When you were growing up, did you have a great deal of freedom to explore? I listen to books like The Sugar Creek Gang with my children now, and I am astonished at how much freedom the children of by-gone eras had. Even I had much more freedom then I feel it is safe to give my own. I think this is has to do with increasing moral decline. Should my own thirteen-year old daughter go traipsing Continue Reading >>
10 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Eat Vegetables and other Healthy Foods
My friends are constantly amazed at the variety of healthy foods my children will eat even though they also get access to junk food. You can encourage your kids to eat vegetables, and there are a few things that will make it easier. I've talked about the "snack" supper before, and that's a great help. Here are the other things we do... Frequent Exposure Encourages Kids to Eat Vegetables The Continue Reading >>
20 Super Cheap Summer Fun Activities to do with Children
Summer is a busy time for us because we just love to play every single day. Since we live in Southern California, summer stretches from the earliest possible moment we can claim a reprieve from school in May until late September. We need lots of fun play ideas -- and most of them need to be cheap! Here are 20 of our favorite cheap summer fun activities. Sidewalk Chalk Maze ($1-4): My 6 and 8 Continue Reading >>
Top Ten Free Summer Fun Activities For Children
#10 - Vacation Bible School: If your children are prone to the end of summer doldrums, find out about the Vacation Bible Schools in your area. Stick around to help and both you and your children will be blessed. #9 - Water Play: If you have a hose, your children can get wet. A sprinkler, mini-pool, or water guns can extend that play even further. Use whatever you have! You might even Continue Reading >>
Reading to Your Little Ones: 5 Ways To Read to your Toddler
I don't get as much time to read to the twins as I read to my oldest when she was two. In fact, the only thing that keeps me from feeling incredibly guilty about this is the fact that my oldest two children can and often do read to the twins themselves! One of my favorite types of books to read to toddlers is what I call the "point and learn" books. These books have lots and lots of pictures of Continue Reading >>