Summer activities, positive messages, and books!

Lazy days of summer are upon us...and our kids as well. If we can all just slow down enough to notice.

I'm always amazed how much faster summers go by as we get older. But I look back fondly at my summers as a kid with all that extra time on my hands. Extra time to actually DO things—whether outside or inside—with friends, or on my own. Time to pursue hobbies and read books that weren't assigned by a teacher. And time most definitely not spent sitting in front of a computer.

Today, things are vastly different for kids. With all the "screen time" (TV, video gaming, computer, i-pod, cell phone, etc.) that kids log on a daily basis and all the "virtual" relationships they have with friends via cyberspace (vs. real "face" time), we shouldn't be surprised when kids seem disengaged when we're around them and try to talk about anything.

But we can't let that sway us from enforcing down time for our kids so they can interact socially—in person (away from all the electronic gizmo's fighting for their attention)—and perform important tactile pursuits such as music, dance, sports, crafts, playing in the yard or at the park, and that ever-important mental exercise: reading.

Having books around for that down time can help ensure kids are absorbing all the information we know their young minds are SO capable of learning. And that we know is so important to their early childhood development.

Here at Maren Green, our books affirm important social, emotional, and life skills to give kids the positive self-talk they need to grow up healthy, happy, polite, and kind with positive self-esteem and healthy confidence. It's why they WORK for young children, why they've won awards, and why we think it's worth sharing.

We hope you think so too. Stop by for a visit and see for yourself.

Happy Father's Day—or "Congrats-On-All-We've-Learned" Day.

As a dad for the last 12+ years, I have to admit I've long viewed my Father's Day as a sort of "service-time recognition" (close-to-but-not-the-same) equivalent to the Mother's Day counterpart. I daresay many of us dad's acknowledge (with appreciation and...relief?) the more significant role our spouse's play in the parenting arena, and humbly accept the nod for the supporting roles we play in raising our kids. That's not to diminish the primary role many fathers perform—and the incredible job they do—and recognition they deserve. It's simply a reality that, more often than not, dad's play the second fiddle, supporting role...sous chef, assistant teacher, vice president...you get the idea.

I look at my Father's Day as a day of reflection and thoughtfulness about what I need to be consistently doing on the other 364 days of the year so I'm always a good father to my kid. I think that is truly the hardest part—especially with the "ebbs and flows" of our roles as our kids progress from infant to toddler, preschooler to kindergartner, tween to teen, young adult to...(gulp) adult. What dad hasn't experienced on any given day how we're either an out-of-touch, embarrassing, dorky Dad (picture child with eyes rolling up into their eyelids)—or the smartest, coolest, bravest hero Dad our kid has ever known (and the hugs that come with it)?

Which is why, for me again this year, I'll love getting another "nod" for being a dad—but in my mind it will be for all I've learned this past year that's made me a good dad. A better dad. It's a reminder to myself of how dedicated I am to being the best I can be in my—albeit supporting—role as father to my daughter. It's a tremendous learning curve—and in all respects—the hardest (and most rewarding) job I've ever had in my life.

To all the other dads out there, I hope you think about, and act on daily, how important your role is to your kids. Tell your kids in some way, every day—how important they are so they know how much you love them—no matter what—just for them being themselves.

Eventually, they'll forget about us being that out-of-touch, embarrassing, dorky Dad we can sometimes be. I hope.

Have a wonderful "Congrats-On-All-We've-Learned" Day.