it worked. …
Opening a file, I've heard it called. Imagine your child's mind like a computer hard drive. They are sponges for information, and ask a million questions, storing away the answers. Even when it's a concept they cannot possibly grasp completely, there is no harm in explaining it simply, opening a file on that subject so …
Want to hear something that just amazes me? How good my kid is at noticing, paying attention! Sometimes. There are of course those times he can't find the toy he's looking for when it's right in front of him. If it were a snake it would've bit him, so they say. Goodness! Other times he …
Am I the only one who gets tired of playing? Just writing the sentence, seeing it in black and white, it sounds completely ridiculous! Play is fun; it's the definition of having a good time, engaging in pleasant, entertaining activities. It's play! Obviously, what I'm talking about is playing on my kid's terms, joining in …
From IKEA purchases to a brand new recipe to business protocol, there are times when following the directions is a must, right? But where is the art in coloring inside the lines all the time? In the interest of STEM turned STEAM (that's Science Technology Engineering Art/Design Mathematics), let's talk about learning to follow directions …
Launching Rocket Babies 