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How to create a simple after school routine (+ free printable checklist)

Help your family keep home and school life organized with a simple after school routine, complete with free printable checklist!

Help your family keep home and school life organized with a simple after school routine, complete with free printable checklist!

With kids heading back to school right now, it’s a great time to revisit family routines and get some good systems in place to make life run a little smoother this year.

Have your kids headed back to school yet?

My kids just started back at public school after homeschooling last year, so I was a little nervous for them, but so far so good!

I’m still working my way through revamping all my household systems (I had a LOT of things that got pushed to the back burner for the past year and a half…can you relate?), but one routine I set up right away was our after school routine.

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5 ways to make family dinnertime meaningful

If your family dinnertime is in need of a little makeover, try one of these simple activities to get everyone talking and laughing together. Make dinnertime matter!

If your family dinnertime is in need of a little makeover, try one of these simple activities to get everyone talking and laughing together. Make dinnertime matter!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

With back to school just around the corner, I’ve been thinking a lot about our family rhythm and routines. For the past year and half my kids have been home with me every day, and we’ve had lots of time together.

Once school starts, my big kids will be gone for more than 6 hours per day! I’m excited for the opportunities that will open up for them–and for me–but I’m also a little sad about losing so much family time. It’s gotten me thinking about how to replace quantity with quality time.

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How to fit in more time to read aloud to kids, even when you’re busy

Life gets crazy sometimes, and it can be hard to carve out time to read aloud to kids, but these simple ideas will help you fit in the reading time that you know is so important!

Life gets crazy sometimes, and it can be hard to carve out time to read aloud to kids, but these simple ideas will help you fit in the reading time that you know is so important!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I grew up on a steady diet of books. My childhood was filled with days spent carrying armfuls of books out of our local library, being mesmerized by the strange ocean creatures I encountered as I flipped through our National Geographic books, and listening to my mom read The Chronicles of Narnia as I snuggled in bed at night. Books were everywhere in my home.

I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but I realize now what a wonderful gift my parents gave me by filling my life with books.

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Daily summer schedule for kids that will save your sanity

Summer break is the time for lazy days, big adventures, and making lots of memories. Still, kids thrive on structure (and so do I). Having a flexible summer schedule for kids will help you keep life balanced.

Kids playing outside in summer

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

I LOVE summer time! Give me a sunny day and a big slice of watermelon and I’m one happy girl. I dream of roasting s’mores, exploring mountain trails, and splashing at the pool together. Summer is magic.

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What’s working right now in our social distancing “home school”

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We’ve had our fair share of fails, but here’s what’s working for us right now!

At home learning has certainly been a learning curve for parents as well as students. We've had our fair share of fails, but here's what's working for us right now!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. When you buy something through a link on my site, I may earn a commission, at no cost to you. See my disclosure to learn more.

We are now seven weeks into social distancing/quarantine or whatever-you-want-to-call-this-weird-time-in-history. It’s been a wild ride! We, like many families, have done a lot of trial-and-error experimenting to figure out how to navigate this unique time, and I wanted to share today what is currently working for our family.

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Safety Skills: Critical fire safety tips for families (+ a FUN scavenger hunt)

Teach your kids critical fire safety tips with this free printable fire safety scavenger hunt. Have fun with your kids and get peace of mind, too!Teach your kids essential fire safety tips with this free printable fire safety scavenger hunt. Have fun with your kids and get peace of mind, too!

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED AND LOVED, BUT AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

Does your family have a clear plan of what to do if your house were ever to catch fire?

It’s been just over a year since we moved into a new house. All the boxes were unpacked ages ago, and we’re slowly working through the process of furnishing and decorating the space. However, one thing we hadn’t done until this week was to make a fire safety plan.

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How to encourage creativity in kids

Creativity is one of the most important qualities for our children to develop. The good news is that you can encourage creativity without adding MORE to your plate. In fact, the practical ideas shared below often mean doing LESS.Creativity is one of the most important qualities for our children to develop. The good news is that you can encourage creativity without adding MORE to your plate. In fact, the practical ideas shared below often mean doing LESS.“A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” –Albert Einstein

My older brother had this quote posted on his bedroom door during his teenage years, and although I’m pretty sure it was at least partly an excuse to NOT clean his room, I’ve always loved the message.

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Mom’s Summer Adventure Kit: 10 essential things to keep in your car

You’ve got a summer bucket list, but are you REALLY ready for summer? Be prepared for whatever summer brings by creating a simple “summer adventure kit”…nine essential things every parent should keep in the car during summertime. You've got a summer bucket list, but are you REALLY ready for summer? Be prepared for whatever summer brings by creating a simple "summer adventure kit"...nine essential things every parent should keep in the car during summertime.

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I HAVE USED AND LOVED, BUT AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

Truth: I’m giddy about summertime. I loathe being cooped up indoors, so once the good weather strikes, I’m all about heading for the hills in pursuit of adventure. We’ve got a great bucket list to keep us inspired, and I’m SOO looking forward to the extra time to spend together as a family now that school is out….

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Playful ways to get kids to cooperate and avoid becoming “monster mom”

Does trying to get your kids to comply with simple requests result in power struggles and tantrums? These playful strategies will help get your child to cooperate and make parenting much more fun.Does trying to get your kids to comply with simple requests result in power struggles and tantrums? These playful strategies will help you win over your child and make parenting much more fun.

NOTE: THIS POST INCLUDES AFFILIATE LINKS. AS ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS. SEE MY DISCLOSURE TO LEARN MORE.

It’s four o’clock in the afternoon. You’ve already been on mom duty for ten hours, many of which have been spent putting out fire after emotional fire, and bouncing around like a ping-pong ball trying to remember who’s had lunch, when the three-year-old last went to the bathroom, and trying to remember what you were doing two seconds ago before you got interrupted for the 526th time….

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A simple chore system for kids that really works! {+ free printable chore chart}

Want a simple chore system for kids that really works…even for young kids? Here is the {free} printable chore chart we use and how we encourage everybody to pitch in around the house.Want a simple chore system for kids that really works...even for young kids? Here is the {free} printable chore chart we use and how we encourage everybody to pitch in around the house.When I was a kid, I would wake up on Saturday mornings and head to the kitchen for breakfast. Without fail, I would find a little “gift” sitting next to the cereal bowls on the table–a stack of index cards, one for each child, with a list of our chores for the day….

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