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
toddlers
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 Terrific Twos: Why the Toddler Years Aren’t All That Terrible
When we think about toddlers, we often dwell on their challenging traits and behaviors: Throwing fits, being picky eaters, having mercurial moods, etc. These traits earned the toddler years the moniker of “The Terrible Twos.” If we really take a look at our toddlers, though, we’ll quickly see that the toddler years really aren’t that … [Read more...] about The Terrific Twos: Why the Toddler Years Aren’t All That Terrible
Pattern Sheets to Accompany the Green Toys Shape Sorter
My daughters received the Green Toys® Shape Sorter for Christmas. It’s a wonderful toy, but right now it’s a little advanced for my 6-month-old daughter and a little basic for my 2-year-old daughter. I’d like for my older girl to get some use out of it as we wait for my younger girl to be interested in it. (Please note that this post contains … [Read more...] about Pattern Sheets to Accompany the Green Toys Shape Sorter
DIY Splatter Shield for Spraying Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapering an exclusively breastfed infant is really easy. Once a baby starts complimentary foods, though, it becomes a little challenging! This is because diapers covered in soft, water-soluble breast milk poop can go straight into the wash without any special preparation. However, the bulkier poop associated with solid foods must be … [Read more...] about DIY Splatter Shield for Spraying Cloth Diapers
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
Thriving Amid the Messes of Motherhood
Being a mother means facing one mess after another. There are poopy diapers, floors covered in toys, appliances covered in greasy handprints, backseats strewn with snack crumbs, and bedsheets soiled with vomit. When I work to get one of these messes cleaned up, you can be certain my kids are busy making the others! Literal messes are … [Read more...] about Thriving Amid the Messes of Motherhood
FUNtastic Tools for Teaching Toddlers About Shapes
When my oldest daughter was 18 months old, we gave her a puzzle that featured 8 common shapes. Within days she was able to identify a couple of them. However, it took her a little longer to learn the remaining shapes and to differentiate between similar ones (e.g., square and rectangle). Thankfully, we discovered many fun, useful … [Read more...] about FUNtastic Tools for Teaching Toddlers About Shapes
