Teaching Kids by letting them help you and others

Ever wanted to know how to do all those things your parents and other adults knew how to do?  Did you like the parents take your kids to work day?  Do your kids get frustrated when you don't let them try and help you do things around the Read all about why you should and how to teach your kids those things you wished someone would have passed on to you.  

Loving away the hurt and tending to a wounded child.

Those of you who have school children will experience having to deal with your child being hurt at least emotionally by their peers.  Whether it's done to your child by accident or not the feelings that your child goes through hurt any parents heart.  How do you you calm your child and love away the hurt?

Cheap things to do with your child this summer!

Looking for things to keep your child and you entertained this summer?   I know I do.  The cost of Summer Camp is way too much for my wallet and my kids would get pretty bored just sitting around home.

$1 Kids Summer Movies With Regal

Looking for something to do with your kids this summer that is Cheap and Fun? Check out Regal Theaters Summer Movie Express! All movies are $1 each.

Separation Anxiety? Check out these 3 tips!

Working in childcare and having 4 children of my own, I'm very familiar with kids with separation anxiety.  Dealing with the signs can be very difficult and range from crying to all out tantrums.   Here are a few of my tricks and tips to help your child deal with being separated from you.

Websites for kids

I use Grammarly's plagiarism checker software because copy and paste is the easy way out.

We love to help our kids succeed at school.  One way is to show them websites so you can practice school stuff with the fun added. Below are my FREE recommended websites for helping them with their skills. 

Gingerbread Villages

One of the things my kids love to do around Christmas time is make Gingerbread houses. What's better than a gingerbread house? A gingerbread village!

Teaching the True Meaning of Christmas

My mommy group recently had an awesome discussion on the message board about how to teach kids the real meaning of Christmas. I liked the ideas so much, I'm copying them here so I can use them now and in the future!

Nativity Story Advent

This is our favorite countdown to Christmas! Every day, the kids get to add a new character to our nativity scene, while we read a bible verse that tells a bit of the Christmas story. Lately, we have had fun creating new nativities.

Snow Cream (The perfect Snow Day Recipe)

Snow Cream is one of my favorite Snow Day treats.   Made with 3 simple ingredients + Snow, it's the perfect treat for those days home from school.

Neighborhood Nativity Scavenger Hunt

While you check out all your local Christmas Lights as a way of showing appreciation for the lights check out this Brilliant Momma Idea!  

Being a Better Parent: Love Unconditionally

One of the biggest lessons we learn from scripture is how showing favoritism between siblings can cause major problems. Another hard lesson that just because you are a parent doesn't mean your love for your child is unconditional. Unlike our father in Heaven we have to work on loving them unconditionally especially when that love is not returned or not easy.

Place-mats that Give Thanks

Here is a simpler version of a Thanksgiving place-mat. All you need is glue, markers/crayons, scissors and construction paper.

"Whooo Are you Thankful For?"

Check out this great craft idea to make a thanksgiving place-mat for your kids thanksgiving meal in the shape of an owl.  

Being a Better Parent: Choose Reconciliation over Isolation

As your children get older they seem to require less of you and start making some of their own decisions. It's a part of preparing them to be Adults.  With that comes hurt feelings, distrust, and sometimes out right defiance of the values you have taught them.   This post is all about how to fix those issues when they arrive.

Pressed-Leaf Placemats

We usually have the kids create their own Thanksgiving placemats. A few times, we have used autumn leaves that the kids have collected.

Thanksgiving Tree

This year we're making an effort to be thankful during the month of Thanksgiving. I thought a fun way for the kids to get excited about giving thanks to God, and to add some fall fun to our home, was to create a paper tree, that we could decorate each day with new leaves naming something we're thankful for.

Being a Better Parent: Don't Go Against Your Better Judgement

One thing you get as soon as anyone knows you are going to be a parent is advice.  Some advice is good and some of it is far far out there.   Part of being a better parent is using your judgement, the Holy Spirit and/or parental instinct to meet the needs of your kids and to sort out all that advice. 

Being a Better Parent: Confront your Kid's Disobedience

Sometimes parents get tired of being the bad guy or of saying the same things over and over again.  Just this morning, I heard myself say things like, "Did you finish all your chores", "Keep your hands to yourself"," Stop yelling at your siblings", and "Hurry, you don't have much time".  All though not all of them were discipline terms they all left me feeling like a broken record.  If you are like me take a look at Part 2 of the series: Being a better Parent!

How to be a Better Parent: Maintaining Personal Ingregrity

Want to be a better parent?  Check out this series to give you a refresher and some tips on being the best parent you can.  Everyone no matter how good of a parent they are can stand for a refresher.