Response to: “What are some of your favorite birthday party favors?”Novelty socks. Buy a bunch & lay them out. Let kids pick the ones they want on their way out. It was a HUGE hit!
Response to: “What is your favorite ebook reader?”Not an e-reader, but I use apps on my phone, so I always have my books with me. My favorite is the Libby app. It’s free, through my library, and has regular books & audio books.
Response to: “Trying to get a handle on laundry....how do you keep it under control without it controlling you?”My kids learned to do their own laundry at age 9. Of course, I helped when they needed it, but they know it’s their responsibility. It’s made a huge difference in our family, and taken the stress off of me. We also have the “one basket” rule. Our kids are allowed ONE basket in their room of clean clothes. It can be a basket that needs to be folded, or one that is already folded & they just need to put it away. (Our son will wear those same clothes week after week, so he never has to put them away.🤦🏻♀️😅)
Response to: “Best advice to give a teen who is dating?”Family first. If you’re interested in someone who doesn’t put their family, or yours, first : they aren’t the one for you. The end game of dating is marriage. If the people you date don’t have the same values you do, it’s going to get messy. Trust your gut. And that of those closest to you. There’s a difference between love and lust. Try to learn those differences.
Response to: “I’m looking into Mathnasium vs Kumon for improving math skills for my elementary age kiddos. Anyone have insight into the difference between the two?”I don’t know anything about Kumon, but I can tell you I have nothing but positive things to say about Mathnasium. I love their individual learning plan. I love that students can work at their own pace. I love that students can bring in their homework for help. I love that it’s high school sypher who help the elementary students. In 18 months, my daughter went from struggling in math to bring invited to join the accelerated math class. Yes, a lot of that was due to her hard work, but she learned to have confidence in her work and skills at Mathnasium. I highly recommend them to anyone I know.
Response to: “Please give me your best tips on helping with reading for 2nd/3rd grade”A reading interventionist told me once: the best way to help your kids with reading is to read. Let them see you read. Read with them. Read to them. Let them read to you. Read books. Magazines. Billboards. Cereal boxes. Getting used to the flow of words is the best thing for them.
Response to: “What’s the most important part of your bedtime routine with the kids, and why?”A long hug. At least 20 full seconds. You can literally feel the stress of their day leave their body. It’s pretty amazing.
Response to: “If you could redo the baby phase, what things would you actually want?”Gift card for photography sessions. They get so expensive! A friend gave us one, and it was, by far, my favorite gift.
Response to: “looking for ideas for a *complicated* Halloween handout 🎃”One of our neighbors does a lollipop pull. Not hard to set up. The kicker? The winning lollipop gets a five pound Hershey bar! The rest of the kids get to pick between other full sized candy bars. Another neighbor gives out the glow in the dark foam sticks. Those are a huge hit, too. Parents love them because you can see the kids in the dark, with them in their baskets/bags.