Summer is here, which is lovely (well, actually it’s a little hot), and as we know most of our kids relish their long-awaited break from school. Of course many of us parents worry that our kids are going to fall behind in their academic progress, forgetting much of what they learned and practiced the year before. Well, I can’t really speak about academic enrichment centers or camps or summer tutoring, but I can give you some good suggestions for helping your kids practice their reading and critical thinking skills. One of the main reasons I loved teaching English Literature was how readily the subject lends itself to teaching critical thinking. Now, through my reading experiences with my preschooler, I’m learning that many of the exercises I used with my high school students work just as well (scaled down, of course) with younger students. Here’s a sample:

It’s all fine and dandy once you know how to use something. It’s that time before the knowing that makes some of us cringe …

June is here

Summer is near

.

Let’s face it ladies, once you have kids you have to sacrifice a lot to raise them right. When they’re newborns, we sacrifice our sleep, our showers, and don’t often…

I often look out of my window to ground myself. The view beholds a tapestry of lush green shades of tall trees, shrubs, creeping vines, untamed grass and other vegetation.…

I am a Hindu. I was born and brought up in India. I am a Hyderabadi. I am a Telugu Reddy girl. I am a South Asian. Now, I am…

There are times when you wish you could get your little chatterboxes to stop talking so they can let you have some peace and quiet. And then there are times…

These are five of my all-time favorite children’s books that are appropriate for older toddlers through preschoolers: The Pout-Pout Fish – by Deborah Diesen, illustrated by Dan Hanna I love The Pout-Pout…

My silent strength All beauty and grace Poised behind the scenes, obscuring your presence Content to catch glimpses of my cheerful face You care for me through weather’s whims Standing…