Thursday, August 30, 2018

Rock Your Child's Lunch Box With Lunch Box Jokes

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School is back in session and while many parents are busy preparing to send their child off to school or start their home school schedule all kids need to eat lunch! Why not make their lunchtime extra special with a treat. 

I'm not talking about a sugary treat I'm talking about the kind of treat that will make them laugh and want to share with their friends. JOKES! 

What kid doesn't love a great joke, right? My boys especially love hearing and sharing jokes with their friends. It is so much fun watching them crack each other up! 

Thankfully, Personal Creations has done all the work and created printable lunch box jokes that kids can receive whether they are at school or in the comfort of their own home! Put a smile on your child’s face and print out a few jokes, and surprise your child with a printable joke under their plate at lunch or tuck a joke inside one of their school books for them to find as a surprise. Get creative and place them on the back of assignments, and tell them to flip their assignment once they’ve finished.

They’ll get a kick out of the jokes and will appreciate your efforts to make them laugh!

Look at these colorful, awesome lunch box jokes!




There are a variety of themes like sports, animals, school so you can mix it up each time you add a little "treat" to your child's day. This cool printable is easy to use - just print, cut and pack one in their lunch!

Looking for more cool printables? The Personal Creations blog is full of amazing printables for all occasions. I love using printables but sometimes I just can't find the time to make them on my own and now I don't have to! In addition to all the cool printables, Personal Creations has a sweet store where you can personalize gifts for life's special occasions. Check it out here.

Got any good jokes your child loves? I'd love to hear them, and get a good laugh! Please share them in the comments section.



This post may contain affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimer page for more information.

Even though we home school there are many times we end up doing school on the road ("road"schooling) and need to pack lunch to go. Check out these cool lunch boxes!
via: Target

via: Target







Thursday, August 16, 2018

Routine Rehab: 5 Tips To Get Your School Age Child Back On A Schedule After Summer Break

photo credit: freepik.com kids-at-school
This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page.

The long summer days are beginning to get shorter and shorter as the sun starts setting earlier and earlier. I'm always torn during this time of year because I really LOVE summer and want to enjoy every last drop of it but by late August I'm ready for a seasonal change.

Maybe I'm just burned out on BBQ (everything) and can't wait to pull out the crockpot and whip up a big batch of chili.

The end of summer also signifies the start of many new beginnings, one being school. For us as homeschoolers I have always given my kids the summer "off" which means we don't follow a traditional school year schedule during the summer.

So what are some of the best ways to get your school age child back on a schedule? Whether they are homeschooled or go to a public/private school these 5 tips will help you as a parent get your child back on a schedule that works for both child and parent!

5 Tips To Get Your Child Back On A School Schedule


1. Recognize That it is a Process:


Don't wait for the last minute to change your child's schedule instead plan ahead and work into the new schedule slowly.

Starting our homeschool schedule each year takes a little easing into since the kids have adjusted to a relaxed summer schedule and now have to shift into our school schedule. For us the adjustment to a new schedule is done as a gradual pace to allow the kids time to adjust to the change.

During the summer my kids go to bed much later than they would during the school year (even the 5 year old!) and so they sleep in a little later in the morning. Pretty typical right! So how do we gradually adjust our schedule to get back into the groove of the school year schedule?

First we start implementing an actual bedtime that gradually gets bumped back earlier and earlier for our youngest two kids. The older two don't have a set bedtime but I do require them to be ready for bed and in their rooms doing something quiet like reading or listening to music. The waning hours of daylight helps me accomplish the earlier bedtime for the younger ones!

Next, I start waking the kids up in the morning at the same time during the week. This helps their internal clock get used to a new rhythm.

As the saying goes "practice makes perfect", so putting into practice a new routine in advance of when it needs to start happening should help reduce headaches when the rubber hits the road!

Children's Alarm Clock via. Amazon


2. Talk About School And Your Expectations


My youngest, if not warned in advance to any upcoming change will freak out if I don't prepare him in advance to the changes. Do you have a child like that? He needs time to process the upcoming change so he is prepared when it happens. How much time does your child need? Well that can vary from child to child but for all kids just having the conversation several days or a week before a shift or change happens can relieve a lot of stress.

I start talking about the different subjects or classes they will be taking this upcoming year as a way to get them thinking about school. If I'm excited about what they will be learning I've found that this excitement rubs off onto them too.

While we are talking about what they will be learning about this upcoming year I like to get their input regarding the time of day they think it would be best to learn each subject. For example, my two middle children like to tackle their tougher subjects mid morning so I know that starting with math is a bad plan but it is doable a little later in the morning after they finish their daily Bible study.

3. No Electronics Before Bedtime


Even though we homeschool my kids are just like every other kid and they love playing on electronic devices like tablets, ipad,  phone and watching TV. In moderation, these devices are perfectly fine to use however we have implemented some guidelines regarding the use of them in the evening especially before bedtime.

Studies show that your body and your child's body respond to electronic stimulation in a way that can inhibit your body's ability to fall asleep. For example, the physical response to a video game your child is playing whether it is Mario Kart or Roblox, is to tense up. The "tensed up" feeling triggers the body to go into the "fight or flight" response resulting in the release of cortisol, a stress hormone produced in the adrenal gland. Trying to get your child to go to sleep after a healthy dose of cortisol has been sent pumping through their body won't work.

Letting your child "chill out" with the tablet before bed to Pinterest or check their Instagram account sounds harmless enough but did you know that the glow from the electronic device can rob your child from a good night's sleep? That little glowing light from electronics passes through the retina in your eye into the area of the brain that controls sleep activities (hypothalamus) and can delay the release of melatonin. Melatonin is a sleep inducing hormone.

So cutting off electronic time at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime should help your child get to sleep better and help them adjust to a new schedule.

4. Create a Family Calendar & Planner

via Sunny Day Family

Are you a visual learner? I am which means I need to "see" what is going on in order to get it to sink into my brain and make sense. Creating a family calendar is a great way to help your child adjust to the upcoming school schedule. I like to write the times as well as the activity on the calendar in chronological order so I (and my child) can get a good idea of what to expect during a specific day.

Not only will a family planner and calendar help you stay organized as the number of activities is sure to increase but the communication between everyone in the family is sure to benefit from this tool as well!

Looking for the perfect tool to create a family planner? I found the perfect solution to your needs - The Printable School Planner by Sunny Day Family!!

Totally customizable and it includes a 25 page printable where you will find:
  • Front and Back Covers including a space for your name and information.
  • School Information Sheet - important contact information, addresses, and classroom information on one easy to find page.
  • Lunch Ideas Planner - a place to list out all your kids' favorite lunch items and snacks, so that you're not struggling to come up with new ideas every week.
  • Weekly Lunch Planner - a sheet to plan lunches for the entire week so you can make things ahead of time and reduce morning stress (this page can also be laminated and hung in the kitchen as a reusable dry erase board).
  • Before & After School Checklists - a place to help you and the kids to stay on track with the morning routine, any morning chores, and a list of items to remember before heading out the door. The after school checklist helps track homework, any afternoon chores, along with other daily to dos.

Printable School Planner by Sunny Day Family

5. Stay Positive

Being excited about something, especially when it involves big changes, can be contagious. Positive attitudes from parents towards the upcoming schedule changes helps transition your child from their relaxed summer routine to the new more structured school schedule.

Get your child excited with some new school tools! Remember when you were in elementary school and couldn't wait to bust open that new Trapper Keeper notebook the first day of school? Yeah, those were the good ole days! Kids love using their new supplies and can't wait to do so! Harness this excitement and stay positive about the transition from summer to school.

Need help finding awesome back to school supplies - don't forget to check out the Dollar Tree! They have a great stock of school supplies that won't break the bank! Read my post here about the The Top Ten Back To School Supplies From The Dollar Tree.


Amazon.com

via. Amazon
via. Amazon

Remember all kids adapt differently to change so please have patience during the transition period knowing that things will improve as the days go by! 

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Friday, August 3, 2018

Why Having Bored Kids Is A Good Thing

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*This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please read my Disclaimer page for more information.


"I'm BORED!!!!!"

It's a phrase every parent dreads hearing and seems to raise its' ugly head repeatedly over summer break. Some parents respond with knee jerk reactions shoving the closest electronic device into their poor child's hands in an attempt to prevent said boredom. Quiet kids = peaceful home, right?

NO! As a parent of four, I hear the "I'm bored" complaint my fair share each day but instead of panicking and pacifying them with a tablet or phone I look them straight in the eye and say "It's about time! Now you are ready to create something really fun to do! Boredom doesn't scare me! I love when you are bored because you are finally to a point where you are ready make or do something awesome that you create on your own."


Now I know this response will probably elicit a massive eye roll, and dramatic sigh from your child but wait - Just Wait. The best IS yet to come. It just takes time and some practice.

Your child will eventually find their inner curiosity and imagination that so often gets snubbed out by over scheduled play dates, structured sports practice and electronic devices. Your job is not to play cruise director or entertainment specialist. Instead, be an encourager and challenge your child to make something or draw something or make up a game. Kids who haven't been exposed to this will balk at it at first possibly pouting, fighting against it and whining but once they do discover the art of making something fun to do on their own I promise it will be worth it - to you and them! Stick to your guns, momma - hide the ipad and hold firm. You are not scarring them for life if they feel a little bored!

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As a mom I try to have some ideas in my back pocket to help "inspire" them. The inspiration I provide might be a pile of cool rocks and some paint and paintbrushes, cardboard boxes, notebooks, magnifying glasses, rope, scrap wood and tools. Children of all ages can find inspiration in these types of items, younger children just exploring how to use a tool or pile up a stack of rocks and older children actually creating or building something by using their imagination. Giving your child the opportunity to use a real hammer and nail (while supervised) is fun! Making anything out of cardboard, think castle, car or maybe a marble run, is a great way to bust the boredom of summer.

And Momma, don't be afraid to dig in deep and find your imagination and make something alongside your kiddo! Come up with a sculpture, game or even build a tent to play in - your child will love seeing mom's imagination come alive with theirs. Don't make something for them, that's their job, make something for you and then show your child what you made. They will love this!

Inspired by The Great Outdoors


Nature all on its own is just so inspiring. Collecting flowers, leaves, rocks and sticks and putting them in a notebook or on a poster is a fun way to display found treasures. Taking pictures like a close up of a bee on a flower or a worm wiggling in the grass provides loads of fun exploration time. How can your child be bored when they are fully engaged in the beauty of creation!

Remember, getting your child engaged with the great outdoors without structured/planned play takes some practice. You might have to lead the charge here and show them how to start if they haven't been exposed to this type of activity. Be ready, once they start to understand how to engage this part of their brains and lose themselves in imagination land it might be hard to get them to come inside at night for dinner or bedtime!

We have a small wooded area behind our house that to my boys becomes a playground every fall. I remember the first time I handed a hand saw to my oldest son and and directed him to saw a felled tree into chunks - he just lit up with the biggest smile every! My younger son even got a chance to saw a log in half too! You would have thought we were in Disney with the amount of joy and excitement these boys displayed. They gathered tall branches and stacked them up around a big tree and made a shelter to play in and used other branches to clear an area around our new "homestead". This was one of the most memorable afternoons ever!

If you need a little help finding ways to inspire your children to get busy making something I wrote the perfect book for you! Secret Garden Crafts: 10 Nature Inspired Craft Projects will certainly help you get your creative and imaginative juices flowing. Using items found in nature like sticks and leaves as well as craft supplies easily found around your house is all your need to make some of these fun projects. I recommend keeping any structure or planned playtime out of this activity and allow your child unencumbered exploration and creating. You can find this book on Amazon here:

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click to purchase here

I hope these tips will help you survive the "I'm Bored" moments of summer break and get your kids engaged in outdoor activities that will inspire them and provide many hours of fun.  

Follow my blog to read more parenting ideas, tips and tricks! Surviving the suburbs can be a challenging job for parents but with a little help and inspiration you can do it! 

Let me know how you handle your child's moments of boredom - leave a comment below!