Blog Posts by The Savvy Source

by Amy Fauss

American flag

Our niece is getting married in a few weeks, and my girls can't wait to head out to Tennessee, the "Volunteer State." They're excited about being flower girls in the wedding, of course, but they're also eager to sightsee in a new state and visit Civil War battle fields, which seems strange, doesn't it? Although I am uncertain where this new interest in the Civil War came from (a Magic Tree House book, I think), I will not look a gift horse in the mouth, and I will embrace the opportunity to teach my girls a bit of history about this land of ours-the USA!

Teaching our children about the country we live in is a fun and natural part of our everyday lives. Just the other day one of my daughters was asking why it's always a man's face on our coins and bills. It was a wonderful opportunity to share tidbits about how women used to be treated as being less than men, how women couldn't vote until the early 1900s, and how we've never had a female president. My oldest

Ready for school

Ahh, school. To every kid it is an exciting rite of passage and a boring daily grind; both their favorite and most despised place. As a parent, there is a lot to love about school. Below are eight of the things that we think are great about school.

8. Your kids learn social skills. Of course we tell our kids to be nice, to share, and to wait their turn, but these lessons aren't really learned until they are in a class with a couple of dozen other kids.

7. Your kids make friends. From the first moment of their first day at school, your kids will start forming bonds with other little people that aren't part of their family and who you might not even know. In addition to providing a fun playmate, these friendships will teach your child things that you just can't, like how to communicate and relate to peers, and will foster empathy as your child grows.

6. And so do you! The expansion of your kids' social network can also mean the expansion of yours. You will suddenly have

Prior to having children, I would have sworn that Valentines Day was a giant conspiracy contrived by florists, chocolatiers, and stationery stores. But after becoming a parent, I realized February 14th is a cherished celebration that goes beyond roses, chocolates, and cards. Just as we focus on the importance of gratitude during Thanksgiving and giving during Christmas, Valentine's is a day to focus on friendship and caring -- two monumental lessons that start with our young preschoolers as they begin to express themselves and make new friends.

The day itself doesn't have to be an expensive or elaborate affair either, as if a bottle of Pepto-Bismol exploded all over the place, but rather a simple homemade card expressing our love and a few hours spent doing the things we love, together.

Reflect on what you your family enjoys together, whether its a special meal you'd like to have, or cards you'd like share, plan ahead with reservations, ingredients, crafting materials, and

by Emily Vanek

boy at a petting zoo

Experts agree, it's good to get kids out of the house and amongst other kids to help build social skills. When you have a special needs child, sometimes going places can be difficult. Whether you need wheelchair access or a quieter atmosphere, simple excursions like heading to the zoo for a couple hours can become an all day activity. Below are five tips and tricks to help make your outings a little easier.

1. Go to busy places at off-peak hours. The zoo is, well, a zoo (for lack of a better term) first thing in the morning. Many young families head out around 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. to get the fun in before lunch and before nap time for preschool-age children. Try having an early lunch at home and getting to the zoo or museum during the lunch hours. Alternatively, if the attraction is open later, try going during or right before dinner as well. Oftentimes it is easier to go at your own pace and get through the crowds, if there are much less of the crowds to be

boy and his father

When children are very small they are rarely out of the sight of their parents or caregivers. When we think of their safety, it is usually in terms of car seats and choking hazards, steep stairs and too-tall play structures.

When they turn the corner from toddlers to preschoolers, things start to change. We stop following right behind them at the playground. They don't always want to ride in the cart at the grocery story (and some of them have gotten too big!). If they stray out of sight for a few brief moments we don't worry too much. We scan the area, we peer down the adjacent aisle and there they are, absorbed in play or in gazing at the cookie shelves.

These kinds of moments should not alarm us (they are absolutely to be expected). But they should be our cue that it is time to start teaching our little ones a few personal safety basics.

To begin, make sure your three-year-old knows:

• His/her full name
• His/her parents' full name and/or caregiver's full name

by Laure Latham

child on a tire swing

So you've checked all the boxes. Playdates... check. Organized activities... check. Homework... check. Healthy snacks... check. Good job, right? Wait! What about the outdoors? Oh, we're not talking commando backpacking trips in remote wilderness areas, here. Just simple things like biking, smelling flowers or skipping stones. Snippets of outdoors really, simple and yet not so easy to fit in today's overscheduled weeks.

If you have fond memories of running wild outside in your childhood, be a good sport and give your kids the same experience today. To help you out, here is a list of ten outdoor activities that every child should do before they're too cool for school.

1. Explore nature. Let's start with the basics. What does dirt feel like when you dig in it with your fingers? Do these flowers smell nice? Are there any 4-leaf clovers in this forest? Is that a tree tunnel? Over here, did the rain bring out some snails? Whether in open spaces or urban parks,

a lovely neighborhood

In this new age of virtual communities and long-distance digital friendships, we sometimes forget how important our local, brick-and-mortar neighborhoods are to family life. In contrast, our preschoolers, who tend to be far more rooted in the day-to-day than we are, need no reminding. For kids, their own neighborhood is full of small, personal landmarks, interesting characters (both human and animal), favorite shops, friends, and more. They know all of the bumps in the sidewalks (to avoid when on scooters), they know which stores keep a bowl of candy on the counter, and most of all they know the other kids. All of those connections close at hand give them enormous satisfaction.

Our kids' local-mindedness means that moving, whether across the country or across town, will be a significant upheaval for everyone. It also means that they will share our eagerness to get to know the new neighborhood as quickly as possible.

So what is the best way for a busy parent to get to

notebook and pen

One of the best things about the start of 2012 is getting to put up a new calendar. The old one is filled to the brim with events, meetings, play dates, date nights, travel plans, birthday parties, and reminders of all kinds. It was a full year.

The new calendar though... the new one is blissfully blank. There's nothing on it yet, and all that empty space gives us room to dream a bit, and even set a few goals for the year.

The goals we have in mind are family goals-things we'd like to do together. We're not sure we'll get to all of them, but it makes us happy just to think about trying.

1. Spend time at the beach. This is always on our list, every year. It's just the best.
2. Go ice-skating, sledding and/or skiing. We have so much fun in the snow with the kids.
3. Volunteer for a project at school. It always feels like too much, and it's always satisfying nonetheless.
4. Get to know a new person/make a new friend. This is a hope for both parents and kids (especially