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Gifts Holiday Kindergarten Age Learning Parenting Toys and Games

12 of The Best Board Games for Kids: Meaningful Gift Ideas

I don’t know about you, but I start my Christmas shopping in August. With five kids, it’s essential to begin early and to make sure all my gift plans are in place. My kids love games, so I have been researching the best games for kids.

While I know some of the games they would enjoy, there are so many games out there that I have never heard of. I like to buy games for kids that help develop their skills, and all of the games in this post are ones that do just that.

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

Best Games for Kids

1. Race to the Treasure

I love this game because instead of playing against one another, the kids work together to beat an ogre to a treasure. While playing Race to the Treasure, kids will learn strategy, math concepts, making decisions as a team, and cooperation.

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2. 5 Second Rule Jr.

This is a family-friendly version of the 5 Second Rule adult game. When playing 5 Second Rule Jr., kids will read a card and give an answer within 5 seconds. Since it involves quick thinking, funny answers are bound to happen.

With good laughs and light-hearted fun, this game is perfect for family bonding time. If the child can’t quite read yet, playing on teams is fun, too.

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3. Pie Face Showdown

Pie Face is such a fun game, even if it is a little messy. The original game involved players passing the whipped cream covered hand around the table and turning the crank, hoping to not get hit in the face with whipped cream.

Pie Face Showdown is an upgraded version of the original. This one requires two players to both have their faces in front of a whipped cream covered hand. The players have to push their buttons faster to make the whipped cream hit their opponent.

4. Guess Who?

Guess Who is a classic, and it’s one of my favorites. Each player has a card with a person on it, and their opponent has to figure out which character the other one has. The first to figure out their opponent’s character wins the game.

The way you eliminate characters is by asking descriptive questions. These questions can be “Is your person wearing a hat?”, “Does your person have a mustache?”, or anything else that can help eliminate characters and lead you to your opponent’s character.

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5. Buggaloop

This game features a Hexbug that crawls underneath the “backyard” (the game board). It can climb vertically, horizontally, turn corners, and go through loops and tubes. You have to try and get your game piece all the way across the board before the Hexbug appears and takes you out.

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6. Uno

This simple classic card game is perfect for kids because it teaches so many things at once. Color and number matching, taking turns, and paying attention are all skills they can develop while playing.

I play this game often with my 3 and 4-year-old, as well. The only change I make is that we can see each other’s cards so that I can help as needed.

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7. Rush Hour Jr.

To play this game, kids will shift vehicles out of the way to clear a path to the exit. There are 40 levels, allowing for endless fun and brain stimulation. Rush Hour Jr. can help improve logical and spatial reasoning, planning skills, and problem-solving.

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8. Operation

Another classic, the game of Operation has stood the test of time. Kids love this game, no matter which era they were born in.

It helps develop fine motor skills as kids use tweezers to remove ailments from the patient’s body. If the child misses and hits the side of the opening, the game buzzes, and the patient’s nose lights up. The player who can remove the most ailments wins.

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9. Ravensburger Labyrinth

I am so excited to get this game for my son for Christmas. The game changes each time you play it because the tiles move. This ensure that the child won’t get bored with it, since it’s pretty much a different game each time.

They will move their piece around the board, working their way to a treasure. On each turn, the child will also have the chance to change the path of the maze. It’s the perfect game to teach strategy.

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10. No Stress Chess

This game offers a chance to teach kids how to play chess with little frustration on their part. It comes with a deck of cards that teach the rules of the game and strategies that should be used.

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11. Skillmatics Educational Game: Brain Games

This is a game that is fun for the whole family, as the age range is from 6-99 years. It teaches thinking and reasoning, plus logic and problem-solving skills. As the game is played, the boards can be wiped off and done again.

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12. SpringFlower Sight Word Game

My son isn’t a huge fan of working on his sight words the traditional way. I’m always looking for new activities to help him learn them. When I found this game, I was so excited. I only wish I had come across it sooner!

The kids will use the fly swatters to smack the appropriate sight word when it is called out. It’ll help them recognize the word more quickly, and it’ll be fun, helping to commit it to memory.

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Final Thoughts on 12 of The Best Games for Kids

With as much as my kids love games, I always want to choose the ones that they will love. The best games for kids are the ones that offer a learning opportunity or help develop skills.

What are some of the games your kids love? Do you have any games for kids that you want to buy as a Christmas gift this year? Leave me a comment and let me know! I’d love to hear about it.

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Gifts Holiday Teenager

10 Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

Teenagers seem like a tough group of kids to buy gifts for. Does anyone ever know what it is they truly want for their birthday or Christmas? I sure didn’t, but our newly 15-year-old planned ahead and gave me a detailed list to follow, so I’ve got plenty of gift ideas for a teenage girl.

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

If you’re anything like me, gift giving is a big deal and you want to give the best gifts. This also means having to know exactly what to buy, or at least a general idea of what that person loves. If you have a teenage girl to shop for, this teenage girl gift guide should steer you in the right direction!

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Gift Ideas For a Teenage Girl – Gifts She Will Love

1. Air Pods

Apple Air Pods were at the top of our teenager’s birthday list this year, which I’m really not surprised by. At first, I didn’t want to spend the money on something that I thought was so silly, but since she wanted them so badly, we went ahead and made the purchase. I’m so thankful that we did now, because she uses them literally every day and is so appreciative and happy about them.

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2. Air Force 1 Shoes

When I was a teenager Air Force 1’s were hot, and everyone had them or wanted them. It seemed like everyone had them, at leas. Now, my teenager wears them!! This is just crazy to me.

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3. Nike Leggings

We all know how much teenagers love leggings (and maybe us mom’s love leggings a little, too), so of course our teenager asked for specific Nike leggings for her birthday this year. I wasn’t kidding when I said she gave a detailed list. She’s into the high waist style, so she got one regular fit and one high waist.

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Black Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/32e7dSz

Gray Nike Leggings: https://amzn.to/2LBRBSK

4. Photo Clip Lights

These photo clip lights are perfect for any style of bedroom, so it’s pretty safe to say that any teenage girl would love them. Nevaeh (our 15 year old) has so many photos hanging around her room and loves different kinds of lights, and she was pretty excited to open this on her birthday and put more pictures up.

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5. Makeup Vanity Mirror with Lights

Nevaeh really wants this vanity mirror with lights, and she may just get it from Santa this year. It’s so cute and will give her a quiet place to use all of her makeup, skin, and hair products. I’m hoping that it also means she’ll start storing her products in her bedroom instead of all over my bathroom, too. Wishful thinking, I’m sure. LOL!

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6. Victrola Vintage Bluetooth Turntable with Speakers

This is probably the coolest bluetooth speaker I’ve ever seen. Nevaeh got it as a gift from her aunt, and she uses it all the time. It gives her room a vintage vibe, and she can actually play records on it.

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7. Bath Bombs

Teenage girls love to pamper themselves, and there is no better way to begin a pamper session than in a bathtub full of hot water with a bath bomb. When buying a gift for a teenage girl, she would love this variety pack by itself, or with a candle and her favorite kind of chocolate.

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8. Vlogging Camera

So a vlog is a video blog, which is what you see in YouTube videos oftentimes. Teenagers are way into vlogging right now, and they love having a vlogging camera to record themselves and their friends living their lives. It’s so much fun for them, and I’m all about encouraging this kind of creativity and skill set.

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9. Wall Tapestry

These are SO cute and fit the theme of our teenager’s bedroom. They’re really popular right now, and you can’t really go wrong if you choose this wall tapestry or something similar. Bedroom decor is normally a safe bet when choosing a gift for a teenage girl.

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10. Hydro Flask Water Bottle

So honestly, I’m not sure that I see the hype here, but teenage girls are obsessed with these Hydro Flask water bottles. They come in all different colors, but Nevaeh chose white for herself. Once they have the water bottle, they’ll want to order stickers from a website called RedBubble, and cover the outside of the water bottle in the stickers.

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Other Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

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Final Thoughts on Gift Ideas for a Teenage Girl

While they may seem complex and difficult, teenage girls are actually very easy to please. So, as long as you know what the girl is into, you can likely find an easy gift to give her that she will love. All of the gift ideas in this blog post will make her happy, or you can simply choose a gift card or subscription that she will love.

What other gift ideas for a teenage girl can you think of? Let me know in the comments!

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

15 Ways to Give Your Child a Perfect Day

Whether it is for a kid/parent date, a special day for your birthday boy, or a day that’s just all about [name of child here], there are plenty of reasons to give your child a perfect day. With 5 kids in our house, it is SO hard to give the kids the undivided attention they desperately crave, which is why I decided to come up with the “perfect day” idea for my kids.

It all started when I began implementing scheduled dates where each child would get one on one time with one parent. Chris (my husband) and I take turns taking the kids on dates, one at a time.

I got tired of having to spend a ton of money each time, however, and had to start brainstorming more child/parent date ideas that were relatively inexpensive. That is when I decided to start having some of the dates be all day adventures, full of things that my kids love to do but I don’t always get the time to participate in.

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How to Give Your Child a Perfect Day

1. Make their favorite breakfast.

There is no better way to give your child a perfect day than to start it out with their favorite breakfast. If they want to help cook or prepare it, definitely let them do it, but, if not, you can put on their favorite cartoon and let them relax until it is time to eat. My kids always choose pancakes, waffles, bacon, or all of the above LOL.

2. Go to the park and actually play with them on the playground.

I’m guilty of taking my kids to the park and then finding a comfortable place to sit and read a book, especially with my 5 year old. Now that he’s more independent it’s easy to let him play on his own, even though I know he loves it when I actually play WITH him. When I’m giving him a perfect day, however, we do things like play tag, hide n seek, or the floor is lava on and around the play equipment.

3. Go on a nature hike, and spend time noticing the little things.

Some of the parks we go to have trails that go through the woods, but if we are playing at one that doesn’t, we have nature trails nearby. The Dahlem Center is our favorite place, and I like to let the kids choose which way we go. We’ve been hundreds of times and I still don’t think we’ve seen all there is to see there.

Walk with your child on a trail and look at every little thing they point out. If they want to walk slowly, you walk slowly, too. This day is just for them, after all, so let them set the pace no matter how much you want to hurry along.

4. Talk with them, but try to do more listening than talking.

Throughout the activities of their perfect day, spend time talking and listening to your child. There are so many things they want to tell you, but when you are surrounded by the rest of the family it may be hard to get it all in. Let your child express themselves and chat your ear off all day long.

5. Let them help you make a lunch of their choice.

Sometimes, instead of making lunch, we stop and have lunch at the place of their choice. If you do make the lunch at home, however, let your child help you. I find that one of the better bonding times spent with my kids is when we are cooking together.

6. Take a nap with them, or have quiet time with them.

Instead of putting them in their bedroom alone for nap or quiet time, go with them. Lay in their bed and just cuddle, talk quietly, or read books together. Just having you there with them will mean the world to your child.

7. Play their favorite outside game.

After quiet time, head outside for a while and play whatever your child wants to play. This is the perfect time for you to play those games that you normally don’t have time to participate in.

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8. Build a fort with them.

All of my kids like to make forts. They are constantly asking me to build one with them, but, on a normal day, I’ll enlist when one of the other kids to help instead. On their perfect day, however, this changes and I build the biggest and best fort with them

9. Watch their favorite movie in the fort while eating their favorite snacks.

Since you have to make the most of your fort, you should gather all the best snacks and bring them into the fort. We also like to grab pillows and blankets so we can get extra comfortable. Then, you should let your child choose a movie to watch from inside of the fort while you enjoy those snacks.

10. Take them to the dollar store and let them pick out a few items.

My kids choose their weirdest stuff, and that is perfectly okay. Oftentimes, we buy a package of balloons, blow them all up, and play games with those for a long time at home.

Other times, we buy paint and make artwork. You can even find dress up items and snacks that your kids will love! It’s not about the quality here, it’s just about giving your kid an amazing day.

11. Participate in whatever play activity they ask of you.

Don’t tell your child no today (unless it’s a safety hazard or expensive). If your child asks you to play, then go play! This is their perfect day, and they will love nothing more than you playing with them with all of their favorite toys.

12. Let the child choose and help cook dinner.

Okay, let’s get real here… you may not be able to keep your entire family out of the house for the entire day, so dinner time may include the rest of the family. Even so, this is still one child’s perfect day, so let them choose dinner and help cook it if they want to.

13. If they like baths, let them play in the bath extra long.

My kids LOVE bath time, but, with 3 littles who needs baths, I tend to rush them along. During their perfect day, though, they get to spend as much time as they’d like playing in the bathtub.

14. Read an extra book or two at bedtime.

I’m not one to say no to extra books anyway, but there is a point where I’m thinking I just want to go and read my OWN book LOL. The perfect day means they should get extra, however, so sometimes that means I’m reading to them for an hour straight or until they fall asleep.

We don’t just read the words, we also look at and discuss the pictures and events that are occurring in the book. With my 5 year old, I ask if he recognizes any of the words on the page, too.

15. Lay with your child as they fall asleep.

Allow them to ask questions or talk while you lay together instead of shushing them for bedtime. They’ll get sleepy and quiet eventually, and then they’ll fall asleep.

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Important Tips For Giving Your Child a Perfect Day

  • You must be present!

This is the first and most important tip. Your child craves your undivided attention, so make sure you’re giving it to them most of the day. This is their perfect day, after all, so put the phone, computer, laptop, tablet, etc. away and be present for your child.

  • Customize the day for your child.

Each child is different, so you may have to change things around a bit. With my daughter, we make time for DIY facials, mani’s, and pedis. This is our “thing”, so we make sure to do it each time. It’s her favorite part!

  • Listen to your child – even the things they aren’t saying.

If your child doesn’t seem to be enjoying an activity on their perfect day, move on! Definitely don’t take it personally, instead take note for next time that they would rather do something else.

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Final Thoughts On Ways to Give Your Child a Perfect Day

At the end of your child’s perfect day, your child will go to bed so happy and feeling so loved and noticed. There is nothing better than that, and it is something your child will remember for a very long time. If you make this kind of thing a regular tradition, your child will remember it for the rest of their lives and maybe even pass it along to their own kids someday.

You may also find that after you give your child a perfect day you’ll feel great, as well. While you may have skipped housework or other things you need to get done at home, seeing your child so happy and spending one on one time with them will make it all worth it.

What would you do to give your child a perfect day? Tell me about it in the comments! I may just add it to our own perfect day routine.

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Holiday On My Mind

28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

I turned 28 on the 11th (and my baby turned 2 the same day!!) and I spent quite a bit of time reminiscing and reflecting on the past years of my life. With the reflection came some of the life lessons I have learned along the way. There have been so many events in my past that I always think I would want to go back and change but, if those events never happened, I wouldn’t have been able to learn these lessons. So, I guess I should say that I am thankful for the “bad” events in my life since they have guided my learning and living.

I want to be able to remember and recall these lessons quickly if need be. When I am having a bad day or beating myself up about something, I would love to be able to come back here, reference this post, and remember all of the things I’ve learned along the way. So, without further ado, here are 28 life lessons that I have learned in the past 28 years.

Life Lessons I Have Learned

1. You have to learn to love yourself.

2. You have to learn to admit when you are wrong.

3. If you realize something isn’t working for you, it’s OK to change your mind.

4. The opinion of others SHOULD NOT MATTER.

5. You have to say no sometimes.

6. You must communicate with your partner.

7. Being “ready” is impossible.

With all things in life, you will never be completely ready. For a baby, marriage, a new job, etc. You just have to have faith and jump in, ready or not, when life throws huge events your way. If you spend your time waiting until things are perfect or waiting to feel completely comfortable, you will never be able to get things done.

8. Friends are important, even if you are in a relationship.

9. You are harder on yourself than anyone else is.

10. Your past doesn’t define who you are now.

You should consider this when you are thinking of yourself, but also when you are thinking of other people. Everyone deserves a second chance.

11. Mental health and self-care should be a top priority.

I cannot stress this one enough. I spent too much time putting everyone else first when I desperately needed to think of my own well-being. Spending some time taking care of myself and doing things that I enjoy, as well as doing things to promote positive mental health (such as supplementing with natural remedies such as turmeric) all helped along the way.

12. Be honest with yourself and others.

Speaking of mental health, mine stands in the way of my honesty sometimes. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes when I say that I am “busy”, I’m really not. I sometimes despise myself for this, but it is easier (at the time), than saying that my depression/anxiety is standing in the way of my social life and that I just want to hibernate in my home until I’m feeling better.

Taking the easy way out may seem like the best option, but it really isn’t. People who truly care about you will understand what you are feeling, and they will respect you for being honest about why you can’t hang out or show up to an event.

13. Stop comparing yourself to others!!

14. Don’t lose your cool when people are looking.

15. Stop wishing your life away.

16. Appreciate the people who are honest with you.

Even if you don’t want to admit the truth.

17. Having kids is HARD, but so fulfilling.

18. There comes a point in life when age really is unimportant.

My husband is 11 years older than me, and we are truly perfect together.

19. Don’t settle!

Jobs, relationships, big investments, etc. Be patient until you find the perfect one for you.

20. Help others whenever you can.

21. You have to be your own person outside of your relationship.

Continue pursuing your own hobbies. Don’t let go of everything you love to do what your partner likes to do.

22. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

23. Avoid debt of all kinds.

24. Follow a budget!!!

25. Co-Parenting is HARD, but it does make life easier.

Happier kids, less stress, and just a more relaxed situation overall.

26. Never take out a student loan.

I learned this a little too late, and my job doesn’t even require a degree. I would take a pay cut if I took a job that I would need my degree for. Now, I have student loan payments monthly for pretty much the rest of my life.

27. Simplicity is key.

28. Children’s artwork DOES count as home decor.

life lessons

Life Lessons From My Husband

My husband wanted to offer some of his own life lessons, which are really helpful. Or something.

  1. Don’t zip your pants zipper too quickly.
  2. Do not lick a frozen pole.
  3. Don’t go chasing waterfalls. (Courtesy of TLC)
  4. Don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboys. (Courtesy of Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson)

Final Thoughts On 28 Life Lessons in 28 Years

Most of the lessons I’ve learned in life were learned the hard way. I’m sure many of you can relate to at least some of my mistakes.

I know that I’m missing some key lessons, so I’m sure I can relate to some of yours as well!! Leave a comment and let me know some of the life lessons you’ve learned in your years on this earth.

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Holiday Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning Toys

Gift Ideas for a 3 Year Old Girl

Christmas is coming so we all have a whole list of people to buy for. It can become overwhelming trying to find the PERFECT gift for so many people. A gift guide can come in handy for that. We have five kids and a large extended family so, while I LOVE shopping for gifts, sometimes I draw a blank on what gift to give to a certain person and I look for gift ideas online.

When I have to buy gifts for a child of a different age range than I am familiar with, I look on Pinterest for a gift guide. Do you do the same? If you do, I can help you out with some of those. I’m starting with a gift guide for a 3-year-old girl first because my daughter’s birthday is coming up.

My daughter is turning 3 years old next week!! It is so unbelievable.

I’m excited about her birthday because I know she is going to LOVE her gifts. She is a girly girl, but she also doesn’t mind playing rough and getting dirty.

The only problem is, she already has the stuff she really loves. We don’t want to buy her toys that she will get bored with, and we don’t have space for many more large objects. In desperate need of gift ideas, I turned to Amazon.

Once I began looking on Amazon, things just started standing out to me that I KNOW he will love. I’m sure you all run into that with the kids in your life, too. Gift giving can become tricky. That is where a nice gift guide full of gift ideas comes in handy.

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

Gift Guide for 3 year old

Gift Ideas For a 3-Year-Old Girl

JaxoJoy Complete Kids Cooking and Baking Set – 11 Pcs

gift for a 3 year old girl

My daughter loves to pretend she is a chef or baker, dressing up and pretending to cook. She also loves to wear an apron and chef hat while she helps me make dinner or bake brownies. She would be so excited to unwrap her own chef set.

This JaxoJoy Complete Kids Cooking and Baking chef set comes with an apron, chef hat, oven mitt, glove, whisk, wooden spoon, rolling pin, and four cookie cutters. My favorite thing about this set is that it comes with an oven mitt and glove. The polka dots and frills are so cute, as well.

The best part about this chef set is that the utensils can actually be used for cooking and baking. She doesn’t just have to pretend with this set… she can actually help cook with utensils that are her size! How fun is that?!

Of course, she can still play pretend with it. My daughter wears a chef hat and apron (not nearly as cute as this one, though) while she’s playing in her toy kitchen. It is the cutest thing.

The apron and chef hat can both be washed in the washing machine, so there is no worry if they get messy. Both items are also made to fit any size girl. The hat is elastic, and the apron can be tied at different sizes.

Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk

gift for 3 year old girl

This Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk comes with four shirts, three skirts, two headbands, one tiara, one choker, three bracelets, one pair of earrings, one necklace, three rings, and a storage trunk. The outfits and accessories allow the child to become Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White.

The storage trunk is made of cardboard, which has been decorated to fit the princess theme.

My daughter loves to dress up, so I know this one will be a hit. I do wish that it came with shoes, but for this price, those could always be purchased separately.

This dress up playset is rated 3.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. The problems with this dress up play set are that Belle and Snow White have to share the yellow skirt, so four children could not play at one time. Another issue is that the material isn’t made from the best quality.

Even with the low quality, my daughter will love this playset and the cost is great.

Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper

Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper gift for 3 year old

It’s a Pogo stick for toddlers!! This Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper is made of foam (obviously), a spring made from bungee type material, and has a foam grip for the handles. and has a squeaker, so it makes a fun noise when the child jumps on it.

An added bonus: This toy is intended for toddlers but can hold up to 250 pounds. This means that adults and kids of all ages can try it out!

The Flybar Pogo Jumper is a great way for a child to stay active, so on days when the weather isn’t cooperating and she has to stay inside, she can still get her wiggles out and exercise in the house. This toy can also help enhance hand-eye coordination, balance, and strength.

It is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Two big complaints about the Foam Pogo Jumper: (1) It squeaks and (2) that……. the squeaker stops working pretty quickly. Um, what? Some hate it, others hate that it doesn’t last longer… it seems there is no happy medium.

Educational Insights Playfoam Combo 8-Pack

gift for 3 year old

Playfoam can be molded in shapes and creations, and it is supposed to never dry out. It also isn’t supposed to stick to anything, so unlike with play-doh, slime, and putty, your couch and carpet should be safe.

For my daughter, I plan on using it to practice making letters and shapes just like we did with play-doh.

Not only is this Playfoam just going to be so much fun, but it also has some educational and developmental bonuses, too. It helps to develop and enhance the child’s artistic ability, creative play, tactile, and sensory exploration.

Another perk; the muscles that she will be using to play with this Playfoam are the same muscles that she will later be using for writing and drawing.

It is rated 3.9 out of 5 stars. One problem is that it can leave a stain on surfaces. Other issues are that if collects pet fur and fuzzies if it falls on the floor, it doesn’t come in re-sealable containers, and there is only a small amount of each color.

VTech Care for Me Learning Carrier

gift for 3 year old girl

VTech’s Care for Me Learning Carrier could be perfect for teaching a little girl how to care for a puppy, or to give a “pet” to a little girl who doesn’t have a real one. It comes with a stuffed animal puppy, a comb, bottle, a  food dish, dog toy, and of course, the carrier.

Whenever the door of the carrier is opened, the carrier says a phrase that helps the child learn opposites. The buttons on the outside of the carrier light up and when they are pushed, they teach colors, shapes, and pet care tips.

Another awesome feature is that when the letter beads are moved, the carrier teaches the child letters and plays music.

This VTech pet carrier is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The only complaint is that the door of the carrier is hard for a toddler to open and close, so they often need help with that part.

KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage with Furniture

gift idea for a girl 3 year old girl gift guide

I have been wanting to get my daughter a dollhouse since I first found out I was pregnant with a girl. I’m not kidding.

With Christmas coming up, I spent the last couple of weeks researching doll houses and searching for the right one. I wanted one that was big and had lots of rooms.

The biggest struggle was the price point, however, because I didn’t want to spend over $100 on a dollhouse for a three-year-old. Luckily, I found the perfect one and I am so excited for her to see it under our Christmas tree.

This KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage has two staircases, three floors, and 17 pieces of furniture. Another awesome feature is that the windows actually open and close, which my daughter will love. This dollhouse is big enough that my other littles can play with her if they want.

The house is made for four-inch dolls, but five-inch dolls work fine, too. The dolls don’t come with it, though, so those would have to be purchased separately.

It is rated 4.1 out of 5 stars. There are images on the walls of the house that show a toilet, a stove, and other household items, but then there is also physical furniture for the toilet and stove. Another issue is that some of the dollhouses come with pieces that don’t fit together properly.

Our Generation Dolls Violet Anna Doll

Gift for girl, gift for 3 year old girl, gift guide

My daughter has been wanting a doll that she can dress up and do her hair. After researching, I came across the Our Generation dolls. I chose the Violet Anna ballet doll because I am signing Josie up for a ballet class as soon as she turns three.

This doll has arms and legs that move, and her outfit can be changed. Our Generation offers SO MANY cute outfit options that can be ordered separately. The ballet doll comes with a leotard, tutu, tights, and ballet shoes, so it is perfect for what we need right now.

You can also buy vehicles, animals, sports equipment, career items, and many other accessories to accompany the Our Generation dolls.

Spirit Riding Free Barn Playset

Spirit Riding Free barn, gift for 3 year old girl, gift for a girl
My daughter is OBSESSED with horses and loves the show Spirit on Netflix. This Spirit Riding Free Barn Playset comes with a Lucky doll (the main character), Spirit (Lucky’s horse) a bridle, wheelbarrow, tack box, trough, hay, weathervane, bucket, ladder, chair, ottoman, lamp, a sign, and a sheet of stickers so the child can decorate the barn how she wants it.

This barn playset also comes with eight fence pieces, so she can build a fenced in area next to the barn. The barn has an upstairs area for the characters to hang out, and the lower level holds three horses. It has a sliding door to make it easy for the horses to come in and out.

There are two sides to this playset so more than one child can play at a time, too. Extra horses and characters can be purchased separately (more gift ideas, maybe?).

This barn playset is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Complaints are that there are many small pieces, and also that the materials used are cheap.

Playskool Mrs. Potato Head

Mrs Potato head, 3 year old gift idea, girl gift idea

This Mrs. Potato Head comes with 10 accessories including eyes, a nose, mouth, purse, hairdo, tongue, hands, ears, and legs with shoes. All of the pieces can be used on other Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figures, so they are interchangeable.

The child can work on putting all of the pieces where they “belong”, or she can put an ear on the face and the eyes on the side. This toy is so much fun because she can do whatever she wants with it.

I am thinking that this could be the perfect quiet time toy because it is fun and engaging at the same time, and can keep a child busy for quite some time since they can put the pieces where ever they want.

It was rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The biggest complaint is that the hair doesn’t stay on. There were also complaints that the storage area in the potato isn’t big enough to hold all of the accessories, so you may need a different storage solution.

PicassoTiles 26 Piece Building Blocks

I bought these Picasso Tiles as a cheaper alternative to Magnatiles for my 10-year-old for Christmas last year and they were a hit. My 10 Y/O loved them, but so did my toddlers. My daughter is always trying to sneak into my son’s room to get his Picasso Tiles. He doesn’t like the littles to play with them, though, because … siblings.

The best thing about the Picasso Tiles is that it is an amazing opportunity for children to learn in many different ways. They can learn colors, shapes, and numbers, all while learning about magnets and using their imagination. I also love that more than one child can play at a time.

These are definitely being bought for Josie this year. She will be so excited that she has her own Picasso Tiles! I know this is my favorite choice of all the gift ideas so far.

The Picasso Tiles are rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The only complaint has been that the 26 pieces aren’t enough, but I think that for a 3-year-old it is plenty.

Play-Doh Cake Party Gift Ideas

gift guide, gift ideas for 3 year old girl

My kids and I love play-doh. It is so much fun. There are so many creative options, and so much learning potential.

This Play-Doh Cake Party set can be perfect for a 3-year-old girl because she is starting to understand how things work. She will have a blast making cakes by using the oven and cutters.

This set comes with five play-doh cutters, a decorating tool, two plates, a spatula, fork, knife, three containers of play-doh confetti compound, and two containers of regular play-doh.

With so many different options, this play-doh set might keep my daughter busy for at least an hour. I can’t wait to find out!

Final Thoughts On Gift Ideas for a Girl

There are so many options when it comes to gifts for a 3-year-old girl. It can be hard to choose the right one. She may receive three of the same gift, or she may just be uninterested in the toy that was advertised at your local toy store. It’s hard to say exactly how a child will react to a gift. So, I’m hoping that my gift guide will help you out.

I am an experienced mom, and I have a daughter who is turning three in just TWO DAYS (Where does the time go!?), so take my advice – I know what 3-year-old girls like. Even if she doesn’t reaaallly know herself, I normally have a pretty good idea for gift ideas.

Are there any gift ideas you would add to this list? Is there a gift you’ve been considering but you’re unsure of? Which gift on this gift guide is your favorite? Tell me all about it in the comments! I love to chat!

P.S.

I am going to be posting gift ideas for a 10-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl, and a 1-year-old boy in the next couple of weeks so watch for those, too!! I’ve already put together a gift guide for a 4-year-old boy so if you’d like to check that out, here it is: Gift Guide for a 4-year-old Boy.

I hope your holiday shopping goes well and that you find the perfect gift for every person on your list. (If you don’t find the perfect gift, just search on Pinterest for a gift guide).

Categories
Big kid fun Family Activities Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

How to Host the Perfect Sleepover & Movie Night

Nevaeh wanted to have a sleepover for her 14th birthday and we decided to do homemade pizzas, a bonfire, and a movie night.

The first step was to figure out what to have for dinner and what snacks to have.

We decided on homemade pizzas so the girls could choose their own toppings and have as much (or as little) cheese and sauce as they wanted. This option was definitely a hit. They loved making them and everyone thought the pizzas were delicious. Even my toddlers had fun making their own pizzas! It was fun for all of us and that’s always a plus.

We used Jiffy pizza crust mix. It was super inexpensive and soo delicious. It was actually really sticky when I was trying to flatten it out so I was worried it wouldn’t work well but it did! It turned out perfectly. It doesn’t make enough dough for one “large” pizza, but two girls were able to share one. We used Meijer pizza sauce, pepperoni, Tennessee Pride sausage, yellow pepper, and mozzarella cheese. You can buy whatever toppings your family wants. We decided bacon and banana pepper would have been a good addition so we’ll be getting those next time.

After dinner we went outside for a bon fire and s’mores. Again, everyone had fun and loves s’mores so it was another one that even the littles enjoyed.

 

The girls played in the yard for a while when the s’mores were gone and while they played and Chris put the fire out, I started preparing the movie snacks!

We did popcorn with mix-ins and that was so much fun. I prefer my popcorn plain but the kids loved adding yummy stuff to theirs.

We did cheerios, mini marshmallows, pretzels, mnm’s, and a couple popcorn seasonings (nacho cheddar and caramel corn). Everyone got their own bowl of popcorn and then added stuff in. You could do other things like chocolate chips, gummy bears, golden grahams, or any other treat.

We also put candy and drinks in small bins for each girl. The girls chose to put a napkin in one side of their bin and just put their popcorn in there (and hot Cheetos once the popcorn was gone).

After one movie the girls went out to the backyard and played hide and seek (it’s so dark out there!). Then they played some games and watched more movies. They all said they had so much fun, so I’d it was a success. 😉

 

Do you have any popcorn mix-ins you prefer that I didn’t include? Pizza toppings? Movie night snacks? Drop a comment and tell me about it! 🙂

 

Categories
Our Family Teenager

Advice for a Teenage Girl

Do you remember being 14 years old? What was your life like at that time?

I was 14 in 2005. When I think back, I think of hanging out with my friends, going to concerts, having boyfriends!!!, watching Laguna Beach, and essentially becoming my own person outside of my family unit. I feel like once I reached high school, I became so much more independent. I had friends who had cars so I didn’t need my parents to drive me everywhere anymore. It felt like freedom.

I spent quite a bit of time in my bedroom, wishing my parents would leave me alone and reading magazines or talking on the phone. You know, normal teenage stuff.

We were wearing layered polos and popped collars and some people were even wearing awful trucker hats (I may or may not be guilty of that myself..).

Gone were the days when I spent most of my time with my parents and siblings. Gone were the days of playing with toys and watching cartoons. I was 14, and that was a huge deal.

Well, Nevaeh turned 14 today. OMG. We are IN TROUBLE.

Just kidding… kind of. I know we are entering a whole new chapter with her, but I also know she’s learned how to make better choices and respect herself, and all we can do is hope that we have taught her right.

When Chris and I started dating, Nevaeh was only 8 years old. She was a kid, a 3rd grader.

Now she’s 14. She’s going into high school, will be learning to drive a car, beginning an entirely new chapter in her life.

I constantly think she’s just a little kid. Reminiscing on my own memories of being 14 has made me realize that she’s not. We’ve got a high schooler on our hands now!!

It’s such a HUGE milestone. Life happens fast, guys.

This silly little girl…

 

has become this beautiful young woman.

One thing that hasn’t changed since I was 14? Girls still wear hair ties on their wrists even when they’re dressing up. LOL!!

One thing I’d love to give Nevaeh for her birthday is some advice, but I know she won’t listen. My only hope is that she reads it here and maybe takes some of it to heart. 😉

Advice For a Teenage Girl

  • Surround yourself with positive people – When you’re choosing your friends, think about how they treat you and how they speak. Are they always being negative? Do they say things that hurt your feelings or make your start thinking negatively? Maybe it’s time to rethink the friendship. Be friends with people who build you up and always want to see the best happen. Surround yourself with people who truly love you and will never intentionally hurt you.
  • Boys should come last – I know teenage girls are going to be talking to and dating boys, but don’t make them the priority. Spend time with your friends, make memories that will last forever, build lifelong relationships with your best friends so that you will still have them in your life 20 years from now. Don’t ditch your friends for a boy, don’t pass on experiences and opportunities for a boy, and don’t lose yourself for a boy. You’ll have plenty of time for boys when you are older, don’t let them fill every thought and moment of your life.
  • Put down your phone – Honestly, this piece of advice could work for any age group. Live in the moment, enjoy what is going on around you, and talk to people in person.
  • Be nice – Say kind things to others, help others out even if you have to go out of your way, stick up for people. Talk to the person sitting all alone at lunch or in class. Being kind is something you’ll never regret. You never know how someone is feeling or what they are dealing with, never be the person to add to their pain or the person who ruins their day.
  • Save adult stuff for when you are an adult – I know adult stuff seems exciting but it’s really not. You’ll have plenty of time for that later. You aren’t expected to make adult decisions or do adult things, leave that to the trusted adults in your life. They are in your life to guide you and help you, let them. Learn from them. Then, when it’s your turn, you’ll see why it’s best to hold off as long as possible.
  • Step out of your comfort zone – Try something new or go somewhere you’ve never been before. Take a chance at something you might suck at because you just never know. You won’t regret making new memories of things you’ve never done before, so just do it. Don’t worry about what others will think of you or about messing up, everyone has to start somewhere!
  • Do what makes you happy – If you love doing something, keep doing it!! Even if your friends aren’t interested, keep doing the things you love. Don’t lose your passions or miss out on things that make your heart happy. Stay true to yourself.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a teenage girl? Leave it in the comments below, I know a couple teenagers who will definitely be reading them! 🙂

Categories
Craft Marriage Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

40 Free or Cheap Date Night Ideas

Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. It was not exciting at all… he got his gift early (last) week, which was a circular saw and the rest of his gifts won’t be here until tomorrow because I’m a crappy wife and ordered them late. He went to work, after work he rushed home to grab Sylas and Josie and then rushed to Nevaeh’s choir concert, while Liam and I went to my nephew’s high school graduation.

After the choir concert, Chris rushed back to our side of town to pick Peyton up from the school when he got back from his Macinack field trip. By the time we all got home, it was 9 pm and we hadn’t done anything fun all day. Sylas asked about 10 times when we were going to the park for daddy’s birthday because we always have Sylas’ parties at the park. LOL.

I knew ahead of time that Chris’ birthday wouldn’t be very “special”, so the littles and I took some time to make him a couple of homemade gifts.

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

I helped the kids make him some handprint crafts. Josie made a birthday cupcake using her hand, and then the flames on her “candles” are made from her fingerprints.

Sylas and Liam made little monsters. Sylas used his hand (minus the middle finger) to make his monster, and then I added the eye and mouth myself. Liam made a monster using his foot, and then I added the smile and eyes. I helped Liam make polka dots on his monster, too.

Sylas and Josie also did some free art time and they both chose to make pictures for daddy. They’re so sweet and I’m trying to help them understand that they should try and make daddy feel special on his birthday like he does for them on theirs.

 Josie’s artwork for daddy, it’s two different spaceships.

 One of Sylas’

 Sylas’ other one… this one is a tall tower, a dragon, and rain.

So then MY DIY project for Chris was a date night jar. We struggle with finding things to do when we are stuck at home and I always want to bond more than we do during a normal week.

We ALWAYS talk about having more date nights but with the kids, it’s really hard to find the time.

I decided to create a “Date Night” jar, full of things we can either do at home or (with a little planning ahead) find a babysitter for a couple of hours while we do something quick but fun.

I used a mason jar (I buy mine on Amazon) to hold the date night ideas. Then, I made a tag for a label, used a hole punch to make a hole in the tag, and slipped it onto twine before tying the twine around the neck of the bottle.

When we are wondering what we should do to have some fun, we just draw a date from the jar and go with the first one we pulled out. The ones that require a babysitter or a little planning ahead, I marked with a different color so that we know to avoid those ones when we know we are stuck at home.

No more sitting around wasting time on our phones or cleaning when we want to bond and spend time together… now we have plenty of ideas. 🙂

Are there any free/cheap date nights you would add to this list? Let me know in the comments. 🙂

Categories
Our Family

Happy Birthday To My First Born

How can it be that my first born is four years old? My sweet Sylas… the baby who taught me how to be a mom, how to successfully breastfeed, how to change a diaper on my lap, how to love with my whole entire heart. We learned all the hard parts together and formed a bond greater than anything I ever thought possible. Through all the sleepless nights, exhausting days, frustrated tears, painful nursing, we grew closer to one another. He became my best friend and my sidekick. He became my rock, even though I know I’m supposed to be his.

He taught me to smile on the hard days and fight through what seemed like unbearable post-partum depression. Looking back, I realize I could have been such a better mom if only I hadn’t been so depressed but Sylas loved me unconditionally anyway. Holding him and talking to him when he was an infant was the only thing that made me feel better some days.

Even now, all these years later, I go to Sylas when I’m feeling sad. This boy can always cheer me up and knows just what to say to make me smile. His sweet kisses and big hugs can cheer me up any day. We have come so far together in these 4 short years.

This boy is perfect in every single way. He is so smart, funny, caring, and a little bit crazy. He’s my little love bug and will always be a baby in my eyes… my sweet, sweet, baby. How crazy that my boy has grown from a tiny little baby who nursed non-stop, constantly held onto mama’s finger, and rested in mama’s arms most of the day into a 4-year-old, independent, crazy, wild almost preschooler. I can’t believe it and I wish time would SLOW down. I need my baby just a little longer before he realizes he doesn’t need me anymore.

Today is your day, my little superhero. This is the day mama’s life changed… the day mama became a better person… and the day mama found a love that would forever overfill her heart. This is the day you were born, and a day that is so special to me. I love you, Sylas Pierce,  more than you’ll ever know.

Categories
Holiday Toddler and Preschool Age Fun Toddler and Preschool Age Learning

4 Year Old Boy Gift Guide: Gift Ideas For a 4-Year-old Boy

Sylas’ 4th birthday is this weekend and my phone has been blowing up with people asking what he would like for his birthday. That’s a tough question to answer when I hadn’t really even thought about it myself. For inspiration, I decided to head over to Amazon and come up with a 4 year old boy gift guide.

He’s a pretty typical almost 4 year old and likes PJ Masks, sharks, Paw Patrol, building toys, play doh toys, dress up, puzzles, outside toys, drawing items, legos, etc. It’s such a large variety that it ended up being pretty easy.

I know that it is so tricky buying for certain age groups. Since I struggle with it myself ALL THE TIME, I turn to the internet for buying suggestions from moms who have experience with that age group. I hope you find this boy gift guide helpful and can find something to buy for the 4 year old in your life!

4 year old boy gift guide, gift ideas for a boy

My son would be so excited about any of these toys! A few of them he’s actually specifically asked for. Anything similar to these items would work, too! Buying for a 4 year old is easier than it may seem, I promise!

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

Where To Find The Toys In The 4 Year Old Boy Gift Guide

Here are the links to the specific items shown in the guide.

  1. Atmosphere Star Projector
  2. Road Repair Truck Legos
  3. PJ Masks Playset
  4. Paw Patrol Sub Patroller
  5. Wooden Tetris Puzzle
  6. Paw Patrol Bubble Machine
  7. Shark Bite Game
  8. Etch-a-Sketch
  9. Picasso Tiles
  10. Play-Doh Kitchen Creations – Sizzlin Stovetop
  11. Superhero Capes

I hope this helps if you’re struggling with gift ideas for a 4-year-old!!

If you’re a mom with a 3 or 4 year old, what things would you add to this 4 year old boy gift guide? Let me know in the comments!

Looking for gift ideas for a 3 year old girl? Check out this gift guide: Gift Guide For a 3 Year Old Girl