2013 Summer Reading Programs Guide

Summer vacation does not have to mean a vacation from reading! The summer months are a great time to expand your child's literary world, teach them to enjoy reading for pleasure, help sharpen school skills and bridge the gap between school years. There are also many programs available to reward your reader this summer!

Tips for Overcoming Common Homework Hurdles

For students at just about all grade levels, homework is an inevitable fact of life. Many families struggle to fit homework into their busy schedules. The good news is, with a little planning and a few tweaks to your routine, many common homework hurdles can be avoided.

Shannon Fields

Five Easy Tips to Motivate Your Child to Read

Read Across America Day on March 1, 2013, is the largest celebration of reading in the country and a reminder that reading never goes out of style. Reading is an adventure that begins early in a child's life and should extend beyond the classroom.

Simple Science Experiment: Molecular Motion with Heat Changes

This month's Simple Science experiment uses tap water to teach your kids about molecular motion.

Steve Davala

Simple Science Experiment: Osmosis with Potato Slices

Ever cut up some apples or potato slices just to see them turn funky colors and not be as fresh as they could be? What can you do to protect these fruits and vegetables from this happening? What will keep potatoes (or other veggie) fresher: soaking it in regular water or salt water?

Steve Davala

Simple Science Experiments: Fun with Surface Tension

This week, we will see how the surface tension of water can be really pushed to the limit in a couple of simple experiments: one called “Pennies in a cup,” and the other “Drops of water on a penny.”

Steve Davala

Teaching Your Family about Hospitality

Hospitality is cheerfully sharing food, shelter or conversation to benefit others. In the home, hospitality includes being friendly to others by talking with neighbors, meeting new people and greeting strangers with a smile.

Running Late? How to Encourage Punctuality in Your Family

Being punctual means showing esteem for others by doing the right thing at the right time. Being punctual shows respect for the people in your life and avoids the loss of time and energy that results from keeping others waiting.

Local Boy Shows You're Never Too Young to Make a Difference

Nine-year-old Jack Love of Oklahoma City has been named the first official ambassador for Limbs for Life, a nonprofit organization that helps amputees. We recently asked Jack a few questions about why he feels like his volunteerism is making a difference.

Brooke Barnett

Recommended Holiday Reads

Reading Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books allows parents to spend quality time with their children over the holidays.

Smart Start Central Oklahoma

Fun Fall & Halloween Reads

Looking for a spooky, mysterious or seasonal read for your kids? Look no further! We’ve got a great collection of fun reads for all ages.

Keep the Olympic Momentum Going!

Did you enjoy watching the Olympics with your children? And do your kids wonder why the games are over so quickly? Continue that fascination with sports going (and start planning your 2014 winter Olympics watching!) with these titles: