FALL CENTERPIECE: Start with a wicker plate used to support paper plates. Supply bump chenille, hay, styrofoam, silk leaves and flowers, ribbon, small decoration, glue, scissors. Let imagination go! Will you have a pumpkin patch, a scarecrow, a candle in the middle? This is a great family night project. Also a good ice breaker for groups. Easy PAPER BAG Decorations from HIGHLIGHTS Creative Crafts Series: … Continue reading Kid’s Korner: Harvest
Shopping with a Toddler: Before you go into the store, tell your child how to act, what behavior is and is not acceptable. They need lots of reminders and they are still learning what is appropriate in what place. Do not assume that after running around the playground this afternoon, your child will remember to be calm prepare them, this gives you an opportunity to say, “Remember, … Continue reading This Works for Me!
My 8 year old daughter can be much quicker to forgive than I. It is really humbling when she reminds me, “Mommy, people make mistakes.” (Angela DiCicco) Continue reading Heartwarmers
It is not your responsibility to get your children out the door on time. It’s theirs! Your only contribution is to complete your assigned tasks on time (making their lunch or combing their hair). As long as you are not hindering your child’s progress in the morning, you can not be blamed if they miss the bus or the carpool. Once a child realizes that … Continue reading How to Empower you Children to get to School on Time
Sewing lace-up cards: Make your own easily by using the cover of a coloring book, back of a cereal box or a Christmas card that has something interesting to your child. Cut out the picture, punch holes around sides, add shoelace or yarn. Good examples would be Barbie coloring book or Batman cereal. Coloring Savvy: It’s so easy to “get involved” with our child as they color or draw … Continue reading This Works for Me!
When your child shares about their day, LISTEN. Even if you have to bite your tongue. I’ve learned a lot about my children from listening to them and not reacting. I also listened to their friends, who seemed quite willing to share “funny” stories that my children were involved in. Don’t judge; don’t react. Just listen. If you must put your two cents in, wait … Continue reading Top 10 Parenting Tips Part II
Crunchy is a relatively new term. Many people have never heard of it. Generally “crunchy” gets thrown together with other terms such as: “granola”, “hippie” and “green”. Those terms will instantly give you the general idea of what Crunchy is but I want to go a bit deeper. Crunchy is a lifestyle. Generally it refers to a style of parenting, but I don’t believe that … Continue reading Guest Post: What a Crunchy Mama is and Why I am One
Picture Credit: Vernon’s Blog Go to a Pumpkin Patch. Pick your favorite. Take it home and decorate or make pumpkin seeds and pumpkin bread. Go on a hayride! Stuff a scarecrow. Do leaf tracings. Find out what types you’ve collected. Have your children rake up leaves (for money?). They jump in! Have a harvest party. Include scarcrow making. Everyone brings an old shirt and pants. You … Continue reading Ideas for Fall Both Indoor and Out
Do you want to raise healthy, well-adjusted adults? The beauty of having 3 twenty-somethings is that I can see the fruits of my labor. Through reading, trial and error and my basic belief systems, I raised my children on the following 10 premises: Read about each phase of childhood BEFORE you get to it. You won’t be surprised when you get a call from the … Continue reading Top Ten Parenting Tips – Part 1
Start young. I let my 2 year old choose her clothes. I would put out 2 outfits on her bed to choose from. As she got a little older, she would pick out her own outfits. Some days I might say, “Ok. You can keep the top or the pants on.” Then she would run back to her room and change either the top or … Continue reading Teaching Children the Art of Making Decisions
ART with Angela DiCicco, The Italian Grandmama's Guide 