Family Card Games: A Tradition Connecting Generations
Card games have done more to bring my family together than almost anything else: they’ve crossed generations, languages, and thousands of miles.
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How a Grandmother’s Gift of Time Brought Our Family Closer Together
Her mother’s yearly gift of time helped save her marriage during the early years of parenthood. Now, she’s passing that same gift to her own family, and discovering its legacy.
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How to Camp as a Family: a Step- by-Step Guide
Pitching a tent in the backyard can be the first step towards adventurous trips through national parks. Here’s a step-by-step look at how one family built confidence, courage, and connection through camping.
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Family Bonding Activities: Books, Memories & Mealtime Traditions
From performing a favourite folktale to reenacting a family photo — how one family strengthened bonds by establishing simple traditions.
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Hopeful Moments of Helping Teens Soar
An educator shares positive findings about monarch butterflies, and explains the parallels she has seen in teen readers at the public library where she works.
“Butterflies in groups remind me of teenagers in groups. They move in ways that seem both joyful and chaotic, with sudden bursts of energy.”
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Trees as Teachers: Lessons in Hope
The strength of trees can teach us many lessons about overcoming challenges, writer Brinton Culp explains. She shares how features of a local forest have increased her sense of hope.
“Where no growth would seem possible, this tree took root and now grows strong….”
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12 Children’s Books About Mental Health to Read With Your Kids: Spring 2026
Here are 12 new reviews of children’s books about mental health, suggested as titles for parents and kids to share. Adults have the option of reading a book on their own, or with their child. Leading American and Canadian organizations recommend the books, which include 10 fiction titles and two guidebooks.
We chose these books in recognition that an estimated 13 to 20 percent of mental health problems begin by the early adolescent years of 11 to 14.
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Winter Reading: 10 Children’s Books with Mental Health Themes
Menderist is pleased to introduce its preliminary list of 10 mental-health themed books that children aged 4+ and their parents can read and discuss together. The titles are in the running for our final list of 20 books, to be released for summer 2026.
We chose these books in recognition that an estimated 13 to 20 percent of mental health problems begin by the early adolescent years of 11 to 14.
“Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger….” (from a review of ‘The Trouble With Heroes’)
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How Keeping a Reading Log Increased My Hope
Author Cathy Carr explains how a small change helped her regain hope and make better use of her time after a difficult year.
“There were moments we thought (the problems) would never let up. These were times when it was difficult to keep our hope alive.”
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Inspiring Hope in Students
Parents can ask a simple question to discover what their children value, and changes they would like to make, suggests author Kern Carter. He shares a tip from his experience in leading creative camps.
“When they tell you what they would change, it’s important to let them know that change is possible.”
