Is Anybody Listening?
Do you ever feel like no one is listening to a word you say? You suddenly feel as if you’ve become Charlie Brown’s teacher: “Clean up your toys”…whah, whah, whah. “Eat your food”…whah, whah, whah. “Don’t forget to wash…
Show-and-Share Saturday Link Up!
There were lots of great ideas shared last week. Here are just a few… I love the simplicity of this Alphabet Treasure Hunt from Playdough to Plato! If you’ve ever tried to explain to your child that he should not…
Winner of the $50 Gift Certificate to Pure Play Kids
Out of 418 comments, the winner of the gift certificate to Pure Play Kids (via random.org) is… Comment #192: Â Elizabeth H. who said, “Would love to win this!” Congratulations Elizabeth! You should have received an e-mail from me! A…
Swimming Lessons: Why Every Child Needs Them
As summer draws near and we spend more time in swimming pools and lakes, it’s important as parents of young children to be extremely vigilant around the water. Here are some alarming statistics about drowning from the CDC: -Drowning…
Children’s Literature: How to Find a Good Book
We’ve all been there…we walk into the Children’s Section of a bookstore or library and are completely bombarded with thousands of books. How in the world are we supposed to choose a good book for our children? What defines…
Happy May Day!
Happy May Day! Thanks to my friend Sarah, the children’s minister at our church, the boys made some May Day baskets to deliver to a few special people in their lives. They each decorated some white tissue paper with…
Our Love is Enough
Have you every wondered what exactly a ‘good mom’ is? And more importantly, have you doubted that you are one? I’m over at MomLife Today. Here’s a short snippet: I’ve been struggling lately with this debilitating feeling that I’m doing…
Show-and-Share Saturday Link Up!
There were lots of great ideas shared last week. Here are just a few: Mama’s Little Muse shares a tutorial for making a jump rope from marker caps! Brilliant! Use your child’s handprints and footprints to make this adorable Mother’s…
Word Post-Its: A Simple Activity for Young Readers
Guest Post from Rachel of Thriving Home Do you have a post-it pad and pen? You do? Then you’re set for this super simple yet fun learning activity for young readers. When it comes to teaching my kids at home,…
DIY Bathtub Shapes
I’ve been trying to think of various ways to teach the names of shapes to Little Brother. As I mentioned in this post, he is not a big fan of structured learning activities like his brother is. He loves…
Learning Based on the Interests of Your Child
Learning in these early years is spelled P-L-A-Y. Although I love to share a variety of ways to “teach” your child various concepts, the best way your child can learn is by playing, and specifically when you play with…
Show-and-Share Saturday Link Up!
There were lots of great ideas shared last week. Since Earth Day is tomorrow, here are just a few of my favorite Earth Day ideas… The Educators’ Spin on It shares a fun Earth Day Snack idea as well as…
Supermarket Scavenger Hunt
I often go to the grocery store by myself on the weekends, but occasionally I’ll take the boys with me. Inevitably, someone ends up getting upset about not getting the preferred oatmeal or the candy at the checkout counter….
Why You Should Get Your Child into Reading
Guest Post by Brian of ChildrensBookStore.com As parents, we understand that reading is a very important part of raising a child. But while you may know that reading is certainly better for a child than watching TV, you may not…
12 Ways to Repurpose Household Items for Your Kids
Earth Day is quickly approaching! Here are 12 Ways to repurpose regular household items into something fabulous for your kids! Make your own books out of cardboard tubes! Use travel baby wipe container tops to make a peek-a-boo house. Make…
Snack Idea: Individual Portions of Mixed Fruit
Looking for a healthy snack  to easily dole out to a group of kids (or adults)? Here’s an idea… ::  Cut up some fresh fruit. Our favorites are strawberries, blueberries, grapes, and pineapple. ::  Put foil cupcake liners…
Dear God, Please Let My Children Get in Trouble
A couple of months ago, the boys and I made the one-mile trip to our local Walgreens. I picked up the few necessities I needed, all the while my children were standing at the check-out counter lamenting about how…
Show-and-Share Saturday Link Up!
There were lots of fun ideas shared last week. Here are just a few… This ‘April Showers’ craft from Mama’s Little Muse is so cute! Do you get tired of breaking up sibling fights as much as I…