Toys And Activities Blog Posts

We have found that computer learning can be incredibly valuable for our children, when carefully monitored, and with certain provisions, guidelines, and restrictions. Today I'll share with you how we structure these learning experiences in our home.

Whether or not we "do" Santa, and questions surrounding Santa, have been very prominent question this year!  *chuckle*  So let's sit down and have a White Mocha (my favorite coffee treat) over this important question.  I hope to encour...

Finding educational, well-done, interesting documentaries for our children (and family) to watch has taken time, but I think we have a very good list to select from now.  Between mine and my husband's finds on the Netflix.com "Instant Play" list...

My birthday happens to be on October 31st - yes, Halloween night.  As a result, I have had a long history progressing from celebrating Halloween as a child for my birthday parties, to not celebrating it at all with our children now.  And pe...

We have been slipping out of summer here in Washington and in to the clean, crisp air of the fall season.  *smile*  I love our four seasons here in the United States, and I always feel ready for the next season when it's time every few mont...

For the first time ever we went camping for 3 days with all 11 of us together this summer - nine children between the ages of 14 and 1 - and we had a great time.  *smile!*  We also had my parents and my 3 siblings and their families with us...

We are heading in to the fall season.  School will begin soon, and many parents are trying to determine which and/or how many activities their children will be participating in for the upcoming school year.  Dance class.  Football...

I was recently asked by one of our readers how I prepare to leave the house with our family of 11, as she knew that I must have a plan for that *chuckle* - and I do!  *laugh*  It's not complicated, it's just a matter of being proactive - be...

We are so thrilled to have finally found bathing suits this year that are both modest and pretty!  *cheer!*  Here are our daughters Karen (13) and Melanie (12) donning their cute new suits from Meant To Be Modest. Do you and your da...

I've been asked this question many times, "Could you please give me ideas for ways to productively occupy my rambunctious 3-year-old little son?"  And since most all of us moms have striven to learn to do this well, I'd like to give you a thorou...

I never would have imagined that one day I would make the decision with my husband to not have cable TV, and then eventually to remove the televisions completely.  *chuckle*  Yet not getting cable TV during the first year of our marriage wa...

The title of this book grabbed my attention instantly when I found Hal & Melanie Young's web site, RaisingRealMen.com.  It was exactly what I have been desperately seeking wisdom on- how to raise real men - and in the process survive our (cu...

Easter is approaching soon, and we are thinking about what to include in our Family Easter Basket this year!  *Fun!*  Our favorite family gift for the past 3 years has been a new audio book or two, depending on the price.  In our opini...

I strive to bring as much delight as I can into all of the children's character and behavior training.  So I look for the little things to praise for and try to jump at those with affirmation.  Now I am very aware that there is value...

Shopping for Christmas for our immediate family, for Christmas from my parents to each grandchild, and for the six winter birthdays in our family of 11 - gifts from us, and gifts from my parents, had become very confusing for me - until this year!&nb...

Homeschooling can be hard at times.  It can be monotonous and stressful some days.  So we look for things that add extra smiles and variety in our homeschool days - on purpose!  But still allow us to maintain our weekly schedule. ...