The Preschool Years

Toddler homeschool, preschool. Toddler play ideas. Educational play and fun. Sensory play ideas.

Little Free Library: a social-distancing-friendly way to get kids out of the house

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I think all of us moms are reeling from the current world happenings due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many moms used to sending their kids to school have been thrust into a homeschooling environment overnight. Even us homeschoolers are adjusting to a new normal that doesn’t include field-trips, co-ops, playdates, and trips to the local library. Even going to the park or playing with the neighbor kids seems too risky! While our local libraries are still offering online ordering and curbside pickup (hallelujah!), I’ve been thinking a lot about another avenue to practice social distancing while still getting your kids out of the house. May I introduce you to Little Free Library. 

Still Messy…Still Beautiful {the rebrand that’s not really a rebrand}

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But isn’t that the point, really? Because you can brand a website, but you can’t brand your life. You can create a style sheet for your blog, but you can’t create a style sheet for your kids. They are gonna be who they are and do what they are going to do, regardless of the perfect plans you have for them. Because God knows what He’s doing way more than we do. And He’s making something beautiful out of our messy life. Beautiful…messy…motherhood…marriage…faith…life. It’s still messy. It’s still beautiful. Beautiful…in His time. That’s what it’s always been. That’s what it will always be.

I cleaned the play room today: here’s what I realized about my boys

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Every once in a blue moon, the boys’ play room needs a good cleaning. It’s the kind of things where kids need to not be present. Momma needs a chance to sort through juice box straw wrappers and annoying little toys that serve no purpose. She needs to throw broken car track pieces and partially-torn … [Read more…]

Practically perfect in every way? A Mary Poppins Returns review

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Mary Poppins Returns: Remake, Sequel, or Bust? Viewers may have mixed expectations about the new movie, “Mary Poppins Returns.” For some purists that have loved the classic since it was released in the 60s, the thought of a remake or sequel of Mary Poppins may make you feel queasy. Why is this? Because we have … [Read more…]

My Broken Hallelujah: Thoughts on the Last Day of Kindergarten

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It was 2014 and I was (once again) driving to the Christian preschool my son was attending to deal with a disciplinary issue. Once again taking time out of my respite because he wasn’t succeeding. “Broken Hallelujah” was popular that year, being still a new(ish) release to Christian radio. I found myself raising hands and … [Read more…]

Teach Your Children the Christmas Story with Star From Afar

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Christmas is just around the corner. With the upcoming Advent season comes a great opportunity for parents to teach their small children the Christmas story. Songs, books, Advent calendars, and more…the ways truly are endless. There’s no right or wrong way to teach the Christmas story. The important thing is that our children capture, even … [Read more…]

Dear Moms of Preschool Boys: It gets easier, I promise

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We took family pictures last weekend. I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to a photo session quite so much. We got to dress the boys in matching clothes: an 18 months shirt that Ezra wore for our 2011 Fall photos and the matching shirt in 5T that he wore for our 2014 photos. I … [Read more…]

Sparkhouse Frolic Books for Kids: Little Steps, Big Faith

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“It is never too early to teach kids about God.”  Sparkhouse Family believes that kids can begin learning about God as they begin developing through their childhood. Thus, they have created a wonderful set of kids books called Frolic that reaches young children from the baby years to the older preschool years. Their Frolic Faith set … [Read more…]

Preschool Graduation: Ezra’s Trials and Triumphs

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Yesterday was Ezra’s preschool graduation. Tomorrow is his very last day of preschool, and falls exactly two years and four months from the day I first sent him off to preschool. I felt so many things that day: Relief – that I was no longer going to be his everything, that he could look to … [Read more…]

Beauty in the Mess ~ Edition 06.25.15

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I saw my counsellor yesterday, and she kept telling me how far I’ve come in the last year. She encouraged me to keep counting my blessings and thinking on the things that are true, lovely, and beautiful (Philippians 4:8). I’m conflicted about how to move forward with this monthly-ish series. Because it’s so important for … [Read more…]