Middleburg Montessori School BethAnn Slater, Primary Directress Head of School PO Box 35 Middleburg, VA 20118 (540) 687-5210 info@middleburgmontessori.com LOVELL’S CLEANING SERVICE We specialize in General and Move-In/Move-Out cleaning. • Weekly, Bi-Weekly, Monthly and One-Time Cleaning • Available Monday through Saturday • Free In Home Estimates • Competitive Rates We Clean: • Baseboards • Closets • Chair Rails • Garages Diane Lovell, Owner • Windows • Kitchen LovellServices@gmail.com • Carpets Cabinets 571-426-2517 Licensed and Bonded, References Available www.middleburgmontessori. com Furry Friends Proudly serving Warrenton for 6 years Loving Care When You’re Not There Mid-Day Walks & Visits Pet Care Services Special Needs Kelly Parrish - Owner BONDED • INSURED • LICENSED www.furryfriendsva.com Staying Active continued from page 19 Benefits of Homeschooling continued from page 24 540-272-9546 through snorkeling, kayaking, hiking or another adventure activity that gets everyone excited about being active. Invest in toys and games that encourage activity There are so many inexpensive toys and games out there that can get everyone moving and having fun together. Some of these items include jump ropes, basketballs, soccer balls, kites, volleyball and badminton nets, hula hoops, slip-n-slides and Frisbees. Be creative! With some effort and a little planning, staying active as a family over the summer break can be as enjoyable as it is beneficial. Just remember to stay positive, encourage one another and have fun! Sarah Young resides in Prince William County with her husband and three young children. Sarah is a full-time mother, Certified Health Education Specialist, healthy living advocate, and the creator of Health Wise Home, an online resource that focuses on educating, empowering, and inspiring others to help build a healthier future. You can follow Sarah and Health Wise Home on Facebook and at her blog, https:// www.facebook.com/HealthWiseHome and http://healthwisehome. wordpress.com. Benefit #9: Trickle-down learning Think about how much easier teaching your younger children will be if they are learning already from what you are teaching their older siblings. Learning truly does filter down in a homeschooling household. Benefit #10: “Quality family time” is a big homeschooling benefit, says Jill Connors, mom of five. Tom Kliethermes adds that “It’s easier to be my child’s moral guide.” Random but impactful conversations and deep discussions about life’s big questions can happen any time of day when you are together as a family for most of it. Benefit #11: Free time. If it seems like your child is coming home with endless hours of homework in addition to being in school for 35 hours a week, free time may feel like the biggest benefit of homeschooling. You can teach what is necessary, and once your child “gets it,” you can move on to something else. Also, you will not be trying to keep 20+ children under control, which takes a lot of time away from teachers’ ability to teach at school. Kerrie McLoughlin, homeschooling writer mom of 5, can be found at TheKerrieShow.com and would love to connect with you. 2013 • Issue 4 Piedmont Family Magazine 31