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Our Top 7 Children's Books That Inspire Kids to Love the Ocean
Jillianne E. Castillo Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on June 8, 2018
Did you know that every year on June 8 we celebrate World Oceans Day? The passion to save the Earth’s waters starts with a fondness for the sea and all the wonderful creatures that call it home. With the help of mom Alexine Parreño, who runs the online bookstore Pumplepie Books & Happiness, here is a list of children’s books to explore the oceans together and help cultivate environmental responsibility in your little one:
Mom Writes Book to Help Kids Here and Abroad to Learn Filipino
Jillian E. Castillo Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on March 29, 2018
Mom Cel Tria lives with her family in Australia. She and her husband are both full-time IT professionals and are raising two girls. “The older one is in Grade 10 and the younger one is in Grade 3 — or Year 10 and Year 3 as we say in Australia,” she tells SmartParenting.com.ph.
Living outside the Philippines, Cel encountered an unexpected frustration common to Filipino families living abroad. “My husband and I were looking for the perfect picture book to give to our newborn on her first Christmas Day. We were in the U.S., then and I happily discovered an abundance of choices. There were so many lovely books but, of course, none were in Filipino,” Cel recounted.
Early Literacy Expert: What Pinoy Parents Get Wrong About Reading
Every mom and dad want to raise a reader, right? Now, to promote a lifelong love of reading and learning, experts here and abroad highly recommend reading to your little one as soon as you bring him home from the hospital onwards. But is there a "right way" to read to your child? What are the ideal books to encourage reading at home? Can a parent create own early literacy program for her baby?
For answers, SmartParenting.com.ph spoke with Ruth Martin-De Guzman, executive director of Adarna Group Foundation (AGFI) and a mom to a 10-month-old girl. AGFI is the social responsibility arm of publishing house Adarna House with the mission to promote early literacy among Filipino children all over the country.
7 Lessons From a Mom Who Wanted Her Child to Read Before Preschool
Alexine Parreno| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on March 4, 2018
How Can Your Child Learn to Read? Buying Her Books Isn't Enough
Alexine Parreno| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on February 24, 2018
I grew up with books, so it was only natural that I wanted my daughter, Adriana, to love books as much as I did. Thankfully, Adriana got the bug.
My daughter owns more books than we can count, and she’s read every single one of them. Spending her lunch break in the library with her classmate counts as a special treat. Our toy budget is zero because she never asks for toys. She always asks for books, and when the price is right, we are happy to oblige.
10 Rules From Our Childhood That Still Hold True Today
Alexine Parreno| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on December 26, 2017
Moms are usually the designated bedtime storytellers, but did you know that several of our most popular Filipino children’s books were written by men? We shared with you "How 5 Filipina Children’s Book Authors Win Your Child’s Heart" (read it here). This time, we bring you five male authors with stories from their own childhood that helped shape them into the beloved storytellers they are today.
How 5 Filipina Children's Book Authors Win Your Child's Heart
Alexine Parreno| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on October 29, 2017
Your kids can be such different people (well-behaved, listens to the grown-up) when they’re in school. And the same thing can be said when they meet their favorite children’s book authors. It’s, well, magical how our kids ask us to read the same book repeatedly. How do the children’s book authors do it? How do they get our kids to listen and get lost in their world? And how do they go from child to writing a book?
14 Stress-Free Halloween Costumes Perfect for Trick-or-Treating!
Kitty Elicay| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on October 18, 2017
It's Little Red Riding Hood, but the hood is reversible! So you can even use it to turn her into a superhero. P1,200, Pumplepie
Mga Aswang, Tiktik, at Iba Pa! 6 Children's Books for Halloween
Jillianne E. Castillo| Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on October 14, 2017
Boo! There’s nothing like a good scary story to get you and the kids cowering and laughing in delight. Here are beautifully told and illustrated children’s books featuring monsters and ghouls and the so-called dark creatures of Philippine folklore.
20 Best Filipino Books for Kids 3 Years and Below (P75 to P295!)
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on August 4, 2017
Because of what I do for a living (sell books), I get to meet a lot of first-time moms who often ask what age should they introduce books to their child and what type of books should they purchase. We advocate reading from birth or even while baby is still in the womb. Reading to babies has endless benefits, but the most important is it stimulates brain development, build language skills, and it is a wonderful way to bond with your child. Reading aloud to your child is a special activity you can do together for years.
12 Fun Books to Get Kids to Read and Speak in Filipino (5 to 9 Years)
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on August 26, 2017
We always hear so much whining and groaning from our kids when it’s time to read in Filipino. How about introducing fun Filipino books to ease their pain, actually make them look forward to finishing a story, and help them speak Filipino fluently? We promise you and your kids (5 to 9 years old) will love these books.
20 Best Filipino Books for Kids 3 Years and Below (P75 to P295!)
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on August 4, 2017
Because of what I do for a living (sell books), I get to meet a lot of first-time moms who often ask what age should they introduce books to their child and what type of books should they purchase. We advocate reading from birth or even while baby is still in the womb. Reading to babies has endless benefits, but the most important is it stimulates brain development, build language skills, and it is a wonderful way to bond with your child. Reading aloud to your child is a special activity you can do together for years.
10 Below-P500 Gifts That Are Not Toys But Are Educational and Fun
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on July 24, 2017
I am pretty sure you've had this moment. You give your toddler an award-winning toy. He opens it, looks at the toy with a blank expression, and proceeds to play with the box that the toy came in for the whole day. No, toys do not always spark joy in children. Take my 6-year old daughter whom I do believe doesn’t like toys. She tinkers with them a few minutes and then says, “Mom, let’s give these to (names a cousin or friend), she’ll really like these.”
Get to Know 10 Pinoy Wonder Women in Science, Math, and More!
Therese Pelias | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on July 7, 2017
There is no question our girls need more role models. And as much as we love the success of Wonder Woman, they need to know the different kinds of power they can wield in this world.
4 Books to Help You Raise a Child Who Respects All Gender Identities
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on May 2, 2017
Movies make it so easy to talk to kids about gender identities. In reality, it is hard for many of us who have young kids to do because our parents never sat us down to have these difficult talks. Many of us are on our own in figuring out what to tell our kids especially when they start asking questions. That's when books can come in handy especially when we want to raise kids who are gender sensitive. Here are three that may help.
11 Children's Books That Answer Your Child's Toughest Questions
Alexine Parreno | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on April 15, 2017
I have a 6-year old, and she’s been asking questions ever since she could talk. It made me realize I was not as smart as I thought. I honestly struggled -- and still do -- to answer a lot of her questions. Google rescued me many times, but some topics made me wonder how I could have survived without ever knowing the answers. The others were complicated, and by complicated I mean these were questions that if incorrectly answered it could affect my child’s future standing as a global citizen. (Yes, pressure there.)
Introduce Your Little One to the Joys of Faith With These Books
Jillianne E. Castillo | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on April 11, 2017
We may think that kids under the age of 5 may not get the concept of spirituality. These books, however, dismiss that notion. With simple text and charming illustrations, they are wonderful introductions to biblical tales and the joys of faith. Enjoy it beyond the event of Holy Week.
WATCH: These Pinoy Books Can Help Your Baby Learn Shapes, Colors, and More
Jillianne E. Castillo | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on April 8, 2017
Share the wonders of Filipino classic tales with your little one! These board books incorporate the characters, settings, and events of stories like Florante at Laura into the starter pack of children’s books: shapes, colors, and numbers. By the time he’s old enough to read Ibong Adarna alone, he will be familiar with Don Juan, Don Pedro and Don Diego!
A Parent & Child Yoga Adventure
Published in ManilaForKids.com on April 7, 2017
Pumplepie Books & Happiness, an online bookstore specializing in Filipino children’s books,advocates both reading and being active. Among their bestsellers are two children’s yoga books, “Amazing Me Yoga for Kids” by Nica Hechanova and “Today Tala’s Adventure Begins” by Dr. Raissa Paje-Bayawa. “We always receive positive feedback for both books from parents, teachers and kids; the poems have kids giggling as they imitate the cute illustrations to get into the yoga poses,” says Pumplepie owner Alexine Parreño.
You and the Kids Need to Try This One-Day Storytelling Yoga Class
SmartParenting Staff | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on March 31, 2017
Pumplepie Books & Happiness, an online bookstore specializing in Filipino children’s books, advocates both reading and being active. Among their bestsellers are two children’s yoga books, Amazing Me Yoga for Kids by Nica Hechanova and Today Tala’s Adventure Begins by Dr. Raissa Paje-Bayawa.
5 Books to Help Your Child Get to Know Our Endangered Animals
SmartParenting Staff | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on March 23, 2017
You may think of the following as a cliche, but it doesn't mean it isn't true. Animals, big and small, on land or under water, will suffer if we don't take care of the environment. The next generation -- our children -- will not have a planet to call home if we keep ignoring the state of our ecosystem. And our family can be earth warriors in simple ways.
Raise a Reader: 10 Pinoy Books to Jumpstart Your Baby's Learning
Jillianne E. Castillo | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on February 23, 2017
There’s no need to search far and wide for fantastic baby books. Before heading anywhere else, take a look at what the shelves of our local publishers have to offer. These beautifully illustrated and written ones cover the basics: letters, colors, emotions and more in a familiar, truly Filipino setting. (A side note: teachers will tell you that starting your kids on the Filipino language first, rather than English, will make it easy for him to accurately translate words from Filipino to English -- and widen his vocabulary.)
Young Lady With Down Syndrome Debuts as Fashion Designer
Jillianne E. Castillo | Published in SmartParenting.com.ph on February 20, 2017
IMAGE Down to Xjabelle/Facebook
Resilience is when we strive to reach our dreams despite great adversity -- it’s a trait we'd like all our kids to have. And what better way to show them than through role models. Allow us to recommend one: Isabella Springmühl, a 20-year-old Guatemalan with Down syndrome who has become a fashion designer.
Books That Teach Kids To Love The Philippines (Toddler Edition)
Sheena Sy Gonzales | Published in Sheenalovessunsets.com on January 31, 2017
I grew up with foreign books and English songs. To be honest, I never really appreciated my own country when I was younger. But I don’t want this to be the case for my kids.