‘Ohana Means Family by Ilima Loomis (All Ages) This cumulative tale, told in the style of “The House the Jack Built”, takes you through the process of how a family, or ‘ohana, farms taro for poi to prepare for a traditional luau celebration. Find it at the Library The More You Give by Read More
Tips for Celebrating Families
Here are six tips to celebrate families Look through family photos together – make sure to point at and name everyone as you talk about them Help your child draw a picture of your family. Alternatively, you could work on any kind of craft project and give it to a family member. Write a letter/postcard Read More
Celebrating Families
Ever heard the saying that parents are their child’s first teacher? Your family, whether it’s made up of two or twenty members, is the best place for your young child to learn about the world. If you add siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunties, uncles, best friends, foster siblings, and step family, then there are even more Read More
Activities Using Books to Build Empathy
Books build empathy by sharing stories that can be used for conversations about feelings and offer perspective taking. Book-based Dramatic Play Using stuffed animals or other toys, role play a story your child knows well. Start with the story the way it is in the book, but then create new stories with your child. Introduce Read More
Apps for Tracking Developmental Milestones
Here are some apps with milestone tracking, suggestions for dealing with challenging behavior, and ways to keep active. Milestone Tracker (Free) Google Play Store | App Store “Keep track of your child’s developmental milestones with checklists, illustrations, photos, and videos. The CDC’s Milestone Tracker app provides tips for encouraging your child’s development and what to Read More
With Gratitude – A Thanksgiving Reflection
As we gather around our tables this Thanksgiving, there’s an abundance of gratitude filling the air here at Best Beginnings. It’s with a heart full of thanks and a smile on my face that I reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve embarked on over the past year. Filled with treasured moments and milestones we’re honored Read More
Books to Build Empathy
When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith (Toddler, Preschool) This simple story helps us explore what it means to be kind to yourself, to your family, the environment, and the people around you. What does it feel like when we are kind? What do others feel when we are being kind? With its sparse Read More
Tips to Use Books to Build Empathy
Here are three great tips for developing empathy skills by reading with young children: Ask “What if?” Encourage your child to think about cause and effect by standing in the shoes of a book character. Ask them how they might feel if the situation in the book happened to them or what they might say Read More
Books Build Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand an experience from their perspective. We sometimes talk about feeling for someone or getting where they’re coming from – that’s our empathy in action. Empathy can seem simple, but it is like a muscle that needs to be trained. Empathy is taught and it’s important to a child’s overall Read More
Developmental Milestones
How many times have you asked yourself: is my child where they should be developmentally or emotionally? Is what they’re doing “normal”? It’s a common fear among parents that their child might not progressing through appropriate developmental stages. As a caregiver, you know your child and shouldn’t ignore signs that your child might need an Read More