Featured Articles
Latest Posts
st. patrick’s day BRAIN TEASER scavenger hunt
Even though our lives have changed quite a bit since I started this blog seven years ago, one thing has remained the same: we love to rock it out for holidays. Even big kids like to rock it out for the holidays. So this year, I decided to kick up our traditional St. Patty's Day Scavenger Hunt just a wee bit. My kids are quick, and they're smart. So our Scavenger Hunt needs to be tricky and engaging to keep them interested--or at least to stretch our hunt a bit past the … Read More...
lent for modern catholic kids | daily reflections and prayers
Cards have been updated to reflect dates for the 2019 Lenten season. Enjoy! We're one week into Lent this year, and I feel like we kind of struggled for the first week. Our parish priest stressed to us the importance of 'not giving up chocolate' again and instead challenged us to really make this Lent count. So we agreed. We wouldn't give up chocolate. But honestly, after so many years of doing just that--giving up sweets--for Lent, it felt strange not to. And we … Read More...
be nicer than necessary notes: lunchbox love to help us stop bickering
We're in a mad winter funk over here. A serious winter funk. Lots of snow days and delays grey skies and dreary days and indoor recess at school means that there's been a lot of grumpy, grouchy kids at our house. And parents. No matter what we do to mix things up, it seems like we've all been doing more arguing and bickering than I care to admit. And it's not just the kids--sure, of course, it's the kids. But it's also my husband and me. The dog. The birds and fish. We're all a little … Read More...
Be Internet Awesome—free resources to help keep kids internet safe
Friends, if you and your family are not talking openly and often about internet safety, then you really must start doing so now. What better time to start than on Safer Internet Day, February 5? Safer Internet Day is geared toward making sure all people join together and do what they can to make the internet a safer place for everyone—especially for our younger users. But how do we do this? We barely understand the internet, right? So how are we supposed to help our kids be … Read More...
valentine’s day class party ideas, 2.0
For many years now I've been roped into being Room Parent for my kids' classes, and though I do love the opportunity to meet other families from the school and to get to know the kids in the class, it's a lot of work. More than once I've wished that there was a secret site that gave me all of the Valentine's Day class party ideas I needed--the letters to send, the snacks to serve, crafts to make and the games to play. But knowing that such a thing doesn't exist and that each class party is … Read More...
the kid who would be king: review & free printables
Looking for a fun family movie this weekend? We found a great one for you: The Kid Who Would Be King. And I've got some cool printable quotes notes—and mini posters!—for you, too! The Kid Who Would Be King is a modern-day adaptation of the King Arthur story and the legend of the sword in the stone, Maddy, Owen, Cora, and I loved this film. It's a fun mix of Goonies and Harry Potter. Not only did we have a chance to see an advanced screening of this new film in NYC this month, … Read More...
valentine’s day water bottle labels: get kids reading jokes!
I love any reason to get kids reading--that's no secret. And I love a good joke. That's really no secret, either. So I made these Valentine's Day joke notes to put on plain-Jane water bottles, over the label. I love them. Valentine's Day water bottle labels will not only give your kids--or students--something refreshing to drink, but it'll give them something to laugh about as well. Here's the skinny. . . Valentine's Day Water Bottle Labels -- Get Your Kids Reading … Read More...
from a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope: #NationAtHope
For the last two years, I've been a member of the Aspen Institute's Parent Panel for the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, and finally—finally!—today our report is released into the world! The Nation At Hope Report: What You Need to Know It's called From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope, and it's a work that reflects decades of research and thousands of hours of work from dozens of incredible people. Remember years ago, the “A Nation At Risk” … Read More...
thank you delivery people: free printable for families
This time of the year is insane. We're moving so quickly, our to-do lists are nuts, and often we're totally forgetting to breathe. At least I am. So when I saw my sweet and smart friend Danielle Smith, of Pretty Extraordinary, take a minute to say "thank you" to the delivery people, I stopped and smiled. This is so simple. But it can really make someone's day. Here's the skinny. . . Thank You Delivery People -- Free Printable for Families It's a simple "thank you" that you can … Read More...
top 5 must-read books for kids: babies through teens
Over the years, many readers and friends have asked me the about the must-read books for kids. Every few weeks, I get asked the million dollar questions: What books should my kids read? What are the best books for 5-year-olds? Which books will my 12-year-old love to read? Please tell me how to spend my book money--which are the must-have books for kids? We're heading to the library. Which books should I pick up? I've had the conversation over and over and over again. So … Read More...
