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Before you adopt a rescue dog, read the three things I wish I knew before adopting a rescue!

3 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Adopting a Rescue Dog

October 28, 2021 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

My mother was a professional dog groomer. I grew up with a family dog in the house.

When I was a teenager, I worked part-time in a veterinary clinic.

So it was a no-brainer to me to get a family dog for my kids. I had been wanting to do it for years and the time was finally right.

Right?

Eh. Kind of.

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adopting a Rescue Dog

I always planned to adopt a rescue and I’m glad I went through with that.

But there are some things I would like to have known in advance before I did.

Here are three things I wish I had known before adopting a rescue dog. If you’re considering getting a rescue, this might save you from some of the same mistakes.

Before you adopt a rescue dog, read the three things I wish I knew before adopting a rescue!

3 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Adopting a Rescue Dog

1. Shelter owners are not required to do any due diligence before offering animals for adoption.

The owner I contacted had listed the dog as a four-month-old dachshund mix. His picture was adorable. 

When I drove out to meet him, he was adorable. So sweet and quiet I almost couldn’t believe he was alive. 

He came right up to me, let me pick up, and then just laid in my arms like a baby. 

It was a total set up.

When I took him to the vet a few days later, I discovered that he was sick with an upper respiratory infection. Which explained his quiet disposition and docile behavior.

As he started to recover, he became a bit less quiet and a bit less docile. Actually, more than a bit.

The woman who ran the animal shelter had at least 20 animals in her care and I have no doubt that she could tell he was ill. But they have no legal obligation to disclose that to you.

So, if you meet a shelter animal and you can’t believe how sweet and quiet it is, it might be sick. 

Just so you know.

2. Read the adoption agreement carefully.

I was completely enamored with my new puppy. So when the shelter owner was reviewing the adoption agreement, I barely paid attention. 

She held up the paper and said “This is just the agreement showing the amount of the adoption fee and stating that, if you decide you can’t keep the dog, you have to bring him back to me.” 

I nodded blindly, rocking my new furry friend in my arms. 

Later, after the vet told me some things that the shelter owner did not, I went back and read the agreement I’d signed.

The adoption fee was on there, plus the promise to return him to the shelter if I decided to rehome him for any reason.

But the agreement also included a few items I’d missed. Specifically – the shelter was not liable if the breed, age, and health of the animal turned out to be different than they’d told me.

So – when all three of these turned out to be incorrect, the shelter was not responsible.

Awesome.

3. Prepare for the unexpected – right away.

Now I had a dog who was most definitely not a dachshund mix and who was most definitely not going to remain small. I also had a dog who was significantly younger than I was told.

Which meant that I’d be housebreaking and teaching him not to bite, all of which I fully expected to be completed, because I was supposed to be adopting an older puppy.

I spent weeks getting up multiple times a night to take him outside and basically keeping him away from my kids so they wouldn’t get bitten while he was teething.

I’ve also had to take him to the vet to get some of the vaccines I was told he’d already had. (I was even given paperwork that said so.) Turned out he was too young to get them, so that was probably not accurate either.

It’s been…an experience.

Now I don’t mean to imply that I regret getting my dog. I don’t.

Even though he’s not quite what I was expecting, he’s still a sweet pup and he’s part of our family. And now that he’s been with us for a month, he’s settled in and is doing much better.

He sleeps through the night, he listens and responds when I say “no”, and his teething has improved.

But if I ever decide to do this again, I won’t make the same mistakes. Hopefully you won’t either!

How to Set Up A Simple and Safe Distance Learning Station for Your Kids This School Year

DIY Simple and Safe Distance Learning Station

September 29, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Arm and Hammer™ and includes tracking links. For more information about tracking links and how to opt out, please visit All About Do Not Track (https://allaboutdnt.com) prior to clicking any links found in this post.

Like many families, our children are learning at home this school year – even our high schooler.

I’m thrilled to have her home with me again, but I’m also concerned about keeping her safe and focused on her schoolwork.

Have you been feeling the same way about your family this year?

Trust me, I get it.

We need to keep our kids healthy but we also need them to pay attention in class and keep up with their schoolwork as well as possible.

How to Set Up A Simple Distance Learning Station Safely

Since I’ve been working from home for years, I know it’s important to have a dedicated workspace. The same is true for our kids who are learning at home.

But, with four children in the family, we don’t have a lot of extra space in our home.

And, since our daughter needs to use materials provided by the school district, I was concerned about keeping the home free of any germs that might come in.

So I’m sharing a few tips to help you set up a simple and safe DIY distance learning schoolwork station this year! I hope these ideas help you make the most of your learning space for your kids too!

How to Set Up A Simple and Safe Distance Learning Station for Your Kids This School Year

How to Set Up A Simple and Safe Distance Learning Station

When the school district announced all students would be learning virtually this year, my first concern was helping our sophomore adjust to taking her high school courses online.

Then I found out she would need to use a district-issued laptop, along with district-issued materials. Which is when I started to worry about picking up harmful germs too.

Simple Distance Learning Station for Kids

So I was immensely relieved to get my hands on Arm and Hammer™ Essentials™ Disinfecting Wipes.

These disinfecting wipes are available in two different scents: Lemon Orchard and Renewing Rain. And they’re ready to go right out of the package.

How to Sanitize A Distance Learning Station

The Arm and Hammer™ Disinfecting Wipes are thick, cushiony wipes that you can use on almost every hard surface in your house.

You can even use them to wipe down electronics, as long as you squeeze the excess moisture out first.

No more worries about that germy school laptop!

Simple and Safe DIY Distance Learning Spot for Kids

Even better, Arm and Hammer™ Essentials™ Disinfecting Wipes are 99.9% effective at killing viruses and bacteria, including human Coronavirus, MRSA, Strep, E.Coli, and Salmonella. And they manage to work that well cleaning without harsh chemicals.

Which was an enormous relief to me as a mom.

Setting Up and Cleaning A Distance Learning Station for Kids

We found a simple student desk that would fit in our daughter’s room and I wiped the entire thing down with Arm and Hammer™ Disinfecting Wipes.

I also wiped down the district materials and the laptop. Then it was time to add a few decorating touches.

Easy DIY Distance Learning Schoolwork Center for Kids

We printed a poster with an encouraging scripture for the wall and added a cute corkboard. She keeps thoughtful cards from her friends on it, along with her school year calendar.

Hopefully, those little spots of positivity will keep her going on school days that don’t go so well.

And we’re ready to go for the school year!

If you decide to set up a distance learning station in your home, I’d love to hear how it goes!

Want to learn more about Arm and Hammer™ Essentials™ Disinfecting Wipes? Check them out for yourself before you go!

These simple screen time tickets for kids are an easy way to manage personal device time at home! Use them for classroom rewards too!

Printable Screen Time Tickets for Kids

April 13, 2020 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

For many years, we resisted giving our kids personal devices. We had several reasons for doing so.

First, we have four children, so buying four devices would be a bit of a financial strain.

Second, we didn’t want to encourage them to run off into their rooms and spend time away from the other members of the family.

Most of all, though, we were concerned about the effect extended screen time could have on our children who are living with ADHD.

So it took us a while to agree to personal electronic devices.

Once we did, though, we immediately saw the need to set and enforce screen time limits, which is where these cute printable screen time tickets come in!

Simple Printable Screen Time Tickets for Kids

If you’re looking for a simple way to regulate screen time with kids, these printable tickets can help!

Read on to get a set for free!

And, for more ways to stay connected with kids at home, take a look at our printable Family Night Scavenger Hunt cards!

These simple screen time tickets for kids are an easy way to manage personal device time at home! Use them for classroom rewards too!

How to Print Screen Time Tickets for Kids

To use these printable screen time tickets, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Laminator (optional)
  • Scissors
Easy Screen Time Tickets for Kids

After the time tickets are printed, you can cut them apart for use.

There are tickets for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, and 60 minutes.

If you’re planning to laminate them, regular printer paper should be fine.

But if you don’t want to laminate the tickets, you might prefer to print them on cardstock so they’ll hold up to frequent use.

How to Use Printable Screen Time Tickets with Kids

Now that you have your printable screen time tickets, what do you do with them?

Well, it’s really up to you.

You can let kids have a set amount each day (say, 30 minutes) and then use the longer ticket times to reward them.

You might hand out 45 or 60 minute tickets for finishing schoolwork, doing their chores, or even showing a respectful attitude.

Printable Screen Time Tickets for Kids

Or you could print them and keep them handy to hand out each day – after the day’s chores and schoolwork are done.

If you want to use these in the classroom, print several sets and let students “earn” them for finishing work early or helping their fellow students.

Scroll down to get your printable kids’ screen time tickets!

Take a look at these other activities and tips for kids and parents!

Pick up this free printable indoor scavenger hunt for a fun indoor play activity to share with the kids!
Make the most of time at home with these easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, summer vacation, and more!
Make cleaning up into fun family time with these tips for how to make chores fun for kids! Simple easy suggestions to help everyone learn to pitch in around the house!

To get your free printable screen time tickets, click the image or the link below to download them to your computer!

Simple Screen Time Tickets for Kids

>>> Printable Screen Time Tickets <<<

Make the most of time at home with these easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, summer vacation, and more!

20 Fun and Easy Indoor Activities for Kids

March 4, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When you’re at home with the kids, it’s easy for a day to just “get away” from you.

Especially if your children are fans of screen time.

But when they’re on break from school or stuck inside because of bad weather, we don’t want them to run right for their devices.

So – here’s a list of 20 fun and easy indoor activities for kids to help you fill your days at home with quality time!

Easy Indoor Activities for Kids to Try

These are also great for class art projects, sensory play ideas, and games. They’d also make great activity choices for kids’ parties!

Read below to see the full list.

And for more ways to keep kids engaged and entertained, don’t miss our list of 50 cabin fever activity ideas!

Make the most of time at home with these easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, summer vacation, and more!

20 Fun and Easy Indoor Activities for Kids

If you try any of these yourself, I’d love to know which were your favorites!

1. These printable Farm Paper Bag Puppets are perfect for spring or fall!

2. Make this Beach Shoebox Diorama with an old shoebox in just a few minutes!

3. Share this easy DIY Flubber for some quick sensory fun!

4. Practice recognizing money values with this fun Dollars and Cents Game!

5. You don’t need cold weather to play in the snow with this easy Snowman Slime!

6. Pick up these printable Family Night Indoor Scavenger Hunt cards for an indoor family night game!

7. This low-prep Farm Five In A Row Game is a great way to extend a farm unit any time of year!

8. Running low on craft supplies? You only need the basics for this Paper Tube Butterfly Craft!

9. Practice recognizing colors with little learners with this Color Matching Birds Activity!

10. This Coffee Filter Crab Craft only takes a few minutes to make!

20 Easy Indoor Activities for Kids

11. Interested in learning sign language? These ASL Alphabet Matching Puzzles are a simple start!

12. Have a race to see who can complete this Finish the Emoji Drawing Activity first!

13. Work on times tables with this fun basketball-themed Shoot and Score Multiplication Game!

14. Make this Floating Spider Craft and let the kids practice flying them around the living room!

15. This printable Snowball Emoji Board Game is so fun for building emotional vocabulary!

16. Make your own DIY Moon Sand for moldable play!

17. Let kids make this Paper Bag Fox Craft and use it for storytelling!

18. This Edible Solar System Playdough is both fun to play with and safe to eat!

19. Blast off with this easy Paper Roll Rocket Craft!

20. This low-prep Mail Color Sorting Activity makes a wonderful busy bag go-to for little ones!

Want to see more fun ways to learn with kids? Try these ideas!

These Spanish color playdough mats are a wonderful hands on resource for early learners, Spanish language learners, and ESL students!
These fun weather STEM activities for kids are excellent for simple spring science experiments! Simple enough for home or the classroom!
This fun Spanish color word activity is perfect for helping kids learn how to read and write Spanish color vocabulary words!
If your kids are stuck at home, they will love this list of 20 easy boredom busters for kids! Great for school breaks, rainy days, and more!
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Tired of your kids always arguing? Try these three easy ways to end sibling squabbles at home!

3 Easy Ways to Stop Kids from Arguing

December 16, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

If you have more than one child, I don’t have to tell you how often kids get into arguments at home.

You already know.

My brother and I argued growing up and there were ten years between us, so when I tell you that our four children are all between the ages of 7 and 15, you can imagine what a typical weeknight is like.

We’ve been at this parenting thing for nearly 16 years and we’ve finally found a few easy ways to stop kids from arguing that I thought might be helpful for others. 

3 Easy Ways to End Sibling Squabbles

After all, when the kids are very small, they only argue about toys or elbow room. It’s when they get older that the real conflicts begin.

Read on to see these tips for yourself! And, for more help with parenting in the early years, take a look at five ways to help preschoolers manage their emotions!

Tired of your kids always arguing? Try these three easy ways to end sibling squabbles at home!

3 Easy Ways to Stop Kids from Arguing

Image c/o: monkeybusiness & lufimorgan / depositphotos

Empathize with your kids.            

When there’s more than one child in a family, it’s easy for each one to feel that they need to fight for your attention as a parent. It may not be true, but depending on the situation, that’s how the kids may feel.

We can put a damper on many arguments between the kids when we try to see things from their point of view. Then make sure the kids know that we care about their feelings and want to include them as we got forward.

Hold a family forum each week.

Choose one weeknight to hold a regular family forum. This is a time when each child gets to talk about the things that are bothering him or her.

During the forum, each person can speak freely and openly about frustrations, problems, fears, or anything else that has been weighing on their mind. If the kids are getting into arguments about the same issue, the family forum is a good time to address it.

It’s important to keep the environment during the family meeting positive. Focus on hearing everyone’s viewpoint and then compromising to solve the problem. Then agree on a strategy to follow moving forward.

It may even be helpful to post the strategy in writing as a reminder for how to defuse the argument next time.

Be sure to check on how everyone is doing with the plan at the next meeting!

Be consistent.

We have to parent each child differently, considering their age, disposition, and level of responsibility. Which means that nothing will ever be “fair” between them. 

However, we can insist that each child follow the house rules. When a rule is broken, each child has to be held accountable, according to their level of maturity. 

Consistently enforcing rules is one of the best ways to stop kids from arguing before they even get started.

How do you stop your kids from arguing at home? Share your tried and tested tips in the comments!

Don’t miss these other parenting tips!

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

Share these fun family night ideas with the kids!

Follow my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board for more support!

Make cleaning up into fun family time with these tips for how to make chores fun for kids! Simple easy suggestions to help everyone learn to pitch in around the house!

How to Make Chores Fun for Kids

December 12, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

If you ask kids what their least favorite thing to do is in the whole wide world, a large majority of them will instantly answer, “Chores!”

Actually, I’ve been known to say the same myself.

Still, doing chores around the house is an important part of growing up. But that doesn’t mean it has to feel like chores, right?

There are plenty of easy ideas for how to make chores fun for kids and I’m sharing a couple today!

How to Make Chores Fun for Kids

Keep reading for some great tips on making chores a little more fun for your kids. Plus, grab a handy printable chore chart for kids to help the little ones keep up each week!

Want more ideas for keeping your home in order? Take a look at how to set up a spring cleaning plan of attack!

Make cleaning up into fun family time with these tips for how to make chores fun for kids! Simple easy suggestions to help everyone learn to pitch in around the house!

How to Make Chores More Fun for Kids

Images c/o: antiksu & Dmyrto_z / Deposit Photos

1. Turn up the Music!

When your little ones have chores to do, turn on some of their favorite tunes. You can even make a special playlist for your child to keep their spirits up.

After all, when I have a pile of work to get through, I go to a dedicated “work flow” playlist that features upbeat electronica. Why not try the same for the kids?

Be sure to take a dance break every few songs too!

2. Play A Game

Everyone loves to play games of some kind – kids, in particular. Turn as many chores as you can into friendly competitions.

If you have kids who share a room, see who can get their side clean the fastest! If you have laundry to fold, divide the pile in half and challenge the kids to finish folding their pile (neatly) in five minutes or less.

Shower them with praise for their hard work!

3. Offer A Few Rewards

Giving myself a tiny reward for finishing work often helps me stay on task. And I’m grown!

Kids love rewards too, so be sure to reward your child for a job well done in completing their chores.

Because chores are often daily tasks for a lot of children, you may want to choose to offer a reward at the end of the week, instead of daily. It can be as simple as letting the kids choose the family’s movie for the week or serving a favorite dessert.

4. Use a Chore Chart

How can you keep up with who is supposed to do what each week? Use a printable chore chart for kids! 

Issue one to each child and let them fill out their weekly chores and check off their progress along the way. They’ll love the feeling of charting their progress!

If you need a printable chore chart, just scroll down to grab one for your kids – free!

Don’t miss these other home and family tips!

Warm up the kids on cold mornings with these 30 kid friendly muffin recipes! Bake them in advance and freeze for a quick breakfast!

Head outdoors with your family this year with these fun ways to spend time outdoors with kids! Perfect for summer barbecues, camping trips, and family days out!

Share some outdoor crafting fun with this list of 21 easy nature crafts for kids to make!

Follow my Parenting with Joy board on Pinterest for more tips for happy parenting!

Dinosaur Free Printable Chore Chart for Kids

I can’t lie. I love a cute printable. 

And so do my kids!

With this printable dinosaur chore chart, I don’t have to remember who’s responsible for what. The kids can do it themselves!

Printable Dinosaur Chore Chart for Kids

To use this printable chore chart for kids, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Laminator (optional)
  • Dry erase marker (optional)

This chart includes a fun dinosaur theme, a space for a child’s name, and lines for tracking up to eight chores.

Dinosaur Chore Chart for Kids

Kids can simply check off the chore as it’s completed each day. 

You can print the chart, laminate it, and hang it on the fridge for use each week! Just mark off the chores with a dry erase marker.

To get your copy of this dinosaur printable chore chart for kids, sign up for our weekly email newsletter! You can follow the instructions below to get started.

This dinosaur free printable chore chart for kids is a perfect to keep up with weekly chores! Add it to your family command center!

Warm up the kids on cold mornings with these 30 kid friendly muffin recipes! Bake them in advance and freeze for a quick breakfast!

30 Kid Friendly Muffin Recipes for Cold Mornings

December 3, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Is there anything better on a cold morning than a hot cup of a coffee and a warm muffin?

Don’t think so.

I wasn’t much of a muffin eater as a kid, but once I learned how to make them as an adult, they quickly became a breakfast go-to. 

My kids are nuts about muffins for breakfast too. With winter quickly approaching, I thought it would be handy to round up 30 kid friendly muffin recipes that would be perfect for cold mornings!

Easy Kid Friendly Muffin Recipes to Try

Some of these can even be made ahead and frozen! Just take out a bag of freezer muffins the night before so they can thaw and be ready for the next morning.

Take a look at the full list below. Be sure to let me know which ones your kids love the most!

Want to bake up more deliciousness this winter? Don’t miss our list of 25 delicious cookie bar recipes to bake at home!

Warm up the kids on cold mornings with these 30 kid friendly muffin recipes! Bake them in advance and freeze for a quick breakfast!

30 Kid Friendly Muffin Recipes for Cold Mornings

1. Vanilla Iced Banana Bread Muffins – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Hash Brown Egg Muffin Cups – School Time Snippets

3. Double Chocolate Muffins – Spaceships and Laserbeams

4. Buttermilk Rhubarb Crumble Muffins – Happy Hooligans

5. Loaded Omelet Muffins – Kids Activities Blog

6. Pancake Muffins – Parenting Chaos

7. Lemon Blueberry Muffins – Frugal Family

8. Maple Sugar Bacon Muffins – Confessions of an Overworked Mom

9. Pumpkin Zucchini Muffins – Temecula Blogs

10. Easy Smores Muffins – A Turtle’s Life for Me

11. Mini Banana Muffins – On My Kids Plate

12. Banana Split Sprinkle Muffins – Sweet Recipeas

13. Cinnamon Iced Pumpkin Crumb Muffins – Celebrating Sweets

14. Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins – The Kitchen Is My Playground

15. Easy Berry Muffins – My Bored Toddler

30 Kid Friendly Muffin Recipes

16. Banana Oatmeal Muffins – Pichea Place

17. Healthy Pumpkin Muffins – Nate and Rachael

18. Orange Strawberry Muffins – Recipes From a Pantry

19. Funfetti French Toast Muffins – Sheri Silver

20. Cinnamon Roll Muffins – A Magical Mess

21. Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins – Mom Vs. The Boys

22. Apple Pie Muffins – Bunny’s Warm Oven

23. Lemon Pound Cake Muffins – Simply Stacie

24. Monkey Bread Muffins – Spaceships and Laserbeams

25. Chocolaty Chip Muffins – The Monday Box

26. Cheery Clementine Muffins – On My Kids Plate

27. Double Chocolate Banana Muffins – Peas and Crayons

28. Bakery Style Oreo Muffins – Amy Treasure

29. Nutella Muffins – Taming Twins

30. Easy Banana Bread Muffins – A Turtle’s Life for Me

Did you love these kid friendly muffin recipes? Try some of these other tried and tested kid friendly foods below!

20 Delicious No Churn Ice Cream Recipes You Can Make Without an Ice Cream Maker!

25 Delicious Cookie Bar Recipes @ Look! We're Learning!

Welcome summer with this list of homemade ice popsicle recipes to make with the kids! So fun for a backyard barbecue!

Be sure to follow my Breakfast Ideas for the Family board on Pinterest too!

Warm up the little ones on cold mornings with these 30 kid friendly muffin recipes! Perfect for a quick weekday breakfast!

This printable fall scavenger hunt is so fun for getting kids outside this autumn!

5 Reasons to Go Fall Camping and a Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids!

September 2, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Lots of people think of camping as a spring or summer vacation and there’s good reason why.

You get to spend all day outside, you can explore nature when the days are long, and you can wear shorts the whole time. 

But fall is also an awesome time to go camping as a family. And there are lots of reasons why!

Fun Printable Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Read on to see why fall camping is a great vacation for families! And pick up a free printable fall scavenger hunt you can share with the kids while you’re camping out!

Want more ways to spend time in the great outdoors as a family? See five ways you can get outside with the kids more!

Plan a fun family getaway this autumn and go fall camping as a family! See why this is the best time of year to head outside together!

5 Reasons to Go Fall Camping as a Family

1. The camping rates are affordable.

Camping tends to be fairly inexpensive in the first place. If you go tent camping, you’ll only have to pay for the campsite fee each night.

But rates tend to be lower during the fall and that makes it a great time of year to grab a campsite!

2. You won’t have to deal with bugs.

Insects are usually all over the place during the hot, humid weather of summer. But in the fall, bugs (especially mosquitoes) are few and far between. Since we live in the Deep South, this makes fall camping a definite win.

Fall Playdough Mats

3. The autumn colors are glorious.

If you plan your fall camping trip right, you’ll be sleeping outdoors when the trees are at their most beautiful. In our area, we tend to see fall foliage around late October and into mid-November, right when the weather is turning crisp.

And there’s nothing like sitting around a campfire with gorgeous fall leaves all around you.

Five Reasons to Go Fall Camping

4. Campsites are less crowded.

After the new school year begins, most families take a break from vacations. Which means fewer campers! If your school year includes a fall break (like ours does), that is a perfect time to book your camping trip together. 

5. Fall is a wonderful season to spend time outdoors with the kids.

There are so many fun outdoor activities you can try with your family on a fall camping trip! 

  • Roast marshmallows around the bonfire.
  • Gather up colorful leaves and make a DIY leaf garland to hang inside your tent.
  • Get a handful of leaves and add them to a baby food jar to make an easy fall leaf snow globe.
  • Or try an easy fall scavenger hunt with the little ones, like the one below!

This printable fall scavenger hunt is so fun for getting kids outside this autumn!

Printable Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

This printable fall scavenger hunt is a fantastic fall camping activity to try with the kids! Since it has words and pictures, you can even use it with pre-readers!

Printable Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Print several copies and see who can find the most fall items to check off first!

Fun Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Scroll down to get your copy of Fall Scavenger Hunt for your kids!

Try some of these other fall learning ideas and activities!

These printable apple counting puzzles are perfect for early math lessons! Use them at fall math centers or for an interactive apple lesson for little ones!

Share these fall nature crafts with your children to make some unforgettable memories this autumn!

This easy coffee filter apple craft is a perfect simple fall craft for kids! Make one in red, yellow, or green to welcome fall with the kids!

Follow my Fall Activities for Kids Pinterest board for more autumn ideas!

Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

To get your free fall scavenger hunt, sign up for our email newsletter! You’ll get this printable, plus lots more, in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

By the way, if you don’t see the welcome email in your inbox, check your spam folder. Sometimes it ends up there.

Just follow the instructions below to sign up!

This printable fall scavenger hunt for kids is such a fun way to get outside with little ones this autumn!

Want a change from the typical banana muffins recipe? Try these iced banana bread muffins for a simple and delicious breakfast or snack!

Easy Vanilla Iced Banana Bread Muffins

August 6, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I don’t think I ever had a single piece of banana bread when I was growing up. And I wasn’t the biggest fans of bananas either.

So I didn’t grasp the full amazingness of banana bread until I was an adult. And, let me tell you, it is amazing.

My kids love banana bread too. But now that the school year has started and our mornings are a little…hectic, I prefer to serve them something they can grab and go.

Which is why these iced banana bread muffins are a perfect go-to morning meal!

Easy Iced Banana Bread Muffins

I can bake them up fairly quickly and then let the kids eat a few with yogurt or fruit before they head out. Then I can eat the rest while they’re gone.

It’s a win-win.

Easy Iced Banana Breakfast Muffins

Read on to get this easy iced banana bread muffins recipe to make for your family!

Plus, take a look at our easy no-churn ice cream recipes if you want to have a little something special waiting when the kids get home too!

Want a change from the typical banana muffins recipe? Try these iced banana bread muffins for a simple and delicious breakfast or snack!

Easy Iced Banana Bread Muffins

This iced banana bread muffins recipe uses the basic muffin ingredients: flour, sugar, eggs, and, of course, bananas. But it’s a bit healthier because it uses applesauce, rather than oil or butter.

Easy Iced Banana Muffins Recipe

What really sets it apart, though, is the streusel topping and the glaze that’s added at the end.

Those two touches basically make it dessert-worthy in my book.

Easy Iced Banana Muffins

As a note, if you intend to freeze these, do it before you add the streusel topping and glaze. Save those steps until you defrost the muffins and warm them up again.

Simple Iced Banana Muffins

The streusel is made of cinnamon and brown sugar and butter and just everything that makes life sweet.

Simple Banana Breakfast Muffins

Plus, it gives the muffins a little “crunch” too.

Iced Banana Breakfast Muffins

The icing is just the finishing touch.

By the way, if you’re baking these on a busy morning, you can make the streusel the night before and store it in airtight container.

Then you’ve saved a step when you’re trying to get the kids out the door.

Iced Banana Muffins Recipe

Scroll down to get the full printable iced banana bread muffins recipe!

Check out these other recipes your kids will love!

Make ice cream without an ice cream maker with these easy no churn ice cream recipes! Perfect for summer!

Welcome summer with this list of homemade ice popsicle recipes to make with the kids! So fun for a backyard barbecue!

These cute and creative bento lunches for kids are perfect for busy school days, field trips, and more! These are so cute and tasty for little appetites!

And see more ways to get breakfast on the table on my Breakfast Ideas for the Family Pinterest board!

Iced Banana Bread Muffins Recipe

Print the recipe card below to get the full iced banana bread muffins recipe! If you make these yourself, I’d love to know how they turned out!

(And if you were tempted to eat the entire batch.)

Iced Banana Muffins Recipe
Print

Easy Iced Banana Bread Muffins Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 12 muffins

Ingredients

Muffins

  • 1 1/2  cups  all-purpose flour
  • 1  tsp  baking soda
  • 1  tsp  baking powder
  • 1/4  tsp  salt
  • 1/2  tsp  cinnamon
  • 1  egg
  • 1/2  cup  light brown sugar
  • 1  tsp  vanilla extract
  • 3  bananas  mashed
  • 1/3  cup  applesauce

Streusel

  • 1/3  cup  light brown sugar
  • 1/8  cup  all-purpose flour
  • 1/8  tsp  cinnamon
  • 1 1/2  tbsp  butter  softened

Vanilla Icing

  • 3/4  cups  powdered sugar
  • 1  tsp  vanilla extract
  • 1  tsp  milk

Instructions

To make the muffins:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line or grease a muffin pan.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

  3. In another mixing bowl, combine the egg, brown sugar, vanilla extract, mashed bananas, and applesauce.

  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until fully combined, without mixing more than necessary.

  5. Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to fill each muffin cup about 2/3 full.

To make the streusel:

  1. In a small mixing bowl, prepare the streusel by combining the brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.

  2. Use a pastry blender to cut in the butter.

  3. Sprinkle the streusel over the muffins then bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.

To make the vanilla icing:

  1. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make the icing.

  2. Once the muffins have cooked and cooled slightly, use a spoon to drizzle each muffin with the vanilla icing.

  3. Serve warm.

Recipe Notes

If you want to freeze the muffins, bake them and let them cool completely. Store them in a resealable plastic bag.

When you want to serve them, defrost them and make the streusel as described aboved. Sprinkle the streusel over the muffins and warm them in the oven by baking them at 300 degrees for five to ten minutes.

Prepare the icing as described above and drizzle over each muffin before serving.

These easy iced banana bread muffins are wonderful for breakfast or snacks, especially if you have hungry kids! Whip up these banana muffins in just a few minutes!

These cute and creative bento lunches for kids are perfect for busy school days, field trips, and more! These are so cute and tasty for little appetites!

20 Cute and Creative Bento Lunches for Kids

July 31, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When my oldest was about five years old, I heard about this thing called a “bento box”. I was on an online forum and everyone was talking about them as if they were the bestest thing ever.

I’d never heard of a bento box before. But when I ordered one for my daughter, I immediately understood the hype.

Bento lunches really are the bestest thing ever. They’re bite-sized and fun and just perfect for kids.

If you’re ready to venture into the bento box world, here are 20 cute and creative bento lunches for kids that are sure to make your child’s lunch special!

20 Cute and Creative Bento Lunches for Kids

Take a look at these bento lunchbox ideas to get some school lunch inspiration!

And, for more fun treats for kids, don’t miss our list of 20 DIY popsicle recipes to make with your family!

These cute and creative bento lunches for kids are perfect for busy school days, field trips, and more! These are so cute and tasty for little appetites!

20 Cute and Creative Bento Lunches for Kids

1. Back to School Bento – Brite and Bubbly

2. Breakfast Leftovers Bento – 3 Boys and a Dog

3. Pizza Kebabs and Peanut Butter Dip Bento – A Turtles Life For Me

4. Puppy Dog Bento Lunch for Kids  – Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons

5. Shark Themed Bento – Bento n Better Lunches

6. Star Wars Bento – Twin Dragonfly Designs

7. Spiderman and Batman Bentos – Bentoriffic

8. Dinosaur Bento – Glue Sticks and Gum Drops

9. Toy Story Bento – A Night Owl Blog

10. Fun Pirate Treasure Map Bento Lunch for Kids – Eats Amazing

11. Camping Themed Bento – 3 Boys and a Dog

12. Milk and Cookies Themed Bento – Love at First Bento

13. Rainbow Bento – Go Dairy Free

14. Triple Decker Peanut Butter and Jelly Bento – Make the Best of Everything

15. Crayon Themed Bento – Love at First Bento

16. Green Themed Bento – Twin Dragonfly Designs

17. Star Wars Luke Skywalker Bento – Lunch Box Dad

18. Monkey Bento – Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons

19. Shel Silverstein Bento – Bento n Better Lunches

20. Koala Bento – Bento-logy

Simple Bento Lunches for Kids Supply List

So if you’re feeling inspired and ready to make these cute bento lunches for kids yourself, what do you need? Well, you don’t need to buy every bento box making mold out there. 

These Amazon affiliate supplies, though, will definitely come in handy and get their fair share of use. 

Bentgo Kids Leak Proof 5-Compartment Lunchbox

Complete Bento Lunch Box Supplies and Accessories Set

AmazonBasics Reusable Silicone Baking Cups, Pack of 12

Did you love these bento lunches for kids? Don’t miss these other fun treats to share with the family!

Make ice cream without an ice cream maker with these easy no churn ice cream recipes! Perfect for summer!

25 Delicious Cookie Bar Recipes @ Look! We're Learning!

Welcome summer with this list of homemade ice popsicle recipes to make with the kids! So fun for a backyard barbecue!

Follow my School Lunches for Kids board on Pinterest for more meal ideas!

Grab these printable school lunchbox notes for kids to share a little encouragement with your child each day!

School Supply Lunchbox Notes for Kids

July 30, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Do you send a lunch to school with your kids?

Sometimes we have our children pack a lunch, especially if we’re doing a field trip or planning a long day out of the house.

It’s always a nice surprise to find a thoughtful note from a family member And, if our kids are having a rough day at school, seeing a sweet note from Mom can really lift their spirits.

So I thought these printable school supply lunchbox notes for kids would be an awesome gift to share with all of you!

Printable School Supply Lunchbox Notes for Kids

These are so adorable!

They’re school supply themed and they each have a sweet message that can help kids feel more confident about the day ahead.

Read on to see how to get your set free!

And, don’t miss our Back to School All About Me writing prompts while you’re here!

Grab these printable school lunchbox notes for kids to share a little encouragement with your child each day!

School Supply Printable Lunchbox Notes for Kids

To use these school supply printable lunchbox notes for kids, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Cardstock
  • Scissors
School Supply Themed Lunchbox Notes for Kids

This set includes eight different lunchbox notes for kids. 

Each has a school-themed picture with a confidence-boosting message.

Printable School Lunchbox Notes for Kids

You can print these on regular printer paper, but I think cardstock holds up better. 

Especially if your child’s lunch has a juice box or a thermos in it.

Back to School Printable Lunchbox Notes for Kids

Since the back of each note is blank, you can add a short handwritten note if you want!

Printable School Supply Themed Lunchbox Notes for Kids

Scroll down to get your set of school supply printable lunchbox notes for kids!

Don’t miss these learning printables for kids too!

Share these fun back to school writing prompts with the to help students write about the new school year! Perfect for creative writing lessons!
This easy all about me writing prompt for kids is a perfect back to school icebreaker for your class! Each student can use this activity to introduce themselves during the first week!
Help students write about places they have visited or want to visit with this simple vacation creative writing activity!
Printable School Themed Lunchbox Notes for Kids

To get your copy of our printable School Supply Lunchbox Notes for Kids free, click the image or the link below to have it delivered to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this weekend!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> School Supply Lunchbox Notes <<<

These back to school lunchbox notes for kids are adorable! Put one in your child's lunch each day for a quick pick-me-up!
Make ice cream without an ice cream maker with these easy no churn ice cream recipes! Perfect for summer!

20 Delicious No Churn Ice Cream Recipes

June 6, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Can we actually have summer without ice cream?

I don’t know if anyone has attempted it, but that is one science experiment I am not interested in trying.

Once the weather gets warm, it’s ice cream time. Even if it happens to be a weird heat streak in January.

I’ve always bought ice cream from the store, because I thought I’d need an ice cream maker to make ice cream at home. And I really don’t have space to store an ice cream maker.

But once I found out about no churn ice cream recipes that didn’t require an ice cream maker, I was sold.

You don't need an ice cream maker to have homemade ice cream! These delicious no churn ice cream recipes are perfect for summer treats!

It turns out that you can make actual, honest-to-goodness ice cream without an ice cream maker. No churning, no ice cream salt, nothing but some good ingredients and your favorite mix-ins.

That’s a done deal in my book.

Take a look at these ways to make no churn ice cream and see if any of the homemade ice cream recipes below catch your eye!

And for more fun with icy treats, check out our roundup of 20 homemade popsicle recipes you can make too!

Make ice cream without an ice cream maker with these easy no churn ice cream recipes! Perfect for summer!

20 Delicious No Churn Ice Cream Recipes

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.
1. Blueberry Crumble Ice Cream – Sally’s Baking Addiction

2. Circus Animal No-Churn Ice Cream – Sugar Hero

3. No-Churn Banana Cream Pie Ice Cream – Crazy For Crust

4. Roasted Marshmallow Ice Cream – Frugal Mom Eh

5. No-Churn White Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream – Fearless Dining

6. Chocolate Zucchini No-Churn Ice Cream – Beyond Frosting

7. No-Churn Ricotta Ice Cream – How Sweet Eats

8. No-Churn Olive Oil Ice Cream with Roasted Peaches – Shared Appetite

9. No-Churn Cotton Candy Ice Cream – Spaceships and Laser Beams

10. No-Churn Cherry Chocolate Ice Cream – Jo Cooks

11. No-Churn Pumpkin Ice Cream – Wholefully

12. No-Churn Cosmic Brownie Ice Cream – The Domestic Rebel

13. No-Churn Mocha Marshmallow Chip Ice Cream – Baking Bites

14. No-Churn Chocolate Caramel Ice Cream – Crazy For Crust

15. Strawberry Rhubarb Ice Cream – Frugal Mom Eh

16. No-Churn Tiramisu Ice Cream – Beyond Frosting

17. No-Churn Key Lime Pie Ice Cream – Like Mother, Like Daughter

18. No-Churn Sugar Roasted Peach Pie Ice Cream – How Sweet Eats

19. No-Churn Unicorn Ice Cream – Totally the Bomb

20. Funfetti Cookie Dough Ice Cream – Inside Bru Crew Life

How to Make No Churn Ice Cream Recipes at Home

The great thing about making no churn ice cream recipes is that, not only do you not need an ice cream maker or rock salt, you don’t really need any special equipment at all!

You can mix the ingredients directly in a glass baking dish. Freeze as directed in each recipe. And then serve!

That’s truly all there is to it.

I’ve had the same Pyrex glass baking dishes for years, so I can heartily recommend these. They’ll hold up forever.

And it’s great to have two of them, because you can keep one in the freezer for your ice cream and the other free for dinner casserole. (I think I cook a meal in my Pyrex dish at least three times a week.)

Pyrex Basics 3-Quart Glass Baking Dish, Set of 2

And these adorable ice cream serving bowls would be perfect for sharing these no churn ice cream recipes with the kids!

BonBon Ice Cream Serving Bowls and Spoons

20 Delicious No Churn Ice Cream Recipes You Can Make Without an Ice Cream Maker!

Did you love these no churn ice cream recipes? Don’t miss these other ice cream activities for kids!

Build basic AABB and ABAB math patterns with this fun ice pop math patterns activity for early grades! Perfect for use in centers and morning tubs!

These 20 fun books about ice cream for kids are so fun for summer reading!

Pick up this printable ice cream reading log for kids to keep little ones reading this summer! This printable reading kits with printable bookplates, a printable summer reading log, and printable coloring bookmarks!

And see more sweet recipes for little ones on my Sweet Treats for Kids Pinterest board!

Welcome summer with this list of homemade ice popsicle recipes to make with the kids! So fun for a backyard barbecue!

20 Easy DIY Popsicle Recipes to Make With the Kids

May 20, 2019 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Nothing quite says “summer” like a popsicle. I remember my parents getting the big bag of flavored freeze pops during the summer and storing them in the freezer.

It was always a race between my brother and I to see who could get the rare blue raspberry flavored pop first.

I didn’t know then that you could make popsicles at home. And, since we have four children, it’s actually worth it to make a lot of DIY popsicle recipes for ourselves. That way, the kids can get involved in making them too!

20 Homemade Ice Popsicle Recipes for Kids to Make

These easy homemade popsicles are perfect for making delicious summertime treats together. Pick a few to try for some cool sweets your kids will love!

Read on to see the list of popsicle recipes below! And, for more summer fun, take a look at our list of 60 outdoor play ideas for summer!

Welcome summer with this list of homemade ice popsicle recipes to make with the kids! So fun for a backyard barbecue!

20 DIY Popsicle Recipes to Make with Kids

1. Banana Popsicles Recipe – On My Kids Plate

2. Blueberry Peach Popsicles – Dancing Through the Rain

3. Strawberry Freezer Popsicles – Low Carb Yum

4. Banana Berry Popsicles – Sidewalk Shoes

5. Orange Pineapple Popsicles – Five Spot Green Living

6. Root Beer Float Popsicles – Boulder Locavore

7. Watermelon Popsicles – A Magical Mess

8. Blueberries Cream Popsicles – A Simple Pantry

9. Peach Honey Popsicles – Cookie and Kate

10. Watermelon Sorbet Popsicles – Parenting Chaos

11. Green Smoothie Popsicles – 5 Minutes for Mom

12. Kids Summer Watermelon Popsicles – Powerful Mothering

13. Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles – Yellow Bliss Road

14. Fruit Smoothie Popsicles – Lemon Tree Dwelling

15. Creamy Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles – Good Life Eats

16. Limeade Popsicles – A Simple Pantry

17. Grapefruit Popsicles – Paper N Stitch Blog

18. Strawberry Coconut Milk Popsicles – The Roasted Root

19. Chocolate-Covered Banana Popsicles – Cafe Delites

20. Mermaid Popsicles – Seduction In the Kitchen

Did you love this list of DIY popsicle recipes? Make warm weather learning fun with these other summer ideas!

Build basic AABB and ABAB math patterns with this fun ice pop math patterns activity for early grades! Perfect for use in centers and morning tubs!

These 20 fun books about ice cream for kids are so fun for summer reading!

Practice reading sight words this summer with these fun summer sight word flashcards! Great for building reading fluency before the new school year!

And for more ways to spend summer with the kids, follow my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Schedule a fun summer with your family this year with this printable family summer bucket list! Great for keeping the kids entertained during break!

Summer Fun! Printable Family Summer Bucket List

May 16, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Summertime is my very favorite time of year. I think I have that in common with most school kids. 

My kids always enjoyed summer break, too. Even though we’ve been homeschoolers for many years, we’ve always taken a break over the summer and this year will be no different.

Still, though, I never wanted my kids to just sit around being bored through June and July. 

So I thought it would be good to share a printable family summer bucket list to give you some ideas for how to keep the kids (and yourself) entertained over the summer!

Printable Family Bucket List for Summer

This is such a simple way to add fun to your summer without overloading everyone’s schedule. Plus, you can choose as many or as few activities as you like.

Read on to get your copy free! And, for more ways to have fun this summer, take a look at our list of 60 outdoor play ideas to share with the kids!

Summer Fun! Printable Family Summer Bucket List

One of my biggest regrets about childhood is that I didn’t spend much time outside. I’m a child of the 80s, so I was indoors watching television a lot.

Looking back, I think I would have liked being outside more if I’d had a better idea of what to do while I was out there.

Printable Family Summer Bucket List

So, if you’re like me and a bit…unsure about how to help the kids get outside more, this family summer bucket list is a perfect help!

Printable Summer Bucket List for Families

There are sixty-five different bucket list ideas here for kids, including ways to have fun outside, places to visit over the summer, crafts to make, and ways to help others.

Some of the ideas include:

  • Going on a stargazing hike
  • Having a water balloon fight
  • Reading to others at a local nursing home
  • Going to the zoo
  • And many more!

How to Complete Your Family Summer Bucket List

So, once you have your family summer bucket list, how do you actually get around to doing the items on it?

Here’s an idea that may help.

Simple and Fun Family Summer Bucket List

Enlist your kids to make sure you actually choose one activity a day. Since there are 65 different ideas, you can try one each day and fill up the entire summer!

Laminate the bucket list and hang it on the refrigerator. As you try each one, check it off with a dry erase marker.

If you’re feeling really adventurous, let the kids plan your week by choosing seven activities themselves. They’ll be so excited to complete all the activities!

As a bonus, plan a special treat for when you’ve tried each item on your summer bucket list. You might even make some special family memories along the way!

Scroll down to get your printable family summer bucket list!

Did you like this family summer bucket list? Take a look at these other ways to spend the summer together!

These 20 fun books about ice cream for kids are so fun for summer reading!

Try some of these learning activities for summer to keep kids learning all year long!

These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

Get more ideas to try on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Pick up this printable family summer bucket list for some summer fun you can share with the kids!

To get your copy of our printable family summer bucket list, subscribe to our email newsletter! You’ll get this printable, plus lots of others, in our exclusive Subscriber Library!

Head outdoors with your family this year with these fun ways to spend time outdoors with kids! Perfect for summer barbecues, camping trips, and family days out!

5 Fun Ways to Spend Time Outside With the Kids This Year

May 15, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Confession time: I am NOT an outdoors person. 

I wasn’t raised to spend a lot of time outside. I spent most of my afternoons parked in front of the TV watching cartoons.

But my kids love being outside. Which means…I have to find a way to love being out there with them. And that’s why I wanted to share these five fun ways to spend time outside with the kids!

These are easy enough for even the most nature-averse person (AKA me) to try!

5 Fun Ways to Spend Time Outside with the Kids

We’ve tried a few of these already and, I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed myself each time. So I can tell you from experience that these tips actually do work.

Want more ways to make outdoors fun with the kids? Don’t miss our list of 60 outdoor play ideas for summer!

Head outdoors with your family this year with these fun ways to spend time outdoors with kids! Perfect for summer barbecues, camping trips, and family days out!

5 Fun Ways to Spend Time Outside With the Kids This Year

Images c/o: monkeybusiness & Wavebreakmedia / depositphotos

1. Go on a road trip.

Going on a family road trip is a classic outdoor activity for kids. We went on several road trips when I was a kid and I always loved traveling to new places and finding cool stops along the way.

With our kids, we try to take road trips to places we can spend time outside. And we try to find interesting routes so that we can see cool roadside attractions as we drive.

Give yourself an extra day or two on the journey so you can stop and explore natural sights you come across. Bring along a few learning road trip activities to make your trip educational too!

2. Go camping.

Remember how I’m not an outdoors person? Camping is one of those outdoor things that I have always said I’d never do. 

Guess what we’re doing this summer? 

So far, I’ve bought the tent, the sleeping bags, the charcoal, and the LED lights. And I still feel uncertain about it. Fortunately, though, we’re going with an experienced camping family who will, hopefully, be patient with us as newbies.

From what I hear, camping is a wonderful outdoor activity for kids. I’ll report back after our experience, good or bad.

3. Go for a picnic

Picnics are super fun ways to spend time outside with the kids. You can make some simple meals ahead of time (and let the kids get involved with that too!) and take them to a scenic spot to eat.

Use this time to talk about anything with your family and bring a long a few card games or family board games. When the kids get restless, walk around and see what you can find near your picnic spot. Snap a few pictures to remember your time together.

4. Explore a new park in your area

One of our favorite things to do outside is to take a trip to a park we’ve never visited before. In our state, we have plenty of beautiful state parks to explore and, every time we’ve found a new one, we’ve found something unique that we haven’t seen before.

Take a look at your local area and make a list of the outdoor parks. Then let the kids choose one or two to visit this week. You might be surprised at how much you all enjoy it!

5. Go for a nature walk.

Nature walks are excellent ways to explore science in a hands-on way. All you do is take the kids outside (in your own backyard or neighborhood) and try to learn about the plants and animals that are all around you.

If you find it hard to think about specimens you can discover, pick up a set of our flower identification cards, bird identification cards, butterfly identification cards, or leaf identification cards to see which species you can spot locally!

Did you love the ideas here for fun ways to spend time outside with the kids? Take a look at these other tips!

Share these summer outdoor play ideas with the kids while the weather is warm!

Ready to send your child off to camp for the first time? Here are seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp!

This fun summer bucket list for kids is full of hands-on activities your children will love!

And don’t miss more ways to spend a summer with the family on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Struggling to help your little one calm down? Try these five tips for helping preschoolers manage their emotions!

5 Tips for Helping Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

February 28, 2019 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you experienced a preschool meltdown today? We have four children and our youngest is now six, so we’re past the preschool stage. But I remember it so well.

I’d see one of my kids go running by having the time of their life. 30 seconds later, they’re dissolving into a puddle of tears, generally crying so hard that they couldn’t tell me what was wrong.

Initially, I thought I just had emotional kids. (I can be pretty emotional myself, so it was no secret where they got it from.) But it’s difficult to help preschoolers manage their emotions in general.

5 Ways to Help Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

After all, understanding emotions can be difficult at any age, but for little ones, it is even more challenging. Between the newness of their developing emotions and their limited vocabulary, it can be very frustrating for them to communicate what they are feeling.

Helping preschoolers understand their emotions and teaching them the right way to express those feelings is an important task for parents and caregivers. Here are some tips that can help as you navigate emotions with your little one.

Read on to get some helpful tips for teaching your preschooler to manage his or her feelings. And if your child struggles with worry, don’t miss our printable Worry Journal for kids!

Struggling to help your little one calm down? Try these five tips for helping preschoolers manage their emotions!

Images c/o: Yaruta & Kotangens / depositphotos

5 Tips for Helping Preschoolers Manage Their Emotions

Never Refer to an Emotion as “Bad” or “Wrong”

The first thing to remember when you’re helping preschoolers manage their emotions is that there is simply no such thing as a bad emotion. However, there are inappropriate reactions to emotions. By labeling an emotion as bad or wrong, you run the risk of your child taking that label upon themselves.

If your preschooler is worried that he or she is feeling something “bad”, they are far more likely to keep their emotions bottled up and will face even more challenges to understand and cope with emotions.

Take Time to Talk About Your Emotions and Reactions

Using age-appropriate conversation, share how you feel from time to time with your preschooler and what has caused that feeling. If your emotions are tied to something your child did, make it clear that it is about the action and not about them as a person.

For example, explaining that you love her very much, but backtalk when you’ve asked her to do something makes you feel upset and raise your voice, helps to put the focus on your emotion and reaction toward the action. Be sure to explain your happiness and joy, as well as anger and sadness.

Help Them Expand Their Emotional Vocabulary

As your preschooler begins to mature, he or she can begin to explore more words that relate to emotions. Happy, sad, and angry can begin to develop into excitement, disappointment, and frustration as they start to understand that their emotions are more complex.

Use these descriptors as you talk about your own emotions and relate them to those base emotions to help your child make sense of these expanded feelings.

Using Spanish Feelings Flashcards with Kids

Our English and Spanish feelings flashcards are a great way to help little ones learn to describe their emotions! Pick up a set for your child here.

Guide Them to Identifying Their Feelings

Instead of using phrases like “I know you are angry”, open up a conversation that will allow your child to identify their own feelings and emotions. Sometimes, a reaction might lead us to think our child is angry or sad, when they’re really feeling frustrated or have had their feelings hurt by someone else.

By giving them the power to own and name their emotions, you’ll build the coping skills that will help them along as they move slowly toward adulthood.

Give Them Outlets of Expression Beyond Just Words

Sometimes it can be hard to communicate how a child is feeling through words. If your little one can’t express himself or herself clearly, ask your child to draw a picture of what happened or how they feel. Role playing with dolls or action figures can sometimes be effective for getting to the bottom of a tricky emotion.

As they show you the scenario leading up to an upset or sadness, you can help them by asking questions that lead them to use their words to express emotions.

Helping preschoolers understand their emotions is just the first step in a long process of navigating feelings and reactions throughout their lives. Remember to keep things simple and get on their level, then expand the concepts as they mature and grow.

Stop by to see these other posts for happy parenting!

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

Whenever I'm out with the kids, the question I hear the most is How do you do it Well, to be honest, I don't! Here's what it's like to be a fake supermom.

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

And get even more tips for your parenting journey on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

Internet bullying is a worldwide problem. We can help our kids avoid becoming bullies by teaching them how to be kind online. Here's how!

3 Ways to Teach Kids to Be Kind Online

October 29, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

If you’ve been noticing that the tone of online messages seems more negative than it used to be, you’re not imagining it. And, worse, it’s greatly affecting our children.

When we teach our kids how to be kind online, we not only stop the spread of negativity on the Internet; we actively promote good citizenship – something that can help protect our children from Internet bullying.

Disclosure: As a member of the Forward Influence Network, I am being compensated by the sponsor for this post.

How to Teach Kids to Be Kind Online

Is bullying a real problem for our kids? Absolutely.

According to the latest figures, 28% of students have been bullied and 71% have seen bullying happen, including online.

The best way to prevent bullying and equip our kids on how to handle it is to teach them about kindness at home. When we show them how to be good citizens (in real life and online), we can help stop bullying in its tracks.

And that’s why I’m excited to share three ways to teach kids to be kind online and to introduce a brand new (and free!) program to help parents and teachers equip children against Internet bullying.

Take a look at how this curriculum can help kids become good online citizens!

Internet bullying is a worldwide problem. We can help our kids avoid becoming bullies by teaching them how to be kind online. Here's how!

Images c/o: AllaSerebrina & Guas / depositphotos

3 Ways to Teach Kids to Be Kind Online

Model kindness for the kids to see.

We can’t expect children to be kind online if they don’t see us behaving with kindness on the Internet or in real life. Let them see you comment positively on a news story.

Talk about the events and people you interact with in a positive manner. Try to avoid talking about negative online reports when possible.

Another way to model kindness is to teach children about how to be “Upstanders”. Since so many children witness bullying, it’s important for them to learn what to do when they see it.

Becoming an “Upstander” – someone who stands up for peers who are being bullied – can do a lot to stop bullying when it happens.

Talk with your children about how they can safely come to the aid of a classmate or friend who is being bullied. Try a few role-playing scenarios to help them brainstorm how to get the help of a responsible adult or other peers as well.

Encourage them to visit positive and uplifting media sources.

Many Internet bullies hang out around negative or viral media sources. To encourage kids to think positively, show them how to find uplifting media sources and talk about what they see there.

When we give our children positive things to think about, we make it easier for them to spot bullying when they see it and respond in a kind and appropriate manner.

Show them how to be thoughtful online.

An especially helpful resource for modeling kindness online is Be Internet Awesome, a comprehensive curriculum from Google that helps educators and parents show students how to be good Internet citizens. This program features plenty of class activities you can use with kids at school or home that encourage kind words and acts, even on the Internet.

Want to make learning about Internet kindness fun? Let the kids play Interland, where they can make their way through Kind Kingdom, a virtual environment that shows them how to make thoughtful decisions when interacting with others.

Social Media Notes of Kindness

A simple way to be kind online is to be complimentary. If your children are allowed to use social media, let them download a few of these kindness notes to share with their friends!

Sending a quick note of kindness can do a lot to spread positivity. Plus, your children’s friends can share them too!

Just right-click and download each image to save it to your computer.

Biggest Fan

You Plus Internet

Virtual Hug

Make the Internet Better

Favorite Online Friend

Chatting With You

Looking for more ways to connect with your kids?

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

And get more tips for raising a happy family on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

Planning to get out in nature this year? Don't miss these beautiful Georgia state parks to visit with the kids!

Beautiful Georgia State Parks to Visit With the Kids This Year

October 1, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When we first started having children, I thought “I’m going to be the bestest mom on the planet!”. I’m sure many of you did the same.

In my mind, being the bestest mom meant taking my kids to the amusement park every chance I got. After all, that’s where I always wanted to go as a kid.

But something happened as the kids got older. I noticed that they weren’t really *enjoying* themselves at those places. I mean, they had fun, but they always seemed so exhausted and overstimulated afterward that I often wished we hadn’t gone.

Beautiful Georgia State Parks to Visit with the Kids This Year

So, my husband and I decided to start spending more time outdoors with our kids. And we decided to start with all of the beautiful Georgia state parks to visit in our area.

And I’m here to tell you that there are a LOT of them. So many that I’d never seen, never visited, or never even heard of!

I wanted to share several of these Georgia state parks to visit with all of you, just in case you’re planning a trip to the Southeast U.S. and you’re looking for a relaxing, gorgeous, and affordable way to spend some time together as a family. They’re definitely worth a trip.

Heading out to one of these parks in the summer? Don’t miss our printable beach scavenger hunt to play with the kids while you’re there!

Planning to get out in nature this year? Don't miss these beautiful Georgia state parks to visit with the kids!

Beautiful Georgia State Parks to Visit With the Kids This Year

This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

As a note, this will be a growing list. We’re planning to visit as many of Georgia’s state and national parks as we can over the next few years. So be prepared for this post to get pretty long as we share pictures, experiences, and reviews.

Hard Labor Creek State Park

Just an hour outside of Atlanta is Hard Labor Creek State Park. With a beautiful golf course, a lakeside beach, and plenty of trails, this state park should be on your short list of places to visit.

There are 24 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback trails to explore. Stay in one of the cozy cottages or bring your tent or RV as this campsite has all the modern-day amenities.

Hard Labor Creek State Park Cottage

This is the cottage we stayed in at Hard Labor Creek state park. It was wonderful. The kitchen is fully furnished (complete with flatware!), the floors are hardwood, and there were two full bedrooms with two beds each.

We had cable TV, a fireplace, a screened porch, and complementary board games in the cupboard!

Hard Labor Creek State Park

There are a couple of hiking trails and they’re both fairly easy. So you can bring the kids along without packing an entire suitcase of supplies.

There are horse stables and a special horse campground too! Bring your beach toys and have a fun and relaxing day on the lakeside beach. My kids love the beach there, by the way.

F.D. Roosevelt State Park

Georgia’s largest state park was a favorite of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Just 80 miles southwest of Atlanta, these 9,049 acres will easily help you forget all your troubles at home and help you to reconnect with nature.

Go on a day hike or jump on your bike and explore the 40 miles of trails throughout the park. Discover hidden waterfalls, beautiful tall trees, and little creeks where the local animals come out to visit.

Wash off the dust of the trail in the cool spring water of the Liberty Bell swimming pool. Don’t forget your fishing poles or go on a guided horseback ride.

This park is dedicated to FDR and has a life-sized sculpture welcoming you to the park. Visit the Roosevelt Little White House State Historic Site, which is located nearby. The warm spring pools are what brought FDR to this area to seek relief from polio. You can view his home and walk through the museum too.

Amicalola Falls State Park

For those that love the idea of camping, but like the reality of a hotel room facing the woods, head over to Amicalola Falls State Park. You can have a luxury stay on the mountaintop at the North Georgia Lodge with a spectacular view of the park.

For a bit more privacy, reserve a secluded cabin that is perfect for a mountain getaway with all the comforts of home. Stay close to the waterfalls at the campground that can accommodate both RVs and tents.

Amicalola Falls State Park has some pretty unique features as it is operated by a private company and not the state. Enjoy ziplining, archery, a climbing rock wall, survivalist camp, and a GPS scavenger hunt.

Personally, this is one of my favorite Georgia state parks to visit. The falls are beautiful and the hike up to them is pretty easy. On one of our visits, I was pregnant and the hike was still a breeze.

Cloudland Canyon State Park

One of Georgia’s most treasured places for spectacular nature formations is Cloudland Canyon State Park. This is the place to go if you love discovering hidden caves, cascading waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, and thousand-foot deep canyons carved out of the mountains.

Mountain bikers will love the new Five Points Recreation Area and Cloudland Connector Trail. Hikers can spend the day exploring the waterfalls and taking the West Rim Loop Trail to drink in the views of the gorgeous landscape. Bring your tent or RV, stay in a yurt, or relax in your very own cottage in the woods.

Cumberland Island National Seashore

Camping at Cumberland Island National Seashore is like no other experience in Georgia. After you have taken the 45-minute ferry ride to the island, you are ready for your adventure! For those that want clean restrooms, a fire ring, a food cage, stay at the popular Sea Camp Campground.

Cumberland Island

If you want to try your hand at camping in a situation when you have to boil your water first, stay at the Stafford Beach Campground. If you’re an experienced primitive camper, you can wilderness camp in secluded, beautiful areas of the island!

The history of the island and wild horses make this camping experience perfect for those looking for something off the beaten path.

Those are the Georgia state parks to visit that have made our must-visit list so far! But we’re looking forward to plenty more we can share soon!

Get more ideas for ways to spend time with the kids in these posts!

Keep the kids happy this winter with these 50 fun cabin fever activities!

These adorable farm animal paper bag puppets are such a fun way to learn about barnyard animals with the kids!

These owl books for kids feature gorgeous pictures and illustrations for learning about these nocturnal flyers!

See even more ideas for reconnecting with the kids on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

This list of 60 outdoor summer play ideas is perfect for keeping kids happy all summer long!

60 Awesome Summer Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids

June 25, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Head outside with the kids with this list of awesome fun in the sun ideas for summer!

Summer. It’s the most wonderful time of the year for playing outside.

We live in the South and it. gets. hot. But that’s never stopped our kids from wanting to be outside playing every game imaginable.

After a while, though, the same old games just don’t do it for them anymore.

And that’s why I wanted to find some awesome fun in the sun ideas for outdoor play in summer.

60 Fun Outdoor Summer Play Ideas for Kids

Below, you’ll find 60, count’em, SIXTY different summer outdoor play ideas for kids.

And they are awesome!

They can make their own bubble wands, create slime that fizzes, build mud kitchens, and much more!

You can get also get a printable preschool summer activity calendar free! Read on to see how to score this for this summer.

And if you need more ways to make summer fun, check out our list of 40 simple summer crafts kids can make!

This list of 60 outdoor summer play ideas is perfect for keeping kids happy all summer long!

60 Awesome Outdoor Play Ideas for Summer

Several of these summer play ideas for kids also feature learning concepts, such as STEM engineering, art, math, sensory play, and more.

So you can play while giving kids a little more learning. Trust me, they’ll never know.

If you try some of these with your kids, I’d love to hear which ones they loved the most!

1. DIY Fizzy Slime – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to Make a Kite – Red Ted Art

3. Driveway Shape Maze – Creative Family Fun

4. Backyard Olympics – Kid World Citizen

5. DIY Rockets for Kids – Frogmom

6. Wet Chalk Color Mixing – School Time Snippets

7. Catapult Splat Painting – There’s Just One Mommy

8. Squirt Gun Painting – Fireflies and Mudpies

9. DIY Mud Kitchen – Megan Zeni

10. Sidewalk Paint Rockets – Gluesticks

11. Recycled Chalk Paint – Rhythms of Play

12. Splash the Alphabet – Days with Grey

13. Ocean Sensory Bin – Frogs and Fairies

14. DIY Obstacle Course for Kids – Buggy and Buddy

15. Outdoor Rainbow Weaving – Where Imagination Grows

16. Summer Paint Sensory Play – Mama Smiles

17. How to Make DIY Bubble Wands and Homemade Bubbles – Natural Beach Living

18. Rainbow Windsock Craft – Kids Craft Room

19. Pool Noodle Boat Racing Game – See Vanessa Craft

20. Bouncy Ball Process Art Painting – School Time Snippets

Summer Outdoor Play Ideas for Kids

21. Colorful Moon Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

22. Cardboard Arc de Triomphe Craft – Non-Toy Gifts

23. $1 Soda Bottle Sprinkler – Gluesticks

24. Plant a Pollinator Garden – Outdoor Families Online

25. Watermelon Fizzy Science Activity and Sensory Play – Natural Beach Living

26. Look Inside a Volcano Project – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

27. Amazing Hand Bubbles – The Craft Train

28. Playground Scavenger Hunt – KC Edventures

29. Water Balloon Bash – Fireflies and Mudpies

30. Water Table Play – Creating Creatives

31. Garden Xylophone – The Moments at Home

32. Alphabet Ice Boats – School Time Snippets

33. Sidewalk Puffy Paint – Fun Learning for Kids

34. Clay Sculptures – Red Ted Art

35. Mud Pie Nature Art – Rhythms of Play

36. Silly Races – Creative Family Fun

37. Salt Art Project – Buggy and Buddy

38. Sea Animals Party Game – There’s Just One Mommy

39. How to Make Chalk – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

40. Frog Habitat Garden – The Craft Train

60 Fun in the Sun Ideas for Kids

41. Sidewalk Chalk Math Game – Look! We’re Learning!

42. Ice Excavating – Gluesticks

43. DIY Craft Stick Peg Doll Boat for Kids – Rhythms of Play

44. Dinosaur Dig Excavation Activity – Fun Learning for Kids

45. Backyard Treasure Hunt – Kid World Citizen

46. Build a Dinosaur Garden – Megan Zeni

47. Beach Detective Game – Kids Craft Room

48. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt – Buggy and Buddy

49. Pop Rock Science Experiment – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

50. Pond Sensory Bin – In Our Pond

51. Cardboard Car Wash – Non-Toy Gifts

52. Fish Ice Play Activity – Messy Little Monster

53. DIY Outdoor Chalkboard – Rhythms of Play

54. Build a Stick Maze – Mother Natured

55. GIANT Bubble Solution – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

56. Color-Changing Sidewalk Chalk – Frogs and Fairies

57. Outdoor Creative Art Station – Where Imagination Grows

58. Photo Scavenger Hunt – KC Edventures

59. Pine Cone Trail Outdoor Activity – Preschool Toolkits

60. DIY Water Wall – There’s Just One Mommy

Farm Fun Bundle TPT Quote Box Ad

Printable Summer Activity Calendar for Preschoolers

This list of summer outdoor play ideas is awesome for filling up summer with kids of all ages.

But if you’re trying to keep preschoolers happy, you’re working with a unique crowd.

I’ve been there.

PreK Summer Activity Calendar for Kids

Which is where this printable preschool summer activity calendar can be a life saver!

This printable calendar features 12 early themes with a different activity to try each day. Planning done!

Printable Preschool Summer Activity Calendar

To get this printable preschool summer activity calendar, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming up this Sunday!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> Preschool Summer Activity Calendar <<<

Check out these other summer ideas!

Make this summer one to remember with these easy ways to have a fun summer with kids!
This fun confetti ocean slime recipe is perfect for summer sensory play!
Make this easy sea animal suncatcher craft for a simple summer art project this year!

Ready to send your child off to camp for the first time? Here are seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp!

7 Ways to Help Kids Prepare for A First Summer Camp

May 31, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Going away to summer camp can be a little scary or intimidating for some children. And it’s not just children who may be a little uneasy. Parents can be too!

Our oldest is going to summer camp for the first time this year. Well, actually, she’s doing three of them this year: tennis camp, STEAM camp, and web development camp. And both she and I are a little nervous.

As homeschoolers, we can get so used to spending time with one another that going to “class” can be a strange experience. Actually, that’s one of the reasons why my husband and I have decided to enroll her in camp in the first place. It’s time to start spreading her wings…just a tiny bit.

How to Prepare Your Child for a First Summer Camp

So that’s why I wanted to share these seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp. If your child is dreading the day they leave instead of counting down the days, try these tips to help them calm down, look on the bright side, and get excited about what they’ll learn!

Summer camp is a beautiful time for kids to come together and learn and grow, and make lasting memories they will cherish for a lifetime. It’s entirely rational for a child to be scared the first year or two. These tools below can be used to help your child see the possibility of the best summer ever.

Looking for more ways to make summer awesome? Don’t miss our list of super fun, super easy summer crafts for kids!

Ready to send your child off to camp for the first time? Here are seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp!

Images c/o: sernovik & pyotr021 via depositphotos

7 Ways To Prepare Your Child for A First Summer Camp

Personal Experience

Sit down and share your own experience of summer camp from when you were a kid. Let them know what a fun time you had, and the memories that you still have today. Don’t focus on any negatives but let them know how fun it was. You can also share if you were scared at first and how good it turned out for you.

Personally, neither my husband nor I went to summer camp as kids. But we did go to public school and we’ve used those experiences to help prepare our kids for their time away from us. It always seems to help.

It’s OK To Be Nervous

Remind your child it’s okay if they are a little nervous to go. It’s natural to miss home or be a bit anxious to leave your parents. But once they arrive at the camp and settle in, they will start having a great summer.

For our daughter, we went with a first summer camp that is located at a center she’s already familiar with and offered by instructors she already knows. Some of the kids in those classes will also be at the camp, so she’ll have a warm welcome right away.

Let Your Child Have a Say

If you’ve decided that summer camp will be a good experience for your kids, don’t be quick to let them talk you out of it. BUT – it is wise to let them have some input in what kind of camp they’ll attend and where it is located.

In our family, we chose camps that covered topics our daughter was already interested in. So, while she’s a bit nervous for the first day, she’s also looking forward to learning more about topics she knows she likes.

Camping Buddy

Consider talking to your child’s best friend’s parents and see if they are going to camp. If they are you can reassure your child, they will know someone. Or talk to other parents and find a few people your kiddo will know that is planning to go to summer camp. Just like entering anything, you feel safer if you know a few people.

Communication

When your kids come home in the afternoon, stay positive and let them know you’re proud of them and that all is going well. Encourage them to talk about what they’re learning, who they’re meeting, and even the parts of the camp they don’t like.

If your kiddo begins expressing concerns about camp, stop and let him or her speak freely. Truly listen to the fears or stresses about camp to see if you can help alleviate that stress. Be careful not to dismiss their fears.

Build Enthusiasm

If your child is still not really “feeling” the idea of camp, you can build their excitement by letting them find a new outfit to wear on the first day. (This alone is going to do wonders for our teen.)

You can also plan some cute lunches for them to take along or let them get involved in making a special treat to share with their fellow campers and camp leaders.

Walkthrough

Sit down and give your child a walkthrough of what they will experience. How are lunches and snacks served? What if they get hungry and it’s not snack time? What kind of activities can they participate in? How many kids will potentially be there? Try to find out as much out the camp as you can in advance and share this information with your child.

It’s a good idea to visit the center where the first summer camp will be held and let your child get a look at it. Seeing where they will spend their days can do a lot to reduce fear of the unknown and ease their worries.

Just remember to focus on the positives they can take away and listen to their concerns. They won’t know what to expect till they arrive at camp. And who knows? Maybe they’ll come away with a new outlook on learning!

How did you help your kids get ready for their first summer camp? Did things work out well? Share your experiences in the comments!

Need more summer fun for the kids? Check out these ideas!

These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

This fun solar system-themed edible playdough is a perfect sensory activity for summer!

Summer Books for Kids

And, for more summer fun, check out my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

30 Ways to Be a Happier Mom

May 15, 2018 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Parenting. It’s both the sweetest and hardest job in the world.

There isn’t a day when I don’t love my children – all four of them. But there are definitely days when I feel a little burned out on the routine of it.

There is so much giving involved in parenting that you can start to feel all given out, in a way. After all, there are only so many pieces of us moms available.

30 Ways to Be A Happier Mom

On days when I’m in need of some parenting pick-me-ups, I like to read suggestions from fellow moms who “get it”. And that’s why I’ve rounded up these 30 ways to be a happier mom to share with those of you who are feeling a little burned out too.

I hope these give you a little parenting inspiration! And, if you’re feeling burned out on homeschooling, read what I do when homeschooling feels like too much.

Feeling a little burned out as a mom? Try these tips for happy mamas to put some joy back into parenting!

Images c/o: bst2012 and pixelheadphoto / depositphotos

30 Ways to Be a Happier Mom

1. Five Ways to Show Love to Your Defiant Child – Look! We’re Learning!

2. How to See Beauty in the Mess of Parenting – What’s Up Fagans

3. 11 Tips for Being a Good Mom – Little Sprouts Learning

4. How to Teach Preschoolers to Cooperate – Days with Grey

5. How to Encourage Autonomy in Kids – Mosswood Connections

6. 2 Family Rules to Become a Better Parent – Coffee and Carpools

7. How to Listen to Your Inner Voice As a Mom – Mama Instincts

8. Why You are the Perfect Mom for Your Kids – The Soccer Mom Blog

9. How to Run an Efficient Home – Empowered Single Moms

10. How to Be a More Patient Mom – The Moments at Home

11. What to Do When Your Tween Shuts You Out – Look! We’re Learning!

12. 7 Ways to Be a More Peaceful Mom – Kid Minds

13. 7 Powerful Ways to Turn a Parenting Day Around – Little Sprouts Learning

14. How to Raise Siblings Who Get Along – Mama Smiles

15. 5 Steps to a Positive Bedtime Routine for Kids – Kiddy Charts

16. How to Inspire a Culture of Family Togetherness – Kara Carrero

17. 10 Ways to Spend Quality Time with Your Child – Fireflies and Mudpies

18. How to Give Kids Quality Time – Sloely

19. How to Reset When Family Travel Goes Wrong – Bambini Travel

20. How to Overcome Mommy Anger – What’s Up Fagans

21. How to Slow Down Parenting In a Sped-Up World – Look! We’re Learning!

22. How to Reclaim the Joy of Motherhood – Kori at Home

23. How to Manage Time with the Kids – Simple Everyday Mom

24. How to Stop Yelling – Parenting from the Heart

25. 7 Habits of Good Enough Parents – Sloely

26. 15 Ways to Be a Fun Mom When You’re Stressed – The Moments at Home

27. How to Become a Parenting Team – Bambini Travel

28. How to Grow as a Mother – Fireflies and Mudpies

29. Tips for Parenting with Compassion – Kori at Home

30. How to Discipline Without Getting Angry – What’s Up Fagans

Did you like these ways to be a happier mom? Don’t miss these other parenting tips!

Everything around us moves so quickly it can be hard to parent mindfully. But it's possible! Here's how to parent with intention, no matter how hectic our lives become.

Is your tween refusing to talk with you It's frustrating, isn't it Here's what to do when your tween shuts you out.

Struggling to get your child with ADHD on a consistent schedule Try these tips for creating an ADHD daily routine for kids!

Get more parenting pointers on my Parenting with Joy Pinterest board!

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Hi! I'm Selena, a veteran teacher and homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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