DIY Giant Games for the Backyard

June 19, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Looking for a fun summer diversion? How about one of these giant games for the backyard? Take your favorite board and computer games up a notch by creating jumbo versions you can play outside. And if you can figure out how to incorporate the hose and some water fun, all the better!

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Giant Bananagrams via Constantly Lovestruck

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Giant Matching Game via Studio DIY

diysquares

Cloth Picnic Games (Squares and Tic Tac Toe) at Say Yes

candylandoutside

Giant Candyland at Ashlee Marie

Giant-Garden-Chess-Set-L13298872

You can purchase this Giant Chess Set for about $60 for some big-time backyard fun!

What backyard games do you play during the summer?

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Stopping the “Summer Rust”: a Teacher’s Perspective by Stephanie Ingerman

June 6, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Old School
photo source: Ryan via Flickr Creative Commons

Summer–we all love it and we all need a little time off. But your child can fall as many as four months behind in their learning during the short break of summer if we aren’t continuing to focus on learning. I affectionately call that the “summer rust.” So, how do you keep the rust from settling? There are plenty of great workbooks out there and even some great websites, but there are also some sneaky ways to add in some learning with things you are probably already doing.

Let’s focus on literacy first. If you read your child will be more likely to read. If your child is a hesitant or reluctant reader, read aloud to them or listen to audio books together, especially on those long road trips. When you are listening or reading be sure to ask your child questions about what they are reading or listening to such as, “What is happening in the story? Who are the main characters? What was your favorite part and why?” Encourage your kids to write about trips you have taken together in a journal or draw a picture and write a story to go along with it. Another idea we enjoy is to keep a correspondence journal where you write to your child and they write back to you.

Now for math! Have your children tell you what time it is on an analog clock. Allow the kids to help you cook, measuring the ingredients and noticing which amount is more. Identify, count, or sort coins after receiving change. Go on a shape hunt around your house or neighborhood. Lastly, play games! Games that involve numbers, dice, patterns, addition or problem solving will help your child keep those math skills sharp.

In addition to literacy and math I am hopeful you will explore with your children, take a hike, try something new, and genuinely enjoy one another’s company.

Stephanie Ingerman is an elementary-school teacher in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a mom to two kids, ages 7 and 9. 

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New & Upcoming Parenting Resources

May 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment

teennotcrazy

Your Teenager Is Not Crazy by Dr. Jeremy Clark and Jerusha Clark – Although sometimes parents find their teens unrecognizable at best, they still are the same kid deep down. In this book, the Clarks guide parents to make the teen years a time of creativity and passion instead of fear and conflict. Release April 1, 2016.

 

spiritualchampions

Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions by George Barna –  Famed researcher Barna speaks to churches in this work on why children’s ministry should be of the utmost importance to the church. The author explains how to make a successful children’s ministry that forms “spiritual champions.” Released January 1, 2016.

 

inthearena

In the Arena by David Prince – Coming September 1st, this paperback will explore what sports means in Christian culture and how sports can be used for discipleship, parenting, and recreation.

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Planning for Summer

April 10, 2016 By Leave a Comment

sprinklers
source: jodimichelle via Flickr Creative Commons

In this month’s print issue of ParentLife, writer Emily Pardy urges us to grasp on to “Summer Sanity” by making a list of priorities and plans for the summer. Have you been doing that? I’ve been thinking a lot about how summer will go around our house.

In the fall, my three children will be in second grade, kindergarten, and 3-year-old preschool. I am pregnant, so this will be the last summer for awhile we can take advantage of having all children who know how to hold hands in a parking lot and I’m not too worried about killing each other if we send them outside for half an hour. But because I am pregnant, this also may be a summer where I need more rest than usual. We may or may not be moving apartments. We have a lot of “ifs” up in the air.

So we haven’t really made any firm plans – camps, many trips, etc. Usually we schedule our older two for at least one week of day camp, but we’ve decided to put that on the back burner for now.

Here are my priorities for the summer:

  • Take our third annual beach vacation to Tybee Island. We all enjoy this; it’s relaxing, and we have fun.
  • Go swimming. If needed, get swim lessons for my 7-year-old to be fully competent as a swimmer.
  • Send kids to “Nana Camp” and “Grandma Camp.” We are so blessed to have both sets of our parents within driving distance, and they LOVE having the kids come to stay for a couple days during the summer. The kids love getting one-on-one time. We get to spend a little more one-on-one time with the kids left at home, too. It’s nice to mix things up.
  • Help my 7-year-old daughter become proficient in the kitchen – and get my 5-year-old son started, too. They both love cooking and have been inspired by MasterChef, Jr. I can be a little too territorial about my kitchen space, but I want all my kids to learn to cook.
  • Playground hop in Chattanooga.
  • Spend time with great friends.
  • Encourage reading.

I also intend to let the kids make a little bucket list of things they want to do or places to go. I won’t promise to do everything, but I want to let them play a role there.

Have you started planning for summer? As Pardy writes, summer can be the right time for “structure, sunshine, skill-building, and sleep.” Sleep. There is a summer plan I can get behind!

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Verses to Memorize with Your Kids about Easter

March 6, 2016 By Leave a Comment

I can read Bible stories to my kids all day long, but Scripture memorization is an area where I can falter. They often learn verses at church, but with three kids running around sometimes I just get lazy.

That said, I think learning Scripture is an important part of growing in faith, no matter your age. Here are some suggestions for age-appropriate verses to learn about Easter.

2009 LUMC Palm Sunday
source: Scott Adams

Young Toddlers

“Now Christ has been raised from the dead.” – 1 Corinthians 15:20a, NIRV

Preschoolers

“God raised him from the dead. He set him free from the suffering of death. It wasn’t possible for death to keep its hold on Jesus.” – Acts 2:24, NIRV

Elementary Age

” ‘Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. But blessed are those who haven’t seen me and believe anyway.’ ” – John 20:29, TLB

Preteens

” ‘Why are you looking for the living among the dead?’ asked the men. ‘He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,  saying, “The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day”?’ ” – Luke 24:5b-7, HCSB

Any other verses that are a good fit for Easter?

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Looking at the Beatitudes through the Lens of Parenting

February 9, 2016 By 1 Comment

Parenting and the Bible
source: MarcosReis07 via Flickr

John MacArthur wrote, “The Beatitudes demonstrate that the way to heavenly blessedness is antithetical to the worldly path normally followed in pursuit of happiness.”

Parenting isn’t about feeling good all the time.

Make it that, and you’ll have kids who run the house and don’t understand the word no. Some of my best parenting moments are when I feel the worse, I think. Holding a screaming, flailing 5-year-old who is throwing a temper tantrum – when really I just want to shut her in her room and go eat chocolate cake. Taking a deep breath and explaining to my 3-year-old onemoretime that “I need” is not the way we start sentences to ask for things. Not biting back when my 17-month-old decides to gnaw at my shoulder.

Often parenting is going against my human nature and trying to latch on to my Jesus-nature instead, asking for His power to flood me. Because seriously, there is no way I can do this on my own.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus shows us a flip-flop view of His kingdom versus the world’s. He says, “You’re going to mourn. You’re going to be persecuted. You’re going to need to show mercy and peace and gentleness when you don’t want to. But I am going to bless you for it, and it’s how I am going to work through your life.”

How many times as a parent do you feel mournful? Poor in spirit? Persecuted, even, by your children or other parents? Jesus blesses that.

The Beatitudes are everything I want to be as a parent. Gentle. Peaceful. Merciful. Pure in heart. In my study Bible, MacArthur also writes that “gentleness is supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit.”

I’ve seen a graphic around Facebook lately, with a toddler laying on top of his mama on the beach and the words, “You’re never going to be loved like this again.”

Until we see Christ, no one on earth is going to love us with the uninhibited crazy love of a toddler or preschooler. So let’s pour back that love, praying for the Spirit to fill us with mercy, purity of heart, gentleness, and peace, not giving up when we are mournful or feel persecuted or want to hide in our rooms and throw stuff at the wall.

In The Message paraphrase, Matthew 5:3 is, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.”

Praise God and Amen!

Originally published on JessieWeaver.net. 

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Book Review: P. Bear’s New Year’s Party

January 30, 2016 By Leave a Comment

P. Bear's New Year's Party

P. Bear’s New Year’s Party by Paul Owen Lewis is lauded by elementary school teachers as one of the best educational resources for teaching kids how to count and tell time. Available as a hardcover, a board book, and in paperback, this 32-page book can grow with your child. It’s perfect for a large age range, but tailored to 3-7 year olds. The elegant illustrations rely solely on black, white, and red for a vivid, timeless visual portrayal of the fictional tale that finds a dashing polar bear hosting a black-tie affair for New Year’s Eve. With every strike of the clock leading up to midnight, a large number of animals corresponding to the clock face shown on each page arrive at Mr. P. Bear’s door.

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The author does several things exceptionally well with this book. First, he spells out the numbers, so kids learn to recognize them outside of numerals. Next, he introduces young readers to exotic animals. (Orcas, pandas, and penguins are among the unusual animals invited to this polar bear’s party!) Third, every group of animals corresponds to the number on the clock face, helping kids make a connection between counting and time. Last, the strategic use of only three colors throughout the book brilliantly brings the pages acutely to life, with the color red highlighting the most important nuances. In addition, P. Bear’s New Year’s Party also expands children’s vocabulary, introducing new collective nouns like flock, herd, bunch, and pack.

The book also provides an opportunity for parents to share New Year’s traditions and explain the significance of a year’s time. From newborn to first grade, this book is one that can be pulled out repeatedly. With every read, your child will discover something new.

Review by Lindsay Williams

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Our Big List of Snow Day Activities

January 22, 2016 By 1 Comment

Snow Day Activities

This week we had two “snow” days here in Chattanooga. We didn’t see any snowflakes, but it did get cold enough to ice over the roads and thus it’s probably best everyone was able to stay home.

The first day, my husband was home, and we just dawdled around. We played games, let the kids play with toys, watched TV. But by the end of the day my 7-year-old daughter was going crazy. She is not a very good homebody. I decided if we were going to survive day 2, we had to have a plan – especially since Daddy had to work (he teaches private school).

The kids and I came up with this big list of activities for us to do. No saying, “I’m bored!” They could just go to the list and pick a new activity! They loved this idea, and I think it’s something we’ll pull out for many at-home days. My kids are 7, 5, and 2, so these are more suited for younger kids, but you can brainstorm with your own children and see what you can come up with.

(No) Snow Day Fun

  • Have a pretend snowball fight (with socks or wadded-up paper)
  • Wear pajamas all day
  • Watch TV
  • Turn heat up, wear bathing suits, lay on towels, watch a beach movie, and drink smoothies
  • Play with play-dough
  • Draw and decorate a giant picture of a snowman (we used a piece of a cardboard box)
  • Tickle each other
  • Paint
  • Play with dry-erase books and crayons
  • Make believe
  • Dress up
  • Make cookies
  • Sleep in! (Every parent’s dream)
  • Build a “bouncy house” (put blankets and pillows all over the floor of a room and jump around on it)
  • Play with magnet people
  • Play with marble racer
  • Build train tracks
  • Take naps
  • Read
  • Be lazy on the couch
  • Play games – Spot It, Trouble, Uno Moo
  • Make something with cardboard boxes
  • Jump on the trampoline
  • Play with chalk blocks
  • Put on a show
  • Have a parade

Obviously, you won’t have all the same toys we have. I chose toys and games for our list that had been put away for awhile, so they were more exciting for the kids. But I hope this will give you some ideas for your next at-home snow (or no snow) day.

 

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Three New Releases in Children’s Christian Books

January 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment

Looking for a new book to engage your young readers and help them grow in faith? Check out one of these three brand-new releases!

Voyage to the Star Kingdom by Anne Riley and Amy Grimes – A parable of sorts, introducing children to Heaven and the fact that life doesn’t end after death. The “Star King” does thing His own way, and the people in this story must learn to trust Him. This self-published book was released January 8 and appeals to children of all ages, as well as their parents!

Blotch by Andy Addis – Another parable, this time about sin and how Jesus takes it away. Blotch lives in a kingdom where everyone has spots on their skin from times they have done wrong. Blotch decides to find someone who can get rid of the spots, and sets out on a journey. For ages 8-12.

One-Sentence Storybooks: Bible Animals by Nancy I. Sanders – Help your 3- to 5-year old learn how to read with these one-sentence storybooks. This 10-minibook set focuses on Bible animals. Using repetition and illustrations, children will learn new vocabulary and sight words. Each story has a devotion, prayer, and reading activity as well. Released December 24, 2015, from Tyndale House.

 

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Activities for Little Hands: Thanksgiving Crafts

November 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment

thanksgiving 9
source: Harris County Public Library via Flickr Creative Commons

Having a hard time keeping your little one out of the kitchen while you prepare for Thanksgiving’s festivities? My daughter thinks the oven is her personal playplace, much to my chagrin. Thankfully, we will be spending the holidays with extended family and letting others cook for us (and the baby in my 36-week-pregnant belly rejoices).

Here are some activities for distraction … I mean, education …

Thanksgiving door hangers would be a fun addition to the front door even a toddler can help decorate.

Older kids can do a Thanksgiving Day word search. You could have your kids cut out the word search and glue it to sheets of construction or scrapbook paper for any children coming to your Thanksgiving feast. It will give the kids something to do while they wait on the food! Fall or Thanksgiving-themed scrapbook paper would give the word search a festive feel.

Oreo Thanksgiving turkeys are adorable to see, easy to make, and yummy to “gobble” down!

Napkin rings made of paper-towel tubes and scrapbook paper add a festive touch and keep little hands busy gluing while you’re basting the bird.

Even toddlers can rub a leaf on newspaper. You can cut them out and then together string them on some twine to hang. Adorable!

Do you have a favorite Thanksgiving craft?

Happy Thanksgiving from the ParentLife staff and Jessie, Resident ParentLife Blogger!

 

Originally published November 24, 2010

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