As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to help your child succeed. If your child is struggling with reading, you may be wondering if homeschooling is the right solution. You will make mistakes as a homeschooling parent, but don’t question your abilities! Most of the time, reading difficulties can be overcome … Read more
With the arrival of my son last September, I found myself chomping at the bit to find ways to get him outside – and my research led me to instructions on how to build a play garden for kids. I have to be patient for now. After all, he’s not even a year old! However, … Read more
Quiet books, whether the no-sew versions or sewn/embroidered books, are educational and interactive toys that are geared toward toddlers through kindergarten-age children. They first popped up in the hands of young children sitting in church pews. Homemade quiet books kept the children engaged and quiet when required to sit still for long periods of time … Read more
When I first got started homesteading, I had no idea how challenging it would be – or how rapidly our backyard garden and “just a few chickens” would grow into something that became a lifestyle and later, for us, a full-fledged business. Today, on my farm, we have several large gardens, a 30” x 96” … Read more
Homeschooling using stampers perfectly blends art-based fun with preschool and early elementary-level skill building. We use stamper days in our homeschool twice a week, and the children always look forward to it. Stamper homeschooling activities are perfect for use with multi-age children. Everyone from toddlers through age 10 can be actively engaged in similar learning … Read more
Homeschooling is one of the most rewarding experiences parents can have with their children. It is not an exact science, there is no one size fits all cloak that every homeschooling can slip on and do everything perfectly right from the start. No matter how well you have prepared to homeschool your child, placing too … Read more
What kid doesn’t like play dough? I used to love playing with play dough and molding clay as a child, and I continue to enjoy working with it as an adult. Salt dough is a form of play dough that you can easily make out of flour, salt, and water. You can use it to … Read more
Bees are one of the most vital creatures on our planet. Without bees one of every two to three morsels of food that we put into our mouths would simply not exist. Because of both the crucial role these tiny pollinators play in the food cycle and their dwindling numbers around the world, teaching children … Read more
How many hours you homeschool a week must take into consideration a myriad of factors. The age of the children, how many children you are teaching, the homeschool method or curriculum you are using, and last but not least – the rules of your state. Homeschooling attendance is almost exclusively determined by hours and not … Read more
My garden is my pride and joy. I love looking out at it while sipping a cup of coffee on the back deck, admiring all the hard work I’ve put into it and the bounty that it continues to produce. However, there is nothing more frustrating than watching invaders like birds pecking and digging up … Read more
Orange zest soap can rejuvenate not just the skin infuse a little bit of happiness into the day when using it as part of the morning shower routine… especially during the long, cold months of winter. If you make orange zest soap with a clear glycerin melt and pour soap base, the dried tiny bit … Read more
Gourds are one of the first plants ever cultivated. They were grown not only as a food source, but perhaps primarily to make eating utensils and make portable storage containers for a multitude of items – water in particular. There are multiple different varieties of gourds. Some boast edible young fruit and seeds, others are … Read more
Passing down family traditions while teaching skills in the kitchen is all part of the homesteading lifestyle for American families. Children can and should be an integral part of this process. The key to kids in the kitchen success requires parents take into account both the age and the maturity level of the children before … Read more
Exactly why do we have kids do things on the homestead? Free labor – sure. Big farm families were once commonplace for just that reason in America. But then as it is now, there is a lot more behind assigning kids copious amounts of chores on a homestead or farm than just a need to … Read more
Making your own toys is not only a great cost saver, but such a fulfilling project. As homesteaders already know, there is just nothing like giving or receiving a handmade gift that was diligently worked on for hours by someone you love. Homemade toys beat the heck out of plastic junk made in China any … Read more
Making your own learning games and resources does not need to be a parent only activity. Infusing the children into the process will not only teach the reward of hard work and the sense of pride that comes with completing a job well done, but can double as an academic and vocational exercise, as well. … Read more