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A graphic with the words "Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books" over the top of a colorful scoop of ice cream

Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books

National Ice Cream Month Is a great opportunity to share a sweet treat with the kids in your life. These ice cream-themed picture books will help you share a few sweet life lessons, too. For easy recipes to enjoy while you read, check out our ice cream activities blog. Saffron Ice Cream, by Rashin Kheiriyeh On her first trip to an American beach, a little girl remembers her former home in Iran and wonders what her new home will be like. She

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More
A graphic that reads "Picture Books for Safety Month" in an octagon the color of a stop sign, with other street signs in the background

Encourage Safety Skills with Fun Picture Books

Communities all over the country recognize National Safety Month each June. Picture books are a fun way to teach personal and community safety skills in ways that make kids laugh and listen. How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague Giant, colorful, feathery, silly dinosaurs learn about everything from safely crossing the street to dialing 9-1-1 in this rhyming story that reminds kids they can always make good choices (and will make them laugh, too.) No Dragons for Tea:

Read More
A graphic featuring small children dressed up like an astronaut, doctor, chef, construction worker and other jobs with the text "Explore Careers With Picture Books"

Explore Careers With Picture Books

In April, we celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day. Inspire kids to think about all the incredible things they can do when they grow up with these fun picture books! And don’t miss a personal Take Your Child to Work Day story from the Imagine Institute’s Marketing and Communications Lead, Devon Allen. Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts Little Ada Marie’s first word is “why?” and she never stops asking questions about the world. Her parents get

Read More

Growing Up as the Child of a Provider

Imagine Institute’s Devon Allen shares his experience growing up with his mother’s child care at home for Take Your Child to Work Day. The fourth Thursday in April every year is National Take Your Child to Work Day. This year it falls on Thursday, April 25th. With the rise of working from home, a lot of children are getting new insight into what work looks like for their parents. For some of us, though, every day was Take Your Child to Work

Read More

Imagine Spotlight Pierce County: Diego Ramos

The Imagine Institute helps support early learning providers all across Washington State, and like to keep track of the progress these providers are making. This week, we want to introduce you to Diego Ramos, who is helping kids in Pierce County, and helping to start a new trend in helping other providers in his community.   MEET DIEGO Diego lives in Tacoma and has been a licensed family home child care provider for about three years, but his training goes back even

Read More

Spring Into New Activities For Kids

The ground is thawing out, and the weather is getting warm. Spring is here, and it’s time to find some seasonal activities for your kids. Whether it’s outside or inside, we have some ideas for you that are fun and entertaining for your group. Cloud Paintings – The weather can change a lot during spring, and that means there are many different types of clouds in the sky. Take your kids outside to identify some of them. They can draw or paint

Read More
A graphic that shows two girls reading books in the text "Women's History Month: Girl Power Picture Books"

Picture Books about the Power of Girls

Women’s History Month is a wonderful time to share the stories of remarkable women who girls can look up to. But girls also need to hear stories about the amazing things they can do while they’re young. Children of all genders will be inspired by these true stories of incredible girls, too! Malala’s Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by Kerascoët Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala’s first picture book shares how she dreamed of making the world a better place as a

Read More
A young woman with brown hair stands on a beach

Imagine Spotlight: Alexis Wynne

This week, we are excited to highlight Alexis Wynne, who runs a family home child care business in Auburn, Washington.   MEET ALEXIS Alexis grew up in the child care business. Her mother, Carli Meek, started Little Steps Discovery Zone when Alexis was 7 years old and her sister was a baby. When she was a young teenager, Alexis started volunteering at Little Steps. She took a break after graduating high school, but she soon found her way back to child care.

Read More
A graphic with the words "Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books" over the top of a colorful scoop of ice cream

Inspire Kindness with Ice Cream Books

National Ice Cream Month Is a great opportunity to share a sweet treat with the kids in your life. These ice cream-themed picture books will help you share a few sweet life lessons, too. For easy recipes to enjoy while you read, check out our ice cream activities blog. Saffron Ice Cream, by Rashin Kheiriyeh On her first trip to an American beach, a little girl remembers her former home in Iran and wonders what her new home will be like. She

Read More

Summer Learning: Nature in the Pacific Northwest

Summer is officially upon us, and school is out of session for the next few months. But the learning doesn’t need to stop there! Here at the Imagine Institute we wanted to put together a small series of blogs to share some ideas of topics you can cover in your child care to keep the learning going this summer. In this Summer Learning series, we’ll share fun topics of education you can incorporate into your child care this summer and beyond. This

Read More

Celebrate Pride Month with Fun Activities for Kids

June is Pride Month, and it’s a good opportunity to celebrate inclusion and equality with your kids. There are several activities to help kids understand what Pride is about and to promote the spirit of inclusion and representation. We have gathered a few ideas we think you’ll enjoy. Create a Rainbow Collage – Start by grabbing a big piece of paper and using crayons to draw a rainbow right in the center. Then find scraps of colored paper, stickers, glitter, thin wood

Read More
A graphic that reads "Picture Books for Safety Month" in an octagon the color of a stop sign, with other street signs in the background

Encourage Safety Skills with Fun Picture Books

Communities all over the country recognize National Safety Month each June. Picture books are a fun way to teach personal and community safety skills in ways that make kids laugh and listen. How Do Dinosaurs Stay Safe?, by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague Giant, colorful, feathery, silly dinosaurs learn about everything from safely crossing the street to dialing 9-1-1 in this rhyming story that reminds kids they can always make good choices (and will make them laugh, too.) No Dragons for Tea:

Read More
A graphic featuring small children dressed up like an astronaut, doctor, chef, construction worker and other jobs with the text "Explore Careers With Picture Books"

Explore Careers With Picture Books

In April, we celebrate Take Your Child to Work Day. Inspire kids to think about all the incredible things they can do when they grow up with these fun picture books! And don’t miss a personal Take Your Child to Work Day story from the Imagine Institute’s Marketing and Communications Lead, Devon Allen. Ada Twist, Scientist, by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts Little Ada Marie’s first word is “why?” and she never stops asking questions about the world. Her parents get

Read More

Growing Up as the Child of a Provider

Imagine Institute’s Devon Allen shares his experience growing up with his mother’s child care at home for Take Your Child to Work Day. The fourth Thursday in April every year is National Take Your Child to Work Day. This year it falls on Thursday, April 25th. With the rise of working from home, a lot of children are getting new insight into what work looks like for their parents. For some of us, though, every day was Take Your Child to Work

Read More

Imagine Spotlight Pierce County: Diego Ramos

The Imagine Institute helps support early learning providers all across Washington State, and like to keep track of the progress these providers are making. This week, we want to introduce you to Diego Ramos, who is helping kids in Pierce County, and helping to start a new trend in helping other providers in his community.   MEET DIEGO Diego lives in Tacoma and has been a licensed family home child care provider for about three years, but his training goes back even

Read More

Spring Into New Activities For Kids

The ground is thawing out, and the weather is getting warm. Spring is here, and it’s time to find some seasonal activities for your kids. Whether it’s outside or inside, we have some ideas for you that are fun and entertaining for your group. Cloud Paintings – The weather can change a lot during spring, and that means there are many different types of clouds in the sky. Take your kids outside to identify some of them. They can draw or paint

Read More
A graphic that shows two girls reading books in the text "Women's History Month: Girl Power Picture Books"

Picture Books about the Power of Girls

Women’s History Month is a wonderful time to share the stories of remarkable women who girls can look up to. But girls also need to hear stories about the amazing things they can do while they’re young. Children of all genders will be inspired by these true stories of incredible girls, too! Malala’s Magic Pencil, by Malala Yousafzai, illustrated by Kerascoët Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala’s first picture book shares how she dreamed of making the world a better place as a

Read More
A young woman with brown hair stands on a beach

Imagine Spotlight: Alexis Wynne

This week, we are excited to highlight Alexis Wynne, who runs a family home child care business in Auburn, Washington.   MEET ALEXIS Alexis grew up in the child care business. Her mother, Carli Meek, started Little Steps Discovery Zone when Alexis was 7 years old and her sister was a baby. When she was a young teenager, Alexis started volunteering at Little Steps. She took a break after graduating high school, but she soon found her way back to child care.

Read More