Category Archives: Education

5 Ways to Engage Young Children with Music

WHY & HOW WE SHOULD INCORPORATE MUSIC INTO OUR HOME As parents, we all want our children to be healthy and happy. We want them to be kind to others and feel successful and fulfilled by pursuing their goals. We want them to be strong, resilient, lifelong learners. And for the most part, we know that […]

Girl with laptop doing homework

Tips on Being A Great Homework Parent

CHARLOTTESVILLE TEACHER SHARES TIPS WITH PARENTS ON HOW TO HELP WITH HOMEWORK In the book, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, Ivan, a silverback gorilla, watches his human friend Julia consistently agonize over homework and remarks, “Homework, I have discovered, involves a sharp pencil and thick books and long sighs.” Sometimes, but not […]

Educational Apps & Websites for Kids

THE BEST APPS & WEBSITES TO KEEP KIDS LEARNING With technology being such a big part of our lives, it’s natural that our kids are drawn to it, too. There’s plenty of good to be found online, but when children are left to their own devices, they can end up in not-so-friendly corners of the […]

Family reading together

Black History Month Books for Kids

CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR TEACHING ABOUT BLACK HISTORY MONTH Reading with your children is one of the best ways to engage with them on important issues. This February, honor Black History Month by taking time to read with your family, and encourage your kids to learn and talk about diversity and our country’s history. Check out […]

Dad and two young kids on couch pretending to catch fish

The Importance of Creative Play

A WALDORF TEACHER’S SUGGESTIONS FOR ENRICHING INDOOR PLAY Play is the heart of childhood, the foundation of our humanity. Human beings are given a very long period of infancy and childhood. During this extended infancy, the brain is “wired together” for efficient learning and functioning. This will serve us the rest of our life. If […]

kid putting coins in jars

Raising Money-Smart Kids

TIPS TO HELP YOUR KIDS BECOME CENTS SAVVY Sometime early in life, usually around the preschool age of three, a kid discovers money. They figure out they need the shiny stuff in mom’s purse if they are to get their paws on that special toy they just saw advertised during cartoons. They know that money […]

How One Local Mom Turned A Passion Into A Platform

MOM & CO-FOUNDER OF MY MUSIC STARTS HERE SHARES HOW SHE BROUGHT HER PASSION OF MUSIC TO OTHERS We’re so excited to share the story of how this local mom and teacher, Mary Anderson, turned her passion into a platform for local children. I was an elementary and preschool music teacher for 13 years and […]

How to Raise Resilient Kids

9 TIPS FOR HELPING YOUR KIDS IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES To say that these past months have been challenging is an understatement. With the pandemic, Black Lives Matter, riots, unemployment, fires, the whirl of the coming election, homeschooling and the isolation from family and friends, it’s no surprise that anxiety and depression are up nationally. […]

COVID School Stress Solutions

HELPING CHILDREN MANAGE THEIR MENTAL HEALTH Adults aren’t the only ones who need to protect their mental health. Many children experience elevated stress levels when it comes to school. Accelerated development causes stress for many young children. “This means pressure to grow up too fast, [including] less recreational time and play-based activities in school,” says […]