As a mom, packing for a vacation can get those stress levels rising! Not only are we packing for ourselves but we are also responsible for the kids and sometimes, the fur babies. Now that my kids are a little older, I thought it was time to pass some of the pre-vacation responsibilities to my boys.
I needed a system that was simple, straight forward, and easy to read and explain to my kids. This "Pack Your Bags!" free resource, provides written text for readers, pictures for non-readers, and gives them the control of checking things off the list as the get things done.
If there is one thing I have learned from my background in child development, it is that kids love multiple forms of sensory input. This resource provides, visual cues as well as the gratification of a check box using a marker or pencil to mark completion!
This resource provides kids with the opportunity to:
-Work on their counting skills
-Work on identification skills
-Learn the written word for the objects
-Provide a sense of responsibility
-Provide an opportunity to work with colors if you want to get more detailed. My kids need all the help with matching they can get!
You can grab your FREE PRINTABLE HERE!
I can't wait to hear how you use this resource.
This cake has transformed over the years but can always be relied on for a simple, fast, and delicious cold treat! My favorite part about this cake is the fact that you can create your own flavors based on your favorite ice cream, candy, and cookies. Also, the size of it is easy to adjust based on the size of the crowd you are feeding.
We reach for this easy ice cream cake recipe for birthdays! It is just our family of four when it comes to “day of” celebrations and I can create the perfect size just for us.
Let’s get to the “how-to” portion of this blog entry. There is nothing I hate more than having to scroll through a long explanation to get to the recipe I am looking for!
How to create an Ice Cream Dump Cake…
You will need:
Ice Cream Sandwiches
Your favorite ice cream
Hot Fudge, Caramel, or favorite gooey topping
Favorite Whipped Topping
About a cup and a half of your favorite cookie crushed into small pieces
Your favorite candy to top everything off
How to:
Layer 1: Lay out your first layer of ice cream sandwiches.
Layer 2: Spread softened ice cream over the ice cream sandwiches.
Layer 3: Spread whipped topping over the ice cream.
Layer 4: Top whipped topping with crushed cookie and gooey topping.
Next, do it all over again starting with the ice cream sandwiches. As you spread the whipped topping make sure you cover the entire cake. After you have sprinkled the cookie and gooey topping over the top. Start to drop your favorite small candies over top of the cake. This can also be sprinkles or nuts.
This is also a super fun dessert to make with your kiddos!
Enjoy! If you make this, come back to comment with the flavors you used!
A simple tool to help you balance life’s indulgences and a healthy gut...
It’s summer and all the refreshing treats are making their way into your life! Let’s face it though, life’s indulgences are always there. I am a firm believer in indulging when balanced with healthy eating habits. However, when it is trickier to keep those healthy eating habits in check, there is one tool that will continue to support a healthy gut.
A healthy gut supports a healthy immune system, right?
Well, consider this, we send our kids back to school and dive right into those fall and winter months with an unbalanced gut from all the fun food we consumed over the summer. Not to mention, heading into fall, those sweet treats don’t go anywhere. They just shift from cool refreshing treats to comforting sugar and spice. Not really the healthy balance your gut needs to keep your immune system strong. Not to mention, you want to keep those tummies comfortable and moving, if you know what I mean.
So, what can you do?
Well, you can balance your treats with foods high in probiotics! Some food ideas would be yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, or you could even add some apple cider vinegar into a refreshing beverage.
In the morning, try this drink:
8 ounces warm water
1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
2-3 drops Lemon Essential Oil (I want to avoid the acid of lemon juice but you can always use lemon juice)
1 teaspoon of honey
Consistency with the above food ideas can be tricky. That is why my kids and I choose to supplement with a probiotic. We take them on an empty stomach right before bed. This way, the good bacteria and do it’s work while we aren’t continually introducing food into our stomach.
Before we started probiotics, we would experience bloating after meals, occasional stomach discomfort, skin irritations, and occasional irregularity. After several weeks of consistent use, we no longer struggle with bloating, excess gas, skin is back in check, and irregularity is much more regular!
For the boys, we have fallen in love with Kidscents MightyPro Pre+Probiotics. Notice, it is prebiotics and probiotics! Afte a day of sweet treats, those prebiotics really help those probiotics multiply!
For myself, I use Life 9 probiotic. As someone who has struggled with gut health for a good chunk of my life, I wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of my probiotic. This formula has 17 billion live cultures. How is that for gut balancing???
Now, if you struggle with remembering to pick up the monthly necessities at the store, you will love what I am about to tell you. You can have these products delivered to your door monthly! You pick the date, and they will automatically head your way. No extra though required!
You can view the products at the link below! When you purchase probiotics for the family, you will notice you start to accumulate product points to cash in for future product. You can’t beat improving your health, convenience, and rewards for your healthy choices!
(Adjust quantities as needed)
Whether it is the busy days of summer or a long school day, you never know when emotions are going to catch up to our kids. Sometimes, as moms, we can see it coming hours before the meltdown occurs or sometimes, it comes out of nowhere and we are left trying to figure out what triggered such a strong response. Either way, we want to do our best to help our kids work through those tough moments.
One thing I have learned through the ups and downs with my own kids is, the time to talk about it is after the emotional moment has passed and things have settled. Otherwise, things we may be saying or suggesting aren’t even being heard because they are working so hard on processing what they are struggling with. In fact, in may cause more stress and frustration for everyone in the moment.
There are three things that have helped my kids in moments of big emotions.
- Personal Space
- Breath work
- Aromatherapy (we associate certain aromas with various feelings)
Today, I want to tell you about a fun tool you can have on hand in those hard moments for our kids.
Feelings Dough
This tool incorporates smell, touch, and sight! I find that tools are more effective when you incorporate the senses. This is a tool you will want to create with your child!
What you will need:
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup lotion (non-scented or lightly scented is best. No fragrance)
Three different essential oils.
One for “happy”- we like an oil blend called “Citrus Fresh”
One for “calm” -we like an oil called “Peace and Calming”
One for “brave”- we like an oil called “Valor”
Food Coloring
Combine the cornstarch, lotion, and oil for “happy”. Ask the child what color they associate with being happy. Add the color to the mixture! When combined, place in a jar with lid and label it “happy”.
Repeat this for the “calm” and “brave” jar.
Explain to the child, when they feel themselves getting frustrated, sad, or discouraged, to grab the desired jar and play with that playdough for a bit. Once, they have settled, they can bring it to you and you can talk through what was bothering the child.
You can also create dough that promotes focus.
This tool is perfect to have on hand in a classroom, playroom, or therapy bag!
This is a fun sensory activity that is playful and incorporates learning at the same time!
This activity really engages the senses!
You can create various colors.
You should incorporate calming aromas.
You have tactile stimulation.
What you will need:
Salt ( I just grabbed some from the Dollar Tree)
Food dye
Calming essential oils ( Our favorites are Peace & Calming, Stress Away, and Valor)
A cookie sheet or baking dish
Optional:
Pencil, stick, small objects
To create the colorful, scented salts, pour 2-3 cups of salt into a large ziplock bag. Add several drops of desired food coloring and allow your child to shake it up until well mixes.
Have a few options of oils available. Let the child smell the oils and pick the one they prefer. Add a few drops of oil to the bag and mix around once more.
Pour the contents onto a baking sheet or a baking dish. You may want a dish for the smaller kiddos.
Pick the activity you are going to work on! Here are some ideas:
-Practicing their uppercase and lowercase letters
-Practicing writing their name.
-Writing down the letter of the sound you provide them.
- Drawing shapes.
- Practicing a spelling list from school.
- practicing vocabulary by giving the child a definition of the word and having them right the correct word
- Practicing writing their numbers
-Writing math equations
The possibilities are endless! You can have the child use their finger, a pencil, or other simple objects. For the littles, you can simply have them search for objects in the salt. For example, "Can you find the ____, for me?"
By engaging the senses, you make a daunting task less stressful and more fun!
Who thinks that this is simple enough to give it a try?
