Jun 6th 11 Posted by Brenda Hunten

show your children love

I love my children wholeheartedly. With every fiber in me, I love them. But, and that’s a big but, I don’t always think they know it and definitely don’t always think they feel it. So I’ve been doing some studying on the topic I’ll pass on what I’ve discovered. It seems there are some ways that show love to all children and then there is also a breakdown of ways,... read more

May 25th 11 Posted by Brenda Hunten

compare and contrast

Describe this dog in one word. What word did you use? Was it difficult to pick just one word? After all, this dog has many qualities. Now pick one word to describe each of these two dogs. Easier this time? Big and small, right? When teaching your little ones make certain to teach in opposites. Big/small, high/low, fast/slow, hot/cold, you get the picture. When children can compare and contrast two... read more

May 23rd 11 Posted by Kris Floyd

recharge over summer

Rising sophomores and juniors (hopefully if you are currently a freshman or sophomore you know that this means you!) – summer is almost here and after AP exams and finals, you will be in need of a serious recharging. No doubt your summer will have plenty of time for sleeping in, relaxing by the pool and trips to the beach. Don’t turn off the brain just yet. Serious rest and relaxation is in order but... read more

Dec 27th 10 Posted by Brenda Hunten

a gift of touch

“Failure to thrive”, three words mothers never want to hear. I remember hearing about orphanages in Romania, where babies were failing to thrive, wasting away to nothing because they were not being touched and held. I think that’s what first made me aware of the importance of touch. These children were dying from lack of human contact. Heartbreaking.  Since then I’ve read studies... read more

Nov 8th 10 Posted by Brenda Hunten

a few of my favorite things

Whew, with Halloween over we can move into Thanksgiving and then all the beautiful winter holidays, which for me is Christmas, my favorite holiday. The one thing that truly separates Christmas in my mind from the other holidays is the music. From the time I was a little girl, music was an essential aspect of the season. There were music programs at church and school, tree lightings and fancy shows, even... read more

Oct 11th 10 Posted by Brenda Hunten

labels are crucial

Children of all ages love to move. Babies squirm and wiggle, they reach for loved ones. As they grow they learn to turn over, crawl, stand, bounce, walk, run, hop, skip, and dance. They move forward and backward, to the right and to the left. Children explore life through their movements. They learn what their body can do and what it can not do. They learn fast and slow, high and low. It is wonderful what... read more

Sep 13th 10 Posted by Brenda Hunten

kids and concerts

Music is important to our children’s development, listening to it and experiencing it. But why take our kids to a concert when we could just turn on the iPod? Lots of reasons. First and foremost is the experiencing part. When a child can see, as well as hear, how the music is being created it adds a whole new level to their understanding. Combining the skills of watching and listening creates... read more

Aug 30th 10 Posted by Brenda Hunten

baby genius

Is your baby a genius? Your very own future Albert Einstein? We all want our children to be intelligent, maybe not genius, but certainly intelligent, right? Is it all in their genes or can we do anything about it? Many studies have shown that playing music, reading to your child, and appropriate loving touch all impact their future intelligence. Each new experience, sound, movement creates connections in... read more