We are so grateful for our local library! We borrow dozens of books each week. Because we are approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, this week we picked up numerous books about gratitude. Gratitude can be a difficult concept for young kids to grasp. Books are a great way to introduce the concept because they explain it in a variety of … [Read more...] about 14 Children’s Books About Gratitude
preschoolers
Monster Protein Balls
My kids love sprinkles. I frequently include sprinkles in new foods I introduce to them because the colorful bits help them get excited about trying unfamiliar items. Thus, when I saw some fun monster sprinkles, I knew I wanted to prepare my kids a new food that utilized the sprinkles. One thing that came to mind, because … [Read more...] about Monster Protein Balls
15 Fun and Memorable Back-to-School Traditions for Homeschoolers
My older kids sometimes lament that they are missing out on certain things because they’re homeschooled. For example, my middle child really wishes she could ride a school bus and my oldest child really wants a cute backpack in which to carry her books. Of course, due to their ages, they have a difficult time understanding that their peers … [Read more...] about 15 Fun and Memorable Back-to-School Traditions for Homeschoolers
11 Skills for Kids to Learn While Grocery Shopping
I use curbside pickup to obtain most of my groceries. I used curbside services a few times prior to the COVID19 pandemic, but once it began, curbside became my go-to means of getting groceries. As we’ve resumed normal activities, I’ve been reminded of just how much my kids love shopping in person and how many skills they can learn while doing … [Read more...] about 11 Skills for Kids to Learn While Grocery Shopping
Why Use Role Play When Teaching Your Kids
I can recall instances during my childhood when teachers encouraged us to use role play to practice new skills. I always felt like acting out various scenarios was super cheesy! However, now that I’m the one doing the teaching, I realize that role play is a valuable tool. When kids role play, they assume roles and act out a given … [Read more...] about Why Use Role Play When Teaching Your Kids
How and Why to Play Charades with Young Kids
When my parents were visiting us a couple of months ago, they started playing charades with my oldest girls. We played charades about a dozen times during the couple of weeks they were here. It was side-splitting fun! When I say side-splitting, it’s not much of an exaggeration! One night, Mebop (what my kids call their grandfather) … [Read more...] about How and Why to Play Charades with Young Kids
Road Trip Games on Printable Cards
When we traveled two months ago to spend spring break with family, I reread a post I wrote in 2014 to refresh my mind with ideas of games my girls could play while we were on the road. That post (19 Zero-Technology Road Trip Games) contains so many good ideas! There are games for kids of all ages, even young kids like my 3-year-old. Instead … [Read more...] about Road Trip Games on Printable Cards
How to Help Siblings Work Out Their Own Conflicts
One of the wonderful things about having kids who are close in age is that they grow up as best friends. My daughters, who are currently ages 7, 5, and 3, are a great example of this. They spend a lot of time acting out stories with their dolls, coloring pictures, building cities out of blocks, etc. Unfortunately, sometimes I’ll be listening … [Read more...] about How to Help Siblings Work Out Their Own Conflicts