Category: Teenager

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Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Free Activities How To Outside Fun Sensory Play Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Can You Grow a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone? A Lesson In Sustainability For Kids

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I saw this picture being shared on Facebook and Pinterest where a pinecone was planted into soil. The photo showed that the pine cone was about half-buried in soil, with the top half sticking out. There were sprouts coming from the top of the pinecone, indicating that it’s possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

This left me wondering… is it possible? Can you really grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

can you grow a pine tree from a pine cone, sustainability for kids, teaching kids about the environment, earth day, love our earth

The Research About Growing a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone

I tried to find information about this, and couldn’t find a conclusive answer. Just when I thought I had, someone else had a different point to make.

I couldn’t find any accounts of someone successfully going a pine tree from a pine cone. Plus, many people did explain that it is pretty much impossible.

Some people thought it would work, though, and I just have to test the image that was floating around.

With that being said, I found literally no confirmed answer. I couldn’t even find a source for the image that was floating around social media. **Updated to add that the social media image can be found here**

The Information We Did Find

Before we tried this for ourselves, I assigned our teenager the task of learning a couple of things about pine trees. She had to share the information with the younger siblings before we went around the yard hunting for pine cones.

One of the things she shared was that there are male and female pine cones. Am I the only adult who didn’t know this?!

With that fun fact, we took all of the pine cones we collected and played a game. We made teams and worked together to sort the pine cones into two pines; male and female. We also learned that the female pine cones are the ones that carry the seeds.

Finally, we learned that trees produce oxygen and that oxygen is what we breathe.

can you grow a pine tree from a pine cone, sustainability for kids, teaching kids about the environment, earth day, love our earth

Growing Pine Trees From Pine Cones

So, since I couldn’t find the actual answer online, we decided to figure it out for ourselves.

Materials

  • Empty 2-liter soda bottle
  • X-acto knife (or you can use a pocket knife)
  • Soil
  • Pinecone

This is the exact knife I used. I use it for pretty much everything, to be honest. LOL.

Yes, that’s an affiliate link, which means I’ll make a small commission at no additional cost to you. I truly do use this x-acto knife and stand behind it, however.

Instructions

1. Cut the soda bottle so that you only have the bottom portion left. Say, 1/4 of the bottle.

2. Add soil to the soda bottle bottom.

3. Create a hole in the soil that is big enough to fit 1/2 of the pinecone.

4. Fill dirt back in around the pinecone. Only the top half should be showing.

5. Water everyday and monitor the progress.

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Did it work?!

Ok, so since we know that this method for growing a tree isn’t for sure going to work, just bear with me. I’ll update on the progress (if there is any) right away.

In the meantime, however, do this project with us!! Help your kids plant their pinecone so you can see for yourself if it is possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone.

We’re all looking for ways to teach kids from home, so why not mix in a fun science lesson?

What do you think will happen? Is it possible to grow a pine tree from a pine cone?

I had the kids all draw pictures of what they think will happen. Nevaeh was the only one who thought we would have to remove the seeds from the pinecone to grow a tree. The others thought the tree would grow from the pinecone.

Lets be honest, I think Nevaeh is right. Tell me what you think.

Will a tree begin to grow out of the planted pinecone? Tell me the reason behind your answer! I can’t wait to see what everyone thinks!

Need another project idea?

Check out this paper mache diamondback rattlesnake! Using paper mache is so easy, and the post has a recipe to make it with ingredients you already have on hand!

Paper mache, school art projects, art projects, 3D art, creativity for kids, paper mache diamondback rattlesnake
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Big Kid Family Activities Free Activities How To Kindergarten Age Life Parenting Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

15 Fun and Easy Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home

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When you’re stuck at home with your kids, you might all go a little stir crazy. You can avoid it and have some fun by learning how to keep kids busy at home.

Some of these ideas will require assistance and/or participation from you (or another adult or older sibling). Of course, I know you will need ideas for how to keep kids busy so you can get stuff done, too, so there is plenty of activities for that on the list, too.

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How to Keep Your Kids Busy at Home

1. Help them or encourage them to set up an obstacle course.

The older your kids are, the more likely they will be to do this independently. Be prepared to have to attempt the obstacle course in the end, however.

For younger kids, you may have to assist them in the setting up process, and then teach them how to get through the obstacle course. You may be able to back off eventually and let them make their way through the course on their own.

2. Do a craft.

This doesn’t have to be hard! One of my favorites this week was using old magazines to make collages. All of my kids loved this craft, even the teenager.

Simply supply each kid with a magazine or two, a glue stick, and scissors. Then let them have fun and create whatever they want. Likewise, other engaging activities for kids include face painting. Interestingly, you can buy face paint for kids from online stores; these colors are safe for children to use. It pushes the kids to explore their creativity and try out new crafts. 

There are so many other crafts, however, so be creative and do whatever you think your kids will like. You’ll also have to decide how hands-on you want to be during the craft, too, before deciding on one.

3. Set up a sensory bin.

I love sensory bins!! You don’t have to have a sensory table to enjoy sensory play. All you need is a container such as a medium-sized tote or a large bowl. Then, fill it with whatever you think your kids will enjoy for a while.

Sometimes I just go with soap and water in the sensory bin, or I will dye rice. Other times I get fancier and do a shark-themed sensory bin. Oh, another favorite was our frog sensory bin! There are so many options.

4. Make something out of paper mache: How to keep kids busy

A few years ago, our son had to do a project where he created a 3-D animal. He chose to make a paper mache diamond-back rattlesnake. This project ended up being one of the best he’s ever done, and it gave us all a new-found love of paper mache.

These types of projects are so much easier than they sound and actually require only a few ingredients. Kids can make whatever they want, or you can challenge them to make something specific.

Click here for an easy paper mache recipe.

5. Have a push-up competition: How to keep kids busy

I’m excited for this one! My kids love to compete with one another, and I think even our 12 and 15-year-old will have fun with it. Actually, it may keep my husband busy for a while, too. If you have a gym or workout space, you could even make a day of it. Or if not, creating a purpose built space to entertain your kids could be great.

With a great contractor and basement waterproofing company, it will take no time at all and give you the exact space you need to have more fun as a family. Either way, spending time having a mini olympics or sports day can be fun for the whole family. Make sure someone is counting out loud, too!

6. Have them work on puzzles.

While I’m working from home, puzzles are one of my go-to options when the kids want to be right next to me. I get out a few wooden puzzles for them to choose from

One of the choices is always an alphabet puzzle and as they put it together I’ll call out a random letter that they have to find next. It’s helping with letter recognition along with keeping them busy. I’ve also been having my littles practice their name with the letters.

7. Let them play with and write on sticky notes.

So at first, I was completely against this idea. I didn’t want my sticky notes wasted. htat quickly changed when I realized that my kids left me alone for a bit when I let them use the sticky notes. A small price to pay.

My son has been having me write math problems out on sticky notes for him and then he solves them. My daughter has been practicing writing her name on them. Other times they make random pictures and stick them in random places, but that’s okay, too.

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8. Write a letter on a piece of paper and have your child write it in different colors.

My kids love this one because I pull out my “special” markers for it. Really, these markers are just the ones I hide from the kids so they don’t get lost or dried out.

Sometimes I even let them use glitter pens or a mixture of many different writing instruments.

9. Challenge them to build a Lego or block tower.

Tell them to make it bigger or wider than they ever have before, and to keep it a surprise until they are 100% finished. This should buy you a little time to get things done with kids in the house.

After that is done, you can always challenge them to make different things out of Legos. Be creative and come up with fun ideas that they’ll be excited about.

*Check out my Pinterest board called “Legos” for ideas!”

10. Set up an art center.

Before you get busy doing your own thing for the day, set up a small art center for your kiddos. This could include blank paper, markers or crayons, glue, some colored paper, or any little add-ons you can find to put in the bin.

If you want a themed art center, just go with whatever holiday or season is coming up and offer colors pertaining to that. You can use whatever you have around your house, or you can head to a dollar tree to grab a couple of seasonal items that they can use for artwork.

11. Find a free electronic resource for your kids to use.

Right now, many companies are offering free online resources for kids. This is to ensure every child has the chance to learn something new. A few good ones are Scholastic and ABC Mouse.

My 12-year-old has been loving the Scholastic lessons because they are about things that are interesting to him, and my 3-year-old has been really enjoying ABC Mouse. I think finding the right online source for your child based on their interests and their age group is important, but there are resources for all kids right now.

12. Blow up balloons: How to keep kids busy

No, I’m not kidding. This keeps ALL of my kids busy for a while. There are so many different things they can do with balloons. From playing indoor volleyball or balloon soccer to simply throwing the balloons at each other, they have fun for such a long time when I randomly blow up balloons.

13. Have a board game day.

Pull out yours and your child’s favorite board games and spend a few hours (or the entire day) playing games together. This is great bonding time, and your kid will love the time you spent with them. If you can’t play for such a long time, play a game or two and then suggest that they play with their siblings.

Since I have big kids and little kids, this gets a bit trickier, but it’s still possible. The other night we played Monopoly Voice Banking, which is our 12 year old’s favorite game. The littles wanted to play, too, of course, and instead of sending them away we formed “teams”.

Each little (there’s 3 of them) chose one big person’s team to be on. The little was responsible for rolling the dice and moving the piece (with help when needed), and the big person was responsible for the rest of the turn. We had very little argument or whining during the game and everyone had a good time!

14. Remember, it’s National Reading Awareness Month.

There are TONS of ideas out there to celebrate reading month. This could be as easy as pulling out your child’s school calendar and copying what your child would have been doing at school that day to celebrate. Otherwise, you can check out my blog post about Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month.

15. Play hide and seek

We’ve already played in the house, in the backyard, and in the front yard since our social distancing began. The kids love this game and its one that can be played with parents or with siblings. Even better, it’s actually fun for everyone.

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Recap: How to Keep Kids Busy

There are many ideas for keeping your kids busy, but it’s sometimes hard to think of them when you need them most. This post can help.

What do you do to keep your kids busy? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Holiday Parenting Teenager

13 Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

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February 17th marks National Random Acts of Kindness Day in 2020. With the date approaching, I want to celebrate the day with my kiddos. I’ve been working on teaching them how to be kind to others, so it’s the perfect opportunity to practice.

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Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Your Kids

1. Compliment someone

A simple compliment can make someone’s day. Teach your kids to say nice things about those around them. Whether you compliment someone at the grocery store or you have your kids compliment one another at home, this is a good habit for them to form.

2. Pick up trash outside

There is no better way to do a kindness for others than by taking care of the environment. Walk around the neighborhood or a local park and clean up trash. Have the kids wear gloves or put a plastic bag over their hands so they don’t touch anything yucky.

3. Donate some toys to children in need

Let’s face it, most of our kids have too much. I know mine do. Encourage your child to select a few toys that are in good, working condition and donate them to someone in need.

If they have younger cousins or there are young kids in the neighborhood, you could take the toys there. Otherwise, donating to St. Vincent or somewhere similar is a good option.

4. Help them write a kind note for their teacher

If your child can write on their own, this is a good one for them to do alone. Otherwise, ask your child what they want to say to their teacher and help them write it. This is perfect for teachers of any grade as they could all use a note to let them know they are appreciated.

5. Donate canned goods to a local shelter

Have your kids help you gather canned goods and take them to a local shelter for donation.

6. Do a chore for a sibling or do an extra chore

I know my kids would be so surprised and happy if their sibling did one of their chores. I also know that the happy sibling would likely do the same in return, so it could end up being a never-ending (but awesome) cycle.

If your child doesn’t have siblings, they can do an extra chore to help their parents out.

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7. Thank emergency services personnel

Police officers, firefighters, EMTs and other professionals in the emergency services field sacrifice themselves each day to protect us and our towns. Oftentimes they work long hours with very little sleep, and they also work weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts.

By simply making them a picture or writing a note about how much they are appreciated, you are sure to make their day. You could take it a step further and bake cookies or another treat to deliver with your kids.

8. Leave coins on a ride-on toy at the mall or grocery store

Our local grocery store has a pony for kids to ride on. I’m going to have my kids leave a handful of coins on the pony as an act of kindness so that other kids can ride even if their parents don’t have any change on them.

9. Move a neighbor’s garbage can from the end of the driveway back to their house

If you’re anything like me, your garbage can may sit at the end of your driveway for a couple of days before you pull it back up to the house after garbage pick-up day. Teach your kids to help out the neighbor after trash has been picked up by having them pull the can back to the house. It would be a big help!

10. Return someone else’s cart to the cart corral at the store

When someone is finishing up loading their groceries into their car, run over and offer to put it away for them. It’s the simple things in life that are the most meaningful sometimes.

If you see a stranded cart in a parking lot, that’s a good one to put away, too. It’ll help out the store employee who has to collect all of the carts.

11. Share a favorite toy with a sibling or a friend.

Sharing is caring, right? Encourage your child to share their toys as a way of showing kindness to others.

12. Smile at everyone you see

Challenge your children to smile at everyone they pass today. A smile can make someone’s day and it’ll make you and your child feel good, too.

13. Read a book to someone or to a pet

Being read to is soothing and can reduce stress or anxiety. With this being the case, reading a book to someone is one of the kindest things you can do.

If you can’t think of a person to read to, find a pet who is willing to sit still or cuddle. The shelter is full of animals who would love some attention.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Final Thoughts on Random Acts of Kindness to Do With Kids

Random acts of kindness are amazing anytime of the year, but with National Random Acts of Kindness Day coming so quickly, it’s a good time to talk about it with your kiddos and spend a day practicing it. By the end of the day, you may find that your kids are coming up with more acts of kindness on their own!

Which random acts of kindness would you add to this list? Tell me in the comments!

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Adulting Big Kid Life Organization Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

Free Printables: Paycheck Budget & Chore Chart

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One of my New Year’s resolutions was to create a simpler chore chart than what I’d previously been using. My original one was literally four pages long. Well, when I decided to buckle down and create the simple chore chart I was wishing for, I decided to come up with one other freebie, bringing you the two free printables I’m sharing today.

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Simple Chore Chart Printable

The first printable, the easy chore chart, is intended to make it easier for my kids to get their chores done each day.

I wasn’t kidding when I said my original chore chart was four pages long. It definitely didn’t make it easy for the kids to pick chores each day, and it definitely didn’t inspire motivation.

Luckily, the new one has been a much bigger hit. It makes it easier to keep up on chores, and the kids know exactly what they should be doing that day.

I’ve noticed that the chores are getting done more quickly, sometimes before I even make it home from work.

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Paycheck Budget Printable

Since I was simplifying my life with the chore chart, I was inspired to simplify my budgeting method, as well.

Before, I had been writing my budget out on notebook paper every single pay period. Not a very organized method, I admit. It worked for me for a while, but I needed something a bit easier to wrap my head around.

I have a master list of when all of our bills are due, and each week I sit down to plan out what will need paid that week. I do this before I get my paycheck, and then the day I get paid, I reference my list and pay everything.

This printable can be used for weekly or bi-weekly budget planning and monthly budgeting, whichever you prefer.

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In “other expenses” I put things like food, gas, and cheerleading (which we pay weekly). In the “savings” section I put upcoming holidays and our emergency fund, which I distribute money to weekly, as well. “Extras” is for any extra money I’m putting towards debt.

Then, the final box titled “leftovers” is to figure out what I’m left with at the end of the pay period. I take our total income and subtract the total amount of money going out.

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  • problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

Final Thoughts

Printables make my life so much easier, and simple printables are essentials. I can’t keep up with multiple pages for a budget or chore chart. I need simple ones that allow me to keep all of my thoughts on that one page.

What do you think – do free printables help you simplify your life?

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Big Kid Craft crafts Free Activities Holiday Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Valentine’s Crafts Based on the Book Hedgehugs

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When my son brought the book ‘Hedgehugs’ home from school last year, I was so excited. I’d never heard of it before and it quickly became a favorite. While deciding on some Valentine’s Crafts, this book immediately came to mind.

It’s a cute story about a couple of hedgehogs that want to hug but can’t find a comfortable way to do so. By the end of the story, the hedgehogs find a way to hug by wiggling into the end of a torn sock. The sock covers their sharp parts so that they can share their love.

With National Hugging Day on the 21st and Valentine’s Day less than a month away, I figured it was the perfect time to have some fun with this one. If you want to buy this book for your home library, you can get it on Amazon by clicking HERE or by clicking on the photo below.

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This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

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Valentine’s Crafts 1 – Paper Hug

This craft is SO easy and we had everything on hand to make it ahead of time. Even more exciting, our teenager participated in this one!

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heart craft, Valentine's day, Valentines Day, Valentine's Day craft, handprint craft

Materials

Directions

  1. Cut a large heart onto pink paper.
  2. Using any of the three colors of paper, cut a long, skinny piece and fold it up like an accordion.
  3. Put white paint on one of the child’s hands and have them make a handprint on red paper.
  4. Do the same with the other hand so that you have 2 handprints for each child.
  5. Have the child cut around their handprint and glue one handprint to each arm.
  6. Glue the other end of the arm to the large heart.
  7. Using markers, draw a face on the heart.

Valentine’s Crafts 2 – Hedgehog Hugging a Heart Craft

Materials

Directions

  1. Draw or print a large oval onto white paper and have your kids paint it brown.
  2. Draw or print a medium-sized oval, a medium sized heart, two small ovals for feet, and two long, skinny ovals for arms. At the end of each long, skinny oval, make it flat instead of rounded. (I know, this isn’t an oval anymore).
  3. Mix brown and white paint to make a light brown or tan color. Then, paint the rest of the shapes with this color.
  4. Then, cut out a couple of hearts onto pink or red paper.
  5. Once all of that is done, assemble the hedgehog by beginning with the large brown oval. Using glue, add the medium-sized tan oval next, more toward the bottom of the large oval leaving about half an inch of space at the bottom.
  6. Then add the tan heart so that the top half of the heart is on the brown oval and the bottom half is on the tan oval.
  7. Next up are the feet, which should be put on the very bottom.
  8. Finally, add one of the red or pink hearts right into the center of the tan oval and put the arms so that the flat side of the arms are on the edge of the oval and the rounded parts are overlapping the red or pink heart.
  9. Add a second red or pink heart overtop of the first one and add the googly eyes to the tan heart.
  10. For the final steps, add a pom-pom to the point of the tan heart to make a nose and add claws to the feet using a black marker.

That’s it!! You’re done and you’ve created a cute hedgehog hugging a heart.

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Final Thoughts on Valentines Craft Based on the Book Hedgehugs

Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday to celebrate with your kids. It’s a good time to teach kids fun ways to celebrate rather than spending money to celebrate.

Which craft are you going to do with your kids? Let me know in the comments!

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While you’re at it, parents, go ahead and treat yourself this Valentine’s Day with some pampering and self care.

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Adulting Big kid fun Family Activities Free Activities Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

Fun Trivia for Kids and Adults – Free Printables

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I’ve always loved trivia so when I found out that January 4th is National Trivia Day, I knew I had to celebrate in some way. I decided to create a kids trivia printable, and then I became inspired to create one for adults, too! So — here are two free trivia printables.

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Free Trivia Printables

Trivia for Kids

This printable is perfect for siblings or for parents to quiz their kids. You can even play parents vs. kids and read the kid questions to the kids and the adult questions (see below) to the adults.

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The Answers:

1. How many points are scored during a touchdown in football? Answer – 6

2. Which famous painter cut off a part of his ear? Answer – Van Gogh

3. Which character’s nose grew bigger each time he lied? Answer – Pinocchio

4. What is the world’s largest mammal? Answer – Blue whale

5. What is a baby goat called? Answer – Kid

6. Where can you find the Eiffel Tower? Answer – Paris

7. What is the money called that is used in Germany? Answer – Euros

8. Who sings the song ‘Shake it Off’? Answer – Taylor Swift

9. Who was left alone in the movie ‘Home Alone’? Answer – Kevin

10. Who was the first president of the United States? Answer – George Washington

Trivia for Adults

For a night with friends or an easy date night with your partner, trivia is a fun way to spend your time together. This trivia printable has questions for everyone, so feel free to split up into teams and determine a winner at the end!

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The Answers:

1. In which year was the first iPhone released? Answer – 2007

2. What is the shortcut for the “paste” function on a computer? Answer – Ctrl + V

3. In what year was Tupac killed? Answer – 1996

4. When did the Great Depression occur? Answer – 1930’s

5. What is the diameter of the earth? Answer – 8,000 miles

6. Where is the largest desert located? Answer – Antarctica

7. Which author first became a billionaire by writing books? Answer – J.K. Rowling

8. In which state did Roseanne and the rest of the Connor family live? Answer – Illinois

9. What is the Richter scale used for? Answer – Measuring earthquakes

10. On the TV show Family Ties, who did Michael Fox play? Answer – Alex P Keaton

My Favorite Trivia Games

Trivia is a common game night theme in our house, and we have two trivia games that we play over and over again.

The first one is Trivial Pursuit, the Classic Edition.

The other is Trivillennial.

I honestly couldn’t choose between the two, it really depends on who I’m playing with.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

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Final Thoughts: Free Trivia Printables

Trivia is such a fun game, and it’s a great way to bond with your kids, your spouse, or your friends. Do you like to play? Is there a certain trivia game you prefer? Tell me about it in the comments.

Categories
Big Kid How To Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

8 Ways to Get Ready For Back to School (plus FREE printable)

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Can you believe summer is coming to an end and another year of school is upon us? Less than 3 weeks and my kids will be back to school again. Unlike many parents, I am so not happy about this.

I love having my kids home, as weird as that may be. Plus, my firstborn is starting kindergarten!! We have two older kids (bonus kids for me), so I’m definitely not new to back to school, but it’s different when you’re doing the kindergarten thing for the very first time.

Anyway, although I’m dreading the kids going back to school, I have to get ready for it regardless. I’m working on getting all 3 of the kids ready.

Nevaeh is going to be a sophomore this year, Peyton is starting 6th grade (his first year of middle school!!), and Sylas is starting kindergarten. Needless to say, we have quite the preparation ahead of us.

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*This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.*

Ways to Get Ready For Back to School

1. Adjust bed time.

Summertime means staying up late… sometimes way too late. Back to school means a “normal” bedtime and waking up early. Bummer, right?

It’s another unfortunate aspect of back to school. To set your kids up for success, begin getting them back on their school schedule at least one week in advance.

2. Make a list of what you need.

Each grade requires different items but, for the most part, they all have similarities. Figure out what each of your kids needs (I found lists for my kids on their school’s website), and start making a list for yourself.

School clothes and shoes are other things you need a list for. I just went through my 5 year old’s closet to see how many pairs of jeans he has, how many t-shirts, etc. From there, I was able to determine how many new school clothes he needs.

3. Watch for back to school sales.

This year, Amazon has been my go-to. It’s actually become my go-to for pretty much everything, so you’re probably not surprised.

Seriously, though, you can find pretty much every brand and every price range on Amazon, and you can find awesome stuff that you can’t find in most stores.

4. Get into a routine.

This routine should be similar or exactly like the routine you use during the school year. My family got WAY off schedule this summer, so we have started our back-to-school schedule already! I just want them to be ready and start the school year on a good note.

Our back-to-school routine is more than just bedtime. It involves reading or writing around 4:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm, baths and stories at 7:00, and then bedtime (7:30 for the littles, a little later for our older kids).

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5. Take your child to see their new classroom and meet their new teacher before the first day of school.

Most schools have open houses where this can happen but, if yours doesn’t, ask if you can bring your child in so that they are more comfortable on their first day of school.

6. Talk to them about all the exciting things they can look forward to.

Seeing their old friends, making new friends, field trips, recess, riding the bus, etc. Mention anything that excites your child about school.

7. Find another kid in your neighborhood who can be your child’s bus buddy.

With my little man starting kindergarten, I kept saying that I would never let him ride the bus. I feel that there isn’t enough supervision on buses and with him only being 5 years old, I still get a little bit crazy about how he is treated or if his feelings are hurt. (Don’t judge me, this is a judgment-free zone LOL!).

He reaaaaallly wants to ride a bus, however, and it would honestly make my life a million times easier. His big brother won’t be on that bus anymore since he is moving on to middle school, so I talked to another older kid in the neighborhood about keeping an eye on Sylas for me.

This other kid was actually really excited to help me out, and I think it made them feel even more mature. Plus, Sylas is excited to have a buddy on the bus already, especially since it is someone he has known (literally) his whole life and has looked up to.

Now, I’ll probably follow the bus to school the first couple of days, but at least I’m letting him get on it. 😉 The rest will be an adjustment for mama, later on, I suppose.

8. Discuss safety, bullying, respect, and other important topics with your kids.

When it comes to safety, you should make sure to talk about how to be safe on the bus, how to be safe when walking to school or to the bus, and even how to be safe in the classroom. Discussing bullying is SO important, as well, and I’m sure we all know why.

Talking to your kids about respect can cover almost any topic from following directions, respecting their teacher even when they disagree, respecting themselves and others, not doing gross things such as picking their nose, helping out when they see a need, etc. Whatever your definition of respect is, make sure you are instilling it into your children.

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Bonus Tip

I have found that the best way to get kids in the back-to-school mindset is to get them their school supplies and back-to-school clothes. This gets them excited for the inevitable and helps them with the transition.

Back to School Checklist – Free Printable

Whatever grade your child is going into, I’ve got you covered. I created THREE free printables just for you guys, in order to make the process easier for you.

back to school, free printable, back to school checklist, back to school grades k-3
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back to school, free printable, back to school checklist, back to school grades 4-5
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Where to Buy Inexpensive (but great quality!) School Supplies

My go-to for everything else is, of course, my go-to for school supplies, too. Amazon has AMAZING back-to-school deals, and you can buy packages of school supplies that contain almost everything your kids will need. Check out some of the deals I’ve scored this year down below.

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school supplies, back to school bundle, back to school deals
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Final Thoughts On Ways to Get Ready For Back to School

The end of summer is approaching quickly, and now is the time to begin preparing. These tips for getting ready for should help you, and the printables will help you make sure you have everything that your kids need for the first day.

What tips would you add to this list? What school supplies would you add to the free printables? Let me know in the comments!!

Categories
Parenting Teenager

Teen Dating: 8 Tips For Parents

Tips for when your teen starts dating, teen dating, teenage dating, tips for parents, parenting tips, what to do when your teen starts dating

The dreaded years are here… your teenager has started dating or has begun showing interest in dating. Now what?! This teen dating experience could be disastrous, or it could be a great time in both of your lives.

I’m sure you remember when you first starting having an interest in dating someone. Your trips to the mall or movie theater, meeting their parents or siblings, hanging out at the park… infatuated with this person you’ve been spending your time with.

Our teenager has her first serious boyfriend, and we are kind of learning as we go. Along the way, I’ve been jotting down some tips for when your teen starts dating so that I could help other parents out.

Why Is This Teenage Milestone So Important?

While these teenage relationships may seem minor and unimportant to some parents, it is SO important to think back and remember how you felt in that time of your life. The feelings were REAL, weren’t they? We need to remember this about our own teenagers… these relationships are so real to them in every way, and it is the time to show them how a healthy relationship works, and help them through this time in their life.

The way a teenager or young adult learns to date and have a relationship is setting the precedent for their future relationships and eventually their marriage. Take this time while you are more present in their lives and able to supervise and monitor more of the relationship to give them advice, help correct mistakes, teach your teenager to respect themselves and their boyfriend/girlfriend, and even when it is time for an unhealthy (or potentially unhealthy) relationship to end. Our teenagers don’t know any of this… they’re new to dating! These tips can help you make this new milestone in your teenager’s life a positive experience.

*This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.*

Tips for when your teen starts dating, teen dating, teenage dating, tips for parents, parenting tips, what to do when your teen starts dating

How Do You Know When Your Teen Is Ready To Date?

I hear so many teenagers ask, “how old do I have to be to start dating?”, and I honestly don’t think you can put a definite age to it. Each teenager is different and matures at different times, so there are characteristics you should watch for in your teenager. Once you have noticed these traits in them, you know your teenager is ready to begin dating.

You know your teenager is ready to date when they:

  • see through empty promises and bribes.
  • become less impulsive.
  • know how to speak to adults and introduce themselves.
  • are respectful of themselves and others.
  • have proven themselves to be trustworthy and able to make good decisions when adults aren’t present.

Teen Dating: Tips For Parents

1. Communicate!

The most important thing when your teenager starts dating is to let them know they can talk to you about anything. This means you can’t overreact when they do come to you, or next time they won’t let you know what’s going on.

If communication isn’t your strong suit when it comes to your teenager, try this “Dates With Parents” idea that I do with my kids! It gives you an awesome opportunity to bond, which will likely open up a way to easily communicate.

I actually learned a ton from this book “Parenting a Teen Girl“. I learned so many tips for communicating, and they actually worked!!

Parenting a teen girl, parenting a teenager, how to parent a teenager, teenage girl

2. Be up front about expectations and rules.

An important rule we have for our teenage daughter is that she isn’t allowed to be alone with her boyfriend. I want an adult to always be present… maybe not right next to them the whole time, but at least in an area where an adult will be regularly walking through. This means that bedrooms are definitely off limits.

While I trust her to make a good choice, I don’t want her to get into a position that is difficult or awkward to get out of if I have anything to say about it. She should feel safe and comfortable at all times, and I (as the parent) should feel comfortable in the knowledge that my child is in a mistake-free situation.

3. Talk to them about how to get out of a situation when they are being pressured.

Give them an easy out… let them know they can ALWAYS text you a code word or something (determine this “something” ahead of time), that means they need you to come and get their right away. When you get this message, you could call your teen and pretend something has come up and you have to come and get them. (Read more on this *here*.)

If texting or calling isn’t an option, they should know what else they can do to get out of the situation. One thing you could tell your teen to do if they are being pressured is to tell a lie. I know, it kind of contradicts everything we’ve taught them in the past. However, if they are in an uncomfortable situation like this, their number one priority should be getting out of there and being safe.

4. Communicate about respect (this means both themselves and the other person).

It is so important for a teenager to know that they can say NO. And they should also know that if they are being shown respect, their “no” answer will be accepted. The teenagers should also known to respect the other person… if that person says “no”, they need to immediately drop the subject and accept that answer.

5. Give them a curfew.

The world gets a little crazier after a certain time of night. Alcohol comes out, bad decisions begin to be made, it gets dark, and many of the “good” kids are safe at home. Your child should be home, too, after a certain time of night. Stick to this curfew because, as parents, we know that nothing good could come from being out too late as a teenager.

6. Meet their date.

You would be surprised how many parents don’t think it’s important to meet the people their teenager hangs out with. If someone is going on a date with your teenager, you should definitely meet the date ahead of time. I also like to meet the parents of the date (or have my husband meet them), too.

7. Check on your teenager after the date has ended and give them a chance to talk.

You should always make time to ask your teenager how the date went and give them a chance to talk about it, whether it was good or bad. Don’t interrupt or give your opinion until they are finished talking or until they ask for it. They’ll be able to process their feelings vocally, and you’ll be able to get a feel for how the date went.

8. Watch for red flags.

Even with following all the parenting tips in the world bad things can still happen. You can’t always be present when your teenager is with their boyfriend or girlfriend, so you have to know how to look for red flags in other ways. Some common red flags to watch for include:

  • sudden lack of communication from your teen.
  • irresponsible and unpredictable behavior.
  • telling lies when they didn’t before.
  • controlling behavior.
  • unusual insecurity.
  • withdraw from friends and family members.
  • lack of interest in their favorite activities.
Tips for when your teen starts dating, teen dating, teenage dating, tips for parents, parenting tips, what to do when your teen starts dating

Teen Dating: Tips for Teenagers

  • Talk to your parents about the good and the bad.
  • Stay in well lit areas and near others.
  • Go on group dates whenever possible, and stay in public places if you’re alone with your date.
  • Listen to and follow your parents rules (I promise they are only giving rules to protect you!)
  • Always know where an exit is.
  • Don’t take food or drink from anyone at a party – always serve yourself.
  • Don’t hesitate to call for help. This includes calling the police if it even crosses your mind that you may need to.

Final Thoughts On Teen Dating

I think part of the reason that the teenage years are so difficult is because our teens are now learning to do adult things. Driving, working, taking care of pets, meeting deadlines, DATING (omg)… these are all things that full grown adults make mistakes at.

We can’t expect our teenagers to be perfect, so when it comes to teen dating, we must make ourselves present and open to communication with them. It’s one of the only ways we can pave a healthy path for them as they grow into adults.

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Big Kid Big kid fun Family Activities Parenting Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

10 Nostalgic Books to Read With Your Kids (or alone!)

books to read with your kids, nostalgic books, books for teenagers

Think back to your childhood… which books did you LOVE to read? Which ones were you extra excited to see at story time? As you got older, which books captured your attention the most?

I have ALWAYS been a reader and can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t love books. Instilling that passion in my kids is something I’ve always tried to do. This means that I buy them books at any chance I get, and if I see an old favorite of my mine, we’re reading it that day for sure.

From books I loved as a young child, to the adventures of big kid books, and then continuing into my teenage years, I literally buy them all. Now, I’m sharing some of our favorites with you! These are ones that I absolutely loved as a child and that my kids enjoyed, too!

Ok, you all should have known that I couldn’t just choose little kid books, big kid books, or books for teenagers, so I made one list of each. I have 3 littles (ages 5, 3, and 2) and 2 big kids (ages 11 and 15), so I have to have a wide range of books for all different age groups.

If you don’t have kids, no worries!! You could use a little nostalgia in your life, anyway! Go ahead and choose a book or two, and relive your childhood.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

Nostalgic books to read with your kids

Nostalgic Books For the Littles

  1. Green Eggs and Ham
  2. Where The Wild Things Are
    Where the Wild Things Are, Nostalgic books for kids, best books
  3. The Giving Tree
  4. Corduroy
  5. The Gruffalo
    The gruffalo, nostalgic books for kid, favorite books for kidsThe gruffalo, nostalgic books for kid, favorite books for kids
  6. The Little Engine Who Could
  7. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
  8. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales
  9. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
    There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, Nostalgic books for kids, kids books
  10. Brown Bear, Brown Bear

My personal favorite: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Nostalgic children's books, books for kids
I was always SO excited when my teacher would pull this book out at school!

Books for Big Kids

Bonus: Every book on this list counts toward AR tests and points. Since school is coming quick, it’s best to be prepared!

I’ve included the recommended grade levels for each book, but remember each child is different. If you want to read a book with your child, it’s OK if it’s a little higher than their grade level, because you’ll be reading with them to help with unknown words and meanings.

  1. Matilda: Grades 3-6
  2. The Witches: Grades 3-7
  3. The BFG: Grades 3-7
  4. Box Car Children: Grades 2-6
    boxcar children, books for kids, nostalgic children's books
  5. The Baby Sitter’s Club: Grades 3-7 **Check out this retro set!!**
  6. Amelia Bedelia: Grades K-3
  7. Ramona Quimby, Age 8: Grades 3-7
    Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Nostalgic books for kids, nostalgic children's book
  8. The Watson’s Go to Birmingham: Grades 5-8
    The Watsons Go to Birmingham, Nostalgic children's books, nostalgic books to read with your kids
  9. Junie B. Jones: Grades 1-4
  10. Holes: Grades 4-6

My personal favorite: This is too difficult to answer!! I’ll have to choose three – The Witches, The BFG, and Box Car Children.

Books for Teenagers

Depending on the reading and maturity level of your child, these can also be books for preteens. I read many of them when I was a preteen myself including numbers 3, 7, 9, and 10.

I find that it is more difficult to get our teenager to read books than it is to get my younger kids to read, so reading with her or sharing my favorite books with her seems to be the best way.

  1. Anything written by Sarah Dessen – all of her books are nostalgic to me, honestly. I read and loved them all!
  2. The Great Gatsby
  3. Harry Potter
  4. Romeo and Juliet
  5. The Scarlet Letter
  6. In Cold Blood
    In Cold Blood, Truman Capote, book for teenagers, books to read with teenagers
  7. 1984
    1984, George Orwell, Books for Teenagers, Books to read with teenagers
  8. The Bell Jar
    The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath, Books to read with teenagers, books for teenagers
  9. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
    – This may be the best one on the list to read with a preteen or teenage girl. It makes for an awesome movie night after!
  10. The Outsiders
  11. To Kill a Mockingbird

I’m sure you noticed that there are 11 here… just count that as a bonus, because I couldn’t bring myself to eliminate any on this list!!

My personal favorite: The Great Gatsby, for sure!! It’s still my favorite book!

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald, books to read with teenagers, books for teenagers

Final Thoughts on Nostalgic Books To Read With Your Kids

As adults, we oftentimes find ourselves over-stressed, over-worked, and over-tired. We rarely take the time we need to relax and enjoy ourselves. Having kids, however, allows us a few moments to sit back and pretend we are a kid again while reading books that we used to love ourselves.

So, go ahead and pick out a few books to purchase that you loved as a kid. You won’t regret the time spent with your own children, reminiscing over your own childhood while creating new memories that will last forever.

What were some of your favorite books as a child? What about as a teenager? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!!

Categories
Adulting Big Kid Family Activities Holiday Printables Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

National Give Something Away Day: Two Free Printables – Updated

national give something away day

Updated 9/20/2019 to add my Christmas gift to you – a free Christmas list printable!

As I was preparing for the upcoming holiday season, I decided I wanted to give my readers an early Christmas gift. I hope you and your children enjoy it!

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Christmas, Christmas 2019, Christmas list, free printable, printable Christmas list, Holidays

Happy National Give Something Away Day!! Today I encourage you to find things in your home that you could do without and give them to someone who could use them. My kids and I will all be giving a few things away, but I also want to give something to all of my readers!

National Give Something Away Day

Have You Thought About Starting a Blog?

If you have ever thought about starting a blog but life got in the way, there is no better time than right now!! It’s not as hard as you think, and you can do things at your own pace. Trust me, I have 5 kids, work a job outside of my home, and I still find time to run this blog.

It’s so possible to have an awesome blog even with a busy life, and it’s FUN. When I have time to myself to relax, I choose to work on my blog. You won’t regret taking the plunge!

If you want to know how to start a blog in 3 easy steps, check out my blog post that tells you how to do it!

Free Blog Checklist Printable

If you already have a blog or you decide to start one today, this blog checklist printable will be perfect for you! Now, this is the checklist I follow on a daily basis, meaning after work and spending time with my family. When I have some free time, I will likely spend way more time on each category.

daily-blog-checklist-3Download

Final Thoughts On National Give Something Away Day

Now, after you start your blog, download the printable, and get started on setting everything up, find something in your home to give to someone else. The things that get little to no use in your own home may make a huge difference in someone else’s life.