Visiting the Poconos

March 3, 2016 by 11 Comments

This most recent visit to the Poconos, we stayed at Split Rock Resort & Golf Club and visited Jack Frost Mountain ski area during the day. It was only a short ride, making spending the day outdoors easy (and coming back to our room was relaxing).

Winter is a great season to enjoy time at a resort- and to take advantage of the winter-weather sports like skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing while you are there. Split Rock Resort and Jack Frost Mountain are the perfect escape combination that you are looking for this season. Split Rock Resort is not just for winter, however. Every season is a good time to visit, with a different experience each and every time. Located in the western region of the Poconos, you will find the sense of adventure that you have been missing from everyday life.

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Split Rock Resort has over 1,200 acres to explore, and is lots of fun for the entire family. The resort offers lots of on-site events and live entertainment, as well as a pool and several restaurants and eateries. You can check out local bands and award-winning festivals. There is something going on every single week, so while you are there you can soak in some music and festivities. There is also an arcade, movie theater, and bowling alley, all for additional fees.

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The resort has all sorts of accommodations, so whether you want to stay in a suite, lodge room, villa, or cottage, you have that choice. Lake Harmony is the gorgeous view that you will get from the lodge rooms. If you are planning on a longer stay (or you have a larger family), you may want to look into the suites or the villas, which offer a fireplace, full kitchen and even a dining area. The bathrooms were amazing in our room- there were showers and a whirlpool tub, which we loved.  What a great way to relax after a day outdoors! It’s like a home away from home, and in some cases, better. The cottages are perfect for an intimate stay.

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There is also the H2Oooohh! waterpark you and your family can visit, but that is a separate price from the rest of the resort. Ticket prices range from $16 for observer only (you can enter, but not ride or take part in anything) to $32 for adult and children over 12.   There are 53,326 square feet of water attractions, five exciting body, tube and raft slides, a wavepool, activity pool, water dumping bucket, and more.  There is also a surfing activity, where kids and adults can try to ride a wave standing up or body-boarding style on the Komodo Dragon – Pennsylvania’s First Indoor Flow Rider.  There are also hot tubs and a kiddie play area. This was the highlight of the trip for my son, and the place where we spent most of our time.

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While you are staying at the Split Rock Resort, you should take the time to visit the Jack Frost Mountain ski area. It is just as iconic as the resort that was founded for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company to get away as a retreat. In 1942, it was built along the shores of Lake Harmony and had an adjoining Hazzard ski slope. When the lodge was sold in 1947, the ski slope was renamed to be known as the Big Boulder Ski Area. This was the first commercial ski resort in Pennsylvania and was where snowmaking was first used successfully for commercial enjoyment.

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Fun fact? John Guresh, an employee who was instrumental in building Big Boulder Ski Area, perfected the snowmaking machine.  In 1956, there was now a sprinkler type machine that released crystals that looked and acted like snow. Jack Frost was born in 1972 and is now a resort that is a companion to Big Boulder Ski Area. These two resorts are now a big part of the skiing community in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

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My son had the best time snow tubing (his favorite winter activity).  After you choose your tube, you drag it a short way to a tow-rope lift.  The way it works (for anyone who has not tried this before) is that you sit inside the tube, and an employee snaps the rope onto a tow-rope that drags you up the hill at a not-too-brisk pace.  Once you get to the top, you hop out of the tube, take the rope, and wait for your turn to go down the hill.  This saves you from having to drag it  up the hill yourself over and over again, which we all know is exhausting.  (And if you have small kids, to drag them, their tubes, and your own tube up as well!)

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At Jack Frost, the parking and tubing areas are at the top of the resort. You will find everything that you need in the Main Lodge, and the Tubing Park is right there as soon as you arrive. Parking is no problem, and it’s not far to walk to. There is also Big Boulder Park that operates mostly at night, but does have some daytime and weekend hours. They also have a tubing park. With a multitude of different runs to experience, there is never a dull moment.

Head over to http://www.splitrockresort.com/ to book your stay.  You and your family will have a great time!

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5 Things On Every Moms Bucket List

March 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Everyone has a bucket list don’t they? Things they want to try and achieve or do in their lifetime. It’s no surprise that some of these things will be repeated on many lists across our nation, even the world. We all strive to have experiences, make memories for our families and improve our lives. Being a Mom, I have my aspirations. Some of which I think will be on the majority of Moms bucket lists. Here are five of the things I think you will see every time:

To make some self-improvements
In one way or another, we would like to improve ourselves. This could be in a physical sense or your mental mindset. Some people want to enhance their physical appearance and may work towards cosmetic procedures. Others may look towards repairing things and making improvements that way. Perhaps laser eye surgery so they don’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses. Some may want to work on their teeth to improve their smile. Dentistry would be one of the most popular aspirations on many bucket lists. Especially now that I have a family and I want to capture the memories. Seeking advice from professionals like Tribula and McOmber would be recommended.

Lands End

Travel the world

It might be a real obvious one, but traveling will always sit high on a bucket list. Especially for me as I love to travel. There’s something about visiting new and exciting places. The perfect way to make the memories that last a lifetime. This could be as simple as visiting local places, or more extreme like swimming with dolphins or whale watching. The world is a big place and is just there waiting for us to go and explore it. Traveling with children can be hard, but so rewarding.

Live in another country

Some moms may take the travel element one step further and aspire to live in another country. They may want to experience a new work environment. Or have their children discover a new educational system. It could be to sample new lifestyles. Or even take the opportunity to improve their own. Whatever the reason may be living in another country will always appeal to many of us. It’s an exciting and nerve-wracking experience for anyone.

Career progression

If you are a working mom, then career progression may be a high priority for you. You may have that end goal of what you want to achieve before you leave the working world behind. You may have targets you want to hit. A pay rise to obtain. Whatever it is you want to achieve a career improvement will always sit on a Mom’s bucket list if they work. They may do it for themselves or just to support the family.

Lifestyle and home Life

Finally, the last thing you will see on many moms bucket list is a need to improve their lifestyle or home life. This could be anything from trying to find the right balance between work and home. It could be to increase fitness and health to feel better about themselves. It might be as simple as trying to be more organized to have a better home life experience. We as moms are always trying to make things better for ourselves. In any way we can.

Do you recognize some of these to be on your bucket list?

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Great Games for Kids from Wonder Forge

December 7, 2015 by 1 Comment

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this post.  All opinions are my own and honest.  Please see “I disclose” for more information.
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We are all big game players in my family. As we have had children it has been tricky for us to find games that can include our young children, but are still fun for the adults. I must say that I have not ever found a game that I was not 100% satisfied with from the Wonder Forge game family. They have such great games for all the kids in your family, that adults enjoy playing as well.

About Wonder Forge:

In 2007, Jacobe Chrisman (Founder & CEO) and a small group of creative types with a passion for children’s entertainment came together to develop extraordinarily fun, original play experiences for kids and families.

Since it was originally launched, Wonder Forge has always offered top-quality experiences, raising the bar for preschool and family games everywhere. The preschool games help to celebrate the “can do”  attitude in all kids – engaging them physically, socially, and creatively. The family games bridge generation gaps and create wholesome family moments and lasting memories.

Wonder Forge additionally always works to create strong, long-lasting partnerships with licensors. This is wonderful when your children love certain characters.

Today, Wonder Forge makes over 85 games that have won more than 160 top awards for product excellence. They are sold nationwide and in over 11 countries.

About Eye Found It Journey Through Time:

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In this wonderful game, you work together as a team of historians, scientists, and adventurers solving the world’s greatest mysteries with the Eye Found It Journey Through Time Hidden Picture Game from Wonder Forge. You can venture and find hidden objects throughout time from the Prehistoric Era to the Present Day. You want to Race to the end of the giant 6-foot game board before your Timecraft runs out of fuel. This game is recommended for ages 4 and up.

My Thoughts: This game was a great deal of fun. I had a lot of fun playing this game with my daughters. I also have to admit that this is one of my husband’s favorite games that we have played with the girls as well. My daughters are ages 3 and 5 and so they definitely were both able to understand and play the game really well.

About Peanuts Snoopy Flying Ace Game:

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I’ll get you Red Baron! The world’s most beloved beagle is back!  A legend in his own mind, Snoopy takes off as the Flying Ace in constant pursuit of his nemesis, the Red Baron. Flip cards and race to make matches before Snoopy spins to a stop. It’s high-flying family fun! This is a great game for children age 3-10 years old.

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My Thoughts:

I think that this game is absolutely adorable. As you can see, my daughters loved playing this game. It was a very cute game, and loads of fun. It was easy for my 3 and 5 year olds to both play together. I even started supper and they were able to continue playing while I was out of the room. Great Game for kids.

About The Good Dinosaur Roarin’ River Game:

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You can now race the rapids to get home! You work together as a team to help Arlo and his friends outrun the flooding river! Travel through the dangerous canyons, mountain forests, and sweeping plains! This game is great for kids ages 4 and up.

My Thoughts: This game too is absolutely adorable. My kids were so interested in this game and truly enjoyed playing it. I absolutely loved playing the game with them, and don’t mind when they ask to play it because it is a game that is not like others that I have played before.

About Disney Imagicademy Items:

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Disney Imagicademy Storymation Studio: You make the movies the Imagacademy from Disney. You can now get creative with the characters, backgrounds, clay, and costume molds. Download the free and easy-to-use Storymation Studio animation app and make your own animated masterpiece inspired by your favorite Disney films. This is recommended for children ages 3 and up.

Disney Imagicademy Mickey Mouse Animals Activity Book:You can now roam through the wild and wondrous realm of the animal kingdom with Mickey Mouse and your favorite Disney pals! Explore the fascinating lives of insects, how animals adapt to their surroundings, the reason behind animal conservation, and more –all through a collection of creative activities. This is great for children ages 4 and up.

Disney Imagicademy Frozen Science Activity Book:Join Elsa, Olaf, and all your favorite characters from Disney’s Frozen as they lead you through creative activities, fun puzzles, and surprising experiments! Discover why we have four seasons, the natural beauty of snowflakes, how we see rainbows and so much more. Great for children ages 4 and up.

My Thoughts: My daughters have really enjoyed playing with each of these items. They are a great way for your children to do more than just play games or stare at a device all the time. I was incredibly impressed by how much fun each of these were. The Storymation Studio was awesome. Stay tuned and I will have more pictures of what my girls come up with in the future.

About Apple Pop Game:

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Move the apples around the tree, or try to pop the apples out on the first try! Land it in a basket and get extra points! It’s a game of strategy and fun–pop the apples out of the tree win by collecting the correct three!

My Thoughts:My daughters are incredibly excited when you get this game out. They had a ton of fun popping the apples out of the tree and racing to see who could get them all out the fastest.

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My Thoughts:

I was absolutely in love with each and everyone of these games that we received. I know that we will get many great game nights out of the games and they will be fun for the whole family. I have a few that I have added to my Christmas list for the other little kids in my life, because I know that they are going to be a great game.

 

 

Filed Under: family, gaming, giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Holiday Gift Guide 2015, kids, review, toys Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

This Week is National Family Week!

December 5, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that “families who play together, learn together.” With National Family Week in full swing and everyone home from school and work, this is the perfect time for parents and their kids to get together and play some fun Nintendo games! Take this time to show your kids good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Here are fix fun Nintendo-themed activities to do with your family through National Family Week that celebrates the togetherness of family:
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1- Dress in crazy sweaters and play the warm-and-fuzzy Yoshi’s Woolly World.
2- Test each family member’s creativity in a Super Mario Maker best level-creation challenge. As a family, judge each other’s Super Mario Maker level – the most creative or hardest one wins the competition.
3- Pit family members against each other in a messy Splatoon competition for the ages!
4- Make your Thanksgiving day special by hosting Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash matches with your family and friends! Play both singles (1v1) and doubles (2v2) matches as your favorite Mushroom Kingdom character. Throw in a twist by asking competitors to play each other and select a random amiibo as a partner. See who wins!
5- Come together as a family and call dibs on your favorite Animal Crossing character in Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. Challenge each other in fun mini-games!
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If you like these fun ideas and are interested in doing more family activities, check out the holiday website: http://happyholidays.nintendo.com/.
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November is National Adoption Month #NAM15 #perfectparent

November 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

November is National Adoption Month, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AdoptUSKids, and the Ad Council are spreading the word about and encouraging prospective parents to adopt older youth from foster care.

The theme for National Adoption Month is, “We Never Outgrow the Need for Family.” That’s because older children and youth still have many big milestones in their life they need a family for.

There are 415,000 children in the U.S. foster care system and 108,000 are waiting to be adopted. AdoptUSKids’ maintains a national photo listing service for children waiting to be adopted. Since the project launched in 2002, more than 25,000 children who were once photo listed on adoptuskids.org have been adopted and nearly 38,000 families have registered to adopt through the website.  Nevertheless, older youth are disproportionately represented – approximately 41 percent of children and youth photo listed on adoptuskids.org are between 15 and 18 years old, but only 17 percent of those adopted have been in this age group

Older youth and teens have lower adoption rates than younger children, and they often wait longer to be adopted. But no matter their age, all kids need a supportive, loving home and the teenage years are a critical period for growth. The new TV PSAs, which were created for the campaign probono, portray a dad giving advice to his teenage daughter after her first breakup, and a mom giving her son a haircut at home. The humorous, lighthearted scenarios aim to overcome fears adoptive parents may have regarding their own imperfections. The PSAs end with the tagline, “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent,” reassuring prospective parents that even if they are not ‘perfect’, they have the ability to provide the stability and security that older youth in foster care need and deserve.

The PSAs direct audiences to visit adoptuskids.org or to call 1-888-200-4005 (English) or 1-877-236-7831 (Spanish) to receive the latest information about the foster care system and the adoption process.

For more information about adoption, or about becoming an adoptive parent to a child from foster care, please visit www.adoptuskids.org or visit the campaign’s communities on Facebook and Twitter.

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Why Older Youth?

  • All of us – and that includes older youth in foster care who are waiting to be adopted – need and want families throughout life to support us and to share important life events. Learning to drive a car, applying for higher education, and birthday and holiday celebrations are just a few examples of the times in life we need and want to share with family.
  • Older youth are overrepresented in the foster care population, as they generally wait longer to be adopted, and have lower overall adoption rates.
  • On adoptuskids.org, roughly 41 percent of the children and youth actively photolisted are between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. About 58 percent are male. (Most recent stats as of May 31, 2015)
  • Families who adopt older youth, are providing them with the support and stability of a family during a critical period of normal adolescent concerns and additional self-identity issues.

Some of the Misperceptions about Adoption from Foster Care:

  • Adoption is expensive.  Unlike the private adoption of an infant or adopting internationally, there are virtually no costs associated with adoption from the US child welfare system. In addition, the vast majority of youth adopted from foster care are also eligible for monthly adoption assistance up to the level of the foster care rate.
  • You have to be married. You do not have to be married to adopt in most states. Many children have been very successfully adopted by single parents. Single-parent families accounted for 29 percent of all adoptions from foster care in 2014 (AFCARS).
  • You have to have a college degree. Having a high school diploma or college education is not required. What is important is that you are stable, flexible, and compassionate, and that you have a good sense of humor. Most importantly, you must have the support and commitment to raise a child and to be there for him throughout his life.
  • You have to own a home and each child has to have their own room. You can rent your home or live in an apartment or a mobile home so long as your living situation is a stable one.
  • You have to be of child-bearing age to adopt. Experienced parents and empty-nesters are encouraged to adopt. In most instances, you’re eligible to adopt regardless of age, income, marital status or sexual orientation.
  • You can only adopt a child who is the same race and ethnicity as you. Federal law prohibits the delay or denial of an adoptive placement based on the race or ethnicity of a child in U.S. foster care and the prospective parent or parents who are seeking to adopt them. The only exception to this law is the adoption of Native American children where special considerations apply.
  • You can’t adopt if you’re in the military. Military families stationed overseas and within the U.S. are eligible to adopt children from the U.S. foster care system.
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Tips for a Successful Move with a Family in Tow

November 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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Moving can be a stressful event for all involved.  No one likes change and moving your home is a huge change.  Personally we have moved a few times but not while with child in tow.  This can lead to even bigger headaches.  But in the end is all worth it at the end of the day when you and your close friends are all sitting on your new living room floor surrounded by boxes and eating the customary pizza as payment for their hard work.

Below are a few tips to get you through the big move with sanity and kids in tow without leaving your mind or any of your belongings behind.

  1. plan ahead.  Do not wait until the last minute.  Hoard boxes, and start to organize and fill them up.  Boxes and supplies are available in all kinds of places.
  2. well before your big move have a yard/garage sale to clear out some of the stuff you don’t want to move.  Do you really want to move that spare dining room table?  IS it necessary to keep every toy and knick knack collected over the years?  Ans answer for most will be no.  I am by no means telling you to sell your priceless items but take a good look at what you have and ask yourself if you really want it or need it.
  3. Get help.  Ask friends, ask professionals, ask family.  All are great resources and will help if you need it and ask.  Moving services can be a huge help on the big day so don’t count them out either.
  4. Organize items and boxes by room.  Move them accordingly.  In our move from apartment to house we made the mistake of dividing and conquering.  Unfortunately one of us didn’t pay attention to boxes and there are still items we are looking for/finding in odd places 12 years later.  There are even places like Roadway which will deliver boxes to you on the big day.
  5. Good communication is key.  Everyone who is involves should know whats going on and what different labels mean on boxes.  Do not use abbreviations for rooms, An example BR can be bedroom or bathroom.
  6. Rest up.  Get enough sleep the night before the move and take your time.  Strains and pains are expected but can be kept to a minimum with some common sense and sensibility
  7. Use your helpers.  Do not have them stand around chit chatting all day.  Ask for help, pass along boxes, keep the process moving.
  8. If making a long move, or moving to a smaller space storage space may be needed.  Keep this in mind and find the best places around to keep your belongings safe and sound.
  9. Clean up after yourself. Moving is the prime directive but keeping your old place clean should also rank high on your list too.
  10. Have fun.  This isn’t work, these are your friends and family, keep the atmosphere light hearted and fun so your helpers stay your friends afterwords.

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One of the best rated local movers as per Yelp, Angie’s list, and Facebook is Roadway moving for you local area or long haul moves.  They are a few clicks away or a simple phone call away.  With expert advise and helpful hands they can be an invaluable asset.

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Discover the Forest #Naturehood

September 29, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Did you know? Children who play outside are more creative, have lower stress levels and more active imaginations. They also become fitter and leaner, develop stronger immune systems, and have greater respect for themselves and others as well as the environment.

With all of the new technologies and overscheduling of today’s world, it’s easy to forget just how close—and how important— your local forest or green space really is for your kids! There are many developmental benefits for children who spend time in nature, and it’s closer than you think.

Spending time in nature can spark the imagination of kids of all ages. Even then, after aimlessly wandering into hectic schedules, technology overload, and the never ending busy world around us, adults, like ourselves might find a spark of creativity in exploring the outdoors.

Saturday, September 26th, is National Public Lands Day! This is a day to encourage your family, friends and colleagues to enjoy your local #Naturehood. What is #Naturehood, you ask? It is the forest that is right in your neighborhood, and you may not even know it. Beyond the swings, slides and clearings, there are trails, trees, wildlife and water just waiting for you.

The forest and the outdoors are a place for adventure, learning, fun, and discovery! You can even incorporate it into homeschool lessons, or just a fun weekend science lesson. The forest provides many benefits, like fresh water, shade and fresh air. There are so many possibilities. It might be tough deciding where to begin. Check out these games and activities, which can help get you going.

Forest Snapshot Game – Get behind the lens and take photos of your favorite forest friends in their natural settings.

  • Biodiversity Bingo – How many different kinds of plants and animals live in your neighborhood? Find out by trying this PBS KIDS Plum Landing scavenger hunt!
  • Forest In the City – Can there be a forest hiding inside the city? Watch this PBS KIDS Plum Landing video with Ranger Jesse and find out!
  • Sound Safari – What kinds of sounds do you hear around your neighborhood? Try this PBS KIDS Plum Landing Sound Safari activity to find out!
  • Use A Compass – Finding your way with a compass is easier than you think. Learn an important skill for navigating the forest.
  • Leaf Rubbings – Leaf rubbings are a cool way to document your forest discoveries. See what they’re all about, then get outdoors and make your own.

Visit the Discovertheforest.org “What to Do” page for a full list of fun activity ideas to get you started on your outdoor adventure!

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Back to School with Tutor Time

September 27, 2015 by 2 Comments

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It is Back to School time, and as such, it is also time to choose the right school for your little ones in those formative early education ages, from infants to kindergarten.  This all depends on the particular child, but should of course be considered in order to get your child used to being with large groups of children in an educational setting.  This can be something to get used to not only as thinking time but also as quiet time as well.  Some children have a very hard time with being still, and that is something that they can work on before entering Kindergarten when it will be a problem. There is fun as well, of course- some of  most fun my own son had in early education was craft time.

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Craft Time builds cognitive skills, gives practice to fine motor skills, give the imagination a stretch, and more.  Not to mention, your kids will be so proud of their creations.  Another great item touched upon in early education is health and food.  The importance of proper nutrition for your children has been noted- check out how schools you are looking at promote this.  When trying to pick the right school for your little ones, it is important to come with questions in mind, and asking how they are covered during the curriculum, as well as what kind of setting and how much free time the children will  have.
One such early education facility is Tutor Time child care/learning center of Saddle Brook.  This Tutor Time is geared toward children from Infant through to Kindergarten aged with their Infant Care to Kindergarten specializations.

“Where one-of-a-kinds get started” is the general anthem of Tutor Time: Every child is unique.

At Tutor Time, every child’s individuality is used to his or her advantage in the way they learn, grow, build self-esteem, and develop their imagination.  Tutor Time teaching strategies are designed to maximize the development of each child and to recognize how they learn different subjects in different ways.  Check out a local school near you and see what you think.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Learning Care Group. The opinions and text are all mine.

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