Four Favorites: Classic Picture Books

January 22, 2019 / jnspires / Leave a comment

I’m super excited to start this new series “Four Favorites!” At least once a month, I’ll give you my insight on some of my favorite things for kiddos. Parents are always asking me what books, toys, and games to buy, so I hope that Four Favorites helps you find quality products that you and your littles will love for years to come.

This week’s Four Favorites features some of my absolute favorite picture books. They’re primarily for preschool aged kiddos but don’t worry babies and toddlers! You’ll get your own post soon!

You’ll probably recognize these books from your own childhood. They’ve stood the test of time, continuing to entertain children of all generations. These books will spark valuable conversations that can apply to many of life’s confusing topics. The more you read these books together, the more your children will pick up on their messages of kindness, acceptance, friendship, and bravery.

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My Three Guiding Words

January 14, 2019 / jnspires / Leave a comment

I’ve never been one for New Year resolutions. It always seemed to me that if you wanted to change something in your life, you shouldn’t have to wait until January 1st to start. And honestly, it seems like everyone gives up after a month or so.

But over the last couple of years I’ve noticed a new trend in New Year resolutions. Instead of a specific goal, many people — myself included — come up with a “Word of the Year.”

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Literacy Before Kindergarten: Go for the Gold

September 18, 2018January 29, 2019 / jnspires / 2 Comments

This is part two of a series on promoting literacy in the infant/toddler – preschool years. You can find part one here and part three here.

When I got my first job teaching in a classroom, I was so excited to build up my classroom library. As a lover of stories in all forms and a self professed bibliophile, it was my dream come true to have an actual reason to load up on books. It wasn’t long after that I learned how expensive children’s books are! How could a 32 page long picture book cost and an arm, a leg, and a firstborn?!

Begrudgingly, I surrendered to my circumstances and just accepted any and all children’s books I could get my hands on. I was desperate.

I knew the quality of the books in my classroom library was mediocre at best and I resolved to gradually add better books and get rid of the subpar books as quickly as I could.

Why was it so important for me to have high quality children’s books? Continue reading →

Literacy Before Kindergarten: Creatures of Habit

September 3, 2018January 29, 2019 / jnspires / 2 Comments

This is part one of a series on promoting literacy in the infant/toddler – preschool years. You can find part two (choosing quality content for children) here. You can find part three (intention in book selection) here.

As someone whose entire life has revolved around school years, I’ve come to recognize the return to the classroom in late August as the New Year — not January 1st. Vacations are over. The weather cools off. Parents and teachers are out buying fresh school supplies. Things are settling down and falling back into the routines that keep us sane.

Research shows time and time again that establishing and sticking to routines is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It can improve relationships, keep you healthy, minimize stress, and more.

In the case of children five years old and under, routines are essential for setting them up for success in school (and life), especially with regards to reading.

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Music Molds Minds

July 16, 2018July 16, 2018 / jnspires / Leave a comment

I love music. Like, LOVE music.

My mom was in high school band and sang in our church choir. My sister was in band and choir and became an elementary music teacher. My dad’s favorite pastime is driving down the road, his outstretched arm cutting through the warm summer air, belting out the classics and drumming on the steering wheel. Most family gatherings with my aunts, uncles, and cousins involve hymn singing in perfect four part harmony. I was in marching and concert band, sang in my church choir, play guitar, played bass and sang backup vocals in an early 2000s punk cover band with my best friends. Some of my most vivid memories have something to do with music.

I recently spent two weeks with my 14 month old niece and just like the rest of our family, she is a music fanatic. The second music comes on or someone starts singing, she immediately drops everything she’s doing to dance and clap. She’s a huge fan of funk, 70’s classics, really anything with an exceptionally good groove.

Music has an overwhelming power over the human brain. A moving melody can send a chill down your spine (a phenomenon called frisson — with all my heart, I really really really hope you’ve experienced it). It can trigger memories, soothe infants, get you excited to exercise, make a dinner more romantic, calm you when you’re stressed, and help you focus.

But did you know that our earliest experiences with music help us develop more than just our musical ability? I could write a thousand posts about the benefits of music and still only scratch the surface, but for today, here are just a few ways music molds minds. Continue reading →

How to Communicate with Kids; part 2

May 21, 2018May 22, 2018 / jnspires / 1 Comment

This is part two of a two part series on effective communication with young children. You can find part one here.

As I’m sure you gathered by now, this is a post about communicating with young children. My original draft of this post was entirely too long for my taste so I split it into two. Last week, I posted a part one and this week I’m sharing the rest with you. The following tips are things I’ve learned in the last 15 years of working with children. Tried and true, they’re bound to make your interactions with your children much smoother. Continue reading →

How to Communicate with Kids; part 1

May 14, 2018May 21, 2018 / jnspires / 1 Comment

This is part one of a two part series on effective communication with young children. You can find part two here.

“You’re so good with them.”

“How do you get them to listen to you like that?”

“Kids are just naturally drawn to you. They just want to do what you say.”

“I don’t know how you do it.”

“Wow, you’re so patient.”

I don’t have enough hands to count the number of times my peers and I have heard these phrases throughout our careers. I wouldn’t consider myself exceptionally patient and I don’t know that children just naturally come to me. I’m not a parent yet, but I’ve worked with children long enough that I’ve learned some super effective strategies for talking with young children and gaining their cooperation. The following tips don’t work all the time — nothing is perfect, especially in regards to children — and they certainly aren’t always easy, but they work a lot more than yelling and sighing. Continue reading →

Misunderstanding Misbehavior

March 26, 2018March 26, 2018 / jnspires / Leave a comment

Have you ever played Good Guy/Bad Guy with your child?

Have you ever asked them what makes the Good Guy good or the Bad Guy bad?

Their answer is usually:

“The Good Guy is good because they save people. They’re nice. The Bad Guy is bad because they steal/push/yell. They’re mean.”

In this simple game, the behavior of the person defines the character of the person — whether they are to be considered “good” or “bad.”

But have you ever told your child that the reason you (as Bad Guy) are stealing everyone’s jewelry is because you want to give it to your mommy? Continue reading →