Even if your child is not going to be the next Beethoven or Yo-Yo Ma, adding music and movement to your child’s routine can have a great impact on their development. And not just their musical development. “A music-rich experience for children of singing, listening and moving is really bringing a very serious benefit to children as they progress into more formal learning,” says Mary Luehrisen, executive director of the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.

This month's book list features read-alouds that focus on the time of year when colors are changing outside, leavings are starting to come down, and there are lots of seasonal activities: fall! 

Fall is a great time of year to discuss the natural changes and transitions that occur outdoors. Even the youngest of littles can tell that temperatures are lower and the scenery is changing. Sharing picture books about fall with young readers helps them put words and meaning to what they are observing around them.

Making real-world connections while reading is deeply impactful for young minds and developing readers.

At some point, all parents face a decision about how they will provide for the education of their children. There are, perhaps thanks to our consumerist society, more options today than ever before. As I listen to parents talk about how they will make their decision, I hear the criteria they use to filter their decision-making. These often include things like reputation and tradition, test scores and student performance, accessibility and location, cost and affordability. These are all worthy considerations.