I like cooking. Actually, I should say I like the IDEA of cooking. Other than the occasional breakfast spread or grilling, I don’t find myself cooking fresh meals very often. Since my wife has finished school and is working full-time again, that means we don’t prepare many scratch meals these days. So when Freshly approached us to try their individually-packaged, chef-prepared meals for a week – our family decided to give it a shot. We probably have an “eater-type” in […]
Category: Parents
These Things You Learned In School That Your Students and Children Won’t
41 Things You Learned In School That Your Students and Children Won’t 1. Learn to type on a typewriter Kids today text and type at a speed that is astonishing. Some text faster with their thumbs than anyone who learned to use a typewriter could. Although obsolete, the typewriter lessons come in handy when parents and teachers need to learn computer skills. Keyboards replaced the typewriter. 2. Research with encyclopedias Research meant finding the correct volume in the book set […]
Best Kids Lunch Boxes For School or Play
Ah the good ole lunchbox! Kids REALLY care about the lunchbox they roll. I guess that’s because it’s one of the first ways to show individual tastes as children grow. Sure, brown lunch bags are fine for teenagers, but for kids the lunch box comes high on the pecking order of important school supplies. Parents care about most everything BUT the look. Ease of cleaning the lunch box is high on the list. The material, shape, and compartment sizes affect how […]
Screen-Savvy Parenting
The research and studies are in…we have to be smarter than our technology. Parenting in the digital age can be challenging and confusing. The American Academy of Pediatrics–informed by dozens of studies on screen time and its effect on the emotional and physical health of children–has guidelines for parents. Check out their tips for screen-savvy parenting: Children under the age of 2 should avoid all digital media use except for video chatting via apps like Skype and Facetime. If you […]
The Best Family Movies All Ages Will Enjoy
Are you in the mood to make some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie the whole family can enjoy? Here are 9 movies that all ages can enjoy. Some are classics you probably know, but most are films you probably aren’t aware existed. Some are silly, while others cover issues that might be important to your child. The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About Space Kids interested in space and Dr. Seuss’ fans […]
27 Lessons Parents Need To Teach Their Children For Success
The most important teacher for a child is a parent. While kids are always watching and learning from your actions, sometimes we forget that they also need to be actually taught lessons – explicitly! For instance, a recent poll indicated only 54% of millennial dads know how to reset a tripped circuit breaker. While my guess is if push came to shove most could figure out how to get the lights back on, it’s not an inborn skill. These life […]
45 Captivating Water Games for Kids and Parents
I don’t think there’s a kid on this planet (or a dog for that matter) who doesn’t associate sprinklers and water hoses with fun water games. Even parents become kids again when reminded of the fun activities they enjoyed as children. You don’t need a party for water games; a summer afternoon will do just fine. Here is a list of water games to play this summer including water racing games, water balloon games, games for kids and adults, and, […]
Teaching Kids Self Control
Teaching children self-control accomplishes more than learning how to control their emotions. It teaches them that life is not made up of one crisis after another. Self-control teaches them that they can handle any given situation, that everything has a solution if you stay objective toward the challenge. Kids who can stay in control of their emotions on the playground and at school will mature into adults who practice self-control at work and home. Adults often teach more by example […]
These Swings For Kids Are Made For Carefree Summer Days
Think back to when you were young. What can be a more glorious summer afternoon memory as a kid than taking a hop on a tire swing and feeling the breeze on your back? Or maybe you were more of a wooden swing type of child, letting the sun warm your face? These days, you get to choose from many more options when picking a swing for kids. It’s one of the fun jobs as a parent – picking out […]
15 Unmatched Outdoor Birthday Party Games For Kids
Your child just told you they want to have a birthday party at home. At your house. Half a classroom full of energetic, over-stimulated little people. Don’t panic. We’ve got what you need. You need some outdoor birthday party games – to protect your home and your sanity. If you are feeling brave or need to work on indoor birthday party games, we’ve got you covered too Here is a list of 15 inexpensive outdoor party games for kids to […]
Indoor Party Games For Kids
If you’ve ever hosted an indoor birthday party, you know the key to success is having activities planned to keep the children occupied. (It also does wonders to keep you and other parents sane as well.) These indoor birthday party games will help make your next celebration a success regardless of the weather. It solves the dilemma of keeping a dozen or more excited and energetic kids entertained. Here is a list of 15 indoor party games for kids. We’ve […]
90 Brilliant Would You Rather Questions For Kids
We all know children can sometimes be shy. What if there were a game you could play to draw them out of their shell? That game is called “Would You Rather” – it’s great for kids. Get to know them by watching their reactions and listening to their response. What is the game “Would You Rather?” The game ‘Would you rather’ is a conversation type of game that poses a question with two options and the person must choose one. […]
11 Classic Board Games The Entire Family Will Enjoy
In our fast-paced world, it’s often hard to slow down and take the time to really engage with friends and family. We know we ought to do it, but the demands of work, school activities and other outside pressures make it difficult. These classic board games are your secret weapon to help you steal a few hours a week of quality time. By their very nature, a family game forces us to talk and engage with the other players. These […]
Great Chore Charts For Kids You Can Print Yourself
Many parents use chore charts to motivate their kids to help with chores around the house and to teach their children responsibility. Chore charts work, but sometimes it’s like a New Year’s Resolution. It starts with the best of intentions but isn’t followed through and soon forgotten…until next time… For over 80 years the Harvard Grant study has been running – it’s the longest running longitudinal study in existence, and has been tracking Harvard graduates since the 1930’s. It’s found […]
Community Based Instruction: Essential for Special Needs Individuals with Behavioral Difficulties
What is community-based instruction (CBI)? How is CBI different from field trips? Community-based instruction is education that is based in community environments as opposed to highly controlled locations such as schools or center-based programs. Community-based instruction is not the same as field trips. Field trips are excursions by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment. While field trips can be enjoyable and educational, they are not designed to teach learners specific skills within the natural […]
9 Best Balance Board Choices for Keeping Active Kids On Their Feet!
You’ve probably heard of balance bikes before, but have you looked into a balance board? A balance board is a fun and active toy kids can enjoy both in and out of the house. There are even electronic balance boards available! But more than that, these boards help kids development important skills. Physical skills like spatial awareness, balance and coordination are developed and practiced with the use of a balance board. Studies have even shown regular use of a balance […]
Don’t Confuse My Kindness With Weakness
“You’re too nice,” he said to me. Now, I get this all the time. All the time. All my life. All walks of life. Relatives. Teachers. Coaches. Friends. Girlfriends. As a child, I got if from my father often. He was quite annoyed at my easy-going kind ways. “You don’t have to be so damn nice all the time. The world ain’t a nice place and nice guys always find themselves at the damn bottom.” Even as a child, I […]
Parenting in the 21st Century: Part II
In our last installment we focused on the story of Michael, a twelve year old who turned tragedy into triumph by using his COMMUNICATION, CREATIVITY, and INNOVATION skills to grapple with the very tough topic of gun violence. When children are given the opportunity, they can effectively navigate real-world challenges by using 21st-century skills. In this issue, we look at another young person Alicia and how she used her skills to benefit the community. ALICIA’S STORY Alicia is thirteen years old, […]
Here Are Some of The Best Teacher Gift Ideas For 2020
Generally, teachers don’t expect gifts. Teachers care about children and want to educate them in preparation for the world beyond school. That’s enough of a reward for most educators. That said, your student’s teacher is awesome! So you want to do a little more to show you appreciate how your teacher goes above and beyond the call of duty. A great gift during Christmas or at the end of the year is a way parent, and learners can show their […]
11 of the Most Popular Video Games for Kids and Young Gamers
Video games and especially video games for kids can be quite a fiery topic. Do they enhance intelligence? Are they too violent? Do kids spend too much time in front of the television? While there is plenty of research to back nearly every conflicting viewpoint, for me it’s all about balance. Find the right game, set sensible boundaries, and there is no doubt that your child will benefit, and thoroughly enjoy their gaming experience. So, what is the right game […]