My family recently participated in a non-profit bake sale, which entailed two days of baking (one day with just my oldest, thanks to my awesome sister-in-law for keeping my younger two, and one day with all three littles), and one day of the bake sale. We make oodles of treats, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pies,
June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month! These games review what kids know about fruits and vegetables. The games use children’s knowledge of colors, math, and basic information about fruits and vegetables. There is even a game thrown in just for fun, to help kids burn some energy after a day in school,
Too many parents see the library as a drop off place for their children after school. Many of these children have not been taught how to use the library or how to behave, once there. But here, homeschoolers are different. Often the family comes in together. The children are usually well-behaved. They know what
Rather than work through one particular curriculum, I prefer to encourage self-research, reading plenty of books, and when possible, actually interviewing and spending time with people that are knowledgeable about our current focus of study. This approach to education has been extremely helpful in subjects like electives, life skills, and especially history. Though we
As a relaxed homeschooler who veers more towards natural learning and unschooling, I often seek out Charlotte Mason materials to use with my kids. Of all the different homeschooling philosophies and methods, hers meshes well with a natural learning environment. I emphatically agree with her emphasis on nurturing a child’s love of learning through
Hiking with kids is a lot of fun—except when it isn’t. I grew up overnight backpacking with my parents through the Canadian Rockies for family vacations. As a mom, I frequently drag invite my kids out on dayhikes with me around Vancouver. Over the past decade, I’ve learned how to keep these hikes fun
It would be wonderful fun to travel to every nation on earth to meet the people, explore the sights, and taste the delicious food. We could climb mountains, sail lakes, travel across deserts on camels, and wander through the tall prairie grasses of the world. Rats! There’s not enough money in my bank account!
My kids love crafting! I love that they learn so much while creating. But with kids ranging in age from teen to baby, our crafting time takes some definite intentionality. I can’t just go to Pinterest, pick one beautiful project, and get the kids started. Their abilities and interests are just too varied. Some
