Water Safety Tips for Kids

R has taken swim lessons for several years now, and in addition to learning how to swim, he has learned a great deal about water safety. I realize that professional swim lessons aren't an option for every family, but it is important for all children to know how to swim and to know the basic rules of water safety. Even after swim lessons are over, I make it a priority to continuously talk to R about how to stay safe in and around water.  Because this is such an important topic, I would like to share some of the basic rules that we discuss.

This list is not intended to be a complete safety lesson for children. It is meant to be a conversation starter. The age and skill level of your children will affect how many of these safety rules they can retain. You should always closely supervise children, and take measures to prevent them from having access to unsupervised areas of water.

Also, CPR certification is a great thing to have. Those of you in the United States can find classes near you by visiting The American Red Cross website. Your local chapter may also provide water safety classes and swimming lessons for children.

And remember, drowning doesn't always look like drowning. For more information you can visit this post.

10 Water Safety Tips for Kids:

1. Always swim with a buddy in a supervised area. Don't enter any body of water without permission and supervision.

2. Follow pool rules. This typically includes no running, no horseplay, and no glass containers in or near the pool.

3. Look before you leap. Before you jump in, look in the water to make sure there's no debris or people in your path. Also look for depth. In a pool, the depth is marked with a number. The higher the number, the deeper the water.

4. Don't dive into shallow areas of the pool, or into lakes and rivers. Lakes and rivers can have weeds and grass that can trap even the best of swimmers.

5. Stay calm and think so you don't sink. Stop and think about what you should do if you find yourself struggling in the water.

6. Reach or throw. Don't go. If you see someone that needs help, you shouldn't jump in the water to help them because they could panic and hold you down. Instead, throw something that floats, or lay down on the side of the pool and reach for them. You should lay down so you don't fall in while reaching.

7. Don't go swimming when it's cold. Cold temperatures can be dangerous.

8. Learn about boating before you go. Make sure the boat has everything you may need. This includes a first aid kit, an anchor, oars, a map, flashlight, and food and water. And always wear your life jacket! Don't just pack it. Wear it.

9. No playing around drain pipes or suction fittings. These can be very dangerous places and should always be avoided.

10. Know what to do in an emergency. Talk about what you should do if someone is in trouble in the water. Know how to get help and how to call 9-1-1.

Have a happy and safe summer! 

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Tooth Traditions

It finally happened. R lost his first tooth. I guess I'm still in a bit of shock, even though his new smile already feels natural. Feels perfect. I might even be in a bit of shock when the hole is filled. He wears the space well and now I kind of can't imagine him without it.

When he realized it was loose, he exclaimed, "it finally happened!" and I cried because it finally happened. Eventually, I stopped my blubbering and pulled out the book "Throw Your Tooth on the Roof". I had bought this book with this day in mind. I bought it well in advance and saved it. I'm never this prepared. Ever. And to be honest, I didn't think I'd need it this soon. But here I am. Reading it.

The book was perfect. He really enjoyed learning about what kids do with their teeth all around the world. We talked about the different countries. We talked about the path the tooth fairy must fly, the path that magical rat must travel.

He wiggled it like crazy, non stop. By the time we were eating dinner the next night, it was literally waving at us any time he spoke. He wanted me to pull it. Tonight was the night the tooth fairy would come.

Our Tooth Fairy Visit:

I didn't have a cute little pouch. Kevin and I hadn't even discussed what the tooth fairy would bring. We quickly decided that the first tooth would be more. Because it was extra special, and because he was so brave. Five dollars for the first tooth, two dollars for the teeth after that. Inflation from our days with the tooth fairy.

But I wanted to do more. I decided I'd have to go to the store and get some glitter to decorate the five dollar bill. (Why didn't we have glitter?!) And maybe I would get a pack of note cards so the fairy could leave him a little note. You know how they say you shouldn't go to the grocery store when you're hungry? Well, I have something to add to that. Never go shopping for miscellaneous tooth fairy supplies while you're hurried and emotional. I was grabbing things willy-nilly.

The tooth fairy ended up leaving him a little note, written in my curliest hand writing, with a highly decorated five dollar bill tucked inside. In the note, she explained that the first tooth was extra special and she liked to celebrate by surprising kids with an extra special present. She told him he could find his under his bed. He was thrilled to pull out the small gift bag that contained a small toy he'd been wanting and a fancy new toothbrush.

More Ideas From Around the Web:

-I love this idea of leaving the tooth in a glass of water and providing evidence of something magical.

-Surprise your kids with a picture of the tooth fairy flying beside them while they slept. This service will cost you $9.95, but you might could do it yourself with some clipart!

-I absolutely adore this cute little tooth fairy door. Bonus? It would help your child learn their address!

-Here's a nice tutorial on a simple and cute tooth pillow.

-Be sure to check out this homemade keepsake record book.

-For even more ideas, follow me on Pinterest and check out my All Smiles board!

What are your families tooth traditions?

And were you emotional for that first tooth?

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10 Simple Ways To Make Your Child's Day

Life. Errands. To-do lists. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day grind of being an adult and forget about stopping to take a look at the world through the eyes of your child. Or is that just me? I genuinely try to weave time for fun into our days, but sometimes the hectic days turn into hectic weeks. And then I'm left wondering where the time went and wishing I'd done things just a little bit different. It's that time again. Time for me to remind myself to slow down.

So in the spirit of reminding myself to slow down and say yes to the little things, I'm sharing a post I wrote that was originally published on Hands On As We Grow. Here's a few ideas for slowing down and making your kid's day.

Five things to do while running errands:

1. Jump over the cracks! (Both of you, it's more fun that way.)

2. Let them push all the buttons! (Elevators, debit card machines, coke machines)

3. Stop at the grocery store with the carousel even if you don't have shopping to do. (We do this and it's sacrificing five minutes time for some smiles and giggles. Well worth it.)

4. Take the time to stop and watch that trail of ants, find the perfect rock, or read every sign you see. (This is something we try to do everyday, but it can often get pushed to the side when we are in a hurry.)

5. Have coin races in the Children's Miracle Network donation bins. (I bring a bag of change for this purpose. We watch the coins spin round and round. We declare victors.)

Five ideas for time spent at home:

1. Let them help make dinner. Let them pick dinner! (Yes, it might be more work for you, but they'll be thrilled to help. And you might get the added bonus of them eating better than usual.)

2. Play that board game before you make the phone call. (Most games don't take that long to play and making your child a priority will make them feel extra special.)

3. Read them one more book. (Or three!)

4. Is it going to make a mess? Say "yes" and help them make it! (Let them help you clean it up. That can be almost as much fun as making the mess. No, really.)

5. Plan an extra special bath. Instead of getting them out, add more warm water once the original water turns cold. (My son looks forward to bath time, but by that time, I'm often looking forward to bed time. This is always a favorite!)

These small things can make your child very happy. And the truth is, I'm always happier on the days I've done a few of these . Have you been feeling rushed? Set out to try a couple things from this list, or come up with a few of your own. 

What can you do to slow down and make your child extra happy?

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Nurture Connections- Fun Mailbox Ideas

Connecting with your kids can be made difficult with crazy work schedules, classes, and volunteer schedules. I know this because I have witnessed it in my own home. My husband is a wonderful father, and R absolutely adores him, but the past few months have been a very busy time for him, while he attempts to juggle everything. I can see the affect it has on the days where he might only get 15 minutes with R. And I know a lot of families have hurdles to jump as well. This busy time will only last a couple more weeks (thankfully!), but we have a system in place that helps us through this time. And even when things calm down, it will be a fun thing to continue.

Melissa & Doug's My Own Mailbox Classic Toy makes those long days easier. And fun! And now you can get it personalized for only $1.99 (along with many other fantastic Melissa & Doug toys)! Personalizing makes any gift that much more special and Melissa & Doug has rolled out this new feature just in time for the holidays! This mailbox toy is a ton of fun by itself and is great for encouraging creative play. R loves playing with his very own mailbox, and he really looks forward to the days where he has an extra special surprise waiting for him. He also takes pride in creating and leaving surprises of his own. This really allows them to nurture the connection when they can't spend as much time together.

R's daddy leaves him notes in the morning, and sometimes in the afternoons when he comes home and has to leave again. He might also include an extra trinket some days. I help R read the notes and then write notes of his own.

This system is fantastic because it would work with children of all ages. If your children are too young to write their own notes, you could write them as they dictate. Or they could create pictures to include. Is your family not as busy as mine? Is it busier? This is great for any time someone spends time away from home. I encourage you to give it a try and to tailor it to your family.

Fun Ideas

• Cards- The Melissa & Doug mailbox comes with reusable little cards that R loves, but I know we'll get some cute and funny dollar store cards to use as well.
• Artwork- R loves drawing pictures for his daddy, but also loves receiving hilarious little drawings.
• Personalized Pictures- Take a picture holding a sign that says "I love you" or another sweet message. An adult could add the picture to a small frame, or print them off wallet size so the parent can take it with them everywhere. 
• Stickers- Whether it's a pack, or just a couple stickers from a quarter machine, stickers are a fantastic little surprise.
• Coupons- For family time! Do you know that you have some time to give your undivided attention? Build the anticipation by dropping a little coupon in that morning. They'll be looking forward to family time the rest of the day. 
• Trinkets- A quarter machine toy or a special rock. 
• Treasure Hunt Clue- Leave the first clue for a treasure hunt.
• Movie or Event Tickets- Another way to build anticipation is to leave tickets to a movie they've been wanting to see, or an event they've been wanting to go to. 
• Candy- Candy is always a special treat! 
• Jokes- This is fun for everyone and a great way to start (or end!) the day with a smile.

What would you add to this list?

{Disclosure- I received Melissa & Doug product for this post. The opinions and ideas are my own. I will only recommend products that my family uses and loves.}

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Confessions of a Children's Book Addict

This top image is the "before" image. And if I'm honest, I'll tell you that it's not all of our children's books. We have more in various places. In fact, I have what amounted to a trunk full in storage. This picture only covers what was in our home.

I am a children's book addict.

I confess that I've been under the understanding that you can never have too many books.

I confess that I have combed through yard sales and bought up to a hundred gently used books at a time.

I confess that I have received hundreds of books from friends that know and feed my addiction.

I confess that I have often been a quantity over quality kind of gal.

I confess that I have had buyers remorse over a book purchase because not all children's books are created equal and I failed to read the book before I bought it.

And I confess to keeping those sub-par books.

How We Purged More Than 200 Books

We regularly go through R's belongings and donate the things he has outgrown. At least twice a year. He's always an active part in the decisions, and he's very generous. But we have never carried this practice over from his clothes and toys to my his books. It was time.

I started by gathering all the books into one central location. I cleaned each book and assessed it for damage. I taped up any spines that needed mending. And I asked myself, "do I absolutely have to have this book?"

We had close to 500 books when I started. And after I finished cleaning, sorting, and deciding on which books I must keep... we still had close to 500 books. Apparently I could only part with those regrets I mentioned.

So then I asked myself, "what books could I part with, if they would make a nice gift for one of R's friends?" I made a tiny bit more progress. Not much though.

Then I brought out the game-changing question. I asked R, "which books would you like to keep, and which would you like to give away?"

He loves books. Truly. But he was able to quickly go through and tell me which he had to have, and which he no longer wanted.

It was hard for me. I had to force myself into keeping quiet when I really wanted to talk him into keeping them. I rationalized with myself. What good is keeping books that he does not enjoy? So I let them go.

We parted with around 250 books. Here, my friends, is the before and after.

I have one last confession to make.

My first thought was, "oh yeah! We have room for more books now!"

{If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing or following me on Facebook for future updates. Thank you for reading!}

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Kids Feeding with Reading

September is Hunger Action Month and I've been brainstorming ways to get my family involved. Particularly R. It's a great thing for him to see me actively giving, whether it's my time or money, but it would be even greater for him to play an important role as well. So I came up with Kids Feeding with Reading, and we are both incredibly excited!

What We're Doing

The idea is that R will ask for sponsors to donate one nonperishable food item per book he reads in a week's time. We will ask family, friends, and even some companies. At the end of the week we will collect the food he's raised and deliver it to our local food bank. He will be actively playing a role in fighting hunger. And he'll be reading. Fantastic, right?

I asked him to set a goal for himself. I asked him to think about how many books he'd like to read and work towards that number. His goal is 100 books. And with his excitement and pride, I just know he'll make it. Because of his lofty goal, we are asking sponsors to set their own limit based on what they are comfortable with. If they are only comfortable with donating one item per book up to 20 books, that's great. It's still making a difference and supporting the cause and my son.

You Could Too!

Do you like this idea?

I would love for this to snowball into something huge. Your family, your children, can make a difference. Canned food drives at school and stores are fantastic, but you don't have to wait until something is organized for you. If you like this idea, I urge you to incorporate it into your family. Encourage your children to set goals and then donate the food they collect to your local church or food bank. Not only will you be helping to fight hunger, but you will also be instilling a sense of leadership,community, empathy, and pride in your child. While they read!

Adjust to Fit Your Family

* For younger children- If you have a younger child that is not yet reading, you could read the books to them and count any book you read that was initiated by them for the purpose of the food drive. You could also pair them with an older sibling and make it a team effort.

*For older kids- If you have a child that is reading novels, you could ask sponsors to donate per chapter or page instead.

Resources for You

I'm incredibly lucky to have talented friends. Andie, from Crayon Freckles was kind enough to make a logo for Kids Feeding With Reading and we used her fabulous design to make some printables for you. 

Directions For Printing:

In order to print these with the best quality possible, please follow these steps:

1. Right click on the picture of the printable you'd like to use and select "Open link in new tab."
2. Right click on the picture and select "Save picture as"
3. Open the saved image and select to print full page. 

{Keep track of all of your sponsors!}

{And the books you read!}

{A certificate to celebrate success!}

If you plan to participate in Kids Feeding with Reading, I would absolutely love for you to share the outcome with me. Feel free to leave me a comment, send me an email, or stop by my Facebook page. I would love to feature your child's good deeds so pictures are welcomed as well! 

How do you encourage charitable giving?

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Back to School Interview

A yearly back to school interview can be a marvelous tradition. If you ask the same questions each time, you can look back and watch them change and grow throughout the years. This is a tradition we are starting now that R is in kindergarten. I've given the questions I choose some thought because I want to commit to them for years to come. However, I will be flexible if we need to change them at some point. Or add some! We are recording his answers on video to make this an extra special keepsake. 

I'm sharing R's interview, along with some other questions you might want to consider for your own.

R's Kindergarten Interview

1. How old are you and what grade are you in? I'm 5 and I'm in kindergarten.

2. What is your favorite color? All of the colors!

3. What is your favorite food? Fruit

4. What is your least favorite food? Lasagna

5. What is your favorite book? Spot's Big Learning Book

6. What is your favorite song? Down By The Bay

7. What is your favorite game to play? The monkey video game with daddy!

8. Where is your favorite place to go? The park or the lake.

9. Who is your best friend? S.D.

10. How would you describe yourself? I'm funny and cute and I'm really friendly.

11. What is something mama always says? I love you.

12. What is something daddy always says? I love you. You say that a lot. And so do I!

13. What do you want to be when you grow up? A lot of things. An ocean explorer. A world explorer. And I want to catch bad guys all over the world. But I think I'll change my mind again and again.

14. If you could be any animal, which would you be? A cat.

15. What are three things you'd like to learn this year? How fish lay eggs. How fish escape sharks. And how sharks have babies. (I'm in for an interesting year. ;)

More Questions to Consider

Likes and Dislikes

• What is your favorite TV show?
• What is your favorite subject in school?
• What is your favorite dessert?
• What is your favorite movie?
• What is your favorite joke?

School and Future

• What is one field trip you'd like to go on this year?
• What are you most excited about for this year?
• What is one thing you are tired of learning about?
• Where do you think you'll live when you're an adult?
• What is one rule you'll break when you're grown up?

Fun Stuff

• If you could have any super power, which would you choose? Why?
• If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
• If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
• What makes our family special?
• If you could be granted one wish, what would it be and why?

We had a lot of fun with this activity and didn't end it with his interview. He also interviewed us, complete with fake microphone and journalist voice. At this stage I could predict his answers, but this ensures that I will remember his answers always. And he learned a few things about us by turning it around.

What would you ask in a yearly interview?

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Back to School Pictures

Back to school pictures are a wonderful tradition and the pictures can be treasured keepsakes. I really wanted something special and I finally decided on this do-it-yourself chalkboard letter. I love how the pictures turned out and I know, all too well, that he'll be holding numbers before I know it.

After all, it wasn't too long ago that I was holding a baby boy in my arms, trying to fathom the fact that he would one day start school. He would grow up. It felt like that day was so far off in the distance. I couldn't imagine it. And now that it's here, I can't believe it.

I chose to do a chalkboard "K" to be able to write on it and then easily erase it. This is important because I plan on taking a picture of him holding the "K" on his last day as well. It will be interesting to see the changes!

To make the chalkboard letter, I just went to my local craft store and bought a wooden letter and a small container of chalkboard paint. I followed the instructions on the paint and ended up with a cute prop for under ten dollars (with a lot of left over chalkboard paint!) Not bad for two photo sessions.

Next year, I'll buy a wooden number 1 online to continue the tradition. I like these wooden numbers because you can customize the size.

We are homeschooling this year so we decided to take a field trip to our town's historic old schoolhouse for our photo session. These are just a few of my favorites. And since my incredibly cute subject is a five year old boy, I thought it'd be appropriate to post a few of the outtakes. Haha!

What do you have planned for back to school pictures?

{If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing or following me on Facebook for future updates. Thank you so much for reading!}

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10 Helpful Tips for Making Up Stories

Yesterday, I wrote about storytelling with clouds and I shared my attempt at making up a story. I really wanted to include some tips for storytelling, but for ease of reading and navigation I decided to gather all of my best tips into a post of their own. I am a mom that has struggled with making up stories. so I thought I'd share a few of the things that helped me.

10 Tips for Making Up Stories

1. Practice. I'll never forget R's reaction when I first started making up stories. He very sweetly said, "Mama, that story wasn't very good. But it's okay. You tried." And he was right. It was absolutely awful. I stumbled through it and it wasn't entertaining in the least. But I did try. I kept trying and practicing and I did get better. R appreciates my efforts and I bet your child will appreciate yours.
2. Let go of perfection. Yes, practice is a great tip (if I do say so, myself) but you should also let go of perfection. Know that even when your best story falls a little flat, you are still building and nurturing a connection with your child. 
3. Add their interests. You know your child best. You know what they like so use that to your advantage when you are telling stories. Base the story around their interests.
4. Use their name. I've found that if a character in the story has their name it makes the story more entertaining.
5. Use various voices. An easy way to make any story come alive is to change your voice for various characters. Don't worry about seeming silly. Your child will like it and that's what matters.
6. Make it interactive. Ask questions. If it's something you've said throughout the story, young children can anticipate the answer and repeat it back to you. You can also build your story around their answers. If you are telling a story and have no idea what to say next, ask them a question and use their answer. 
7. Build a series. Once you've created a character that they love, stick with it. Build a series by adding onto the character's adventures. 
8. Relate the story to your child's life. You could work through your child's fears, doubts, and anxieties by having a lovable character work though the very same problem. As well as celebrate accomplishments and special occasions! It's instant story material that is familiar and helpful!
9. Act it out. You are sure to bring any story to life by acting it out. Please don't be afraid to cut loose and act silly. Enjoy the giggles.
10. Tweak a classic. You don't have to start from scratch. Change the details of a classic to make the story new.

More Resources for You

• Storytelling 101- Marnie from Carrots Are Orange shares ways to incorporate more storytelling throughout your day.
• 5 Steps to Make Reading Books More Meaningful - Kim from Little Stories shares five tips to make reading a book more meaningful over at A Mom With A Lesson Plan. These are great tips and would be great for storytelling as well. Plus, it's a super cute video that your child will enjoy watching with you.
• Storytelling with Illustrations- In this post I share tips for making storytelling fun by adding your own illustrations.
• Storytelling Pinboard- Trisha from Inspiration Laboratories has a wonderful board on Pinterest dedicated to storytelling. It's full of ideas and tips! 

I know how difficult it can be to make up a story as you go and I hope that you've found these tips and resources helpful. Thank you so much for reading!

Do you have any tips for storytelling? I'd love to read them! Please feel free to share your tips and tricks.

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The Kitchen Timer: For Play And Parenting

Do you have a kitchen timer? If not, by the end of this post you might just want to run out and get one. They are really helpful outside of the kitchen. Oh, and they can be fun! My family uses a timer in a lot of different ways, and it is honestly one of my favorite tools. R is quite fond of the timer as well. It's marvelous for both play and parenting.

The Play:

There are lots of different ways you can use a timer for play. We've thought of a few that I'd like to share.

• Use a timer during dress up play. You can easily extend dress up play with the use of a timer. Turn it into a game!

• Play hide and seek with the timer. Set the timer for a few minutes as you hide it someplace clever. Can you hear the ticking? Have the kids search for the timer in hopes of finding it before it dings! For more difficulty (and fun) do this outside. 

• Have a no laughing contest. The rules are no talking and no laughing. I usually make a big deal out of it and say "Absolutely no laughing, no chuckles, no giggles.." Sit in a circle facing one another. Set the timer for a minute and try to make each other laugh. Make some funny faces! Act silly! R really gets a kick out of this game and asks to play it almost every night.

• Play the "How Many?" game. Set the timer for a minute. How many times can you hop sideways over that line? How many balls can you make in the basket? How many blocks can you stack?

The Parenting:

The humble timer is also a fabulous tool for parents. We've used a timer for various reasons since R was a toddler. He has always responded well to it and it has helped out in a lot of situations. Here's a few ways the timer saves my day.

• Use the timer to limit time spent watching TV, playing video games, or anything else that needs limits. I find that when I set the timer and tell R that he may do that activity until the timer dings, he isn't begging for more time when it's time to stop. It sets a clear limit. Very, very handy.

• Set the timer so that they may see how much time they have left on any activity that is not enjoyed. We used the timer when we had to patch R's stronger eye for an hour a day. He absolutely hated his patch time for awhile, in spite of my best efforts at making it fun. He would constantly ask how much longer he had to wear it. We set the timer and his constant questions were a thing of the past. He knew exactly when he could take it off. You could also use this method with imposed quiet times. Set the timer for the amount of time they are to be playing quietly by themselves. When the timer goes off they know that quiet time is over and they can go back to being underfoot. :)

• Race against the clock during clean up. Make it a game to have all toys put away before the timer buzzes. Not only does it make clean up more fun, it speeds the process along.

• Use the clock to set standards for yourself. We sometimes use our timer to time our outside play. We try to get at least an hour a day of outside play, but I admit that some days I just don't feel like being out there. On those days I am tempted to come in early, so I set the timer for an hour and commit to being out there for the entire time. Use it to encourage yourself to play with your child and really focus on them when they choose an activity that isn't your favorite. And by all means, if the time runs out and you are having fun and could play longer, ignore the ding!

Are you sold on the benefits of using a timer for a tool in both play and parenting? We would definitely miss ours!

Do you have any creative uses or tips for using timers? Please let me know in the comments!

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The Benefits Of Dress Up Play

Dress up play is time tested and it's a classic for good reason. Do you remember the days you'd transform yourself into a princess or superhero and get lost in the plots you made up as you pleased? Are you encouraging your children to do the same? Here's a few reasons why you should.

The Benefits Of Dress Up Play

Dress up play stretches your children's creative muscles. When they are playing freely and trying on different personas, they are using their imaginations. The creativity isn't just in picking out what to wear. They are creating different scenarios to play through, often with inventive props. They are looking at things in new ways.

They are telling a story. Often, you will be able to hear their story through the dialogue they come up with. They aren't merely practicing funny voices. They are putting their language skills to good use.

They can work through their feelings and even explore the feelings of others. When they are in their own little world they feel safe enough to explore the different emotions. They can use dress up play to make sense of the world by acting out and working through various problems.

Another wonderful benefit comes to you, as the parent. By watching your child act out their story, you are getting the opportunity to view how your child perceives the world. You are clued in to what has impacted them. The good and the bad.

They are practicing life skills. Changing into costumes is wonderful practice for younger children learning how to dress themselves. Tea parties are social affairs that call for manners and etiquette.

Dressing up is fun! That is evident by the smiles, giggles, and squeels. And also by the roars and stomps. They are playing, and playing is important.

Do your children enjoy dress up play?

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Mapping Out Our Days

Being flexible as we trade the arts and crafts for a play date in the park!

Have you ever felt lost in your day to day routine? Lately, mine hasn't been working for me because I haven't been working at it. I often feel lost. I sometimes feel like I'm just scraping by with the bare minimum. Then at night I wonder where the time went. I tell myself I'm going to do better the next day. The next day comes and my promises from the night before are forgotten. It's a bad cycle that I've slowly worked myself into. It's easy to see that everyone is happier when I'm more organized, more on top of things. When things run more smoothly. When I'm more balanced. Balance. One of the items on my fall bucket list was to try and find a more balanced routine, and I think that I have finally done it.

I've tweaked our routines and created schedules for R and myself. A routine doesn't mean a schedule, of course, but I think having a schedule as a guide is going to keep me working towards my goal. There will be days that the schedule is impossible to stick to, and that's okay. Believe it or not, even with the "schedule" we are flexible. I'm just someone that needs a guide. This is what I came up with:

R's "Schedule"

Monday-Friday: (times are approximate, of course)

7:00 am- Wake up and dress himself

7:30 am- Breakfast and morning chores

8:00 am- Free play

9:00 am- Speech practice

9:30 am- Outside play

10:30 am- Preschool time

11:30 am- Free play

12:00 pm- Lunch

12:30 pm- Free play

1:30 pm- Story time

2:00 pm- Quiet time

3:00 pm- Mommy/son play time

4:00 pm- Arts and crafts

5:00 pm- Dinner prep (R helps set the table, wash vegetables, etc)

6:00 pm- Dinner

6:30 pm- Family time or free play

7:15 pm- Clean up time (put away all toys)

7:30 pm- Bath time (play!)

8:00 pm- Brush teeth and dresses himself in pajamas

8:15 pm- Cuddle, read, and tell stories

8:30 pm- Bedtime

As I said, this is by no means strictly enforced. There are days when an activity doesn't hold his attention for the "allotted" time. There are days when he could easily do an activity all day long. There are days that we spend the entire time outside and days that we have five hour long play dates. Sometimes we are busy.

But, with this as a guide, I can plan for our days. I can more easily judge how much time we've spent together and how much time he's spent playing on his own. It illustrates what I would like to include in our days. It's a reminder of what I value. We are currently very busy with renovations that are stretching out and taking longer and longer. My mind gets cloudy with details and I try to prioritize spontaneously from moment to moment. Guilt creeps in because I'm surely neglecting some aspect some where. This is me trying my best but also realizing that our days will not be perfect and flexibility is key.

*Free play- Can be time spent together, time he spends entertaining himself, or any combination of the two as the day allows. I think he needs time to play on his own and entertain himself and I need time to get other things done. But sometimes, you just have to stop and play in the moment. It can be blocks or books, etc. 

*Speech- We have speech therapy for thirty minutes twice a week. The other days we will practice in various fun ways on our own at home.

*Preschool- R loves "school" and asks for it. This can include worksheets, simple science experiments, themed arts and crafts, manipulatives, books, etc. 

*Story time- Time we spend curled up with books, reading aloud to one another.

*Quiet time- This is him entertaining himself quietly. It's important for us both.

*Arts and crafts- This is time he can spend dancing, singing, acting, or creating anything his heart desires. 

*Outside play- I aim for at least one hour outdoors each day. Some days we get less, some days we get more. This is going to be a goal I continually work on during the winter months. 

Also throughout the week, we go to preschool story time at our library and have play dates. Those are the days I run errands and they are adjusted accordingly, but it was easier to just post a generic schedule rather than posting the modifications for each day. The weekends are a hodgepodge of time spent as a family, with extended family, and chores. 

I admit that I love looking at other's routines and schedules. I know that theirs will surely not work for us, but I still feel compelled to look. What are your routines? What keeps you organized? Please share!

Wondering about the importance of routines? Check out this great post from Hands On:As We Grow.

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Homeschool Preschool

My husband and I have been trying to make a decision on whether or not we should homeschool R. We see the pros and cons on both sides and we are having trouble deciding. We are also running out of time to come to a conclusion. In an effort to help with this, I have decided that I will try to do a more formal preschool with R this year. I still believe that he should learn through play, but he is literally asking for schoolwork. And I think this will help us make up our minds.

My plan is to start the first week of September. I will be doing themed units and I hope to balance the "school work" with lots of play. I've been working hard on putting things together that I think will not only be educational, but also loads of fun. We'll see how it goes, I guess. I also have plans on keeping a binder full of his completed work from the very start. I will include worksheets, artwork, experiment results, etc. And possibly some journaling on my part. I'm almost positive that if we do decide to continue homeschooling we will be met with a lot of opposition from our families. If that is the case, I hope that I can pull out the binder and alleviate their fears. But that could be wishful thinking.

My intentions are to try this year round. R enjoys it, and as long as he's having fun, I see no need to plan for long breaks. However, I am new to this whole thing and I could be mistaken. At first, I was thinking we could take the month of December off, but then I realized I would still be doing a sensory box, we would still be creating and playing. It might help if I have a few activities planned in advance. I hope that this is a lot like what we usually do, just with some extra structure and maybe a few of the coveted worksheets. I will try to remember that it's just an outline, and it's just ideas for things we can do. I will try not to get overwhelmed with wanting to do it all. I also realize that even if this works perfectly for us this year, things will probably change and we will have to change with them. This is looking as though it will be a learning experience for us both.

This is my outline for the first six months. In addition to the themes, we will also be doing nature studies that may or may not coincide. I think it's pretty basic, but I look forward to sharing the fun things we'll be doing.

September

All About Me

Weather

Fall/Autumnal Equinox

Thunderstorms and Tornadoes

October

Spiders

Pumpkins

Monsters

Halloween

Bats

November

Veteran's Day

Turkeys

Thanksgiving

Fire Safety

December

Helping Others

Arts and Crafts

Winter Solstice/Christmas

Farewell 2011

January

Winter Weather

Animals in Winter- Hibernation

Animals in Winter- Migration

The Five Senses

February

Dental Health

Valentine's Day

Dr. Seuss

Do you have any advice or suggestions? Did you blog about an activity or craft that would be fun for one of my themes?

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