Parenting
- Creative Play Resolutions: Imagine That!
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The New Year is approaching fast, and I’m hearing through the grapevine that many parents are finally ready for a fresh new start regarding the way their kids play. Whatever your motivation, the simple fact is this: Creative, imaginative play is important. It stimulates the brain. It helps develop important life skills. And it creates enthusiasm. What’s not to like about it!
- Less Materialistic Holidays: Teaching the true meaning of the season
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Teaching children generosity during the holidays is really not that hard. It does, however, have to begin with you, their strongest — and most influential — role model. Here are some helpful tips to get you started..
- “I SPY” Christmas!
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My kids love playing “I SPY.” It never gets old in the doctor’s office or wherever we go. So, last year I thought it would be fun to turn our Christmas card into an “I SPY” game. At first glance it looks like a simple holiday wreath card, but look more closely and there is much to find!
- Gift Receiving Etiquette: How to put more ‘appreciate’ into appreciation – Part 2 of 2
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Teaching children proper gift receiving etiquette and gratitude is really so incredibly important — especially in these days of self-entitlement, instant gratification, and impersonal communication. To help your own kids learn how to graciously receive and acknowledge a gift, here are a few tips to pass on to them.
- Family Cookbooks: A Way to Immortalize Your Best Recipes!
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Putting together a family recipe cookbook is a great idea for many reasons. It preserves your time-honored recipes, perhaps passed down from generations past. It’s a way of recording memories of good meals — and good times — spent together. It’s a way to leave behind a legacy of sorts. And it makes an extremely meaningful gift that will really be appreciated.
- Gift-Giving Etiquette: How to put more ‘thought’ into thoughtfulness – Part 1 of 2
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I invite you — nay, challenge you! — to help your child step back for a moment . . . realize what’s really important . . . and focus on the true spirit of the holiday season: giving to others in a genuinely thoughtful way.
- The Spirit of Generosity
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We’ve all heard the statement “it’s far better to give than receive,” but how can we make this relevant to our children? How can we help our children experience the rewards of giving, as well as understand that helping others is a priceless emotional gift we give to ourselves?
- Cooking With Your Boys Measures Up!
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Typically, cooking is stereotyped as a “woman’s job,” but I disagree. The kitchen is one room in the house that definitely shouldn’t be labeled “no boys allowed.” In fact, Santa delivered my boys their first play kitchen before they even had a baby sister!
- Gratitude: Teaching kids to appreciate what they have!
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Teaching gratitude to children is not easy. Depending on what stage they’re going through, your child may feel very entitled and self-centered at the moment. (If not, you’re lucky.) But if so, no need to fret. There are a few tricks I’ve learned over the years that will show you just how to teach kids to be grateful.
- Holiday Visits from the Grandkids: How to make ’em fun, not crazy
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Making your grandkids feel at home during holiday visits — whether local or out-of-town — really doesn’t have to be hard or stressful. There just needs to be a plan.