*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
As summer winds down and another school year looms in sight, we parents wonder if we have done all we could for our children to prepare them for the year ahead, especially in this time of uncertainty with the question of in-person vs. virtual schooling at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Not to worry. Real life, hands-on experiences enrich a child’s life and help to shape their future, as well as aid in building background knowledge. So, don’t stress and simply enjoy this last month of summer; fill it with outdoor activities and favorite summertime foods as you celebrate days such as National Watermelon Day, National Root Beer Float Day, National Lemonade Day, National S‘mores Day and National Toasted Marshmallow Day. National Farmers Market Week is also celebrated in August and is a wonderful time to continue to support your local farmers and to teach your children about where their food comes from. Search for recipes that utilize fresh produce from your local farmers (or your own garden) and perhaps include a reading of My Dinosaur is Scared of Vegetables by Lily Lexington.
“We would load up the yellow Cutlass Supreme station wagon and pick blackberries during blackberry season or spring onions during spring onion season.
For us, food was a part of the fabric of our day.” Mario Batali
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August
National Peach & Sandwich Month
National Peach Month
National Sandwich Month
1st Full Week: National Farmers Market Week
1st Saturday: National Mustard Day
2nd: National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
3rd: National Watermelon Day
4th: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
6th: National Root Beer Float Day
8th: National Zucchini Day
10th: National S'mores Day
18th: National Fajitas Day
While there isn't a book about fajitas specifically (at least that we know of), Jorge Argueta has a delicious series of bilingual books that highlight various Latino foods.
19th: National Honey Bee Day
Bee Books From Usborne Books & More
20th: National Lemonade Day
Lemonade in Winter by Emily Jenkins This title deserves a moment in the spotlight for the way author Emily Jenkins seamlessly weaves a lesson in money values and counting into this story of a brother and sister setting up a lemonade stand in the middle of winter. A fantastic choice for a fun read aloud, as well as a simple math lesson.
24th: National Waffle Day
30th: National Toasted Marshmallow Day
31st: National Trail Mix Day
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“Summer is leaving silently.
Much like a traveler approaching the end of an amazing journey.” Darnell Lamont Walker
Happy reading and cooking!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 2 and 8 months) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children.
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*Note: this post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Any purchases made via the links provided go to support our literacy efforts.
With the uncertainties and craziness that has identified 2020 so far, we are sure that some unsavory behaviors have crept in and now is the time to consider working on getting back to normal, before the start of school. Manners, identify behavior that is either acceptable or not acceptable and something that we all wish our children came equipped with, good ones that is. Etiquette is about the rules of a particular society and can vary from one culture to another.
Children do not instinctively know good manners. Parents need to teach and model good manners and instill the social skills of kindness, respect and politeness. Here is a list of what we consider the basics:
Manners at the table are also important, especially when eating out or at another home. The above list of manners applies, as well as the following:
Often times when you try to drill the rules of etiquette and good manners into children, they will just tune you out. The best way to teach manners is by example and another gentle, effective way is through books. When children hear stories of good manners, they are often more readily able to identify with the characters and the situation. Start simple with something like Nobunny’s Perfect or Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney. Others to consider reading to your children might include Miss Molly’s School of Manners by James MacLaine, Mind Your Manners by Nicola Edwards, Mind Your Manners B.B. Wolf by Judy Sierra and Manners Mash-up: A Goofy Guide to Good Behavior by fourteen talented artists.
Refer to our list of Manners & Etiquette books for additional titles or ask your local librarian for additional suggestions or browse your local bookstore. A great way to find some older titles is at used book sales. That way the title will always be on your shelf waiting to be re-read when manners begin to slip.
Other ways to bring manners to the forefront is through board games such as Say Please, Little Pig or discuss with your children at dinner how they used their good manners that day. You can also have them keep a daily journal where they write down or illustrate something they did that day that showed them exhibiting good manners. This way children will think about and be aware of their good manners throughout the day.
Good manners make a good impression on others in daily life and they also help one to feel good about themselves, so help your child to learn and exhibit good manners in order to receive the positive attention they deserve.
We here at BTBL are not the only ones encouraging everyone to review and practice proper manners and etiquette. Just take a look at this list published by Country Living in December of 2019:
50+ Little Social Etiquette Rules Everyone Should Follow.
Thank you!
-Kate @ BTBL Author
We are three generations that seek a way to get back to basics. It’s not that we eschew technology, but sometimes simpler is better, especially in raising our children. Mom was a reading teacher, Amanda is an early childhood educator and Kate a children’s literature specialist and former school librarian along with the latest additions, a daughter (now 4) for Kate, and two sons (now 2 and 8 months) for Amanda. We advocate reading aloud, the simple toys that use imagination and encourage creativity and learning in the kitchen, which can be a fun mess but also teaches life skills. Join us in raising healthy, happy, inquisitive and intelligent children. |
AuthorWe are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children. Archives
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