Giving Tuesday: Elementary School Library Book Drive

This year, Giving Tuesday is especially important. SO many people are struggling and in need. So I've been looking around trying to decide where to give whatever is within my means to give.

Now, more that ever, I want to teach compassion and generosity to my children. Even though this year our Christmas will be smaller, I still want them to see it's important to always give whatever and whenever you can. 

So when my daughter's school sent home a fundraiser for spreading kindness, it caught my eye. They were selling T-shirts to raise money for Maudrie M. Walton Elementary whose library had been involved in arson and ALL of the books were destroyed...either by fire, smoke, or water. The school serves children in Pre-K through 5th grade. Further investigation showed that the school was located in a low-income neighborhood - predominantly Hispanic and Black. 

I bought a T-shirt. But looked for ways to do more because, you know, I have a soft spot in my heart for books and young children and the impact that the former has on the latter.

While I was ruminating on whether or not I could host another book drive similar to the one I did last year for migrant children, I stumbled upon this NBC article and read that one was already being hosted by the Junior League for Fort Worth. 

So far, 200 books have been donated to the school, but they have to replace ALL of the books that were ruined by the fire. The Junior League has stepped in to help by setting up a wish list on Amazon. I scrolled through it and there are a lot of great books there. (I noticed, in particular, that there were several of my favorite bilingual titles if you scroll way down the list.) 

So if you have $5, $10, or even $20 to spare, won't you please consider donating a book to help restock this school library? The wish list even includes a shipping address written at the top in the description. 

I'm purchasing a book from their wish list and packing a box of books that have been sent to me to review over the years to donate. Join me in helping and giving. 

School libraries are so very, very important to a school community. They provide children with a safe space to learn, study, and dream about the possibilities of the future. They are a refuge and a classroom. And the books inside bring the world into a child's life. 

Giving Tuesday is a week away. It always falls on the Tuesday following Cyber Monday. So that gives you time to start planning on how to give, if you haven't already.

This Giving Tuesday, please consider donating a book or two to this elementary school and help children in need of support and kindness.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday. 

Teaching Little Ones about Civic Engagement

The following is a guest post by Latina mom, Monika Aldarondo. It's part of our Hispanic Heritage Month 2020 series.


I was raised to share my time, talent, and treasure with my community. I want to pass on those values. It is challenging to find ways to authentically engage in serving our community with little ones when all is well with the world, but this year, it is even harder.

That’s where connecting with organizations such as Community Impact Lab (CIL) is so helpful. The founder, Xouhoa Bowen, is a mom of young kids that has made it her mission to create opportunities for families to engage in meaningful ways to give back to our community.

My 5-year-old has been posing questions that frame our daily exploration. But last week, I posed a question: How can we share with our community? 

I knew that morning we would be spending the day participating in CIL’s school supply drive. I had posted about local school supply drives for the children of migrant workers. Xouhoa messaged me that she wanted to help. CIL had requested a list of supplies from the community for local schools. Xouhoa collected and distributed supplies from her home. Since the usual volunteer days of assembling supplies are not possible in the time of COVID-19, my son and I picked up the supplies from her porch. We brought them home to assemble into sets before driving them an hour to another group that was distributing supply-filled backpacks in San Jose and to migrant farmworker families in Salinas. 

As my son grows, I want him to witness us engaging in our community. Many of the families receiving these bags are doing the labor that allows us to stay safe and fed at home during the pandemic... and now during forest-fire-induced-smoky skies. 

Speaking of their contribution to our lives was step one. Taking actions that show how we depend on each other and must hold up our end of taking care of everyone in our community is critical. I don’t believe that a bag of supplies is equal to their contribution to us. But, we do try to find ways to give back despite the challenges of this time.

My son may not see or understand voter drives, giving to community fundraising campaigns, or calling elected officials that I engage in (yet). But he does understand that kids need supplies to create and learn. So we include him there. The rest he can witness by observing us, and we will include him more and more as he grows.

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Monika Aldarondo is a former arts educator, and current photographer and creative shape-shifter with Puerto Rican roots. She posts about her bilingual home/un-schooling journey on Instagram @librolovinmama. Her photography and creative projects can be found at laancla.com

Download: Racial Justice & Equity Glossary Packet

One of the ways that I deal with difficult situations is by letting my creative side work to produce something that I hope will help parents and children. 

With so much happening and all the social media and news outlets focused on the current situation, there are a lot of words being put out there that kids don't understand. So I started going through articles and social media posts and writing down those words that kids (and adults!) may not be familiar with. I did this for myself, too. I had no idea what redlining, allyship, or microaggression meant. 

So with the help of some friends, I put together this vocabulary list and then put them all into a glossary. I'm sure that there are many words I've missed, but this is still a great start for helping tweens and teens understand all the terminology being used. 

Racial Justice and Equity Glossary and Poster Set

This download dives deep into the terms associated with social and racial justice. But it also has activities to help students learn and apply these words correctly. The packet includes the following:

• poster (full-color & black-and-white) featuring key terminology
• 55 words or phrases plus their definitions
• write the definition worksheets (plus answer key)
• discussion questions
• research and write worksheet
• a list of types of ways to protest
• a list of famous protesters
• and blank writing pages.

You can download it on TPT.

I hope you find it helpful for talking with your kids about what is happening in our country.

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Latin Americans in History
  
  
• Teach for Justice Lesson Plans
  
  
• Hispanic Poets: One-Page Reading Passages
  
  
• 15 Children's Biographies Celebrating Women

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How I Talk to My Teen about What is Happening in our Country

Last night, around midnight, I found my eldest teen sitting on the back steps of our house crying. When I opened the door and asked what was happening, she said, "I hate this country." She bawled in my arms and showed me all the outraged social media posts she had seen about what was happening and the innocent lives that were being tortured or lost. She was overwhelmed by the horror.

At first, I hugged her and told her, "It's okay." I was on automatic pilot trying to soothe her. She immediately said, "No! It's NOT okay!" And she was right.

I can't tell you how hard I prayed to have the right words for her.

So I told her, "You're right. It's not okay. And I'm really glad that you can see that."

We went on to talk about how our country was terribly broken right now. That it has been for a long time but that things have gotten worse in recent years. And people are angry and tired of being ignored.

People should be outraged. They should be livid that there is so much injustice, racism, and just plain evil in this world... and especially outraged that it is still happening in our country.

We talked about how looting is wrong, but their protests, anger, and emotions were totally justified.

We talked about George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor. We talked about school shootings. We talked about children being separated from their parents and kept in cages or deported back to countries where they have no parents or families.

I talked about how all of this racism and hate wasn't new, but that it is now becoming visible to everyone and cannot be ignored.

I told her how proud I was of her for being upset and angry and just knowing how wrong it is to treat people so horribly. We talked about how God is not a respecter of persons and that we are ALL EQUAL in his sight. I told her how we are all the same no matter what we look like on the outside. And we are all precious and valuable.

My daughter kept whispering that it should be instinct not to kill a person. That pretty much broke my heart.

I talked about how no baby is born racist. That it is a learned characteristic. Learned from examples. And it comes from a lack of education and a lack of exposure to people of all different walks of life.

I told her that her generation actually gave me a lot of hope. Because young people today are finding their voices and they aren't afraid to use them. People like Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg, Greta Thunberg, Mala Yousafzai, Autumn Peltier, and so many others.

I think that just talking about it was very therapeutic for her. She calmed down and was able to control her tears. Knowing that her feelings were justified and that she wasn't alone in feeling them was really important to her. So was letting her know that I was proud of her outrage and her ability to see the absolute wrongness of the whole situation.

These difficult issues are just exacerbated by the pandemic. Which makes our journey as individuals, as families, as communities, and as a nation that much more difficult.

Don't be afraid to talk to your children. This is the perfect time to talk about the beliefs you hold to be good and true and right. Encourage your children to be brave in the face of adversity. To realize that they can be hurt for speaking the truth. But that ultimately staying true to ourselves and beliefs is worth it. And speaking up for those who are wronged, hurt, or worse is important otherwise we are guilty of the sin, too.

Silence is acceptance.

Silence is approval.

We are better than that.

Resources for Teaching Compassion

In an increasingly angry society where judgment and bullying is becoming more commonplace, lessons in compassion are desperately needed.

I saw this article in the Washington Post and it got me to thinking about how countries around the globe are implementing new classes for students to combat societal problems. For example, classes that teach children and adults how to recognize fake news and how to research for articles that state the truth. Or lessons for combatting bullying.

A few years ago, PBS KIDS launched a new show that focused on teaching preschoolers social-emotional skills. Daniel Tiger gives children tools to recognize and manage their emotions and their interactions with other people. The episodes help children find ways to deal with anger, disappointment, impatience, and more.

So, why aren't we teaching lessons about compassion?

I started researching resources and I've listed what I've found so far below. But I hope to keep adding to it as I find more. Message me if you know of a wonderful product or activity to help parents and educators teach about compassion for others.

Lesson Plans

• Character Education: Compassion {Lesson Plans and Activities} :: Haley O'Connor on TpT (K-2nd)
• What is Compassion? :: Tolerance.org (K - 2nd)
• 5 Compassion Lessons :: Lisa Morris on TpT (3rd-6th)
• Compassion Lesson about Homelessness :: Nordskog on TpT (4th-10th)

Articles

• Raising Includers: 5 Tips to Help Your Kids Be Kind and Compassionate :: PBS Parents
• 13 Ways to Raise a Caring and Compassionate Child :: Scholastic
• 5 Ways to Instill Compassion in Your Children :: Psychology Today
• Raising a Compassionate Child :: Parenting

Videos

• An Exercise in Self Compassion :: video and lesson plan from TedEd

Books

• Under the Lemon Moon by Edith Hope Fine 
• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
• The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
• I Am Love: A Book of Compassion by Susan Verde
• Listening with My Heart: A story of kindness and self-compassion by Gabi Garcia

15 Ways to Raise Non-Racist Children

Last week was so disturbing in so many ways. I was very disheartened to see all the violence erupting across our beloved country. Racism is an ugly, ugly beast.

Like you, I don't want my children eventually becoming victims of a violent society. As I mentioned in my Facebook post, I don't know how we stop this madness among adults. But I do know that as parents, there's one really big thing we can do to stop it in the future: raise non-racist kids.

Raising children who see beyond the color of a person's skin takes a conscious effort on the parents' part. We must deliberately teach respect and cooperation. We must destroy the "Us versus Them" mentality that has slowly permeated our culture.

The reality is that there are good people in this world and there are bad people. It doesn't matter what color your skin is or what uniform you wear. There are both kinds of people EVERYWHERE.

So we must raise our kids to respect others and not judge someone based on the way they look but on their actual actions. We must assume people are good unless we see them doing otherwise. We must raise children who value life and don't take another person's life lightly, or that think their own lives are more important than others. We absolutely must train our children to communicate effectively, without belittling, cursing, or threatening others even in anger. And we must help our children to have friends of all colors, backgrounds, and nationalities so that they do not fall victims to ignorant stereotypes.

Below are 15 things you can do to raise an enlightened, unprejudiced child who doesn't judge other people by the color of their skin.

1. Don't be a Racist

Model the change you want to see in our society. Model the person you want your children to grow up to be. That means NOT making or repeating stereotypical comments to your children about people based on the color of their skin, the language they speak, the uniform they wear, or anything along those lines. Treat people as individuals not as representatives of an entire race or culture. Your children are watching you even when you don't think they are, and they are learning how to be an adult from you.

2. Vocally Oppose Racism

Even if you aren't racist, society and the media constantly bombard our children with racist images (some subtle, and some not so subtle), so it is up to us to point out why they are wrong if our children see them. Our outrage and disappointment should be visible, but in a controlled fashion. We should explain with great seriousness how these images hurt people's feelings and send the wrong message. Whenever possible, we should relate them to our own children's lives and people they know:

• "How would you feel if people thought/said these things about you?" 
• "How do you think [family or friend] would feel if they saw this picture? Wouldn't they feel bad about themselves or hurt that someone thinks of them this way?" 
• "This isn't true. [Name] isn't like that at all, and would probably be hurt if s/he saw this."

Make your children think about how words and actions have power, and that those words and actions can be used to uplift or tear down.

3. Make Friends with Everyone

Take a minute to think about all the people you know and consider friends. Take a look at your Facebook feed. Is everyone one color? If so, it may be time to climb out of your box. Make an effort to make friends with people and families from different backgrounds, different cultures, different races. You'll be amazed at how enriched your life will become and the significant impact it will have on your child's perspective and treatment of others.

4. Speak Out

Time to put on your big kid underwear and walk the talk. Your child is watching you. Silence is cowardly. Be brave. If you are with your friend, and you see them (or even someone you don't know!) being harrassed, belittled, ridiculed by another person because of their color, language, or appearance, stand up and say something. Show support and solidarity. Bullies are more likely to pick on one person than they are a two or more. Show some class and fight ignorance with intelligence, strength, and dignity. Kick fear to the curb. Racist jokes suck. Don't laugh. Frown and tell it straight: "That's not a funny joke. It's cruel and ignorant."

5. Teach Respect

Everyone deserves our respect. Our kids should assume the people they meet are good people until they have proven/indicated otherwise. "Sir" and "Ma'am" should be a permanent part of your language and your child's as a sign of respect for others. You don't have to agree with everyone, but that doesn't mean it's okay to talk ugly to a person just because they have a difference of opinion.

REMEMBER: You can't control what other people do, but you sure can control your own self. Don't let other people drag you down to their level if they are vulgar or insulting. Treat them how you'd want to be treated.

Don't forget that you can download my free packet for parents and teachers, #RespectEachOther. It focuses on bullying and it isn't just for children of color. It's for all children. It not only deals with what to do if you are being bullied, but also what to do if you SEE someone who is being bullied. And it gives advice to parents who have children that are being bullied. It's available in English AND Spanish.

6. Read Diverse Books

Reading should already be a routine in your home if you have children. They should be reading every day. Make sure that starting from the time they are born, you are reading books that reflect other cultures and people. Don't only read books about white characters. Don't only read books about black characters. Don't only read books about Hispanic characters. Don't only read books about Asian characters. Don't only read books about Native American characters. Don't only read books about Jewish/Christian/Muslim characters. Read ALL of them so that you can begin to understand why other people think or behave the way they do and discover similarities. Stop your kids from thinking of people who look different as "OTHER."

Need ideas for multicultural children's book titles? Multicultural Kid Blogs is a goldmine.

7. Teach Anger Management

Having self-control is the single most important trait a parent can help their child develop. Losing your temper is what 2-year-olds do. Train your kids to respond, NOT to react. I know for a fact that a calm, kind response and even a heartfelt apology can cool another person's anger. Really, it is super hard to keep screaming at a person who is responding calmly and with sincerity. You start to realize how silly and dramatic you sound/look. Remind them that by allowing someone else to make them out-of-control angry, they are giving that other person all the power. I tell my kids all the time, "You are the one in control of your emotions, they do not control you." Here are some great techniques for teaching kids how to control their anger.

And along with this goes the ability and willingness to say "I'm sorry." Teach children that apologizing doesn't make a person weak. It makes a person wiser and kinder. It doesn't mean you agree with someone else, but it does mean you're sorry you've hurt their feelings.

8. Teach Effective Communication Skills

Another valuable skill is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with others. Children should be able to express themselves without physical violence. They should also be able to ask the right questions to understand why another person is behaving in a specific way. 

The first step in conflict resolution is understanding the problem. Did Ana take Aurelio's toy? Why did she do that? How do we stop that from happening again? Is Helen scared of Billy? Why? Helen should be able to explain, and Billy should be able to understand so that if he is doing something wrong or if she has misinterpreted his actions, he can apologize and/or explain himself.

9. Show Them How Empathy Works

Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand and share the feelings another person has. Empathy generally has to be developed because most children are ego-centric and only think about themselves and how they feel. Sadly, if they do not learn to have empathy, they grow up into selfish adults who only think about themselves and their own feelings. Being empathic helps people see situations from multiple perspectives and makes them better problem solvers, a quality highly valued by employers.

One of the best ways to develop your child's sense of empathy is to help them learn to identify their own feelings and then apply them to other people. Asking questions such as "How do you think that made him/her feel?" or "What would have been a better thing to say?" is important for helping kids to think about others.

Here are some evidence-based tips for fostering empathy in children.

10. Kick Jealousy out the Door

Quit worrying about what everyone else has that you don't have. Instead, start helping your child to recognize all the wonderful things with which they themselves are blessed and to give thanks for them. It's a lot easier to be happy for another person's good fortune if you know that you, too, have had many instances of good health, happiness, wonderful opportunities. At dinner each night, ask your children what the best thing was that happened to them that day so that they'll learn to appreciate their own lives.

And don't forget to celebrate the successes and blessings that others experience. Model the behavior you want to see in your children. For example, when a child in their class receives an award or goes on a fantastic vacation, say things like, "Wow! That is so great that Sofia got to travel all the way to Bolivia! I'm so happy for her! She'll learn so much. I'd love to travel, too, how about you?" or "Isn't that LEGO playset that Samuel got for his birthday incredible? I'm so happy for him, he's going to have a great time building it. Maybe we can save up to buy one similar. Which sets do you like?" The key phrase here is "I'm so happy for you/him/her." Because we need to teach our kids that it's important to be happy for others.

11. Nurture a Happy Heart

And speaking of happy, children that are happy are more likely to be successful adults and are less likely to develop mental disorders. They are more optimistic, less aggressive, and less prone to depression. They're more likely to see the good in others and treat others with fairness, not suspicion. It's okay to he sad or angry on occasion, as long as our general outlook is one of happiness. Think about all the truly happy people you know. Can you imagine any one of them treating another person unjustly?

I love the advice given in these 5 secrets to raising a happy child.

12. Develop Your Child's Sense of Social Justice 

Help your child understand that he or she has the power to create change. Help them learn to identify issues and know right from wrong and not be afraid to speak up. Don't be afraid to point out social issues in our time, but be sure to discuss solutions. Because our job is to leave this world a better place.

13. Study U.S. History

And I don't mean study WHITE U.S. history. Study the contributions of ALL Americans. Yes, you should know about Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Lincoln. But you should also know about Agrippa Hull, William Flora, Juan de Miralles Trailhon and General Bernardo de Gálvez, Loreta Janeta Velázquez, Corporal Joseph Pierce, and thousands of others. Teach your kids that heroes come in ALL colors.

14. Learn a New Language or About Other Cultures

It's really hard to learn a new language without learning about the cultures with which they are associated. And learning a new language gets the language learner excited about practicing their new communication skills with other people. Instead of seeing people as "others" - dangerous, abnormal, not like us - they instead see people as positive opportunities with which to interact.

Here's a great way to study culture as part of your curriculum, or simply at home as character development during the summer, after school, or on the weekends.

15. Travel

Traveling has SO many benefits! It can help boost new language skills, reinforce what you've learned about another culture, give you an opportunity to learn and make friends, and help you raise a global citizen who cares about our entire planet and humanity. Teach your children how we are all the same and interconnected. You don't have to agree with everyone else's beliefs, but you should understand what those beliefs are and respect their rights to have them.

#GivingTuesday Helps Us Raise Giving Children

How do you raise compassionate, generous children with a strong sense of social responsibility?

This is a question I think about often. I want my kids to:

• realize they are blessed
• understand that there are many who are less fortunate
• be generous with their time, love, and money
• recognize those who struggle and suffer
• feel compassion
• be willing to make a difference

My husband and I work hard to help them see the needs of others and to think about ways to improve lives. This means we have to be sure and look for and create opportunities to teach our kids.

For #GivingTuesday and this holiday season, we're happy to make a difference in the lives of others through our support of Heifer International. They empower families to turn hunger and poverty into hope and prosperity by helping communities and delivering sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. It all starts with the gift of a sheep or a goat or a flock of geese. The animals that are gifted provide communities with food and reliable income, as agricultural products such as milk, eggs and honey can be traded or sold at market. When many families gain a new sustainable income brings new opportunities for building schools, creating agricultural cooperatives, forming community savings and funding small businesses.

Heifer has been in Peru since 1963, where they've worked with women artistans. The women receive veterinary medicine kits, greenhouses, cookstoves, vegetable seeds, marketing support, and training in business management and Heifer's 12 Cornerstones.

This beautiful alpaca scarf I'm wearing is hand-crafted by the artisans of Tres Alpaquitas in Marcapata, Peru. Not only is it something special for me, but by wearing it, I also support @heiferinternational and these women who are supporting their families.

I have another scarf exactly like it and like many of the families who are aided by Heifer Internat'l, I'm going to pass it on. Passing on the Gift® is the hallmark of Heifer's approach. They began by requiring each family who received an animal gift pass on their first female offspring to another family in need. Thus, by helping one, they help an entire community by encouraging the spreading of skills and wealth.

Join My Family in Making a Difference!

I also want to invite you to join me in gifting one share of a knitter's basket, which includes a llama, an alpaca, a sheep and an Angora rabbit. In addition, the family that receives the knitter's basket is instructed on how to properly feed and care for the animals.

My daughter has recently learned how to crochet. She loves creating scarves, dish cloths, and other handmade items to sell or gift to others. So the knitter's basket was an ideal choice for our family. Especially because it provides nourishment, warmth, and income for the recipient families.

We've purchased one share for $48. If nine other shares are purchased, then a full knitter's basket will be gifted to a family in need. Won't you consider helping us to make this possible?

To join us, or to learn other ways you can help others this holiday season, click here to visit Heifer International. There are many, many other ways to give; you can help others for as little as $10!!

Wishing you all a loving and giving holiday,

Monica

Por Ellos, Sí Podemos Photo Series to Break Stereotypes & Inspire Latinos

A few days ago, a colleague in a Facebook group shared this Huffington Post article and I immediately knew you'd want to know about it. This photo series by photographer Eunique Jones Gibson is so sweet and inspiring, I wish it were a book! I would totally buy it.

While interacting with parents during her photo shoots for her "Because Of Them, We Can" photo series,  Gibson decided to expand her project and add Por Ellos, Sí Podemos. It launched last month at the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. You do not want to miss this!

The bilingual website features dozens of influential Latinos and their quotes in moving photographs and videos starring...Latino children. I want to squeeze each and every one of them.

Inspired by her own two sons, Gibson says her goal is to break down stereotypes and boost children's self esteem...

Below are just two examples of their awesome content. I hope you'll head on over there with your children to see it all.

10 Tips for Raising Problem Solvers

I can't deny that for parents like me, who have chosen to send kids to traditional school, stepping into the classroom once in a while is super important in order to stay informed. After three visits to three classrooms for back-to-school nights, I learned so much! What seemed like endless parent informational meetings on my calendar this month, resulted in newly gained knowledge on how to help my boys do better in school.

This year, the theme seemed to be "Helping our students become problem solvers." I heard this at both schools over and over again. It left me intrigued. And because I love to share anything and everything I learn about education with Mommy Maestra readers, I asked a lot of questions on the topic of raising children to be problem solvers and I went around reading and doing my own research to find out more.

It makes sense that we consciously attempt to teach children to become problem solvers, and bravo to the fact that schools are realizing that we can't just have kids memorize information and take tests. Not only do we strive for our children to become independent and make wise decisions, but it also makes sense that we send them off to the world to help and contribute.

I have learned that there are some things parents can do at home to help support this brilliant idea.

1. Ask your child open-ended questions. This is key for critical thinking skills. Open-ended questions allow children to express themselves while giving details in an answer. Just ask a child how he would spend the day if he were a cat! See what he comes up with!

2. Ask your children questions that will lead to brainstorming with you. This is great for creative thinking skills. Just this weekend, we brainstormed ideas on what one can make with all the apples being picked this season. Pumpkins too! Children pull ideas from past experiences, what they already know, and always want to come up with their own suggestions.

3. Have your child come up with personal observations. I believe books are great for this exercise! When reading, always ask your child what they think is going to happen next in the story. Also, ask how they think a character in the book is feeling. If there is conflict or a problem in the story, ask your child for predictions on how things might end up.

4. Don't give your kids the answers. I know this is hard, but try to not to give answers to your child when you are asking an open-ended question, when you are asking for ideas while brainstorming or while asking questions while reading. If they don't answer, no worries! DO continue to ask but...perhaps not at that moment. I often end a conversation with my oldest by asking him a question fully aware he won't respond. When we break away, I know (or at least hope) he is going over that question in his head.

5. Provide lots of problem solving activities. Puzzles, books, and artwork are great problem solving activities. Putting on a show or a little play are great, too, because they have to figure out what they need for a performance, what props are necessary, and even try to come up with what will happen next.

6. Let children choose what they want to do. If a child would rather spend the majority of the time playing dress-up or putting train tracks together, let them go for it! Children learn through play and if they have the tools, they will be solving problems to meet their needs.

7. Let your child struggle. All parents will admit that sometimes it is easier to give in to children's requests and help them solve their problems. I spend a lot of time zipping up jackets and tying up laces because... it's easier. Be conscious of who it is easier for! Are you really helping your child by practically doing their homework yourself, or are you guiding along without directly answering their questions?

8. Let children experiment. I'm okay with my boys coming home with holes in their pants, dirty shirts and smudged faces. All of that means they were using their hands, doing something, and learning from their experiments outdoors. We failed at gardening this past season but the boys are already coming up with ideas on how to make it work next year!

9. Be okay with the fact that children will make mistakes. Not all questions will be answered correctly and not everything from art class will be a masterpiece. Children should feel safe when wrong. That means: no teasing, laughing, or shaming when given the wrong answers.

10. Ask your kids for help. My oldest is the greatest helper. I often ask him to help me with his little brothers. Whether it is having him play the role of referee when all three are playing together or when I ask him a question about dinosaurs because his siblings are asking. He feels valued when he helps me solve problems around the house. Helpful children are confident children and with that confidence, kids have no hesitation of trying to figure out complex situations.

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Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com.

#EstamosConLosNiños - How to Help the Border Children

In July, I wrote a post to help my readers understand the Child Migrant Crisis. Then I wrote about 3 ways your family can help the Border Kids. While the media has lost their focus on the issue, the reality is that there are still many children who are awaiting immigration hearings.

They still need our help.

Tonight, a special Twitter party hosted by Latism will be showing their support of these border children as they discuss the situation and the special Save the Children donation fund that has been set up to provide critical funding for basic necessities (such as food, clothes, housing, medical care, education, and legal representation) to these children. This fundraiser is being supported by Univision, Catholic Charities, and other organizations.

If you are the type of person who prefers to donated $10 or more to important causes, this may be the solution for you. Perhaps your son or daughter would like to make a difference by raising funds, but doesn't know what to do with the money he or she has raised. This would be a great place to channel those funds.

You can learn more about Save the Children and their work here.

Or if your family/children would prefer to actually purchase items to help the Border Children, then see my post above on three ways to help the Border Kids. You'll find not only ideas for materials/products to purchase, but a link directing you to the charities that are working with the children so you'll know where to ship the items.

To join the Twitter party tonight at 9 pm EST, simply follow the following hashtags:  #EstamosConLosNiños and/or #Latism

I hope to "see" you there!

3 Ways to Help the Border Kids

I've been thinking about ways my family can help the migrant children who are in various holding facilities in Texas. I know these kids are being moved to states across the country while they await their court proceedings, but my ties to Texas run deep being a Texas girl myself. My daughter and I have been talking about what types of things we can do to help make their situation a little bit better. Here are three things our family is doing - and so can yours.

1) Buy books in Spanish

Most of these children can't speak or read English. The bookstore in our area didn't really have the best selection of books in Spanish, but they did have the quantities we were looking for at the price we could afford. So for this first trip, we were able to purchase 30 books geared mostly for younger children. I would recommend that if you want to buy a lot of books for your money, you try discount or used bookstores. We went to our local Ollie's store, but you could also try Half Price Books if you have one in your state, and other similar bookshops. We've already boxed our books up, but haven't shipped yet because we're waiting on...

2) Design your own activity booklets

My daughter is working on creating "How to Draw" booklets. Not only is it a project that helps others, but it also helps her practice her Spanish and drawing skills, too! She chose to create a booklet that teaches others how to draw because she says the books can be used over and over again. But your children could also create coloring books, word finds, crosswords, and more.

3) Find or make games that are not language based

It's hard to think of games that aren't language based, but there's actually a lot. Here's a list of activities, art/craft supplies, and games kids who speak any language can enjoy. Make the effort even more personal when you and/or your kids make your own.
NOTE: I've linked to Amazon to help you with ideas or to see the type of games I recommend, but none of these links are affiliate links. If you are more comfortable, you can just enter any of these keywords in the Amazon site to find matching products.

• cards (numbers are a universal language!)
• play-dough (here's a homemade recipe list for you to make with your kids)
• Connect 4
• stamps
• crayons, colored pencils, markers
• sketch pads
• Battleship
• craft foam in various shapes
• clay
• Tic-Tac-Toe
• Memory (matching) games
• dominoes
• chess
• Qwirkle
• Dry Erase board & markers
• book of mazes
• checkers
• LEGOs
• Perler beads, board, & patterns
• hidden picture books
• jigsaw puzzles
• Tangoes
• friendship bracelet maker
• Rainbow Loom
• Shape sorter
• magnetic or paper dolls
• Doodle Sketch
• pattern blocks
• Mastermind game
• building blocks
• stickers & sticker activity books
• stencils
• Story Cubes
• Macala
• pickup sticks

I'm sure there are a lot more things I've missed. Feel free to leave suggestions in the comments. 

And once you've assembled your items, you can find a list of charities serving the children here on the Border Kids Relief Project website.

How to Raise Kind Boys: 5 Simple Tips

Living away from loved ones isn't easy! My boys only see our extended family a few times a year. During visits, they are usually polite, have good manners and behave appropriately. Nevertheless, I have asked teachers if my older sons are kind in school. I also pray and hope that they grow up to be nice guys. Kindness matters and unfortunately, we are living in a world where boys grow up hearing that they should "man up," always be aggressive, competitive, and strong. A lot of times we see young men who forget to hold the door for someone and some that are incredibly rude while socializing.

All children learn a huge proportion of appropriate behavior from their environment. Parents modeling kindness is key (than means no gossiping in front of the boys too!). We do have to be realistic though--no parent or teacher is perfect. We can focus and try to do these 5 simple things to help raise kind boys:

1) Let boys express their emotions. Yes, boys do cry. Boys also feel and can learn to read other people's emotions and reactions, too. Discussing literature or movies with boys and asking them questions about how they think a character might be feeling is a great way to start these types of conversations.

2) Have them take responsibility for their actions. They say boys will be boys. True. Nevertheless, if boys break things, bump someone too hard, or behave very disruptive in class, they should be aware of it. Boys should be taught to understand that if property was damaged, if someone was hurt or upset, they can make amends. Of course, boys can continue to be boys! How awesome will it be when they evolve into gentlemen as well?

3) Girls are special too. Boys are awesome but girls are amazing as well. We need to teach boys that girls are presidents and fantastic athletes: both smart and strong. Parents should avoid using phrases to their sons that belittle or are demeaning to the opposite sex. Moms can play a huge role here by expressing how she feels when boys say things like, "You run like a girl!"

4) Tell them to be kind. And then tell them again and again... "Be nice to the doggie." "Be gentle with Grandma." "Be kind to your friends."

5) Show them lots of love. I vow to continue to kiss my boys on the cheek and forehead even when they are embarrassed by me! I promise to cuddle as much as possible, to play their favorite games, and show them respect. I understand that although I may not be so kind all the time, I am conscious and sorry. We are all human just trying our very best!

If you have any more tips, please share in the comments below!

Image: Instagram @myfriendbetty 

Betty Galvan, is writing "for smart and stylish moms" over

at MyFriendBettySays.com

State Farm Neighborhood Assist Grants

This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and State Farm. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

I love it when I find out about kids who are doing social good and giving back to our comunidad. Especially when it provides a wonderful opportunity for other people - both young and old - to realize their dreams. So I'm happy to tell you about the State Farm Neighborhood Assist® program, in case it provides YOU or your familia with an opportunity to make a difference.

Do you have an awesome idea that would improve the lives of the people in your community? Maybe you want to create a community garden, or build a safe playground for your children to play in. Perhaps you have a lot of elderly in your community who would benefit from a senior center or emergency clinic. Maybe your local library doesn't have many bilingual books for your family to read or the staff to offer bilingual programs, and they don't have the money to fund them. Pues, you need to know about the Neighborhood Assist's grants then! NA is a youth-led philanthropic program that connects people with fabulous ideas to local nonprofits for support. In addition, if YOUR idea is selected, you can win a $25,000 grant to help get your idea off the ground. The organization is awarding 40 (forty!!) of these $25k grants this year.

¡Oye! They'll begin accepting submissions this coming Monday, March 3rd! ¿Y sabes qué? They want submissions that benefit the Hispanic community! Starting Monday, you can submit your idea using their free State Farm Neighborhood Assist Facebook app.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is made up of about 30 students across the country. The 17 to 20 year olds are responsible for helping State Farm manage a 5 million a year service-learning initiative

Once they receive a total of 4,000 cause submissions, the State Farm Youth Advisory Board will begin the process of reviewing them and identifying the top 200 causes. But you better SUBMIT EARLY because even though the deadline is March 23rd, submissions close when they receive 4,000 (which usually happens before the 23rd). They'll announce the top 200 on April 28 and anyone who has the free Facebook app can vote for their favorite causes with up to 10 votes per day until May 16. The 40 causes with the most votes will receive a $25K grant for their cause.

When researching the program, I found this inspiring guest post over on Type A Mom about a teacher who submitted her project to build a geodesic dome greenhouse at her school allowing her 6 - 8th graders the opportunity to grow organic food that they then donated to a local family homeless shelter. The students are low-income inner city kids who were able to learn about serving their community as a result of the project. I encourage you to read the short but moving post, and check out the great photos.

¡Me encantaría ver a mas comunidades Latinas beneficiar de esta gran oportunidad!

A Year Full of Blessings Activity {Printable}

NOTE: Printable has been updated for 2023.

Happy New Year from MommyMaestra!

I am so looking forward to this new year and all the wonderful moments I'll be sharing with my family. My biggest wish is to be a better mom. To help my children find happiness everyday and grow in knowledge and self confidence. I want to be the mom they need me to be: always patient, always kind, always loving. And since I'll be trying to help them find the blessings we have each and every day, I'm starting off with this idea I've seen in a million places. To share it with you, I've created a bilingual printable for A Year Full of Blessings Jar.

A Year Full of Blessing Jar

Every time we experience something new, learn something fantastic, meet new people or receive something wonderful, it gets written down and placed in the jar. At the end of the year, we open up all the notes and read about our marvelous year.

To help you create your own, I've designed two images (one in English, the other in Spanish) that you can print up and attach to your own jar. We've used both, one on each side. I printed them on some extra 2" x 4" mailing labels I had laying around. The images are large so you can adjust the size as needed.

Download Your Year Full of Blessings Labels HERE

Wishing your family a wonderful new year full of many bendiciones!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• Popular New Year's Traditions from Latin America
  
  
• Free Download: Letters to the Magi in English & Spanish
  
  
• Día de los Reyes Lesson Plans, Books, Activities

Don't forget to sign up for my newsletter!

True Holiday Spirit: My Sons' Gift to their Abuelos

I just got off the phone with my dad. I have a feeling that he has been calling a lot more lately because he knows that we won't be going home to Chicago for Christmas. We missed going home some years ago with very good reasons; living in Tokyo or having just had a baby are good excuses to not travel around the holidays. But this year, it will be bittersweet as my youngest is just 18 months. And my parents remember having the five of us over last year, as a complete family, as if it were just yesterday.

Deciding to stay home for the holidays was not easy. Hubby and I went back and forth about it for the past two months! Travel expenses, a much needed "staycation," and the awful East Coast weather helped seal the deal to stay put. So the boys and I decided to make a really special Christmas gift for the patriarchs of both families. Both my husband's father and mine are not easy to shop for (don't tell them!), but we love them so much we want them to have something super special. Since I had given this type of gift to them many years ago after having my firstborn, I knew this present would be a hit again.

Just as we suggested earlier this year to end your school year with a scrapbook or yearbook, I thought a calendar to show how much the boys have grown over the past months would be a very neat idea. Both abuelos have their own offices and I knew they would display them with pride. A gift that truly lasts a lifetime.

For this project I chose Shutterfly and had my oldest, Diego, help me pick out the pictures and suggest what months we should place them on. He was very cute while choosing the template that has the basic seasonal themes (hearts for February, leaves for November, etc.) because, "Mami, it's a calendar." Jajaja! Right. Although we are mailing the gifts and they boys won't get to see their grandfather's faces when they open their neatly wrapped gift, for now, Diego is the only one of the three boys who understands what it means to give a gift with all his heart.

Nevertheless, even our three year old constantly asks for his abuelitos, and he doesn't quite understand that they don't live in the beautiful house down the block. My job is to always talk to them about the true meaning of Christmas, their extended family whom they adore, and the special things we can do from afar.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and wish you nothing but the best for 2014!!

--------------------------------------

Betty Galvan, is helping her readers "find the positive and seek the benefits" over
at My Friend Betty Says...

I Vote Because...

Are you voting today? I am. Because I believe in democracy. And a democracy can only exist when the people have a voice and use it.

A democracy depends on the education and involvement of it's citizens. The famous philosopher, Plato, basically held the position that uneducated people who did not learn about the government were more likely to fall victim to tyrants. If you don't know the rules or the issues, then someone can lie to you, forcing you (whether you know it or not) to do what they want you to do, instead of what is good for everyone.

Plato said that ignorant people will always obey tyrants.

And I would add that those who do not voice their opinion (even if they are wrong), risk being imprisoned by their own silence.

Everyone has the right to vote. It doesn't matter who you vote for (okay, yes it really does!), but I certainly wouldn't presume to tell anyone who they should vote in favor of. You're an intelligent person and everyone has the right to vote for whoever they feel has the country's best interest at heart.

I look at my personal Facebook page and see about half my friends fiercely in favor of one candidate/party, and the other half passionately supporting the other. Does voting one way or the other make them good or bad? No. It makes them human. It makes them people with free will and the right to make their own voices heard. I love them regardless of who they support because I know that what it boils down to is values and each person trying to elect the person they think will be best for the country. Some people only care about family values. Others are mainly concerned about the economy, while others are deeply concerned about health care.

I'll be honest and say that the top three issues that influence my opinion are:
#1 - The way I think people should be treated.

#2 - The education of our children.

#3 - And the importance of working together despite differences of opinion to find solutions that benefit the most people and our country as a whole.

Our country owes it to our citizens to provide them with caring, educated people in power who have a strong sense of social responsibility and justice.

It's up to us to put them in place. There are millions of people around this world who do not have the basic human right to vote for the person they think will do a better job leading their country. I would be sick to my stomach knowing that I treat my ability and opportunity to vote with indifference because I don't agree 100% with the candidates. Honestly? I can't think of a single person on the planet with whom I agree 100% on every issue. And I'm not so conceited as to think I know the right answer to everything.

Don't let yourself be led silently, or you may not find yourself in a very good place. You don't have to be rude or obnoxious or belligerent. You can be thoughtful and firm, always thinking of others.

Go out and vote.

And don't let anyone stop you.

Teach Your Kids Compassion with Heifer International

One of my favorite charities is Heifer International. Instead of flipping through toy catalogs, why not spend some time with your kids this holiday season looking through Heifer's gift catalog and choose a way to support a family in need?  Kids will love picking out a goat, cow, chicken, or even a water buffalo! Take a look at this short video...

Get Rewarded for Doing Good: DailyFeats.com

It's crazy. But I love it! Who would have ever thought you could get rewarded just for doing "good things?" I found out about DailyFeats.com at the Blogalicious conference last October. I didn't understand at first what it was all about. I mean, I was confused. Someone I don't know is going to reward me for doing small, positive acts? Seriously?

I've only just signed up and started figuring out how the system works, but I can see so much potential in this site! Especially as a mom. Which is why I want to feature them today, since this week on MommyMaestra.com is all about teaching our children to do good, to be thoughtful and giving.

The website is simple. You just register, and then every day (or whever you want) you can log in and check off the good things that you did that day. Possible good actions include:

• !earthscience - Learn something about the nature of our planet
• !sendanimalfacts - Share an e-card that teaches about wildlife
• !familydinner - Sit down to dinner with your family
• !museum - Visit a museum!
• !grandparents - Spend time with your (or your kids') grandparent(s)
• !familytree - Research and create your family tree
• !donatefood - Donate to a food bank or food pantry
• !sharehistory - Share an interesting historical story with someone
• !classicalmusic - Listen to a work of classical music
• !holdthedoor - Hold the door open for someone
• !bekind - Treat others with kindness

You get the idea. The list goes on and on and on! I think the thing I like best about this site is that it makes us conscious of our daily actions. It encourages us to do good. I think I'm less excited, really, to get my "rewards" as I am to simply monitor my own behavior. And I am  thinking of creating an account that I can manage for my kids. I think they will simply love being able to click on the "stamps" and push the "I Did It" buttons, which record your good actions.

And if you are not so into redeeming your rewards, you can also choose the option to redeem a "donation reward." DailyFeats partners with various organizations and non-profits. When you redeem one of the donation rewards, their partner makes a donation to the specified nonprofit. (There are no tax implications for our members -- it's just good karma.) This is a great way to use your points to help contribute to positive change.

So if you are looking for a pretty neat and unusual way to teach your children to be generous and charitable, try out DailyFeats.com. I'd love to know what you think of it.

Con mucho cariño...

Season of Giving: Starr Readers

Starr County is one of the poorest counties in the nation. Many families often live in colonias without health care or sewer service. Schools in this area struggle to provide new materials for their students. But the librarians are smiling - thanks to Starr Readers, and the woman behind the organization, Karen Furlong.

Karen is a flight attendant for a private aviation company. But her not-so-secret passion is actually books, and for the past seven years, the Texas native has been collecting and donating books to nine libraries in Rio Grande City public schools. Last year, she bought and delivered around 4,000 books. The number of books she buys is made possible from the generous donations of caring people across the nation. This year, Karen's goal is to purchase 6,000 books and she has teamed up with the publishers Scholastic and First Book, which give her dramatic discounts and allow her to purchase from them directly. This does not include the large number of used books that she receives and which she donates to the libraries themselves. She insists, however, that each child in the school district also receives a new book of their very own to hold, read, and enjoy. 

Some of the titles she intends to deliver this year include We'll Never Forget You, Roberto Clemente and Waiting for the Biblioburro and Balloons Over Broadway. I think this would be a most lovely way to teach your children/students the spirit of giving. As a parent, I think it would be great to take your kids to your favorite bookstore and pick out a few of their favorite titles to share with the children of Starr County. Or you could simply tell your children Karen's story and get online to look at the pictures she has on the Starr Readers website. Once there, you could click on the "Donate" button and give together.

If your family would like to donate to Starr Readers, please try to do so by the end of the year. Afterwards, Karen and her mamá, Evangeline Rodriguez Marino, will make their now traditional drive down to Starr County to deliver their gifts in time for Día de los Reyes. You can donate directly on the Starr Readers website. Remember, as little as $5 can buy one or two books! Or to donate gently used books, please contact Karen through her website for more information.

All donations go directly to buying the books!


Con mucho cariño,