
12 Holidays in the month of December – Celebrate Diversity!
As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to celebrate the rich tapestry of traditions that make this season so special. December is a month of joy, reflection, and connection, with 12 holidays celebrated worldwide! Here are some of the wonderful holidays observed this month: Each holiday adds its own unique spirit to this festive season, creating a mosaic of traditions that we cherish and respect. Exciting News for the Summer!We’re delighted to share that Lemberg Children’s Center is planning an International Summer Science Camp! This STEM-focused camp, running from July 14–25, 2025, will

The Origins of Thanksgiving and Honoring American Indian Heritage Month
As we approach Thanksgiving, we often reflect on its history and the values of gratitude and togetherness. Yet, the true story of Thanksgiving is layered with complexities that are important to understand and honor, especially during November, which is also American Indian Heritage Month. The True Origins of Thanksgiving The traditional Thanksgiving story tells of a harmonious meal between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in 1621. While this gathering did happen, the relationship between the Pilgrims and Native American tribes was more nuanced. For the Wampanoag, this alliance was motivated by survival and protection in the face of new

“Falling Back” The Time Change
Many children take a few weeks to adjust to the changing of the clocks for Daylight Savings and then back to regular time in November. The Erikson Institute has a brief read about starting to put children to bed 15 minutes earlier (or later) over several weeks that has worked for many parents and children to be a little more prepared for the clock change on Saturday, November 2. The article suggests considering this for naps too. How Parents Can Prepare Young Children for Daylight Savings Time | Erikson Institute

Tips for an Anti-Racist & Anti-Biased Halloween
It is that spooky time of year again, and if you celebrate Halloween we have a few tips to help you celebrate and be anti-racist! So what IS Cultural Appropriation?” Appropriation is the act of borrowing elements from one culture and removing all context and meaning, with the intent on using those elements for your own purpose or profit.” (Parents for Diversity)Ci“Cultural Appropriation is the act of taking significant elements (symbols, dress, words, practices, etc.) from a culture that is not your own and removing all original context or meaning, usually with the goal of using these elements to make

Pride Month: Learning, Teaching, and Celebrating All Year
Pride Month: Learning, Teaching, and Celebrating All Year LGBTQIAP+ Pride Resources Books 📚 Podcasts/Audio🎙️ Videos/Media 📹 Articles/Sites/Collections 📰

Having The Hard Conversations: War, Death, and Violence
Having The Hard Conversations: War, Death, and Violence Talking About Death With Our Kids At Different Ages Toddlers Preschoolers Age by Age View Free Lessons Resources About War, Conflict, and Violence Conversations with Youth Current Events: Resources related to topics about Israel/Palestine & Russia/Ukraine Videos/Media Articles/Sites Grief: Processing & Identifying This Big Emotion Books Podcasts/Audio Videos/Media Articles/Sites View Lessons For Preschoolers Teaching & Educating as Action Books Podcasts/Audio Videos/Media Articles/Sites View Lessons For Toddlers

Teaching The Truth About Thanksgiving
Teaching The Truth About Thanksgiving AGE-APPROPRIATE ENGAGEMENT Here are some suggestions for engaging kids of all ages with Thanksgiving and Native American culture. “There’s no reason we can’t have really fun, interactive, and accurate lessons around Thanksgiving.” – National Education Association (+) = these resources can work with this age group or above in many circumstances. Not necessarily limited to the age group it is presented in. INFANTS/TODDLERS(+): Expose your children to songs, art, images, stories, people, etc that have accurate representations of Native Americans, showing narratives of indigenous peoples in the past and present. Check Out: Molly of Denali’s

Beyond Biting: Gently Guiding and Supporting Toddlers
Beyond Biting: Gently Guiding and Supporting Toddlers Lemberg Children’s Center Sieara Lopez-Jones July 2022 While biting is common and developmentally appropriate amongst toddlers, it is never easy for anyone when one child hurts another. Emotions tend to flare and, oftentimes, everyone involved feels lost as to what to do next. They are left with more questions than answers: Why did my child bite? Is my child ‘bad’? Is my child being targeted? Am I doing something wrong? When infants and toddlers bite, there are many possible underlying causes that should be addressed in hopes of stopping the biting, including: Teething

The Power of Music
The Power of Music Music, oh beautiful music! It transcends barriers and brings people together like nothing else can. Music has a way of teaching us how to get to know people better—while having the power to connect people to themselves and everything around us. It can unite our senses! The benefits of music education for children From lullabies to birthday parties, music has always played a role in the lives of children. And for good reason. Research has shown that musical education can benefit children in many ways. Music can: Boost brain development Improve information processing and problem-solving skills Enhance bonding

A Week at Lemberg Children’s School
When I found out I would be the only science teacher in my Brandeis Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) cohort, I was intimidated. I was worried there would be nobody able to support me in becoming the best science educator I could be. This all changed when I was introduced to Associate Director of Environmental Education, Sylvia Kohn-Levitt at Lemberg. After spending a week with her, high school chemistry teacher Elyse Hahn, the high school interns for the Lemberg Environmental Action Force (LEAF), and the preschool students, I feel more prepared than ever to enter my first year as

Environmental Science: Let’s Get Outside and Learn!
Environmental Science: Let’s Get Outside and Learn! Environmental science in summer Some of my fondest childhood memories are making mud pies under the thick canopies of evergreen trees—and eating green onions straight from the garden. Back then, I found it strange how my mother knew I was the one digging up vegetables faster than she could plant them. The bunnies and I happily ate through the garden, leaving no harvest behind. Was my onion breath the real giveaway? Or the results of my foiled plan? I would eat most of the onion but leave enough of the stem—and replant it—so

Attachment Theory
Attachment theory is an important area of research that can help us understand relationships and bonds between people. All human relationships, especially during early childhood development, require a connection. But what is attachment, exactly? How does it form and what makes it healthy or unhealthy? And how does a healthy attachment help an infant learn? In this article, we’ll review: The definition of attachment Attachment theory Stages of attachment during infancy The Strange Situation Types of attachment Learning through healthy attachment Learning through imitation and serve and return Infant education and resources What Is Attachment? Attachment is defined as an

Teaching Social-Emotional Learning at Home
Part One: Relationship Skills There’s no question—we learn with others and by observing, listening, and trying to do what others do. We react or respond to others and the world we are in. You play a crucial role in a child’s learning environment. Children of all ages benefit from understanding more about their feelings and growing their social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. SEL skills help us understand our emotions as well as allow us to guide our responses and demonstrate empathy for others. You are the model for a child’s social-emotional learning, and you may be modeling this behavior without even realizing