Mom Wife Wine - A Lifestyle Blog

Too Much Screen Time? Try This!

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date April 17, 2020
12 Comments on Too Much Screen Time? Try This!

Too much screen time, screen time, screen-free activities, screen free, no screens, parenting, covid19, coronavirus, stay safe, stay healthy

So, life has changed drastically for most of us in the last month. At our house, this means we have five kids at home while I’m also trying to work from home. I hate to admit it, but that leads to way too much screen time for the kids.

My mom guilt has been eating at me every time I see the kids with a tablet or a video game controller in their hand. Even worse, when I’ve witnessed them sitting on the couch for 2 hours straight staring at the TV.

I know that their life could definitely be worse. I just can’t help thinking of all the memories they are missing out on when they’re constantly getting screen time.

The Struggle

When you’re working from home, there is no super simple solution for keeping your kids occupied. They constantly interrupt, need something, or just begin fighting in the other room. I ignore it as much as I can, but it’s not always possible.

This is when I find myself saying, “do you want to watch YouTube?” or “here, play Talking Tom”. Otherwise, I just simply pass the tablet over without a second thought.

While this struggle is hard to overcome, it’s isn’t impossible. Plus, once you get it figured out, it’s even easier than passing the tablet over.

Pros and Cons of Screen Time For Kids

Don’t get me wrong, there are MANY good things about electronics for children. There are even more bad things, however, if we don’t play our cards right.

Benefits of Screen Time For Kids

Encourages engaging writing (it’s easier for them to get the words out when typing)
Can be used as a tool for communication or school work
It can be educational
Children can learn responsibility if they have set tasks they have to do BEFORE getting their screen time
They can play with friends

Cons

Can lead to obesity
Causes a lack of sleep
It leads to lower grades in school
Increases the chance of behavior issues
Connected to mental health issues in children
Causes eye strain and headaches
It makes children irritable
Prevents the development of proper social skills

What We Can Do When Our Kids Have Too Much Screen Time

1. Set an example.

Kids aren’t the only ones who spend so much time staring at screens. As parents, we do it, too. Of course, if you’re working from home it may be unavoidable at times.

If you’re not working, though, try to be more aware of your screen usage. Children learn from example, and they watch us way more than we think.

2. Give them a screen time limit.

Make sure your kids know they’ll still get to watch their favorite videos and play their favorite games. The only change is that they have a time limit. This will help with the transition.

Give them a 10 and 5-minute warning. This helps them prepare for the end of their screen time. They can finish up what they’re doing or watching.

Plus, it reduces the chances of a melt-down. These melt-downs can be pretty tragic. Especially if the child feels they had no warning before having the device ripped from their hands.

3. Be upfront about the dangers of too much screen time.

Kids do hear what we tell them. Depending on their age, they may be able to understand why screen time rules have to change.

4. Don’t allow screens at certain times or in certain areas.

At our house, there is no screen time at dinnertime. The littles aren’t allowed to have screen in their bedrooms, either.

I’d have that same bedroom rule for the big kids, but they already had TV’s in their rooms when I moved in. My husband knew from the beginning that I wasn’t at a fan of that, but I wasn’t moving in to change their life-long rules so the TV’s stayed.

The big kids aren’t allowed to have their phones at bedtime on school nights, either. We actually have a cell phone contract that they have to follow.

You can make whatever rules are appropriate for your home. Everyone’s rules will be different.

5. Let your children know about the change ahead of time.

You shouldn’t just wake up one day and enforce new rules that yours kids have never heard of. They need time to get used to this idea. So, maybe tell them that after the weekend, the rules for screen-time will be changing.

6. Put it away where they can’t see it.

We’ve all heard the saying “out of sight, out of mind”, right? Well, think of that when screen time isn’t allowed. If your kids can see their device, they’re going to ask for it.

Asking for it and being told ‘no’ will cause a melt down. I promise it’ll be better to hide it until it’s time.

7. Play with them.

Ok, so I know you’re busy. But, when your kids will not stop interrupting you, something has to be done.

Don’t cave on the tablet unless it’s 100% necessary. Instead, take a 10-minute break to do a quick activity with your kiddo. Get them started on something fun, then get back to your work.

That little bit of time will make both of you happier. You can play Barbie’s, Lego’s, or anything else that you know your child will continue doing after you stop.

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

Screen-Free Activities For Kids

These activities can mostly be done on their own. You may have to do prep work for some of these independent activities for kids, but that’s about it.

Play soccer or basketball outside
Play catch with a family member or neighborhood friend
Blow up some balloons to play catch with or to smack around
Write or color with sidewalk chalk
Blow bubbles – Try this dinosaur bubble gun
Build with legos
Play with a deck of cards
Use play-doh
Color
Play Barbie’s or superheroes with a parent
Explore a sensory table or bucket
Play with the family pets
Make up a dance to your favorite song
Create a card for a loved one
Put beads on pipe cleaners to make jewelry
Play “The Floor is Lava”
Create an obstacle course
Make paper airplanes
Play school or doctor
Build a fort
Play with empty boxes
Do a puzzle
Make a collage from old magazines
Play dress up

Too Much Screen Time? It’s Not Too Late

I’m the first parent to admit that my kids get too much screen time. I’m working to alleviate this issue, though, and so far it seems to be working!

Are you having the same problem? Do you have any tips? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tags big kid, How to, little kid, Parenting, Teenager, Things to Do

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

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date April 7, 2020
2 Comments on Can You Grow a Pine Tree From a Pine Cone? A Lesson In Sustainability For Kids

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

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?

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.

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.

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

Tags big kid activities, Family Activities, Outside Fun, Preschool, sensory play, Teenager, tot school

Adulting Life Organization Printables

April Calendar Printable With Blank Title

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 29, 2020
2 Comments on April Calendar Printable With Blank Title

April, April 2020, April calendar printable, printable April calendar, free calendar printable

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all staying healthy and safe. If you’re an essential employee, thank you for running things! Everyone else, please stay home so we can get the world running normally again ASAP! You can occupy yourself while you’re at home by printing and filling out the April 2020 calendar that I’m sharing below!

If you need some ideas for how to keep your kids busy during this social distancing quarantine, I wrote a blog post full of fun ideas to keep kids busy. Some of the ideas will require assistance, but many of them can be done by the kids alone while you work or get some alone time.

Now, back to that printable April calendar that this post is all about. I create these printable calendars each month for my own use, but I’ve been thinking about what a waste it is to not share them with my readers!

They can be used to keep track of parenting time, blog posts, social media posts, family or school events, dinner plans, bills, and so much more. I left the title spot blank so you can fill it in as needed.

Feel free to download this printable and share it with anyone who may need a calendar in their life. I sometimes even print a copy for my littles so that they can become familiar with calendars and filling them out.

Printable April Calendar

I’ve left the image as the full size image here, so all you have to do is right click and hit ‘save’. Who needs complication in their lives right now!? Definitely not me, so I wanted to make this easy on you.

What will you use your printable April calendar for? I use 3 copies of this to keep track of things, will you be doing the same? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tags Organization, Printables

For the Home Home

How To Choose The Best Removalist For Your Relocation

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 22, 2020

Image Source: Unsplash

Knowing what to expect from a great removalist company is key to securing the best team to help you. If this is the first time you are hiring a team yourself, you are going to need some guidelines, so you know exactly what to look out for.

If you don’t do your research, you will find that things can start to go wrong quickly. The more you know how to look for a professional and reliable team of removalists, the easier and smoother your move will go.

If you are looking for cheap removalists in Logan like Vic Palmer Removals and Storage, the company surely offers great services. It’s recommended to choose a company that has been operating for several years and has completed a number of moves with varying needs as this means they have plenty of experience.

What Are The Signs Of A Brilliant Removalist?

The more research you do, the more you will be able to see the pros of hiring a certain removalist. When you choose a reliable and professional team, there will be signs to help you tell they are a great choice to go for and here is a list:

Complete selection of services

The company should be comprehensive and have a lot to offer. The best companies out there will cover everything from local to cross-state relocations, great packing materials and knowledge of how to care for fragile items. They will be experienced enough to also offer you explanations you require when you have specific questions around a certain service they provide.

They offer storage facilities

Some of the top removal firms will give you the option to store your belongings in a safe storage location if needed. This extra bonus will also mean you won’t have to look elsewhere and shop around for brand new quotes so will make your job much easier.

They have guarantees in place

You want a removals company who will offer compensation on valuable belongings, so you are covered on all fronts. This is especially the case if you have high ticket valuable items and treasures. You want to ensure they are protected from any damages so you need to find a company with a zero-damage policy so you are fully covered. Another key element you are dealing with a top removalist company is that this cover will be valid locally but also interstate too.

Image Source: Unsplash

The staff are trained well

Highly trained and experienced staff are invaluable to a seamless move. You will tell some of the top ones from the mediocre by the quality of service they deliver and moving satisfaction quotes on their website. Also, it’s well worth checking out any customer feedback or reviews so you get a good insight into the realistic service they provide.

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

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 22, 2020
13 Comments on 15 Fun and Easy Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home

keep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at homekeep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at home

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.

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.

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.

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!

Tags adulting, big kid, Family Activities, How to, kindergarten, little kid, Parenting, Preschool, Teenager, Toddler

Adulting How To Life On My Mind

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 17, 2020
12 Comments on Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

Covid-19, Coronavirus, support small businesses, shop local, help small businesses, small businesses and coronavirus, support the economy, help each other

With all the business shutdowns and event cancellations to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), many small businesses are struggling. This means lost funds for employees and business owners and no income to support their families or pay bills.

For some small business, this means returning deposits received from customers for events that now have to be canceled. This could add up to well over $10,000 in refunds on top of lost gigs and payments.

It can be catastrophic to the small businesses, and may even require business closures. Right now, we should all be coming together to find any possible way to keep them afloat. Not only will we be helping other people during a time of crisis, but we will also be helping our economy.

I know most of us want to help but don’t know how. That’s where I come in! I’ve done some research and spoke to business owners to see what might help them during this time. I hope you will all do what you can, no matter how small.

How to Support Small Businesses

1. Start booking for next year.

When it comes to wedding DJ’s or photographers, Covid-19 has essentially halted business for them until further notice. With the president saying this could last well into July or August, that cuts out one of the busiest times of the year for them.

Most weddings have well over the recommended limit of 10 people, which means that all weddings will have to be canceled or postponed. Not only that, but with government buildings shut down, no one can even apply for a marriage license now.

This is where the deposits may need to be refunded. Many couples who are affected by this limit on gatherings are going to need their deposits back. So, not only are DJ’s losing out on the payments they would receive on the day of the event, but they also have to dish out tons of money.

With all of that being said, we CAN help them hang on and bounce back when everything is overwith. We can do that by booking our events for next year (2021). When you book with them and make your deposit, you’ll not only be giving them a source of income and giving them job security for next year, but you’ll be helping yourself by getting ahead of the rush.

Just think, some of the brides that have to postpone their dates are going to be re-booking for the following year (we hope), so you’ll not only be competing to book dates with those who will be getting engaged in the next year, but also with those who were already engaged and had to reschedule.

2. Buy gift cards

Right now, only restaurants, nail salons, bars, etc. are closed, but small shops and stores are still open. Unfortunately, since many people are self-quarantined and social-distancing because of Covid-19, those small shops are still down in sales now.

With that being said, all of those places can get by if we all just buy gift cards to their establishments. You can buy them for yourself, since you know you’ll be out and about once this situation is more stable, and you can also buy them for gifts. Plan ahead for Christmas or birthdays and support your local economy at the same time.

3. Help keep the employees healthy

If the business is still open, do your part to keep everyone there healthy. Remember, even if you feel fine, you could still be a carrier of the illness. Make sure you are washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you don’t feel well.

Even more important, if the employee has to come inside your home, take the time before they come to sanitize any surface they may have to touch. Do the same when they leave to protect yourself and your family.

4. See if they offer other services

While even small get-togethers are a no-go right now, you can still book smaller things such as photo shoots. For entertainers such as DJ’s, you could maybe ask if they record music for websites, podcast or YouTube introductions, etc. It is always worth a shot to ask!

5. Hire them to do an interview or write a post

Do you have a blog or podcast? Hire small business owners to come on your podcast and talk about what coronavirus means for their business and what it could mean for the future. If you don’t want to talk about Covid-19, just ask other business questions instead, like how they got started and if they have advice for up-and-comers.

Some small business owners are great writers, too, so they could even potentially do a guest post on your blog. Again, the post could be about this pandemic, or it could be about something completely unrelated.

6. Skip the chains

McDonald’s and Wendy’s are going to be fine. Skip the food chains and head to a local business instead. These are the businesses who will be losing the most since their regular customers can no longer come in and sit down to eat.

Order takeout from them and, if you can, try to tip their waitstaff as if you were sitting down to eat. Remember, they are losing a huge income source, too, and they still have families to feed and bills to pay.

7. Share their social media posts

This is the best way to help a small business during this time. When restaurants post images of their carry out menus, share it even if you won’t be eating there. This way the small restaurant may potentially gain new customers.

For other types of small businesses, share their content to help spread the word about their services. You never know, your share could have a huge impact on a small business.

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

No matter what your stance is on the actions taken to protect against the spread of Coronavirus, we’re all in this together. If we don’t work together to get through this, it could be bad things for our economy and for local small businesses.

Help one another out, help our economy, and do your part to contribute in a positive way. We can all help small businesses in this time of crisis.

Is there something we can do to help small businesses that I didn’t mention on the list? Leave a comment and let me know!

Tags adulting, How to, Life, On my mind

Big Kid Big kid fun Craft crafts Free Activities Holiday How To Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

Leprechaun Finders – Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 16, 2020

St Patrick's Day Leprechaun Finders, Leprechaun lookers, toiler paper roll binoculars, St Patty's Day craft for kids, easy craft for kids, easy st patrick's day craft, st. patricks day, St. Patrick's Day

These Leprechaun Finders were a life-saver for me today as my kids desperately needed something to do. The school’s are shut down in our state because of the Corona Virus (Covid-19), and many public places have shut down as well. This includes our local indoor play places, restaurants, movie theatres and more. Unfortunately, all of this means the kids are already getting bored.

I want to keep them learning, creating, and engaging during this social-distancing time, so finding new activities to do each day is important. Along with practicing sight words for Sylas, letter recognition (capital and lowercase) for Josie, and name recognition for Liam, time for creativity has been essential.

With St. Patrick’s Day here, I thought it would be the perfect time to create Leprechaun Finders! They were easy, so much fun (they doubled as fine motor play!), and they kept the kids busy for quite some time.

How to Make Leprechaun Finders

Materials:

2 toilet paper rolls
green construction paper (green paint should work, too!)
pom poms
pipe cleaners
sequins
glue
scissors
tape

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

Directions

1. Cut the construction paper to fit perfectly around each toiler paper roll, then glue the paper in place. If you choose paint instead of paper, you would paint the tube green here instead.

2. Have the child decorate each of the green tubes with sequins, pipe cleaners, or sequins. You could also just have them decorate with markers or crayons. It can be as simple as you want it!

3. Hold the decorated rolls side by side and place a piece of tape starting on the inside of one roll and finishing on the inside of the other roll. Do this on both the front and the back of the toiler paper roll binoculars (or Leprechaun finders).

4. Now, you can add a piece of string to this so that the kids can wear it around their necks, but I didn’t do this for ours.

Where to Use Your Leprechaun Finders

We started out using them inside of the house, looking out windows. I think by the time they were done inside, they had spent at least 5 minutes looking out every window in the house.

When they didn’t find them outside of the windows, we took them out to the backyard. Then, eventually, we went on a walk around the neighborhood looking for Leprechauns.

Final Thought on Leprechaun Finder – Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

This St Patty’s Day craft was so easy and so much fun. The kids loved it, and the prep and clean-up were easy for me. I’m a huge fan of toilet paper roll binoculars, and I foresee us doing more of these for future holidays.

Now, I have less than 24 hours to figure out how to trick the kids into thinking they found a Leprechaun using their Leprechaun finders! Any ideas? Let me know in the comments.

Tags big kid activities, big kids, craft, easy craft, Holiday, little kid, toilet paper roll craft

Family Activities Holiday How To Parenting

March Momma-razzi Box: A Review

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 15, 2020
5 Comments on March Momma-razzi Box: A Review

Momma-Razzi, MommaRazzi, March photo ideas, St Patrick's Day Photo Ideas, Easy Photo Shoot, Easy DIY Photo Shoot, cute pictures of kids, how to take good photos of kids

If you’re anything like me, you love having cute, themed photos of your kids, but you hate paying the price for a photoshoot with a professional for each holiday. This is where the Momma-razzi box comes into play.

Because I don’t want to have to pay for seasonal and holiday photos each and every time, I always try to take my own cute holiday photos of my kids, and they always seem to be lacking. I realized it’s because I don’t have enough props!

Professionals always have the best props, right?! Luckily, I learned about something called a Momma-razzi Box. This box is full of cute props and other items to make these candid photoshoots something to remember and treasure forever!

*Disclaimer: I received the March Momma-razzi Box for free in exchange for this review. The opinions in this blog post are 100% my own, and I stand behind everything I have written.*

Inside the Box

I received the “mini-box”, and I was pleasantly surprised by all of the stuff inside! It was a cute added touch that the balloons were placed inside classy gold envelopes, too. Let’s start at the beginning, however, and not just with the cute envelopes.

I opened the box and the first thing I found was an envelope with directions for using the items in the box, and a list of everything I’d find inside.

Then, as I dug deeper into the box, I found the following items:

a white backdrop/flooring
white balloons
colored, twisty balloons
gold coins
green shamrocks
an air pump for the balloons (definitely appreciated!)

Setting Up The Momma-razzi Box Photo Shoot

This was so easy to set up! I actually used thumb tacks to hold the backdrop up on a wall. Then, I blew up all of the balloons.

The colorful balloons were intended to look like a rainbow once they were all together, so I set them up that way. I taped them together because they wouldn’t stay in place otherwise.

I popped so many balloons trying to do this, and that was the biggest issue I ran into. At one point, I had a full rainbow with all colors, but I kept losing balloons as we went along. You’ll notice that I have no red or blue in my rainbow in my photos! Oops.

Then, I twisted 3 white balloons together and added them to the ends of the rainbow. I also randomly laid out some of the white balloons, the gold coins, and the shamrocks. It was that easy, and the photoshoot was ready.

What My Kids Thought

My kids actually love having their pictures taken. They think it’s even more fun when it feels like a real photoshoot, so this was so exciting for them.

They loved seeing the photos afterward and wanted to keep taking more and more pictures. It was definitely a hit.

Once we were done, my 5 year old had fun making designs out of the props.

Final Thoughts on the March Momma-razzi Box

This box made our holiday photoshoot so easy and so much fun! I’ll definitely be ordering these for many other holidays and photoshoots to come. It would be easy to add additional items to the photoshoot, too, to personalize it even more.

The only issue I had was that the balloons popped SO easily, but that could have been on me LOL. Next time I’ll be much more careful with them. I plan on using the little props in a sensory table now that I’m done with them, especially since the kids are off school for three weeks!

What do you think?! If you want to order a box for yourself, check out Cassandra Barksdale’s CrateJoy website at www.cratejoy.com/subscription-box/life-lit-up/.

Tags Holiday, How to, Parenting

Big Kid Big kid fun crafts Family Activities How To Parenting Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 7, 2020
8 Comments on 5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

National Reading Awareness Month, March is Reading Month, Books for kids, best books, favorite books, celebrate reading, books to read with your kids

National Reading Awareness Month is one of my favorite times of the year. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a good mix of many books with excuses to read. Plus, the weather is slightly warmer, so I’m feeling good all around. Then, the kids get to dress up in fun outfits each day for school, making the month that much more exciting.

Since the school celebrates so heavily and has the kids dress up for National Reading Month, I wanted some fun ways to celebrate at home, too. Participating outside of school ensures that our kids understand reading is important (and fun!) at home AND school. It’s also a way for younger children to participate if they haven’t started school yet.

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

Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month

1. Make it memorable and fun

Making the book and reading experience memorable is easy to do. You can do crafts related to the book, make snacks, or do any other activity that will help engrain that book into your child’s mind. Not only will they remember the book better, but they’ll have fun while doing it, encouraging more reading.

Other ideas to make a book memorable include acting them out or having your child re-tell the story. Drawing the story also helps and allows your child to get creative.

Check out these crafts based on books that my kids have done:

2. Make each book a learning opportunity

Try not to read a book and forget it right afterward. Find ways to help your child learn from the book. You can do this by discussing themes in the books such as kindness, trying again after failure, and others you notice or want to touch on.

Another simple way to make sure the learning aspect sticks is to talk to your kids about it. I like to do this while I’m tucking them in at night, but you can bring it up anytime. You can recall the ideas you learn from a story in any situation, and it helps your child make a connection and understand the lesson.

3. Read in different ways during Reading Awareness Month

Switching up the reading methods helps the story stick in their head. Some of the different ways to read include having the children read the book aloud or taking turns reading (I read a page, the child reads a page, etc.). Another fun method that kids seem to like is listening to the story on YouTube while seeing the words on the screen. Of course, it’s best to read with them as a bonding experience, too, but videos can be highly beneficial.

You can also build a fort with the child and then read books inside the fort. Another idea is to have the child read to a pet or stuffed animal. The possibilities for reading in different ways with your kids are endless.

4. Dress up as favorite book characters

This fun way to celebrate National Reading Awareness Month is probably my absolute favorite. Help your child pick out some clothes or accessories to dress up as a favorite book character or even as a character from a brand new book that you’ve just read together. You don’t have to have the exact costume, so be creative in making the look come to life.

Parents and older siblings can get in on this one, and it’s fun for everyone! I’ve been obsessively referring back to a blog post about a teacher who dressed up as a different book character every day. If you’re interested, check it out by clicking this link: PHraseD

5. Surprise your kids with a new book or two

As a kid (and even now, let’s be honest), nothing got me more excited about reading than getting a new book. My kids are the same way. You can take them to the store and let them choose their own, or you can surprise them with a new book that you picked out!

My kids and I are obsessed with Bookroo, a book subscription service for kids. They offer options for all ages and reading levels, including chapter books for middle grades. It’s so much fun and gives your kiddos something to look forward to even after reading month is over.

Best Books for Kids of All Ages to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

If you need some ideas, some of my favorite children’s books include:

For more ideas (specifically throwback books) that you and your child would love reading together, check out my post 10 Nostalgic Books to Read With Your Kids (or Alone).

Final Thoughts On Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Awareness Month

Reading month is so much fun for me, but I know that it doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Luckily, there are fun ways for everyone to celebrate National Reading Awareness Month, even those who don’t love to read.

With this month being all about reading awareness, it’s the perfect time to teach our kids the different ways they can make reading fun. What are you doing to celebrate reading month? Tell me about it in the comments!

Tags big kid, big kid activities, books, craft, Family Activities, little kid, Parenting, toddler activities

Adulting Parenting

8 of the Best Podcasts for Parents

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date March 1, 2020
10 Comments on 8 of the Best Podcasts for Parents

podcasts for parents, parenting podcasts, best podcasts, top podcasts parenting advice, advice on parenting, talk about parenting, parenting experts

Podcasts are my new favorite thing. I can listen to them no matter what I’m doing, and I take full advantage of that. In the car, while I’m cleaning, and even as I sit here and type this blog post (Crime Junkie, anyone?). The best part is, there are literally hundreds of podcasts for parents.

These podcasts for parents can help with any type of parenting style you may have, and you can find something for any situation you may be going through. It may take some time to find the ones that fit your life perfectly, but I’ve put together a list that you can use to start your search.

My favorite parenting podcasts show the real side of parenting. The hosts don’t sugar coat anything and they discuss any and all topics. They truly make me feel like I’m not alone in this crazy world of parenting, and they make me feel like my kids may be …. normal. Crazy thought, right?

Best Parenting Podcasts

1. The Mom Hour

This podcast is hosted by two moms named Meagan and Sarah. They discuss all topics pertaining to parenting, and they do so in a light-hearted way.

What makes this podcast great is that the moms are experienced. Between the two of them, they have kids in all age ranges, meaning they’ve been through it all already and are still going through it all with the rest of us.

They discuss many parenting topics, but they also have two “More Than Mom” episodes each month that are about non-parenting topics.

2. Coffee and Crumbs

Listening to this podcast is like sitting down with a couple of best friends to chat about life. The hosts are three friends named Indiana, Ashlee and April. This is a good podcast to listen to while you’re doing other things like cleaning, driving, walking or putting on makeup.

It’s hard to go into detail about this podcast because all I can come up with is that they just get it. They get how hard parenting can be and they fully understand that parents are not perfect, nor are we supposed to be.

Their personal parenting stories make me laugh, cringe, and shake my head because I’ve done the same things. Other times I’m like, “I’m so glad that didn’t happen to me!! OMG!”. But seriously, there hasn’t been an episode that I’ve listened to that I haven’t liked.

3. One Bad Mother

Hosts Biz and Theresa get real about parenting, so be prepared for a little swearing. They’re totally relaxed during the podcast and they invite guests to discuss parenting issues.

If you’ve ever felt alone, these ladies will make you feel like every other mother has been in the same situation. They truly make you feel like we’re all in the same boat, and there is absolutely no judgement.

4. What Fresh Hell

Two funny moms named Margaret and Amy host this hilarious parenting podcast. Their tagline is “Laughing in the Face of Motherhood”, which is all that you will do while you listen to their show.

The two moms are completely different from one another, which gives different perspectives on the parenting issues that they discuss. They also invite experts on the show to weigh in on crucial topics.

One of the best parts of this podcast is that they aren’t afraid to call each other out when they disagree. The experts they invite on the show don’t always agree with them, either, which just makes it so real. I don’t know about you, but I love listening to two moms who aren’t perfect and aren’t afraid to show it.

5. The Parent Experiment

These moms discuss everything pertaining to marriage, parenting, and living the life. One of my favorite episodes is one where one of the hosts buys a new washer and dryer and yells at the delivery men when they make a huge mistake. It seriously reminded me of myself.

6. The Longest Shortest Time Podcasts for Parents

This is the perfect podcast to help other parents feel like they aren’t alone. The host, Hillary, talks about parenting kids of all ages, from babies all the way to adults.

She brings on guests who tell their own parenting stories. They discuss topics like adoption, not wanting to have kids, and so many other serious topics.

There are also light-hearted and humous moments throughout the podcast, making it the perfect mix of all parenting feelings.

7. Little Sprigs Podcasts for Parents

This parenting podcast discusses how to parent without using bribes or punishments. The host also talks about how to raise confident kids, taking care of yourself, and intentional parenting. She also brings on parenting experts and authors.

8. Mom and Dad Are Fighting

This is a hilarious podcast by hosts Allison and Dan, who are both parents. Between their funny comments, to their honest discussion about parenting issues, this podcast is perfect for real parents who face parenting issues daily.

Fans can even call into the show to ask parenting questions, getting answers from some of their favorite parents. You can also look forward to guest hosts who weigh in on parenting and current events.

Final Thoughts on Best Podcasts for Parents

There are so many podcasts for parents and they each are a little different in style, so you have plenty to choose from. Do you already have a favorite parenting podcast? If so, tell me about it in the comments! If you don’t have a favorite, which one on the list do you want to listen to first?

A slightly unrelated question… I’m also interested in podcasts that aren’t related to parenting at all, do you have any that you recommend?

Tags Adult time, adulting, big kid, funny, little kid, Parenting, Teenager