Starting the Transition Into A Back-to-School Routine

Although its only the last day of July, getting the kids into a back to school routine can be an ordeal that takes several weeks. To minimize some of the stress and chaos that the end of summer can bring, it is often better to slowly ease back into the school routine bit by bit. The adjustment is easier for everyone involved (parents included) when the changes begin early on. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

One of the best parts about summer (besides the weather of course!) are the unstructured days and the freedom from a rigid routine. However, that is also one of the parts that children struggle the most with when its time for school again. To remedy this issue, parents can use the few weeks (or even month) leading up to school to re-introduce some structure into their days. For example, if homework time is at 4pm during the school year, organize mandatory reading or learning time for 4pm every day. Meal times also often become less structured during the summer, so use this time to get dinner back on a normal school year schedule. 

A second important way parents can prepare children for back to school is by starting to reel in the late nights. If children have a relax bedtime or a bedtime that changes during the summer, use August as an opportunity to start moving the bedtime clock forward. Start having the kids get ready for bed or be in bed reading by a certain time, even if its just 15 minutes earlier than usual. Then, slowly week-by-week make the bedtime earlier and earlier until kids are back to their school year bedtime. 

In addition to earlier bedtimes, start waking kids up a little earlier in the mornings too. Children get used to sleeping in as late as they want during the summer (and for those with teens that can be very late) and so waking up early for school can be a shock to their system. Help children adjust by slowly waking them up a little earlier in the morning each week before school, so by the time school rolls around their bodies will be more adjusted. This is also better for you because it will save you from having to deal with some seriously cranky children on the first day back to school!

Parents, we want to know your thoughts! What strategies do you use to prepare your kids for the back to school routine?

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

How to Keep Kids Learning Over Summer Vacation

Just because it’s summer vacation and schools out of session doesn’t mean parents want all learning to come to a halt. However, without a routine schedule and structure of a school day, finding ways for kids to keep their learning can be a little tricky. But with some creativity and a lot of time outdoors, there are definitely opportunities for learning that parents can take full advantage of.

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

1. Make a trip to the zoo into a science field trip

Hands-on and visual learning are such fun ways to learn. Most families take at least one trip to the zoo during the summer anyway, so take this opportunity to turn it into a fun learning experience! Act like it is a science field trip and have the kids read all the descriptions of the animals and learn about them, like what type of animal they are and where they originate from. 

2. Try a new type of learning called “Genius Hour” 

There is a new idea experts have come up with called Genius Hour, where once a day for an hour kids are allowed to pursue whatever subject or knowledge they wish to, just for its own sake. It helps kids explore a subject they are passionate about and expand their learning and knowledge base all at once. 

3. Keep their problem-solving skills sharp

There are lots of video and computer games out there for kids that are fun but also provide cognitive nourishment and help build problem solving skills. So keep your kids problem solving skills sharp and use those rainy days to keep them occupied with some “learning-friendly” computer games. 

4. Start a vegetable garden in your backyard

Another fun way to teach your kids the basics of science is by having them help you plant a small garden or vegetable garden in your backyard. Talk with them about the science of plants and what it takes to keep them healthy and growing. In addition to the educational and learning aspect, having to tend to the plants and keep them alive is a good way for kids to learn some responsibility. 

5. Have kids keep a journal about your family vacations or adventures

Writing, even free writing, is very good for expanding kids’ reading skills and keeping their wheels turning during the long summer months. Having kids keep journals is a great way to keep them reading and writing, but also gives them something to look back on and read when they get older. 

6. Use a Museum Visit for a History Lesson

Another great way to spend a rainy or cloudy day is with a visit to a museum. Not only does it provide entertainment when the outdoors can’t, but it can also be a great excuse to teach the children some lessons about history in a way that is fun and interactive. 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Eileen Wacker Gives Her Take on Kids and Reading in an Article Featured on Baltimore's Child

Author, CEO of ONCEKids publishing, and mother of four, Eileen Wacker, was recently featured on Baltimore’s Child with her candid article about the subject avoided by many parents: their children’s reading skills. The busy working mom sheds light on the truth behind kids and reading; that most parents don’t find themselves with kids who love to read and just can’t wait to turn off the television and pick up a book. From a young age, it is drilled into our minds that good reading skills are vital for any success in school, so when parents find themselves with a child who is not picking up reading easily they panic- but Eileen is stepping in to say not only is that completely normal, but its okay. Nowadays, parents feel immense pressure to have their kids be excellent at everything and always one step ahead of their peers, when the reality is that for most parents that just isn’t the case. 

Click here to read the full article on Eileen's take on kids and reading

Learn more about the award-winning Fujimini Adventure series.  Purchase the books here

10 Lessons We Could All Learn From Kids

Parents, teachers, grandparents and other adults teach kids new lessons everyday, but there are a lot of things we could learn from kids about how to be in our own daily lives. Kids bring a lot of wonderful qualities to the table that sometimes seem to get lost along the way as we grow up. But if they were a part of us once, with some practice they can become a part of us again. There are certain aspects of our childhood that should stay a part of us forever.

 1. Remembering how to use your imagination

One of the most admirable qualities kids have are their powerful imaginations and their unlimited abilities to use them. A lot of grown-ups envy their kids’ imaginations, wishing that they hadn’t lost theirs. But in reality, adults haven’t lost their imaginations, they have just forgotten how to use them as easily as kids do.

2. How to still let yourself act ridiculous

Life gets harder as you get older, with bigger choices and more responsibilities. It can become easy to let the seriousness take charge and forget how to let loose. Kids are experts in this area, they know how to let the weird take over and goof off. The tough stuff is so much more manageable if you are able to find the humor in it. So take a lesson from the kids and let your freak flag fly once in a while.

 3. The importance of expressing how you really feel

Kids are notorious for being the most brutally honest group of people. They always speak their mind and approach a situation with honesty, even when the truth hurts. As we get older, white lies and withholding the truth can start to feel like second nature, but speaking your mind (maybe with a little more grace or compassion than some kids) can definitely get you places and show that you can stand up for yourself and do what it takes to get what you want.

4. Loving what you love without shame

Kids wear what they feel like wearing, eat breakfast food for dinner, laugh at their own jokes and don’t apologize to anyone for it. They don’t care what anyone thinks, if they like something other people’s opinions just don’t matter all that much. Life would be so much easier if adults could have that mentality all the time too.

 5. How to have unwavering confidence

If you are a parent or have ever even been around a kid, one thing stands out- kids love themselves. They laugh at their own jokes, stare at themselves in the mirror, go after what they want, and think they can do anything. We all deserve to have that kind of self esteem and confidence, but it is still possible. If we felt that confident once, we can feel it again.

 6. A good cry once in a while can do wonders

I don’t mean reverting back to the falling to your knees and pounding your firsts on the floor in public type of crying, but going to a quiet place (preferably alone, in your house) and just letting it all out every once in a while is actually really good for you- and something kids are experts at.

7. Its okay to ask for help when you need it

Its great to be an independent adult but sometimes trying to do everything on your own can be stressful and make things harder than they have to be. Asking for help when you really need it is not a sign of weakness, but actually of strength. Kids are constantly doing things for the first time and have no shame in asking people for help when they are confused.

8. Its good to still get REALLY EXCITED

Kids get excited or enthused over even the smallest things, like reading their favorite book or having pizza for dinner, and they also aren’t afraid to show how excited they are. When do we stop getting so excited over stuff? Adult life can be really cool and exciting, especially if we let ourselves get back to that place where even the smallest things can get our adrenaline going.

9. Its okay to make mistakes

Adults tend to get embarrassed or ashamed when they make a mistake- but without messing up sometimes we would never learn anything. Kids constantly make mistakes, but instead of getting upset and letting it ruin their day, they shrug it off and move forward, learning how to do it differently next time. When kids make mistakes, the adults around them comfort them and show them how to take the positives from it moving forward. We should reserve some of that patience and understanding for ourselves when we mess up.

10. You should still keep dreaming big

When kids are asked what they want to do when they grow up, they never limit themselves or think small. Just because you are an adult doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still let your imagination run wild and keep dreaming like you did when you were young. No matter how old you are, the opportunities are endless and each day welcomes new potential. 

Adorable Boy Sends Hilarious Message to Teachers in This Video

I cannot think of a cuter or funnier way to send a positive message about school and learning to teachers and students then through this video. 

The impossibly adorable boy lights up the screen with his funny but wise words about going back to school and how to make this year count. If everyone watched this incredibly insightful pep talk before going to school, learning would have a whole new meaning. 

Click below to watch the video: 

ONCEKids Publishing is run by literacy advocate and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker.  Click here to find her acclaimed books

Education: Integrating Social Media into Schools (Part 1 of 3)

With the rising technology, social media is becoming increasingly more integrated within our everyday lives. Even businesses are capitalizing on social networking and other forms of social media to engage current customers and gain new ones. Social media is having a profound effect within our work and social lives but one area where it is still being somewhat rejected is within our education system. Some teachers embrace the use of technology and social media within their curriculum, others avoid any use of it at all. 

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Many schools, if not most, even have the use of sites such as Twitter and Facebook strictly prohibited on school computers. Many schools and teachers are fully aware of the negative aspects of social media but few have knowledge of the benefits that come with social networking. Instead of shying away from new technology and social media, schools should learn to embrace it. The continued growth of social networking and its prevalence within society is inevitable, so simply ignoring it or banning it within schools is becoming increasingly ineffective. 

Many teachers aren't completely opposed to using social media within a classroom setting, they just don't know how to integrate it into their teaching. 

Teachers can utilize social media sites in four critical ways: to connect, to notify, to teach, and to curate. 

One of the most popular social media sites used within a classroom is YouTube. 40% of teachers report that they have used, or often use, YouTube during lessons. Teachers can capitalize on YouTube in countless ways. The most common way YouTube is used by teachers is to search for videos that tie in the current topics being learned to use during class time. This brings the lessons to life and the visual stimulation helps further engage the students -- especially those day dreamers! 

Learn more about educator, acclaimed author and Mompreneur Eileen Wacker, click here 

Another way YouTube can be integrated into education is by recording lessons and posting them on YouTube. This way students will be able to access them from home and review them whenever they want. This is very helpful come test time when the students need to study.

Teachers can take this videos to the next level by adding quizzes to the end of the recorded lesson. Another way to utilize YouTube is by putting together a series of videos on your YouTube "channel" that are relevant to current topics being taught. This way students will be able to access related, and approved, topics with the click of a button. An idea much more appealing to students than only having access to a text book for outside-the-class learning. 

Find out how Facebook and Twitter can be integrated into education in the upcoming part two!

A wonderful way for parents to be part of their child's learning

We want our kids to feel loved and we want them to love other people. We want them to feel happy and cherished. We want them to see possibilities for themselves. Reading is a great way to see possibilities. Children can be transported to other environments- some are magical, others scary and some that might remind them of their home or a visit to grandma’s. They can see how other people live and what is important to them. This is one of the most important parts of learning about others’ cultures. They can read about other cultures in Social Studies but they also learn by living an adventure in a book. Having diverse choices in children’s literature is a wonderful way for parents to be part of the learning journey with their child. As more and more reading choices feature protagonists that are diverse, this is a subtle way to promote more open minded children who grow into more open minded adults.

What's Best for Your Child?

Want to know the best thing you can do for your child? 

Read to your child every day. Children who are read to develop a love of reading and develop advanced reading skills. Reading to your child also creates a solid bond between you and your child and can open up dialogue. The goal in reading to your child is not necessarily to finish the book but to discuss the book along the way. Discussions regarding text make the experience of reading richer. It also paves the way for learning about new words, which aids in language acquisition. As you read to your child point out each word. Also, read your child’s favorite book over and over. Repetition is the key to learning. Also, read many kinds of books. Poems are excellent reading material along with junior encyclopedias. Don’t feel you just have to read stories. A trip to the library with your child can open up many avenues of reading material. It will also a create a special time for you and your child.

For more information about ONCEKids and the Fujimini Series click here.