This DIY magnetic story board gets a ton of use in our home. It’s a wonderful way to encourage your child’s love for reading and boost language skills. There are few things as amazing as the imagination of a child engulfed in a book. You can help encourage a love of reading by getting your…
Preschooler
Back to School Routine: Tips for creating structure & predictability
Kids thrive on routine because it gives them a sense of predictability in their lives. They have their needs met on a regular basis. With a back to school routine, they are able to depend on the sense of security they feel in a familiar routine. When it comes to daily habits like sleeping and…
35+ Easy Lunch Ideas!
The school season is rich with learning, movement, excitement and routine. When it comes to packing lunch, it’s probably safe to say that we’ve all found ourselves in a rut of the same handful of items from time to time. This special section of our back-to-school issue contains more than thirty-five healthy, simple ideas to…
The Back to School 2013 Issue of Green Child Magazine
The 2013 Back to School issue of Green Child Magazine is here! And it has everything you need for a fun, successful, eco-friendly school year! You’ll find morning-saving routine tips to help get your family back into the school groove, advice from Dr. Laura Markham on raising a motivated student, and ideas on how…
Gentle Parenting: How to Encourage Positive Sibling Relationships
“But he started it!” If summer break has you dreading this old-as-time whined phrase, you’re not alone. Parents who follow the gentle discipline philosophy can often find themselves at a loss when it comes to encouraging positive sibling relationships. Learning to get along with each other is not only great for the children; it makes…
Positive Discipline for the Early Years
Positive parenting expert Kelly Bartlett shares common behavior challenges parents face with small children during the early years and positive discipline tips for handling them effectively. When it comes to children’s difficult behavior, a parent’s first question is usually, “What should I do?” We tend to want to eliminate it, fix it, or get it…
When Your Child Won’t Take No for an Answer
Every age and stage comes with its own set of joys and challenges. One of those challenges is dealing with a child who won’t take no for an answer. We all want our children to be confident in their opinions and decisions, but we also need to teach them healthy boundaries and limitations. Establishing gentle…
The Gift of Positive Self Esteem – Encouraging Your ADHD Child
Self-esteem starts in early childhood. A child receives both positive and negative messages from others around him depending on how well they fit into society. Because children with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder can be perceived as different, they often receive negative messages. These messages from adults and peers often evolve into the negative self-talk we…
Is Your School Ready for a Food Revolution?
Shortly after Green Child published my article You Say You Want a Food Revolution, I was approached by a local private elementary school about helping them shift to a healthier lunch program. In this area, schools have a Hot Lunch option provided to students once a week. Usually they offer things like hot dogs, pizza, and other fast…
Raising A World Changer
Raising a world changer is no easy task. As you guide your strong-willed child with your family’s compassionate values and a sensitivity toward our planet and all of its inhabitants, intentional parenting will be a major key. Just like the principle of planting and harvesting… seeds in a garden will only grow into a plentiful harvest if…
How to Raise Kids with Healthy Beliefs About Money
“Read it to me one more time, Mommy.” And off we go again, hearing how the damsel in distress was swept off her feet by the charming prince … and lived happily ever after. Unfortunately, that’s probably one of the most insidious things we can put in our little girls’ heads. Yet it was put…
Simple Routines for School Days
With school starting, now is the time to set routines in place that help ease your children through the transitions of their day. For school-age, preschool and day care kids, the three most important transitions to manage are morning, the after-school transition, and evening/before-bed. Creating simple routines can make the day go smoother: Morning Encourage…
The Back to School 2012 Issue of Green Child Magazine
Traditional school, homeschool, or anything in between, we’re all looking to make the learning experience a little greener. The Back to School Issue of Green Child Magazine is filled with ideas on making your school more sustainable, eco-friendly school supplies, and plenty of advice on healthy, waste-free lunches. You’ll find ways to ease back into…
Gentle Parenting: Creating Mindful Parenting Moments
As a parent, when you weave a web of mindful moments with your children, you actually put a safety net of communication in place. Like a spider that feels the vibrations on her web when something is out of order, parents can build upon the intuitive bond with their children. Parenting offers us daily opportunities…
One Mother’s Natural Remedies for Eczema
When my son turned four months old, he began to look like a ‘leper.’ His skin was red and his whole body itched him, and in some areas of his body the skin was actually peeling off in layers. His digestion was horrible, he suffered with reflux—so nursing was painful, and he began to wheeze…
Combat Cabin Fever with Fun Winter Activities for Kids
Is it just us or does cabin fever really set in by January or February? Instead of counting the days until spring, keep a list of fun winter activities for kids to help them enjoy the last weeks of cold weather. Instead of hibernating through these last months of winter, look for fun ways to engage…
How to Have a Healthier, Greener Halloween
Halloween is big on fun but, unfortunately, it’s also big on unhealthy traditions and waste. Many moms worry about the impact of this holiday on the health of their kids and the planet. And for good reason. Nearly $8 billion a year is spent on costumes, candy, décor and other accessories, often made from unhealthy, unsustainable materials,…
