While students are out of school, we asked Philip Miles, Attorney & Shareholder at McQuaide Blasko,  what parents could teach their children or encourage them to explore on their own.  Here is his list of suggestions for at-home learning: ​

Top 5 Books I read as a Kid and Want my Kids to Read Too

Your kids are trapped at home, with no end to school closures in sight. What better time to push your own childhood favorite reads on them? Here are the top five books form my own childhood that I want my kids to read too: 

5. Meet Abraham Lincoln by Barbara Carey – I know, I know, that sounds a lot like school learning! It is, but I still enjoyed the whole Meet [Historical Figure] series, which was reissued in 2011.

4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – I devoured the entire Chronicles of Narnia series as a child. Christian allegory may not be for everyone, but it’s a great early introduction to fantasy adventure.

3. Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe – Perfect for younger kids. It’s the first in an entire series starring a vampire rabbit that sucks the juice out of vegetables – with that premise, how can you go wrong!?

2. Lord of the Flies by William Golding – Children stranded on an island form their own society, which quickly devolves into power struggles and violence. Sure, it’s a little (okay, a lot) dark. But, it’s also a classic.     

1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – What can I say? I loved fantasy adventure, and fictional universes filled with elves, dwarves, and dragons. Why not follow up with the subsequent Lord of the Rings trilogy?

While students are out of school, we asked Matt Patterson, Owner of Jersey Mike's Subs, what parents could teach their children or encourage them to explore on their own.  Here is his list of suggestions for at-home learning: 

Here is what I would be teaching kids:
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1.  Basic Household Life Skills: washing dishes, laundry start to finish, making a bed, basic cleaning

2.  Yard Work: easy way for homeowners to save money 

3.  Home Improvements: there are many Do-It-Yourself (DIY) videos on how to fix or renovate things in a home that can also save money

4.  Budgeting & Finances: how to create a budget - and stick to it

While students are out of school, we asked Hugh Mose what parents could teach their children or encourage them to explore on their own.  Here is his list of suggestions for at-home learning: 

​These are some of the things I try to convey to the young people I mentor. 

1.  Fortune favors the well-prepared.  Take the time, and put in the effort, to become a master of your craft, whatever it is, and you’ll come out ahead every time.  

2.  Get as much education as you can.  The vagaries of life can take away your job, your wealth, your home, and just about everything else, but once you’ve got an education, it’s yours forever.  

3.  Learn to communicate well, verbally and in writing.  You can know everything there is to know, but if you can’t successfully convey it to others, you’ve won only half the battle.  

4.  There is no substitute for hard work.  Make sure the grunt work gets done and the details are looked after, and your big goals will be much easier to achieve.  

5.  Go the extra mile.  Always do a little bit more than required.  Not only will you get more done in the long run, but your efforts will be recognized and rewarded.  

6.  It’s all about relationships.  Your success in your career, and in life, depends largely on your ability to interact well with people.  Treat everyone, from the custodian to the CEO, with courtesy and respect.  

7.  Never give up.  Even the best and the brightest suffer setbacks from time to time.  When those happen, and they will, pick yourself up, learn from the experience, and move on.  

8.  When one door closes, another one often opens.  For instance, losing your current job can seem like the end of the world, but it can easily lead to a better one somewhere else.    

9.  Don’t forget the work/life balance.  It’s important to work hard and be successful in your career, but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have a solid personal life to go with it.  

10.  It’s said: “Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”  It’s true.  Discover your true passion, find it as early in life as you can, and then stick to it.  

​Bonus Idea:  Regardless of what you’re doing, make it fun!