I often see anxiety skyrocket in my students and kids within the first few minutes of struggling. Whether it’s a new concept, or homework, or friendship trouble, or tying shoes, or a new sport, I’ve come to a conclusion: kids need more practice with perseverance. They need to learn that mistakes are opportunities to learn. How […]
Teaching Kids How to Handle BIG Emotions
We teach our kids ways to learn academically and tips to stay healthy. I am often reminded at home and in my classroom that children need strategies, tools, and practice to build skills to manage, cope, and thrive within their emotions too. Raising children with a mental health toolbox will serve them their entire lives. The […]
Teaching Kids to Cut with Scissors
Activities for ages 3 to 6. Teaching kids to cut with scissors is an important life skill and helps build fine motor strength and hand eye coordination they’ll need for writing alphabet letters and words later. But if handing over a pair of blades to young kids sounds intimidating, you’ve come to the right spot. Find out how […]
Life Skills Checklist
Life skills for ages 2 to 9. If you’re like me, you want your kids to become responsible, capable and thoughtful grown ups. But it can be hard to know what life skills children are ready to tackle along the way. This free life skills checklist shares age appropriate chores and responsibilities for kids ages two to nine. These […]
Teach Kids to Tie Shoes
Activity for ages 3 to 6. Want to teach kids how to tie shoes? This quick and easy trick will have them lacing up in a flash. I promise – with just five minutes, you can teach your kids how to tie shoes too. When my oldest was ready to turn in his Velcro and learn how to […]
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Memory Game
Activity for ages 3 to 6. Playing the classic game of Memory is a simple way to build kids’ concentration, attention, sportsmanship and {you guessed it!} memory. Just like our sight word game, this free Very Hungry Caterpillar Memory Game is an awesome follow up to the beloved children’s story and is guaranteed entertainment during quiet time, family game […]
Boys’ Bathroom Signs: Be a Bathroom Superhero
For ages 3 to 8. Teaching boys how to keep the bathroom clean is… well… tough. After scrubbing down the bathroom for the third time in a week, I decided to give my boys {ages 5 and 3} a big challenge: follow five simple steps to become bathroom superheroes. I whipped up some colorful superhero bathroom signs, […]
The Putting on a Jacket Trick
Activity for ages 2 to 5. Colder weather means kids need to bundle up before they head outdoors. This simple putting on a jacket trick makes that process so. much. easier. AND, as a big bonus, it works for putting on backpacks too. Build kids’ independence and cut down on your get-out-the-door-time with this simple […]
4 Tricks for Learning Phone Numbers
For ages 4 and up. My family and I love taking summer trips to popular spots but with crowds comes increased potential for getting lost. These four tricks for learning phone numbers are a fun way to make sure kids are ready just in case they need it. Phone Number Hopscotch For our first activity, I created a […]
25 Fun Quiet Time Activities
Activities for 4 to 7 year olds. When my oldest son gave up naps almost a year and a half ago, I scrambled to set up a quiet time routine that would keep him entertained for half an hour so that I could have a much needed break in the middle of the day. Fast […]
6 Creative Ways to Teach Kids Left from Right
Putting on shoes, learning to use utensils and navigating the neighborhood are all skills that require telling your left from your right. If your child is anything like my 3.5 year old, learning to distinguish direction can be a challenge. Ever since A could put on her own shoes, she would put the left shoe […]
25 Ways to Teach Kindness
I want my kids to grow up to be kind, thoughtful grown ups so I was excited to pull together a Kindness Jar filled with 25 simple ways we could spread some joy to strangers. Whether you decide to see how many of the activities you can complete in just one day or you choose to […]