Category Archives: Education

Schoola used children's clothing

Save A School’s Music Program While Saving Money on Used, Brand-Name Back To School Clothes at Schoola

Education, ,

Schoola - used brand-name back to school clothes Schoola Twitter page
How you can help:

1) Shop on Schoola. For every transaction that is tracked via my unique referral code, Schoola will donate $1 to the school you selected to support.

2) Request a Schoola donation bag.  For every person who requests a Schoola donation bag via my unique referral code, Schoola will donate $1 to the KIPP Academy. PLUS – when you donate the clothes and fill out your child’s school information, $2 of every $5 made will go back to KIPP Academy, a win/win for KIPP Academy AND for your child’s school!

My son didn’t show an interest in music until he tried out for middle school band.  He was trying out to play drums but ended up being assigned the trumpet.  While he wasn’t thrilled about his band director’s choice of instrument for him, it took just a few weeks for him to warm up to the trumpet and since starting middle school he has absolutely blown me away when he plays the trumpet.  It’s been so great to watch him gain confidence and be proud of himself because of the progress he’s made and the amazing performances his class put on three times a year give me chills.

Sadly, there are many schools that don’t get funding for art and music programs so the students don’t get to experience the pride and joy of creating beautiful music and performing what they’ve worked so hard to learn and accomplish, in front of hundreds of proud parents.

Band concert

Schoola children's clothing shopSchoola, an online shop dedicated to recycling brand-name children’s clothes, with 40% of the proceeds going to schools in need, including your child’s school, gives parents like you and I the ability to give schools that aren’t normally provided enough funding for art and music programs, the funding they need to create a program that their students will benefit from in amazing ways for years to come.   What parent doesn’t want to save money on brand-name clothes for their kids and help a school develop and maintain a music or arts program at the same time?

I can’t believe how quickly my kids grow, especially my daughter.  Do girls really grow faster than boys?  It seems like every two months I have to buy her an entire wardrobe because she’s outgrown the old one.  Schoola gives kids the opportunity to wear brand-name clothes for much less than what you’d normally pay.  That is great, but this opportunity is about more than being able to buy slightly worn brand-name clothing for my kids for way less than what I’d pay at the store; it’s also about having the opportunity to teach my kids that giving back to those in need is so important.

Shopping is something we all do.

Our kids all need clothes.

Feel good about how your purchase will help kids at KIPP Academy and other schools by shopping at Schoola!

Watch the video below to learn about KIPP Academy and how Schoola is going to help them fund a music program:

How YOU can help KIPP Academy raise funding for a music program:

1) Shop on Schoola. For every transaction that is tracked via my unique referral code, Schoola will donate $1 to the school you selected to support.

2) Request a Schoola donation bag.  For every person who requests a Schoola donation bag via my unique referral code, Schoola will donate $1 to the KIPP Academy. PLUS – when you donate the clothes and fill out your child’s school information, $2 of every $5 made will go back to KIPP Academy, a win/win for KIPP Academy and for your child’s school!

Schoola used children's clothing

About KIPP Academy and their fundraising goal

KIPP Academy’s goal is to raise $25,000 to fund a music program.

A small school in the Bronx, KIPP Academy works hard to support kids who need all the help they can get. Ninety-five percent of its students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch. More than one in seven receives special education services. Music helps KIPP Academy reach and engage every child who enters its doors. The slogan on the Music Room wall sets the stage—All of Us Will Learn Music.  No matter what backgrounds they come from or what challenges they face, they learn lessons together that will serve them the rest of their lives.

The 20 Days of Schoola starts July 28th and ends August 16th, 2014, so head over to Schoola and request a donation bag and/or shop for clothes for your child to help raise money for KIPP Academy’s music program and your child’s school!

 

This post is brought to you by Schoola, the best place to buy discounted kids clothes all while give back to schools in need. Click here to learn more about Schoola. Click here to see what people are saying.

 

The Learning Tower, Art Easel, and Toy Tower Review

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Education, New posts, , , , , , ,

Is your child so clingy that she pulls up a chair up to stand next to you while you’re cooking or fixing your hair?

Then you will love The Learning Tower.

The Learning Tower is a safe, sturdy, and fun platform inside a tower that your child can stand on safely.  When standing on the platform my daughter can help me cook, wash fruits and veggies, and if you have older kids, I’ve learned it’s a great place for a child to stand while playing hair stylist.  My daughter loves brushing my hair and playing hair stylist and she’s fallen off of the chair more than a handful of times.  We keep The Learning Tower in our kitchen now and the kids can move it from one area to another pretty easily.

The Learning Tower and Art Easel review

Before your child gets in The Learning Tower, adjust the platform to one of the four positions that your think is best for your child.  Pull The Learning Tower up to the location where you want it and your child can climb in using the foot holes on either side or crawl in through the open space on the sides. No matter which of the four heights the platform is on, your child is unlikely to fall out because there is at least a four-inch ledge around the entire platform.

The Learning Tower - Art Easel dry erase and chalk board
Dry erase and chalk board

The Art Easel

Little Partners also sells an Art Easel that hooks over the top of The Learning Tower.  The Art Easel is great for playing school or listing chores or recipe ingredients.  A white board on one side and a chalkboard on the other, there is plenty of room for a child to create a fantastic work of art or just doodle.

Here’s a helpful dry erase marker tip: If your child accidentally uses a regular marker on the dry erase board, just go over it again with a dry erase marker and wipe it clean.  It may not come 100% clean but it should help considerably.

The Art Easel is available in nine colors and is $59.99.

 

The Learning Tower Toy Tower
The Learning Tower - Toy Tower

The Toy Tower

Little girls love playing with dolls but that toy high chair you have might not be the easiest thing to carry to Grandma’s house.  That’s where the Toy Tower comes in handy.  It’s small and light weight and just the right size for any doll.  The platform is adjustable just like on The Learning Tower so your child’s doll can sit as high or low as needed.  Last night we took Mickey Mouse and The Toy Tower with us to my mom’s house for dinner and he enjoyed dinner with us.  On a normal day any number of baby dolls and Lalaloopsy dolls will sit in the Toy Tower wherever my daughter is.

The Toy Tower is $49.99 and is available in three colors.

Assembling the Art Easel
My daughter helps assemble the Art Easel

Assembling The Learning Tower and Art Easel

Assembling The Learning Tower takes about 30 minutes while the Art Easel takes just about 15 minutes to assemble.
If you have a little helper like my husband did then assembly time might be less.. or more.

Both require minimal tools for assembly.

 

 

Colors and Cost

The Learning Tower comes in nine colors and is $199.99.   It can be purchased online at www.littlepartners.com.

 

I was sent The Learning Tower, an Art Easel, and Toy Tower to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

KidPointz.com Helps Parents Use Technology as a Positive Parenting Tool

Education, New posts, , , , ,

As teachers and parents both will agree; clear rules, boundaries, and expectations go a long way towards creating positive lifelong habits and behaviors for children. My own experiences as a nanny, and now as a parent of 2 children—12 and 6—have shown me the power of positive parenting, redirecting negativity and celebrating success. By establishing a clear familial routine, setting realistic goals and expectations for each child, and incorporating fun and interesting activities into our customary interactions, we can provide the stability children inherently crave while enjoying our role as parents and positive role models.

Kid PointzFor many, our relationships with technology may interfere with our parenting attempts. Computers, gaming systems, TV, DVDs, and countless versions of these recreational and educational tools can entice us away from time with our loved ones, but technology, in proper proportion, does not need to be detrimental. Educational games and informational programming can enhance our parenting, as well as help us model critical skills for the consumption of information. One of the helpful Internet tools available to parents is KidPointz.com.

An extensive library of articles, videos, and free family activities are available to assist parents with a wide variety of behavior issues, such as temper tantrums, power struggles, nail biting, or frustration associated with learning disabilities. Additionally, KidPointz has proven reward systems and incentive programs to encourage positive behaviors and motivate kids to do homework or complete household chores. Print out behavior charts and fun activities for kids focus on positive consequences and reward our children’s successes.

proud of her work
It's important to praise kids for their work so they are proud.

But, in our hectic lives, the question remains: how can we effectively utilize online tools in our time-challenged lifestyle?
By establishing a clear familial routine, we suddenly find more time in our days, and the kids routine charts on KidPointz.com can help. These charts help children focus on what we expect them to accomplish throughout the day; ultimately they are more organized and develop good lifelong time management and organizational habits. For those looking for a tech-savvy version of routine charts, Kid Pointz Reward System for Kids iPhone app fits the bill by combining the interactive world of Smart phones with the positive reinforcement inherent in behavior charting.

Kid Pointz iPhone App
Click image to open iTunes' Kid Pointz App page

Another way that these online resources can help build positive familial dynamics is through an extensive list of activities. Never again will you be confronted by the “We’re bored” summer mantra without a solution. Printable handouts engage kids in learning in fun and interesting ways, or choose an age-appropriate science experiment such as this bottle music activity, journaling suggestion, or hands-on arts and crafts project. The thousands of ideas hold possibilities for every age and every interest.

Using technology to support positive parenting helps us to build lasting relationships with our children while enjoying the process.

How do you implement positive parenting into your every day life?  Please share your positive parenting tips with us in the comments below.

Connect with Kid Pointz:

Kid Pointz WebsiteKidPointz website

Kid Pointz on TwitterKid Pointz Twitter
Kid Pointz Facebook pageKid Pointz Facebook page

Alicia Hagan, Editor

Disclosure: I am participating in “The Search for the Next Kid Pointz Blogger” campaign.  All opinions and thoughts in this story are 100% mine and were not influenced in any way.  I am being compensated for the publication of this story.

What is Memorial Day?

Education, Holiday

Memorial Day HistoryMemorial Day 2012

Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May each year, was originally referred to as “Decoration Day”.  Shortly after the end of the Civil War, many Confederate women’s organizations honored their fallen heroes by visiting their graves and decorating them with flags and flowers. For many, this was an opportunity to keep alive memories of kin they lost in the war. Decoration Day was continued across the US to commemorate the loss of those who served in the military during World War II. Gradually, Decoration Day became known as “Memorial Day.”

Events and activities that will get your child involved in Memorial Day

Shortly after World War II, events and activities were planned to honor war dead:

  • Parades
  • Placing wreaths and flags on the graves of military dead
  • Placing wreaths and flags on statues of local town war heroes
  • Visit a Veterans’ Hospital
Read more about how you can explain Memorial Day to your children and get them involved in Memorial Day activities and celebrations!

Teaching Children The Importance of Honoring Their War Heroes and Remember and Celebrate

iPad App Review: Kumon Uppercase ABC’s – Learn to Trace Letters

Education, Educational Toys, iPad, ,
App Review: Kumon Uppercase ABC's - Learn to Trace Letters
Learn to Trace Letters

The Kumon Uppercase ABC iPad app teaches sound and letter recognition of capital letters to preschoolers. Best enjoyed by children ages three to four, the Kumon Uppercase ABC’s iPad allows children to trace uppercase letters, hear the sounds the letters make, and associate them with a picture that begins with the sound to help integrate the learning of letter recognition with beginning reading skills.  These are skills children need to get ahead when entering Kindergarten.

The Kumon Uppercase ABC’s App uses interactive repetition to teach children how to write and recognize capital letters and offers them examples of the sounds.  Parents can choose to present letters at random, in alphabetical order, or in the Kumon order, where more difficult tasks are based on simpler ones.
Your child will first be shown the direction of each movement that makes up a letter.   Your child traces the letter with just the movement direction and no order directions, and last, your child draws the letter without direction or order instruction. This is a nice progression to make sure your child knows how to write each capital letter.  My five year old doesn’t have the finest of fine motor skills and got a little frustrated a few times because she has to stay within the outline for it to be correct.   Overall though, she loves the app and even though she knows all of the letters she can still benefit from the writing and fine motor skill practice the app offers.
Requirements: Compatible with the iPad. Requires iOS 3.2 or later.
Alicia Hagan, Editor