Parent Involvement in School: Why It Matters

If you have a child in school, you may have heard that it’s good to be an “involved parent.” While this is conventional wisdom, sometimes parents don’t understand why this is important, and they might not know how to get involved.

Here are some ideas on what it means to get involved, and why it matters.

How to Get Involved

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Non-Toxic Face Painting for Kids

Every Halloween, I always try to incorporate face paint in my kids’ costumes.

Face painting is fun. It lets me express my creativity. And it’s a lot safer than Halloween masks, which can limit kids’ ability to see their surroundings — not safe when they’re crossing the street or walking around cars.

Up until recently, I never gave a thought to whether the face paints I’ve been using on my children are safe.

But since I became an Alex+Von consultant, and got enlightened on the irritants, toxins, and other undesirable ingredients in makeup and personal care products, I’ve started looking around for non-toxic face paints for my kids.

Here are a few I’ve found so far:Continue reading

Why Play Time Matters for Your Kids

Children learn through play. Isn’t it wonderful? As they have fun, they’re developing skills and learning about the world around them.

Here are some of the reasons why play time matters for your kids.

1. Learning about the World

Give a child a cardboard box, and you’ll see creative play at work! A cardboard box may have a lot to teach someone so young. The box reinforces shapes and how they act (boxes don’t roll, for instance; they have a limited capacity; cardboard tears under too much weight, etc.). And a simple toy like a box stimulates a child’s imagination.
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First and Second Grade: What Social Changes You Can Expect

My munchkin boy is about to begin second grade and to me it feels like he’s leaving the world of early childhood.

The article below talks about the social changes that occur in the first and second grade years. They help explain why my baby is turning into a big boy right before my eyes.

Find out what you can expect as your child reaches these milestones:
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Send Your Kids Back to School, Toxin-Free

You strive to reduce toxins in your home, but are you sending your children to school without toxins as well?

School supplies are laden with potentially harmful, toxic chemicals. Stay vigilant when you’re shopping for school.

Toxic Culprits

Here are some toxic ingredients to watch out for when you’re doing back-to-school shopping:Continue reading