Have you stumbled upon any gentle parenting posts on social media lately? While the term might be new, experts agree the techniques are not. But is the #gentleparenting movement a passing TikTok tren...
Simply Local's 2023 Early Education Childhood Directory.
Developing skills to advocate for themselves, students benefit from Whole Child Skill Development. Teachers and schools create common language and expectations to work together toward a common mission...
With registration opening on February 21st, now is the time to get a jump start on college or put plans in motion to continue learning year-round at MSU Billings!
From the moment our precious babes come into this world, we’re striving to create connections, yet how we accomplish that is ever-evolving. We’re looking at ways to connect at every age and stage – ev...
Navigating your students' rights is difficult, particularly if you’re unsure where to start. When securing the best academic experience possible for our children, we often lean on the schools to help...
Why do we all tend to want to bulk up and slow down when the days are short, and the temperatures drop? It turns out it’s a pretty universal condition. Read on to find out how to embrace this season a...
Grief is such a tricky little monster. It ebbs and it flows, it is at times painfully sharp and others a dull ache, yet there are times when we might think we’re more prepared to encounter waves of gr...
It can be difficult to find the perfect gift for teachers. The stakes feel high: you want to show them how much you appreciate their work, but you may not know them well. Check out our Gift Guide writ...
Montana State University Billings welcomed its largest freshmen class in three years this fall with increases in military-affiliated, Hispanic, and Native American student enrollment.
Making lists and checking them twice? This Christmas, consider giving gifts that will boost their brains. We’ve got you covered with our list of STEM-based toys and gift ideas.
Living in a time that seems to be low on empathy and high on entitlement has us asking how to cultivate empathy in our children while eliminating entitlement issues. (Spoiler alert: it starts with us)...
For years, the city has been working to address the need for a multi-generational, community-oriented Billings Community Recreation Center on the South Side, adjacent to Amend Park. After collecting p...
I catch myself counting how often little things throughout the day trigger memories of her. Cigarette smoke seems to be one of them. As much as I can’t tolerate it, I feel like Babulis earned the ciga...
A lesson Tegan Leffler learned early in her teaching career was the importance of communication and connection. Her teaching partner in her first year described building a three-legged stool for each...
Wise Wonders, a local hands-on museum, has been growing and expanding since its inception. But did you know it is also home to a wide variety of educational science programming for students of all age...
Raising financially savvy kids in the 21st century means recognizing that banking has mostly stayed the same, but technology has made things easier and more convenient. Let's use the tools available i...
Meet Dr. Ryan and Sarah Hecht, the husband and wife team that set out to serve their community and “Make Montana Smile,” one set of braces at a time.
“Teaching kids about money should start from a fairly young age,” explained Melissa Yackley, Vice President of Stockman Bank. “As soon as they start asking questions or asking to buy things, it’s time...
If you’ve ever had your spine tingle while reading The Raven, you’re not alone. But literature’s most famous bird isn’t a fair representation of how ravens and crows act in the wild. They belong to hu...
In the world of sports, there is often an expiration date regarding how long one can play, but there are some sports - like golf - that are the very definition of a lifelong sport. We picked the brain...
The game of golf is a sport for all ages, making it an ideal way to spend a summer day for both the grandparent and grandchild. Two local grandpas have found that to be the case and their grandsons wo...
Both MSUB and Rocky Mountain College are proud to share the balance of academic skill with athletic prowess when it comes to their golf teams.
Do you know how golf balls got their distinctive shape? How does the force that keeps roller coasters on their tracks help your game? Read on to find out how you can use science to hit the ball farthe...
The sun is setting on a brief but beautiful summer, and the whirlwind of back-to-school begins. With the start of school comes the start of activities – clubs, sports, after-school programs, music, ar...
When our brains are spiraling, making a mindset shift by adding these two little words to the end of whatever hard or frustrating thing we’re experiencing can be a real game-changer. Let’s talk...
Creating a safe space to grieve is what brought Carol and Kim together. Their tender stories include tragedy: Carol lost her 22-year-old daughter in November of 2016. She had been in treatment for 15...
MSU Billings emphasizes its 30 to Finish campaign, encouraging students to take a course load of 30 credits per year, or 15 credits each semester, which allows students to complete most degrees at MSU...
Our national monuments are places where our nation's full history can be revealed, revered, and in many cases, mourned. Read up on one family’s road trip to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monumen...
No question, the bears, bison, and wolves in Yellowstone are impressive. But did you know that some of the most exciting life is actually inches away from your feet, quietly humming along in water tha...
Ah, there's nothing quite like enjoying the sights and smells of summertime as you hang out in the backyard. Lawn mowers humming, barbecues sizzling, and children squealing with delight as they run an...
What’s better than catching a movie? How about catching a movie OUTSIDE! Thanks to Firefly Outdoor Movie Company and a host of local sponsors, Movies in the Park has been a Billings summer staple fo...
Landon Smith left a lasting legacy on his family during his short time on Earth, but his memory lives on in a new all-inclusive baseball field and park under construction on the West End. Marci Smith,...
The good news is that the summer slide is preventable. Billings offers summer programming that is both entertaining and high-quality, with thoughtfully developed schedules executed to ensure children...
Montana 10 is an exciting new opportunity for Fall 2022 freshmen at Montana State University Billings - get the details!
"Like a lot of people, when you go to Yellowstone, you wonder, where does all this water come from? How does it get there? Why is it here and not other places?" Finn said. "Yellowstone has the most th...
As time has marched on and progress been made, the ways families grow have evolved. As a society, we are probably most attuned to adoption and IVF (in vitro fertilization) as alternative methods of gr...
Becoming a father is a life-defining moment and can evoke mixed emotions. Along with excitement and happiness, it’s perfectly normal to feel a sense of overwhelm, uncertainty, and even fear with the n...
Parents need tools and resources to help them navigate the ever-changing digital world and keep their kids emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy. One Billings-born organization has a passion f...
Statistics show that current kindergarteners will one day have careers not yet in existence. The requirements for careers are ever-changing, as are the institutions providing them. With so many choice...
MSU Billings has proudly offered the Master of Health Administration degree program for more than 20 years with a focus on rural-frontier healthcare delivery. The program provides the knowledge and sk...
Auditory input is woven into our lives, but sounds can shift. Like the sounds of a prairie before people built cities, what was once ubiquitous can be changed or forgotten. And in a place like Yellows...
Introducing 2022's Simply Amazing Teen: Kaden Heller.
Hopefully, by the time teens transition from high school to college, the roots have been planted and cultivated, and students are ready to soar. Enter Headwaters Educational Consulting, which offers f...
“There’s a lot more anxiety for kids because of the unknown and unpredictability present in today’s world.” -Amber Ault, school counselor at Ben Steele Middle School
Congratulations to MSUB's class of 2022 graduates!
In eastern Montana, rocky terrains span the horizon. Seemingly barren, the sandstones and shales underfoot tell a different story. Close to home, but eons away: this is dinosaur country.
The heartbeat of Haven Camp is outlined in the mission statement: "We want to provide a safe and fun camping experience for children in foster care where they will have the opportunity to build new fr...
One of the greatest challenges I've experienced in parenting my children's hearts and not just their external behavior is getting my own heart in check. Do I have unrealistic expectations? Am I priori...
Camps, vacations, and lazy summer days are near, but so is a bit of boredom and a long stretch without the education system helping shape our children’s minds.
The tagline "Keep on Learning" drives everything that prolific science educator Craig Beals does.
It's here! It's time to start planning for your Best Summer Ever!
14 weeks early. 2 pounds, 12 inches long. 10 seconds before your baby is whisked away to the NICU. 1 global pandemic. 104 days in the NICU. Meet Luca and his mama, Anjali, NICU warriors.
“Educators are burned out,” explained Kelly Edwards, one of the volunteers spearheading the effort. “There was a clear need to show appreciation for our teachers, given the hardship they face.”
With a competitive employment market and tons of opportunities for growth, now is the perfect time to consider a return to school.
With a vibe straight out of Nickelodeon’s You Can’t Do That On Television, the Atomic Circus’s mashup of magic show, dance performance, rock concert, and occasional explosions has been delighting stan...
It's fair to say that we're experiencing something of a childcare crisis as we continue to navigate the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This month we're looking at some of the ways famili...
Youth Works, a CLDI program, has a team that works tirelessly to build meaningful relationships with kids on the South Side of Billings.
Since its inception in 1974, AWARE has evolved and expanded to meet community and family needs across Montana.
Superheroes have nothing on canines. Dogs’ hearing is two to three times more sensitive than ours, and their paws can detect unstable ground, a lifesaving feat when potential avalanches threaten a mis...
This month we're looking at how creating routines at home can help it to be the calm center for our family to rely upon, regardless of what's happening out in the world.
“With Dual Credit, students receive high school AND college credit at the same time. Students earn three college-credits in American History each semester of this course, which will assist them in com...
Checking in with MSUB as we head into the Spring semester!
Today, Code Girls United groups are in 14 locations across Montana, including Red Lodge and Joliet, and two online groups, where several students from Billings participate.
So often, our traditions are passed down from one generation to the next in our families. Perhaps it is extra special when our friends fold us into their own traditions.
This year, take your gift-wrapping skills to the next level and impress your recipients by coordinating wrapping paper, ribbons, and adornments for perfect holiday packaging.
The only Title high school in town, and with a student body surpassing 1,900 students, Senior has the largest homeless and At-Risk population. Nine years ago, a parent decided more help was needed for...
Montana’s moniker, the “Treasure State,” dates back to the discovery of gold, when thousands of prospectors flocked to the state in the 1860s. But when the gold ran out, there were still billions in u...
Project Christmas Miracle: Giving hope one tree at a time. Find out how you spread a little magic this holiday season!
Advocate: A noun. A person who publicly supports a particular cause or policy. In the case of CASA of Yellowstone County, an advocate means so much more.
We settled in for a chat with ZooMontana's executive director, Jeff Ewelt, to learn more about his story and the Zoo, behind the scenes.
MSUB awards nearly $1.8 million in scholarships each academic year! Make sure to explore your options before the deadlines.
Your hard-working immune system is an absolute marvel of elegant complexity, with layer upon layer working together to keep you healthy. Let's look at how "eating the alphabet" can help stave off cold...
“My story is about beauty from ashes.” -Chantina Pretty Weasel
There is something incredibly beautiful and empowering about knowing oneself. Kaitlin Hugs shares her story of growing up as a member of the Crow Tribe.
As the air starts to chill, bats make their way to their winter homes, nestling in for winter hibernation. And while it's tempting to align them with all things creepy, the reality is they are more cl...
Don't let just one person be the collector of your family's stories, be an active participant. May we all be the keeper and sharer of our stories.
"The living owe it to those who no longer can speak to tell their story for them," wrote author Czeslaw Milosz. Given the staggering facts surrounding Alzheimer's disease, all of humanity owes a huge...
The Rubber Duck Regatta fundraiser is crucial to Big Sky Senior Service's success. Join in the fun on September 26.
Chad and Kelsea Schreiner have had many opportunities to leave for studies, work, and travel. Yet, their hearts have continuously resided in Montana. Their passion for Billings runs deep, both as prof...
The MSU Billings Native American Achievement Center invites you to join in the celebration of the beginning of the school year and our community’s diverse culture by checking out Powwow Week!
Wildfires are dangerous, destructive, and a part of summer life for much of the Western United States. And they are incredibly complex.
It would take a massive reawakening to truly effect change in the way youth sports operate. Barring that, we're looking at ways we could challenge the current mindset.
What does it take to be an extraordinary athlete? Talent for the sport certainly helps, but as basketball champion Magic Johnson said: "Talent is never enough. With few exceptions the best players are...
Have you heard the buzz around MSUB? Classes and orientations have successfully taken place throughout the summer and after the uncertainties of 2020, the Yellowjackets are thrilled to be looking ahea...
A 3-hour drive from Billings sits Makoshika State Park, which can give you a peek back in time (around 66 million years ago), offering an impressive physical reminder of the last days of some of Earth...
“I thought to myself, I just want to pour positivity into the world, and children are the future. Working with children will have the biggest impact to bettering our future.” -Lacy Bradley
While hikes with tykes require more work, strength, and determination, the reward outweighs it all!
Because fireworks are so common, it might be easy to overlook the hours upon hours of detailed, behind-the-scenes work needed to launch a dazzling display.
Food for thought: When your kid wants to color their hair some shade of the rainbow, remember it's only hair, but it might be a whole lot more than just hair dye.
Born and raised in Montana, Avanlee developed the nationally available Avanlee app to fill a void that once existed in the world of caregiving.
We're taking a deep dive into the importance of the father-daughter relationship. What does being a #girldad mean to you?
A dual perspective by a mom and teen babysitter on creating healthy, trusting, and lasting relationships between babysitter and family.
Far across the windswept plains and prairies of eastern Montana and South Dakota lies the tiny town of De Smet, the setting of the second half of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books.
You can't always see progress while it's in process. My brain works by creating word pictures, analogies, and metaphors. I can find a theme in everything, and everything becomes a teaching topic. Bota...
When planning a trip to the most magical place on Earth, who better to take advice from than Walt Disney himself? “First, think. Second, dream. Third, believe. And finally, dare.” ~Walt Disney
Meet 2021's Simply Amazing Teen, Sophia Bohl. Competitive, determined, hard-working and extremely deserving.
There is more than one path to take after high school, what's next for you?
The next time you decide to stop and smell the roses, you'll know the hows and whys of a flower's scent!
In April 2021 Wise Wonders Science and Discovery Museum reopened its doors for the first time since the pandemic-caused shutdown in 2020. The museum used the year for expansion, growth, and new ideas!...
