When my daughter was young, I created a book of meaningful quotes for her as a keepsake. I then added pages to the back for “Quotes From You”, where I write down all of the funny and sweet things that she says. This has become a treasure for my daughter, especially as she gets old enough to understand some of
Creative consequences for kids
I started using “creative consequences” for my kids about six months ago, and was shocked at what a difference it made in whether or not they actually listen to me. It gets their attention much faster than the typical lines they’ve heard a thousand times. Some of them may seem kind of silly, but that’s why kids love them, and
Crafty dry erase boards for kids rooms
I recently started using dry erase boards in my kids’ bedrooms to leave them reminders, write notes, and stay organized. It has not only made my life easier, but my kids love it! Once it became clear that they were going to be in the rooms for a while, I decided to make them nicer looking. Here is my daughter’s,
Best interactive christmas websites for kids
I’ve got to hand it to some people – they are more creative than I will ever be. Some very inventive (and tech savvy!) people have created some awesome interactive Christmas websites that kids love. Here are my favorites (and of course, these are all free): 1. Portable North Pole: This website is a child favorite. Anyone can create a
Keeping kids busy
Here are ideas for keeping kids busy while you need to get things done around the house. None of them will make a mess, and most can be done with items you have around the house already. Magnets: make magnets for kids so that they can play with them while you are cooking Picture magnet You will need: 8 x
50 date night ideas
Date nights are one of my favorite things in life. I actually think that I like date nights now more than I did in my single days. Here are some of my favorite date night ideas – please note that some of them are at-home date nights, so you’ll have to make arrangements for your kids (see this post on preparing
Traditions
Some of my best childhood memories are of our family traditions, especially the ones we made up on our own. I always knew that when I had my own family, traditions would be a big part of our life. Not only do traditions provide a sense of family unity, but they’re usually fun for everybody as well. If you want
30 ways to bond with your children
In your children’s eyes, you can do no wrong. Make the most of this stage by spending quality time with your little ones. Try one each day for a month to show those kiddos how special they are. Makeup a handshake – the sillier, the better! Feel free to include shimmies, jumping, and spinning. Next time they do something awesome,
Packing for travel with kids
Organized packing for vacations As a minimalist, I hate “stuff.” By “stuff” I mean items that are unneeded, unloved, cause stress, take up space, and require maintenance. Also, I don’t know about you, but I want to spend my vacation time on the beach, not digging through my suitcase. Using minimalist thinking, I believe I have discovered a very efficient packing method.
Traveling with kids
My daughter flew twenty-six times, including internationally, before she turned three years old – true story. We don’t plan on slowing down any time soon, so needless to say, I have mastered the art of traveling with children. As usual, you can find a printable at the end of this post: a traveling to-do list. Preparation There are certain items