Teaching Our Kids About Sharing the Gift of Time

We’ve talked about volunteering here in our “Parents” blog before, but I wanted to write a little about the gift of time—not necessarily the work and effort of community service, but taking the time to be with other people and share ourselves and our company. I think it can be a tough value to convey to our children in such a hustle, bustle world and yet, it is definitely something that our society seems to be lacking more and more. When I was a girl, I was lucky and blessed enough to grow up surrounded by extended family. BUT, that … Continue reading

Teaching Kids to Be Neighborly

Being neighborly seems to be a lost art—a part of our heritage and social behavior that is fast disappearing in our modern world where we often don’t even know who our neighbors are! While some of us are blessed to live in established neighborhoods where we come to know and cherish our neighbors, others of us live in more transient areas or are so busy that we may live in a home for months or years before ever crossing paths with our neighbors! There are little things we can do, however, to give our children a taste of those neighborly … Continue reading

Muppets Debut at Magic Kingdom Today

They’re characters who feel like an integral part of childhood for generations of kids growing up since the 60s. Some members of their extended family living on Sesame Street still hold a dear place in children’s hearts today, teaching them about reading, counting, and neighborly spirit every day on PBS. But overall, kids today don’t care as much about The Muppets. Disney’s finally starting to change that. The House of Mouse added a new wing for The Muppets in 2004, but has done little with the beloved characters since then. They’ve made a few television and direct-to-video appearances in the … Continue reading

Is Your Family Considered a Good Neighbor?

Have you ever wondered what people in the neighborhood might be saying about your family and the activities and adventures that go on at your house? Is yours the house in the neighborhood where there are always extra kids, bikes in the driveway, and skates on the sidewalk; or the one where loud music is usually blaring from the upstairs windows? While it might not be an issue for many, there are ways you can evaluate and consider whether your family is considered a desirable neighbor…or not… Of course, the type of neighborhood you live in can make a big … Continue reading