http://www.kidsquestmuseum.com/blog/ Latest blog entries from KidsQuest Museum en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:29 PDT Wed, 22 May 2013 10:06:29 PDT SiteCrafting, Inc. CMS https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/praise-created-equal/ I recently finished reading Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman's book "NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children." The opening chapter reminded me of something that, as educators, we often take for granted: all praise is not created equal. In classes, workshops, staff trainings, and our daily interactions with visitors, our education team strives to give the right kind of praise.  ... Mon, 20 May 2013 11:36:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/givebig-1/ Your community needs you! Schools can't do it alone. Promote learning by supporting your neighborhood children's museum.  ... Fri, 10 May 2013 11:20:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/an-inventor/ Have you ever made or invented something that you thought of? I imagine that you have. Everything from making sandwiches to space travel happens because of inventiveness. ... Tue, 07 May 2013 09:42:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/spring-rethink-dirt/ Like dust bunnies under the couch, the evidence in favor of dirt is piling up! This once loathed enemy of the homemaker is now being embraced as a simple preventative for allergies, type 1 diabetes,  and other immune diseases. Check out this article from The New York Times for just one of many arguments for bringing more dirt into our lives. ... Wed, 01 May 2013 10:00:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/short-family-vacations/ It seems like everyone’s schedules are so full these days, and I am guilty of this as much as anyone else!  While it may be hard to set aside the never ending to-do list, taking a weekend every few months to do just that can leave the whole family more relaxed and ready to take on life. ... Thu, 25 Apr 2013 11:00:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/hands-on-history-1/ Join Eastside Heritage Center on Thursday, April 18th from 5pm-8pm for more hands-on history fun! We will be featuring our brand new chicken coop complete with look-alike chickens and eggs.  There also will be the corn shelling machine with grinders to make chicken feed.  ... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:04:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/citizen-science-to-engage-children/ Engaging children in inquiry and nature play allows them to make early connections to the world around them and to help instill a sense of curiosity and wonder.1 Families play an important role in science education outside the learning in the classroom where only 5% of people’s science learning comes.2 Research has found that children, with the help of an adult, can make observations that are equal to and often be even better than scientists because of lack of assumptions and prior knowledge.3 ... Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:18:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/weaning-child-off-thumbs-1/ Thumb-sucking is a pasttime that can start in the womb. Babies suck on their thumbs because it soothes them and helps them to relax, especially before bed or when they’re upset. While this behavior is completely acceptable for babies and toddlers, it’s important that parents help wean their child off of their thumbs by the time they reach 4 or 5 years old. There can be dental issues that arise from thumb-sucking beyond 5 years old, including:• Development of a lisp• Improperly aligned teeth• Teeth pushing forward or buck teeth All of these dental risks can be prevented with early intervention by parents who can help their child slowly stop depending on their thumbs for comfort. If your child is vigorously still sucking on their thumb by 3 years old, some things you may want to try to encourage them to slow down the habit are:1. Rewards I don’t think I’ve met one child yet who doesn’t get excited about the possibility of a reward. Use a calendar to track the amount of days your child doesn’t suck on their thumb, or only limits the habit to bedtime. At the end of a week take them someplace special, like the playground or park (or KidsQuest!). Once they get to two weeks, three weeks and a whole month, increase the rewards. Parents can help their children track their success by letting them put up a sticker at the end of every day they go thumb-free. Just remember, once they start sucking on their thumb again they start fresh and new. Place the rewards at the end of every week so that they know what they’re working toward to help entice them! 2. Introduce Them To A New Comfort Introduce your child to a new comfort toy, like a stuffed animal or a blanket. Some children may already have such an item that brings comfort to them, so encourage them to concentrate more on hugging their stuffed animal or cuddling with their blanket rather than sucking on their thumbs for bedtime or when they’re sad or anxious. What Not To Do: Putting band-aids, mittens or yucky-tasting ingredients on your child’s fingers may seem like the only route to go, but this may upset your child more than help them. You should be encouraging them to stop, not punishing them. If your child still proceeds to suck on their thumb beyond 5 years old, then you may want to consult your doctor or dentist to see if there is anything they can do to help. Most children will stop the habit on their own by this age. Once they are around children their age and in school a majority of the time, they will have far more things to think of than their thumbs. Guest Post provided by Rory Mycek, a contributor for TopDentists.com, the dental resource site of Everyday Health and partner parenting site, WhatToExpect.com. ... Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:18:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/favorite-childrens-books/ Reading is an integral part of a child’s development. It improves a child’s vocabulary, helps develop their imagination, and teaches children about the world around them. Reading is not only enriching to child development, it is also fun! Children go on adventures when reading about an inspiring train engine or their favorite family of bears. As fun and education books may be, every child has their favorite book. Below are a few children’s books that are the favorites of some KidsQuest staff members.  ... Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:51:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/new-summer-camps/ Quiz time! Question: Which of the following people is most likely to conduct scientific experiments? ... Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:29:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/questclub-themes/ Bubbles, inventing, and forces….oh my! What do all of these exciting science concepts have in common? They’re all themes from QuestClub at KidsQuest Children’s Museum? ... Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:36:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/hands-on-history-2/ Join Eastside Heritage Center on Thursday, March 21st from 5pm-8pm at KidsQuest Children’s Museum for some hands-on history fun!  Remember the past and look to the future by making a personal time capsule using a traditional canning machine.   ... Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:54:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/dads-meet-up-cardboard-contraptions/ Dads Meet-Up: Cardboard Contraptions series focuses on S.T.E.A.M (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and fosters children’s imaginations, focusing them on problem solving and cooperative play. Children will also enhance their fine and gross motor skills. This class is beneficial in a child’s life because one-on-one time with a male figure will help their social and emotional development, while nurturing healthier relationships and ultimately helping your children become more compassionate individuals. ... Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:15:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/kid-kit/ A kid kit is a staff led activity designed to increase staff and visitor engagement. These fun and educational activities allow our staff to explore a wide variety of important early learning concepts while using interesting tools and materials (and having a really good time).KidsQuest staff tries to do at least three kid kits every day because we love getting the opportunity to interact with our visitors in fun and educational ways.  ... Mon, 18 Mar 2013 14:22:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/learning-foreign-language/ We all know that children are constantly soaking up everything around them, and this especially holds true to language learning.  It’s even been shown that exposure to foreign language can improve children’s attention spans and standardized test scores.  What’s even more remarkable about this is the changes that happen to infants’ brains in the first SIX MONTHS of life!   ... Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:22:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/birthday-ideas-explorestore-1/ Here at KidsQuest, we are birthday experts. After all, we do host over 360 birthday parties every year! As the ExploreStore Coordinator I get to chat with patrons about some of the clever ways they use their purchases for birthday celebrations. Here are some of my favorites. ... Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:51:00 PST https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/foods-children-parents-love/ There aren’t a whole lot of things parents and kids can agree on; bedtime, acceptable toys and when it’s time to leave KidsQuest are topics often up for debate. The one thing you don’t want to disagree with your youngster about is the food they eat.  ... Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:18:00 PST https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/family-fun-fitness/ One of the many benefits of being a child is that fitness is fun! For kids exercise can and should be synonymous with play. As a Museum Educator, I find that I get some of my best workouts right here at the museum while leading our visitors in activities. (StoryTime can be great cardio!) So, here are a few of my favorite movement games that you can try at home. There’s nothing like moving and grooving with some pint-size exercise partners to make working up a sweat, less like a chore and more like a party! ... Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:03:00 PST https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/easy-ways-to-help-childs/ As a child who grew up running and jumping and playing for hours on end it is great to know as an adult that all this running around was wonderful for my brain and my concentration at school! It sounds crazy but it is true. Motor development (the way we move in our bodies) is directly connected to how we learn. ... Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:01:00 PST https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/clean-teeth-happy-teeth-1/ Dental health can affect your overall health. Most of the bacteria in you mouth are beneficial, but without proper care, your mouth’s protection may be compromised and allow harmful bacteria into your bloodstream at a higher rate. It’s important to instill dental health practices in children as early as possible, but properly caring for your child’s teeth can raise a lot of questions. Here’s a bare-bones guideline for milestones to look for in your child: ... Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:09:00 PST https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/valentines-day-arts-crafts-nature/ It’s almost time for one of my favorite holidays, Valentine’s Day! Why do I love this often over-commercialized and over-sugared celebration? It’s a chance to pause, be thankful, and sincerely say “I love you” to all of the most important people in your life. Here are a few fun (and free!) ways to help your kids take a moment to say “I love you” to grandmas, daddies, big sisters, and all of those wonderful people that they have in their lives! ... Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:28:00 PST