It’s Halloween time and I’m exploring 31 Great Books to Read to Your Kids—what better author to share with your kids than Edgar Allan Poe, the master of suspense? Homeschooling post updated 10/29/2023 Reading a well written suspenseful tale—even one that includes murders—is nothing like watching a gory scene on TV or acting one out […]
Why I Let My Kids Eat Crap at Christmas
Do you stick to your healthy diet during the holidays? What about your kids? I let my kids eat tons of sugar at Christmas time—actually, from Halloween through around January 5th. Not January 1st, because only a fool would attempt a healthy diet reboot while there is still pie in the house. [Affiliate links are […]
Great Books for BIG Kids to Read Over Christmas Vacation
“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” Walt Disney Here are some ideas for books to read on Christmas vacation, and the reason why reading shouldn’t stop when school lets out for winter break. [Affiliate links in this post are for your convenience and offer free 2-day shipping […]
When Should Kids Wash Their Hands? 10 Handwashing Tips for Kids in the Kitchen!
Updated 4/13/20 It’s no secret I’m a germophobe. That doesn’t mean I bathe my kids in sanitizer, it means I have a healthy respect for germs and I know which ones are important to keep out of my kids’ mouths! I’m hyper-vigilant about handwashing because I worked in restaurants with strict food handling and food […]
How to Teach Vocabulary with Great Books! The Hardy Boys 1: The Tower Treasure
Do you want your kids to have a rich, expressive vocabulary? Sure you do! There’s really only one way to ensure your kids can easily pluck le mot juste from their magnificent brains at will: read Great Books to them! Take a good, hard look at your kids’ book lists from school: do you see […]
The One Phrase 100% Guaranteed To Cure Boredom In Any Child Instantly And For All Time
Summer is here: You want a way to cure boredom. Maybe yours, but probably your kids’. I am here to tell you that you don’t need a summer bucket list, painted mason jars stuffed with slips of paper with fun activities printed on them, a change of venue, or a Wheel O’ Fun. You need […]
Summer Fun On A Budget: Have A Blast For Free!
Do you have a budget for your summer vacation? Not your vacation vacation, but those fun summer activities and treats that make summer summer? I don’t. OK, my summer fun budget is like $30. But I can make that in one hour posting crap out of my closet on a Facebook garage sale, so my YNAB does […]
The Summer Vacation Chore Plan: Get More Done and Have More Fun!
Set the tone for your kids’ summer vacation before it starts: Make a Summer Vacation Chore Plan! Your house should never be cleaner than when the kids aren’t in school. It may seem like a “nice mom” move to let them slouch around the house once the stress of the school year is over, but you’re […]
How To Limit Kids’ Screen Time During Summer Vacation Out Of The Gate
Limit kids’ screen time during summer vacation out of the gate with this easy to follow method! Summer vacation offers the amazing gift of down time! But that doesn’t mean your kids need to laze and glaze over a screen from Memorial Day through Labor Day! As the saying goes, to fail to plan is to […]
How To Teach Kids Compassion
How do you teach your kids to be compassionate? Is compassion something we need to purposefully explain to our children? Don’t humans come hardwired with a conscience and the capacity to connect to other humans with love, empathy, and sympathy? I do believe that we have a built-in drive to act with compassion, but […]
