Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative Blog
I’ve been an educator for decades, and the back-to-school times are still filled with excitement. I love the “fresh start” energy and the anticipation of meeting new students and families. I love the routines and the new school supplies. Not all children and families share my feelings, of course. We can make this transition time […]
Just like someone’s name, pronouns are an important part of how we talk about the people around us. For adults, using the right pronouns shows respect and understanding. Kids often start to use pronouns between the ages of 15 and 18 months. This includes learning how to describe themselves and others. New language helps kids […]
When was the last time you felt bored? With endless demands on our time, I don’t often get to that state. I’m starting to wonder what I’m missing without the space to daydream and wonder. Before taking some time off work, many people asked me what I was going to do. When I slowed down […]
Our routines, relationships with other people, and perspectives on life all influence our wellbeing. When we share these parts of our lives with kids, we help them build resilience. Resilience is how we adapt and respond to the present moment. It affects how we cope with day-to-day life and moments of crisis. Fortunately, kids build […]
For many children, fear doesn’t stay at home, it follows them into the classroom. Anxiety related to immigration enforcement and the threat of family separation shapes children’s experiences, learning, and development. As a Mexican American teacher raised in the U.S., I’ve seen how fear quietly seeps into daily life. In schools, it shows up as […]
The world is historically heavy right now. As adults, we struggle to make sense of events happening, and it is extremely challenging and heartbreaking to try to explain it to our children. Of course, advice will differ depending on your children’s ages, race, immigration status, and where you live. This is not meant to be […]
When my nephew received a diagnosis of a rare genetic syndrome, our family was grief-stricken, scared, confused, and also relieved. Doctors tested for multiple issues, some of them grave. We knew this would lead to more questions, life-changing effort on his mother’s part, and constant anxiety. Our love for him was steady – we all […]
March is Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The CDC includes autism, cerebral palsy, ADD/ADHD, intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, vision impairment, and developmental delays under the “umbrella term” of developmental disabilities. Basically, any impairment of physical, learning, intellectual, or behavioral areas are included in this label. This broad definition expands my thinking about who might describe themselves […]
We know our children will inherit environmental challenges, but raising them with cynicism and a dark mindset will not help them (or us) work toward meaningful solutions. For them to understand the urgency and the purpose behind the work, they must have a deep love and connection to nature. We are not separate from nature […]
When was the last time you just sat? Stared out the window at the clouds? Strolled outside without your phone? If we can’t remember or feel like we don’t have time to do that, it means we need more time just to be. This article is your permission slip. Practice It seems that we shouldn’t […]