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PARENT HACK
Take a Book Everywhere
Ever found yourself waiting for an unexpectedly long time somewhere...with children? Grocery check-out? Traffic? The dentist? It’s not fun, especially when you have nothing for the kids to do while you wait. You never have to be That Person again.
Collect a bunch of books your kids haven’t read yet—these could be off your shelves or from the library—and stash them in various places: the bags you use daily, the car, the stroller, the kids’ backpacks. When you need something for the kids to do, poof—they’ve got reading material! Now they’re not only not whining at you; they’re reading instead of whining. Good deal.
DINNER QUESTIONS
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Someone decided to make a movie about our family! Which actors will play each of us?
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If you made a box for all your hopes and dreams, what would it look like?
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Should cereal be considered soup?
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What television character would you like to change places with for a week?
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You have a chance to win $1 million by answering a single trivia question correctly in a category of your choosing. Which category do you pick?
Dinnertime Read-Aloud
Dinnertime is for eating, right? Sure, we love to eat. But it’s also a vital time for connecting as a family after long and busy days. Talking is great (and we’ve got quirky questions to jumpstart your conversations), but have you tried reading together? With World Book Day coming up on April 23, there’s no time like the present to give this a try.
Here’s how it works: Start with your youngest family member and let them pick a book, any book. Then read it aloud while you eat. That’s it! Next time, let someone else choose the reading material. If your kids are old enough to get into novels, choose something everyone will enjoy and try reading a chapter a day. You can even pass the book around and take turns reading. Just remind them not to read with their mouths full.
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PragmaticMom offers tons of great book recommendations on her blog, with a focus on diverse stories and #OwnVoices books (those authored by writers who share an identity with the experiences portrayed in the story). Start with her recommended Asian American books for kids, and go from there. CHECK IT OUT
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And if you’re looking for more, we’ve got some of our own favorites by Black authors here. READ
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Here are some we love that celebrate Latinx stories and voices. LET'S GO
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And here’s a great roundup of children’s books featuring trans, gender expansive, and non-binary kids. VISIT
ADVENTURE OF THE WEEK
Art in the Shadows
Have you ever tried to create shadow shapes on the wall at night? In the story of Peter Pan, Peter is able to remove his own shadow and store it in a dresser. Imagine if you could do that! Shadows are a silent but powerful presence in our stories, films and our everyday lives—and they may have even inspired the first cave paintings. Today, we'll explore the science of light and shadow, meet artists who use shadows in their work, and check out wall-sized creations inspired by graffiti artists working in the shadows. Get ready to spend some time in the light because today we're painting with the dark!
HOURS OF LEARNING ADVENTURES FOR KIDS
For after school, holiday breaks, and the occasional tough morning at Kitchen Table Academy
Camp Kinda is a virtual learning experience designed to keep kids in grades K-8 engaged, curious, and having fun—even if they’re stuck at home. It’s like summer camp... kinda. When you sign up for The Kinda Guide, you’ll get access to all 13 weeks of our summer 2020 adventures—more than 260 hours of activities, from exploring the mysteries of history to taking a crash course in comic books—as well as exclusive new Camp Kinda content.
