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The Best Children’s Books That Show Diversity

The Best Children's Books That Show Diversity
There are many titles to choose from in books that celebrate diversity.

Books are amazing because no matter where you are, they can take you anywhere. They offer perspectives and experiences that you might not normally get to experience in your lifetime. Having the ability to glimpse into someone else’s story can play a huge role in your ability to have an open and accepting mind and heart. Children’s books are no different. They offer a look into different lives and experiences in a way that creates the ability to have open discussions with your children about diversity.

Our country is multi-cultural. That means it’s vital to offer your kids the opportunity to see different realities outside of their own. Children’s books on diversity allow your young child the opportunity to understand important concepts early on. It is a great way to open the door for honest discussions on differences, privilege, respect, empathy, and more. When it comes to finding your child books that highlight and celebrate diversity, there are many amazing titles to choose from. These are just a few.

Children’s Books Celebrating Diversity

The Colors of Us by Karen Katz

This children’s book revolves around a little girl named Lena. Lena paints a self-portrait of herself using brown paint. On a later walk around her neighborhood, she notices the many different shades of brown found in her own neighborhood, and how we are all different and unique. This book is best for ages 4-8.

The Skin You Live in by Michael Tyler

This children’s book is not only beautifully illustrated, but it also packs an important message. It is a rhyming book that is ideal for reading aloud with your little one. This book reinforces the important message that the person within is what matters most. It is best for ages 4-6.

It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr

This funny children’s book is another great choice in highlighting the diversity of people you encounter each day, no matter how big or little that difference may be. It includes a wide variety of characters with different traits from braces, glasses, to wheelchairs and cultural differences. This book truly celebrates the different aspects that make us all unique. This is an excellent choice for ages 3-6.

Families, Families, Families by Suzanne Lang

Talk about an adorable book! This is a combination of families depicted as silly animals. It is a celebration of family, no matter in what form. This book highlights all forms of family, including adoption, stepsiblings, kids raised by grandparents, and so much more! The overall theme is that if you love one another, you’re family. This book is great from ages 3-7.

Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes collected by Elizabeth Hammill

Many of us fondly remember growing up with nursery rhymes. This collection is fantastic because it includes 150 rhymes from 23 different countries. It is also illustrated by 76 different artists. If you’re looking for diversity in your reading, this collection is a must-have. It demonstrates the similarities and differences in folk songs, stories, and rhymes across the globe and is ideal for ages 3-7.

When it comes to finding children’s books that celebrate diversity, there are numerous amazing choices. Understanding our complex world doesn’t have to be difficult, and the earlier the immersion into the mixing bowl we live in globally, the better. Your children will love learning to not only embrace what makes themselves unique but also embrace what makes others so unique and special as well.

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4 Bedtime Mistakes Parents Make

4 Bedtime Mistakes Parents Make
Too much excitement at bedtime makes it hard to get to sleep

Do you ever find yourself dreading your kid’s bedtime? You hope for a picture-perfect sequence where teeth are brushed, pajamas are put on, and they snuggle up ready to fall into dreamland. At times, you may instead experience whining, tantrums, and an overall power struggle to get even the simplest task done. When it comes to your kid’s bedtime, there are a few common mistakes that can greatly impact your ability to achieve the perfect bedtime you’ve been dreaming of. The good news is that these common mistakes are easy to fix!

1. Bedtime Snack Choices

For many households, bedtime snacks are a must. There is nothing wrong with a snack before bed, but there are two main things to keep an eye out for. One is the time. With any food, it should be enjoyed at least an hour before bed. Going to sleep on a full stomach can interrupt sleep, leading to a more restless night. The other thing to watch for is the level of sugar in the snack item. Caffeine is counterproductive when it comes to relaxing your child, and unsuspecting items can include a lot of unnecessary sugar. In general, you’ll want to avoid chocolate, soda, and tea. You’ll instead want to rely on food items that induce tryptophan, which helps initiate sleep. These foods include nuts, soybeans, meats, and dairy, as well as complex carbs.

2. Not Enough Sleep or Stimulation

It is important that kids are able to expel their energy throughout the day. While everyone enjoys a lazy day, this can impact your ability to peacefully get your kids’ bedtime consistent. This pent-up energy can begin to overflow when you truly want relaxation to happen. Not enough sleep can also factor into the success of your kid’s bedtime. In general, the earlier the bedtime, the easier it can be for your child to fall asleep. When your child is overtired, their body will naturally pump out adrenaline, making bedtime a hassle. Nighttime should be about relaxing. When it comes to homework and chores, make sure those are accomplished earlier in the day. This allows your evening to truly be focused on relaxation.

3. The Bedtime Battle

Some nights, it feels as though you must prepare for battle. Your kid’s bedtime should be a send-off, not a standoff. When it comes to a bedtime routine, you do want to be consistent and stay firm to your established rules. How you present your commitment to the routine can make all the difference. When trying to enforce, you may be faced with resistance that can lead to unwanted bedtime drama. While you want to stick to your boundaries, it also helps to allow your child to feel that they are responsible for their own actions. You want to present the situation in a way that they feel decision-making is still on their end. It can help to create a type of reward system. For each successful bedtime, they gain a star, sticker, or small token. In time, these successful achievements could lead to a special treat, such as a movie night or a trip to the zoo.

4. Irregular Routine

Routine truly is key for kids. It may feel easy to read one book one night, then three or four another night. Or maybe one night you allow them to stay up later, etc. While these may seem like small inconsistencies, they are enough to impact the overall success of your routine. It is important to keep things as consistent as possible. Same time of night, same activities, same order. This predictable sequence of events cues your child’s subconscious that it is time to relax and settle into bed.

Your kid’s bedtime doesn’t have to be a hassle! With a few changes, you’ll see that bedtime can be a calm and enjoyable event to end each night. Consistency is key, as well as creating a peaceful experience where your child feels they are making their own decisions. Watching what they eat, and the activities they participate in during the day also helps. It may take some planning and preparation, but once it is a natural routine, it will feel easy. A better night’s sleep leads to a healthier, happier kid who will be able to better perform at school and at home.

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What Do 2 TIA Alumni Recommend for Future College Students?

Nixy Salcido and Maria Carmella Ocaya are TIA alumni and freshmen college students at the University of Arizona
Nixy Salcido and Maria Carmella Ocaya are TIA alumni and freshmen college students at the University of Arizona

Nixy Salcido and Maria Carmella Ocaya are TIA alumni and freshmen college students at the University of Arizona. Nixy is majoring in nursing. Maria Carmella Ocaya is majoring in Biomedical Engineering. They both met in the 6th grade at TIA and become good friends.

How Did TIA Prepare Nixie and Maria to be Good College Students?

They feel that TIA prepared them for college life by teaching them the basic fundamentals of being a successful student. Examples are: turning in quality work, leadership skills, communication skills. All very important for succeeding in college. TIA also helped them prepare for college by not settling for less. They never turned in work at TIA that wasn’t almost perfect.

What they also loved about their years at TIA was how their small school was very family-like with their relationships with the teachers. 

Why Did the Girls Choose U of A?

Nixy and Maria chose to go to the University of Arizona because of the scholarship opportunities that they got. It is also very close to home, which they both like. They are both family-oriented people so when picking a college, it was important to them to be able to be close to their families, at least for the first few years.

One of the things that Nixy and Maria liked about the U of A is how nice and approachable the professors are. They have been able to bond with the professors, even in an online format during the pandemic, the same way they would when coming in-person to classes. They also really like the environment on the campus. People at the school are friendly and approachable. The projects that they do with their groups in the classes really help them be able to make friends. 

What Does the Upcoming Semester Hold For Nixy and Maria?

For the returning semester, they are able to attend classes in person. They are both very excited about the clubs that they will be able to join. Also, being able to walk to class, rather than everything being online will be another plus. 

Maria is excited about this next semester with the research opportunities that the college will provide. Also, she is looking forward to joining clubs that are geared towards engineering. This will give her more experience than what she could get during the pandemic. 

Maria and Nixy are both very glad to have had each other to lean on for their first year at the U of A. Since so many of their classes were online, it was harder to make friends. But they knew each other well from all their years together at TIA. That helped a lot. Now they are looking forward to attendant U of A football games and getting into the school spirit.

What are Their Future Plans?

After Nixy graduates from the U of A, she will be a Labor and Delivery nurse and work in a hospital. 

When Maria graduates with a Biomedical Engineering degree, her ultimate goal is to work in the field of cancer research or other possible areas would be cardiac and diabetes research. 

Nixy and Maria Recommend for Future College Students

The girls recommend to other TIA students to go to a college like the U of A. You will have an adult life but still have your parents to live with if you chose (if you go to a college in your hometown). And if you go to a college out of town, that is good too. At any college, you will still make many great connections for your future, in addition to all that you learn. Link to their YouTube video

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4 Things to Do to Prepare for Back to School

Prepare for back to school
New bedtimes help prepare for back to school early mornings

It is time to prepare for back to school. The upcoming school year has just about arrived. However, it might seem like there are too many tasks to handle. What are those tasks again? Back-to-school shopping, planning meals, and adjusting to a different sleep routine. So, where should you begin?

We’ve compiled a list of several tasks to consider before the start of the new school year. Even though some of these may not be necessary, they are still incredibly useful to make the transition process as smooth as possible — for you as a parent, but also for your kids.

The Top Ways to Prepare for Back to School

1. Get Started on Back-to-School Shopping

The earlier you get back-to-school shopping taken care of, the better. It can be tempting to wait until the last minute, but this generally isn’t a wise decision. When you get this task out of the way early, not only will you be able to avoid long check-out lines, but you’ll also give yourself some peace of mind. After all, it’s never fun to wait until the last second to shop for back to school, only to discover that it’s difficult to find a particular product that you’re in need of.

Although this can seem like a chore, you can always make back-to-school shopping more entertaining (and efficient) by getting your kids involved in the process. Try setting spending limits on items, and then allow your children to select whatever they like the best. Your child might even have fun, and you’ll be able to take care of an important task.

2. Prepare for Back to School by Stocking Up on School Supplies

This is in a similar vein to the last point we made, although it is still a task of its own. While finding and purchasing all the necessary school supplies is one thing, sometimes, it can be beneficial to stock up on more than just the bare minimum. After all, most stationery items aren’t going to last forever. It’s also entirely possible for your child to misplace particular school supplies, leaving them in need of an urgent replacement. If you’ve stocked up on school supplies prior to the start of the school year, then you will always be good to go, should a mishap occur.

Also, it’s a smart idea to keep any school supplies you purchase (whether it’s pencils, erasers, notebooks, or something else entirely) organized and easy to find. This way, as soon as you are in need of an item, you’ll be able to quickly fetch it — without any digging. Link to TIA school supply list

3. Set Up a Homework Station for Your Child

Generally speaking, it isn’t a good idea for your child to do their homework in locations where they also complete other activities. This can make it more difficult for them to focus, and to truly get in the mindset of “if I’m here, then that means all I have to do is work on homework.” This is why it is beneficial to set up a designated “homework station” for your child.

For instance, you could set up desk space in a quiet location of your home. Then, this area can be exclusively used by your child while working on homework or other school assignments. This area should provide minimal distractions for your child, allowing them to stay focused on their work.

4. Prepare for Early Mornings

As most parents are well aware, during summer vacation, your child’s sleep and wake-up schedule is going to look quite different from during the school year. Try not to wait until the last minute to help your child get back on track. This could lead to some groggy mornings at the start, but it’s a good idea to take care of this transition before the school year has kicked off.

Plus, mornings are typically hectic, during the school year. Make sure you have a routine planned out, to make them easier for both you and your children. Consider preparing lunches the night prior, whenever possible.

Good luck with all your back-to-school preparations!

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How to Teach Empathy to Your Child

How to teach empathy to your childFor parents diligently helping their children in their overall development, empathy can easily go overlooked. In part, this may be because the concept is not something that is easily explained in words—especially for younger children. To help, we’ve found that the best ways to teach an abstract concept like empathy to your child tend to be organic—including leading by example and explaining how your actions affect other people in your life.

What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Essentially, it means to put yourself in their shoes and look at something from their perspective.

How to Teach Empathy?

We may try to use our actions to set an example but how can you teach empathy? Start by focusing on helping your child build a sense of self and stay mindful of their actions. A good way to teach empathy is when a random stranger does something out of anger towards you (cuts you off on the freeway, says something mean to you, etc.), don’t react in anger. Instead, think to yourself and out loud to your child, “why is this person acting this way? Maybe they just lost their job? Maybe they are sick or just found out someone else they care about is sick?” You will never know why. But if you and your child look at it from that perspective, you will start to think more empathetically.

Build a Healthy Sense of Self

It may seem counterintuitive, but your child must establish confidence in themselves to have empathy for others. This does not mean that you should assure them that they are the best at everything they do or try to set them above their peers. Instead, establishing confidence is about recognizing who you are and how you affect the world around you. As your child’s inner self becomes clearer and clearer, it is easier for them to relate to others empathically and have a positive effect on the other individuals in their life.

Once a child has developed a decent sense of self, you can teach empathy by helping your child recognize that they are a part of a larger community filled with others with their own unique personalities. Most importantly, their actions impact others. Most children respond well to the idea of being part of a community.  They need a lot from people around them while they are young and developing. With these two realizations, your child can relate to and help others from their own empathic center.

Avoid Egocentric Childhood

When we are young—and before we have developed a sense of community—the world revolves around us. With a realistic sense of self, most people begin realizing that this is not the case. However, as we know, some adults hold onto the belief that the world revolves around them. Their chief concern is how each event affects them personally. In all likelihood, these adults experienced an egocentric childhood. Children whose parents enable an egocentric childhood don’t have the opportunity to realize that all individuals have their own experiences, which are just as complicated, detailed, and emotionally charged as their own lives.

Childhood is truly the best time to encourage awareness of the ego and help develop a healthy balance between handling self-needs and the needs of others. With help, children can begin understanding their friends, family, and peers. You can help your child realize that their own needs are part of the bigger picture. Teach empathy by telling them stories about other people who act selflessly. Be a good example yourself. Ask why your child feels like they want, need, or deserve something. Be transparent as you consider how your actions will affect others. Share your reasoning for making empathetic decisions.

Show Them What Empathy Means Yourself

Be honest in your approach to the conversation. By being calm and avoiding appearing dominating or ego-driven, you can gain insight into your child’s thought processes. You may even learn something about yourself along the way. Teaching empathy requires you to be open and calm in your responses to conversations and conflicts with your child. In the end, with your example at hand, your child can begin to make wise decisions that avoid conflict and consider the feelings of others.

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3 of the Best Parenting Books

3 of the best parenting books
Connection with nature benefits the human mind

Parenting is the adventure of a lifetime—and not just your own. As such, the emotions that come with parenting can be incredibly intense on both ends of the spectrum. Whether it be meltdowns, disagreements, or anything else leading to conflict with another parent or your child, there are strategic and well-researched ways to approach the situation to benefit all involved. While there are many outside resources available to you, including pediatricians, schools, therapists, and more, the idea is to be able to manage most of the situations that come up as you raise your child on your own. That’s where parenting books come to your rescue.

Fortunately, you can still take advantage of expert advice along the way. To help, there are innumerable parenting books you can refer to throughout your journey as a parent. Through the world of books, we can draw on the experiences of others and use them to pursue more positive interactions with our children. Here are three of our favorites.

Parenting Without Power Struggles – Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids While Staying Cool, Calm, and Connected by Susan Stiffelman

Our own egos can get in the way of developing a full understanding of our children’s struggles. Worse, ego can prevent us from viewing the situation from the child’s position and seeing both sides of the conversation. This parenting book by therapist Susan Stiffelman provides a “how-to” approach to common conflicts between parents and their children. It provides well-developed, ego-free techniques to arrive at mutual solutions with your kids.

Whether your issues involve common child-parent struggles like homework, screen time, or building motivation for school, or something more unique to your family, this book provides valuable insight. We’re confident these are tools that can be used. It will help improve your approach to parenting and help you in building confidence.

Teaching Kids to Think – Raising Confident Independent and Thoughtful Children in an Age of Instant Gratification by Darlene Sweetland and Ron Stolberg

The first step to helping your children develop into functional, independent adults is embracing your own confidence. This parenting book by Darlene Sweetland and Ron Stolberg provides anecdotes and solid techniques. It approaches various components of your relationship with your children. Better yet, it supplies advice suitable for living in the age of data, technology, and social media.

The authors note that these days, children have adapted to technological advancements. They may no longer feel the need to learn simple skills. As a result, the writers feel that parents need structured insight into the social, emotional, and mental obstacles unique to today’s kids. This text is a must-read for parents. It will also help childcare workers and educators alike. It will help you understand how to raise children who are not entitled, but compassionate and confident themselves.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv

As the age of information and technology continues, parents are faced with increased reasons to avoid the world at large. However, the world beyond the walls of your home has not changed much. Instead, fear has shifted our perspective to view natural and public places in a poor light. However, it is more critical now than ever for children to share a connection with the natural world.

This parenting book by Richard Louv shares respected research and psychology reports that prove how a deep connection with nature benefits the human mind. Read how nature can be the bearer of powerful therapeutic experiences that originate within your child. With this book, you can learn how time outdoors soothes the mind and relieves the stresses of individuals of all ages. Allowing children to use the natural world in this manner is critical for developing a positive parent-child relationship.

While parenting books are no substitute for professional advice aimed at your unique situation, they can help you begin managing the more challenging aspects of parenting on your own. We hope that one of these favorites can help you begin developing more positive parenting techniques and find a way to use them within your household.

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