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It’s that time of year again – when kids trade in swimsuits for backpacks, and the smell of freshly sharpened pencils fill the air. New school years comes with new beginnings…and new emotions, often with a mix of anxiousness, excitement, and anticipation around every detail – even the first day outfit!

Your child’s unique personality is reflected in their style, and it’s important for children to take ownership of what they wear, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them out of the house in shorts on a chilly day.

Here’s how you can navigate the wardrobe woes to foster self expression while also being school and weather appropriate:

Let Them Choose

Little ones can feel less in control when everything is decided for them. Instead of giving your 3- or 4-year-old free reign of the closet, pre-select two appropriate outfits. Then, let your child choose between them. And if your budding fashion designer mixes styles from the outfits, so be it. A mismatched look isn’t the end of the world!

Then Choose Your Battles

What if your child wants to wear a dress…Every. Single. Day? If you’re concerned about cooler weather, warm tights and layered cardigans will do the trick. And if you’re worried about comfort, choose soft fabrics and breathable knits.

And Always Accessorize

Let personalities shine through the details. For kids who love jewelry, try beaded bracelets or an engraved necklace. Hairstyles, headbands, and even a streak of vibrant hair color are easy ways for kids to personalize their look. And unexpected touches, like bold patterned socks, can really make them smile 😄

KIDBOX makes it easy, fun, and affordable to shop for children’s clothes. Every season you’ll get a box of clothes from brands like Puma, Jessica Simpson, 7 For All Mankind, Splendid, Vintage Havana and more, specifically picked for your child’s style and delivered to your door.

The best part? As a HOMER member, you’ll get 15% off your first full* KIDBOX – visit KIDBOX.com today and enter the promo code “HOMER” at checkout. For every full box you keep, you’ll get to donate an item of clothing to a child in need.

*You must keep all items in your KIDBOX order to receive the 15% discount.

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Summer is here, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop! Our HOMER experts recommend reading every day to keep children’s interests growing and minds active while school is out.

That’s why the HOMER team curated a Summer Reading Challenge, full of fun ways to keep your child engaged all summer long.

Starting June 27th, for each week this summer, your child will have the chance to participate in our Summer Reading Challenge! Once your child has completed the challenge in HOMER by August 12th, you will receive a certificate to congratulate them. Follow the instructions below and download the reading list here.

  1. Choose a story from the Summer Reading Challenge menu in HOMER.
  2. Print and cut out the sun we provided.
  3. Write the story’s title in the sun, then decorate!
  4. Punch a hole in the sun and use string to hang it up in your child’s room.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for every story they read!
  6. We’d love to see your child’s decorated sun and hear about their favorite stories. Please share with the HOMER community by tagging #HOMERReadingChallenge and we’ll select one lucky family to receive a special story prize pack.

Be sure to share your fun in the sun learning moments with us!

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As you embark on your springtime activities, you may find yourself in the car once or twice. One of our amazing HOMER moms, Crissy Goldman, from Ventura, California, shares a springtime game that would be perfect to play en route to outdoor play places and anywhere in-between. The great news about this game is that you can refer to topics your child learns about in HOMER’s Discover the World section.   

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This month, we have a special opportunity for you, our valued members, to join our Instagram community, contribute to the conversation, and be entered to WIN an iPad Mini.

Why join our community?

Glean reading tips from our experts, learn about new educational trends and be inspired with all different kinds of reading life photos, quotes and examples of how people are using HOMER. We also want to hear your feedback about our product and will highlight your budding readers when you post and tag #LearnWithHOMER.

Details on how to enter and win:

  1. Like us on Instagram.
  2. Comment on one of our recent posts.
  3. BONUS: Be entered twice when you share your own photo or video of your child using HOMER or sharing what they are most excited to read about on the HOMER app.

Contest Duration: March 7-March 30, 2018. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram.

On March 30, we’ll pick one lucky follower and contributor to receive a FREE iPad mini.

 

Thank you for letting us be your partner in your child’s learning journey.

Good luck!

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As March begins, teachers and parents across the country are bracing for another season of test prep in their public schools. Even kindergarten teachers feel pressure to show gains on early literacy assessments that prove their students are making progress on critical reading and math skills.

We spent a significant part of our careers in the New York City Department of Education and understand the importance of measuring student progress. As the creators of HOMER, we’re also passionate about keeping a child’s love of reading alive and well.

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