Summer. School is almost over and the days of fun and relaxation are just around the corner. Ice cream...swimming...and the perfect opportunity to teach kids about money! Stay with me for a second. I know it sounds crazy at first, but really summer is the perfect time for kids to learn about managing finances. The pace of life is slower, you have a chance to spend more quality time together, and many of the discretionary spending decisions are … [Read more...]
Banish Back to School Worries with Worry Stones
The back to school time period is overwhelming, even for kids who can't wait for school to start. New teachers. New classmates. New rules. New schedules. It's hard for adults to adjust to these types of changes so it's easy to see why even the most easygoing kid may feel a little anxious. And even easier to see why kids who don't love school or have big worries may start to tune out or meltdown. Being anxious about school, or anything, is … [Read more...]
Teach Kids to Help Fight Hunger
Hunger is big. And sad. And can be intimidating to talk about with kids. But it's so important that we do. We want our kids to not just be empathetic to challenges others are facing, but also feel empowered to help. Caring about people who are struggling with hunger is great. Helping people who are struggling with hunger is even better. That's why we're so excited to partner with Scholastic and Feeding America for their Hungry to Help … [Read more...]
The Importance of Being Kind to Yourself
"Of course. I'd love to help out!" you say. You whip out your calendar and add another thing to your already too long to-do list. You really don't mind helping with the kids' school fundraiser. After all you just adore their teachers so this is the least you can do. Right? Somehow you'll pull it off. The kids really do need computers in their classrooms. You just have to switch some things around. But what? You already get up at the crack of … [Read more...]
Cool Drawing Game for Kids
There is something about sitting down and drawing that can turn the day around. It doesn't matter how old you are, once you get involved in a drawing your heart rate slows down, you become more mindful, and stress starts to melt away. It's part of the reason that you see coloring books for adults everywhere right now. For an activity that has so many benefits it's surprising how hard it can be to convince kids to sit down with a pad and paper and … [Read more...]
Be a Financial Role Model for Your Kids
Money matters can be stressful, especially for parents. Many feel so overwhelmed by finances that they can't take a step forward to fix it. No one wants their kids to go through this same kind of stress so it's important to be a financial role model. Luckily, with support, taking steps toward financial freedom is easier than ever. We just need to start thinking about money differently. We've partnered with SunTrust to help parents get the … [Read more...]
7 Resolutions Your Family Needs To Make This Year
Why make family resolutions? Life is busy and resolutions are notoriously broken before the end of January. So why even bother? It's about being more intentional. We all need to regroup and focus on our priorities as parents from time to time. It's easy to get wrapped up in your to do list and have the day pass by in a blur. Taking the time to intentionally set family goals and resolutions can help make sure your days include the activities and … [Read more...]
What are Brain Breaks?
Once you discover the joys of brain breaks you'll be shocked at how well they work to help kids focus. It's amazing how something so simple works so well. I first heard about brain breaks as an education major in college and immediately started using them myself when I was studying or working on a big project and was hooked. I used them in my classroom when I was teaching and find them to be extremely helpful at home with my own kids. They are a … [Read more...]
