Helping Reluctant Readers

The development of good reading skills in early childhood is the best predictor of future academic and financial success. The earlier kids learn to read, the better. The challenge is, not to teach kids to read, but to create an environment where kids will learn to love reading.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, the evolution of which has an interesting history of its own, and dates back to the end of the Civil War.

The Origins of St. Valentine’s Day

Each year, we give and receive cards on Valentine’s Day, and see the heart-shaped boxes of candy in stores, but where did these traditions come from? Who was Saint Valentine and why do we devote a day to him?

The Benefits of Playing Sports

Getting a child involved in sports has positive physical, psychological, and social effects, although, not every kid is interested in playing sports for a variety of reasons. Some kids are shy, some lack self-esteem, some have physical obstacles to overcome, some may not be disciplined enough, some may be short on patience or perseverance. Those are all valid issues. There is, however, one thing that addresses them all: participation in sports.

Documenting Your Family Through the Years

There was a time when video cameras were extremely expensive, enormously bulky, and a rarity for the average person. It’s only in the last 10-15 years that photos and video became ubiquitously available to everyone via phones and tablets, and that’s a fortunate and fun development for kids.

Making and Keeping New Year’s Resolutions with Kids

Many people start each year by making New Year’s resolutions. As adults, we often resolve to do something on January 1, and then feel we’ve failed if we don’t follow through as the year progresses. Resolutions are a wonderful idea at any age, although, if adults have difficulty keeping them, children may find resolutions even more troublesome. How can parents introduce children to the idea of New Year’s resolutions, without pressuring them or setting them up for failure?

Reviewing the Year with Your Kids

Adults often use the end of the year as a time to take stock; to see what went right and wrong during the previous 12 months. Evaluating the past can be useful for kids as well as adults. Parents and children can discuss events of the past year to determine a course for the future.

5 Ways to Encourage Children to Do Community Service

Good citizenship is a value which children will carry with them into adulthood. Most schools do not integrate the Six Pillars of Character—trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship—into their curriculum as we do at La Paloma Academy. These values are crucial to the development of happy and responsible children who will become quality citizens as adults.