Marc Kuhn’s Post

Where did the summer go? A minute ago it was Memorial Day, a second ago it was July 4th, and now it's Labor Day. Gretchen Rubin said, "The days are long, but the years are short." The idea is time passes quickly despite the long days of getting kids ready for school (breakfast, lunches made, dinner when they get home), running around to dance and soccer practices, making a trip to Michael's at 9p for art supplies for the assignment that's due tomorrow, buying a gift for the tenth kindergartner turning six, the dog throwing up and needing to go to the vet, and so on and so forth. Yes, it's true how fast it goes. Molly is 35, Kelly (32) and Jack (21). Where did the time go? Often, I think about those summer days when I was in junior high and high school that went on forever, "the dog days of summer." I counted down days until I could be back in school with my friends wearing my cute, new school clothes, in air-conditioning, and a day filled with activities. Yes, I'm nostalgic. But, Mama, doesn't have time for nostalgia. As I get older, time travels at warp speed. Here are ways to "slow down" time: 1. Breathe. Every time you stop at a stop sign or stoplight, breathe. 2. Be present. What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you feel? What do you taste? What do you see? 3. Be grateful. Write down three things you are grateful for each morning and night. I wish you grand days and long years. M #representationrebellion #embraceyourpower #personaltransformation #selfempowerment #rewriteyourstory #ageisjustanumber #ownyourjourney #communitysupport

If you belong to the '70s or early '80s, you probably have heard of the "Pen Pals" concept. Does it remind you of the movies made on this subject? Back then, there was no internet (unheard of), and no gadgets for communication except for the trunk calls using the wired phone or writing letters. We used to drop everything we were doing (including the afternoon nap) to just wait for the postman. People wrote letters to each other, school friends moving to different cities/countries kept in touch via snail mail, angry letters from relatives would reach you so late that there would be no argument! Everything moved at a slower pace. We had the time and leisure to wait for letters, read them when delivered, write a detailed reply, and post them. Nowadays, everything is like fast food. It has to be delivered within minutes, attention span is largely reduced to microseconds. What do you think? Should there be e-pals? Where you can write random emails (not marketing spam but genuine self-written emails), and share your interests without swiping left right center? Let me know... #penpals #epal #letters #friends

Today is the Day!!!! It’s the pre-release of the Shared Journal for Dads and their child(ren). This project came from a journey I’ve taken with my own children. We share a similar journal where we share memories, challenges, quotes, and conversations. This gift we share will be something they treasure long after Dad is gone. If you are looking for a Father’s Day gift that will not soon be forgotten, “Days With Dad” is the perfect choice. You can use the links below to pre-order it and have it before Father’s Day. https://lnkd.in/eR3AhHjZ or https://lnkd.in/eeKbBHur

Today is the start of February vacation for many families. School vacations can be tough with trying to find activities to keep your children busy and even setting up child care. Here are some ideas that you can do as a family at home or in the community: 🟣Make a craft together. This can be at home or at a local place that offers family craft days. 🟣Watch a movie together. You can stay at home and make it a movie night or take the family out to the theater. 🟣Play a game. This is a good time to play a board game, card game, and/or a video game. 🟣Visit a local museum or zoo if it's not too cold. 🟣Visit a local indoor play place or the library. Some of them may even have activities planned for the week. Best advice is to look at local places in the community to see if they are offering any vacation activities or events. Take this time to be in the moment and enjoy time together as a family.

P a r e n t s, t e a c h e r s, c h i l d c a r e g i v e r s - Want to (re)attain the baseline of BEING FUN, FEELING FUN, HAVING FUN with the children in your care? The Paradox is that to do that, we also need the ***Secret to Setting Boundaries That Work*** **Without Rage, Retreat or Regret*** ***Even When We or The Children Are Intense and or Neurodiverse*** Join me to unlock the door to FUN by tapping into the power of effective boundary setting - and holding. My gift to you - this is for free, at three separate times during the first full week in February, a morning, afternoon, and night. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ga6UghJB Looking forward to seeing you there! And if you know of others who would benefit, maybe you'll start your fun by spreading the fun!

🎒 As we dive back into the school year, it's important to take a moment to think about our amazing teachers! They work hard every day to shape the minds of our kids and deserve our appreciation. With Teacher Appreciation Day on the horizon, it's a great time to start gathering thoughtful gifts that will stand out from the usual mugs and apples. 📝 Instead of panicking at the last minute, why not plan ahead? By shopping early, you can create unique gift bundles that will truly show your child's teachers how much their efforts mean. Think beyond the basics! Personalized notes, gift cards to local cafes, or even fun classroom supplies can all bring a smile. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way! At YTE Events and Balloon Decor, we understand the importance of creating memorable moments, whether it's for school events or expressing gratitude to educators. We can help you add a festive touch to your teacher appreciation plans with our beautiful balloon decor and event setups. 💡 Let's celebrate our teachers in unique and exciting ways! If you're looking for more ideas, tips, or inspiration, feel free to check out our Facebook page. Together, we can make appreciation day truly special!

Christmas time, mistletoe and LLAMAS!    Any thoughts about Christmas jumpers? Love ’em? Hate ’em? Take ’em or leave’m? What makes a Christmas jumper Christmassy? Not llamas, surely!   Good on primary school teachers, I used to think, for getting into the Christmas spirit and getting into all sorts of silly activities to amuse and entertain their pupils in the last days of term, including wearing all sorts of woolly creations.   But now everyone seems to have jumper-ed on board. Santas, reindeer, snowflakes, llamas. I have no issue with ones with Christmas themes on, but I have to admit Christmas llamas is pushing it for me.   And pets with Christmas hats on – why ???   Traditions evolve, I guess.   And it’s only once a year.   When I’m grinching about such things, I realise it’s time for a holiday. Here’s wishing you all a wonderful and restful break with friends, family and llamas.   #education #learning #schools #teachers #teachersandschoolemployees #privateschools #independentschools #Classoos

The best holiday memories are made through experiences that help us connect with the people in our lives. Here are some gift ideas for strengthening connections with children this holiday season: Give the gift of time spent together Use holiday time to get down on the floor (or at a child’s level) and play! Let them lead the way. Ask questions, like “What are you building?” “What do you think would happen if…"(we build the tower taller?) Share an interest, hobby or skill with a child. Children often imitate our actions or interests. For example: -If you are a sports fan, make your own shakers and let your child cheer as you watch part of a game together. Use commercial breaks to play catch with an indoor-safe foam ball. -If you are a bird watcher, look at books about birds and take a walk to look for birds (count birds, name colors, etc.) Put out food for birds or decorate a birdhouse together. Give the gift of language - Spend time reading to children! -Visit the library for holiday books to read to your children -Talk about the pictures, stories and characters as you read. Help build vocabulary through meaning-filled conversations, talking about picture books as you read together, and discussing activities. For example: “Bring me two candy canes”, “Let’s roll the cookie dough” “How does the dough feel? Mine feels sticky!” Children are learning important language and social skills through back and forth conversations with others! #earlychildhoodspecialties #holidayplay #playislearning #earlylearningactivities #familytimefun

Kids birthday party at home. 10 kids for 3 hours, and I’m on the edge of mental breakdown. And I haven’t even come out of my home office. 😬 That’s why I have soooo much respect for preschool teachers. Somehow they have the ability to match the energy levels of preschoolers and engage 20+ kids in learning activities throughout the entire day. 🫡 And the thing is, that’s not all. Governments and umbrella organisations want to ensure the best possible education for children and therefore want teachers to operate within a certain framework. This has led to initiatives that started out with the best intentions but eventually created a situation where the framework put a major (often useless) administrative burden on teachers, increasing their workload and draining their motivation and enthusiasm. Not good. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There are incredible opportunities to address the needs and interests of all stakeholders without making such sacrifices. With Smart Symbols, we’ve turned this into our mission. Stripping away boring and useless administration, we’re returning the time to preschool teachers to do what they love. And not only that, we’re also providing them with insights they’ve never had before, allowing more individual progress and behavioural follow-up. As one teacher puts it: “This makes preparation and follow-up so much easier. Lessons, goals, evaluations, insights, … it’s all connected and so easy to use. I’m a huge fan! ” And we only just got started 😀 🚀

Taking Responsible Risks: Flying trapeze is all about taking calculated risks—a concept that’s vital for children to understand. When kids decide to leap from the platform, they’re learning to weigh the risks and benefits, making informed decisions that foster responsibility and independence. This experience teaches them that risks, when taken thoughtfully, can lead to growth and achievement. It also helps them develop a healthy relationship with fear, understanding that it's okay to be scared, but with preparation and support, they can overcome their fears and achieve great things. Giving kids the dignity of risk is so impactful for their healthy development. We now start as young as 3! Check out our brand new offering - Tiny Flyers for ages 3 - 5. https://lnkd.in/gMS6j7fG #RiskTaking #SEL #ChildGrowth Randy Kohn Chris Milam Drew Janssen Jennifer Barranti Andres E. Acevedo Cameron Pratto Nicole Dommaschk Frann Wageneck, Ed.D SEL4CA