Back to School Prep for Parents

We all know it’s coming, but it always sneaks up on us. We look forward to it, but we dread it all the same. That’s right - its back to school! This year instead of scrambling at the last minute, start prepping the house, yourself, and the kids for the school year now. Here’s how:

What to prep in advance

Name tags

First time school parents, learn from my mistake! I didn’t realize that I would need to label everything that my child took to school - water bottle, pencils, lunches, clothes. Just assume that everything short of your actual child needs to be labeled before their first day. Luckily, most of the fan favorite brands have some great sales this time of year!

Lunch Ideas

A few weeks before school, start testing out some meals that would be quick + easy lunches for your kids. Sure, some will be misses but it is better to know that when they can run to the pantry and grab something else vs. having a hungry kid at school all day.

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out my Pinterest board dedicated to School Lunch Ideas.

School Supplies

Our school told us that they might need extra supplies throughout the year. While they are on sale, stock up on the most used school supplies.

Sleep Routines

Adequate sleep is essential for a strong immune system. Make sure that in the weeks leading up to school, your kids are resting well. Start pushing the bedtime a bit if their summer schedule is drastically different from their school schedule.

If you’re looking for a great alarm clock, I love the wait to wake style clocks for kids. We have Mella, and we love her! Or if you are just looking to teach your kids some independence by having them wake themselves, grab a clock that they love or that will play their favorite music when they wake.

Start Flexing That Muscle Memory

If your kids haven’t had any exposure to learning or structure over the summer, slowly add a little structure back into their day. For my kids, I took about 1 full month off of homeschool during the summer. As they are heading back to in person learning this fall, we have started sitting down 2-3 times a week for about 30 minutes of play based learning while my littlest naps.

Stock Up on Meds

A fact that I am just coming to terms with is that my family is going to be passing around all the germs come this school year. I am going through our medicines to toss anything that is expired and restock any of the supplies that we will surely need. Things like fever reducers, Neosporin, etc. are often used without warning so having to run to the store to stock up with a sick kid at home is not ideal.

First Day gift ideas

I honestly didn’t know that First Day Gifts were a thing, but being the Pinterest loving mom that I am, I will most certainly be partaking…..but in the lowest effort imaginable. Here are some great printables that you can attach to a gift card.

Party Animal Birthday Party

When throwing a birthday party for a toddler mid-pandemic, there are two priorities. First, make it as fun and festive as possible. And second, keep it on budget.

Last November, I was able to achieve both of these when throwing a party animal themed party for my 3 year old son. This is such a great theme for any free spirited kid who loves animals.

My little guy is a true animal lover. Everything from dinosaurs to mice are on his radar. In a more normal year, I would have loved to have taken him to an immersive zoo experience with some friends, but that wasn’t realistic. So it was my job to bring that same joy with a distanced at home party with just family.

Here’s how I did it:

Get Outdoors

Setting the scene is important. This is a great party theme if you want to (or have to) party in the great outdoors. Greenery and nature are your best friend and also free, so use that if you have it.

Balloon Arch

Nothing says party like a balloon arch. I grabbed this green safari balloon arch off Amazon. If you want to grab a balloon arch, grab some sort of balloon pump to blow up the balloons and start early. You can’t start too early as the balloons could deflate, but doing it all the night before will take some time. (Hi, been there!)

PRO TIP: The balloon arch that you purchase will likely have instructions. But remember to blow the balloons up at different sizes to achieve the best aesthetic.

Side note - My arch was set up on one of the windiest days. We ended up having to attach the arch to a wall of sliding glass window with A LOT of tape. If you’re installing a balloon arch somewhere other than your home, pack a few different methods to install like tape, zip ties, and Command Hooks + string.

Budget Friendly Party Animals

My son already had an ample supply of toy animals. I knew I wanted to include some of his favorite toys are decor to personalize the party even more. The night before, I grabbed his favorite animals and made small party hats for them using this tutorial and template and tiny pom poms. I then hot glued those to his animals.

Party Animal Party Games

If you’re hosting kids, having activities is key to keeping the party from crashing too soon. We went with an easy Safari Scavenger Hunt. Before the party, I hid a few stuffed animals in the yard. I gave the boys a checklist on a clipboard, safari hats, binoculars, and popped them in a wagon. We pulled them around the house to find all the hidden creatures.

This theme also lends itself to a version of pin the tail on the [insert animal], an arts and crafts activity where you make your own binoculars out of tp rolls, and decorate your own printable animal masks.

Party Animal Birthday Food

I am not usually big on overly themed food. Honestly, getting my kids to consume a whole meal takes all my mental bandwidth. And the kids can’t read yet, so they don’t see that I cleverly called the Cheetos tiger tails. They just want the cheesy, salty snack.

However, we did try a confetti cake batter dip paired with animal crackers. It was delicious. Plus if you’re looking to up your kids’ protein intake, swap vanilla creek yogurt for the regular yogurt. It works just the same!

Party Animal Birthday Gift Ideas

I love to have at least a few themed gifts. For a party animal theme, I love the idea of gifting Hungry Hungry Hippos and these animal letter magnets. My kids play with these all the time on the fridge while I make dinner.

Going the Extra Mile

The little touches that make a party special to your child can vary. Here are some great additional items that you could grab to complete your theme. Don’t forget that nothing compares to you spending a little more time with your child. If budget becomes a concern, find a fun Spotify playlist and throw a dance contest or have all the kids eat cupcakes with their hands behind their backs.

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Earth Day Lessons for Preschoolers

Earth Week is a great opportunity to teach the next generation about the impact that they make on the planet.

How do you explain Earth Day to a child?

It can be daunting to figure out where to start to teach young learners about such an important (and sometimes scary) topic. But the first step can be understanding where your kids are starting from. Consider these questions before you jump straight into cutting plastic can holders for sealife and making DIY birdfeeders.

Do you know what planet we live on?

Do you know that this is the only planet we have? And people who lived long ago were using the same resources that we use today?

Where do you think food, water, and air come from?

How do wild animals survive?

Starting out with these basic questions, will allow you to decipher if you should approach Earth Day from a basic (animals, air, recycle) standpoint or a more advanced version where you start the discussion about resource supply and what we can do to help the planet for the future.

Check out these resources to help you teach your kids about the planet:

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Bug Lessons for Kids

My kids land somewhere in between. For this reason, we will be doing basic crafts and “fun” activities that spark a respect and love for the world that they know. For example, BUGS. My kids love dirt, so they know bugs well. So this is where our Earth Week lessons will begin.

Here are some resources that we use and love to make these activities engaging and educational. And following that list is a list of activities that we will work on.

Supplies:

Kiwi Co. Bugs Box for bug cards - similar matching bugs game printables (print + laminate)

Magic Playbook bug printout (from a past subscription, but they have great products!) - you could freehand draw something similar on construction paper

Bug Letter Match printables via No Time for Flash Cards

Crinkle paper - blue and green

Dry beans

The Backyard Bug Book for Kids

Free Jar Printable

Fly swatter

Magnifying glass

Activity/Lessons:

1. Sensory bin: Assemble the beans and crinkle paper into a dirt, grass, sky layout. Have you children tell you where the bugs are usually found.

2. Use the big printout in many ways! Try writing numbers on the bugs and have kids draw the correct number of spots. Write simple addition and have the kids work through those equations using spots again. Have kids design an AB pattern to decorate their bugs. Write the uppercase of a letter and have your child write the lowercase. The possibilities here are endless!

3. Bug Letter Match. Cut and laminate (if you want) the letter bugs. Have kids match the uppercase and lowercase letters. I really amped this game up by throwing all the bugs on the ground and screaming at the top of my lungs like I was scared of them. Then I asked the kids to help me get the bugs back in the correct jars. It was funny for them and a great lesson in teamwork.

Use the same printables and give the kids a fly swatter. Yell out a letter and have them swat it.

4. Syllable count: Put a bug in the free jar printable. Talk about the bug and clap out the syllablles.

5. Land or Sky: Have your child categorize bugs that fly in the sky and ones that walk on the land. Are there any that do both?

6. Backyard Expedition: Send the kids in the yard with their bug book and magnifying glass to find some bugs. Let them get dirty.

Also, check out the back of this book! It has more activities for kids!

Earth Day Shows + Videos for Kids

Ask the Storybots Recycle Episode - full episode available on Netflix

Earth Day for Kids

Sesame Street visits Recycling Center

Waffles + Mochi - Any episode of this Netflix series will explain how our food comes from the Earth.

PBS Kids Earth Day

Magic School Bus Rides Again - Netflix series

Easy Earth Day Snacks + More Activities

Head to my Pinterest for Earth Day snacks + activities galore!

Check out this Instagram Reel with 4 Easy Earth Day Snack Ideas

Spring Essentials + Hacks to Beat the Heat

Springtime in Florida is fleeting. We have a few weeks this time of year when the highs are in the 70s, then after that it is the 80s and up until October.

While I would love to be able to “add a trench” to my look to elevate it or buy my kids a light jacket to complete their wardrobe, that is unrealistic for Florida moms. We are already in full prep for sunshine, sunscreen tantrums, and lots of water.

Spring and into summer with kids involves a lot of things that mom will likely carry from one outdoor destination to another.

Here are some hacks for how to manage the bulk

Use a large tote with a zipper

If you’re heading to the park for the day, skip the baby bag, lunchboxes, and purse for one bag. Ideally this bag will be insulated or weather proofed and have a zipper so that things don’t fall out when the kids inevitably knock it down. . Use packing cubes inside the tote to categorize your items. And don’t forget a wet bag for swimsuits!

Put it on wheels

Even if we are just playing in the front yard, there are a lot of moving pieces. Literally with scooters, bikes, and cars, but also figuratively with scheming how to keep the kids entertained, safe, and happy. So that I don’t have to keep a mental checklist of all the toys that come out of the garage and a general parameter of their final resting place in the yard, I roll out a wagon with us. Instead of having the kids run up and put the toys back, they have to put it in the wagon. As they start to get hot, they don’t have to worry about helping clean up and I don’t have to worry about them running into the street to get a ball. I just pull the wagon up and we clean up in the shade of the garage.

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I love how much time the kids get to play outdoors this time of year. It’s pleasantly warm and sunshiney. I am a big fan of letting the kids play in nature like mud, dirt, grass, etc. but that will only get me so far. When I am looking for an extended playtime outside so that I can have a moment of silence, I gravitate to certain toys.

Best Toys to Keep the Kids Entertained Outdoors

Water play, shade, and packable toys

Water toys are the best way to keep my kids entertained outside. There are so many ways to play with it from measuring cups and buckets to sprinklers and water tables. And if you’re lucky enough to have a pool, grab floats that have attached water guns. My boys have loved these since they were toy years old, with supervision of course.

I also try to buy toys that come with a container for easy clean up. For example, sidewalk chalk that comes with its own bucket that we can carry easily outside and clean up quickly.

Remember Sun Protection

I try to keep my kids outside in the spring as much as I can. I can attest that the sunshine and fresh air is great for their moods and also helps them get a great night’s sleep. However, I am of Irish decent and I know the risks of sun damage to the skin. I apply sunscreen religiously. In order to get the best coverage, I recommend applying sunscreen while your kids are naked watching a show. That way you won’t miss a spot and get a good base of full coverage while they are distracted.

In addition to that, I gravitate towards toys that have built in sun protection. Look for toys that have removable shade for easy storage.

Dress for success

With the prevalence of spring showers, I highly recommend that all parents get raincoats for their kiddos for two reasons. First, if you’re trying to get your kids from point A to point B while maneuvering an umbrella, you’re going to end up soaked and poking someone in the eye. If all the kids have their own raincoat (and boots if needed), they will be dry and you will be able to hold hands as you cross the street.

Also, playing in the rain is one of my kids’ favorite springtime activities. They will run outside in a small shower as long as I let them. I love it because there isn’t a big mess of toys to clean up and their giggles give my soul a nice boost. Just make sure to get everyone in and warm before someone catches a cold!

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I’m hopeful that we might be on the go a bit more this spring and summer, so packing up strategically is key. The days of throwing a few things in my purse and hitting the road are FAR FAR gone. Here are some of the many things I always have in my bag when I head out this time of year.

What to Pack in Your Bag in Spring

Sun protection

Did I mention I am a big fan of sunscreen? Sun protection can mean a lot of different things. For us, I make sure to apply sunscreen before we head out so that it has a little time to sit on their skin before sun or water exposure. Then I pack that same sunscreen in my bag. In addition, I have a towel in case we need a little DIY shade. And can’t forget sunglasses!

Keep Cool

I always have multiple USB charged fans that attach to strollers with me this time of year. There are some options that mist you with water too!

I also recommend a well insulated water bottle for the kids and yourself. There is nothing worse than needing a cool sip of water and being met with a warm gulp. And don’t forget to have your portable hand washing station! In a pinch that can be used as drinking water.

And to top it all off, I love to have our Boom bluetooth speaker wherever we go!

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12 Books to Help You Talk to Little Kids About Big Emotions

Little kids feel all the same emotions that adults do, but they don’t know how to regulate or identify them. And that must be scary.

You’ve likely heard stories about people who thought they were having a heart attack going to the ER only to find out that they were really suffering from anxiety. It’s the same thing, but little ones are experiencing that sort of revelation with each emotion that they encounter.

It is our job as parents to help our children understand these emotions and develop a robust emotional intelligence. Here are 5 ways that I encourage expression while working through the ups and downs of little kids and their big emotions.

Validate your child’s feelings

The number one thing that I always try to tell my kids is that what they are feeling is ok. Saying things like “It’s ok to feel mad. I get mad sometimes too,” makes them feel less lost.

Inject emotional language into everyday

I ask my kids all the time how certain situations make them feel or how they think others feel in that situation. For example, when we read Mae Among the Stars and the teacher tells Mae that she can’t be an astronaut, we pause. I ask my kids if they have ever been in a situation like that or how being told they can’t do something would make them feel.

Similarly, the adults in my home are very open about how we feel. Like most things, exposure at home is the first step. If kids see that mom and dad have these big emotions, talk about them, and work through them calmly, they are more likely to mimic that behavior.

And finally, once we are sure that everyone is physically safe during tantrums, the first question is, “How are you feeling?” Then we address the origin of the feeling and how we can resolve it.

Let them come up with the solution

As much as possible, and as age appropriate, I allow my kids to come up with resolutions to conflicts on their own. I don’t force apologies. When they aren’t sure how to remedy big situations, I will tell them what helps me or what I would appreciate in the situation. Having that autonomy to make decisions and [hopefully] make the first big step towards apologizing or empathizing is empowering.

Model Empathy

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is empathy. This is a BIG emotion that I don’t expect of little kids often, but modeling empathy regularly ingrains it in your kids. On a very basic level, I often ask how they think their behaviors would make other’s feel. For example and as mentioned above, after my kids take toys from one another, we ask them how that makes them feel and how they think the other child feels to cause them to act like that.

Offer an outlet

This is a new tactic that we have started. Typically, when our kids feel really big, one of two things will make them feel better - a punch or a hug. Mom or dad will put both hands up and ask the child if they want to punch or hug. If they want to punch, they can safely punch our hand and release a little energy. If they want a hug, we smother them in love and go from there. Honestly, my kids have chosen hug 9 times out of 10.

How do you explain emotion to a child?

Even as adults, it can be hard to identify emotions - and we know the meanings! For my kids, identifying with characters that they love is the biggest step in understanding emotions. These are some great books that we love that explain emotions in terms [and in beautiful images] that appeal to kids.

one | The Way I Feel: Go along with kids as they feel big emotions in their everyday life, like frustration when trying to tie their shoes or get dressed alone. After reading, we like to pick a page in the book and talk about a time when we felt like the characters did. And make the faces of big emotions - it always ends in laughs.

two | The Big Umbrella

three | What Am I Feeling

four | What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

five | A Little Spot of Emotion Set: This series, and specifically A Little Spot of Anger, helped introduce a coping mechanism to my toddler when he gets overwhelmed with anger.

six | Grumpy Monkey: Jim Panzee is having a grumpy day, and that’s ok. It’s important to understand that sometimes we feel bad and that is ok.

seven | Learning to Share: Sharing is a big trigger for my three small kids. Watching the characters handle sharing depersonalizes it and makes it more objective.

eight | Wild Symphony: This is my new favorite find! Maestro Mouse leads you on a wild ride of life lessons and music. Each page introduces animals, discusses their habitats and habits, and covers an important life lesson like “It’s okay to block out bad things, but don’t forget to open up and invite the good things in.”

nine | Ninja Life Hacks

ten | Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun

eleven | The Color Monster

twelve | My Body Sends a Signal: This book connects the dots between the way kids feel emotionally and physically. For example, the main character gives a gift to his grandfather and walks the reader through how he changes the way he carries himself when he feels proud - how the physical follows the emotional.

Happy New Year! Activities for Preschoolers

Between Christmas and NYE, I feel a level of exhaustion that only a mom knows. I have bought, wrapped, placed, and acted surprised when all the presents were open. I have prepped, baked, eaten, and cleaned a large meal. I have chased children around for days while hearing the echos of requests for new batteries or help working a new toy ringing in my ears.

I would love to celebrate New Year’s Eve traditions more with my family, but usually I am just not there mentally. But if 2020 has taught me anything, it is that my kids thrive on structure. When I have an activity, even a small one, ready to go after their snack/media time, we have a substantially better afternoon.

So I fought the exhaustion and put together a few easy (and I do mean EASY) New Year’s activities to do with preschoolers. Since we are on our ‘holiday break’ from homeschool, these activities are definitely more based in sensory play rather than lesson learning. Think bubbles and sparkle!

What can toddlers do on New Year’s Eve?

Let’s be real, I barely (if ever) make it to midnight on New Year’s Eve anymore. And I am not in the business of keeping my 3 and 4 year old up past their bedtime for all of our sanity. But celebrating the new year can be done throughout the day with a little creativity.

Bubble Countdown Scoop + Sort

Preschoolers are learning or perfecting the art of counting, which is a big part of New Year’s celebrations - the countdown to midnight. Here’s how I gave that concept a NYE spin and turned it into sensory play for preschoolers.

Materials: Large container, water, bubbles, numbered items, scooping utensils

• First, set up a tub of water with bubbles.

• Find anything in your home (that can get soaked) that has numbers on it. I used numbered plastic cookie cutters. Duplo Legos with numbers would work too.

• Throw your items in the water.

• Find ‘scoopers’ - I grabbed a plastic mug, an ice cream scoop and a noodle scooper.

• Lay out numbers on the ground - whatever you’re counting down from.

• Have the kids scoop the numbers out of the bubbles using the utensils and match them to the numbers on the ground.

• Once they’re all matched, work on counting down - which was a new concept to my kids.

• Then have a bubble party!

Baking Soda + Vinegar Fireworks

Materials: Small container (silicone baking cup), baking soda, glitter, vinegar, turkey baster/pipette/steady hand

• Gather all your materials. Put a little bit of baking soda into your small container

• Add glitter on top.

• Squirt the glitter with vinegar using the turkery baster or pipette. Or just pour a small amount of vinegar using a steady hand.

• Watch the reaction - it creates your own personal firework!

Skittles Rainbow Firework

Materials: Skittles, warm water, white plate

• Create a circle using your Skittles. If you’re practicing patterns with your preschooler, give them an AB pattern to follow.

• Have the kids hypothesize what they think will happen when the water hits the candy.

• Slowly pour warm water into the center of the circle just until it reaches all the Skittles.

• Watch the magic!

Shaving Cream Fireworks

Materials: Shallow container, shaving cream, food coloring, numbers, pipe cleaners, glitter (optional), paintbrush or stick-like tools

• In a shallow container ( I used a baking pan), squirt globs of shaving cream.

• Add food coloring and glitter to the shaving cream.

• Have the kids use the tools and pipe cleaners to create what they think fireworks look like.

• They can trace the numbers with the paintbrushes to countdown to fireworks!

Baby Fireworks Sensory Bag

We can’t forget about the littlest NYE celebrators! I made a simple sensory bag out of baby oil, food coloring, water, and glitter. ( I followed the instructions from this video.) I drew a small star on the bag and taped it to my child’s high chair. (PRO TIP: tape it on all sides - they will try to rip it up). This is a great sensory activity for babies that will occupy them in their highchair while you do the other activities with older kids.

And drumroll please…..

I have finally found a great use for all that Play Doh that has been mixed together. Make fireworks! Play Doh by itself is an incredible activity to develop dexterity in little fingers, but add some glitter to it or some pipe cleaners to create the lines of fireworks. Use Play Doh tools or some cookie cutters to make fun shapes. Grab a piece of black construction paper to act as the night’s sky and lay out your fireworks on that as mixed media art.

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And there you have it. Ways to celebrate the concept of New Year’s Eve and Day with your preschoolers without the added exhaustion of keeping littles (or moms) up past bedtime.

Free Preschool Holiday Printables

I try to make the holidays festive in as many ways as I possibly can - and that includes our homeschool routine! I shared recently about our Angel Giving Tree in the classroom which adds great festive cheer to our learning!

Over the last week or so I have been mocking up some printables for my preschoolers - newly 3 years old and 4 years old. We have been working on matching, pencil grip, and number identification (1-5) with my 3 year old. My older son has been working on perfecting 11-15 identification.

I often mock up a themed printable that touches on the topic at play (for example, matching) and then I also have a regular worksheet that hones the skills they actually need (so shape matching vs. holiday theme). The holiday worksheet is a sort of by-in that gets the kids excited, then I sneak in the true learning after that.

CLICK HERE FREE MATCHING PRINTABLES

For this next activity I cut out the reindeer cards and flipped them over on the table. Each child picked up a card at random and counted the reindeer. Then they had to grab a piece of popcorn from the bowl that I had between them and cover the number on the Christmas tree. I focused on 11-15 for my older son and 1-5 for my younger son. You could use any small holiday item to cover the tree, but I have found that if you can incorporate a snack into learning, kids get pretty excited. I can’t lie, I get excited about things that involve food too.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE NUMBER IDENTIFICATION ACTIVITY PRINTABLE

This activity would be fun to do with whatever your preschooler is learning right now! I included this blank version as well. Laminate it or put it in a protective sleeve to get use out of it all season long. You could write letters for kids to trace, work on uppercase and lowercase letter identification, etc. Or you could just have your kids identify which circles are bigger or smaller.

CLICK HERE FOR BLANK CHRISTMAS TREE PRINTABLE

I also made this easy gingerbread cookie printable for fun. There isn’t a direct lesson in this activity, but I would try to spark conversation from the selections your kids make. Things like “What shape are the buttons?” “Do you drink hot cocoa when you are hot or cold?” “Where does a scarf go?”.

CLICK HERE FOR FREE GINGERBREAD COOKIE PRINTABLES

How to Teach Kids About Giving Back

If 2020 has taught me anything, it is that I have so much for which I am grateful - health, the ability to see grandparents (if from a distance), the ability to keep my kids home for a year of homeschooling, Zoom video conferencing, access to doctors, warm food and the list goes on and on.

It is extremely important to us that we instill a sense of gratitude and giving in our children. 2020 has made us so aware that there are people who are not treated the same, marginalized, and just generally overlooked. I will not be raising children who continue those trends. Learning a true spirit of giving is the first step in that evolution.

How do you explain generosity to a child?

I have found that there are two good ways to show children the spirit of giving - praising them for generous behavior and modeling generous behavior yourself.

I try to praise my kids when I see them sharing, giving, and generally caring for their friends and family. I also rarely tell my kids that they should give something or force them to share. I try to lead the conversation in a way that makes them come up with the generous idea. I might say something like “Well, you and your brother both want to play with this toy. What might be a kind way to solve this problem?” Hopefully, at that point they will come to the conclusion that they should share or let the other person play with the toy and then they can play afterwards.

It is important to note that these realizations won’t come immediately. When you start this tactic, you will likely see that your child cries and screams that they want to play with the toy and the other child is mean or took it. This is a process - help them calm themselves and validate their feelings first. Then have a discussion. Even if the resolution isn’t the most generous, realizing that their actions impact the other person, and then that their actions could make the other person happy is the goal.

Forcing generous behavior or any act (like apologizing or hugging) is a no go in our home. We try to lead the conversation to a good spot, but the resulting action is always the kids’ idea. I got this idea from the Raising Good Humans podcast which I highly recommend to all parents.

We model generous behavior in a few ways that the kids see regularly. Most notably, they recognize when we are donating things from the piles of goodies stacked high around the house. We also make sure that the kids see us using our time to help others. For example, if the kids want their dad to come play with them while he is switching the laundry from the washer to the dryer, he will be sure to say something about how his actions now will help me in the future.

Finally, we ALWAYS use our manners. ‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ are typically the first few words that our kids say, and that generally comes from them hearing it so frequently. Acknowledging that others help you or give you something is a great first step in understanding generosity.

How do you talk to kids about charity?

Gratitude is exceptionally important to us. My children don’t know how lucky they are to have warm meals and a cozy home with TV and all the love they can imagine. I have found that the easiest way to teach my kids in a way that resonates with them is to relate the situation to them personally.

For example, if I were to see my child enjoying playing with a toy truck, I might ask them about what they like about the truck. Or I might ask what they like about playing with the truck. Once I get what is sure to be a lengthy answer, I ask them if they know that there are children just like them who don’t have any toys.

In a perfect world, they would have an “a-ha” moment where they realize that we should try to help those kids because we have many trucks. But I would likely have to lead the conversation to “Hey, we have a lot of trucks. Do you think those kids might like to play with some of yours?”

My kids are already very familiar with the term “donation”. But if that were not the case, this would be the time when I would explain that we can donate our items to others, meaning that we give those items with no expectation of money in return.

If that concept seems a little over their head, try again to relate it back to them. “Do you remember how we have to pay for our toys at the store? Well, a donation means we don’t have to exchange money like at the store. We just give.”

This same conversation could happen many times - when you are cozy snuggling reading a book (donate old books) or enjoying a warm meal (donate canned goods). Relate the giving to something that your kids experience daily and might unknowingly take for granted.

Kids Angel Giving Tree

Typically around this time of year, I would like to show my children first hand the spirit of giving. In the past, my family has been supporters of organizations that place Christmas trees in their offices with children or families in need on paper angels. Since we won’t be visiting any of the typical places with these trees, I opted to make one in our home.

I asked my family and friends to give me a list of charitable organizations that are meaningful to them. From that list, I researched the organizations’ missions. I translated the mission statements into terms that my 4 year old could really understand. For example, the Humane Society gives shelter and care to animals with no where to go.

I tried to choose organizations that my kids would be able to relate to in terms of people needing something that they have plenty of. For example, Feeding America because the kids have warm meals and snacks daily or Habitat for Humanity because the kids have a home to keep them safe.

I typed the basic mission statements on angels that I then cut out and placed on the small Christmas tree that we set up in their classroom. Every week until Christmas, we will discuss a different organization (or a few!) and who they help. Then I will guide the kids on how we can help those people too - that might mean donating some of their own toys, taking food from our pantry to give, or giving monetary donations.

I will try my best to avoid monetary donations as those can be hard for a child to understand since they don’t see an actual exchange of items. But if that is the only option for whatever reason, I would bring them to the computer and show them the website and who they are helping, my credit card (they can help read the numbers), etc. so that they see it in the works.

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Once the holiday season has ended, this will be a topic that we will continue to revisit, just without a tree as a reminder. When we have too many toys in January, we will discuss who might like to play with them. And when the weather gets cold and we run inside for warmth, we will discuss how we can help people who might not have a home to shelter them. Intertwining the spirit of giving in everyday conversation at this age will help to foster a genuine generosity as the kids grow.

Kid Friendly Thanksgiving Ideas

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Regardless of how you will be celebrating Thanksgiving this year, there is likely the hope that you will be able to sit and have a nice dinner. Well, with little kids in the mix and fewer family members around to wrangle them, that will be a hard goal to accomplish for two reasons - your time to cook said dinner will be limited and children struggle sitting at the table for a lengthy meal. So let’s break that down and address both issues

How do you keep kids busy on Thanksgiving?

Involve them in the kitchen

Of course this is only an option for certain ages, but my children instinctively take an interest in what I am doing. I always try to foster that interest when I can, so my kids have spent a lot of time baking with me.

Involving them in the cooking of Thanksgiving dinner is another great way to show them gratitude. Odds are they will not have the patience to stay and cook with you all day. At dinnertime, make sure to mention that you spent the whole day cooking and the family should be grateful that you took that time to make them a delicious meal.

I love using kitchen towers for small kids so that they can be countertop height.

Give them a ‘Thanksgiving job’

This could work for many ages. My 4yo loves to be assigned duties, so I often give him simple tasks while I cook. Things like ‘count out X number’ of napkins is not only helpful but also a learning activity.

If your little one is too young for an actual job, you can turn on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (or a rerun this year), and tell them to yell anytime they see a certain color or object. Praise them when they do it, and then give them another thing to look for. Should buy you a little time.

Assign a photographer

My kids jump when I allow them to use my phone as a camera. (Just make sure that you have a sturdy case) Or you could gift your children small, affordable cameras on Thanksgiving and tell them it is their job to take pictures for everyone who can’t be there today. A gift + a responsibility = quiet time.

Swap child care duties with your partner

If you’re not hosting like usual, you will be strapped for childcare while cooking. Whether you will be the cooking partner or the partner overseeing the small people, swap every few hours. Doing one thing endlessly is mentally and physically exhausting. Even a short break from each of those activities is likely to rejuvenate you for the final stretch.

Facetime dates

Schedule Facetime dates with your family throughout the day. My kids love to take their grandparents on tours of our house. They will run around and show them any changes made to their room, big messes, the bathroom, really anything.

Set up a Thanksgiving game or crafts

This is a bit heavy on the prep work, but if you have kids who will sit quietly for an extended period to do a puzzle or create something, it will be worth it.

Set up simple crafts like making a turkey hat from construction paper. Play a bunch of Thanksgiving kids videos that you can find from a simple YouTube search. Or if you have someone who is willing to be the master of ceremonies, host a kids Thanksgiving Olympics with a popcorn relay, knock down the turkeys, and a fall scavenger hunt. Hold a medal ceremony and have each child thank someone or say something for which they are grateful in their speeches.

How do you get kids to stay at the table?

Make traditional foods kid friendly

None of my kids will pick something foreign up and try it without coaxing. But, I have found that if you can tweak some foods that might not be initially desirable, like stuffing for example, into a format that they find fun or funny, your chances of ingestion increase.

This year (at our early socially distanced Thanksgiving), I made the kids ‘stuffin muffins’ instead of just a pile of brown stuff on their plate. I didn’t get the standing ovation I would have loved, but they at least tried it! Plus, it was incredibly easy - I just made the boxed stuffing according to the directions, added an egg and baked.

In addition to that, you could try using cookie cutters to make sliced turkey into shapes or jam some traditional foods into a waffle cone and example the concept of a cornucopia to your kids.

Kraft Paper Table Cloth

Kraft paper is a game changer. First, you can draw on it. So scrap the place cards, just write everyone’s name on the table. This is great for kids. Have a box of fresh crayons waiting for them at their seat, and let them go to town.

And secondly, clean up is easy - just roll it up and toss it.

Printable Placemats + Coloring Pages

If kraft paper isn’t an option, prep some printables to keep the little ones entertained. Here are a few of my favorite freebies:

Have them help set the table

Lately my kids have been eager to help set the table. It could just be coincidence, but they seem to be really excited to be seated at the table when they have placed the napkins. They are also more likely to start conversations, usually about said napkins, and stay at the table with us a bit longer. You could always stroke their ego a bit by saying how much you enjoy their placement.

Kids table

If you’ve got enough older kids, just embrace the full blown kids table. Eliminate the rules, have some printables, and let them go wild.

Make it a contest

If you use kraft paper, challenge everyone to draw their best turkey. Let the chef of the day choose the winner.

Or there are always the classics - quiet game, staring contests, no laughing contest, first to say the word turkey loses, etc. My kids love to see us get silly, so this will leave us all rolling in laughter.

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I know that it can be hard to count your blessings in the midst of holiday chaos, but if it all seems too much, take a step back. Look at the chaos that you longed for, and embrace it. Maybe your cranberry sauce won’t make it to the table, but your family will. And that is enough.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How to Create Preschool Learning Units at Home for Free

As COVID made it more and more clear that my preschoolers would not be enrolling in in-person school this year, I purchased several pre-made curriculums. We worked through several units, and I realized that for the most part the lessons were not resonating with my children for one reason or another. Either the lessons were too easy or the material didn’t interest them.

I decided to start making my own units so that the material that I spent my valuable time teaching them resonated with them. After success with two units that I developed - underwater and farm themed - I decided that the way I did it could be applied to any child learning at home.

I didn’t spend a dime when I created these units, and with this guide you won’t either. You will learn how to use what you have already (free online resources, books, even TP rolls!) and what interests your child to create engaging units that prepare your child for the next step in their learning.

Still not quite sure? Here’s a snapshot of what you’ll learn:

Safe Trick or Treat Alternatives

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Halloween is going to look differently this year. Surely there will be folks out like normal, but if you are opting for a safer route, here are some trick or treat alternatives for 2020.

Boo basket

Boo baskets have been around for years in the suburbs. Essentially, a family starts the tradition where they ‘boo’ a family with a Halloween themed basket full of goodies. Then that family pays it forward to another family and so on throughout the whole neighborhood.

This is the original trick or treat alternative. Even though it is typically a supplemental activity to trick or treating, this might be a fun way to celebrate this year if you want to hand out candy and Halloween cheer from a distance.

Monster muffin tin dinner + movie night

If your kids are young enough that they have never been trick or treating, count your lucky stars! Skip the whole thing entirely and have a spooky dinner + movie. You can make the evening special by letting the kids eat in front of the tv watching a Halloween movie.

I like to serve dinner in muffin trays as a fun spin on dinner. This time, just make the dinner monster themed - think mozzarella stick witches fingers, mummy [hot] dogs, peeled clementines to look like pumpkins, and pb+j spiders with pretzel stick legs.

Neighborhood decor contest

Assuming your HOA agrees, you could challenge your neighbors to a decor contest. You could arrange for awards like “Spookiest” or “Silliest” and have the kids vote for the winners using Doodle.com. Neighborhood kids could even create the awards as an arts and crafts project.

Backyard festival

If you’re looking to really limit your interaction, you could throw your own backyard festival with games and actvities for your kids! This is a great idea (and what we will be doing!) because you can really cater it to your child’s age, interests, and ability to handle scariness.

Games that you could play in this safe trick or treat alternative are pumpkin ring toss, ghost bowling with a small gourd as the ball and toilet paper roll ghosts as the pins, or carve a pumpkin with a wide open mouth that you’ll hit balls into with a golf club or toss bean bags in there. (You can easily make bean bags by adding dried beans or popcorn kernels into balloons.)

Set out candy stands

This is probably the lowest effort alternative. We will likely do this for our neighborhood kids. There are plenty of ways to add a little flare - cover your table with a white sheet and use black paper to make a ghost face. Or add some cobwebs and spiders.

Using a board and some solo cups, you could make a candy stand punch board. Hot glue the cups to the board in a spooky shape and color them appropriately (orange for pumpkin, black for cat and so on). Put candy in each cup and cover it with plastic wrap. The kids have to punch the plastic wrap to puncture it to get their candy.

Scavenger hunt

This is another trick or treat alternative that is customizable to age and skill level. You can make it as scary or friendly as you want.

If your kids understand the concept of a Treasure Hunt, here is a fun Halloween themed treasure hunt that could lead to a huge stash of candy. If your kids are really young, a simple worksheet with a few pictures (think basic Halloween like pumpkin and ghost) and a large box that they can check off. I know my kids feel incredibly important if they get to hold a clipboard, so I would recommend giving them their checklist on a clipboard.

Older kids could do a Skeleton Scavenger Hunt. For this game, you hide skeleton pieces around the house or yard. The kids have to find and assemble their skeleton. The first kid or team done, wins!

Candy chute

This is the most 2020 trick or treat idea. If you’re handy, this is a great option. Here is a breakdown on how one man made his, and his thought process. As someone learning to be handy, it seems doable.

Grabber

Grabber tools are often used after surgeries when mobility is limited. As the child of Boomers who have had their fair share of surgeries, we happen to have access to these tools. Honestly, I love this idea as the most ingenious and affordable.

These would be great if you are going to be out trick or treating with your kids. Or if you will be actively handing out candy. I have found that my kids are more likely to go along with what I want them to if it is incorporated well. So I would encourage a cool robot costume if you really want your kids to use the grabber the whole night.

Piñatas

Give my kids any cylinder, and there is a 99% chance that they will swing it at something. Why not let them swing away with a Halloween piñata. Halloween piñatas are hard to come by this late in the game, but this owl piñata could pass.

And as always, there is the option to make your own pinata. I am honestly shocked by how easy this looks, and will try it this year!

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With all that being said, I hope you and your family have the best Halloween possible. Setting expectations appropriately (and early) about what this Halloween will look like will help to avoid tantrums that may arise if they are blindsided about not trick or treating like years past.

Monster Mash Family Costume Idea Board

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My two older kids (and by older I mean 2 and 4) are REALLY into the spooky aspect of Halloween. So this year we decided to fully embrace that, and be a family of monsters for Halloween - a Monster Mash Family Costume!

Since Halloween will not include neighborhood trick or treating this year, we are making a haunted carnival for our kids. Therefore, a healthy portion of our Halloween budget will go to making that fun for them. This costume idea is great because we already have so many of the items above. Really we will need to order just the specific items, like face makeup and cat ears, to complete the look of the monster mash costume.

Witch Costume

tulle skirt | black bodysuit (sweetheart neck alternative) | witch’s hat | black boots

This look just needs a lot of black and a witch’s hat really. You could pair a leather moto jacket with a long black skirt if your weather permits that. Or you could go with the tulle skirt above paired with a body suit and black boots for chasing all those delicious children around.

Baby Black Cat Costume

black skirted onesie | cat accessories | black long sleeve onesie

My 1 year old will be the black cat to my witch. She is barely walking, so we will likely opt to skip the tail since she will be in her stroller. A black tutu, cat ears, and a sweet little kitty nose our of face make up will complete her simple look.

Frankenstein Costume

jacket | black shirt | boots (similar) | face crayons | face make up | khakis

This one will be fun. The jacket I initially had in mind didn’t work out. I actually ended up ordering a full brown suit from Amazon for just about $30 that I will by chopping up. Cut the sleeves of an oversized jacket in the middle of your child’s forearm and the pants in the middle of their calf for a real Frankenstein look. Add a black shirt and some face makeup for bolts.

If thrifting is safe whereever you are, that would be a great option to find the perfect jacket.

Ghost Costume

beanie | pillow cases | cheesecloth | white shirt

This is the most DIY this year. I have an oversized pillow case that will be the base of my ghost’s costume. I have heard that the trick to making sure that the eye and mouth holes line up well enough for your child to see if attaching the pillow case (or sheet) to a beanie on your child’s head. I also plan on hot gluing some dark cheesecloth behind the holes so that I don’t have to paint my child’s face black.

Be sure to measure your child before you buy extra pillow cases or sheets!

Werewolf Costume

flannel shirt | faux fur | pants | boots

This is the least DIY this year. My husband will be the werewolf. He loves plaid and he has let his hair grow long. Why is it the people who hate Halloween always get the best costumes?

So that’s the plan. Stick around for Halloween to see how spooky this Monster Mash Halloween costume gets!

Brighter Than the Sun! Rainbow Birthday Party

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Brighter than the sun, Reese is one!

Reese’s first birthday comes when we are still self isolating, so I knew that it would be simple, but I still wanted to make it something special.

I always try to make birthday themes something that the individual child enjoys, but at just one year old that list includes her dad, yogurt melts, and Oreos. While a party themed around her father would be HIS dream come true, I wasn’t going to give him that kind of satisfaction.

Every time that I put Reese down for a nap, I sing ‘You are my sunshine’. My first thought was a sunshine theme, but I felt that was a little boring. I took to Pinterest to do a little wordplay with ‘You are my sunshine’ to determine what the invite would say, and I kept coming across rainbows. Eventually the tag line hit me, Brighter than the Sun, Reese is one.

Since Reese has certainly been a bright spot in this unprecedented year, I felt a rainbow themed first birthday was appropriate.

With that in tow, I headed to Canva, a free online design site, that I use for all my graphics to mock up an invite to email and text my family. Of course, the party is virtual this year.

All I did to create this rainbow first birthday invitation was search rainbow in the invitation category in Canva. Once I found this general design, I brightened the colors and added the sun and text.

My next task was the decor. Typically I try to create a full party experience from the front door and throughout the house. Since the party is virtual this year, I will just be focusing on two main elements - the gift table and a photo back drop.

The gift table set up is pretty standard for each first birthday that we celebrate. I print every month’s milestone photo of the child and display them with a chalkboard sign that I DIY. In addition, I have a glass box that will hold the first birthday letters that we write our kids. We have as many family members as possible write letters for the child to open on their 18th birthday. This is a beautiful little time capsule gift to give your child.

My next task was the backdrop for the Zoom party, the photo op if you will. I luckily came across this inspiration from Mrs. Blinks’ My Little Pony party for her daughter. While not the theme I was looking for, she made the most beautiful rainbow.

Given her explanation, it looked easy and affordable. Here’s what you need:

Set of long rainbow colored balloons (these are like the ones that balloon animal makers use)

Plenty of white balloons

Gaffing tape (beware that this tape can remove paint or leave residue on your wall, so be careful where you put this)

The balloons that I link above are perfect for this DIY because when inflated, they naturally have a small arch to them. I tried to mimic the rainbow pattern as best I could with the pinks substituting for my red and orange.

As I got toward the lower arches, I inflated the balloons less and less to make sure they would fit under the last balloon.

The white balloons are inflated in varying sizes, but all relatively small. I attached them to one another and the wall using the gaffing tape I link above.

I added a small rainbow garland from Amazon onto the high chair and that was it for the photo op.

A few other party supplies that I grabbed included this small rainbow wall hanging (which came with the garland) that will be used as decor after the party and a rainbow and sun plate + napkin set, which are currently unavailable but this rainbow and cloud set is equally as cute. Both sets are by Meri Meri, which is a great resource for party supplies if you don’t need Prime shipping.

Finally, since a large portion of our family is local, I grabbed these rainbow goodie bags. In order to make this party a true experience, we will be (socially distanced) delivering little treats to the local family to have for the party.

All in, I spent about $50 for this set up. Throw in a box cake and some rainbow sprinkles, and you’ve got yourself a virtual Rainbow birthday party!

Paw Patrol Family Costume

Our first Halloween as a family five was only one month after I had given birth to our third child. That means I started early and simplified when making our DIY family costume. So if you’re looking for a costume that requires minimal artistic skill but packs a wow factor, this is for you!

Every time that I have made a Halloween family costume, I hit a “why did I even do this stage”. The easiest fix for that is choosing a costume that your kids will really love. I still had a few final touches to put on while I was knee deep in newborn diapers, but the excitement on my boys’ faces was enough to keep me going on this Paw Patrol family costume idea.

Any purchases that were made for this Paw Patrol family costume were available on Amazon - a budget conscious mom’s dream come true! All links to similar products as pictured above can be found in the character shopping lists below.

Here is what you need to make this costume: 

Marshall (red firefighter dog)

Long sleeve white shirt

Red Vest

Black pants

White shoes

Black foam paper (for spots), red + white foam paper for emblem on hat

Firefighter hat

White cardstock paper and black Sharpie (ears)

Chase (blue police dog)

Blue puffer vest

Baseball hat with a black brim

Light blue long sleeve shirt

Black pants

Royal blue, light blue, and yellow foam paper for the emblem + badge ; black foam paper for collar around puffer vest

Cardboard for the ears (Hot glued to sides of the black hat. Cardboard allows the ears to stand upright.)

Rubble (yellow construction dog)

Yellow puffer vest

Hardhat

Brown long sleeve shirt

Khaki color pants

Black, light blue, yellow foam paper for emblem + badge ; black foam paper for collar around puffer vest

Brown paper (or cardboard) for the ears (hot glued to inside of hard hat)

Rocky (green recycling dog)

Green caution vest

Green mesh trucker hat

Green polo

Jeans

Gray ( I used a dark blue), pink foam paper for ears

Printable badge (the emblem on this hat had more detail than I wanted to replicate with foam paper)

Skye (pink baby)

As I mentioned, the baby was only about a month old, so I went very minimal for her.

Pink onesie

Pink beanie

Pink and white foam paper for badge (I also made her a little headpiece that I am holding in the top photo)

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Those are the essentials for the best Paw Patrol family costume. I drew a nose and little spots on all of our faces with a face paint crayon. Eyeliner could also work, but I didn’t want to waste that much eyeliner on this project and render it useless afterwards.

I also mention foam paper above. I attribute the crips look of these costumes to foam paper. It provides bright and true colors and is easy to work with - scissors cut it, hot glue holds it, and it is sturdy enough to stand on its own if needed. Finding all the colors you want in one pack is difficult, but I have used foam paper in so many different applications - making garlands, kids crafts, holiday decor. So if you have to buy more than you would like to get the right colors, you’ll likely find a use for it somewhere. Here is a pack that has a great range of colors. Try to envision everything you need to get out of one color before you start cutting to get the most out of one sheet.

In terms of assembly, everything was done with hot glue. I don’t mess with sewing or really anything that requires more than hot glue - that is my promise to you! But a word of caution, should you choose to hot glue onto clothing, the clothes will not be reusable. Hot glue is not easy to get off clothes.

Now, if you’re feeling like you can take this Paw Patrol family of 5 costume idea to the next level, you can try your hand at making the kids’ candy baskets. I used my beloved foam paper, hot glue, and two boxes to make these candy baskets.

For each candy basket, I cut the lips of the box so that they helped mimic the shape of the construction truck (seen in top left image) or a cop car. I freehanded these based on images I found on google. Again, everything is assembled with hot glue, so it was simple. My 1 and 3 year old carried these around all night and there were no issues. In fact they still play with them and they are mostly in tact a year later.

Pro tips:

If you want your ears to sit straight (no curling), use foam paper or cardboard. The regular printer paper and construction paper that I used on Marshall + Rubble’s ears started to roll.

Do a practice round of the face makeup on the kids. They will be used to the application on Halloween if you’ve done it beforehand and you won’t have to chase them around the house.

We live in Florida, so we opted for shorts to counter the added heat in the puffer vests. If you’re in a cooler climate, go for the long pants.

Simple Grandparent's Day Gift Roundup

Grandparents’ Day is Sunday, September 13 this year! That means just over a week away.

In thinking up gifts for my kids to give to their grandparents whom they miss dearly, I have come up with a few criteria:

1. No gift shall be something that I would want to throw away if it was given to me.

2. If they make something, it has to be something they make on their own with little guidance.

That eliminates the majority of handprint art mercifully - that never goes well for us.

Given those details, here are a few of my favorite ideas for Grandparents’ Day gifts.

Fun Facts form : My kids are at an age where they think old is 10 years old and airplanes is a job, so this will be a fun activity to both do and read later.

Smushed art : This is a project that I could leave the kids doing for awhile with little risk of getting paint everywhere. Also a great sensory and color practice activity.

Rainbow Name activity: If I wasn’t trying to teach letters, I would likely skip this activity siting Rule 2 above. But as a lesson about letters, I will allow this craft.

Mail a hug: This project resonates with me so much during Covid. My kids would give anything to hug their grandparents, and this seems like the safest way to do so.

Height String: I got this as an end of the year gift from my son’s preschool and loved it. It is a sweet and simple way to mark a time in your child’s life.

Thumbbody card: I think I can manage a thumbprint better than a whole toddler hand covered in paint. Plus, a free printable always makes my heart skip a beat! Just make sure to cut the bottom off because it says 2012.

Paperbag puppets: Our Facetime calls with the grandparents get pretty lively on their own, but adding a preschool puppet show would be such a fun addition! You could make puppets of the kids and mail the grandparents puppets that you made of them and have them talk to each other over Facetime.

Photobooks: It might be a little late to achieve these, but I bet your local pharmacy has a quick print option. If you have been practicing social distancing from your families, put together a photobook of some of the fun things that you’ve been doing at home for your grandparents to flip through when they miss the kiddos.

Photo puzzle: Same idea as above, but in puzzle form!

7 Parenting Hacks from The Danish Way of Parenting

I have had The Danish Way of Parenting : What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids on my bedside table for far too long.

I tried to read it when my oldest was just barely two, and it was still a little unrealistic. Now that my oldest is 4 and his brother is 2.5 and following right behind him both in actual footsteps and behavior, it is VERY applicable to our life.

The book is broken into 7 sections with one section dedicated to assessing your current parenting style and the other 6 being themes using PARENT as an acronym. Those 6 sections are:

Play

Authenticity

Reframing

Empathy

No Ultimatums

Togetherness

This book proved particularly relevant to me reading it as an American is 2020. I feel like all the “bad” parts about being an American are amplified 100% by the current political climate and divisiveness in our country. Seeing name calling, low blows, and tantrums constantly in the news juxtaposed with reading this book at night made it clear to me that I needed to implement the strategies within.

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Here are my major parenting hacks from this book and simple action items that can be implemented even with the smallest kids:

Examine your default settings

“Our default settings are the actions and reactions we have when we are too tired to choose a better way.” As someone who is dealing with generalized anxiety that is amplified during this pandemic, I had found myself snapping at my kids more than I like. I truly hate this, and acknowledge that I need to work on it.

Default settings can also be a product of your own upbringing too. This book challenged me to look at my parenting compared to my parents’. In that way you can understand how your child might be feeling, because you likely felt something similar 30 years earlier as the child in the scenario.

ACTION ITEM: MAKE A LIST OF THE BEHAVIORS THAT YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE ABOUT PARENTING AT YOUR WORST AND WORK ON THEM AT YOUR BEST.

Free play can make your child less anxious

In America, mothers often feel guilty when we aren’t creating exciting games for scratch to play with our kids while fresh chocolate chip cookies bake in the oven and we handle a conference call all at once. It seems that the Danish value free play far more.

They view free play as a way to build a child’s confidence. By allowing children to play freely alone or with others, they are learning coping skills - how to handle a situation without Mom jumping in to rescue. Understanding that they can manage situations solo enhances an internal locus of control. This means that they will feel that they have more control over what happens to them (vs. an external locus of control which is when external factors have more control over your situation than you do). A child who believes that they are in control of their life is less likely to feel anxious because they determine what happens.

ACTION ITEM: Cool it with the mom guilt, and let the kids play!

Compliment to develop a growth-mindset

Danish parents compliment the work and effort that went into accomplishing a task rather than the actual end product. Instead of raving about how smart their child is when they ace a test, they are likely to encourage the focus that the child showcased to earn top marks.

Encouraging the work creates a growth mindset for the child, meaning that “they can develop their skills because they are working very hard.” Whereas a child with a fixed-mindset would think that intelligence is something that they either have or do not.

ACTION ITEM: Embrace the frustration that comes with hard work. When you child masters a new task, compliment their perseverance. When your child finishes an art project, praise their creativity.

Separate the actions from the person

My son went through a rough patch of stranger danger as a little guy. He would hide from everyone, and I would often tell others that he was shy to make them feel more comfortable. I was labeling my child shy when in reality he was just going through a phase. By writing that narrative for him and repeating it, I was equalizing my son to his actions. When in reality, he is so much more than shy.

If I had taken a step back at the time, I could have reframed the problem as a positive by saying, “He is really enjoying being around familiar faces right now.” Danish parents rarely focus on the negatives in a situation, opting to help their child discover a positive spin. They aren’t disregarding or ignoring reality, but having the child rewrite the problem by eliminating some negativity builds their self esteem as the “master of [their] emotional response”.

ACTION ITEMS: Don’t discipline by saying that your child was a “bad boy” or “good girl”. Instead tell them that they are a good boy, but their behavior is bad right now.

Teach emotions now to avoid peer pressure later

Americans are all about being number one, regardless of who we stepped on to get there. Maybe if we tried working together to achieve a common goal, we would be a happier, more collaborative society. Danes believe just that - the happiness of others in fundamental to your own happiness.

In a society that is built upon selfishness, it is hard to teach empathy. I had found that a great place to start is to give your child a full understanding of emotions. Talk to them about how a character in a TV show is feeling when something happens. Ask if they have ever felt that way. Once they have an understanding of different emotions, encourage them to use that knowledge often.

As kids get older, you will be able to explain how your actions can make you feel certain ways. For example, giving mom a flower from your walk makes her happy. Once they experience those emotions firsthand as something that they can navigate, they are less likely to let outside influences guide them in big decisions down the road - drugs, sex, alcohol, etc. Again, they are “the masters of [their] emotional response”.

ACTION ITEM: When you’re overwhelmed or sad, let your kids see that human side of you. If you can, explain how you are feeling in words they understand. Then let them see you overcome negative emotions as the master of your response.

Divert from problems instead of offering ultimatums

I know how easy it is to lose your cool after you child continues to do something that they have already been disciplined about. Been there, done that. However, this book offers an alternative - avoidance of the problem rather than punishment for the problem.

For instance, my 4 year old was just arguing with my husband about where he can play with a toy. My husband said he had to be in his room, and my son wanted to wander the house. I overheard my husband explain again the conditions that he put in place, and my son just said, “No”. So my husband playfully grabbed the toy from him and started tickling my son with it and saying that he better play with it in his room. And the conflict melted.

This could have easily presented the opportunity for an ultimatum (“You play with that toy in your room, or you don’t play with it at all”). Instead, we diverted the problem with humor. The message was still the same but there weren’t raised voiced or tears.

Honestly, this one is the hardest hacks for me to do. Sometimes I am just at my wit’s end and an ‘or else’ is all I can muster, likely reverting to the default settings I mentioned earlier. In order to help with this, I am thinking more about picking my battles. So my kid refuses to wear actual pajamas and instead is wearing a polo shirt to bed? As long as he is comfortable, warm, and getting sleep, why do I really care?

ACTION ITEM: Offer a way out of a heated situation instead of an ultimatum. “Take [the toy/problem item] away. Distract. Remove the child [from the situation]. Use humor.” Try to be a calm teacher first, and save the disciplinarian voice for when you really need it.

Practice simple togetherness with loved ones

Remember when hygge became a thing in America a few years ago? Everyone thought that buying some candles and a cozy blanket would propel them into a zen state of mind. In reality, hygge is a concept centered on togetherness. Hygge really combines all the elements that I previously mentioned - practicing empathy to understand where others are coming from, being vulnerable so that you can build genuine social connections, practicing presence, and acting as a collaborative team to achieve a goal.

Individualism is practically in the Constitution in America. But research has shown that people who can rely on genuine social connections during a tragedy are more likely to recover and no experience prolonged disruptions. We need support and connection to survive.

ACTION ITEM: Once it is safe to have parties again, focus less on cleaning the house and having the perfect menu set (guilty!), and focus more on mentally preparing for a peaceful, fun time. Don’t worry about rehashing the argument you had with someone previously - leave that at the door and plan for simple togetherness. There is a time and place for heated debate, and a party isn’t it.

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I was hesitant to read a parenting book to begin with, but this book is a perfect 10. It provides enough data to substantiate their claims without reading like a textbook. Real world examples also makes the concepts easy to relate to my real life.

After nearly 6 months of isolating, family dynamics might feel forced or tense. That’s normal when you’re thrown into the middle of a pandemic while still trying to create a sense of normalcy for those around you. If you’ve been running on empty for awhile now or you’re tired of raising your voice to your kids or you’re just looking for a system reboot, I highly recommend you give this book a try!

How I Encourage Independence in My Kids

As my kids get older, I have realized that I seriously underestimated their capabilities.  I wasn’t around children much before having my own so in my mind children weren’t really functioning members of the family until at least kindergarten, right? 

Well, add two more kids into the pot, and the idea that none of them would help around the house until they were 5 was just not realistic.  A family of five means a lot of dishes, laundry, and messes and little time for mom and dad to take a chill pill.  I went to the drawing board to figure out how I can encourage my children to take on more responsibility in the house early in life.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “research suggests there are benefits to including chores in a child's routine as early as age 3.”  In theory, this sounds great - tell the kids to pick up after themselves and call it a day.  In reality, there are so many factors combating one another.  Children are naturally self absorbed and living in the here and now.  Explaining why things are done is a challenge when all they want is to play and get on to the next fun thing.  

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Here’s how I make it work in my house:

Start small with self care

I start small with basic self care tasks. Simple tasks provide opportunities for success and self care impacts them on a physical level providing tangibles for them.  For all my kids, the first real introduction to being independent is making them responsible for their own water bottle.  They have to bring in on outings, to the dining table, outside, etc.  It is the most direct way for them to see that their actions mean something - thirst.  Of course, when I see that they have forgotten it, I always grab it - I’m not a monster! But after a few minutes of thirst, they start to understand.  

Songs make it fun

Remember “clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere?” That wasn’t bs.  We start singing that song straight outta the womb.  For the littlest kids, seeing mom and dad singing and seemingly having fun while doing a task is good for them.  They think that the task is just pure fun, another game.

Progress now, perfection later 

Just yesterday, my 4 year old told me that he wanted to straighten up the pantry.  Music to my ears!  I knew that the pantry was already tidy, so I was sure this would mean a mess in my future.  But I let him think that he was really making an impact cleaning the pantry. I encouraged him and complimented his work throughout the entire process.  When he was done, I could see him beaming with pride.  Feeling ownership over something without a parent telling them step for step how to accomplish something is a step in the right direction. I went back and put things in order later when he couldn’t see me so that I didn’t diminish his effort. 

Take time to explain what you’re doing 

Sometimes I cringe when I hear my kids ask, “Why?”, all day everyday.  I always try to fight through my own annoyance to fully explain the answer.  For example, after we have a meal I request that my 2 and 4 year old take their plates to the sink instead of leaving them at the table.  When I am undoubtedly challenged about this, I explain that this helps me when I am cleaning up.  I always try to reinforce that we are all members of this family community and we can help each other.  

Save allowances for older kids

Little kids don’t understand the value of a dollar.  They barely know what money is! And that concept is getting harder to explain since we all use digital payment and credit cards for everything.  When my kids are little, I let pride in their work be the real payment.  I really push home the fact that I am so proud of X behavior.  I also make sure to ask them how they feel about their behavior.  

My oldest is just now starting to understand the concept of earning and the value of hardwork, so a small allowance will likely be coming in the near future.  Luckily, he is fascinated by coins so that will be where we start. 

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If you’re still lost at where to start, below is a list of chores broken down by the age at which I have implemented them.  I’ve also included some simple explanations that I offer when the kids ask why they need to do each task or ways that I make these tasks easier. Again, the point here isn’t to get these tasks done perfectly.  The intention is that completing tasks and helping the household will encourage them to take on more responsibility and feel pride in themselves.

18 months - 2 years

Laundry 

I have one laundry basket in the hallway that the kids have to pass on their way from their room to the kitchen.  They know that their PJs from the day go in there.  I also include them as I change loads from washer to dryer.  That is a great time to explain how laundry works. 

Picking up toys 

We start this much younger, but by this age they have some autonomy. As long as we can get them about 75% of the way there, that is good enough at this age. 

2 years - 3 years

Trash duty 

Every bit of trash that they produce, they toss in the proper bin.  This naturally leads to a conversation about reducing, reusing, and recycling.  (There is a great Storybots episode about recycling on Netflix!)

Putting clean clothes away 

At this age, I usually forgo the typical dresser in lieu of short and lightweight drawers from IKEA.  The kids can easily reach each drawer and put their clothes in the right place. 

Hot tip: Don’t worry about the folding.  They won’t be able to keep everything folded as they shove the clothes in the drawer.  

3 years - 4 years 

Making their bed 

More like pulling the blankets up, but I count it! 

Dusting

We have one of those long Swiffers, so after the dusting is done it usually turns into a sword.  

Wiping the table down after meal

I let them sit on the table to do it, and they get a kick out of that.

Tips to Make the Most Out of the Nap Time Hustle

Parents all over the world are bonding over two things right now - pouring a large drink at the end of the day and realizing the value of nap time.  

There are literally only a few hours a day when your kids are not asking you for another snack or telling you that they are bored, so how do you capitalize on that time? 

Below are 6 ways to make the most out of that nap time hustle:

Make a to do list

Limit this list to things that you need to really focus on.  While you probably need to change the wash to the dryer, that can be done with a little one nearby.  Keep a running tab of things that you can only get done when the kids aren’t around. For me, this mostly involves phone calls or anything that involves math. If you have calls to make, add the phone number to your to do list as well so that you don’t have to waste time looking for it later. 

Visualize the rest of your day 

If you are likely going to be entertaining your kids in your bedroom, wait to fold your laundry and put it away until you’re in there playing with the kids.  If the kids are going to be playing in the playroom, don’t waste your alone time organizing their toys. Don’t sacrifice valuable quiet time on things that can be done with the kids around or better yet, with the help of the kids. 

Know business hours of the places that you need to call 

I have found out recently that most doctors’ offices have unusual hours and sometimes lengthy lunch hours.  For example, my son’s allergist closes at 2pm on Thursday. If you are aware of these things, you won’t waste your time calling when you know no one is available to help you. 

Prep for an easy nap time transition

My kids take a long while to wake up and be their typical happy selves after their nap.  I often take a few minutes while they are napping to prep their snack and make sure that I have an activity or their favorite show ready to launch.  I call this their nap detox. 

Time Block 

My kids nap from 1230pm - 230pm.  I break my time into three blocks as follows: 

1230-130: Computer work - bills, calls, writing, etc. 

130-200: Clean up from the morning 

200-230: Prep for the afternoon 

Deploy the One Minute Rule

The one minute rule is simple - any task you come across that needs to be done and can be done in a minute or less, you must do when you see it.  Play doh on the ground? Pick it up and put it back Towels need to be put in the hamper? Do it. I guarantee that you will be surprised by how much you can get off your plate quickly.  I also think this shift in mindset if great for productivity in general.

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I often have to leave some things half done for the greater good of the household, but it is better to be prepared for the afternoon by really taking advantage of those two golden quiet hours of nap time.  And if by some grace, I get a few minutes later in the day when everyone is content I can wrap those items up with a bow.  

6 Family Movie Nights with Activities and Menus

I’ve found that by Friday afternoons, I have all but given up. I am zonked and just focused on the endgame - pizza and brainless Netflix binging until I fall asleep at 9pm.

For that reason, I am starting to host Friday night/ afternoon movie nights! I typically feel pretty guilty if I let the kids mindlessly sit in front of a TV all afternoon, so I started making movie nights into an entire event complete with hidden lessons, coordinating activities, and a fun menu. A few suggestions are below, but this can really happen with any movie that your kids will sit in front of for its entirety.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Lessons: Obviously, like any sane millennial I love me some Harry Potter. I also recognize that there are countless lessons on which you could focus. To be the most age appropriate for my kids, I went with '“Choose Your Friends Wisely”.

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.”

— Dumbledore

Set the scene: Build a pillow fort or sheet tent and put twinkle lights up to mimic the floating candles in the Great Hall.

Activities: Make wands using sticks, hot glue, and paint. Dabble in potions class with household products. Set up DIY Quidditch goals and use balloons as the quaffle (ball for you muggles). Discuss the importance of friendship and how the people who you choose to be around are a reflection of yourself.

Menu: Of course there are plenty of products that are actual branded HP foods and an Unofficial HP Cookbook. But other ideas include baking a cake and decorating like Hargrid’s birthday cake for Harry, shredded cheese-sticks attached to pretzels to make broomsticks, and if you’re feeling particularly magical lay out some veggies and call them Professor Sprout’s Vegetable Garden.

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Coco

(Just want to share that this is an extremely underrated Pixar movie. I was hesitant to watch it, but don’t judge a movie by the preview)

Lessons: This movie is about the importance of family and the beauty of cherished memories.

“Family comes first.”

— Miguel, Coco

Set the scene: Go full Dia de Los Muertos - check out this previous post with easy ways to celebrate this holiday.

Activities: Talk about your favorite family memories. Make an offrenda on your TV table with pictures of your passed loved ones or papel picados - the colorful banners you see in the movie. Bonus points if you or a family member can play the guitar and teach the kids a chord or two.

Menu: You can do the classic Dia de Los Muertos menu of your ancestor’s favorite foods or do some 7 layer dip, quesadillas or Arroz con Pollo.

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The Lego Movie

Lessons: Embrace what makes you special.

“You are the most talented, most interesting, and most extraordinary person in the universe. And you are capable of amazing things. Because you are the Special. And so am I. And so is everyone.”

— Emmet

Set the scene/Activities: Build an entire Lego city. You can act out scenes from the movie or your own scenarios. Discuss how what you’re building is unique and special.

Menu: Every notice how Lego characters’ heads look exactly like large marshmallows? Dip those in yellow melting chocolates or frost with yellow icing. Another classic idea is a taco bar (Lord Business is going to destroy the world on Taco Tuesday in the movie).

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Hook

Lessons: Just living is the greatest adventure.

Bonus lesson for parents that might make you cry: Childhood is hard and messy and fleeting.

Moira Banning: We have a few special years with our children, when they're the ones that want us around. After that you're going to be running after them for a bit of attention. It's so fast Peter. It's a few years, and it's over. And you are not being careful. And you are missing it.

Crying yet?

“To live... to live would be an awfully big adventure.”

— Peter Banning

Set the scene: You can dress up like pirates and make a ship out of couch cushions ot use the same cushions to make a treehouse like The Lost Boys.

Activities: Naturally, there should be some epic DIY swords and sword fights. Turn off all the lights and play flashlight tag and talk about your shadows. If you have a pool, pretend to be the mermaids that save Peter. Or pretend that your diving board is the plank and your pool is the Crocodile Lagoon. Discuss the importance of playfulness.

Menu: Honestly, you could make anything but if you don’t dye them the colors from the Lost Boys’ food fight scene in the movie, you have missed a real opportunity,

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The Mighty Ducks

Lessons: Be a team player.

“A team isn’t a bunch of kids out to win. A team is something you belong to, something you feel, something you have to earn.”

— Gordon Bombay

Set the scene: Ice rinks aren’t easy to mimic so have your kids slide across the tile or wood floor on paper towels with broom sticks. Take out a cube of ice and (gently) kick it around on wood floor and watch it glide.

Activities: Play hockey with a balloon puck or if you’re feeling a little crude, have a farting contest, GOLDBERG! Discuss how much stronger a team is when they work together.

Menu: I would go with concession stand foods like hamburgers, hot dogs, and ice cream or popsicles.

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Ferngully: The Last Rainforest

Lessons: Respect nature.

“Everything in our world is connected by the delicate strands of the web of life, which is a balance between the forces of destruction and the magical forces of creation.”

— Magi Lune

Set the scene: If you have an inflatable screen, watch the movie outside. See activities for more ideas on that.

Activities: Go on a nature walk. Collect all the flowers, giant leaves, etc. that you can and set them up as if you’re in the rainforest. Or plant a small garden or plant. Discuss the value of nature and the importance of taking care of the earth.

Menu: Try some plant based foods. Maybe a sweet potato bar or veggie burgers.

Activities for Preschoolers During Quarantine

I think we are all scrambling to find productive ways to spend our time at home over the next few weeks, so I thought I would share my ever evolving list of activities with you. Check back often for new additions. I won’t be adding activities to this list that require many supplies or time. The goal is to be engaging and fun!

Each new round of activities that I add will be separated by a line. Follow along on my Instagram for these ideas in action!

DAILY - weather discussion with chart

DAILY - How I’m Feeling chart

DAILY - Do a random act of kindness

WEEKLY - Job assignment ( dishes helper, trash helper, laundry helper, etc. )

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Websites with free educational resources:

Nat Geo for Kids

Starfall

ABCya

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Tape different colored shapes on the floor. Collect items that are the same shape/color. Use for color identification - english and spanish or whatever language you are learning. Count the sides.

Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats

Weight Experiment with tin foil boats

NASA Resources + straw rocket printable

Counting + Number Identification printable

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Doodle with Mo Willems

Cinncinati Facebook Zoo Home Safaris

Cosmic Kids Yoga

Toddler Fun Learning You Tube channel

Use positional words to guide kids towards an object that you’ve hidden (above, below, etc. )

Collect objects + sort by color, size, length, etc.

Shape scavenger hunt- choose a shape + find object around the house that are that shape

Count the doors, windows, lights, etc. in your house

Letter identification in books - choose a book and have child find all of the “a”s “b”s and so on on each page

Weather Patterns printable

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Practice sight words in salt tray

DIY paint making

Alphabet beans matching game

Read books + '“write reviews” about them together

Virtual museum tours

St Patrick’s Day Why I’m Lucky Shamrock Craft

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Nature walk + search

Harry Potter wand making + potions class

Activity Obstacle Course

Make dinosaur fossils

TP roll tube ramp wall

Color words car park

Car parade line up

W is for weather science experiments

Letter identification worksheets

Monster feelings memory game + match up

Easter handprints cards

Free draw ( save whatever art they make for family birthday cards for the future)

Practice scissor skills

Post- it number matching

Pick a flower spring movement game

Sticker name identification