#PlinkitParents - Meet Amy and Samir!

Learn better. Play smarter. | [View this email in your browser]( Parenting made simpler. Written by experts. Designed for intentional parents. #PlinkitParents - Meet Amy and Samir Hearing from [Plinkit Parents]( and learning about your unique journeys is by far one of the best parts of our job. And when we had a chance to connect with Amy and Samir, our hearts grew ten-fold. Their playful and grounded perspective reminded us just how much we’ve learned from this pandemic - not only about our children, but also about our own strengths as caregivers. We hope you'll enjoy reading about "Five-Star Toothbrushing" and life's not-so-neat compartments as much as we did. From homeschooling, to launching a start-up, to talking about hard things, this warrior family did it all. They inspired us to stay in gratitude, savor the sanctity of the snuggle and focus on the magic of human relationships - how very perfect for Valentine’s Day. P.S. We’ve also added some of our favorite reads on friendship in this newsletter because expressing love and appreciation - and relishing in how very good it feels to be appreciated - are sweet for Valentine’s Day or any day. For more inspiration: [books for teaching kids about friendship.]( Name: Amy and Samir • Kids / age: 2 children, ages 7 and 10 5 surprising things about parenting: - On your children’s learning: Our kids are motivated by vastly different things, even though we think our parenting approach is similar with both of them. - On school: Our traditional school approach doesn’t seem to bring out the strengths of creative children with learning differences. We wish we could change that. - On toys: Pillow forts are more magical than video games. - On food: Making a meal that everyone likes can feel unachievable. - On childcare: Living near family would be incredible because no one else cares about your kids as much as you do. If that’s not possible, find a babysitter who is nothing short of Mary Poppins. "Our kids got to see that we're human and that we get overwhelmed. But, they also got to see that we have tools that we can access." What do you love most about parenting? - The sacred moment of snuggling with them right before they fall asleep. Their little bodies are so warm, and it’s a time when they share so much: from big, raw, challenging feelings to loving, calming, goofy, and affectionate feelings. It all spills out of them, and we feel honored to be their safe place. We wish that for every child. [READ AMY AND SAMIR'S STORY]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20parent%20profile%20inspiring%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2Fplinkitparents%2Famy-samir%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [How to Teach Your Child to Identify Their Feelings and Emotions]( Discover why labeling emotions is a learned skill for a child and 3 ways you can teach it. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2020%2F08%2Fteach-your-child-feelings-emotions-self-awareness%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [Community Engagement - How to Talk About It]( Answers to popular questions on teaching your child about civic engagement and how to explain social issues. Hint: the language you use matters. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2018%2F12%2Fcommunity-engagement-how-to-talk-about-it%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [How to Build Your Child's Independence]( Foundational skills for teaching your child to be in charge of themself and their learning. Strategies for *how* to build your child’s competence, confidence, and self-reliance. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2021%2F05%2Fteach-your-child-to-be-independent-confident-resilient%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [Hero Badges]( Real ways your child can be a real superhero. A favorite classroom activity. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2017%2F09%2Fdevelop-empathy-child-real-superhero%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [Sibling Love Jar]( A simple tool to get into the habit of encouraging gratitude and recalling happy moments among siblings. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2017%2F08%2Fsibling-love-make-happen-sibling-love-jar%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [10 Characteristics of a 'Good' Friend]( Teach your child a strong Friend Skill Set - a set of skills that can empower your child to independently navigate tricky social situations. Plus, key learning tools and books. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2021%2F04%2F10-characteristics-of-a-good-friend-skills-for-children%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [How to Teach Your Child to Be a 'Good' Friend]( Use our practical scripts and prompts to help your child put their Friend Skill Set into practice. Plus, a note on 'crushes'. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2021%2F04%2Fhow-to-teach-your-child-to-be-a-good-kind-brave-friend%2F) [Share]( READ + SHARE [The Love Letter]( A sweet story about expressing love for our friends and how good it feels to be appreciated. Makes a lovely gift. [BUY NOW]( READ + SHARE [Stormy]( Breathtakingly beautiful. A moving wordless book about trust and kindness. Great for all ages. (Bonus: Excellent for building [storytelling skills,]( a key step in literacy development.) [BUY NOW]( Be a Plinkit Pro We hope you enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through Plinkit Pro membership support. Membership support allows us to keep bringing you time-saving and practical child development insights. [BE A PLINKIT PRO]( to enjoy access to all our expert guidance and events. Learn better. Play smarter. [EXPLORE MORE TOPICS]( FOLLOW US: Missed last week's newsletter? [Explore our Archive.]( Our content is written in partnership with the best child development experts. No ads. No sponsored recommendations. Just original content. This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Plinkit · Parenting made simpler. · Written by experts. 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