OPINION: Let Your Child’s Imagination Soar

How you do encourage your kids to use their imaginations?

“Imagination is more important than knowledge” — Albert Einstein Dramatic play unlocks a child’s imagination, allowing it to soar. As a teacher reading a story to her students, a fireman putting out a raging fire or a tightrope walker balancing gingerly on a high wire,  children embrace the opportunity to visit other worlds and create new ones of their own. In the wonderful world of pretend, our children can be anyone and do anything. And, while the joy of dramatic play is palpable, the benefits are far reaching and long lasting. To observe a child immersed in dramatic play is to see thinking in action. Dressed as a construction worker on a job site or a nurse tending to an ailing patient, children develop social skills as they explore …

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Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

Lids on Kids

Wearing a helmet can save your child's life.

Spring has arrived and with it the opportunity to take outdoor play equipment out of winter storage. It won’t be long before neighborhoods are overflowing with children playing. Laughter and joy will fill the air like the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of a field of wild flowers. Driveways and streets will fill with children on bikes, scooters, skateboards and roller skates. The new found freedom which follows a long winter inside brings with it an explosion of energy, beckoning children outside to run and play. From houses up and down the neighborhoods, children will gather and relish the sacred time outside until sundown ushers them inside.  The thrill of movement and speed is not lost on children who love to ride their bikes, skateboards…

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Damon Michaels

9:40 am on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

While I support helmet wearing, as it has saved my life (twice) on my motorcycle when I was younger, I must say that the current crop of helmets are hard to adjust. Consequently I see numerous children whose helmet will likely not provide much protection in a fall. For a proper fit and assistance on adjustments I would advocate going to a professional bicycle shop such as Franks Spoke N Wheel in …   more ›

Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

Fostering a Loving Sibling Relationship

My brother, my friend.

Taking the time to encourage and nurture a loving relationship between your children is a gift for your entire family. Siblings share a kinship but that kinship does not always translate into friendship. While the children are siblings by no choice of their own, the creating of mutual understanding and compassion facilitated and cultivated by the parents is priceless. To have children who truly love, support and respect one another knits the family together in profound ways. Regardless of gender, true friendship between siblings is endearing and rewarding.  First and foremost, it is important to get siblings on the same team. One for all and all for one! By promoting the team mentality, parents acknowledge that everyone belongs together …

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Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

Teaching Your Child Tolerance

Creating a more unified, productive and compassionate society.

 American society was founded on freedom from religious persecution and on tolerance of differences in beliefs and cultural heritage. It has been called the great melting pot where people of differing cultures, customs and countries of origin have come together to mold into one nation. America has a rich history of diversity and has continued to attract people from all over the world since its independence from British rule in 1783, at the end of the Revolutionary War. It is founded upon the Constitution which reads “We the people...”  “We the people” are from Europe, South America, Asia and everywhere in between. With so many different people from so many backgrounds being woven in to our daily lives and that of our children, tolerance is…

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Sue Wambolt

9:58 am on Wednesday, February 16, 2011

That's a great story Elizabeth and a testimony to your efforts. When we instill values and humanity in our children at an early age it becomes part of who they are and makes them better, more successful and happier people.   more ›

Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

Hit the Beach this Winter

Just an hour from Marlborough is Manchester-by-the-Sea and several great beaches.

 Among other things, winter in New England brings to mind images of ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing, skiing and snowmen. This winter, especially, these activities would most likely describe a typical Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Record snow has provided us with more than enough recreational activities to fill an entire weekend (and then some). Enter almost any home in Marlborough and you will find wet boots lining the front hall and along the wall hats and mittens hanging precariously from hooks, dripping puddles on the floor. A crackling fire may well be lit in the family room as hot chocolate simmers on the stove. Winter in New England.   This weekend, instead of hitting the slopes, lacing up your skates or packing your car full of …

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Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

7 Tips For Positive Parenting

Successful parenting produces a happy, healthy family.

The nursery is decorated, the darling little clothes are washed and carefully folded and placed in the dresser, and the hospital bag sits perched against the wall by the door ... anticipation looms like a dense fog. Nine months of waiting, dreaming and preparing culminate in the birth of your precious bundle of joy. The days and years that follow will be a roller coaster ride marked with moments of sheer joy, unbridled frustration and questions at every turn. At the end of the day, though, as you stand and gaze at your sleeping child, the frustrations of the day dissolve into sweet adoration. From cooing infant to eager schoolchild to rebellious teenager to college graduate, the years run in to one another and melt away like a cold snow in…

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Slideshow: A Winter Day at the MCC Golf Course

Some great snow filled shots of the Marlborough Country Club golf course.

Photographer Sue Wambolt got some great shots of the Marlborough Country Club golf course earlier this week. Take a look at a side of this popular course that is not often seen.  Upload your own Marlborough photos by choosing the option below, and share your talents with other Patch readers. 

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Where in Marlborough?

Each week Marlborough Patch offers readers the chance to make a guess and win a prize if they know their city!

It's a tough one. Photographer Sue Wambolt went into Marlborough this week looking for something to stump our readers. The first to guess the location correctly will win a $10 gift card to a local restaurant. Post your answers in the comments and check back to see if you've won. We'll let you know! If you don't know, your friends might. Direct them to Marlborough Patch to join in on the action.  It no one guesses correctly before Sunday at 2 p.m., we'll give a hint. 

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Raising Marlborough: A Local Education

Embedding Values in Your Children

This week Sue Wambolt talks about embedding values that provide a roadmap to a happy, well-balanced Life.

If you believe what you profess to believe ... live it  Perhaps one of the greatest responsibilities that comes with being a parent is the molding of another life. Specifically, the nurturing, educating and guiding of our children towards a full and productive life. As parents, it is our job to lay the foundation of our children’s future and, in doing so, cultivate the essential values necessary to create a meaningful and fulfilling life. As generations melt into one another, emerging trends continually challenge us and transform us in ways we never thought possible. Still, there remains one constant which is threaded through all generations and that is underlying social and moral values. As parents, embedding core values in our children …

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Another Blanket of Snow Covers Marlborough

Here's a photo slideshow of Friday's blanket of snow.

Photographer Sue Wambolt took a drive around Marlborough Friday after the most recent snowstorm. Though the sun is out today (albeit with some pretty frigid temps), Marlborough is in store for more snow and nasty weather this week.

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