I hear a lot of talk these days about teaching life skills to children. I’m pretty sure my grandparents, great-grandparents, and the scores of generations that came before them never used the term “life skills.” They taught children the sort of things that we refer to as life skills because these are the things people needed to know in order … [Read more...] about Comprehensive List of Life Skills for Ages 2-18
preschoolers
7 Tips for Grocery Shopping with Young Children
Grocery shopping with young kids can be quite an adventure! You never know what may happen—diaper blowouts, spilled food, meltdowns, a child wandering away, etc. Though it can be challenging at times, I love grocery shopping with my two little ones. I’ve found that there are a handful of strategies that make shopping trips educational … [Read more...] about 7 Tips for Grocery Shopping with Young Children
Our Casual, Play-Based Preschool Curriculum
As many of you know, we’re not enrolling our 3-year-old in a formal preschool program. In lieu of a formal program, we’re providing her with a casual, play-based preschool experience at home. As I noted last week, we’re doing this with the help of a customized Timberdoodle curriculum kit. I explained then why we chose this instead of … [Read more...] about Our Casual, Play-Based Preschool Curriculum
Our Casual, Play-Based Approach to Preschool at Home
Three weeks ago we considered if preschool is really necessary and two weeks ago we discussed four questions that parents can ask themselves when determining if preschool is right for their child. As promised, today I’m going to discuss the decision we’ve made for our preschool-age daughter. We’ve decided that she does not need to … [Read more...] about Our Casual, Play-Based Approach to Preschool at Home
Deciding If Preschool is Right for Your Child
As we saw last week, the research findings on preschool are varied. Some studies show that preschool boosts school readiness skills (particularly for low-income children) and gives students an academic advantage during their elementary years, while other studies show the benefits of preschool are transient and that it may contribute to burnout … [Read more...] about Deciding If Preschool is Right for Your Child
Can Busy Moms Really Find Time to Spend with God? (Part 2)
Last week I was joined by two other moms—Michele of Living Our Days and Elizabeth of Guilty Chocoholic Mama—as we discussed how we find time to spend with the Lord. Today we are going to examine two related topics: How motherhood impacts a mom’s devotional time and what practical tools are helpful for facilitating time with God. Be … [Read more...] about Can Busy Moms Really Find Time to Spend with God? (Part 2)
Is Preschool Necessary?
It seems like just yesterday that my oldest child was born. However, she’s about to become a three-year-old! I’ve noticed that many children her age are beginning preschool programs. Some of these are very formal programs, while others are traditional childcare with a special focus on school readiness skills. Does my child need … [Read more...] about Is Preschool Necessary?
Can Busy Moms Really Find Time to Spend with God? (Part 1)
Moms are busy. It doesn’t matter how many children they have, if their kids are young or grown, or if they work or stay at home. Given this reality, is it really possible for moms to find time to spend with God? I first considered this question a couple of years ago when I was struggling to find time to spend with the Lord while … [Read more...] about Can Busy Moms Really Find Time to Spend with God? (Part 1)
