The funny thing about sleep is that no matter if your child is 16 months or 16 years, you are always worrying about whether your progeny is getting enough sleep. Why? Because if they aren’t sleeping, neither are you. The 8th Deadly Sin My kids are teens now, but some things never change. … [Read more...]
5 Solid Reasons to Read to Your Toddler
Imagine this: Dinner and bath time are finished. Teeth are brushed. Your 2-year-old—all warm and clean-smelling, in footie jammies—toddles over with her favorite book in her hand. You settle into a comfy rocker with your little one on your lap to read a bedtime story. You know how rewarding it can … [Read more...]
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
Rate your child’s current abilities in each area on a scale of 1 to 3. 1: Not yet 2: Making progress 3: Consistently able … [Read more...]
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
There is no single list of things your child should be able to do before entering kindergarten. And as long as your child meets the age and residency requirements, American public schools must accept your enrollment. Most children will not have already mastered every item in this quiz before … [Read more...]
Bonding Through Books: One Thing All Babies (and Moms) Need
The other day, my 9-year-old son asked me who the original writer was of the Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes. He wanted to know if there was a real woman long ago who had the unfortunate luck to marry a man named Mr. Goose. Perhaps she had birthed many children and lived in a house so small it felt, and … [Read more...]
How to Choose the Best Books for Babies
When choosing books conducive to the benefits of reading to babies, there are no hard and fast rules. There are books that are specially designed for certain stages of development, but anything is fair game so long as you keep a few important rules-of-thumb in mind. Follow these … [Read more...]
5 Reasons to Read to Your Baby
You wouldn’t wait until your baby started forming words and sentences before talking to him or her—so why hold off on introducing the joys of reading to your little one? The benefits of reading to children have been proven by hundreds of studies led by education experts. Although most of the … [Read more...]
Ditching the New-Mom Guilt
I like lists. They give me the feeling (or maybe the illusion?) of being in control. Buy milk? Check. Get the oil changed? Check. But after I had my son, lists gave me another feeling—guilt. Mission: Unaccomplished Pre-baby, I had planned to do all sorts of things with him while he was … [Read more...]
A New Year’s Resolution That I Finally Kept
I first started using Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read with my son as one of this year's--many--New Year's Resolutions. But unlike other resolutions, such as losing weight and getting my Master's degree, this was one I actually followed through with. It was a time of new beginnings. Eli was five … [Read more...]
Everyone Loves a Mystery, Especially Kids
Who doesn't love a mystery? I'm sure there's someone (it's a mystery to me who it could be...) but it's certainly not young readers -- they love them! Mysteries are a great way to teach young readers critical thinking and problem solving, and the thrill of the chase as you tear through a real … [Read more...]
The Perfect Learning Tool for Kids…And They Deliver!
No, I'm not talking about pizza. (Though if you're ever stuck for a way to explain to your kids how a pie chart works, I recommend a half plain, half pepperoni.) One of the best ways to engage your kids with reading and language -- and in the process, give them a real-time sense of the world … [Read more...]
Monday Inspiration — Dogs Helping Kids Learn to Read
Dogs don't judge. They don't make fun. And they're always ready to lend an ear (or two). What better audience for a child who needs some extra reading practice? As a recent study shows, the family pet might be just the teaching tool your child needs to help make him a confident reader! Children who … [Read more...]
The Classics Are Forever!
Like many people in metro areas, particularly the DC/Baltimore metro where we are based, I have a very long daily commute in my car. I go through cycles where I listen to music, I listen to NPR, or I listen to books on tape. I have been on a classics kick lately, choosing books that I read when I … [Read more...]
Cake Wrecks Says it All
My friend Adina recently sent me this link to one of her favorite blogs called "Cake Wrecks." It's an old post from May 31, 2009 with some amazing cakes inspired by favorite children's books. These are some our favorites, too, so I wanted to pass it … [Read more...]
Watch out world, we’re back!
Hooked on Phonics is getting back to its roots. We've been around for 20+ years, and we made a big splash back in the day with our famous catch phrase, "It worked for me!" Starting today, we're back on the air with a new infomercial airing all across the country. With 20 years under our belt, kids … [Read more...]