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Why is my child grumpy after school? You’re not alone. There are many parents out there wondering the same thing. The truth is, your child needs a break. They’ve been at school all day, learning new rules, adjusting from unscheduled summer fun to being in a classroom setting. Behavior changes are bound to happen, but with these simple after school activity ideas, you can turn their frown upside down.
This post is sponsored by Spin Master. All opinions are my own.
Play is serious business for young children. Fostering a creative activity provides children with motor skills, sensory exploration, problem solving, and creative thinking, among other skills. Because time passes by so quickly, it’s important for families to make time for one another. We make a big deal out of play in our household, but not just any play; we focus on play that’s meaningful, like board games, or Mega Construx™ building bricks.
I’m a MEGA™ Ambassador. This is a partnered post with MEGA™. All opinions are my own.
Music is inspirational, especially for young kids. At an early age, both boys attended music classes that introduced them to instruments, songs and musical notes. I remember J, who’s now 9, stomping around the house in his diaper, while holding his favorite mini radio and singing to the beat. It’s one of my favorite memories, and we still can’t get rid of that mini radio today! With a developing love for music, dancing and singing, we recently introduced the boys to a Casio portable keyboard. This has only sparked more imagination and interest in music for our young boys!
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I received the included back to school clothes and essentials as compensation.
Can you believe how fast summer break is flying by? With just 2 weeks left until school begins, it was time to shop for back to school. I don’t know about your kids, but anytime my boys can pick out new clothes and shoes it brightens their day. We headed to Kohl’s for back to school clothes on sale, and found great deals on backpacks, shoes and more! Check out their cool styles, and grab a Kohl’s promo code to save when you shop for school necessities.
Grab your most comfy walking shoes and make your way to Disney Springs stores for all the best Disney gear! If you and your little ones are Disney fans, Disney Springs is the place to shop for back to school! The recent updates to the Disney Springs area have made it the destination for everything Disney. They have everything from stores to food to entertainment. It’s one of our favorite places to visit in our city! Read on for more details about our #ShopDisneySprings experience below.
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Don’t forget the basics! Along with clothes and shoes for the new school year, kids also need socks, underwear, and undershirts (for older kids). Now is the time to purge socks that are missing a partner, and underwear that’s past it’s prime. Below I’m sharing some of my favorite products I get for the boys, plus a reader giveaway!
This is a partnered post. Thanks to Hanes for providing the giveaway prize.
Avoid summer boredom with these fun art activities for kids! From homemade slime to DIY sun catchers and handprint art – these are some of the BEST arts and crafts for kids. We’re supplying you with eight fun ideas to keep your little ones entertained! Read on for details.
This is a paid partnership. All opinions are my own. [Read more…]
A short time ago in a galaxy far, far away…..we hosted the ultimate kids Star Wars Party! Want to know how to host your own #DisneyKids playdate or party? It’s pretty easy and a whole lot of fun! Your young Jedi’s will love these kids Star Wars Party ideas. Read on for details!
I partnered with Disney Parks for this paid program. All opinions are my own.
A healthy smile is so important, wouldn’t you agree? Parents – I know getting kids to brush their teeth can be a struggle. I’ve been there! A trick I found to be helpful when reminding my boys to brush, floss and use a kids mouth rinse, is humor. I place fun sticky notes on their mirror that get their attention. It really works too! To get you started on a humorous way to a cleaner mouth, I’ve created this free printable of teeth jokes for kids. Simply click the image below, print, and cut out the jokes. Then tape the jokes on your child’s mirror to give them a gentle reminder about their oral care.
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Kids burn so much energy at school that they come home starved. “Can I have a snack mom?,” is one of the first things my boys ask when they walk through the door. I’m sure many other parents can relate, am I right? Today, I’m sharing a super simple snack for kids, that’s healthy too! This recipe requires playing with your food, so kids will love it. There’s no baking involved, so it only takes a few minutes. See how to make easy fruit pizzas with Fresh From Florida produce!
This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central, however all opinions expressed are my own.
While a playground might seem like the perfect place for kids to “play” it’s also a great teaching tool in disguise. Why do you ask? Playgrounds help children develop skills like leadership, teamwork, perseverance, and where they build valuable social relationships. They’re also a ton of fun! So why is outdoor play important? Read on for more details, plus a few creative outdoor play ideas.
This post was sponsored by Landscape Structures as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Ear aches, runny noses, coughing, tummy troubles….they’re no fun, especially when kids are involved. Today I’m talking about the fun stuff that comes along with parenthood; when kids get sick. Recently my little guy had a cold that left him feeling miserable. Hence the “fun” photo below. Yep #SickJustGotReal. Wondering what to do when kids get sick? Check out these tips below!
Pokémon GO, the augmented reality game took the world by storm earlier this year. Adults and kids alike were busy tracking down as many Pokemon as they could. The game caught all sorts of media attention when streets were flooded with people on their phones trying to “catch’em all.” Since the return of Pokemon, stores everywhere are filling up with fun toys for kids. Today I’m sharing some of the top Pokemon toys available!
Excitement for back to school can be heard in the giddiness of children picking out their new school clothes and supplies, the rolling of the shopping carts across the tile floors, and click of cameras everywhere as parents snap pictures of their children on the first day.
Today, I want to point out one more thing that should be considered at back to school time. Sight and sound play a huge role in a childs’ education, therefore it’s important for us as parents to guarantee they have the best possible chance at success. One way to do that is by taking your child in for an eye exam.
This post was sponsored by Nature Made® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
Have you ever wondered what the day in the life of a homeschooler looks like? Whether you’re new to homeschooling, or looking for a new routine for your child, you’ve come to the right place! The boys are at different ages and grades, so creating a schedule is key to a productive day. Read on for a peek into our school days.
Parenting is not easy. Although fulfilling, the role of parenting comes with a huge responsibility. As your child grows, you become their motivator, confidant, disciplinarian and teacher. They look to you for cues on how to handle life’s challenges. One of those hurdles is education. Depending on their level of interest, children may go on to get their bachelors degree, or decide high school is enough for them. Either way, inspiring kids to do their best in school can be challenging. I’ve teamed up with Office Depot® OfficeMax® to share some helpful tips on how to inspire your kids for greatness.
Inspiring Kids for Greatness
This is a partnered post with Zappos.com. All opinions are my own.
Today was the first day of school and while the boys weren’t so eager for summer to end, they were excited for the new school year. We headed back to school shopping over the tax-free weekend, but forgot to buy new shoes. Oops! Thankfully, their mama is the queen of online shopping and scored these adorable Stride Rite Leepz shoes from Zappos.com. Their fast, free shipping delivered the shoes just in time for school!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Wet Ones®, but all opinions are my own.
Whether you’re looking for a way to entertain the kids on a hot summer afternoon, or searching for educational crafts during the school year, these handprint animal crafts are a lot of fun! Anytime I mention the word “paint” the boys get stars in their eyes. They love messy crafts! Thankfully I have a great tip to keep their messes to a minimum. 😉 Read on to hear more.
I’m a LeapFrog Ambassador! As part of the #LeapFrogMomSquad I have opportunities to share the latest products from the brand with all of you! Opinions are my own.
Let me introduce you to the latest learning system from LeapFrog! LeapStart is an early education product for Preschool through 1st grade aged children. The learning system is portable and includes an easy-grip stylus, sampler book, and a downloadable guide to get kids ready for school! The best part? It’s only $39.99!!! This learning toy is going to fly off shelves this holiday season – I just know it! [Read more…]
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Summer = extra hours of play! While young kids are active, they don’t realize their bodies require extra nourishment to keep up with the summer heat. A great way to keep kids hydrated is by including electrolytes in their diet. What are electrolytes exactly? Find out more below!
Today’s partnered post is written by my 7 year old, J.
I’ve been reading a new book to my brother at night called PETE’S DRAGON. It is a great adventurous book and I like reading it too. Pete’s Dragon is about eleven-year-old Pete who isn’t scared of the forest. He’s lived there for a long time and if anything goes wrong Pete can always count on his best friend, Elliot. There is just one thing about Elliot…he’s a giant green flying dragon!
This post is sponsored by Vocalpoint, P&G and Gillette. All opinions are my own.
Sometimes life can be so distracting, don’t you think? I can’t believe we’re in the thick of summer already. It seems like life is so eager to move on by, but we have to remind ourselves to be present and remember the moments that are gone too soon. Dads this post is for you! It’s a reminder to make those memorable father-son moments before the kids are grown. The time is now to nurture and build upon that relationship so it can sustain the long haul called life.
It’s officially summer! My boys are becoming more and more interested in technology based products, but it’s important to have a healthy balance of activities. Combat the “I’m bored” blues with a backyard battlefield! Send the kids outdoors to enjoy the ultimate summer adventure with NERF toys. Trust me – they will thank you, even your “big” kid aka dad will too. 😉
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
With the help of NERF and Duracell we surprised our boys with these new NERF blasters – just in time for summer fun (and Father’s Day). Check out this short video clip of the blasters in action! [Read more…]
This post was sponsored by Mondelez International as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my review.
J has a natural talent for almost any sport he can get his hands on. By 8 year’s old he has already completed 3 seasons of baseball, 2 seasons of soccer and 1 season as the QB for flag football. During school last year he also participated in golf lessons, running club and karate. We are so impressed with his abilities and very much encourage his growing spirit to learn more.
While youth sports are disguised as a lot of fun, there are many valuable lessons children learn while playing from teamwork to rules, and developmental skills that will be carried well into adulthood.
Thanks to Plackers for partnering for today’s post and offering the giveaway prize! All opinions are my own.
Introduce kids to flossing in a fun way with Plackers®! These all-new Fruit Smoothie Swirl Kids’ Flossers paired with an adorable monkey Flosser Friend™ make flossing easy for kids.
The boys were so excited when the package arrived. “What’s that mommy? Can we open it?” said one of my boys. They had zero problem flossing in the middle of the day. They were ready to test out their brand new (and tasty) kids flossers! Plackers’ Hi-Tech® floss is engineered not to stretch, shred, or break, and includes fluoride to promote strong teeth and reduce tooth decay. [Read more…]
This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.
Bedtime stories are a favorite part of growing up. As kids, you learn to experience the world of imagination through books. And as you grow, you learn the skills of reading on your own. It’s important to instill reading skills in kids at a young age and encourage their love of reading. I don’t know about your little ones, but I have two eager readers that enjoy delving into new story books. So, when Kohl’s Cares sent a few of their spring collection to us – including adorable plush characters from the stories, they were excited.
This is a partnered post with Hasbro. All opinions are my own.
The latest Star Wars film is officially on DVD and Blu-ray! Find Star Wars: The Force Awakens in retail stores now.
We teamed up with Hasbro, who provided us with the ultimate Star Wars party pack! Check out the box of goodies below.
