The COVID-19 pandemic is casting a somber shadow over Christmas celebrations this year. Our excitement and enthusiasm during “the most wonderful time of the year” are tempered by unease. Though we are experiencing so-called pandemic fatigue (we’re tired of wearing masks, social distancing, cleaning high-touch surfaces, being unable to travel, … [Read more...] about 9 Safe Ways to Celebrate Christmas During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Raising an Inheritance
DIY Tree Skirt with Kids’ Handprints
My husband and I didn’t have a tree skirt for our Christmas tree for the first several years we were married. It wasn’t until our firstborn child was 2 years of age and our middle child was about 6 months of age that I decided what I wanted in a tree skirt. I decided to make a simple tree skirt out of felt on which we could chronicle … [Read more...] about DIY Tree Skirt with Kids’ Handprints
New Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt for Kids
As many of you know, we sold our house and moved into a new place a few weeks ago. We’re in the same city, but we’re across town from our old place. As we were on a walk the other day, I realized that our walks and the times we run errands would be perfect opportunities for my kids to become familiar with our new location. My kids enjoy … [Read more...] about New Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt for Kids
6 Ways to Go Green with Your Homeschooling
When we first started homeschooling, one of the many things I noticed is that we began going through tons of paper, crayons, pencils, workbooks, and other non-reusable supplies. Because we were figuring out what homeschooling would look like for us, I just rolled with it. However, now that we’re more settled in, I’m actively seeking ways to … [Read more...] about 6 Ways to Go Green with Your Homeschooling
7 Tips for Getting Kids to Wear Face Masks
If you would have told me last year that in one year I would be writing a post about getting kids to wear face coverings in order to limit the spread of a novel coronavirus, I would not have believed you. However, here we are, facing a pandemic that none of us were expecting. Many of us live in states and/or cities where mandatory mask … [Read more...] about 7 Tips for Getting Kids to Wear Face Masks
80 Sensory Table Fillers
Last summer I shared about an amazing sensory table that my dad built for my kids. This table has provided hours of entertainment for them! Despite the fact that we use the table multiple times each week, we haven’t used a wide variety of fillers in it. Though we’ve used a few novel things like fake snow and kinetic sand, we’ve largely … [Read more...] about 80 Sensory Table Fillers
DIY Bubble Wands
One of my girls’ favorite outdoor activities is blowing bubbles. They’ll blow bubbles for 20 or 30 minutes, chasing them down to pop them and seeing who can blow the biggest bubble. Unfortunately, we sometimes misplace or break the bubble wands that came with the bubble solution. One day, when we could only find one bubble wand, I … [Read more...] about DIY Bubble Wands
14 Fun Ways for Kids to Interact with Loved Ones Over Video Calls
We’ve used video calls to keep my kids in contact with their grandparents for years. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, we’ve been using it more frequently and we’ve been using it to connect with additional family members and friends. In my experience, it is easier for little kids to engage with loved ones using video calls … [Read more...] about 14 Fun Ways for Kids to Interact with Loved Ones Over Video Calls