How has being a teacher informed
your parenting style? What are
some skills from teaching that can
be transferred to parenting, and
what are some skills that can’t be
transferred? The importance of reading to your child cannot
be understated. Studies have shown that children
have better educational outcomes if they are read
to every day. Hands-on and play-based learning are
also critical for a child’s development as they build an
understanding of the world and how to interact with
the people in it.

How have your children been
influenced by storytelling? What
stories have they come up with on
their own?
I’ve been reading to my kids since they were babies.

It’s like they were steeped in story elements.

Combine that with a child’s natural propensity to
engage in imaginary play, and their own stories were
born. Whether it was telling tales while building
elaborate train layouts, officiating stuffed animal
weddings or collaborating with friends to build an
elaborate imaginary world, I’ve been so pleased to
have a front-row seat to my boys’ stories. As I like
to tell students during author visits, if you use your
imagination, you are already a storyteller. 2
Family Favorites
Family meal:
visiting family. We also like
Disney World and a quiet farm
Spaghetti and meatballs, plus getaway at the base of the Blue
garlic bread, is a family favor- Ridge Mountains.

ite. Apple slices can be found
on the dinner table most Favorite books:
days of the week.

When I asked the boys what
their favorite family read-aloud
Family activities:
was, “The Penderwicks” five-
We are a musical family. Mom book series by Jeanne Birdsall
and Dad sing and the boys each got the most enthusiastic shout-
play more than one instru- out. But there are so many great
ment. Henry plays trombone in books! Other series we have
band, took guitar and tenor sax loved: “Endling” by Katherine
lessons and is currently teach- Applegate, “Mice of the Round
ing himself alto sax. Nathan Table” by Julie Leung and “Land
takes private violin lessons, of Stories” by Chris Colfer. A
plays French horn in school couple of picture books that we
and sings for his part in the read again and again when they
school musical.

were little are “10 Minutes Till
Bedtime” by Peggy Rathmann
Vacation spots:
and “If I Built a House” by
We spend a lot of time in Chris Van Dusen.

Vermont and Connecticut
Parenting isn’t easy, but there
are strategies that can help.

Find support and resources
at familytreemd.org/flip
or our 24-hour Parenting
HelpLine at 800-243-7337.

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