February 26, 2019 — Long before they speak words, babies are listening closely to them. They hear and recognize your voice, watch your face as you talk, and turn toward sounds. The 100 billion neurons in their brain are getting ready for great things, and research continues to show that reading and storytelling influences little ones’ success going forward, well beyond the classroom.

January 29, 2019 — It was Aristotle who noted that “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” True. And hardly anything beats the sparkly splendor of a fresh-fallen snow. However, what if it’s just too cold? Or what comes after the outdoor, close-up snowflake appreciation? When temperatures allow, getting kids outside during winter can be really good for them. The time-honored possibilities of sledding, skiing, snowboarding, snowball fights, and igloo- and snowman-building are fairly foolproof, good-time fun.