5 Great Adventures in a Cardboard Box
…I’m cooking dinner and eavesdropping on two jungle explorers who are fending off tigers on my back porch, based out of a big cardboard box which is their “explorer camp”. One is in a big blue hard hat, shooting arrows…and one is in a fireman hat, wearing gold medals he won this morning for flying…
Turn, Turn, Turn
The current under-current of cool air has me thinking of Fall. And though I still have batches of salsa to make and green beans to freeze, I am feeling little waves of excitement when I think about the changes that September will bring. My oldest will be heading back to nursery school for a few…
5 Great Games for Road Trips with Children
We took our oldest son on his first big road trip this summer to go tent camping in the Rocky Mountains. Before we’d reach that place of waterfalls and aspen trees, of adventurous hikes and peaceful naps under mountain rain showers….there would be about 16 hours spent together in the car. I posed a question…
Parenting Simply: Carefree Summer Days
Special thanks to one of our Group Leaders, Allison Abramson, for sharing this article with us today: Parenting Simply: Carefree Summer Days? Yes, please. When you think of “carefree summer days” what images come to mind? I immediately begin thinking of my childhood yard, full of wildflowers and hiding spots and a swing in a…
The Surprise Plot Twist in our Screen Free Week – Why eliminating screens made life easier
Screen Free Week at our house….didn’t go the way I expected. I was excited to participate in it. I love the idea of a digital detox….But, since our kids usually see just one show each day, I didn’t expect it to make a huge difference in our home. I expected to have calmer, more peaceful…
Getting Ready to Unplug
This week, we prepare with our friends at Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood for their upcoming Screen Free Week (April 30-May 6). We will be sharing many wonderful articles and blog posts that hopefully will serve as inspiration for many of you to join in unplugging for the week with the support of this…
The Compassionate Response – What I Learned from a Boy and his Giraffe
A giraffe threw a temper tantrum on my kitchen floor last week. Now, this wasn’t just any giraffe. This giraffe is “Baby.” My two year-old’s baby, to be specific. My son loves to give Baby rides in his wagon or on his tricycle. He sleeps with it, runs to help it when he sees…
Gift Giving and Receiving with Simplicity (and relationships!) in Mind
That upcoming Birthday party is still weeks away…but you can already hear the march, march, marching of an ominous army of beeping, flashing, plastic toys – headed directly towards your house. You’ve worked hard to simplify your child’s environment, and don’t want to lose your recent success…But you also know that everyone who offers your…
Overcoming Obstacles to Rhythm
Have you found creating a healthy routine to be an uphill battle? Or do you find yourself completely repelled by the idea of routine? Many families struggle with this concept at first, or feel it won’t fit their personalities to add some predictability to life. Kim John Payne wrote more on this topic recently and…
Our Top 3 Favorite Simple Toys
There has been a lot of talk on our facebook page recently about simplifying our playrooms and toy collections. It is exciting to share this journey with other parents who are asking many of the same questions. Which toys to toss? Which to keep? Which toys really inspire creative play? The most valuable suggestion I…