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 […]
Bend Nest
Bend Nest is a place to discuss, consider and laugh about all that parenting brings. A quarterly magazine produced by some of the finest writers, editors and photographers in Central Oregon, Bend Nest is smart and informed.
Posted inFamily Time
Love Their Hearts On Valentine’s Day
Make it a heart-healthy holiday this year!
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 […]
Posted inEducation
The Power of “Not Yet”
Flexing brain power through growth mindset
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 […]
Posted inHoliday
The Year of the Dragon
Celebrating the Lunar New Year
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 […]
Posted inNews
Nest News
Bend-La Pine school’s application window open, Central Oregon Gives raises over $1 million and baby names
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 […]
Posted inBookshelf
Nest Bookshelf: Read Aloud Factor
The Read Aloud Factor: How to create the habit that boosts your baby’s brain
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. […]
Posted inBookshelf
Nest Bookshelf: Essental Labor
Essential Labor: Mothering as social change
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 […]
Posted inKid's Corner
Traditional Baskets
Create a traditional reed basket for spring!
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 […]
Posted inOutdoors
Crabby Kids
An Oregon coast adventure for the whole family
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 […]
Posted inHealth
Finding Balance
Navigating the feeding journey with breastfeeding, bottle feeding or both
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 […]
