Moms Inspire Learning

Are You Giving Your Toddler a Recipe for a Wonderful Life?

The sooner children are exposed to a wide variety of books and healthy foods, the more likely it is that they will become essential ingredients in their recipe for life. They watch and listen to everything those around them say and do.

Children's Books to Help You Learn, Cook, and Grow With Your Child

Some of us are too busy to cook, let alone think about tending a garden. Both of these activities can be time consuming, I admit. So, what if we build them into family time? It's a win-win situation all around. Don't you think?

The Culture of Food and School

Food and education are two of the most intensely debated topics in America today. Cost, availability, quality, and safety are all big concerns for people, and understandably so.

Abe Lincoln designed my dream classroom

Even though he had limited formal schooling, Lincoln figured out early on that he could learn so much from books and real life experiences. Ironically, those were the two things I found most lacking in our school system.

There's not much time for either of these things anymore, at least that's what many teachers seem to believe. Testing has taken over; and memorization still has a strong grip on our curriculum, even though information is freely available with the click of a mouse. How will we ever break free?

Remembering Young Abe on Valentine's Day

If you could send a Valentine hug to a past or current President today, which one would it be? Since Abraham Lincoln's birthday was on February 12th, he would probably be a popular choice.

While Lincoln is viewed by many as one of the greatest American presidents, how many of us know much of anything about his early life as a child? I decided to hit the picture books, and I quickly realized that his inner genius certainly did not unleash itself overnight. Whispers of his greatness came in gentle waves, but eventually they would echo for all to hear.

So, what early experiences and character traits might have paved young Abe's path to greatness? You can ponder the possibilities by reading the guest post I wrote for Melissa Taylor, freelance writer and creator of Imagination Soup, entitled Abe Lincoln Sets the Stage.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Oh, and you can connect the dots of picture books by continuing on with The Culture of Food and School.

Food for Life and Laughter

Can you think of a picture book that stayed with you long after you'd read it? Well, today's book is one of those for me.

It's not my typical book pick - although maybe it is. You see, it's a simple book with few words, but the photographs will make you laugh - and think - at the same time. Those two words are not ones that usually go together so well much of the time. It's not easy for an author - or a comedian - to pull off effectively. So, it's the book's uniqueness that sets it apart for me. An added plus is that it brings a smile to my face with every turn of the page.

The French Fry Lesson

"I don't eat vegetables," Oliver told Grandpa. "I only eat french fries." ~Oliver, the picky eater, in Oliver's Vegetables, by Vivian French (author) and Allison Bartlett (illustrator).

Tell that to someone who tends a very large garden.

This grandpa is a very clever man indeed. Since Oliver was spending the week with him, he decided to let him have his French fries. That is, if Oliver could find potatoes in the garden! Until then, he would have to try something else he found, without moaning and groaning.

Little does Oliver know, potatoes aren't so easy to find in a large garden. And so...

Key Question: Where Does Food Come From?

And so, with a little help from her family and a friend, Frances got past her obsession with bread and jam. Sometimes, what we need most is for someone close to us to set a good example. Friends and family can be great influences, but they can be really bad ones too.

What kind of example are you setting for your children? How are you instilling a desire to eat healthfully in them? And what exactly constitutes healthy eating? There's so much conflicting research out there these days. It's almost impossible to keep up with, isn't it?

Well, no matter how much we may or may not know about food as preventive medicine, there are many reasons to learn more about the subject with our children by our sides! Family members of all ages can learn so much together, especially if they use the many extraordinary picture books which are available these days. And what could be more important than the subject of making healthy lifestyle choices?

Of Picky Eating and Avid Reading

"I think it's nice that there are all different kinds of lunches and breakfasts and dinners and snacks. I think eating is nice." ~Albert, a friend of Frances, toward the end of Russell Hoban's Bread and Jam for Frances.

I have fond memories of reading this particular picture book with my children. As there are many picky eaters in this world, it has wide appeal.

If you're the parent of a child who wants to eat the same thing every day, or worse, for every meal and snack, like Frances does, you've got to get your hands on this book! Well, if you haven't already. It's not like it's a new one. Oldies are goodies, though, aren't they? We've got to keep them alive and kicking.

Connecting the Dots of Life and Learning through Photography

Walking on the beach at Hilton Head Island, SC  ©Dawn Morris

Oh, to be barefoot at the beach right now! This photo takes me back to our summer vacation last year. It was late in the day, and we were heading back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.

It was a HOT summer last year, so I guess it's fitting that it's been an extremely cold and snowy winter so far. I'm sure a lot of people are dreaming of a day on the beach these days. Hopefully, this photo will warm you up. If not, here's one that might!

Well, if you've been reading this blog for a long time, you know that I love to take photos. With digital cameras these days, even amateurs like me can take some pretty extraordinary ones once in a while.