President-elect Obama is right…

…when he says we must ALL work together to get ourselves out of the mess we have with the American economy.  Yes, I know, I didn’t help make this mess either – but I know that depending on one man to “change the country” is simply not going to happen.

As an educator who loves Barack’s plan to provide universal health care (especially to children) and universal preschool, I am elated.  But as a smart business owner, I know there is NO WAY he will find the money for those large ideas (every citizen included) during his presidency.

We must begin to re-prioritize the way we spend our money and time during the early years because the government simply will not be able to do it for us.  Our kids need our time, not our money. Our kids love to be with their parents, not in a daycare setting if mom and dad are only working to have a lifestyle that the child doesn’t even care about – because children like the simple things in life… your hair to chew on, mud puddles to swim in and nature to discover new possibilities. Many times both parents have to work- however, many times they only work to have stuff they can do without.

I ask you – what is your plan for reducing the stuff in life and devoting yourself to your child?  You are his favorite toy. Teach him about recycling by reusing things around the house as toys during your play time instead of spending a fortune on toys that don’t teach but clutter the child’s learning environment.  Children learn by doing.  Children learn when they feel safe, secure and loved.

Wiggle Giggle Learn is helping parents across our nation and internationally get back to the basics of investing in their child’s education from birth using not much more than their time and the things they have around the home.  Our belief: Before we think about a 529 College savings plan we need to think about preparing our child to love to learn and how to be successful in school. This way we can be sure the college savings doesn’t go to waste.  Early education is the key!  Scholarships will come soon enough as we start working toward receiving them from the day our babies are born.

Speech and language development products – vote for our favorite

Children with language delays can’t always afford the costly therapy they need for services with a speech pathologist.  However, now they have resources to use at home developed by an expert in the field of speech and language development, Karla Duncan.  Her passion for educating little ones that struggle more than the norm with speech and language development is empowering to me personally and professionally.  Living with a child of my own who has delayed language abilities and seeing so many of my kindergarteners struggle, it is a blessing to see Karla offer such a wonderful product to parents.

As many of you know my company, Wiggle Giggle Learn was a potential finalist for the Yahoo! Seeds for Success empowering woman entrepreneurs grant in April 2008.  Although we weren’t named one of the three finalists we have been watching them closely.  Now the contest is coming to an end and you can support your favorite entrepreneur.

Wiggle Giggle Learn supports Karla Duncan of Head2Toe Publications.  Head2Toe recently unveiled their first product and it is a great learning and teaching tool for parents, caregivers and teachers.  I hope you all will check out her website and vote for Head2Toe to win the Yahoo! Seeds for Success contest that ends very soon.  You can vote once a day and make sure to tell all of your friends.

Early education… from birth

The Indy Baby Expo was an exciting event for new and expecting moms and dads in Indianapolis, Indiana.  As a gold sponsor of the event, Wiggle Giggle Learn enthusiastically listened to the stories and wish lists of these families.  We heard expecting parents clearly tell us that a good education was the number one priority for their child.  Needless to say, this made our weekend!  We believe early education is the key and so do parents!  HOORAY!

We are thrilled to finally offer parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers a resource guide full of developmentally appropriate games, activities and tips for boosting brain power in their little ones.  We know that the brain is developed and not inherited.  What and how you interact with your child, the environment you set up for your baby and the amount of stimulation all make a difference in how the brain’s “file folders” are developed.  What matters in early learning is repetition, patterns, sensory experiences, communication and active engagement.

Parents at the expo said it the best… so you are answering the biggest question I have – “what should I be doing with my child at home before he goes to school (so I know she is ready)?”   So now you know your child’s brain develops the most during birth to age three and you want to make sure you are capitalizing on all learning opportunities for your baby, then what is available as a resource?  Now you can visit Wiggle Giggle Learn.

At Wiggle Giggle Learn you will find our exclusive Play2Learn activity plans that guide you through how to help develop your child’s brain power from one month of age to four years.  Visit Wiggle Giggle Learn today to see samples and see many other resources.

Developing a child’s imagination through recycling and art

In managing solid waste, the preferred order of handling it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Marilyn Brackney has reused materials since the beginning of her career as an artist and educator. While working as a public school teacher, she often resorted to using solid waste as art materials when she had no money to buy conventional supplies. She launched her art/reuse Web site, The Imagination Factory, in 1996, and since then, millions of people have visited, looking for inexpensive art ideas or ways to encourage kids to reduce, reuse, & recycle.

Online for twelve years, The Imagination Factory was created by artist and teacher, Marilyn Brackney. A longtime advocate of reuse, she’s encouraged children to create art from solid waste since the first Earth Day celebration in 1970. She thinks teaching kids to reuse materials is a fun and entertaining way to foster environmental responsibility.

Brackney says, “I’m pleased to see that adults are starting to reuse and recycle, but I focus my attention on children, because they will more easily adopt these habits and incorporate them into their lifestyles. Kids are the ones who will make a difference in helping to save the environment.”

The Imagination Factory is located at http://www.kid-at-art.com/.

Art is more than a pretty picture!

-Marilyn Brackney

Check it out! You will be glad you did. In general, American families are excellent at teaching their children to be consumers. Many times as consumers, our little ones are learning that EVERYTHING is consumable… right down to that $1.00 toy that breaks after only hours of play. I am thrilled that Marilyn is putting forth so much effort to help parents balance their modeling of consumerism and recycling. What a fun way to teach children to find secondary value in things through reducing, reusing and recycling!

The Imagination Factory

http://www.kid-at-art.com/

How to control your child’s interruptions while you are working

Trying to finish work at home but interruptions from little ones continue to get in the way?  Try creating a treasure box for those times when you need uninterrupted time (30 minutes or less for young children). Fill this special box or basket with fun activities that your child can do by himself. Coloring books, crayons and special toys he doesn’t get to play with at any other time will make the treasure box special. Your child will love “plundering” as if he is shopping in a dollar store for new treasures.  Make it clear that the treasure box is for special times and can’t be played with by mom or dad.  It isn’t a time for your child to “show” you his new things.  You must practice using the treasure box a few times and be sure to praise his ability to play independently with the box.  Over time he will begin to associate his treasure box with “helping” mom or dad.

A word of caution – The treasure box only works if it seen as very special, so don’t overuse it or it will stop working.  Now that you have a few tricks up your sleeve, I hope you’re able to meet that deadline.