JAK CHAT

It's the gift that speaks volumes for our community's future! Just Add Kids'campaign to help build young readers via the United Way of Racine County's Imagination Librar y initiative. Imagination Library was created in 1996 by famed country-singer Dolly Parton to foster a love of reading. All participating children receive free, age-appropriate books though the mail each month, from birth to age five. In 2009, United Way launched the Imagination Library initiative in western Racine County. It was a perfect fit for United Way's early childhood priority focused on the healthy development of children and school readiness. Your support of Just Add Kids' crowdfunding campaign will help Dolly Parton's Imagination Library expand to serve young children throughout ALL of Racine County. More than 36,000 FREE books have been distributed since the program began in 2009 and we want to distribute even more! I am so passionate about being able to help facilitate providin...

by Just Add Kids Founder,  Paula Herrmann My how the time flies. A little over a year ago, my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. A spring and summer journey bounced between the hospital and residential rehab facility, he was finally brought home for Labor Day weekend. He successfully licked the cancer. Unreal. Yet, numerous seemingly minor (compared to the cancer) issues continued to surface. His quality of life sucked. Mostly exhausted, on oxygen 24/7, in pain due to degenerative disc issue that no surgeon would touch, my dad's body finally had it. He died on Monday, May 23rd at 2:18pm. Myself, my mom, two of my children, my siblings, and a number of other family members and friends, were there when he passed. I'm a lucky gal. I had. My siblings had. My mom had. My hubs had. My kids had. Many had a great relationship with my dad. He was a great guy. Although the last year of his life was not a pleasant one for him, it sure was a gift to us. Knowing that we di...

It's the gift that speaks volumes for our community's future!  Just Add Kids' campaign to help build young readers via the United Way of Racine County's Imagination Librar y initiative. Imagination Library was created in 1996 by famed country-singer Dolly Parton to foster a love of reading. All participating children receive free, age-appropriate books though the mail each month, from birth to age five. In 2009, United Way launched the Imagination Library initiative in western Racine County. It was a perfect fit for United Way's early childhood priority focused on the healthy development of children and school readiness. Your support of Just Add Kids' crowdfunding campaign will help Dolly Parton's Imagination Library expand to serve young children throughout ALL of Racine County. More than 36,000 FREE books have been distributed since the program began in 2009 and we want to distribute even more! I am so passionate about being able to help facilitate provid...

Sponsored by Sozo Chiropractic A big part of my practice is working with women during pregnancy. I cannot tell you how many times I have people say to me “I didn’t know you could go to the chiropractor when you are pregnant,” or ” I wish I would have known about chiropractic when I was pregnant.” It is my goal that everyone knows the importance of chiropractic during pregnancy. Not only can women go to the chiropractor when they are pregnant, they NEED to go. It offers so many benefits to the mother and the baby. It is my passion to help women have the best possible pregnancy, labor and delivery. I see so many women who do not properly prepare for their birth and it is leading to many unnecessary interventions. To any woman out there who is going to have children, this is the message I want you to hear:  prepare for your birth as you would for your dream wedding.  Take time to research and figure out what you want and what you don’t want. Do not leave it up to the protocols that are es...

Sponsored by Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA), a full-time, tuition-free, online public charter school option for students in grades K-12 living anywhere in the state of Wisconsin.   Website: WIVA.K12.com     Families do well when they believe an individualized education is important to their student’s future success. We have found a common characteristic among parents who choose an online public school like Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA): a drive to remove barriers that restrict their children from reaching their true potential. These parents are motivated to choose an education that is well suited to their child’s unique needs. They understand the power of individualized learning and are willing to get personally involved in their child’s schooling. Students who thrive in an online school respond well when encouraged to be independent. Many schools talk about the importance of discipline and taking responsibility. Successful WIVA students live, learn, and thrive b...

Now, and in the month April and throughout the year, Just Add Kids encourages all individuals and organizations to play a role in making Southeastern Wisconsin a better place for children and families. By ensuring that parents have the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their children, we can help promote children’s social and emotional well-being and prevent child maltreatment within families and our communities. Consider the following five protective factors that protect families that are under stress: 1 – Social emotional competence of children Children who learn how to identify their feelings, empathize with the feelings of others, share emotions appropriately and problem solve with peers and adults are more likely to succeed in school and have friends. Give your children many opportunities to talk about feelings and discuss positive ways of coping with their feelings like listening to music, play-ing sports, drawing or writing, etc. 2 – Knowledge of child deve...

And how YOU can help! Read more... Dear Just Add Kids friends, I would like to tell you about a special opportunity that Beatrice, a 4 year old from Racine, has along with 599 other children with special needs. An organization called Friendship Circle is running a campaign called the Great Bike Giveaway  where they hope to give away 600 adaptive bikes to children with special needs from around the United States. I am sure you remember the day you received your first bike. The joy you experienced and the freedom you felt when riding a bike for the first time. For a child with special needs bike riding offers far more than a recreational experience. Bike riding provides a source of much needed exercise, gives therapeutic value and contributes to an inclusive environment where a child with special needs can ride a bike like everyone else. Due to balance and mobility challenges many children and teens with special needs require the use of an adaptive bikes. Sadly, many cannot afford the hi...