*We originally published this post near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some things have changed since then, the activities in this post are still great skill-builders for young children! As schools close due to COVID-19 concerns and new guidelines on social distancing take effect, many parents are home with their young children—and looking … Read more
One of the most common questions I’m always asked over on my Instagram account is what education philosophy do I subscribe to in our home learning environment. Specifically, am I Montessori? Or Reggio? Or Steiner? Or Waldorf? Well the short answer to that is I don’t subscribe to any one educational philosophy or approach. Even … Read more
Parents today often look for teachable moments – and opportunities abound. When reading a book with a child, for example, it might mean discussing story plots with him. If she isn’t allowed to play a videogame, it means explaining why. There’s good reason for this: Research has shown that engaged parenting helps children build cognitive … Read more
This post may contain affiliate links This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GiantEaglePerks #CollectiveBias #cbias It’s hard to believe that Summer is just around the corner. Preschool has officially ended, our Spring activities are wrapping up… and I’m in disbelief that I’ll soon be … Read more
– BALLOON GAMES – A bag of balloons can cost less than $10 and offers hours of family fun. Remember that popped balloons are a choking hazard and small children shouldn’t be left alone with them. Trust your parental gut if you don’t think your child is ready for balloons. You know your child best. … Read more
BENEFITS OF OUTDOOR PLAY AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS You’ve probably heard about the benefits of nature and outdoor play for children. According to the National Wildlife Federation, outdoor play boosts fitness and decreases the risk of childhood obesity, increases focus and academic achievement, reduces stress, and increases feelings of well-being. Spending time outside will help … Read more
A changing school environment Many children experience more than one learning environment, for example, moving from one school to another as they age. In the COVID-19 pandemic, many children experienced changes in their learning environment, switching from in-person schooling to distance schooling, including learning at home and online. Many children returned to in-person schooling, but … Read more
Figuring out how to save money while raising a family is no small feat. The average cost of raising a child born in 2015 through age 17 is $233,610, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And that doesn’t include paying for college. Whether you’ve got one child or a growing brood, it pays to … Read more
As a parent, your kids are the light of your life. Some of that light, however, can quickly start dimming when you’re forced to keep them indoors for days on end. This may be due to illness, school closure, or anything else that might spring up unexpectedly, but no matter the cause, it’s important to … Read more
If you travel with kids, then you may have found cheap family vacations more difficult to arrange in recent years. The price hikes for trips during school breaks are well documented, but there’s also the steady upward trajectory of the costs of food, accommodation and entry to attractions — all of which add up when … Read more