Kids books that promote imagination and play

“I’m borrrrrred!” screams your little princess. Quick! Grab these books!!! Not only will you and your child gain the benefits of reading together, but she will be inspired to delve into imaginative play that will nourish her mind, and give you a moment to fish the Legos from the toilet that just “mysteriously appeared.”
The landmark Becoming a Nation of Readers report from 1985 concluded that “the single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is…

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Hunt Gather Parent by Michaleen Doucleff is a game changer.

So you’re telling me that I’m supposed to parent like “Mister Rogers, stoned.”??? Go on…..

Author Michaleen Doucleff studied three ancient cultures whose children are still happy and helpful, and boiled it down to two important things:

Let your children help.

Don’t yell at your children.

And yes, she says you need to transform all of that bedtime rage into your best impression of our favorite PBS host, on weed…

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BAM Bad Ass Moms with Lori and Jenny podcast logo

Once upon a time I found a thank-you note from Tom Cruise on the Xerox machine at work. Listen to my interview on “BAM Bad Ass Moms” to hear the story, plus strategies for managing your kids’ screen time, and how to encourage creativity and outdoor…

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Barbie and Ken love to play!

Date ideas are everywhere. But not all are created equal.
The classic dinner date is overrated. Plus, you always devolve into discussing the tee-ball schedule, your mother-in-law’s antics, and how your spouse didn’t put sunblock on the dog.
Scientists tell us “Play activates the reward centers of the brain, floods the rest of the brain with feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin and triggers the release of powerful neural growth factors that promote…

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Hikes are great for screen free Sunday!

I am not by ANY means suggesting that you go white-knuckle, COVID-lockdown-style and just wake up on a Sunday with no plans and tell your screen fans to “go play.” That, my friends, is a recipe for a trainwreck crashing into a dumpster fire. 
Start small.
You’re not doing this as punishment. You’re doing this for the benefits. And after a few weeks, I promise you’ll crave your Sundays.

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Entertain kids in the car, on an airplane, during church, on a zoom call, at a restaurant, while you’re trying to shower…

Put these screen-free gifts on your list and be the best birthday, Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah superstar ever!

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Fall is here!
It’s time to cuddle up with your favorite kiddos and read some fun, not-so-spooky stories.
So what are the best Halloween books for kids? Here’s our list of the Top 5!

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screen time health habits, screen time and sleep quality, reduce kids screen time

You say: I don’t cook… I don’t have a partner….My kids won’t sit still! Worry not, I’ve got you covered!

Because what else can you do in 30 minutes per day that will improve your kids cardiovascular health, increase self-esteem, improve academic performance, reduce risk of substance abuse, depression, obesity, and teen pregnancy? Nothing I know of!

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benefits of less screen time for kids, reduce kids screen time, reduce screen exposure

Doing the same thing again and again? It’s stored as only one memory!
“Our brain is trying to preserve energy when it can. And what we know is that if any memory is similar, it is stored as one memory in our head when we look back at things,” says Dr. Mike Rucker Ph.D on the 1000 Hours Outside podcast.

Did I read that right!? If you do the same thing again and again you’ll save only ONE memory of that activity…

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screen time reduction benefits, reduce your kids screen exposure, screen time and sleep quality

Reading to children is one of the best things you can do for their brain, language skills, and relationship with you. Plus it’s so wonderful to cuddle on the couch with your favorite book! Here are the ten best kids books around:

The Library Lion
Harry The Dirty Dog
Corduroy

And more…

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