How do you pass time with kids? Grab your (plastic) sword, don an eye patch and host a pirate week!
We’ve spent many summer & school breaks home-bound. Whether it was due to work commitments, lack of finances or bad weather, spending extended periods of time at home with the kids is not foreign territory. One way I got through the time when the kids were younger was to host themed weeks. They usually centered around an outing at the end. Summer camps and science camps do the same thing, but hosting one on our own means you don’t have to follow the strict guidelines imposed by others. We’ve done Dinosaur Week with a trip to Dinosaur World as the grand finale; Royal Week with a daily reading of the Tale of Despereaux and the kids’ most favorite: Pirate Week. Check out these cool pirate themed activities for kids and host your own pirate week!
parenting
The Top 10 Most Useful Things We Ever Did As Parents
We try our best as parents, but never know if we are getting this parent-thing right. And we beat ourselves up all the time. Our kids are teens now and this is what we do know-the the top things we’ve done as parents when they were growing up that actually have made a difference in their lives (for the better). Check it out 🙂
5 Ingenious Ways to Get Your Kids to Read (Even If They Hate Reading)
So, you find yourself at home with the kids. Your young kids may adore cuddling up for a story time, but as they grow older, those books are replaced by electronics. The only book you’ll ever see is one assigned from school, which you suspect will never emerge from their backpack to see the light of day. How on earth do you get your (older) kids to read- especially if you don’t have many or any books in the house?
Stop forcing the ‘reading is good mantra’ (kids can smell that a mile-away) and check out these five clever & creative ways to get your kids to read- (they may not even realize they’re reading!)
How to Plan a Fun & Affordable Family Vacation
Planning a fun and affordable family vacation ahead of time is easier (and less pricey) than leaving it ’til the last minute, and here are some handy tips and tricks to help you plan a vacation the whole family will love.
The First Day of School: Why You Are Doing It All Wrong
Summer ends and school begins. Soon all the photos of scrubbed children with shiny new backpacks and fresh clothes will fill up the Facebook and Instagram feeds. But what the unsuspecting parents who snap away at their posed kids, before shipping them off to new teachers, new classmates, don’t realize is they’re doing it all wrong. And this is why…
Kayaking for Beginners
Kayaking is fun, enjoyable, and the most eco-friendly way to explore- but before you run out a buy an kayak, there are some essential things you should know about this popular water sport.
How to Host the Ultimate Easter Egg Hunt
Who doesn’t like a good game of hide and seek? And that is what a good Easter egg hunt is all about. Make your egg hunt an Easter family-moment to remember with these helpful tips and ideas on how to host the ultimate Easter egg hunt.
The Truth About Christmas
I just found out a secret, and this is going to change your outlook on Christmas forever!
Finding Santa in Florida’s State Parks
Looking for a place to visit Santa? By-pass the shopping crowds and head out to a Florida state park! These parks have transformed their gardens into fantasy wonderlands, just for you, so grab your kids and head outdoors to one of these state park Christmas events!
Geocaching for Beginners
With over a million caches and 9 million hunters, geocaching has become a popular pastime. But although Geocaching only began 17 years ago, people have been stashing all sorts of caches throughout history. You don’t need to be a pirate or spy to partake of this global treasure hunt, in fact, it’s easier than you imagine…