Gen X Parents Raising Connected Children

The world has changed, in so many ways, between when you were a child and today. Parents who are part of Generation X are the first to raise children (and teens) in a world where the internet is so prevalent. Times have changed, in so many ways! The Washington Post has an article titled “Parenting as a Gen Xer: We’re the first generation of parents in the age of iEverything”. It was written by Allison Slater Tate and posted on September 19, 2014. In it, she comments on the difficulties faced by parent who can’t understand why their kids won’t … Continue reading

Materials to Encourage Spiritual Growth in Kids

All the materials below are ebooks and can be downloaded in an instant! The ABC’s For Godly Children is a comprehensive, Bible eCurriculum centered around teaching children ages 4-10 about the God they serve and how to have a heart like His. By using each letter of the alphabet a Bible lesson is presented in an understandable and interactive format to teach core truths concerning the Gospel, Godly Character, and Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Your children will learn their ABC’s and a necessary Biblical foundation as they connect them through Scripture memorization, detailed lessons, simple crafts, and interactive song.   ~$8.00 each The Dig for … Continue reading

Tis the Season of Getting

I am going to just throw this out there;  I don’t see anything wrong with buying your children a lot of gifts.  Christmas may not be about gifts but we all know gifts help make the season bright.  If we didn’t believe that we wouldn’t give to Toys for Tots, Operation Homefront, or go into an insane amount of debt every year.  Like it or not, gifts are here to stay and I do not feel that is negative.  Who doesn’t like to unwrap a gift?  Who doesn’t like to see their children’s eyes light up when they open that … Continue reading

Living Math

Math is used every day. Living math is an aptly put term for teaching math through the every day uses of math. Children are taught how to solve real life math problems using real life scenarios or hands on manipulatives or simply through play. Push the worksheets and textbooks aside and see the equations you solve daily. A child will learn to understand math when he sees the connection to the physical world around him. Real world math scenarios to consider: Doubling a recipe. Cutting a recipe in half. Calculating change before the cashier hands it back. How much money … Continue reading

Teaching Kids Self-Denial

I recently attended a symposium which featured a presentation by a childhood behavioral “expert.” Regular readers of this blog know how I feel about so-called “experts,” but this guy had a host of impressive credentials, not the least of which included raising eight children into incredibly successful young adults. Plus, I was very interested in his topic: “Teaching Kids the Art of Self-Denial.” According to the expert, one of the most important “gifts” you can give your child as he develops into an adult is to teach him or her to “routinely deny himself immediate pleasures to achieve future good.” … Continue reading

Teaching Responsibility Through Gardening

I’ve never been a good gardener. I forget to water my plants and within a few days they are usually dead. I figure it must be genetic; my mother suffers from the same problem. But I saw a pretty amazing thing happen this week. It is finally starting to warm up outside so Logan and I decided to spend some time working on the yard together. We spent hours digging up weeds and making things look perfect again. The next day my father took him to the store to pick out some strawberries to put in our little garden. He … Continue reading

Fun Financial Education for Kids

Allowance is a hot topic in my daughter’s second grade class. Last week, her school hosted a gigantic book fair and kids were given the opportunity to shop during recess. Of course, that meant administrators had to modify their “no money on school property” rule. For the fair’s three-day run, students were allowed to bring up to $40 in cash and keep it in their backpacks until it was time to shop. Naturally, my daughter begged to bring 40 bucks to school. “Do you have 40 dollars?” I asked. “No, but you can give me it,” she responded without hesitation. … Continue reading

Storybook Treasures: Sign Language DVDs

It is my pleasure to introduce you to Scholastic Storybook Treasures: A Sign Language DVD. If you have not heard of this before then please pay special attention. These DVDs are a wonderful way to introduce your child to sign language through those special stories they already know and love. The DVD points out on the cover that sign language is linked to improved fine motor skills, increased vocabulary and higher IQ scores. Since you cannot believe everything you read I looked this up and it is all true. Let’s discuss format a bit. The DVD is about 36 minutes … Continue reading

Teaching Discernment

As moms we feel the pressure to monitor everything our children watch, listen to or read. However, keeping up with a child on those issues can be very difficult. That is not to say it is impossible or should not be attempted. However, teaching children discernment will not only alleviate your stress and workload it will teach your child valuable skills. In my house, we have one TV so monitoring what my children see is very easy. However, there are times when I hear my oldest telling another to turn the channel due to a show’s content. This is fairly … Continue reading

Home Schooling with a Toddler in Tow

Have you ever been teaching algebra and been interrupted by the sound of your toddler riffling through your bookcase? Or teaching biology and look up to see your walls decorated with Crayola markers, complements of your toddler? Or worse yet, realize you have not taught a decent day of school since your baby turned into a toddler? Home schooling is not for the faint of heart. Our families are constantly changing, growing, and living life in between fractions and Moby Dick. One of the biggest changes a home schooling family can go through is the addition of a new baby. … Continue reading