Quite a few parenting experts have identified mealtime as perhaps one of the best opportunities to hold conversations with your family.
I am NOT one of those experts.
However, raising 3 teens and 1 tween, I can tell you that our dinner conversations can get quite, uh, interesting.
That is to say, once I am finally able to get my kids to, you know, actually talk.
Our friends at Kiddie Academy (just so you know, website has sound) a national education-based childcare provider came up with a list of fun and interesting facts about U.S. Presidents to help spark conversation with your kids.
Like, do you know that George Washington NEVER had teeth made of wood? Okay, fine, how about:
- A minimum of 300 billion portraits of Abraham Lincoln have been created - that's how many pennies have been made since 1787.
- Sixth President John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator that lived in a bathtub at the White House.
- The first President born a U.S. citizen was Martin Van Buren. His birthday was December 5, 1782, making him the first president born after the Declaration of Independence was signed.
- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were the only presidents to sign the Declaration of Independence, and they both died on its 50th anniversary, July 4, 1826.
- Nine presidents never attended college, including Washington and Lincoln. However, Lincoln was an avid reader and self-educated.
- At 6' 4", Abraham Lincoln was the tallest U.S. President. The shortest, James Madison, was 5' 4" tall.
- When he became President, George Washington had only one tooth. He wore dentures made of human or animal teeth, ivory and lead, but never wood.
- George Washington is the only president that never lived in Washington, D.C. during his presidency.
- Andrew Jackson was the first president to have been born in a log cabin, and the first to ride a railroad train.
- Ronald Reagan was the oldest president inaugurated (age 69); the youngest was John F. Kennedy (age 43)
For more fun facts, educational ideas and parenting tips, feel free to visit the Kiddie Academy Family Essentials blog: http://www.kafamilyessentials.com/ (when you have time, of course!)
About Kiddie Academy: Kiddie Academy has over 90 academies located in 24 states (including, here in New Jersey.) For more information, visit www.kiddieacademy.com.
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