The following post was written by contributor Emily Carter of The Pilots Wife and The Inspired Teacher.

The time is upon us again. Back to School is in full swing across the country. As you are gathering your supplies and shopping for new clothes, I wanted to share some thoughts on heading back to school from a teacher’s perspective.

Your child’s teacher might not share these things with you, but I can assure you, they will be thinking them!

6 Tips for Heading Back to School

1. View This Year as a Clean Slate

Last year your child may have had their very favorite teacher (or maybe not-so-favorite). Regardless of the previous teacher, look at this new year as a chance to start fresh.

Your new teacher will probably be different than last year’s so give your child some time to adjust to different expectations and routines.

2. Everyone is Nervous at the Beginning

Your child’s teacher is probably just as nervous as you and your child.  Most teachers, especially those of us in the elementary grades, get a little nervous speaking in front of a crowd of adults.

We had our “Meet the Teacher” night just a few weeks ago. In the hours before it began, I frantically put the finishing touches on my room and then delivered my son to a babysitter. When I got in my car to head to the school, my car battery was dead. A jump from a neighbor got me there just in time, but I slid into the room mere seconds before the parents, sweaty and stressed.

My point is this: if your new teacher makes a poor first impression, cut them some slack. They are nervous and excited too!

3. The Two Best Practices

The two best practices for back to school are a good night’s sleep the night before and a healthy breakfast that morning. You’ve heard it before, but well rested, well fed children have better attention spans and have fewer behavior problems.

If your child has gotten into the habit of staying up late and sleeping in over the summer, try moving their times back a half an hour at a time until they can wake up in plenty of time to get ready and eat a filling breakfast.

4. Stick to the School Supply List

Teachers make their School Supply List with their specific classroom and their specific routines in mind, so they have a specific purpose for the things they request.

This is probably most important for the things they say not to bring.

For example, if a teacher requests a three-ring binder, but no large trapper keepers. Or a pencil bag, but no pencil boxes. It may seem silly to you, but the teacher knows what will fit in the desks or storage areas, and what items will cause a problem.

If you want to purchase fun items that aren’t on your supply list, check with your teacher before sending them to school. Those items could always be used at home as an incentive to work on homework!

5. Stick to the Dress Code

This is a big one. I know that kids whine and complain  about what they wear to school. I’ve heard them! However, it will be a much bigger hassle if you are called to bring more clothes because your child’s outfit doesn’t meet dress code.

If picking out clothes before school is a huge fight, try picking out all five outfits on Sunday evening and then letting your child choose from the approved choices each morning. They still get the freedom to choose which outfit on which day, but the choices are limited and all appropriate for school.

6. Have a good attitude!

Your children take their cues on how to feel about school from their main teachers: you. Try to maintain a positive attitude about school and your teacher, and that attitude will rub off on your kids!

It has been a few years since I’ve taught in the elementary classroom. I took some time off when my son was born and last year I had a position outside of the classroom. This year I’ll be teaching third grade again, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Parents or other teachers, what are your best Back to School tips?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

My family and I are enjoying a few days of rest and relaxation. I thought I would re-run one of my favorites posts, which originally ran in February 2010. I hope you like it, too. – Kara

The Greeks have four words for love: eros, philia, agape, and storge – the name for the love and strong commitment between family members. I like the idea of having a special word for family love.

As a parent, the affection I feel for my kids is limitless. I want them to grow up knowing that they are deeply loved. Each moment brings a new chance to say “I love you” - not just with words, but with deeds and actions.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. For some, it can be a daunting holiday filled with the pressure of grand gestures and elaborate showing of affection. However, there are simple ways that you can show your kids you love them any day of the year.

Here are a few ideas to get you started …

Touch Them

Hugs, kisses, chubby baby belly zrrrrrrrbrrrrts are all wonderful ways to shower your child with affection, and I do hope you are indulging in these as often as possible!

However, today I would also like to encourage you to be mindful of small opportunities to be tender toward your kids.

Give extra thought to how your touch affects your child when you are …

• brushing their hair
• cleaning their face
• getting them dressed, putting on their pajamas
• lifting them into their high chairs or booster seats
• tucking them into bed

It can be easy to overlook these chances to show affection as so many of the activities involved in the care of our children are repeated (and repeated) until we can go on “auto-pilot” doing them.

Instead, let these moments become a chance to nurture your children. Make a conscious effort to perform these routine tasks with love.

This doesn’t just apply to babies and toddlers either. Big kids and teens need that connection, too – a gentle squeeze on the shoulder, a tussle of their hair, holding their hand: much can be conveyed through a simple gesture.

Remember Them

Just like grownups, children want to be reassured that you miss them when you are apart. Let them know that you are thinking of them when you are not together.

If your child is the one going out of the home, send a memento with them: a note in their lunchbox, a funny picture of you together, a comic clipped from the morning newspaper.

If you are the one leaving, bring back something for them. It doesn’t have to be fancy or cost you anything.

Here are some things our children have appreciated:

• a quick picture snapped by a cellphone camera of something fun from the day
• the free stickers they hand out at the grocery store
• a doodle you made for them
• an interesting leaf or pebble (we love heart-shaped stones at our house)
• a flower picked just for them

Let Them Help You

If your children want to help you with the housework or in the kitchen, let them. Include them in your every day tasks and be sure to thank them for their efforts.

Yes, you can probably accomplish things faster without their help but faster isn’t the goal. Slow down, be patient, and don’t worry about things being done perfectly.

• let them help you fold the laundry
• prepare meals together
• my kids love to sweep the floor
• shovel snow, rake leaves, weed the garden together

Talk and share as you go about your tasks. Take advantage of these mundane chores and let them become opportunities to make memories. I have vivid mental images of laundry day growing up – from sorting the clothes with my mother to hanging them on the clothesline to dry. Every time I hang my own children’s clothing I think of my Mother.

Create for Them

Make something special just for your child. I love to knit for my children. With every stitch, a little piece of my heart goes into the tiny hat, sweater, or blanket. My sister sews clothing and toys for her children.

But it doesn’t have to be an elaborate or time intensive project to make a child feel loved.

• Draw them a picture
• Write them a poem
• Build a tower with their blocks or set up a scene with their dolls for them to discover
• Cook their favorite meal
• Play with their food: cut a sandwich into a heart shape, make an orange smiley face

Sing to Them

Your kids don’t care what your voice sounds like. Anything you sing will be a melody to your child. We sing as we go about our days and the songs we sing are often just silly little ditties that only have meaning to us. Our family even has a song for running the dishwasher. Yes, we made up a song about our dishwasher.

My kids love it when we sing rounds together. But, don’t feel like you have to stick just to children’s songs or nursery rhymes. Sing your favorite songs to them – the Beatles, songs from church, songs your parents used to sing to you. Make up songs for them or change the words to an existing song and personalize it for your child.

One of my favorite ways to end a busy day is to sing to lullabies to my children as I’m tucking them into bed. Can you imagine how safe and wonderful it must feel to a child to be sung to as they drift off to sleep?

Say the Words

Of course there is always the easiest way of all to tell your kids that you love them: just say the words.

How will you say “I love you” to your kids today?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following post was written by Simple Kids editor Kara Fleck.

We’ve had some new readers join us at Simple Kids recently and I wanted to officially welcome all of the new faces I’ve seen in the comments lately:  I’m so glad you’re here and joining in with me on this journey.

If you haven’t yet taken the time to explore the blog, I thought today would be a good time to give a little behind-the-scenes tour of Simple Kids – a reader’s guide, if you will.

Who is Kara?

So, first things first, who am I? My name is Kara Fleck.  I’m married to Christopher and we have three kids: Jillian, who is eight, Max who is four, and Lucy who is two.

Since February 2010, I’ve been the editor of Simple Kids and I also have a personal blog, Rockin’ Granola. That photo above is my desk, affectionately known as “Simple Kids Headquarters.”

Like many of you, I often find myself pulled in more than one direction. I wear many hats: mother, teacher, writer, wife, homemaker. I am not perfect and I don’t have all the answers, but I have learned along the way that life is the most peaceful for me and for my family when we keep things simple and focus on the basics, the essentials.

Something else that I have learned over the years is that families exist in a fluid state – children grow, needs change, surprises (good and bad) occur, life happens. Mindful parenting allows my family stay connected and that connection gives us roots,  no matter our season of life.

Mission of Simple Kids

I am thankful for the opportunity to be given the task of nurturing a place whose purpose is something I’m so passionate about: uncomplicated parenting in a complex world.

At Simple Kids, my mission is to provide worthwhile content on:

• mindful parenting
• kids’ activities with a purpose
• healthy family living

Contributors

Simple Kids is not a one-woman show.  I am honored to work with an amazing group of contributors and am so pleased to get to share their wisdom and talent with you.

If you haven’t checked out our About page, let me introduce you to …

Amy Anderson

Amy is happiest surrounded by her husband, two daughters, stacks of books, and craft supplies. With a background in psychology, early childhood education, and elementary teaching, Amy is a supporter of playing dress-up, digging in the dirt, and squeezing out puddles of glue. If she could share one message with parents and educators, it would be, “More play, please!”

At her blog, Let’s Explore, Amy shares her family’s experiences creating, imagining, and playing together. Amy’s personal interests include reading, sewing, writing, and wishing for a hammock. Amy and her family are also excited about their newest adventure – homeschooling! You can read about her homeschooling journey at Early Bird Homeschool.

Christen Babb

Though a true southern girl at heart, Christen majored in French and Fine Art, spending some time living in Paris while in college. It was there that she discovered her love for fresh, colorful, natural foods at the local street markets. Cooking became her artistic medium of choice, creating lovely little dishes to share with those she loved the most.

After having her little girl, she worked by day and stayed up late nights developing homemade baby food recipes for her daughter. Combining her passion for food with her media experience, she launched NurtureBaby to inform, inspire, and encourage other busy parents to make wholesome and delicious baby food for their little ones.

Jennifer Brown

Jennifer started her adult life on what you might consider a traditional path, earning a BA in Communications and fully intending to put that to use in the non-profit sector. After a brief stint at that plan, the man she married began taking her around the world—literally! The past ten years of their nomadic life has given her the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers and activitiesr. Most recently she has taken on the job of full-time motherhood, to a vibrant, talkative and energetic three-year-old son, and her second son was born this past spring.

As a result of their travels, Jennifer and her family have been exposed to and developed a love for a variety of music. She is delighted to be able to share her enthusiasm and to encourage Simple Kids readers to listen to new tunes in her monthly music column.

Mariah Bruehl

Mariah Bruehl is the mother of two creative girls ages five and seven, wife to an incredibly supportive husband and an educator at heart. Last year, after years of working in the field of education, Mariah decided to take some time off to be with her two young daughters. Among the many benefits of their time together was the birth of Playful Learning, a website that was created to help parents support their children’s learning and development.

Mariah is now utilizing her knowledge and experience to adapt what she knows about educational research and practice into simple, playful learning experiences that promote positive family interactions.

Emily Carter

Emily is a wife to Patrick, the adventurous pilot, and a mother to Miles, her sweet son. She has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught at the elementary level, and is now a third grade teacher.

Emily enjoys reading, writing, traveling, mission work, teaching, learning Spanish and relaxing with her family. At The Pilot’s Wife, Emily blogs about flying, building their hangar-home, mommy-hacks, faith, and wrangling a 130 lb dog.

Rae Grant

Rae Grant is the author and book designer of the popular vintage-modern children’s activities books Crafting Fun 101 Things to Make and Do with Kids (2008 St. Martin’s Griffin) and Cooking Fun 121 Simple Recipes to Make with Kids (2008 St. Martin’s Griffin). Her third and newest book, Homemade Fun 101 Crafts and Activities to Do with Kids (June 2010, St. Martin’s Griffin), continues down the road to simple and imaginative fun with kids and families.

Rae lives in Manhattan with her husband, daughter, and their family cat Blue.

Catherine Way

Catherine is an Australian mother of two boys. Growing up she spent her fair share of hours finding hideaways for reading, roaming the neighborhood, swimming laps in the pool and catching various bugs, lizards, crabs and other critters. She went on to get a Bachelor of Science and worked for a while as a geophysicist. But she soon found her calling as a science educator.

She now channels her energies into chasing her sons, the dog and the chickens around their five acre block and sharing her passion for lifelong learning at her blog, Adventures With Kids.

Robin Zipporah

Robin Zipporah has four- and two-year-old daughters, an infant son, a lovely husband who works many more than full-time hours and a full-time career of her own in government in the suburbs of Washington, DC. She takes her little loves with her to work where they spend their days in a childcare program tucked gently into the building where she spends her quietest eight hours.

At the end of each day she packs up her work and packs up her children and they commute together back home and back to Daddy, telling stories all the while.

You can always read more about Robin’s parenting philosophies and her family’s antics and adventures at her personal blog: The Not-Ever-Still Life.

one of my adorable office assistants hard at work

Community

I’m really proud of Simple Kids’ status as a resource for parents seeking to slow down, get back to basics and to connect with like-minded families. My hope is that the community which has been built here will continue to grow and that we will keep supporting and learning from each other.

Simple Kids is part of Simple Living Media, founded by Tsh Oxenreider of Simple Mom.  In addition to Simple Mom and Simple Kids, there are three other sister sites:  Simple Bites, Simple Homeschool, and Simple Organic.

In all of our endeavors at Simple Living Media, our mission is the same: to help people live simply.

Get In Touch

You can contact me here and you can also follow Simple Kids on facebook and on twitter.

If you like what you read here, then I hope you’ll consider subscribing to our feed or via email.  We’re got a free weekly newsletter with our sister sites, too.

So, now that you know a little more about me and the Simple Kids contributors, I’d love to hear about you: tell me about yourselves! What brings you to Simple Kids?  What would you like to see here?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following is by Simple Kids contributor Catherine Way of Adventures with Kids.

Learning always involves a degree of risk and challenge. To learn something new you need to challenge yourself to do something you haven’t done before and risk failing a few times until you master the skill.  Children happily challenge themselves to learn new skills.  They want to learn to walk, or talk, or ride a bike and they are not put off by a few mistakes or tumbles.

Each new challenge that a child (or an adult) conquers, builds their motivation to learn, confidence in their ability to learn and knowledge of their capabilities.

It is tempting, as a parent who doesn’t want my child to be hurt, to say ‘no’ when my child wants to do something risky.  It is tempting to remove objects and equipment rather than let my child learn how to use them.   But this deprives my child of the chance to know their strengths and weaknesses and it damages their confidence in their own abilities.

If I want my child to make their own decisions as they grow older, rather than just doing what they are told or doing what everyone else is doing, I need to let them take risks and learn by experience the consequences of misjudging a risk. I need to encourage them to think about the risks that they want to take and how they can keep themselves safe.  This is an important life skill.

So, how can you encourage your child to be a safe risk-taker?

Set up the Environment

Set up an environment that challenges your child’s skills but doesn’t expose them to unnecessary hazards.

• Remove hazards. This is why you should fence your pool or make sure there is something soft under the climbing frame in the playground.  This is why you put child-proof plugs in your powerpoints or a lock on your medicine cabinet.  Taking these precautions allows your child to explore in a safe environment.
• Supervise your child.
• Provide age-appropriate challenges so that your child is engaged when playing and not tempted to behave recklessly because there is nothing suitable to do.

Supervise and Set Guidelines

Learn what your child is capable of by saying ‘yes’ when your child wants to try new things. This gives you the chance to be around to supervise, set guidelines and talk about the hazards.

For example, my toddler loves to climb and I want to say ‘yes’ to his desire to climb.  But I also want him to be safe, so I don’t let him climb the bookcase inside where if he falls he will land on hard tiles.  I take him outside to the playground where the ground is soft if he falls.

I don’t hold him as he climbs because he needs to know that when he climbs he must hold on.  If he gets stuck, I show him where he might put his foot or his hand.  When he gets to the top and wants to come down, I don’t lift him down because part of climbing is knowing how to get down.  I tell him to come down backwards and help him find places to put his feet.

He has satisfied his desire to learn to climb and learned some things about how to climb safely.

Manage Risks, Prepare, Remind

Encourage your child to assess the risks and possible consequences before they attempt an activity.

Talk to your child about any risks you can see in the activity they are about to try.  Ask them how they could make it safer.  Talk them through risk assessment and equip them with the skills to assess risks when you aren’t around.

For example, my preschooler is nearly five.  He wants to run around outside in our backyard by himself, but we live in Australia and there is a good chance he will run into snakes, spiders and other nasties.

I manage the risk by keeping my garden tidy and removing hazards like piles of logs that might harbor dangerous creatures.  But it is still likely that my son will encounter some of the nasties.

So, I  prepare him to think about what might happen and what he will do if he does encounter a snake or other threat.  We talk about where snakes are likely to be, what he should do if he sees one and when he goes out I remind him to keep his eyes open.

If we want to raise independent, confident and capable adults, we need to encourage our children to accept risks and challenges. So take a risk and let your child do something that scares you.  Perhaps you could let your toddler use a knife or let your grade-schooler ride the subway alone.

Do you find it hard to let your child take risks? Do you try and teach them about assessing and minimizing risks?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following was written by Simple Kids editor Kara Fleck.

We’ve talked before about my belief that kids need routines they can count on. Bedtime is one of the routines we hold sacred at our house.  The order is always the same and, with rare exception, we don’t deviate from this routine.

Sometimes mommy is in charge of bedtime and sometimes daddy is, but the line-up is the same, no matter who is telling the story and tucking them in.  The kids rely on it and I think they find comfort in knowing that the routine will be consistent, whether we are at home, traveling and staying in hotels, or at Grandma’s house.

This routine helps us to provide an anchor for the kids when life changes happen. During times when the rest of our life is in flux, Chris and I make a greater effort to make sure that some things stay the the same for the children.

Bedtime is one of those routines that helps us hold steady as a family.

Our Simple Bedtime Routine

Our bedtime routine is:

1. Bath
   
2. Pajamas
3. Brushing Teeth
4. Story Time
5. Sleep

Bath and Pajamas

A nightly bath is for cleaning off the dirt of the day’s play, of course, but it is also for splashing and laughing and relaxing at the end of the day.  Bath time marks the start of the transition toward bedtime in our house.

This is a bubbles-free, warm water bath to help get out the last of the day’s wiggles or calm a fussy toddler.

Afterward, we wrap the kids up in a soft towel (sometimes I warm them up for a few minutes in the dryer) and dry them off.  My kids own soft cotton pajamas.  Pajamas should be snug-fitting, but not too tight. All three of my children kick their covers off at night, so during the cooler months, pajamas made of a tight knit or thermals are our preference.

Brushing Teeth

Each of the kids has their own toothbrush, small tube of toothpaste, and small cup for brushing their teeth.  When we travel I make sure to pack these items so that this aspect of our routine is the same on the road as it is at home.

We do have to help our youngest two brush their teeth, to make sure each tooth gets cleaned, but this is made easier by playing the “let me count your teeth” game.

Story Telling and Songs

After teeth are brushed, it is time to be tucked into bed. My kids all have a favorite blanket and that is my son Max with his sheepskin in the top photo.  Sometimes they might request a special doll or stuffed animal.

This is when we tell or read a story.  For my oldest, this might mean taking turns reading a story out loud or taking turns making up a story to tell.  Sometimes this is also when she wants to talk a little about her day.

My kids all have their favorite books, but the most popular bedtime request is for me to make up a story. Main characters who share my children’s names and personality traits are well-liked (a recent hit with my son is about a zoo full of animals all named Max). They also love hearing stories from my husband and I about our childhoods.

We have a special bedtime lullaby that I have been singing to the children since they were babies, too.  It is just a melody I made up one evening, with simple repeating words, but it calms us all and the only time I sing it to them is when it is time to sleep.

My youngest two children aren’t often awake much longer than a story and a song, but my oldest is usually not quite asleep. For her we have the rule that “you don’t have to be asleep, but you do have to stay in bed” and she may choose to read to herself for a while longer. More often than not, a check on her fifteen minutes later will find her asleep, too.

An Anchor at the End of the Day

Bedtime can include a bedtime snack, evening devotion or prayer, listening to soft music, and turning on a light night.  My youngest still likes to be wrapped up in her blanket and rocked to sleep in the rocking chair. As a child, I enjoyed listening to my favorite music box while I fell asleep.

The key is repeating the routine until it becomes a habit that anchors the end of your day.

A routine helps our children know what to expect next and it helps my husband and I go on “auto-pilot” after a long day.  Bedtime for our three kids goes smoother with two parents helping, but if one of us isn’t here the other one and the children know the routine.

When my husband or I announce “bath time” the kids know that our bedtime routine is beginning:  after the bath, brushing their teeth, pajamas, and then a story and going to sleep are the order of the evening.

Does this mean it always works perfectly? No, of course not. I’ll be the first to admit that a bedtime routine isn’t a fail-safe. We are only human, after all, and so our children.

Some nights bedtime takes longer than others, some evenings are complicated by teething toddlers or crankiness or distracted adults tempted to rush through the routine.  Perhaps a tired child falls asleep before bath time or a sick or worried child needs extra time to set their mind to rest.

But, over all, we focus on our routine, going through its familiar rhythm, and the majority of the time, bedtimes are peaceful at our house.

Does your family have a bedtime routine? A favorite bedtime story? How does the night time transition go at your house?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

• How to Make the Best Zucchini Bread Ever ::: Simple Bites
• Mermaiden Pattern from Wee Wonderfuls ::: Melanie Falick Books
• Cloth Diapering 101 ::: 4 Little Men and Girly Twins
• 1 -2 -3 -4 Printables ::: Sprik Space
• Using Natural Dye for Homemade Playdough ::: Skip to My Lou

I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. Have a wonderful weekend!

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following is a guest post by Mandi Ehman of Organizing Your Way and the soon to be launched Life … Your Way network. This originally ran in April 2010, but I felt the topic of helping kids get organized is timely after some of your comments on my post earlier in the week on kids and practical life skills.

Ithink we’d all agree that teaching our children to organize their belongings and the space around them is a valuable life skill. Unfortunately, it’s not a skill that always comes naturally for us, even as parents. As with any value or habit we want to pass on to our children, however, it’s important to not just teach our children the what, why and how of organizing but also to model it for them in our own lives.

As much as we’d like to teach them to “do as I say and not as I do,” children are much more likely to replicate the behaviors they see than the instructions we give them.

Today I’m sharing three behaviors we can model and teach our children to give them the tools they need to be organized:

Declutter

For parents:

• Make a conscious decision to declutter. While there is a wide gray area between minimalism and hoarding, being able to sort through our stuff and only keep those things that we truly need or truly love is an important part of getting organized. Even the most organized person will fall under the weight of too much stuff.

• Clear out the storage. I’m not saying you have to get rid of all the sentimental or seasonal items you’re currently storing in your basement or attic, but it is important to ask yourself how much something really means to you if it’s hidden away in storage.

For kids:

• Teach kids the one toy in, one toy out rule. Whenever they receive gifts for their birthday, holidays or just because, have them choose something to give away. Alternatively, clean out toys before the occasions when you expect gifts to make room for the new things.

• Set physical limits and let your children make their own decisions. Rather than cleaning out their toys for them, use bins, toy boxes and small containers to contain sets of toys and let kids make the decision on what to keep and what to give away based on what fits in the defined space.

A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

For parents:

• Follow the “touch it once” rule. Whenever I pick something up, I do my best to put it in its final resting place right away rather than just moving the clutter around my home. It ultimately saves me time and helps our home stay uncluttered.

• Have a place for everything. However, the other side of this strategy is you have to have places for things to go in the first place. Look at the piles around your home and brainstorm strategies for dealing with them. It may mean setting up a bill center for incoming mail or creating a drop zone for backpacks and jackets by the front door.

For kids:

• Teach kids to take out toys in sets and put each set away before they get the next out. There will be times when they’ll want to keep out an elaborate lego village they’re building or play with more than one set of toys at the same time, but it’s easier and less overwhelming to clean up one set of toys at a time than a large mess of toys that has to be sorted and put away.

• Label kids toys with pictures or use clear bins to make it easy for them to put away toys on their own. Don’t freak out over a doll diaper in the car bin, but encourage kids to put things away where they belong so that the sets are ready the next time they want to play with them.

Photo by hcplebranch

Look for Ways to Improve

For parents:

• Set goals for yourself. Even as a very organized person, I still have areas where I’d like to improve. For example, I want to do better at putting my dishes in the dishwasher right away rather than stacking them in the sink so that my girls will learn to do that as well.

• Remember that organizing isn’t a one-time activity. As your needs and habits change and you acquire different things, you’ll need to reorganized to find a system that works best for you. Involve children in the process of reorganizing.

For kids:

• Help kids come up with their own organizational systems. For example, if your daughter has hair bows and barrettes that just end up mixed up in a drawer, and she’s frustrated by not being able to find the ones she wants, help her think through different ideas for organizing them and then help her actually make those changes.

• Don’t do it for them. Even though it can be easier to tackle the process of organizing and decluttering without little ones underfoot, it’s important that you involve them early and often so that they learn how to do it. My two-year-old is fairly good at cleaning up as long as the mess isn’t overwhelming, and we encourage her to sort toys and help us, even though it usually takes longer that way. Toddlers and preschoolers are so eager to help, so we use that as an opportunity to build good habits right from the start.

I don’t expect my children to be perfect little organizing machines by any stretch of the imagination, but I do want to help them build good habits and give them opportunities to see the benefits of keeping things organized and neat.

It took me several years to create organizational systems in my own home because my mom did most of our organizing and cleaning for us while I was growing up, and while my children would probably prefer that approach, my goal is to give them a head start so they’ll be better prepared to run their own homes one day.

How do you involve your children in cleaning and organizing?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following post was written by Simple Kids editor Kara Fleck.

“Can I help?” my two year old wants to know.  I’m folding laundry and, for a moment, I hesitate to say yes.  One the one hand, I think it is darling that she wants to help me. On the other hand, it is going to take much longer if she “helps” than if I just do the job myself. But, the benefits to both of us when I let her help me are too great to ignore.

All of my children have household tasks that they are responsible for, even if it means that things are done imperfectly or slowly.  In working alongside my children, I am forced to slow down and do my household work at a child’s pace. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I have found that teaching my children how to care for our home also helps me to keep my own attitude about these chores in check.  I am caring for my family home and teaching those skills to my children.

“The tasks we do with our young child by hand will be the ones they know by heart when they are grown.” – Sharifa Oppenheimer, Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children

Ages and Stages

My children are two, four, and almost nine.  At their young ages, they do require some supervision from me in their work around the home.  Each child, however, needs a different level of input from me.

Let’s look at the example I’ve already mentioned of  laundry and how that task changes with the ages and abilities of my children:

Toddlers

For my just turned two year old, Lucy, folding laundry can simply mean that I give her a stack of washcloths to fold.  While I am folding the rest of the basket, she folds the washcloths and then, later, is at my side “helping” as I put things away.

Lucy watches me intently and she narrates what we are doing – “putting Max’s sock in the drawer, mama? Towels on the shelf, mama?“  Asking these questions out loud, and my answers, makes an impression on her.

The next time she helps me with the laundry, she will more than likely remember that Max’s socks belong in his dresser drawer and that the folded bath towels go on the shelf in the linen closet.  At bath time, she beams with pride showing her Daddy where the clean towels are.

At this point, Lucy helping me is more about giving her a chance to imitate common household chores than it is about responsibility. This is a time for me to model doing my chores with care so that she will learn to do the same.

Preschoolers

My son Max is four.  Like his younger sister, he likes to fold washcloths when he helps me with the laundry, but I can also give him added tasks:  separating the colors from the whites, helping  put clothes into the machine,  matching up socks, and with my supervision he can put his things away in his dresser.

He is not yet to the point where he can do this independently.  Sending him to his room with a stack of laundry to put away by himself will usually mean that fifteen minutes later I’ll find the laundry, forgotten, on the floor and him playing nearby.

But, if I take the time to go with him to his room and stand nearby giving him some minimal direction, he can do this task.

He is a genuine help in getting the task of doing laundry accomplished, although he does require my direct supervision.

Older Kids

Now, Jillian, my almost nine year old, has been folding and putting away laundry for a few years.  She is at an age where she more than likely will not ask me if she can help, in fact there may be some grumbling on her part, but she knows it is expected that she will help.

I will still have to check up to make sure the task is done, but I can confidently send her to her room with a basket of unfolded laundry and know that she will fold it and put it away correctly. She can handle this responsibility with little supervision from me.

In fact, this year I’m planning to teach Jillian how to use the washer and dryer and let her take more responsibility for doing her own laundry.  I plan to write out some simple instructions for her to remind her what needs to be done and then we’ll post these in the laundry room.

My older child can be responsible for this task and is ready for more independence in this area, although she does still need me to check and make sure that she gets her work done.

Other Tasks

Aside from laundry, there are other household tasks that are suitable for children.  You know your child’s abilities and temperament better than any one else, so please use your own judgment.

Toddlers and Preschoolers

With adult supervision and help, toddlers and preschoolers can:

• empty trashcans
• put toys away
• clear dishes from the table
• assist in washing dishes
• sweep floors (a child-size broom is perfect for this)
• dust
• make beds
• help prepare simple meals, like tearing lettuce for salad

Older Kids

With some adult supervision and instruction, older kids can do all of the above, plus:

• run the vacuum
• wash windows and mirrors
• rake leaves
• shovel snow
• put clean dishes away
• set the table
• help prepare meals (even prepare simple meals entirely on their own)
• polish furniture and wooden toys
• some gardening tasks
• assist in the care of younger siblings (i.e. diaper changing, buttoning coat, tying shoes, etc.)

Self Esteem and Character

Yes, the chores would go faster if I just did them myself, but I believe that with some intention and mindfulness on my part, I can achieve a healthy balance between the speed tasks are accomplished and the valuable teaching moments that including the children provides.

Have an age appropriate level of responsibility builds their self-esteem and character. Whether we are helping them to learn a task or they are independent enough to be a true help to us, I believe our kids need to be involved in the work of the household and to learn these practical life skills.

Do your kids help with household tasks? What ages are they and what chores do they do? What level of supervision do you have to provide? How do you balance getting the housework done with taking the time to teach practical life skills?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

The following is by Simple Kids contributor Amy Anderson of Let’s Explore and Early Bird Homeschool.

Setting goals is not just for grown-ups. Even our littles can benefit from the confidence-boost that comes from setting a goal, working towards it, and achieving it.

Goal-setting with young children should be simple and straightforward:

• Involve your child as much as possible in choosing an appropriate goal.
• Listen for times when your little one says, “I wish I could…” and think about ways to turn that wish into a specific goal.
• First-time goals should be achievable in a day or two.
• Decide on a great way to celebrate your child’s success.

No matter what the goal, kids (and grown-ups, too) will benefit from a visual way to track progress.  With some basic supplies, you and your child can create some fun and effective goal-setting charts. Here are some of the charts we have enjoyed using over the years. Let’s set some goals!

Sticker Charts

I’m guessing many of you have used the classic sticker chart for motivating your kids to use the potty, complete chores, or do their homework. A sticker chart is a great way to practice a routine or new skill that needs repetition for success. For toddlers and preschoolers, this can be a concrete way to track progress toward a simple goal. Sticker charts were always one of my girls’ favorite things and they still ask to make them.

Color-in Chart

When you’re tired of using sticker charts, try a coloring chart. Draw a simple picture or use a coloring book page. Your child can color one part of the page until the whole picture is complete. We kept our completed pictures on the fridge for a while to celebrate a job well done.

Board Game

A board game chart is really just a glorified sticker chart.  It can be a simple path, like my frog sample below. Each time your child works toward the goal, color or sticker one space on the path. Help the frog make it to the pond!

Or, you can make a more elaborate board game with messages or activities along the path. Our favorite way is to think of all the different fun and crazy ways we could practice a certain skill. We write these ideas in the game board spaces. Each day, my daughter would flip a penny – heads meant move one space, tails meant two spaces. Wherever she landed, she had to practice the skill using the idea on the board.

We kept the game board on our fridge and used a magnet to mark her spot on the path. Keep playing each day until you reach the end. This is so fun and can make an otherwise tedious task quite enjoyable!

Climb a Ladder

As your child gets older, you can introduce more steps to the goal-setting process. Once you have a goal to work toward, it’s time to think about specific steps your child can take to reach that goal. Brainstorm together and write one step on each rung of a ladder chart. Mark off your successes as you get closer to your goal. It doesn’t really matter if these are the “right” steps to achieve the goal – it’s all about the process!

My tips for using goal charts:

• Keep it simple! If you are more comfortable on the computer, make your charts and print them out. But, a hand-drawn one works just as well, too.
• Display your chart in an accessible area close to your goal area.
• Write the goal as an “I-statement” across the top of your chart  (I can make my bed or I can try one bite of a new food).
• Start small. Toddlers will need a chart that can be completed in a day or two.  Preschoolers could start with 2-3 day charts and work up to ones that take around a week.
• Teach your child positive self-talk by offering comments such as, “Look how close you are to your goal,” or “I can see you are working hard to meet your goal.”
• Achieving a goal is a time for celebration! If you are going to offer a reward for finishing the chart, agree on the reward ahead of time. Try working for an experience (making cookies, going to the park, etc.) rather than a toy.
• Be a role model – set your own goals, talk about them, and display your own chart.

I’m wishing to play the piano more, so my goal is to play 15 minutes each day. I think I’ll have the girls help me make a chart to track my progress!

For more tips and ideas about goal-setting with kids, check out Michele Borba’s article on Teaching Kids to Set New Year’s Resolutions That Stick.

Are you a goal-setter? What dreams and wishes can you turn into specific, achievable goals for yourself and for your kids?

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.

Yesterday my family and I visited the Indy Zoo. We fed giraffes some breakfast, raced a few cheetahs, watched a dolphin show, rode ponies, and got to see a demonstration on snakes (and a few of us were even brave enough to touch a snake).

Today we’re hoping to have a quiet day, hanging out in the backyard and getting in some swing-set time.  It is a sunny day here in Indiana.  I hope the sun is shining where you are, too.

Link Love:

• Corn Husk Dolls tutorial ::: Garden Mama
• Alphabet Cheese Crackers ::: Quirky Mama
• Paper Clip Puppets ::: Made By Joel
• 8 Back to School Breakfast Ideas ::: Simple Bites
• Preschool Chore Charts ::: Homeschool Creations
• Rain Gutter Bookshelves tutorial ::: Raising Olives
• Homemade Natural Postpartum Care Kit ::: Passionate Homemaking

Thank you all for your helpful suggestions on my post about our overdue library books.  You were very generous with your tips and I think that even those of us whose libraries aren’t yet utilizing an online reminder system can find some helpful advice in the comments.

It was nice to know we aren’t the only family prone to sky-high library fines (and sweet to see that we all agree libraries are a great resource to support!)

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone! ~ Kara

CURRENT SPONSORS:

• Oak Meadow - creative homeschooling since 1975.
• Layla Grayce - home decor & unique gifts for children.
• Land of Nod - free nodcast podcast.
• Healthy Snacks to Go - 30+ recipes for real food snacks, fast.
• Hazelnut Kids - natural toys for natural curiosity.
• Economy Lunchbox - healthy for people and the planet.
• Little Acorn Learning - monthly nature-based curriculum at home.

© 2010 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Simple Kids subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please contact hello@simplelivingmedia.com to let us know. Thanks.