by Julie Hall and Sarah Lane

With the launch of ProgressiveKid Reader, we are taking the next logical step in the progression of ProgressiveKid. Five years ago, at a time when people were still catching on to recycling, we opened PK as a way to connect people with a more mindful way of life. We offered Earth-friendly alternatives to conventional products, information for socially aware living, and affirming messages for a happier and healthier generation of kids. We alerted parents about lead in children’s lunchboxes before it hit the mass media. We urged people to buy reusable water bottles well before Oprah gave the command on her show. We printed planet-friendly, kid-empowering messages on organic cotton onesies and Ts when the organic cotton movement was still in its infancy. And we provided smart, worthwhile “fun stuff” for kids, including cooperative games, our own book on climate change, world music, and, yes, spider relocators!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Now many Americans are aware of the basics of living a greener life and are acting on this knowledge as parents and global citizens. People are waking up to the need to reduce consumption and rethink our collective national identity as the world consumer. We are turning to each other and to our local economies more, and we are spending our money more wisely. It is easier to find eco-friendly products, and it is all too clear that to a degree when it comes to stuff, less is more.

In response to social change and our own evolution here at ProgressiveKid, we are transforming too. We are excited to announce that through ProgressiveKid Reader we are greatly expanding our role as a first-rate resource for information, ideas, and learning/teaching materials for parents, kids, and educators. At the same time we are reducing the size and scope of our store. We are happy to say that we will continue to offer our custom-made eco furniture and unique organic Ts and greeting cards. We will miss the old ProgressiveKid, but we are inspired by our new incarnation and think you will be too.

What Is ProgressiveKid Reader?

ProgressiveKid Reader is many things, but in a nutshell it is an online thematic monthly magazine for families and schools. If you know our store, you know that socially progressive, Earth-aware values are guiding principles that inform everything we say and do. This continues to be true for ProgressiveKid Reader. Each month, we explore a different theme such as Get Outside! (June 2009), Independence and Interdependence (July 2009), and Relaxing and Reflecting (August 2009). We cover each monthly theme with features such as

• opinion pieces, activity ideas, media recommendations, and news alerts for parents;
• activities, stories, interviews, and games for kids;
• and teaching materials and ideas for educators.

All too often our lives are artificially compartmentalized, into home and school, fun and work, adulthood and childhood, parents and teachers, and so on. At ProgressiveKid Reader we aspire to offer a more integrated resource and experience for everyone, from kids to parents to teachers. At ProgressiveKid Reader, each member of a child’s community, including him or herself, can be involved in discussing and thinking about the same monthly topic, facilitating more meaningful learning and sharing between and among schools and family members.

Parents and teachers will find a wealth of information on each monthly topic, with past months conveniently archived. And kids (along with their parents if they wish) will find plenty of fun, thoughtful, and interactive material of their own in the Kids’ Rock area of the website. Teachers also will find downloadable curriculum on each monthly theme available through our Teachers page. We are here to help teachers bring progressive ideas into the classroom with thoughtful and engaging teaching materials that will challenge students beyond the constraints and conventions of textbook learning.

Please consider becoming a member of PK Reader. Your membership will provide you with additional benefits, and it will enable us to continue offering you high quality information and materials.

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