Best of the Nest 2024
Submit your votes here! BEST of the Nest Ballot Categories BEST OF SHOPS & SERVICES Best Nonprofit Serving Children & Families Best Photographer for Children & Families Best Toy Store Best Children’s Consignment Store Best Children’s Clothing Store Best Family Law Practitioner BEST OF DINING Best Parents’ Date Night Best Grocery Store Best Family Take-Out…
Big Stuff
Children are perpetually on the move! From their first wobbly steps as toddlers, kids are always growing and developing in exciting new ways. Parents can support this healthy gross motor development by being intentional about which toys they bring into the home based on age and developmental stage. Child development experts agree that strong and…
Escapes
Living in Bend offers the perfect balance of outdoor adventure and breathtaking landscapes. However, by the time early spring comes around, many families are craving a change of scenery and a break from the never-ending chilly weather. Luckily, the Redmond airport provides easy access to several fantastic toasty spring break destinations that are just a…
Nest Bookshelf: Read Aloud Factor
With over 20 years of experience as an educator and author, Dr. Rekha S. Rajan provides a readily understandable view of early literacy and brain development and ways parents can help their children acquire language and social emotional skills from birth right through to school age by reading aloud to the children in their life.…
Nest Bookshelf: Essental Labor
Part memoir, part meditation on motherhood, Angela Garbes’ book “Essential Labor” arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing to light the essential and often unseen work of caregiving. Garbes describes the labor of raising children as “the most essential work humans do.” Given that truth, why is caregiving so overlooked and undervalued? “Essential Labor” delves into…
Traditional Baskets
As spring blooms around us, we’re called to move outdoors and smell the flowers – literally! Whether collecting beautiful plants on a nature walk or preparing for an egg collecting adventure on Easter, you can bring the season to life with this sweet DIY basket-making craft for kids. In addition to being useful for carrying…
The Power of “Not Yet”
Is intelligence something you’re born with or something that develops? Is failure an opportunity to learn and grow or something that impedes success? How a parent answers these questions greatly impacts their children. Their outlook influences how their own kids see themselves — how they perceive their ability to improve and learn from mistakes. Over…
Health Expert Q&A
Q: My teenage son sounds very hoarse when speaking. This is something that has progressed over the past year or so. At first, I thought it was temporary, but it might not be. What should I do? A: While working with a speech language pathologist may very well be an important element of care for him,…
Love Their Hearts On Valentine’s Day
The month that’s become synonymous with love and chocolate has also been designated as American Heart Month by the American Heart Association. While the candy bars and truffles that crowd store shelves each February are sure to make your loved ones smile, so will healthier alternatives. If you’d like to encourage better eating habits for…
Finding Balance
A new parent’s journey is filled with decisions, one of the most significant being how to nurture and nourish their newborn. The age-old breastfeeding-versus-bottle feeding debate is a complex and emotional topic with advocates and skeptics on each side. Kathryn Jonas, an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant at Cascade Lactation, helps new moms navigate their baby-feeding questions…
The Year of the Dragon
Celebrated by millions of people around the world, Lunar New Year is popular in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as well as in many Asian American communities worldwide. The holiday marks the beginning of the new year based on a lunisolar calendar, which follows the phases of the sun and moon, and…
Nest News
Bend-La Pine schools’ application window open for choice option and dual immersion schools for incoming kindergarteners If you have a child entering kindergarten next fall in the Bend-La Pine School District, now is the time to decide whether a choice option school might be right for your family. Applications for kindergarten choice option schools and…
Editor’s Note Spring 2024
I just returned from a quick getaway to the Oregon coast, which provided an exciting change of scenery, complete with some dramatic wind and rain! If you’re looking for a spring break destination that won’t break the bank, why not drive west over the mountains, and grab some beach time? (See Outdoors for some tips on…
Crabby Kids
This Spring Break, if you’re looking for a road trip destination in Oregon, why not jet over the mountains to the coast? Springtime is a great time to catch your own dinner — namely Oregon’s state crustacean, the meaty, sweet and decadent Dungeness crab. In Oregon’s port towns, it’s fun to watch the commercial fishing…
