Many kids go through a phase (a phase that may last years) during which they don’t want to try new foods. Getting them to open their mouths to allow entry to an unfamiliar food is like trying to gain entry into the Bullion Depository at Fort Knox! Since my kids began eating solid foods, I’ve made it a habit to introduce new foods to … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Get Kids to Try New Foods
preschoolers
8 Ways to Get Kids to Drink More Water
It gets incredibly hot here on the Texas Gulf Coast during the summer months. I'm careful to increase my water intake during these hot months. Unfortunately, my girls don’t always follow my example, nor do they always follow my instructions when I tell them to take some extra sips. It’s incredibly important that they stay hydrated, so … [Read more...] about 8 Ways to Get Kids to Drink More Water
2017-2018 Homeschool Year in Review
We will soon be wrapping up our first year of homeschooling! This past year I provided a casual, play-based preschool experience for my oldest daughter. As promised, I’m going to let you know what materials worked for us and provide some reflections on our experience. First, I’ll share the things that worked for us. I’ll then share the … [Read more...] about 2017-2018 Homeschool Year in Review
Why Give Kids Glass Dishes Instead of Plastic Ones
I used to hold my breath every time my 3-year-old would carry her plate from the table into the kitchen. I wasn’t concerned about her getting food on the floor, but I was certain she’d drop her plate and we’d spend the next half hour cleaning up broken glass. Yes, my children (currently ages 3 years and 23 months) use glass dishes. I … [Read more...] about Why Give Kids Glass Dishes Instead of Plastic Ones
5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Most of us feel that our homes are havens. We feel safe and secure from the chaos and dangers of the world around us when we are at home. Unfortunately, we may not be as safe as we think we are because we face a number of safety threats while in our homes. We overlook a lot of these because they aren’t obvious. What are these safety … [Read more...] about 5 Common (But Often Overlooked) Safety Threats in the Home
Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
I have a love-hate relationship with outdoor play for my kids. I love it because they get to run around, climb, and get fresh air. It’s challenging, though, because sometimes it seems like it takes forever to apply sunscreen and get their shoes on, not to mention that here on the Texas Gulf Coast we have a lot of bugs (mosquitoes, fire ants, … [Read more...] about Why Kids Desperately Need Outdoor Play
17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Five weeks ago I shared 16 Bible verses to encourage moms. That week we were celebrating and encouraging moms for Mother’s Day. This week we’re celebrating and encouraging dads for Father’s Day, so I’m sharing Bible verses to encourage dads. The words of Scripture are a powerful way to provide encouragement. As you can imagine, the … [Read more...] about 17 Bible Verses to Encourage Dads
Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
I’m honored that today’s post is a guest contribution from my father, Roland Thiel. He wrote this piece a few years ago to express why he loves being a grandfather. Though he never intended for it to be a blog post, he sent it to me a few weeks ago and asked if I would like to share it here. I think many of you will appreciate it, especially … [Read more...] about Grandparenting is Great Because of Perspective
