This New For Us Friday we're sharing a new-f0r-us lunchbox note--fun fact lunchbox notes! LOVE these!! A few weeks ago, Maddy, Owen, and Cora were totally into an article in the Kids Post about ear wax. Yes, ear wax. At breakfast. And the article promised more equally disgusting (but soooo interesting!) topics in the near future. I could barely swallow my coffee as I read it, but what was strikingly clear to me was that when kids, even little guys, are interested in something, … [Read more...]
how to get kids to talk about school: what every parent must know
School's in full swing here, and if your house is anything like mine, getting kids to talk about their day is sometimes difficult. I want to know everything: Who did they sit with at lunch? Who did they play with at recess? How do they like their tablemates? What book did they start in Guided Reading? Who hosted the morning tv show? But it's hard. The kids are tired at 3pm, they're even more tired at 7pm, and the last thing they want to do is talk to boring old Mom about … [Read more...]
make fluffy slime (and get your kids reading these FREE printable slime recipes!)
Oh, friends. If I had a dime for every time my kids talked about slime, I'd be a rich woman. Fluffy slime. Floam slime. Glitter slime. Galaxy slime. Butter slime. Iceburg slime. Clear slime. Not. Even. Kidding. You name the slime, my kids have made it. Though we may be in the midst of a slime craze right now, little did my kids realize that we made slime way before it was even cool. That's how much of a trend-setter their mom is. Cooler than cool and they don't even realize … [Read more...]
quick and easy math game: strike it out!
Originally published December 7, 2011, but republishing because it rocks. I'm always on the hunt for ways to make math more fun over here, especially since math is not my forte. So when Maddy came home with 'play game with someone' as her assignment one day a few weeks ago, I was all for it. Mommy! I get to play a game for homework tonight! Let's start it right away!! Music. To. My. Ears. And the more we played, the more I loved it. And the more we played, the more Owen wanted … [Read more...]
make this summer rock: Smart Summer Challenge 2017!
I can't believe it! I really and truly cannot believe it! We made it through another school year, my friends. We. Did. It. Woooo-hooooooo! Next up? Summer. I'm over the moon thrilled and elated that summer is right around the corner! This year, I've got something so cool planned. So totally awesome and fabulous, I can't stand it. I've just finished up--after months of drafts!--the plans for our Smart Summer Challenge 2017. And it's going to rock. Totally, 110%, completely … [Read more...]
alphabet egg hunt: uppercase and lowercase letter match
Originally published on April 2, 2013, but republished today because it totally rocks. Kids need to learn the letters of the alphabet. And even if we play with the letters for ten minutes a day, it adds up--and before we know it, our kids will be ready for success in reading and in school. It's a perfect time of the year to throw in some sneaky before-nap or after naptime learning for our little ones, and though I know finding time can often be difficult, here's an easy one for you: … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
lent for modern catholic kids | daily reflections and prayers
Cards have been updated to reflect dates for the 2017 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 all … [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...]
last minute Valentine ideas for busy families
We're in the home stretch for Valentine's Day, so I wanted to hit you with a few ideas that you could use today or tomorrow to make this day of loooove memorable for your loved ones. Right now, these posts are all a buzz over on the blog: Minute to Win It Games for Kids & Family How to Throw A Rock-Star Valentine's Day Class Party Musical Hearts: Reading, Moving, and Crazy-Fun Kid Game Valentine's Day Class Party Ideas, 2.0 And in the last few days, thousands and … [Read more...]
fun dip valentines
Judge me if you will, but I have finally given in to the pressure of Owen and Cora. I've held up for quite a while, though, and for that I'm proud. Every, single year when I bragged about creating fun, super-cool candy-free Valentines for the kids to make for their classmates, they sighed. Puh-leaaaase, Mom. We just want to give our friends candy Valentines. That's all kids want. Can we just get the Valentines from the store that everyone loves? The ones that have a lollipop or Nerds … [Read more...]
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