Ahhh . . . a new year. Time for some fresh goals and resolutions. And time for reflection on the events of the last 365 days. Why should children be immune to this annual ritual? Kids can certainly benefit from considering some new habits to enrich their lives, and we have a great recommendation that we think your kids will enjoy. Help them start a journal! (Or instill in them a renewed enthusiasm for continuing a previously abandoned journal.) This simple activity, if continued through the years, will enable your kids to reflect on their growth, recognize their achievements, and learn to express their emotions.

To help them catch the journal-writing bug, grab a copy of Diary of a Worm. Follow a worm as he chronicles the ups and downs of being a worm through words and pictures. Your younger kids will love the visuals, while your older kids will crack up at the buggy humor.

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We’re always looking for a way to get our kids to a museum, but it’s never very hard when it is the Arizona Science Center. Kids run around from one activity to another as they explore science through fun, hands-on exhibits. We typically leave the place exhausted, but better educated and talking about science. Strange Matter is a temporary exhibit about Materials Science – or the science of what makes up everything around us. You’ll learn about plastic, glass, metal, and all sorts of other fun stuff.

At home, one way to keep the interest in science high is through a funny book by one of our favorite children’s book dynamic duos, Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. Science Verse pokes fun at science class through a series of parody poems. But watch out! If you’re not careful you might learn something while you’re having fun.

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