Kiddie Community Friday

October 2, 2015

Education, Parenting and Child Care News for the Week of September 28, 2015

This week, we’re taking TGIF to a whole new level and bringing you Kiddie Community Fridays where we’ll round up some of our favorite links from the week about education, parenting, childcare and more from our favorite sources, bloggers and media around the web. Community goes beyond the walls of our academies and as the epicenter of learning and connectivity, we want to share content with our readers from other sources outside Family Essentials. Check out some of the stories we’ve been reading this week:

• I’ll be honest, that “Quinoa and Leeks with Chicken and Tarragon” food pouch always sounded like a feast. This week, PopSugar taste-tested the most popular squeezable baby foods and we find out the truth.

• A Hellobee mom shared her checklist for what to pack in your hospital bag before your baby’s due date arrives. She reminds us that if you’re going to pack a pillow, make sure it displays an empowering message.

• The Pregnant Chicken reviewed the MyMedela breastfeeding app so you don’t have to.

• One mom writes about talking to her daughter about her day in the ride home from nursery school. Who else takes the long way home with hopes to hear more detail?

• Apparently, National Homemade Cookie Day is a thing. One of our favorite blogs to read, Oh Joy! made chocolate chip and caramel sandwich cookies and we’ll have three because who has the time?

• The start of school is a critical time to get kids adjusted to a consistent sleep schedule. A Huffington Post article has eight tips for encouraging better sleep habits.

• Andy from How To Be a Dad shared a hysterical pie chart illustrating how little kids answer the question “Do you have to pee?” Of course, the answer is usually always “no,” right?

• Don’t miss our favorite bite-sized fall fashion picks for expressing individuality. Who wears the crown in your family?

• So many education philosophies, so little time! Chicago Parent sums them up for us, though Kiddie Academy’s Director of Curriculum had the following to say about Kiddie Academy’s approach:

“Referencing this specific article, I would associate us most with the Progressive approach, with hints of Reggio Emilia and Montessori. The description of the Progressive approach matches us, but we also promote learning through discovery – touching, moving, listening, observing (Reggio), and teachers prepare the environments and encourage children to explore freely (Montessori).” – Renee Thomson, Director of Curriculum at Kiddie Academy

If you’re on the East Coast, like Kiddie Academy Headquarters, hunker down for Hurricane Joaquin. Otherwise, have a great weekend!