Category: Family & Parenting

By Louise Kinross

Rashan Edwards has worked as an occupational therapist (OT) on all of Holland Bloorview’s inpatient units and is now working with outpatients on our brain injury unit. She’d like to see better representation of Black and other racialized people in the health professions and in our hospital. “I was the only Black student in my class at OT school,” she recalls. “I’ve had a client’s mom say to me: ‘It’s so nice my daughter can come and see someone who’s in this position that looks like her.’ Representation matters.” We spoke about how she got into the field and her hopes for our new strategic plan.

BLOOM: You were at Holland Bloorview’s campfire session on equity, diversity and inclusion, where participants noted that our employee makeup is not diverse from a racial perspective.

Rashan Edwards: I really want Bloorview staff to reflect the families that we serve here. I was lucky enough when I was growing up to see my mother as a superintendent with the Toronto District School Board. I had representation. I had that vision of a Black woman in leadership. I want kids who come here to know that they can do whatever they want. I think Bloorview does an amazing job advocating for kids with disabilities, and they can do an amazing job advocating for equity, diversity and inclusion from a race perspective, too. You can’t get rid of power imbalances, but you can acknowledge them and take steps to empower clients and families to feel that their voices are being heard and their culture is represented and embraced when they come here for care.

BLOOM: How did you get into this field?

Rashan Edwards: Ever since I was a child I’ve known I wanted to work with kids. I started babysitting when I was 10 and I worked with children at summer camps. I was a dance teacher. I loved biology and the human body, so I wanted to work in the health field. My mom was the one who said ‘I think the field of OT would be great for you.’ I had no idea what it was. In university I studied biology and family and child studies, but I had no idea there was a field where I could combine child development and health care, with a little bit of research.

BLOOM: What is a typical day like?

Rashan Edwards: When I worked with inpatients I was a float that worked on all three units. It was really busy and included working with a wide variety of clients of all ages, from kids with orthopedic difficulties to those with genetic conditions. I loved being able to work with all three inpatient teams. Each team is like their own town, with their own unique flow and vibe and all are run a little differently. But they each do great work, and each kid is unique. I liked it because I like keeping busy and learning new things.

Now I’m working with outpatients with brain injury who I see for assessments and therapy. I could have a little baby I’m seeing to work on development and fine-motor skills, or I could have a teen boy who needs support with executive functioning, so I’m helping him to get the accommodations he needs at school.

BLOOM: What is most challenging?

Rashan Edwards: The things that are out of our control: medical complications, time pressures, wait lists.

BLOOM: Is there anything you do to manage stress?

Rashan Edwards: I rely on the incredible and supportive team members I have. Everyone here understands what we all work through, and what we see on a daily basis. Being able to talk out some of the challenges we face with colleagues is helpful. Perspective from their eyes allows me to take a step back and look at the big picture. Sometimes you get stuck on one thing and the amazing wisdom on our team helps you get a new perspective and try something new.

Outside of here I go to the gym. I do high-intensity training. Because you’re going hard for a short period of time, you have to really focus and be in your body. Being with my family and hanging out with my four-year-old twin nephews help as well.

BLOOM: What qualities do you need to be good in your job?

Rashan Edwards: You need to be adaptable. You can’t always go into a session with a prescribed plan, because kids are unique and constantly changing. Sometimes they’re happy and sometimes they don’t want to do therapy. You have to be flexible and change on the fly. You have to not take yourself too seriously. I have to do pretty silly things to get kids to buy in. Sometimes I’m singing The Wheels on the Bus in a British accent to get a kid to laugh and make it fun. Kids won’t do things if it’s boring. So you need to be creative. 

BLOOM: What are the greatest joys?

Rashan Edwards: There are so many. I think one is when you see kids realize that they did something they couldn’t do before. You see them being proud of themselves. Some of the changes we see here are incredible. The brain is a really miraculous piece of anatomy. We see kids who come in not able to walk or talk and they walk out of here a couple of months later and wave goodbye. We learn so much about how resilient kids are. You’ll see children who have been through so much, but they’re laughing with the clowns and smiling and cracking jokes and making new friends. When families feel supported, you can really see the power of everyone working together.

BLOOM: How do you help kids accept new disabilities?

Rashan Edwards: The beauty of my job is that we don’t look at rehab as a fixing of anything. It’s not always about getting kids back to where they were before. Part of it is teaching compensation strategies. So okay, what’s something you want to do? How can we modify it to do it in other ways, or how can we use assistive devices or other strategies?

BLOOM: If you could change one thing about children’s rehab for kids with brain injury, what would it be?

Rashan Edwards: Probably just the system, in terms of the resources we have. Unfortunately, we have long wait lists and wait times. We could do a lot more if we had more capacity and funding.

Like this interview? Sign up for our monthly BLOOM e-letter. You’ll get family stories and expert advice on parenting children with disabilities; interviews with activists, clinicians and researchers; and disability news. 

Educator Ashley Causey-Golden was drawn to Montessori principles but felt something missing that she longed to provide: cultural relevancy. She wondered, “What would it look like to create a Montessori space that uplifted, affirmed, celebrated Black children?” Fulfilling this desire has been a journey of discovery and grace (with a lot of mistakes along the way). Ashley’s ultimate success gave her the courage to pursue another passion: nature education. As the co-founder of Gather Forest School and creator of Afrocentric Montessori, Ashley has a wealth of experience to share with all families and educators interested in nurturing our children’s spirit, sense of community, and connection to the natural world.

Transcript of “Nurturing a Deeper Connection to Nature and Heritage (with Ashley Causey-Golden)”

Hi, this is Janet Lansbury. Welcome to Unruffled. Today I have an awesome guest: educator, Ashley Causey-Golden. She founded Afrocentric Montessori, which blends Afrikan principles into Montessori education. And she’s the co-creator of Gather Forest School, which offers a totally outdoor learning experience with the mission to guide children in their lifelong relationships with the natural world. She’s also the mother of a toddler and she’s actually hiding out in the closet to be able to record with me today.

Ashley has a lot of wisdom and experience to share and I’m really excited to have her here.

Hello Ashley, welcome to Unruffled. Thank you so much for being here.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  I’m excited.

Janet Lansbury:  Thank you. It’s so great to reconnect with you. I really wanted to share your work. It’s so inspiring and uplifting and really life-changing and I wanted to share it with my listeners here on Unruffled. Could you talk a little about how you got into this, the work that you’re doing now, how you got on this path?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yes, because it definitely wasn’t a straight path.

So my background is in elementary and special ed and when I was doing my teaching internship it just didn’t connect with me teaching within the public schools. I was always asking questions about race and equity and my professors were just like: “You know what? You should go to graduate school. You can get those answers met there.” And so when I went to Columbia’s Teacher’s College, I worked at Hollingworth and that actually was the first time I was in a classroom that was focused on aesthetics, discovery, that was child led.

Janet Lansbury:  Can you talk about what that is?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  It was Montessori inspired, a little bit of Reggio Emilia, a little bit of Waldorf. It was a mixed ideology practice, definitely child led. We did have themes that we explored with the children. But let’s say the theme we’re exploring are trees for three weeks… If the children get really into it and start getting more to the nuances, those three weeks might turn into a month or two. So we really looked at children stretch our own imagination and we just made sure the environment was prepared for the children each day.

And I came from scripted lesson plans. That’s the world I came from. Then I came here, I was like Wow, this is exciting! And then I instantly thought about how would this look like for black children? So that question was in the back of my mind throughout everything.

After leaving Hollingworth, I was like, I need a job <laugh>. So then I went into the charter network and that also was very eye-opening to me. I’m not here to say there’s anything bad about charter schools, but for me I just felt like there wasn’t enough grace for parents, especially for the Black parents who were trusting that charter network. We came in with our own preconceived notions, right? Children falling behind, some children coming to school, not having a full meal… All of these things were like preconceived notions

Janet Lansbury: That the school had about families, you mean?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Also what we as educators, as workers in the space also had about families. Because it was a very savior-like mentality. Like, if we’re not doing this for the kids, who’s going to do it for the kids? That kind of mindset.

Janet Lansbury:  Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  And so I just really wanted to understand, because I didn’t have kids at that time. I worked with children but I didn’t know what it felt like to be a parent.

So I actually got into birth work, and being in the room with families with birthing women, it’s like a light bulb went off. I was like, oh, they care about their children, like the light, the love that oozes from the body when the child is born. I was like, oh okay. That’s when for me, grace became part of the equation when it came to education, and it was less about theory, less about doing it right all the time. I thought, oh we just need to be practical. It just needs to make sense. And then after working with families and being a doula, I was like, oh okay, let’s make it practical and realistic and not that the sky is falling

Janet Lansbury:  And really connected with people’s experience, right? It sounds like you identified with those birthing mothers and you realized this is about connecting and being supportive to individuals.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yes. Working with them to get them what they need. And sometimes that school was what they needed and sometimes there are actually other ways that were better suited for the child and their family. Just being honest and real with families and students.

And that experience led me to fall into Montessori in a way, because the practices and the theory of Montessori aligned. But I didn’t know why it aligned. You can read about something or hear something and it just clicks and that’s how Montessori was for me. It was a very respectful ideology that I was like Ah, I wanna learn more about it.

But as I got into the world of Montessori, again I was wondering about Black children because it was Uber-white. My instructors was white, the schools that I worked at predominantly white, the children that I was serving, predominantly white. And I just wanted more. 

How can I learn more about Montessori but also be true to my own identity and culture?

So after my stint at the charter school, I actually went to Brooklyn to work at to Seneca Montessori School and Seneca is a truly a hundred percent Black space. Everything that’s brought into the classroom needs to be represented of Black culture. So when I first started working there, it was a huge mind shift, because I actually never worked in this space that was, one, a hundred percent Black, and two, pro-black and very firm in that value.

Janet Lansbury:  What was different about that? Like what are some of the details? Because one thing I would love to help parents get from this podcast is how to bring their culture into their children’s education, whether that’s at home or in a center. What are some of the things that you do to make it richer culturally and help them feel more of their identity in the classroom?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  So for us, we had to do a deep dive with in the continent of Africa. So we had to look at each country and study each country in terms not just the flag, but in terms of food, clothes, music, language. On a higher education level, yes I could pull books, articles, but I’m working with three, four and five-year-olds. So I couldn’t find easy principles or even information that was broken down to a level that a child could understand. So a lot of things I was typing out, writing out, freehand drawing for the classroom.

We celebrated the major holidays that are relevant within Black culture, which was really fun because we were able to bring in elders from the community to help us with those celebrations. So, I talked to families. It can start very simple. Like you can bring in books but also touch into your community and see what’s available for you to visit, to see. Intergenerational education is key. So are there any elders in the community that you can bring in. Food is another wonderful touchpoint. Music. So I was able to bring those touchpoints into the classroom that actually made parents interested. They’re like, “Hey, my child came home talking about this and I never thought about it but I used to make this with my grandma.” It started larger conversations.

Janet Lansbury:  Wonderful. That’s so encouraging, right? For the parents to embrace more of their history and their culture and bring that alive for children. Everybody benefits from that, right?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  They do. And I will say I do find that sometimes there is so much hesitancy to wanting to do it quote, unquote, “right,” that the ball never gets started. We never get started on it because we’re always reading, we’re always buying another book, always researching so we can get it “right” so our children can be politically correct and make sure they don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. And that’s draining. It’s draining and it’s daunting when you’re a parent and you have so much on your plate already. I’m just like, “y’all, let’s just make it make sense, to be honest.”

And it is messy. There are so many times I have said the wrong thing, put my foot in my mouth, offended, and then that’s where grace comes in, and apologies, just letting go of the ego of I’m going to be right all the time, because I’m not.

I feel like when you take your dive and you just start, it gets easier along the way, it becomes more freeing where it is actually second nature. Now you’re like: hmm, I’m curious about this. I don’t have to have it all together <laugh> before I say something.

Janet Lansbury:  Can you give a specific example of that?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Of having it all together before I say something?

Janet Lansbury:  <laugh> Well what you had to look up or what you thought you had to look up.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yeah, so we just moved out of Native American Heritage Month and for me that was a huge area that I actually did not know much about. My trajectory within schooling was very traditional. I still remember my kindergarten, we were doing pilgrims and Indian play.

Janet Lansbury:  Oh my kids too. I have the pictures and they’re mortified now, you know?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yeah, I know this might be embarrassing to say, but I was in my mid-twenties, I’m cringing, I was in grad school before I realized: oh a lot of the lesson plans I did during my teacher program were wrong. And this time around I checked out books, I listened to pronunciations of tribes. Children asked questions where I’m like, “I don’t know, let’s look it up.” We still have students who believe that Native American and indigenous people still lived in teepees. And so it was like, wait, let’s just jump into it and talk about it. And it became more frank.

When I tell you that was very like cringeworthy to me — things that you learned about yourself and things that you did were like wrong <laugh>, you’re always like, I don’t want anybody to know or I don’t want to step back in that trap. And now I feel like yeah, I did all of that. I got really messy. But it’s freeing in a way saying yeah, I learned that way but now I want to do something different. I want to do something better.

There are so many other voices talking about their history and culture that I don’t have to spend hours researching on my own. There are so many voices out there today that I can listen from and share.

Janet Lansbury:  And find that you do relate to, you know, every kind of person.

And also you’re modeling for these children. I’m thinking as you’re talking, you’re modeling how to be an open-minded, self forgiving a lifelong learner, which is the only way you can be a lifelong learner is to be self forgiving, staying open. Because just as you said about all the things that people are afraid to step into because they might not do it perfectly or get it right, get it politically correct, you know, that’s how we close off to learning and that’s the opposite of what we want to teach children, right from when they’re little.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Oh yes. To be open and accepting. And I do have in the back of my mind and I’m totally aware of, it’s a real thing about being called out. It’s a real thing about being blacklisted. Those are real things but if we think about how we’re teaching the next generation, how we’re teaching our children… I try not to let those concerns and those fears limit my work. That’s just a part of the reality that we live in. People live off soundbites, <laugh>, yeah people live off soundbites, snapshots Instagram captions

Janet Lansbury:  And they can read into it a really extreme thing too, you know, because it’s just… If all you’re giving is a sound bite, you know the meaning is is lost and kind of corrupted.

So yeah, I mean, what you’re doing is so, so freeing and you’re giving people permission to do that too.  And you know, definitely white people, well I can’t speak for everyone but I definitely feel that: oh gosh I am going to say it wrong, I’m going to do it wrong. And and I have. I have done it wrong plenty of times but we keep trying, you know, we just keep learning and trying and doing better and that’s really all any of us can do.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  That’s it. Keep showing up.

Janet Lansbury:  The other area that I really wanted to dive into with you is the nature education, because for me it’s like the ultimate, the idea of like going to a nature school sounds so incredible and I wanted to hear a little about that. And also how parents in urban environments or home environments where there’s no outside yard can bring nature into their children’s lives, if you have any ideas about that,

Ashley Causey-Golden:  To have nature and to be in nature doesn’t mean that you’re hiking in the forest every day. It can be just walking in your community. It could be bringing plants inside your home, having plants accessible.  If you have animals, that’s a part of nature too. But it is really teaching children: how can I coexist with Mother Earth?  Because yes, it’s freeing for children to run around, it’s freeing to also just exist, but we also were teaching children: “How do you care for the trees? How do you care for plants, animals?” I’m talking also about earthworms and insects and spiders. Things that you kind of step on and crush because you’re scared of them or you run for them. Things that people are like ugh, it’s just a bug. We’re really teaching children that every, every essence is important to the grand scheme of things. Even the mosquito. Everything is important to the greater picture. And so that’s what working and being in nature has taught me.

Janet Lansbury:  And so what do you do when a child stomps on a bug?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We actually had to sit a child down today about harming earthworms. We remind children that even the ant, mosquito, fly earthworm, we’re in their home. We are visiting their home for these four hours. Just like you wouldn’t want someone to come into your home and squash you, hit you, pull you apart. We have to keep that same mindset when we are in these animals home.

Some children, even myself, I’m not even going to exclude myself, I am afraid of bees, spiders. You won’t see me walk deep into the woods cause I don’t do well with spiders. I said, “If you’re scared of these things, make space, let’s not tear down a spiders web, because it takes spiders many, many days to make these homes. If you are afraid, let’s not go down that path, or we’ll walk around.”

So some of our children take it very much to heart when another classmate sometimes intentionally or unintentionally harms the animal. Now, my co-founder Shelby and myself, we actually don’t have to say much because the children actually step in and like ask questions like, “Hey why did you do that?” And then they problem-solve like, “You could have did this, this, this, this or this” <laugh> “before you actually stepped on this animal.”

So it is expanding children’s ability to empathize and think about how are we co-living? How are we sharing this space?

Janet Lansbury:  That’s so cool.

And what do you do then when it’s really, really cold or boiling hot? Don’t the children complain? .

Ashley Causey-Golden: Yes. So your listeners have probably heard “clothing is everything.” Clothing helps keep your body warm. Certain clothing helps keep your body cool. But sometimes you’re just hot and many times I’m just cold as well. So we will sing, try to do hand work, we try to do something to activate the mind.

I will say our children move their body a lot more than Shelby and I. So a lot of the time when I’m super cold, it’s because I’m not moving my body enough to generate heat. But the children will find ways to get their bodies warm again.

If the plans that Shelby and I have don’t work out like: “oh let’s do this, let’s do that,” they’re like: “Nah, we actually want to play tag.” We’re like, “cool,” because they’re moving their bodies.

On days that it is pouring down rainy we will find shelter.

Janet Lansbury:  So you don’t actually have an indoor space?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We don’t.

Janet Lansbury:  Cool. That’s so brave of you <laugh>. You don’t close the school if it’s pouring rain? Wait, does it snow there? No. You’re in the… Where are you?

Ashley Causey-Golden: In Atlanta. No snow, thank goodness.

Janet Lansbury:  But do you have rain days or days when you close the school because the weather’s just too much?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We will close if it is lightning. Let’s say we’re outside and it’s rainy and we hear on the forecast (since we’re constantly checking our phones on days that it’s rainy), we will let parents know ahead of time that we need to close early because lightning’s coming around 11 o’clock. And so parents who picked their children up early.

Where we’re co-located, we do have an indoor space but we only used that indoor space when it’s heavy rains. If it’s drizzling, we’re all fine. Two weeks ago it was about 30-ish degrees and it was pouring rain. So we did spend an hour inside reading doing community circle for us to warm up our bodies but also to just take a break from the pouring rain. And so by the time we went back outside it was drizzling, the kids were playing, no one was thinking about going back inside. But in that brief moment of that heavy rain we’re like, we just need some relief <laugh>. And to speak for myself, I needed some relief. 

Janet Lansbury:  Yes, I do think we feel it worse than the children. Sometimes their bodies just work better too. Besides the fact that they’re moving a lot, their engines are newer, they’re a little fresher than mine for sure.

So what’s an example of a curriculum that you would have for your day? Is it totally child led or do you do the, the Reggio Emilia thing of gathering from them what they want to explore further and then you go with that? How do you do it?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We have a mixture, a Montessori-Waldorf flow but it is sprinkled with Reggio Emilia. So we do have a rhythm for the day where we have our community circle, we have lesson time, nature exploration time, snack. We might have a daily activity which is based in nature. Then we have lunch and then it’s time to say farewell.

And so when we have our work cycle we do align it to the Georgia State standards. We use the standards just as a guide because many of our families are homeschooling families or wish to homeschool. So we try to align ourself with what parents need. A lot of them are new to homeschooling. We have a few that been doing it for a while so they use us more as a a place for their child to be social. But for those who are new to homeschooling, we always remind families about the state standards, to use it as an alignment. But we’re not regulated like a traditional school who will go strictly by standards.

Janet Lansbury:  And what grade do you go up to or what year?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yeah, three and our oldest is nine.

Janet Lansbury:  And are you sort of increasing it as you go or you decided to stop there at that age?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We’re such a tight-knit community so I don’t see much turnover. where we will just keep having that same aged people. I think we’re going to increase it as we go.

What is so refreshing about Gather is that we get to know the strengths of our students and we get to know what they’re interested in and that helps us prepare what’s going to be at community circle. It helps us prepare what’s going to be given during the work cycle. And that’s why I’m able to bring in some Montessori elements to help teach those ideas. It’s nice that we have that flexibility that we’re not solely using one curriculum. We’re able to just flow with the different needs of our students.

Janet Lansbury:  That’s great. But going back to your curriculum, what’s an example of nature exploration? Is that children doing what they want or is that guided?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  It’s two-pronged. Yes, children do what they want and it’s also guided. So before we go into morning circle, we let the children do nature exploration and that’s free play. So we have some children who will like to dig, children like to find rocks or fossils. Some children like to run and move their bodies. We allow children to climb on trees. They each get to do what they choose.

After we do community circle and set the expectation for the day… We’re learning about animal habitats. So everything after community circle is more guided or what we could call structure. So if we’re doing our watercolor station, children are finding items in nature that the animals will use as habitat and then they’re recreating that using watercolor. Or we’re finding native trees in Georgia, so they’re finding leaves that they can write about in their journal. So it’s still in nature but it’s much more guided in structure than what it looks like in the beginning of the day.

Janet Lansbury:  Ah, that sounds so idyllic to me.

What are some big mistakes that you’ve made where you learned, oh gosh this doesn’t work. Or have there been things like that that come to mind?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  It does. Because idyllic is a beautiful word to use for this environment, I also want to be realistic when parents are listening to this because some parents would be extremely skeptical. How are they learning math? How are they reading? Those are really big questions too. And I will say that the biggest learning curve I learned about our community co-running Gather is how we serve children. I strongly believe that children should be in the environment where they have some elements of the natural world. I’m not saying that you have to be outside all day or even six hours a day, but I do believe children need to be tied to some aspect of the natural world.

But there also needs to be a balance cause a lot of our families are layering what we’re doing at Gather within their home. So they are doing the math, the reading, the science on top of what we’re doing.

Families who have this idea of the school should do everything: the school should teach my child, the school should do the social and emotional work and when the child comes home, we’re just doing routines. You get snack, rest a little bit, dinner’s prepared, bedtime routine and then we start again. I will say Gather is not a best fit for a family who operates that way. This is really a place where we are partnering with parents who are also doing some of the work at home. So that was the biggest learning curve. I think as parents, as loved ones, we do want the best, we want the best for our children. I think there are very few people who’ll be like, nah, I wanna give my child just 30%.

Janet Lansbury:  Right? Mediocre, mediocre education for my child.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Doing the best for our child just looks different based on what we have and what our needs are.

Janet Lansbury:  Of course. You shared this quote from Queen Taese, is that how you pronounce her name? 

Ashley Causey-Golden: Yeah, Taese.

Janet Lansbury:  Queen Taese, on your Instagram page. And it stuck out to me:

“Your life is a curriculum and you need to take ownership of that, whether your child attends public private charter school or is homeschooled.”

Yes. And that feels very true. You know, even to when you have adult children like I do. The gatherings, the way that you connect with them and continue to engage with them and be with them and your relationship is… you’re teaching, you’re teaching relationships, you’re teaching what it’s like to be adults, together with what it’s like to be an older adult. Yes. You’re teaching how your career or your life goals keep maybe changing and you know, it is so rich, the whole experience, and to have that understanding that all of a child’s life is learning, it’s not just what they go to Gather school for.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  That is key. It changes. We all go through seasons. We all go through changes, and I wish that I could sprinkle fairy dust on all parents to realize that things change. Children change styles of learning, styles of parenting sometime change and that’s all okay.

Some of our families I know for a fact Gather is perfect. Can I say that Gather will be a perfect fit for that same family 2, 3, 4 years from now? I can’t, because the child might need something new, something else that another environment can provide for. And that’s okay.

I think sometimes we get so rooted in a certain philosophy or ideal that we totally miss the child who is in front of us. And we also silence our needs too. As parents, as adults, we put our needs on the back burner when it’s just seeing shift and change and that’s okay.

Janet Lansbury:  Exactly. This is also answering my other question which is: what positive things have you learned or what kind of secrets have you learned about education?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Being able to walk with parents but not being too invested in the decisions that they make. I don’t know if that’s clear, but what I mean is- 

Janet Lansbury:  Totally clear.

Ashley Causey-Golden: Okay.

Janet Lansbury:  As somebody that works with parents, totally clear. And as a parent myself, yeah. I mean that’s the thing about parenting, everybody gets to make those choices and they’re not going to make the choices that you would make for them maybe, you know? And that’s how it has to be. That’s the beautiful part of it: they’re developing their own relationship with their child.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  That’s it. And I think that has been the greatest lesson: that parents are going to make their own decision and that’s okay. And I can still be the individual I am, the teacher, all of the things that I am. And still also being in community with those families and be of like mind and finding those spaces. I think at year one, when we first started, we wanted do everything right. We wanted to be everything to every parent. I remember making those calls, trying to get people to like come to Gather <laugh>. That was, I want to say stressful. But they were like: “What are y’all doing outside? How is my child learning anything?”

“They will,” we promised. We wanted to meet every parent’s need or desire and it was just too much. It was too much. And so that’s the secret I learned, just letting go. Saying, “this is what we offer, this is what we can provide your child.” And just leaving that on the table. “And if you want to join us, we’d love to have you. If you’re like ah, this isn’t for me. That’s great. You can still communicate with us online. We have community events. If you would like to stop in, we would love to have you.”

Janet Lansbury:  Yeah. I think being very confident like that “this is what we offer and it may not be right for you.”

When my children were in preschool, there were big problems going on with a couple of the local preschools in that parents really wanted them to teach more academics very early on. And the schools were feeling pressured by that. And some of them succumbed to that because they had to please the parents. And you know, I was trying to support the early childhood educators. “It’s okay if people don’t want what you have, but believe in what you have.”

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yes. Believe in what you have. And parents can like mirror that back and believe in how you are parenting your child. Because it is incredibly hard when we live in such a society that everything is outward facing. It seems like you are looking into everyone’s home seeing what they’re doing and, of course, everyone’s only showing the glamorized version

Janet Lansbury: <laugh> Right, where they got it “right,” 

Ashley Causey-Golden:  But it is so hard to be like, I am doing this right? It’s always like a question mark. I need the validation from someone outside of my own mind. Yeah,

Janet Lansbury:  Yeah. When in fact there’s actually no right way <laugh>. I mean that’s the secret too. As somebody with older children, I can say there’s no right way. It’s a journey. You’re learning all the time. Your child is changing, you’re getting surprised and seeing that what fit before doesn’t fit. It’s just life. It’s a journey. There’s no end.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Yes.

Janet Lansbury: You have found something that inspires you. And I love how you said, I don’t know if this was on your Instagram or on your your website, which is by the way, Afrocentric Montessori, you said, “I keep asking myself the question, what would it look like to create a Montessori space that uplifted, affirmed, celebrated Black children?” And that’s what inspires you. That’s what you wanted to offer. That and the nature education, which is also incredible. And you know, I’m sure there may even be Black families that don’t necessarily want that.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  We were pressed against the wall for many Black families who were just like, “my kid’s not going to be running around outside when they can be reading, writing above grade level. I want my child to excel beyond their age.”

Oh, you hear my little one.

Janet Lansbury:  I do <laugh>.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  <laugh>.

Janet Lansbury: Anthony, hey, your mom was hiding in the closet. How crazy is that?

Ashley Causey-Golden: He’s on my lap now so he’s fine.

Janet Lansbury:  She’s in the closet. What’s your mom doing in the closet? Talking to some lady in the computer. How could she do that?

Ashley Causey-Golden:  So now he’s happy. He’s like, ah, reunited.

Janet Lansbury:  Well we should probably end, but you know, I could talk to you all day. I just love hearing about your work. It’s really inspiring. It’s just bringing back a lot of memories for me about the early years with my children as well and the choices that we’ve had to make and how imperfect it all was. And thank you for all you do. 

And again, Ashley has an Instagram page, Afrocentric Montessori, and also one for the Gather Forest School.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Thank you for inviting me. And also <laugh> allowing my little one to join.

Janet Lansbury:  That’s my favorite thing. Bye, Anthony.

Ashley Causey-Golden:  Oh, he’s waving to you.

Janet Lansbury:  Oh, nice. Okay, take care. And we’ll talk soon.

♥

Here are some of the most popular Christmas gifts for teens and college students that are being offered with with pretty great discounts. Many Amazon gifts are available with next-day shipping if you have an Amazon Prime account.

Note: We are a reader-supported site and receive compensation from purchases through some of the links in this list. Items subject to changes in pricing and availability.

Fuzzy Fleece Zip Up

This cute fuzzy zip up jacket will keep her warm all winter!

Save $12

Apple AirPod Pro (2nd Gen)

These are the ultimate in the Apple line of earbuds with incredible sound-cancelling qualities.

Save 8%

Fanatics Apparel, Shoes, Gifts for Sports Fans

If your teen or college students is a sports fan, look for a Christmas gift for them at Fanatics, the #1 site for all officially licensed merchandise for NCAA, MLB, NFL, NHL, Soccer and more.

Save 70%!

Kendra Scott Diamond Jewelry

If you are shopping for a memorable piece of jewelry for your daughter, this is a fantastic deal – select jewelry pieces for $99. Big discounts from original pricing, limited supply.

Lululemon “We Made Too Much”

Lululemon is a favorite brand for our sons and daughter and find discounted apparel and gifts for men and women in the “We Made Too Much” section.

Belkin Dual Charger

Charge two devices at once with this best-selling charging stand.

Save $10

Women’s Slide Slipper

This trendy slipper is comfy and very well-priced.

Save $6

Makeup Mirror

This illuminated makeup mirror has been a very popular gift item this holiday season.

Save 29%

Levoit Air Purifier

These cylinder air purifiers from one of the top-rated companies is a wonderful way to create a cleaner air space for your family. Real HEPA filter removes Up to 99.97% of particles, pet allergies, smoke, dust, pet allergies, smoke, and dust.

Save $30

Tile Tracking Devices

This is a GREAT time to pick up some of these super-popular tracking devices. Many styles to choose from. Free Expedited Shipping on Orders $35+. Ends 12/19

Save up to 50%

Pottery Barn Teen

Pottery Barn Teen is one of our favorite places for furniture and furnishings for your teen. If you have a senior who will be living in a dorm next year, look for some of the dorm items they can use next year. Free Expedited Shipping on Orders $35+. Ends 12/19

Save up to 60%

Light Strips

This kit has 65.6ft Led strip lights to transform a room into something incredible. Includes remote control.

Save 43%

Desk Lamp (3rd Gen)

Students need good lighting and this is one of the most popular task lamps with Grown and Flown parents. This dimmable lamp has 5 lighting modes, 7 brightness, fast wireless charger, plus USB charging port.

Save 25%

Echo Dot (5th Gen)

If you have never used one of the Echo Dots, or have an earlier generation, this is a great time to take the Alexa plunge.

Save 33%

Burts Bees Lip Balm

Burts Bees is a go-to brand in our families and this limited edition set of four lip balms would make a great stocking stuffer or secret Santa gift for anyone. Eight different collections available.

Save 26%

Keratin Hari Mask

This high-rated hair mask repairs and conditions hair to have more softness, shine, and bounce in your hair. Omega 3 and Omega 9 increase moisture and hair elasticity plus Vitamin E to help replenish the shine.

Save 56%

Cloud Slipper

These slippers come in many colors and are wildly popular.

Save $10

Bombas

Lots of socks for men and women can be scooped up with delivery by 12/24: order by 12/20 with free 2-day shipping on orders over $85. Plus, for every sock purchased, one will be given to a person experiencing homelessness.

Keurig Mini Plus

This petit mini coffee maker is perfect for a dorm or first apartment. Many colors available.

Save 19%

Where can you find Christmas Tamales in Greenville, SC? Tamales at Christmas time are a staple in Mexican homes, and there are places in Greenville and Spartanburg that can help you bring this delicious tradition to your holiday table!

These labor-intensive treats are usually made in huge batches by a group of Tias (Aunts) all crowded around a kitchen. If you don’t have a bunch of Tias or the time to make your own tamales, it’s ok. Kidding Around’s Melanie is going to help you find tamales to enjoy this Christmas!

Fill your table with amazing food for the holidays from local restaurants, cafes, bakeries, and more. We have full meals, desserts, sides, charcuterie, take-home kits and so much more! Here’s all the amazing holiday food in Greenville, SC.

This article includes:
How to Make Tamales
Where to Find Tamales in Spartanburg, SC
Where to Find Tamales in Greenville, SC

A Delicious Tamalada

I’m sure you’re probably asking what Tamalada is. Don’t worry; it’s ok if you are because up until a few minutes ago, I had no idea that word existed for this tradition.

Tamalada is the word for the tradition of making tamales with your family by the busload, a tamale-making party if you will. You might be wondering why families traditionally make so many at once? It’s because they are labor-intensive to make and delicious, so you want a ton of them! The perfect time to make them is when families gather together for the holidays to see each other. They spend the day together preparing the tamales so that everyone can take home a bag full to enjoy during the holidays.

How to Make Tamales

If you want to try your hand at making them yourself, plan to spend the day doing it. Clear off the kitchen table, gather your ingredients, and grab the kids because this is an all-hands-on-deck type project. 

There are five parts to making tamales:

• You’ll need to soak the corn husks
• Prepare the masa, a paste made from ground corn flour
• Prepare the meat.
  While not the traditional way, I prepare the pork using Mexican director Robert Rodriguez’s (Spy Kids) recipe for the pork.
• Assemble the three ingredients together to form the tamales
• Steam them in huge batches

This recipe for Tamales from Gimmee Some Oven is good for first-timers. If all of this sounds like a lot of work, it is! Don’t worry, though, because there are places locally that can help you reap all of the benefits without any of the labor (and that’s what I’m all about this year.)

Where to Buy Tamales in Spartanburg, SC

Greer Tacos
2000 Highway 101, Greer
(Inside the Barnyard Flea Market) 

Tienda Mexicana La Rosita
520 Spring Street, Spartanburg

El Burrito Restaurant
3614 Parris Bridge Road, Boiling Springs

Where to Buy Tamales in Greenville, SC

Papi’s Tacos 
300 River Street, Greenville
Salsa verde & Salsa roja tamales available

Comal 864
1112 Woodside Ave, Greenville

La Unica 
6119 White Horse Road, Greenville

La Unica 
5101 Wade Hampton Boulevard, Taylors

El Torito
400 East Poinsett Street, Greer

Panderia La Estrella
307 East Poinsett Boulevard, Greer 
635 North East Main Street, Simpsonville 
Salsa verde, Salsa Roja & Chicken tamales are available

Viva Villa
Locations across the Upstate

My son will be graduating from high school next week and I could not be prouder. He is graduating six months early. Last night we were at his awards assembly and I was so happy for him as he accepted his honor roll certificate. As I sat in the audience, I reflected on my son’s positive transformation over the last few months that was a product of the right educational environment and an amazing support staff.

It was not always like this. My son asked us several months ago if he could switch from his mainstream high school to an alternative education environment. At that time, I was unsure and a little heartbroken.

As parents we all have our own expectations of what we want for our children. However, my expectations no longer correlated with my child’s reality. This, as a parent, can be tough. It took me a while to accept and adjust to something that was different than what I had envisioned.

It took me time to adjust to my teen’s idea of what he wanted

I needed to come to terms with what my son was going through. I had to face the reality that what was best for my son’s well-being no longer aligned with my idea of what his high school experience “should be.” As his mother, I had come to a crossroad of doing what was in my child’s best interest instead of what I thought should be done.

In my head I knew the best thing for him was to switch to another learning environment to complete his high school year. But, to be perfectly honest, my heart broke a little that he would be moving from my alma mater and that he would not walk the same graduation field and stage that I had walked (and that his brother and grandfather had as well). The scenario I had created in my mind was no longer conducive to his well-being.

My son was unhappy at his high school

My son is extremely shy and has always had a very small friend group. He is a sweet, mellow, loving and compassionate young man. He gets good grades and academically he has always done well. He struggled socially because he is shy and quiet and suffers from anxiety. Large groups are difficult for him and, as someone with social anxiety, he was miserable at a school with over 2,500 kids. A school that size can be overwhelming for anyone, let alone an introvert with social anxiety.

His high school had been closed for Covid for over a year and since returning to campus, my son had difficulty finding his footing. Once back on campus, he would text me throughout the day saying that he was feeling down. Many of his friends had taken different paths or begun friendships that my son was no longer part of, so he had few friends with whom to interact.

As his mom it is my job to encourage him and listen to him. I was doing this daily but I was never truly connecting with his anxiousness. I attempted on several occasions to get counseling for him but counselors were either not taking teenagers or had wait lists. When we talked I asked him to just get through his Junior Year. He did and I thought we were over the hump and that Senior Year would be good. It was not.

Things did not improve during his Senior Year in high school

My son continued to text me throughout the day and he would come home from school sad, and miserable. Then he asked to meet with alternative education studies to explore the different options of education that our district offered.

We discovered that the continuation school was an option with the same general curriculum required by our state to graduate high school. The credits he had already earned would carry over and he could graduate early. After talking, we decided that this was his best option. When he transferred, he only needed 15 credits and to complete a student project that consisted of life skills, career exploration and independent living skills to graduate early.

Listening to my son allowed him not only to survive high school but to thrive

By allowing him to have input and choose this option we have watched him THRIVE!! The difference is astonishing. My son made friends; he was productive and participated in a life skills course to help him with real life studies. He felt engaged with teachers, counseling staff and his peers.

The biggest change we saw was that he would come home smiling and happy, enthusiastic about his day. He was excited to share what he was learning and how his day had gone and this warmed my heart.

As his momma this is all I needed to see to know that letting him choose what was right for his educational path was the right move, as was letting go of my own unrealistic expectations.

My expectations were based on my experiences and my personality and he was not me. I had to let him be who he was in order to do what was best for him.

More Great Reading:

I Began to Finally Listen to My Son When He Struggled With Mental Health

Ah, another cozy family dinner with all of us, devouring some semi-homemade concoction I’ve cooked to nourish my beautiful family. Eventually, silence fills the air as the kids inevitably trail off into their phones mid-way through our meal. “How was your day?” I ask. “Fine,” or sometimes, “meh,” they reply.

Great. Another meal with little to no quality conversation time. Shouldn’t my family want to converse and verbalize every single detail of their lives with me, their mother?!! Seriously, am I expecting too much? 

As it turns out…I might be. 

Teens’ peer interaction is formative

My training as a social scientist tells me that this is a time when friendships and peer interaction are formative, and to my children, their phones are a gateway to this essential life force. After careful consideration, I internally acknowledge that I only have two options. 

One, I can shut it all down and force my kids into retro-style, last-century methods of communication (i.e., prolonged and painful squirmy talks where my child gazes at the door like it’s an escape hatch from an alien abduction).

Or two, I can acknowledge that I don’t know absolutely everything about the universe and give in to education from younger generations on the benefits of communication via virtual formats.

While certainly there are drawbacks to spending too much time attached to one’s phone, I’ve come to acknowledge that the upsides are pretty compelling, too. After taking a hard look at the data and talking to the many college students I teach each semester, I’ve learned about the positive aspects of how teens and young adults communicate in the 21^st century.  

4 positive aspects associated with twenty-first-century communication

1. The teenage brain is hardwired to accommodate change. 

Neuroscientists have documented that the human brain is uniquely receptive to novel information early in life. This type of neurological ability, called neuroplasticity, peaks between ages twelve and twenty-five (Scientific research on learning and the teenage brain 2021). As they are open to these new inventions, teens are primed to engage with technology and integrate it into their interpersonal engagement styles without hesitation. Simply put, they are more receptive to novel ideas about communication than we are because they are biologically designed to do so. 

2. They understand the value of micro-interactions better than we do

Young people understand that mini bursts of social interaction can improve the quality of their relationships and increase self-esteem. Research conducted during the Covid period (when we lost many of our daily micro-communications) confirmed how important this type of engagement could be to maintain mental health. Even brief exchanges with casual acquaintances can foster a feeling of connection to the world around us (Keohane 2021). Our kids know this intuitively and freely offer small gestures of support through likes, hearts, or simple one-line responses to pictures or events posted by friends or family online.

3. Information is a trickle, not a flood

If we pay attention to the flow, however, we may get more than we think. Once I accepted that my kids would carry and use their phones during their school days, I began to appreciate the steady stream of information coming in throughout the day. Instead of a single conversation whereby I painfully extract information about their day from them, I now get quick messages, sent in real-time, about their experiences.

They share test scores, goofy stories, and friendship drama in quick texts between classes or during lunch. I know much more about my kids’ daily lives than ever before.

4. It’s all about perception

Our brains are designed to see things uniquely based on our developmental stage. Young people operate in the currency of fluid (new) knowledge, but adults have developed what is referred to as crystallized (experiential) knowledge. This means that as people grow older, they become more attuned to the significance of facial expressions, emotions, and the subtle body language of others (Quadagno 2022).

Adults acquire patience for the conversational needs of others and are more aware of how communication styles impact those around them. This emotional intelligence is only gained through experience and often leads to a softening of self-interest over time. It’s easy to develop a skewed set of expectations that young people should conduct themselves the same way as adults.

So, while we may be tempted to view teens today as unskilled at verbal interaction, it’s important to remember that none of us is born with a mastery of communication skills (I’m pretty sure our parents will fully attest to this!). One of the great things about life is that we are each a work in progress, with the ability to change and grow over time. This allows us to meet younger generations halfway and embrace the upsides that new forms of communication offer us.

References:

Keohane, J. (2021, August 5). The surprising benefits of talking to strangers. The Atlantic. Retrieved December 9, 2022

Quadagno, J. (2022) Aging and the Life Course: An Introduction to Social Gerontology.       Edition, McGraw-Hill, New York.     

Scientific research on learning and the teenage brain. University of Texas at Arlington Online. (2021, February 12). Retrieved December 9, 2022

More Great Reading:

The Teenage Brain

When Your Teen Stops Coming to You To Talk About Their Life

Your kid looks you in the eyes and insists he won’t drink at the party because he has to get up early for his SAT prep class. And yet once he gets there and all his friends are indulging after a long week, his good intentions go out the window along with the smoke in the room. The following day, he can barely roll out of bed. 

Teens have two different thinking systems — “cold reasoning” and “hot reasoning”

“Teenagers have two different thinking systems—cold and hot reasoning—and the one they use depends on the context they’re in,” says Dr. Lisa Damour, bestselling author of Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls, whose latest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents, is available for preorder now. 

“When using cold reasoning, kids can be as clear, wise, and analytical as an adult,” says Dr. Damour, co-host of the podcast Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting. If they say they’re not going to drink at the party, they’re not lying; they truly mean what they say and have their best interests at heart. 

“But hot reasoning kicks in when they get into situations like a party that’s socially and emotionally charged,” Dr. Damour says. Even though they arrive with no intention of drinking, if they’re offered a drink, they may think, “It’s weird to say no. We’re having fun. What’s the harm in one?” The harm is that once they’ve had one drink, their judgment is worse than it was before. “They may then think, ‘What’s the harm in two? Or three?’ That’s when things can quickly go down the wrong road,” says Dr. Damour.

It’s frustrating to feel like we can’t trust our kids, but most of all, we don’t want them to put themselves in danger — by driving drunk or having a sexual encounter that wouldn’t have happened if they were sober. Anticipating these situations is the best way to help keep them safe. 

7 ways to anticipate situations that may affect your teen’s reasoning

1. Strategize in advance

Maybe when your kid gets to the party, the classmate, she has a crush on will be drinking and ask her to join. “You want her to arrive with a strategy for how she’s going to stick to his original plan even in the face of powerful temptations,” says Dr. Damour. “The key is to have these conversations without judgment — to recognize that almost any teenager would be tempted to drink in a situation like that.” 

2. Brainstorm acceptable excuses 

You could suggest that she drive to the party to use that as an excuse not to drink. Or she could explain that he’s in sports season or taking medication that can’t mix with alcohol or that you’ll smell it on her as soon as she walks in the door. “It doesn’t have to be true,” says Dr. Damour.  “It just has to be planned.”

3. You can send two seemingly contradictory messages at the same time 

Parents often think it’s hypocritical to tell their kids not to drink — but to call if they get into a dicey situation around alcohol or anything else. “You can say those two things to your kid. Good kids sometimes make dumb choices. Nothing matters more than their safety,” says Dr. Damour. 

4. Know the most important thing to tell your kid 

Say, “We will never make you sorry that you asked for our help.” You can do your best to prevent a hot-reasoning decision, but once it’s been made, you still want your kid to feel like they can reach out to you for help, says Dr. Damour.

5. Make it a learning opportunity without shaming them 

You can tell your kid, “I’ll come to get you from anywhere, but we don’t have to talk about it that night.” But that doesn’t mean they have carte blanche. Later, you’ll need to figure out what happened and what they would do differently next time and consider having them tone down their social lives for a few weekends while reflecting on the situation.

6. Remember this is totally normal 

“Teenagers are more prone to hot reasoning than individuals at any other time of life,” says Dr. Damour. However, some teenagers are more vulnerable than others. A kid with ADHD or who is generally impulsive will be likelier to act without thinking it through. Anxious kids may also make a split-second decision they wouldn’t otherwise make. Says Dr. Damour, “Anxiety, when it becomes very intense, can undermine reasoning and cause kids to make unsound choices.”  

7. Safety is priority number one 

No matter what happens, you never want your kid to think, “What’s more dangerous —staying in this bad situation or calling my folks?” and conclude that admitting their mistake to you is the more dangerous option. 

More Great Reading:

Helping Teens Manage Stress and Anxiety: Dr. Lisa Damour

6 Ways to Get Teen Boys to Open Up and Engage In Deeper Conversation

Holidays at the Zoo at the Greenville Zoo in Greenville, SC has thousands of lights, holiday music, and lots of surprises that are pretty much guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face this Christmas season.

Only in it’s second year, Holidays at the Zoo at the Greenville Zoo is already a must-see in Greenville for families and anyone looking to experience a bit of Christmas magic this holiday season. I tried it out and absolutely loved it for its amazing lights, relaxed and festive atmosphere, and great Christmas music.

About Holidays at the Zoo

This is only the second year for the big light display at the Greenville Zoo so if you haven’t heard about it yet, let us introduce you to this awesome show of Christmas lights.

The lights are strewn throughout the entire zoo, right from the entrance gate all along the paved paths. There are two huge light tunnels which are fantastic. One of them, the one nearest the farm animals and sponsored by the Little Gym, is synchronized to music. I’ll be the first to tell you that yes, I was a hundred percent dancing through this tunnel to the music. It was so much fun and my kids thought it was hilarious. I don’t know why they didn’t join me.

I did get to talk to the guy who is responsible for the programming of the lights and a lot of the setup. He confirmed my suspicion that this display was no easy job to create. I really think the Greenville Zoo did a fantastic job with this display.

Santa and Sleeping Animals

The lights continue on throughout the zoo once you enter and stroll past the reptile house, which is open if you’d like to stop in to see the creepy crawlers, and up to the concession area where you can buy hot chocolate or popcorn and browse the zoo shop. They have really cute stuffed animals, ornaments, and other gifts.

Santa’s workshop is near there as well where guests are invited to take photos. Santa will be at the Zoo on December 22, 2022. Keep on strolling through the zoo, past the birds (you may see a huge owl like we did!), and around the small play area, which is closed for this special event. But don’t worry because once you round that curve, you’ll see a huge Holidays at the Zoo sign that you can use for pictures and then you get to walk through the big musical light tunnel – my favorite. Tag us in videos where you dance. Please.

Most of the animals are already sleeping so you probably won’t see many but the experience is such fun and absolutely worth it. It’s obvious how much work and effort the Zoo went through to make this an incredible experience for their guests.

Yummy Concessions

I definitely recommend getting a cup of hot chocolate while you’re at Holidays at the Zoo. I love hot chocolate and it’s even tastier on a chilly winter night.

You can also purchase tokens at the concession stand for milk and cookies, which you can eat while sitting at a little fire on some couches or pretty white wicker chairs that are very cozy and picturesque. There’s also a mechanical reindeer and really, who doesn’t love that?

Best Ages for Holidays at the Zoo

My kids are 8 and 11 years old and they loved this light display. I loved it as an adult. The tunnels and lights and music were my favorite and made me feel like a kid again. It was fantastic.

The Greenville Zoo is stroller-friendly and I saw lots of families making use of them while walking throughout the light display so if your kids are smaller, this is a great option to see some holiday lights and have that fun, family experience together.

I’ve always thought that the Greenville Zoo is such a manageable adventure for families with smaller kids and this event is no different. We spent about 45 minutes, maybe a little longer, going through the whole zoo, stopping to take photos and videos, and just to soak it all in. This is such a perfect excursion because it’s local so you aren’t driving far and also because it will easily capture the attention of kids at any age.

Tips on Enjoying Holidays at the Zoo

Here are a few tips to make your experience even more enjoyable at the Greenville Zoo during Holidays at the Zoo:

• The Zoo is pretty much all outdoors so definitely plan your wardrobe accordingly. Be sure to have hats, gloves, scarves, and a warm jacket, especially when you go at night.
• I’d recommend going around sunset or later so you can get the whole light show experience.
• Bathrooms are conveniently located near the concession and shop area right in the middle of the Zoo. It’s always good to know where the bathrooms are!
• The play areas inside the Zoo are closed during Holidays at the Zoo so just plan for that, especially if you know your kids love to play there.
• If you have a stroller, you’re welcome to use it. There’s plenty of space to use strollers at the Zoo during this event.
• Pets are not allowed on Zoo grounds so leave your furry friend home when visiting the light show.

Holidays at the Zoo Dates & Tickets

Tickets to Holidays at the Zoo are $10/adult members and $8/child members; $12/adult non-members and $10/child non-members (online prices). If you choose to purchase tickets at the gate, the cost is $14/adults and $12/kids for non-members. The Zoo is encouraging guests to purchase tickets online to ensure your spot. Plus, it’s cheaper that way!

Holidays at the Zoo is happening at the Greenville Zoo:

• December 15-23, 2022 from 3-8 pm
• December 26-30, 2022 from 3-8 pm

The tickets are timed and the last time slot is 7:45 pm but as long as you are in line by 8 pm, you’ll get in.

Want more holiday lights? Check out our big Holiday Lights List for the best displays in our area!

Greenville Zoo
150 Cleveland Park Drive, Greenville
Website

Hi, this is Janet Lansbury. Welcome to Unruffled. In this episode, I’ll be responding to a parent whose child seems to be having a hard time playing more independently, can’t seem to be without the parent when it comes to play, needs that stimulation.

Before I begin, a little holiday reminder: Have I mentioned my books lately? 🙂 I’m told that No Bad Kids:Toddler Discipline Without Shame, and Elevating Child Care, A Guide to Respectful Parenting make great stocking stuffers in paperback! So please check them out on Amazon.

Here’s the note I received:

Hi. I follow your posts and do a lot of reading, but I’m still struggling with my three-year-old. She’s been this way since she was younger and I can’t seem to change it or improve it. She just won’t play by herself. She always needs my guidance or stimulation to play. It is driving me crazy as I have a 10-month-old to attend to, along with a myriad of household things to do. So I’m finding it hard. How do I encourage self play?

I’ve tried setting up activities and it never works. Help.

Okay, so there are a couple things here I think I can help with.

First of all, what can happen is we can sort of create a cycle when we believe that it’s our job… and I know I certainly did before learning about Magda Gerber’s approach to parenting… I believed it was my job to keep my child entertained and stimulated. And what this does is begins a cycle of our child believing that they need us to do those things with them, that they can’t do them themselves. That’s not the message that we intend, but that can be the message that they get.

Also, they just don’t have that practice being the one to think of things to do. So it’s difficult for them.

And then if we continue to stimulate them and give them direction in terms of play, even setting up play for them, if they get used to that, then they’re going to continue to receive those same messages from us, of course.

It’s a cycle that only we can change. The way that we do that is, first, to believe and know that play is the most positive thing our child could be doing, especially self-directed play because of all that they learn. They are engaging their creativity, they’re exploring “self
and getting to follow their own intuition about things, and they’re developing a longer attention span and focus because they’re choosing the interests that they want to follow. They’re initiating.

It’s very therapeutic for children as well because only they have that connection to what feelings, what experiences that they’ve had that they maybe need to play out and explore further. Our child might be exposed to something that’s puzzling for them or just a little too stimulating, too exciting or scary, and you can actually see how children sometimes — they’re playing out those experiences to process them. This is obviously a very healthy thing for children to do.

Of course, it’s also hugely beneficial for them to play with other children, whether those are siblings or peers. Those experiences offer profound opportunities for learning as well.

Certainly there are tons of articles and books about play and the value of it. So this is such a positive gift we can give our child.

And oftentimes with parenting, doing the best by our child, giving them these gifts are not things that they will necessarily agree to in the moment and say, “Yeah, right! This is really great! You’re making me really happy, saying no to playing with me,” especially if we haven’t fostered this habit…

We don’t have to create the habit because children are born with this desire, but we do have to cultivate it. This is easiest to do from the very beginning with our infant by not interrupting them when they’re not looking at us or not wanting anything from us and trusting that they right there are having a thought. They might be figuring out something. What’s this over here? What am I doing here on this planet? We don’t know. We can only imagine what their thoughts are, which is for me always been a very interesting, fun thing to try to do.

And so if we realize that children are able to do this right from the beginning, they don’t need us to show them things to interest them, it’s not that it’s a terrible thing to do ever, but they will naturally be attracted to their own types of play. Which is often with an infant just what their eyes are directed towards, what they’re looking at, what they’re taking in.

So even from the beginning, children don’t need us to be the ones to keep them busy, keep them on board, keep them occupied. As long as we have a reasonably enriching environment, we don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, children will naturally seek out what they’re interested in.

Trusting that our children can do this and that it’s the healthiest thing for them, that’s really important if we’re going to be trying to change a pattern that we’ve created. Because we want to have conviction in what we’re doing always, especially when we’re making changes as parents.

Also it’s important to understand how we’ve helped to create this. When I read this, it reminded me of what can happen sometimes with kids and homework. I know there are a lot of people that that don’t believe children should have homework at all. And I definitely wouldn’t have a kindergartner doing homework or a first grader, but I think it’s okay for older children. But what happens is that, right from the beginning, we might consider this our job. We’re getting our child to sit down to do the homework with us and we’re involving ourselves in it and then it becomes our responsibility along with our child’s. We’re taking responsibility to make that happen. And then so often I talk to parents who’ve gotten themselves into something where now their child won’t do the homework unless the parent maybe nags them or unless the parent’s helping and doing it with them. And the child starts to believe maybe that they can’t do this without their parent’s help.

But if we don’t do that, if we consider that responsibility as our child’s and really between our child and their teachers, then we never have to be the ones making them do it. That’s between them and their teacher. And what happens then is they do it. We might have to remind them, “oh, I can’t let you do such and such until you’ve gotten that done.” But it doesn’t become our job because we haven’t created that dependency.

So the same thing happens with play. We’ve created dependency with all our wonderful intentions, and there’s nothing wrong with us for doing that, but it is something that we’ve had a hand in. So we want to understand that and then realize that when any kind of transition is made with something like this, there probably will be a rocky transitional period of adjustment. It’s seldom going to be seamless and smooth. So we want to go into this realizing that as well, but still knowing that this is a gift to give our child to enjoy just being with ourselves, learning about ourselves, being in tune with what we want to do with our interests, how long we want to take doing something or nothing, exploring something in particular. This is a gift.

This parent says she feels her child always needs her guidance or stimulation to play. So sometimes that can begin when our child is going through a a period like they’re teething or something and they’re uncomfortable, or maybe there’s something else going on. As a parent, we see that and we say, oh gosh, I need to distract my child. Let me stimulate them because they’re unhappy. Instead of recognizing that whatever it is is just a phase that our child is in, they’re uncomfortable right now. We just want to get through that period and not start to create a habit or a belief in ourselves that we need to entertain or stimulate. That’s just one way that this can can happen.

Like I said, for children, play is an inborn ability. All children have this. They might kind of lose touch with it or get out of the habit of it, but it’s always going to be there. So we need to believe in children as capable of inventing their play. Without that, a shift is not going to work.

Then, with all this confidence in our children and with all this confidence in this being a really positive transition that we’re going to help our child make, we can do this. And there are two ways to do it. Two things that we need to work on.

One is that when we are available to our child for play, and this doesn’t have to be every time, but we start practicing a different way of being together during play, which is a more responsive, supportive mode rather than leading the play ourselves or getting so involved that without meaning to, we’re starting to make a lot of the decisions and influencing the direction of our child’s play.

Now, removing ourselves from being actively involved in play, that can be difficult if our child is used to us being more involved, but if we’re really there, if we’re really still able to be present, children will experience how much they love this kind of attention. It’s very freeing when children don’t have to perform for us, and they’re not going to need to draw us into their play to hold our attention, which is what so often happens.

So we’re putting those phones or other distractions away for this period of time. Two minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, however much time we have, we want to try to practice being fully there so our child doesn’t have to work or get us to work to get our attention. It’s changing the messaging. This is what Magda Gerber called “wants nothing quality time,” where it’s just: I’m with you. You don’t have to do anything fancy. We don’t have to be doing an activity together. I’m just with you. I’m here. You have all my attention. Even if we’re just sitting together, we’re not even talking or we’re not even looking at each other and you’re not even doing anything special. I’m here for you.

Children feel so comforted and nurtured by that. It’s such a validating experience. And that’s the kind of experience during playtime together that really helps children to feel the thrill and the joy of directing their play so that they want to be able to do this on their own. They don’t need us to be there all the time. And once they realize that their ideas are enough, their ideas are better than enough, they’re perfect, and what they choose to do is cool and doesn’t have to be anything fancy, it frees them to own their play.

And that ownership is obviously what we want when we do the other part that I’m going to recommend, which is: to find a way to get comfortable about our personal boundaries and our plans for the day and what we want to do. And we don’t see that part of that is that we have to keep our child occupied so that we can do these things. What our child chooses to do when we’ve made the decision that we need to do something else other than give them attention, has to be up to them, within reason.

Now, one thing that this parent mentions is that she tries setting up activities and that doesn’t work. What I’m suggesting is to not even set up activities because that’s still giving the message that it’s our job to get our child playing, that we need to make this happen. That message isn’t going to help us. It keeps us involved, it keeps it our responsibility and continues that feeling of dependency.

So just have a play area. This parent has a younger child who’s 10 months, and I would see if she could set up some kind of safe gated area, could be a small room or a hallway or just a part of a room that could be gated off where that child can be completely safe and not have all the distractions of having to test the environment and getting into things that we don’t want them to get into — I call this a “yes space” — and therefore they can lose themselves in play and get more deeply involved.  It’s so much easier for them when they don’t have all those distractions.

But with a three-year-old, again, that’s going to be hard to establish if we haven’t already established it. But what we can do and what we still need to do to make this work is to have our strong personal boundary where we say, sometimes I’m able to sit with you and have this wants nothing time together. And it will help a lot if this is predictable in in terms of there are certain times that we sit with our child while they play and hang out with them. And there are other times of day generally when our child knows this is when my mother goes and does her thing and she isn’t playing with me. So that routine, that predictability will help quite a bit for children to get used to this idea.

Children love predictability so much that they can even sort of look forward to: okay, now here’s my time and this is what she’s going to do. Then she’s going to leave and maybe I get mad for a minute or for a while I try to coax her back, but then she always still holds her ground and does her thing and then I get into my own stuff. Oftentimes young children, they just want to know what’s going on. They just want to know what to expect in their day. And if their days are completely different every day, it’s really hard for them to settle into a routine. It doesn’t give them that sense of control, knowing what to expect in their day and their schedule. So that helps a lot to have the predictability.

Then when we do go, and even if this is just, “I need to go to the bathroom now,” feel really positive about making that boundary. We have to feel good about this and really every boundary that we set, that we’re standing up for ourselves and we’re also doing something really good for our child, which is being confident enough for them to be able to release us. And if our child decides to follow us around whining and “I can’t play, I need you. I can’t play by myself,” you know, even if they’re asking us 50 times, find a way in yourself to let go of that and know that yes, it may very well be a part of the process.

But if we can’t let go, then they get stuck there. So turn to her, nod your head, “Ah, you’re having such a hard time letting go of me today. You don’t want me to do my thing, you keep following me around.” And even if they’re holding onto us, “Ah, I’ve got to move these arms off my legs because I need to go over here.”

We can say all of that without it becoming our problem to fix, which is what makes us uncomfortable with it. I would expect this is part of a process, the messy part of a transition to a very positive change. If we can stand tall and not let this drain us or bring us down, if we’re expecting it, then children will let go of it faster. It’s a kind of relief for them when they don’t have all this power to control the adults. So feeling really comfortable with our personal boundary, that is the only way that this can work. Because if there’s something there for a child to hold onto, she’s bothering you, she’s getting to you, it keeps her hooked in. And it may feel like it’s more loving for us to have our heart go out to her and, oh gosh, or feel guilty or whatever that is, but it’s really not as loving as being that strong person who is sure of themselves so that she can say: okay, well this isn’t doing anything for me. No one’s getting wound up by this and okay, I’m going to let go and go do what I need to do or do what I want to do, or just let go of this and maybe do nothing for a little while and then find something to do. That’s how it starts.

Another important aspect of this is really shifting our mindset on what play is supposed to look like — that it’s this child happily engaged in a certain kind of activity, because it can be all kinds of things for a child. It’s really just them being themselves in the space that they’re in. And in this transitional period, play could look like her daughter following her around and her mother confidently continuing what she’s doing, or her daughter’s sitting somewhere being upset and her mother coming and checking in with her and reassuring her that she’s seen and heard. And it’s okay for her to feel that way.

We don’t want to ignore our child, but maybe ignoring this annoying part of it, this part that could be getting to us. We can turn to them every once in a while and say, “I hear you’re still asking me. You’re still having a hard time.” What I wouldn’t do is say, “Go play. You go do this right now. You need to play.” Because we can’t play when someone tells us to play. Play can’t be demanded or it really isn’t play anymore. It’s more organic than that. And again, then we’d be directing her, directing her to play.

What we want to do is let go of directing her. So not telling her to play, not even setting an activity up for her. I mean, that’s not a terrible thing if you want to try doing that in the interim to help with this transition, but ultimately we want to relieve ourselves of that job too.

Sometimes with a one-year-old or a 15-month-old, there are times when maybe we have a gated in area, we have a yes space, and they’re at the gate. And that can be really disturbing, right? Our child’s at the gate calling for us. But sometimes they’re at the gate because being at the gate is an interesting part of their play. And in my parent-child classes, there’s a gate there over a doorway and very often children are standing at the gate exploring the gate. So it’s not that our child feels so trapped and stuck and is in a terrible place if they’re at the gate, they’re often just exploring it, exploring that situation and that separation between us. And sometimes they’re saying, “No, don’t go. I don’t want you to go.” And we can easily jump to: oh, they’re abandoned and they’re, they’re feeling deeply distant from us.

But if this is part of our regular routine our child knows very well, and also we’ve told them that we’re leaving to go to the bathroom or to do something in the kitchen, they know that we will come back. They’re just voicing their point of view, which is so healthy and positive. It’s important to see the strength in our child in all of these situations, to believe in them. Because if we’re not comfortable, then they’re really going to have a hard time settling in. And that makes sense. They need a leader and that’s us. And if the leader’s not sure of what’s going on, then they have no choice but to hold on. They can’t let go and be with themselves.

So I often hear from parents that they feel there’s a defect in their child that their child can’t play, and the majority of the time when parents have difficulty with this, it’s because they have a very strong child that is checking out the leadership that’s happening and getting stuck in kind of controlling everything that the parent does. And this doesn’t mean that they’re bad kids. It’s a fine thing to ask for. It’s part of them understanding their world and their relationship with us and doing their job, which is to see where the boundaries are, to see what we do and what we don’t do. And they really just want to know. When they do know, it frees them.

So there are only positives in this adjustment, and I highly recommend it. It’s wonderful for children. It’s helpful for parents who can get a break once in a while. And even when we’re with our child in this way, we can enjoy hanging out with them because the pressure’s not on us to entertain and stimulate and keep play going and using our energy on that. We can be the audience enjoying what they’re doing.

Children come and they hand you things and they do bring you into their play that way. And we comment on what they’re doing, especially when they’re looking at us for a response and we say, “Wow, you’ve been working on that a long time and look what you did. You put three blocks on top of each other.” We’re still fully present, we’re still engaged, we’re just not the actor on stage. We’re leaving that to our child.

And yes, of course we can join in and play with our child. Or play a game with our child as they get older. We can always do things once in a while, but if we’re trying to establish something new, and if we’re getting stuck in being the entertainer, then we might wanna work on undoing this kind of dependency.

I really hope this makes sense and I hope it helps. I’ve written a lot of articles about play and developing self-directed play. They’re on my website and in my books . Well, one book is all about boundaries. That’s No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline without Shame. And that will give you a lot of support in the things I’m talking about around saying no to our child and freeing them through that. In Elevating Child Care, there’s more about independent play, the benefits and joys of it for our children and for us.

Thanks so much for listening. We can do this.

Are you looking for things to do this winter with your kids in Greenville? You can find all the information that you need and more here on Kidding Around Greenville. We have free things to do from hikes to museums, winter markets, places to hit the slopes, things to do indoors and so much more!

We love free things to do in Greenville and we know our readers do, too! Here’s a list of things to do in Greenville that won’t cost a dime. And, we’ve included a section of some low-cost things to do. These are things that will cost a family of 4 $20 or less to do.

Play Outdoors this Winter in Greenville

Ice on Main

Downtown Greenville’s outdoor ice skating rink, Ice on Main is open through January 16th, 2023. Rent some skates and enjoy this time-honored winter activity in beautiful Downtown Greenville, SC.

Winter Hikes near Greenville

Winter is a great time to go for a hike near Greenville! Avoid the unpleasant heat and humidity of a summer hike, and discover the views hiding behind the leaves on the trees now that they’ve fallen to the ground.

Skate on the Big Ice

Ever wonder what it is like to ice skate on the same rink as professional hockey players? This is your chance! On select dates throughout December, you can lace up your ice skate and skate on the rink at Bon Secour Wellness Arena! They also have Skate Roll and Stroll ADA sessions available twice in December.

Ski and Snow Tube Near Greenville

While there might not be snow on the ground here in Greenville, nearby there are several places where you can enjoy winter on the snowy slopes for tubing and skiing. See Places to Ski and Snow Tube Near Greenville.

Waterfall Driving Tour

Hunt out some frozen waterfalls in nearby Western North Carolina. Make a day of it with this Waterfall Driving Tour of WNC. See all these waterfalls without any hiking. This tour is a Kidding Around staff and reader favorite day trip adventure.

Visit a Park with a Sunny Playground

Sunny parks are ideal for winter fun and helping burn off energy. Here’s a list of Greenville’s Sunny Parks. They’re bright and sunny, so they’re great when the weather is a little cool.

Warm Up With Hot Cocoa This Winter

Want to go out for a meal but sit outdoors? These restaurants have heated patio spaces for outdoor dining no matter the temperature.

Shop Local in Greenville This Winter

Toasty Farmer- Winter Farmer’s Market

It may be winter, but there are still lots of fresh veggies, meat, dairy products, and more available in the update. Visit the Toast Farmer and indoor farmer’s market for your winter supply of local foods straight from the farmer.

Winter Consignment Sales

Wintertime consignment sales are your chance to prep your child’s closet for warmer weather. Here’s a list of Greenville area consignment sales to put on your calendar.

Book one of these cozy mountain vacation rentals. Bring some hot cocoa, and a good book, and maybe you’ll even get some snow. With all the amenities at these rentals, like fireplaces, pool tables, and hot tubs, we don’t think you’ll mind getting snowed in!

Things to do Indoors this Winter in Greenville

Indoor Guide of Things to do in Greenville

If you’re looking for something to do indoors in Greenville, you’ve just hit the jackpot. Here’s our giant list of things to do indoors in Greenville. No matter the weather, these are great options.

Indoor Things to Do with Preschoolers in Greenville

There are a lot of things to do indoors, but sometimes when you have a little one in tow, choosing an appropriate activity can be a little challenging. Here’s a list of things to do indoors in Greenville for families with preschool-aged kids.

Tot Times in Greenville

Looking for special times at your favorite venues just for little ones to roam? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a round-up of local tot time programs including local gyms, trampoline parks, art studios, and more!

Family Friendly Gyms

One place to hide away from the rain or cold is a great gym. The gyms in this list are reader recommended for being family friendly with features like child care, parent and child classes, pools, parent’s night out, and more.

What is your favorite thing to do during the winter in Greenville?

Are you looking for things to do this winter in Spartanburg, SC? Our Winter Guide is full of our best winter content with ideas about things to do this winter, places to go, winter travel, shopping and more! Enjoy the Upstate this winter!

Winter Treats

Wintertime is perfect for a steaming cup of something warm and delicious. Check out these places our readers recommend for hot chocolate and a great cup of coffee in Spartanburg.

Want to eat outdoors? These Spartanburg restaurants have heated outdoor patios and dining spaces. You can enjoy a meal outside even if it’s a bit chilly out there.

Get Outdoors This Winter in Spartanburg

Where to Hike This Winter Near Spartanburg, SC

Get outdoors and hike this winter! Here’s a list of parks and trails in and near Spartanburg that are perfect for wintertime hikes.

Ski and Snow Tube Near Upstate, SC

While there might not be snow on the ground here in Spartanburg, nearby there are several places where you can enjoy winter on the snowy slopes for tubing and skiing. See Places to Ski and Snow Tube Near Spartanburg and Upstate SC.

Waterfall Driving Tour

Hunt out some frozen waterfalls in nearby Western North Carolina. Make a day of it with this Waterfall Driving Tour of WNC. See all these waterfalls without any hiking. This tour is a Kidding Around staff and reader favorite day trip adventure.

Book one of these cozy mountain vacation rentals. Bring some hot cocoa and a good book and maybe you’ll even get some snow. With all the amenities at these rentals, like fireplaces, pool tables, and hot tubs, we don’t think you’ll mind getting snowed in!

Indoor Things to Do This Winter Near Spartanburg

Indoor Guide of Spartanburg, SC Things to Do

Here’s our gigantic list of indoor things to do in Spartanburg, SC. You’ll find activities for families with kids of all ages including trampoline parks, pottery studios, museums, libraries and so much more!

Indoor Things to Do with Your Preschooler

Keep the little kids busy with these indoor things to do.

Winter Consignment Sales

Fill up the kids’ closet this year for less with these winter consignment sales.

What is your favorite winter activity to do in Spartanburg, SC?

These New Year’s activities for preschoolers will keep your little ones occupied this festive season, and also get them excited about the new year!

We’ve reached the end of another fun-filled year, and it’s time to welcome a brand-new one! It’s time to look back at all the wonderful memories we made during the year with our loved ones. That’s not all – it’s also time to plan a smashing New Year’s eve with our kiddos!

Every family has different plans for New Year’s eve, but if you have young kids who are toddlers or preschoolers, you’re most likely to be spending it at home. But a New Year’s eve spent at home doesn’t have to be boring at all! On the contrary, it can be super fun since you have full control over all the activities!

So get ready to have an amazing bash on the 31st of December this year, and plan for some delicious food and drinks. To take things to the next level, we’ve rounded up the best New Year’s activities for preschoolers and toddlers to try out on this special day. Get ready to have the time of your lives!

1. New Year’s Eve Handprint Keepsake

If you’d like something to gift the grandparents for New Year, you can’t go wrong with this craft from Glued to My Crafts! It’s an easy project that only requires putting some paint on those cute little hands. So easy that you can even do it with babies – as long as you wash off the paint right away!

2. New Year’s Coloring Hats

Whether you’re having a big bash or a small family get-together at home on New Year’s Eve, it doesn’t matter – a party’s a party! And when it’s a party, you certainly need party hats, which you can get at The Pragmatic Parent. For younger kids, you can attach some elastic to the cap so it stays on the head even when they’re running around.

3. New Year’s Sensory Bin

Sensory bins are a great way for young kids to experience some tactile play, touching things of different materials, and noticing how each one feels and what you can do with them. Since we’re talking about New Year’s activities for preschoolers,  Sunny Day Family has a sensory bin idea that’s perfect for the occasion!

4. New Year Sticky Wall

We know how little kids love to create art on the walls – now you can actually encourage them to do so! Happy Toddler Playtime brings us a project that’s great for toddlers and preschoolers. All you need is a large sheet where yu write the New Year, and let kids fill it up with all kinds of decorative materials.

5. Fireworks Preschool Craft

In many parts of the world, the New Year is welcomed with a display of fireworks, and kids usually enjoy watching them light up in the sky. That itself can be one of your New Year’s activities for preschoolers, or you can recreate the feeling at home with this easy project from the Preschool Toolkit, which encourages young kids to build their focus and attention to detail.

6. New Year’s Eve Bubble Wands

Is there any kid on the planet who doesn’t like playing with bubbles? That is the allure of those large, floating bubbles, especially for young children. With New Year’s eve coming up, get ready to blow some bubbles and spread the joy with these DIY bubble wands from Red Ted Art. You can use cookie cutters to create the shapes or go freehand.

7. Celebration Play Dough for Kids

When it comes to New Year’s activities for preschoolers that will keep them occupied for a while, you certainly can’t go wrong with play dough! But this isn’t any plain play dough – it’s a celebration version from Buggy and Buddy that is apt for the special occasion that is New Year’s eve!

8. DIY Noise Makers

You don’t really need to tell preschoolers to create noise – they’re doing it very well on their own! However, a celebration like New Year’s eve requires some extra noise to be made, and that’s where these noisemakers come in! All you need are craft sticks and paper plates, and you’re all set to make this project from The Crafting Chicks.

9. New Year’s Photo Booth Props

As you go about doing these New Year’s activities for preschoolers, you want to be sure that you’re taking plenty of photos! But don’t let them be boring pictures where everyone’s simply posing in a straight line – make them more interesting with photo props like these ones from DIY Candy! Perfect for a party!

10. New Year Countdown Wristwatch

Your little one has already probably asked you for a watch of his own, and you’ve most likely told him to wait till he’s older. Thanks to this printable from Hattifant though, you can grant him his wish right now! Young kids will feel proud to wear a watch just like Mom and Dad, especially since most of us wear wide smartwatches these days!

11. New Years Discovery Bottle

This activity from Little Bins for Little Hands is a great exercise for preschoolers and toddlers to try and find things floating in a bottle. Add in things that your little one will enjoy spotting, so she’ll have fun shaking the bottle and trying to ‘discover’ her favorites!

12. New Year Party Poppers

We’ve tried to avoid messy New Year’s activities for preschoolers, but this one could create a little clutter! Of course, your kids aren’t going to complain, although you’ll have to bring out the vacuum at the end of the party! Nevertheless, try making these fun party poppers from Fun Handprint Blog with the whole family.

13. Fireworks Letter Match

New Year’s activities for preschoolers can be fun and educational! If your preschooler has started learning his letters, then he’s going to enjoy spotting them in this activity from Happy Toddler Playtime! Cut up cupcake liners to resemble fireworks and add letters to random ones. You can also mix it up by inserting some numbers or funny doodles of a cat or dog.

14. New Year’s Eve Slime

Slime is something everyone likes playing with – even adults – because there’s something so stress-relieving about it. You can just let the goo play around in your hand – you’ll find that it makes young kids squeal with laughter! Since this is New Year’s let’s make some celebration slime with this tutorial from Little Bins Little Hands.

15. New Year’s Eve Balloon Countdown

You can’t have a list of New Year’s activities for preschoolers without including a countdown of some sort! This activity from Toddler Approved involves writing little notes and putting them in balloons, but you can totally skip this if your kids are too young to read. They can just pop a balloon every minute as you near midnight, so you welcome the New Year with a bang!

16. New Year Rice Shaker

New Year’s activities for preschoolers have to include lots of nice, so if the noise makers weren’t enough and you want to create some more noise, check out this rice shaker from Easy Peasy and Fun! It’s made from uncooked rice, but you can use any other material other than rice – the sound the shaker makes will change accordingly.

17. New Year’s Eve Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts may seem impractical for preschoolers who’re just beginning to read, but this one from Mimosas and Motherhood is perfect since it has pictures that kids can identify! Hide the items on the printable, like balloons, clock, etc., and let the kids hunt them down!

18. New Year’s Eve Paper Crowns

If you’re going all out this New Year’s eve with a proper party and dress up, then make sure your little prince or princess looks their best – with a paper crown! The House that Lars Built shows us how easy it is for kids to make these crowns, with a little help from Mom or Dad.

19. Scrunched Paper Star Craft

Won’t it be great if New Year’s activities for preschoolers included not just fun stuff but also activities that strengthen muscles? Well, that’s exactly what this activity from Crafts on Sea does, encouraging kids to flex their finger muscles as they scrunch little bits of paper. Then let them use their scrunched paper to fill a shape like a star.

20. Paper Handprint Firework Craft

Here’s another adorable handprint craft that would make a great card for aunts and uncles! Glued to My Crafts shows us how easy it is – simply trace your little one’s hand on some colored paper and then stick it on a plain card along with other patterned paper to create a candle. Add the year and you have a memorable keepsake!

Although this list mentions New Year’s activities for preschoolers, many of these activities also work for toddlers, so you’ll have to judge each activity based on your child’s specific developmental stage and interest. Don’t stress about doing all the activities, or even about completing a single activity! Kids of this age are notoriously fidgety, so don’t force them to finish something you’ve started. It’s a day to have fun and be with each other, so take things easy and just focus on having a good time!

Preparing for the storm and wondering what meals you can cook without electricity? If the power goes out, what is there to eat? With storms approaching and possible power outages, thinking ahead of meals to make if you have no electricity can be a smart move amidst grabbing the obligatory bread and milk from the grocery stores. Today we’re making storm prep easier with several no-power-meal ideas.

Our readers are awesome. We asked them for ideas on what to make if we end up losing power due to a storm. They answered with a lot of creative suggestions.

We’re answering:

• What meals can I cook without power?
• What food should I buy before a storm?
• What can I feed my family if the power is out?

This article includes:
What Meals Can You Make With No Power? Meal Ideas for Power Outages
Food for Power Outages Grocery List

How to Feed Your Family With No Electricity

What meals can you make with no power?

Use the grill

If you have a gas or charcoal grill, fire it up and have a cookout. Hamburgers, chicken, vegetables, even cut up potatoes with a little olive oil and salt can all be put on the grill when you have no electricity in your house. So be sure to grab extra charcoal and gas if you are running low.

Charcuterie boards 

Get fancy and put together a Charcuterie board since nothing on it needs to be cooked and it’s prettier than a sandwich.

Tuna/egg/chicken salads

Make these ahead of time so all you need to do is get some bread and break out your premade tuna, egg, or chicken salad. I made some hard-boiled eggs just to have on hand for protein snacks but they could easily be used in an egg salad as well.

Chips and salsa

So simple but oh-so-good.

Sandwiches

Several readers suggested peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or cold cuts you already have in your fridge. Or get fancy and make a wrap.

Overnight oats

I make this when I go camping because I’m not awesome at starting fires. All you do is put oatmeal into a container, add milk and honey and leave overnight. Eat it the next morning. No need to heat anything up. I also add dried cherries (or whatever fruit I have on hand) and a little cinnamon.

Don’t forget the cold-brew coffee

When I was writing this story and came across this suggestion, I stopped what I was doing and made the cold brew coffee (coffee grounds and water inside a glass container and stick in fridge) because I don’t want headaches in the midst of no electricity. Excellent suggestion, readers!

• If you rely on a coffee grinder to grind coffee beans, grind some now and store in an airtight container to use later.
• You can also make hot coffee if you can boil water on a gas stove, camp stove, fire or grill. Steep your ground coffee with the hot water and either use a french press or pour through a coffee filter to remove the grounds.

Make a campfire and use a Dutch oven for soups and stews

One reader suggested using a Dutch oven to cook over a campfire (tip: use the lint from your dryer or egg cartons to help start the fire). This is a good idea – just be sure to make a safe fire, using a stone ring (you can bricks or other bigger stones) and then put whatever you want to cook in your Dutch oven and put it over the fire. Here are some ideas on things to cook inside a Dutch oven.

Want it to be super simple? Keep a couple of cans of soup on hand and just pour them into the Dutch oven. When it’s hot, you’re good to go. You can also use a camp coffee percolator without the percolator parts to hold the soup while it heats up.

Use your camping stove

All of you who go camping, this is your moment. If you have a camping stove that runs on gas or a little backpacking camping stove, don’t forget about it if you lose electricity. You could pretty much cook anything on it. I personally love making rice and beans for camping so I’d probably go with that, especially since it’s easy and filling. But you could make pancakes, eggs, soups, bacon – the options are endless.

No fuss, grab and go

Keep some healthy non-perishable items on hand like: protein bars, apple sauce pouches, jerky or meat sticks, peanut butter cracker packs, raisins, and trail mix.

You can do a lot without a fridge

If you’re without power for a long time, you’ll specifically want things that don’t need to be refrigerated. You can make most of the items in this list with non-refrigerated items. Ideas include sealed cured meats, single-serving aseptic milk boxes (the kind you’d put in a child’s lunch box), cereal, applesauce pouches, raisins, canned soup, and canned tuna. Buy smaller jars of salsa, pickles, etc so your family can finish them in one meal eliminating the need for a fridge to safely store leftovers once they’ve been opened.

Fridge Tip: Fill empty pitchers, juice bottles, or milk jugs with water and place them in the freezer now. The large blocks of ice will melt more slowly than smaller ice packs and you can place them in the fridge to keep your fridge items cold. This can double as drinking water when it melts if needed.

Are you getting ready to head to the grocery store to stock up on essentials before bad weather and a potential outage? Below is a convenient grocery list of items that will help you make the meals above.

• Canned soup
• Canned beans
• Minute rice
• Sliced ham, cheese, or any other meats/cheeses you’d want on a sandwich
• Chips
• Salsa
• Peanut butter & jelly/honey
• Bananas and fruit you like
• Milk – regular, almond, coconut or oat
• Oatmeal
• Olives
• Bread or tortilla wraps
• Canned chili
• Hamburger meat and buns
• Hot dogs and buns
• Ketchup
• Chicken for the grill and chicken salad
• Eggs
• Tuna
• Mayo
• Yogurt
• Coffee
• Charcoal
• Salami or chorizo
• Pickles
• Protein bars or granola bars
• Jerky or meat sticks
• Raisins, apple sauce pouches
• Trail mix
• Aseptic milk boxes- single serving

Had enough of all this? Book a vacation home with an indoor pool and forget about the weather!

What would you add to this list?

Looking for a family-friendly winter activity? Check out Moonshine Mountain in nearby Hendersonville, NC for snow tubing this winter. KAG Contributor Kristina Hernandez brought her children for a day of tubing down the mountain. Check out her review so you’ll know what to expect and plan your visit to Moonshine Mountain.

They are projected to open on December 26th, 2022.

If you see the giant pink elephant, you know you’ve made it to Moonshine Mountain in Hendersonville, NC. Get used to the feeling of being watched by all kinds of mismatched statues of dinosaurs, bears, and the Blues Brothers. But it’s all part of the thrilling fun of this snow tube mecca in Western North Carolina.

Located only an hour from Greenville, Moonshine Mountain offers super fast snow tubing for any age down their mountain. They have a cozy lodge with games, hot chocolate, snacks, and coffee available. If you’d rather skip the tubing part or are done with your time, you can watch all the action from the deck at the lodge or head to the bridge over the tubing area to take photos of your family speeding down the lanes.

Moonshine Mountain is planning to open December 26, 2022, for their 2022-23 season, which extends through February depending on the weather. Before you go, definitely head to their Facebook page for the latest updates on weather, snow report, and wait times. They have the capability to create their own snow so you’ll be fine even if Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate on the white fluffy stuff.

There are bathrooms on site but they are port-a-potties so don’t go there expecting the Ritz of bathrooms. The place is rustic and eclectic, not a fancy ski lodge.

Tickets, Tube, & Lift

Tickets are $40 for each tuber no matter the age and you have to sign a waiver upon arrival – head right to the “Form Shed” and then take your waiver to the lodge for payment and your sticker. You’ll get two hours of tube time. They do not take reservations so it’s first come first serve. If you want a good chance of snow tubing the day you want, you need to get there early. Like anything outdoors since the pandemic, a lot of people want to go. Over Christmas Break last year, they were posting wait times of anywhere from two to six hours. 

After leaving the lodge, go to the building with the airplane on top to pick up your giant tube – I don’t know how much they weigh but they aren’t light (I definitely tripped over them a couple of times!) – and head to the mountain after the lodge. There is a pulley system that acts as a lift to get you up. It’s easy and fast.

Your other option, if the line is long, is to take your tube and walk up the mountain. I don’t recommend this if the conditions are icy, which is how they were when I went. I got about 80 percent up and got stuck because I couldn’t get a good grip on the ice. It all worked out but the lift is easy and you don’t get stuck!

Going Down the Mountain

Once you’ve reached the top, you get to choose one of the three lanes. Having never snow tubed before, my two little kids (ages 7 and 4) and I just chose the first lane, which was a good choice since it seemed like the other two were even faster. Moonshine Mountain claims one of the steepest slopes in Western North Carolina. I’m not disputing that after day of snow tubing here.

My kids are small enough where we were arranged so that I could hold onto both their tubes and we could go down together, which made me feel a bit safer. Every tuber, no matter their age, get their own tube. The employees are all great and very friendly. They get you up the mountain and down it safely while having a lot of fun.

I saw a lot of other groups go down in “trains”, where you hook your feet under the arms of the person in the tube in front of you and then slide down together. It looked awesome.

Mom Review of the fun at Moonshine Mountain

We got there before Moonshine Mountain opened so we had plenty of time to get in several runs until a bigger crowd showed up. The most we waited to get to the lift after sliding down was 15 minutes and that was at the most crowded part of the day. It was run efficiently, they play music, have a bonfire near the mountain so you can warm up, and have an on-site photographer to grab your best photo (which we absolutely bought).

The place is very family-friendly and really caters to all ages. We saw people on dates, families, big groups, and friends just having fun together. There are plenty of things for the kids to play with, or on, while there as well. There is a little igloo they can explore or climb on the backs of dinosaurs or sit by the fire and enjoy hot chocolate.

I found it’s run efficiently to move people from one area to the next to get in as many snow tube runs as possible but certainly geared towards safety. If you’re looking for something fun to do as a family this winter or to bring out-of-towners to, Moonshine Mountain is a great choice.

Check hours on website as they are mostly open on weekends and school breaks. They do not offer group rates.

Tips for Moonshine Mountain in North Carolina

1 – Bring cash. Moonshine Mountain doesn’t accept credit cards for anything so you need enough money for the tickets plus whatever snacks or hot chocolate you want. Tickets are $40 per person. If you purchase photos, bring an extra $30-$40. I loved the photos since I couldn’t go down the mountain and snapshots at the same time.

2 – While there isn’t an age requirement, there is a minimum height requirement of 36” to tube and a 250-pound limit on the lift. Tubes can hold up to 300 pounds but you’ll need to walk up the mountain. Ages 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

3 – Check the weather and snow report before you go on their website and/or Facebook page. Rain will usually necessitate closing. You don’t want to drive all the way up there and not be able to go tubing.

4 – Get there early. We took someone’s advice and got there about 20 minutes before opening, which allowed us plenty of time to sign the waiver, get our tube, and hit the mountain before other people showed up. If you get there hours after opening, be prepared to wait for a long time or not get tickets at all.

5 – Bring a change of clothes. There are changing rooms on site and you may get wet or muddy. It’s just more comfortable to change before you head home.  

6 – Don’t forget winter hats and gloves and layers are your friends. It can get chilly so just be prepared. You can always ditch layers in the car if you warm up. We don’t have snow gear so we layered leggings under pants and jeans and did the same with shirts. Worked out well.

Have you gone snow tubing at Moonshine Mountain?

Moonshine Mountain
5865 Willow Road, Hendersonville, NC
828.696.0333

If you have never considered booking a trip to Myrtle Beach during the winter months, we think it should be at the top of your list! Kidding Around’s Melanie is going to tell you why a trip to the coast of South Carolina in the off-season is not only a fun vacation, it’s a budget-friendly one.

If you are looking for a fun and affordable family vacation with plenty of activities to keep you busy, Myrtle Beach is the place!

*Accommodations and a media pass were provided by Visit Myrtle Beach for the purpose of this guide, however, all opinions and words are that of the writer.

Going To Myrtle Beach, SC In The Winter

Why would you plan a trip to the beach, and never actually go to the beach? It’s a funny thing to consider, but I’m going to give you a bunch of reasons why a trip to one of South Carolina’s most popular coastal destinations is a great idea during the winter!

Having spent the majority of my life near the ocean, I can assure you that there are plenty of things to do near the ocean that don’t involve the ocean! Myrtle Beach is a great example of that. All of those extra things you like to do while you are on a summertime beach vacation are still available in the winter.

The most alluring reason to book a trip in the winter is the savings. Because of the high volume of rooms in Myrtle Beach, the room rate in the off-season is drastically reduced. Where you might spend hundreds of dollars for a resort with indoor water features away from the coast, the same type of fun can be found for a fraction of the price, along with all of the fun Myrtle Beach has to offer.

Where to Stay: Myrtle Beach Resort In The Off Season

Depending on when you plan to take your off-season trip, there are a few things to consider when you book accommodations. One thing we heard from readers when we polled them about trips to Myrtle Beach in the off-season, was making sure your hotel pool is really “indoor”.

This section contains STAY22 Affiliate links. Kidding Around earns when you book through these links.

The Grande Cayman

My kids and I stayed here on our most recent trip, and we had so many things planned, we didn’t get to take full advantage of the resort amenities! The resort boasts 10+ pools, with a partially indoor set of pools, a lazy river, and hot tubs. The kid’s waterpark and waterslide are separate from the rest of the pool areas, so keeping an eye on little ones is easier. Because none of the pools here are completely enclosed, I wouldn’t recommend a stay here in the colder months if a dip in the pool is an expectation on the trip.

The parking garage makes coming and going from your room easy, and you won’t have to haul tired children through the hotel and onto elevators. The hotel has a restaurant, a lounge, and a Starbucks coffee shop in the lobby which makes grabbing a bite to eat easy.

The room we stayed in at The Grande Cayman Resort had a small kitchen area that included a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, and a sink. One of the features I always love to see in hotels is a dining table. Our room had a full-size table and four chairs, along with a walk-out patio and chairs to enjoy coffee in the morning. Our room was spacious, had hard flooring which I prefer over carpeting in hotels, and comfortable beds. A feature that I have never seen before was the resort’s virtual assistant. I got a text from “Ivy”, and if I needed something like new towels, garbage service or information it was just a text message away.

Captain’s Quarters Oceanfront Resort | Hotel BLUE Myrtle Beach Resort

This family of resorts is one of my family’s favorites. They share accommodations and by bouncing back and forth between resorts, your whole family can have a trip suited to them!
Captain’s Quarters amenities include 15 water features, a kid’s splash park, an arcade, a bowling alley, special weekend activities, and more. Hotel BLUE amenities include a swim-up bar, an indoor lazy river, a Cafe, and a Starbucks in the lobby. Both locations have indoor, and completely enclosed water features, making a dip in the pool ok, any time of year.

Off Season Things to Do In Myrtle Beach

There is so much to see and do in Myrtle Beach! Activities you probably always think “oh we should do that!’ during a beach trip, but then never get around to, you can do now! This fall we took a trip to the beach, and never once stepped foot on the sand. We packed our time there full of fun, and you can too!

Ripley’s Aquarium at Myrtle Beach

The 2-story aquarium is home to over 10, 000 animals. Everything from sharks to penguins, and the elusive mermaid. Ripley’s Aquarium is conveniently located within the Broadway at the Beach entertainment and shopping complex, so you could easily spend an entire day of fun in this one location.

Expect to spend at least two hours visiting the aquarium, longer if you plan on adding one of the additional experiences to your visit. If you have a fan of mermaids in your family, be sure to make note of that days visit times in front of the Ray Bay Reef. The mermaids will make an appearance in the tank, and then afterward will pose with fans.

The aquarium is completely indoors, and is perfect for a day when it is too cold, or rainy to do outdoor things. The Ripley’s Aquarium also has special Holiday events like visits with Santa, Drive-in Movies, a Holiday Festival of Trees, and more.

Broadway At the Beach

Broadway at the Beach boasts 350-acres of shopping, dining, and entertainment in one convenient location. Aquariums, celebrity chef restaurants, surf shops, fireworks and more will keep your family busy all day. The added benefit of free parking will make this a favorite spot for all the members of your family. Some popular spots to check out are:

Seasonal events are listed on the Broadway at the Beach Event Calendar, and include things like Santa visits and more.

Medeival Times Dinner Show

There are several different dinner show-style attractions in Myrtle Beach, and something for everyone. One of the most popular is the Medieval Times show. The show includes horse riding knights, jousting, an appearance by the queen, and more during the 2-hour long experience.

Other Dinner shows in Myrtle Beach include: Pirates Voyage (ask about the Christmas Show), and Polynesian Fire.

The Sky Wheel

The sixth highest Ferris wheel in the US provides riders with amazing views of the beach and the boardwalk area. A ride on the Sky Wheel is fun no matter what time of year it is. Check the Sky Wheel Website for special events like Sunrise rides that include breakfast, and the Winter Wonderland at the Beach attraction set up in the square next to Sky Wheel.

Kidding Around Readers Recommend Off-season Travel To Myrtle Beach

Kristina Michelle Owenby Green stayed at the Crown Reef Resort & Waterpark: Myrtle Beach Family Resorts

Laura Jones stayed at the Mar Vista Grande

Kidding Around’s Kristina recently stayed at the Westgate Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort, and had a great time!

Spending The Holidays at the Beach

Using the winter break from school as a chance to go away is becoming more popular. Some families even use a vacation away from home during Christmas as a clutter-free way to celebrate in lieu of an avalanche of gifts on Christmas morning. Breaking away from tradition might be scary for some readers, but my kids and I went to Orlando one year and woke up in a hotel room Christmas morning; we had a blast.

There is a guide to Holiday Experiences in Myrtle Beach that you can enjoy. Here are some fun holiday activities mentioned by readers.

What are the top plant names for boys? There has been a shift toward a more environmentally friendly global culture. So, these days, it’s trendy to give infant sons names that have some connection to the great outdoors.

Names inspired by nature are as lovely as the names themselves. A plant-based name is appropriate for boys because it adds a gentler quality as they mature into men.

Parental expressions of appreciation for nature can be expressed through the selection of a name with a botanical origin.

Plant names for boys can express your appreciation of the outdoors.

Names for boys that end in “plant” are great because of the positive associations with nature and the growth they convey. Let’s learn some green boy names.

Name Origins and Meaning

The process of naming becomes richer when one considers the meaning of a name. And if you’re having trouble deciding, the origin of the name can provide inspiration.

It’s also fascinating to learn where a name was first used (the location in the world where the name was created).

Perhaps a name from a particular region of the world will hold more meaning for you because of your interest in travel or because of your family’s ties to that area.

You can give your kids a name with a backstory, giving them a sense of identity and a deeper connection to the world.

Encyclopedia About Plant Name For Boys

Binomial nomenclature, or the naming of plants, all started with Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist who created the modern system to formalize the species name of a plant.

This is more significant than it might first appear, and it’s why many plants have a scientific name in addition to their more familiar common name. For instance, the azalea is known by its scientific name, “rhododendron.”

What should I name my plant boy?

• Aspen
• Caladium
• Cedar
• Cereus
• Dara

What is a nature name for boy?

Bear, Koa, River and Orion are some of the names related to nature.

What is a flower name for a boy?

Peregrine	Traveler, wanderer	Latin
Saffron	Saffron plant	English
Sage	Healing herb	Latin
Sorrel	Red-brown	French
Talasi	Cornflower	Native American

For the complete list go check it out here.

What is a rare plant name?

 Corpse Flower

Is Forest a boy name?

It is common for both boys and girls. The origin of this name is french. And the meaning is “woodsman or woods”.

Is Flora a boy’s name?

No Flora is a Feminine name.

What is a cool nature name?

Some examples are:

• Sage
• River
• Briar
• Dahlia
• Fox
• Ivy

Enough let us die on the list right away.

 

Top plant names for boys

Acker: Acker has its roots in both the Dutch and German languages, and it refers to a farmer or someone who lives near an agricultural plot.

Aciano: Meaning “the blue bottle flower,” Aciano is a Spanish boy’s name.

Admon: Admon, which means “red flower,” is a common given name for baby boys.

Alder: The name Alder comes from the English word for the alder tree, which means “old.”

Alon: Alon has its roots in Hebrew, where it was originally used. Elon is yet another spelling of the name.

Asha: The name Asha means “joy” in Hebrew. There is a connection to the tree of the same name.

Ashton: The English name Ashton derives its meaning, “ash tree town,” from the ash trees that once grew in the area.

Hebrew: For men, the Hebrew name Aaron means “Exalted” or “strong.”

Balsam: A person who deals in spices and perfumes is known as a balsam. This name comes from Latin.

Basil: Basil, with its roots in Greek mythology, is a popular choice for a boy’s name. Basil is the name of the herb, but it also has the meaning of “royal and kingly.”

Birch: Meaning “bright; shining,” the English name Birch is also the name of the birch tree.

Brier: One of the most common names given to male plants is Brier. This name has its roots in the English word for a tree.

Calendula: Little months is the meaning behind the name Calendula. It is also a common type of English marigold.

Cedar: Among the lovely plant-based options for a boy’s name, this is a great option. There is a tree with the same name, and the name comes from English.

Chyrsanthos: Greek for “golden flower,” the name Chyrsanthos is a lovely one for a plant.

More Names

• Alfalfa
• Arbor
• Ash
• Aster
• Basil
• Bay
• Bentley
• Birch
• Cedar
• Chervil
• Clay
• Cosmo
• Elmore
• Elwood
• Ewan
• Forrest
• Hawthorne
• Herb
• Heywood
• Huck
• Kamal
• Lars
• Mace
• Oleander
• Oliver
• Oren –
• Reed
• Sorrel
• Taro
• Timothy
• Valerian
• Vernon
• Wilder
• Aspen
• Clover
• Kaede
• Oakley
• Ren
• Rowan
• Rue

Final Thoughts on Plant Names for Boys

These were plant names for boys. Meaningful names have the power to instantly elevate a person’s status and reputation.

Therefore, if you want your son to stand out from the crowd, consider giving him a name that is rooted in nature.

How did you find this magnificent article on plant names for boys? Let us know in the comments, and feel free to offer suggestions for other names that fit the bill for plant names for boys.

What was your experience like when you encountered plant names for boys? Put it down in the remark section if you want to share.

Also Read: 200 Latest Soft Boy Names With Meanings In 2022

Tinydale is on YouTube, Click here to subscribe for the latest videos and updates.

Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Pinterest

I am sure you are part of our amazing page Baby World To stay updated With posts and videos.

August feels like yesterday and also a million miles away. High hopes, big dreams and a picturesque vision of college life. And then the reality sets in. It was different than you or your student envisioned, it was harder than expected, building relationships was awkward for them, new found independence led them to trouble, physical and mental health issues caused a disruption, they thought they could do it without accommodations, and now they need them.

So now we are here at the end of the semester and your excited, optimistic first year student is feeling anxious, depressed, depleted, incapable, lonely, on a leave of absence or finding your way out of conduct sanctions. You must be the only one…

Three things I know for sure about first year college students’ struggles

1. Your student is not alone

First-time undergraduate freshmen have a 12-month dropout rate of 24.1% in the United States according to educationdata.com. I can hear you saying, “Wait, what?! But my student was a really strong high school student with good grades, solid test scores, and friends…” Yes, and transition is no joke for anyone, especially 18 year olds, post-pandemic, in a new place with a new lingo, unfamiliar rules, and a whole lot of newfound free time!

2. The setback they have experienced this fall is NOT a sign that they CANNOT do it!

However, your student may need a new approach, different strategies, and wrap around support to re-find their footing!

3. There are a handful of challenges that commonly plague new students

There are likely internal messages on repeat that are chipping away at their self-confidence. As a result, we have to deconstruct those thoughts and rebuild them in a different frame.

The most common issues that first years experience

1. Academic under-performance

Maybe your student expected the same high marks they got in high school, or maybe they are finishing the term with an academic warning or on academic probation. As a result, they may be saying, “I don’t have what it takes, I’m not smart enough, everyone knows more than me or I worked really hard and have nothing to show for all those hours in the library.”

So what now: If your student met their College’s admissions standards, they likely have what it takes. But they may need to engage in new study habits, enhance their executive functioning and organizational skills, learn to take notes differently, or re-think how they are managing their time. These are doable and say absolutely nothing about your student’s IQ or knowledge of Intro to Philosophy.

2. Loneliness/isolation

If either of these challenged your student this semester, I imagine they may be tired of signing up for random events, going to hall programs, and standing at the back of a room on your phone pretending they aren’t completely alone. Maybe they had a horrible roommate situation or have been rejected from some group they really wanted to be part of. All of it has likely led to feeling an overwhelming lack of belonging.

So what now: They may need to re-evaluate how they went about connecting with others or in a few select cases, it is possible they should assess if a different environment might be better for them. It is also helpful for them to define what they are looking for in relationships, where that might be found on campus and how to make their way into those different spaces.

Most importantly, my sense is they feel like the “only one” who hasn’t made friends or isn’t out having the time of their lives every night. Social media and our own human fear of missing out leads us to these thoughts. The reality is MANY students don’t find their people until second semester or even sophomore year and more students than they realize are feeling very similar!

3. Conduct issues

So your student messed up…maybe they really messed up…and nowthey are feeling embarrassed or that they need to walk on egg shells to avoid further issues. They might be worried you are never going to forgive them, or that they may have forever ruined their college “record”.

So what now: College is about learning…not just in the classroom, but everywhere and that certainly includes learning from your mistakes. While it may feel like it right this second, this is not the end of the world and how they respond now is what will truly define them.

That starts with taking responsibility and repairing any harm they have caused. Then, we need to start helping them develop a plan to avoid making the same mistake twice! After that, it is time to help them forgive themselves, and start moving forward wiser, stronger, and more caring than they were before this incident.

4. Medical or personal leaves of absence due to health/mental health and/or personal crisis

If your student is currently at home on a leave, you (and they) might not realize it, but they are right where you are supposed to be. However, their brain may be telling them, “I am so behind because of this and I will never catch up. I have missed out on everything.” And honestly, “Am I really healthy enough to go back yet?!” I get it. This is not the timeout they imagined, and it is taking them off the meticulously planned timeline they expected.

So what now: Colleges have policies to address these very issues. Priority one is your student’s physical and mental health. Let’s start by talking about treatment options. Then, help them take a deep breath and realize that twists and unexpected turns like this are all part of life.

Taking time to prioritize their health is far more important than just pushing through. Instead, while they are at home, guide them to consider the most critical steps they need to take in support of their long term well-being?

Should they consider an in-patient or outpatient treatment program? Should they consider taking a couple of classes that will transfer back in? Should they work, seek therapy, or both?! There are a lot of questions to answer, but by just taking it just one step at a time with them and helping them lay out a set of goals to make the time away as productive as possible, they will be better equipped to be successful when returning.

Then, when that return time comes, remind them to be proactive about developing a re-entry plan, meeting with resources ahead of time and putting together a clear communication plan for what to do if/when those concerns creep back up.

5. General lack of direction, motivation, or focus

Uncertainty is no stranger to first year students. They may be questioning if the particular school they chose is the “best” one for them. They may be feeling unsure of what they want to study, pressured because they don’t know what career they want yet, or feeling like maybe they would be better off doing something other than college altogether.

These questions can feel overwhelming at times and can start to make it particularly hard to get out of bed, go to class, study effectively or to get quality sleep. Guess what these can lead to…academic underperformance, mental health issues, isolation…and the cycle continues for them.

So what now: Its time to flip the script and help your student start exploring their strengths and talents. Encouraging them to find a mentor or coach with whom they can dig deeper around their interests. If they are feeling really uncertain or unmotivated, maybe talk to them about taking a break to trying something else for a bit.

Life is not linear and neither is the road to finding the right professional path! That said, college is meant to be a time of exploration and trying different things, so time spent deciphering what they are really passionate about, and how to organize their college experience around that will be time really well spent.

What Is next for the student who struggled last semester?

Ultimately, transition is really hard and your student is NOT the only one who experienced these challenges this semester. But now is the right time for them to regroup. I strongly encourage them to pause, reflect on what has happened, consider these questions:

“What you were thinking when you first realized that things were different from what you pictured?”

“Now that the semester is over, what have I learned or realized about myself?”

“What do I need most to be able to move forward and to feel whole again?”

Once they have answered these, it is time to get after it.

I strongly encourage students to do their best to stay for at least one full first year at their current college before jumping to the big “T.” Transferring is a good option in some situations, BUT before we do that, we need to do the work to make sure they are not just carrying their challenges and negative feelings forward to a new place and risking the start of the same vicious cycle.

It is also important to make sure your student doesn’t get caught up in a “grass is greener” mentality that causes them to think another institution will be the silver bullet to their problems. No institution is perfect, and most will work very hard to support your student in getting on track…especially if they struggled in the first semester.

Skills, behaviors and attitudes that will increase your student’s potential for success

Finally, there are a number of skills, behaviors and attitudes that students can address to increase their potential for success in the second semester or to support their re-entry following a leave of absence. From executive functioning coaching to psychological counseling support, determine where the challenges lie and start seeking those support services for your student as soon as possible.

In addition, contact your college’s Dean of Students Office, Office of Disability Services, or Academic Resource Center during the break. Request a “re-launch” meeting involving all of those important resources while you are at home to learn more about holistic support services they offer that your student has not yet tapped.

Help your student schedule appointments, evaluations, etc. before they return to campus. Encourage your student to name their “top 3” to you (one professor, one staff member, and one student who will be their “go-to’s” for the upcoming semester and encourage them to contact these individuals and establish that relationship right away.

Finally, know this: your student is likely feeling shame around this semester’s success or lack thereof. Remind them of their ability, their talent and help them reflect on their strengths. Consider an 80%-20% rule of thumb this break. Spend 20% of your time holding up the mirror and asking them tough questions, but spend 80% of your conversations taking a strengths-based approach and lifting them back up…rebuilding their confidence, laughing with them, loving them.

The first semester is hard and they can still do this!

More Great Reading:

10 Things Current College Students Want First Year Students to Know