When I was growing up, summer meant going on family vacations, playing outdoors for several hours each day, and eating frozen treats. It also meant lots of bumps and bruises, fights with my sister, and an occasional sunburn. With today being the “unofficial start to summer,” I thought it would be nice to look at some resources that will … [Read more...] about 30 Resources for a Safe and Fun Summer
preschoolers
Dear Mom, I Didn’t Really Understand
Dear Mom, On occasion I hear you make self-deprecating comments about your abilities as a mom (e.g., “I know I wasn’t that great of a mom,” “She’s the mom I wish I could have been,” “I could have done so much better”). Before I became a mom, I brushed off these comments because I didn’t really understand their inaccuracy. Before I … [Read more...] about Dear Mom, I Didn’t Really Understand
Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
I recently came across the idea of using a child’s handprint to make “flowers” for a bouquet. This seemed both cute and simple, so I decided to help my daughters make a variation of it to send to their grandmothers for Mother’s Day. Here’s how we made each bouquet. Supplies Construction paper in various colors Crayons and … [Read more...] about Easy Handprint Bouquet Craft for Young Kids
A Strategy for Helping Young Kids Learn to Assemble Jigsaw Puzzles
Toddlers and preschoolers typically grasp how to assemble peg puzzles pretty quickly. This is because, in general, these puzzles have large, easy-to-grasp pieces that fit into obvious slots on a puzzle board. My toddler has grown bored with most peg puzzles because they are too easy for her. However, jigsaw puzzles are still a little too … [Read more...] about A Strategy for Helping Young Kids Learn to Assemble Jigsaw Puzzles
Christ-Focused Easter Traditions
For many individuals, the term “Easter” conjures up images of candy-filled eggs, gift baskets, and an anthropomorphic bunny. These cultural traditions often overshadow the fact that Easter is a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. There is a lot of debate about the origins of these Easter traditions. Some historians cite evidence … [Read more...] about Christ-Focused Easter Traditions
6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
There are a lot of families with young children in my church. These families are generally easy to identify because we’re the ones straggling in after service has begun! Being prompt is important to me, so I decided to take action when I realized we were falling into a pattern of arriving late for church. If your family struggles to … [Read more...] about 6 Tips for Getting to Church On Time
DIY Flannel Activity Board with House Scene
I made my oldest daughter a flannel activity board last fall. I’d been wanting to make her one for some time because there are so many fun and educational flannel board activities that parents can make for their toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy. In addition to being the foundation for so many activities, flannel boards are affordable … [Read more...] about DIY Flannel Activity Board with House Scene
The Best Ways to Ease Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
My toddler woke from nap with a fever one day this last fall. By the next morning, she had sores in her mouth and red spots over a good portion of her body. A quick visit to her pediatrician confirmed that she had hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Unfortunately, she wasn’t the only one in our family who developed the disease. Within … [Read more...] about The Best Ways to Ease Symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
