Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

From the Education Desk

How can it be May already! This is a great month starting with National Family Month.

Children are helped most by people closest to them, and family is the single most powerful support system for kids. Children from strong and supportive families are more resilient in life and more likely to succeed.

National Family Month is an important step toward building a nation of confident kids and growing stronger and healthier families. The celebration was created by Kids Peace to raise awareness and underscore the importance of family---kids, mothers, fathers, relatives and caregivers---and to encourage support of each other.

It provides an opportunity for families to share special times together, to develop or renew relationships, identify or rediscover needs, to remind everyone of the importance of family involvement in raising healthy, confident kids for our future.

This year’s theme is honoring grandparents. There has been a recent shift in family dynamics and grandparents are the primary caregivers for nearly six million children in this country, and the numbers are growing. In fact, 75 percent of all non-parental care of children in America is now provided by grandparents. To focus the nation’s attention on this and provide grandparents with the recognition they deserve, GRAND Magazine is launching the third annual national search for an example of extraordinary care worthy of the title of GRANDparent of the Year. Any member of the public can nominate a GRANDparent of the Year. Nominating forms are in the May/June issue of GRAND Magazine or online at www.grandmagazine.com.

Grass roots organizations, clubs, schools, day cares, libraries and other groups across the country are celebrating National Family Month in their communities, and families are finding ways to spend meaningful time with each other. This event is also listed in Chase’s official national directory of holidays.

Celebrated annually from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, it is meant to be a vital event to focus on family relationships, and to provide a specific opportunity for parents, grandparents or caregivers to be involved in the lives of their children.

Another important event this month is Reading Is Fun Week, May 12-May 18. It highlights the joy of reading and reminds parents and children that reading is fun and can be enjoyed everyday.

Some children grow up never owning a book of their own. Reading Is Fundamental, (RIF), has been distributing books and creating reading motivation activities, resources, and campaigns for many years. RIF has put together exciting activities for the whole family that work to strengthen reading skills and produce greater ease and interest in reading. You can click on RIF's webpage (http://www.rif.org/) and find a list of activities for each night, including word games, stories to illustrate, and an opportunity for kids to participate in a safe, internet-based writing activity.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.” - Dr. Seuss

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” - George Santayana

Regards,
Geri LeBold
Education Director
geri@rmdrc.com