As The New York Times notes in The State of Play, that a child’s play is more than just fun.  Play can help a child in so many ways — learning to be resilient, energizes a child’s brain, and can be a way for a child to speak about the unspeakable.

Learn more about the many benefits of “child’s play!”

Are you a registered voter?  Do you know how to register, how to complete a mail-in ballot, where to vote should you choose to vote in-person?  The New Jersey Division of Elections – Register to Vote! has a helpful website that you can use to answer these and other questions regarding who can register as well as forms that are translated into multiple languages.  Also check this site, Election Governance in NJ for additional information.

Who can register?

• A United States citizen
• At least 17 years old, though you may not vote until you have reached the age of 18
• A resident of the county for 30 days before the election
• A person not serving a sentence of incarceration as the result of a conviction of any indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

Who is not eligible to register:

• You are serving a sentence of Incarceration as a result of a conviction of an indictable offense under the laws of this or another state or of the United States.

Be sure to register 21 days prior to an election.  With the challenges that the US Post Office faces these days, be certain that if you do plan to vote-by-mail, mail your ballot early.

Image thanks to Piklist

A group of clever high school students created a school project that got published.  The Washington Post covered this group of entrepreneurs who, with information from the CDC, made a kid-friendly coloring book about the novel corona virus.

The article states: “Anyone who orders a book is given the option to donate 40 percent of the $5 sales price to a suggested charity or to write in a charity of their choice. Rogers said most donations have gone to coronavirus relief efforts, the Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital and the Black Lives Matter movement.”

What can $5 do to help kids learn and help others at the same time?  Why not take a look!

The Burlington County Library announced that the library computers at select county libraries will be open by-appointment, only, for patrons to use their computers as of Monday, August 3rd.  Please check out their link for more information as to times and availability.

Whether your child is 6, 16, or 26, we have an important opportunity to share our “story” with our family about this difficult time.  In The New York Times, pediatricians discuss how to create that narrative in their article, How Are You Telling Children the Story of the Pandemic?  It can be a challenge to find the right words, being truthful without creating more stress, based upon a child’s age and capacity to understand.  Hope this helps.

Everyone, stay well!