"MOM, HE'S BAAACK!" Much to my kids delight, our Elf on the Shelf has joined us again. My kids are so excited that they even made him a little welcome back sign. This time my plan is to have Zac (the name we chose for our little Elf) encourage healthy habits, good social skills and wonderful manners! All of his missions are simple and easy to recreate. They also offer 'teachable moments' to talk to your children about kindness, respect and character development. What do you need to get started? Just download these FREE printables - , and . Cut out each mission and tape it to a craft stick. There are sixteen ready-made missions and a blank page to create your own. The possibilities are endless! Ready to get started? Mission 1 - Healthy Habits A little reminder to take … [Read more...]
10 Back to School Social Skills Lessons
Is your child ready to make a great first impression at school this year? Don’t let technology take over your child’s social skills and manners. These vital life skills are the foundation of kindness and respect and making others feel comfortable. We all want our child to be THAT child – noticed for all the right reasons! Here are ten important lessons to prep your kids to get an "A" in social skills this year! Inspire social skills learning through play and doing. Don’t just tell your kids how to behave, challenge them and encourage them to practice! These simple lessons will lead you and your child in a collaborative effort to bring back a little civility to a new generation. Lesson #1: Make a Great First Impression – Handle yourself with good manners and you will leave a … [Read more...]
A Bully-Free Childhood!
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This is an important time to remind your children to not judge or act mean to anyone and to always appreciate differences. How do we prepare our children for a diverse world and teach them to celebrate differences? We can raise children to respect and value people regardless of the differences between us. Teaching acceptance may be easier than you think! Model Acceptance and Tolerance – Be the first person or family to try to help someone who looks like they feel out of place. Encourage your child to have many different friends from different cultures and interests. Walk the Walk- Create opportunities for your children to interact and make friends with people who are different than them. A powerful lesson is to ask them to imagine … [Read more...]
5 Easy Ways to Entertain the Kids at Restaurants. (Do I dare say without a screen.) GASP!
We’ve all been there! Your child is hungry and fussy and the food has not yet arrived. What should you do? Yes, it’s tempting to pull out our cell phones or tablets to quickly keep our child occupied, but this doesn’t teach them to sit and behave properly at a restaurant. Teaching our kids how to behave in a restaurant setting is an important part of parenting. We know it’s hard for them to sit still so we need a plan. A go to restaurant plan to help hold their attention span – quiet games and activities to keep them happy and entertained – and yes all screen-free. Here are a few of my favorite ways to keep them busy at restaurants without the screens: Napkin Decoration! I love crayons because it only takes a few and a napkin and you are all set! Challenge the kids to a … [Read more...]
Sweet Meets Spicy
I love having a large family. I love spending days getting my five kids to and from school, chasing after my toddler all day long, and then making sure everyone gets a full belly before the nighttime routine begins. The days are long, that's for sure. But, I truly wouldn't have it any other way. At the end of every day, I wholeheartedly look forward to a few minutes of "me time." I slip into my pajamas, go to the kitchen, prepare a warm mug of TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods in my Keurig®, and sit down for a nice quiet evening with The Bachelorette or a good book. There’s something about the rich, creamy taste of an authentic TAZO® Chai Latte, with every sip providing a spicy and sweet escape. And, goodness knows, I'm looking for an escape at the end of each and every day. What is a … [Read more...]
A Festive Backyard Field Day with Good Sportsmanship!
Jumping, hopping, racing, throwing—who doesn’t love a summer field day? A backyard filled with games, activities and kids is a fantastic excuse to get together with friends. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Use what you have and set up some good old-fashioned backyard fun. It will provide hours of entertainment. And parents, what a great way to reinforce good sportsmanship with your kids! The first step is to organize teams to help promote cooperative play. Then set up a variety of games. And finally, weave in a good sportsmanship lesson! Here are a few tried-and-true ideas to get you started: THE GAMES Bean Bag Toss – Kids love throwing anything! Use large bowls or buckets as the target and have the kids toss. Don’t worry if you don’t have bean bags—use other items as … [Read more...]
