Mind Body Align

10/21/2026

Excited for opening night at Ohio Library Council Convention and Expo! Stop by and see us at booth 222 and test your Ohio landmark knowledge and meet our authors Annamarie Fernyak and Julie Braumberger!

10/21/2026

How well do you know Michigan? We've been traveling virtually across the state on our way to MLA—and we're bringing the journey with us. Stop by our booth and spin our Michigan Trivia Wheel. You might land on Mackinac Bridge, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks, Tahquamenon Falls—or another Michigan favorite. Each landmark has a connection to a skill children encounter in Labyrinth Adventures.

Think you know your Michigan trivia? Come find out. 📍 Green Zone 3, Booth 4

10/19/2026

“I can't.”

Two words children say when something feels too difficult.

But confidence doesn't always come from hearing an adult say, “You can do it!”

Sometimes it comes from solving one difficult math problem. Reading one page independently. Raising a hand for the first time. Or finding the courage to begin again after making a mistake.

Those small moments matter.

After more than 20 years teaching third grade, our Director of Education, Julie Braumberger, learned that confidence grows when children begin to recognize their own progress.

In her latest article, Julie shares how parents and educators can help children move from “I can't” to “I did.”

Read the article: https://mindbodyalign.com/educator_resources/how-to-build-confidence-in-children/

What's a small accomplishment you've seen make a big difference in a child's confidence?

Build confidence in children by helping them notice small successes, work through challenges, ask for help, and recognize their growth.

10/16/2026

Sometimes the next step isn't to push harder. It's to pause, reset, and find the next way forward.

Tahquamenon Falls gave us the perfect Michigan backdrop for this part of our journey. Water moves forward, meets obstacles, changes direction and continues on its way.

Children need opportunities to practice something similar when frustration, excitement or other big feelings show up. Through stories, guided lessons and activities, Labyrinth Adventures gives children opportunities to practice those skills before they need them most.

Next stop: Michigan Library Association Conference

10/15/2026

Can you hear FALL?

What does FALL sound like? 🍂
🍁 Crunching leaves?
🌬️ Wind through the trees?
☔ Rain tapping against the window?
🧡 Kids laughing on the playground?

In Tia Takes a Pause, children discover something we sometimes forget as adults: There's a lot to notice when we slow down.

Do this with your class today:

✋ Pause for 30 seconds.

🤫 No talking.

👂 Just listen.

Then ask everyone to name ONE sound they heard.

💭 What sound makes *you* think of fall?

Add yours to the comments! We want to see how many different sounds of fall we can collect!

10/14/2026

Some of the best family traditions begin with something simple: a good book and a little time together.

Fall gives us plenty of reasons to slow down. Cooler evenings, cozy blankets, and a favorite story can create moments children look forward to year after year.

But a meaningful storytime tradition doesn't need to be elaborate.

It can be as simple as reading together after dinner, letting your child choose the book, or talking about a favorite character.

In her article, educator Julie Braumberger shares ideas for creating a fall reading tradition that supports connection, conversation, and a love of books.

Read the article: https://mindbodyalign.com/family_resources/fall-storytime-ideas/

Does your family have a favorite fall book or reading tradition? We'd love to hear about it!

Use these simple fall storytime ideas to make reading with kids more engaging, meaningful, and memorable—without elaborate planning or supplies.

10/14/2026

Halloween is about more than sharing candy. It's also an opportunity to help children practice inclusion.

Not every child approaches Halloween the same way.

Some love costumes and crowded celebrations. Others feel more comfortable watching before joining in. Some children need a little extra encouragement to feel included.

These moments give us opportunities to help children notice others, invite someone into an activity, and recognize that participation doesn't have to look the same for everyone.

In our article, we explore how everyday Halloween experiences can help children practice kindness, belonging, and inclusion.

Read the article: https://mindbodyalign.com/whole-child-development/halloween-inclusion-for-kids/

What's one way you help children feel included during classroom or community celebrations?

10/13/2026

“How was school?”

“Fine.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

Sound familiar?

Sometimes the problem isn't that our children don't want to talk. It's that we're asking them to summarize an entire day when they're tired, hungry, or just ready to be home.

And sometimes they simply need a little time before they're ready to share.

In her latest article, Mind Body Align educator and mom Brooke Unger shares a few better ways to start conversations after school.

Instead of “How was school?” consider asking:

• What made you smile today?
• Did anything funny happen?
• What was something that felt hard today?
• Is there anything you want to tell me about?

And sometimes the best conversation starter is simply:

“I'm glad you're home.”

Read Brooke's article for more ideas about connecting with children and teens after a long school day.

https://mindbodyalign.com/family_resources/questions-to-ask-kids-after-school/

What's the funniest answer you've ever received when asking your child about school?

Getting “fine” when you ask about school? Try these questions and low-pressure ways to help kids and teens open up about their day.

10/12/2026

Reading together builds more than reading skills.

For more than 20 years in her third-grade classroom, Julie Braumberger made reading aloud part of the school day—even after her students could read independently.

Why?

Because books gave children something to laugh about, wonder about, and experience together.

Reading can also create opportunities for connection, conversation, and a quieter moment during a busy day.

In her latest article, Julie shares why reading together matters long after children learn to read on their own—and how families, teachers, and librarians can protect that time.

Read the article: https://mindbodyalign.com/educator_resources/benefits-of-reading-together/

What's one book your children or students never get tired of hearing?

Reading together builds more than literacy. Discover how shared reading can support connection, curiosity, confidence, and a love of books.

10/12/2026

What do you notice when you look a little closer? At Pictured Rocks, the details are part of what makes the view extraordinary—the colors, layers, water, caves and shoreline. For children, noticing can be powerful, too. What am I feeling? What is my body telling me? What's happening around me? What might someone else be feeling? Observation is another skill children encounter through Labyrinth Adventures—because sometimes what we notice changes what happens next.