Combat summer learning loss
Every parent of a school-aged kid is probably familiar with summer learning loss, or the regression in learning that occurs between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. It is well-documented that many students experience a regression in their academic skills over the summer months. Not only do some students…
Savor those long summer nights
On June 21 at 5:07 a.m., the sun will reach its furthest point north of the equator, and we will enjoy our longest day of the year: the summer solstice (south of the equator it will be the winter solstice). Here in Springfield, the sun will rise at 5:30 a.m., and it won’t set until…
Sun safety
Two years ago, at the age of 42, I had my first appointment with a dermatologist. Standing in her exam room, naked and vulnerable, I cracked jokes about having more moles on my body than there are stars in the sky. Instead of laughing, my dermatologist continued studying my skin with her dermatoscope until eventually…
Museums for all: Dismantling barriers for accessibility
My child is lying on the floor, screaming. Everyone is looking at us. He’s causing a ruckus, but at 70 pounds he’s too big for me to carry out of the museum. My only hope is to calm him down so that we can leave for a safer, less-stimulating environment. Enter the security guard, who…
Books about kindness
As parents, our vision for our kids’ future usually includes raising children who are compassionate adults who care for the world around them and the people in it. We want them to be able to do their part to make the world a better place. Personally, there are times when I find that authors of…
