Parenting Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Summer Survival Activity Pack

Paula — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:06:00 +0000

Summer vacation is right around the corner for many of you and might have already started for some depending on where you live. Boredom Busters Now that summer has officially arrived, it won’t be long before the kids are bellowing for something to do. I’m bored. Amuse me. I mean I am paraphrasing here but you know exactly what I mean. While we all cherish those long, sunny days and the break from the school-day hustle, every parent knows the boredom bug usually makes its appearance within the first week. So what’s a mom or dad to do? Well, maybe you have them booked in solid summer camps and activities all season long. Nothing wrong with that. (Other than the cost actually.) What Does Summer Survival Look Like for You? And maybe on a few of those days you pop by online resources like this site to print out some activity pages. Road Trips? Whether you are prepping for a long road trip, looking for quiet activities to balance out the high-energy outdoor play, or simply need a sanity-saving tool for those unpredictable rainy afternoons, I have exactly what you need. Summer Activity Pack to the Rescue I am thrilled to introduce the Ultimate Summer Survival Activity Pack—a substantial, 25-page treasure trove designed to keep little hands busy and creative minds engaged. This is a thoughtfully curated collection packed with everything kids love. From brain-teasing word searches that sharpen those observation skills to intricate colouring pages perfect for mindful downtime, and open-ended drawing prompts that spark the imagination, this pack is designed to be your go-to resource for the summer or even just for a couple of weeks. Survive and Thrive I know how hard it is to balance keeping kids entertained while managing your own busy schedule. That’s why we’ve taken the guesswork out of “What can I do now?”—just print, play, and watch the boredom melt away. Summer survival should also be enjoyable and maybe even creative and fun. In fact, I bet years from now if you ask your kids what they remember from the summers of their childhood, at least one of them will say that road trip to the cottage up north. Or maybe it’s do you all remember that time we were rained out camping and we sat in the tent or trailer and played cards and did word games all weekend? After all, summer doesn’t need to be perfect and you shouldn’t just need to survive it. Have some fun and hit pause and turn the negatives into positives when able. Grab Your Activity Book Are you ready to grab your copy and make this summer the most creative one yet? By now I think you know exactly what to do here. Click on the link above and save it then print it out. These are for your personal use only. You may not republish. Thanks for reading! Believe me I know that the start of the summer especially for working parents can be rough. The transition is chaos and trying to work with kids underfoot is challenging. BUT that said, summer also tends to fly by and it is the best season to get outside chasing long sunny days at the beach or building core memories with a camping trip that will warm your hearts well into February when the snow and ice feels embedded deep in your bones. I have so many other summer printable activities to try and a few ideas of things you might want to do this year as well. Here’s a tool that can help you get started. Summer Bucket List Use this summer bucket list to prioritize the best summer activities that you plan to do and want to ensure you do not miss a moment of the fun. Check out my Road Trip Activity Book for those days when you are in the car or the van for hours on end Happy Summer!

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My New KURU Summer Sandals

Paula — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:10:04 +0000

Summer is right around the corner and that means after a brief spring cleaning stint, I am now fishing out all of my summer attire. And taking stock of my shoes too. I am a firm believer that good shoes matter. I wasn’t always that way and couldn’t always afford good quality footwear. This season, summer 2026, is all about these pain free Kuru summer sandals. I received product for consideration on Thrifty Mommas Tips. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful. When I was younger there was nothing I loved more than high heels with a matching outfit. But the shoes I wore then were far from comfortable. Functional, meh? Not so much. They were all about finishing a curated look. In high school I had a part time job at the mall in a clothing store and I ran with the cute looks then which completely spilled over into the school hallways. Oh, I still have a few pairs of gorgeous colourful stunning pumps and wedges, but at this age and stage of life I am much less inclined to suffer for fashion. I’d much rather have something cute and fashionable that doesn’t hurt my back, my legs, my hips, my feet, my calves. This season my Kuru summer sandals are going the distance with me and supporting health and wellness as well as fashion. What I Love About Kuru Summer Sandals This year my style is easygoing but functional for summer events and the interviews I have going on. Last year, I sprained my ankle while in Boston helping my brother out, watching my niece. Not going to lie that ankle took a long time to heal. Summer swimming helped with rehab. Then during ski season in February a snowboarder collided with me and I hit my shoulder and hurt my lower back and that somehow also became an ongoing ache in my left hip. But it was also winter boot season so there are limits to what you can do with that really. As long as your feet are warm and dry when there’s 3 feet of snow on the front lawn, that’s about the best you can hope for in an Ontario winter. Treat Your Feet My ankle, well that’s pretty much 95% better one year later. Swimming and at home physio helped. Finally, my shoulder has returned to its normal range of motion. My hip and back still have a little bit of residual aching and stiffness at times. So, here’s the thing. I am trusting Kuru this season because they are just that comfortable and their KURU Feel Better Promise™ guarantees that my feet (and yours) feel better in 91 days or you get your money back. Kuru shoes are actually shoes that can 100% claim to improve some common foot and pain issues. So basically, if you have back pain, bunions, flat feet, heel pain, hip pain, plantar fasciitis or a host of other conditions, these will help make you feel better. Any remaining leftover pain or occasional stiffness will definitely be better than it was last year with these summer sandals. A Summer Standout The Kuru Loma Jarvi is a standout in the summer collection in my opinion, blending a classic fisherman-style platform with advanced comfort technology. I chose a versatile toffee sand colour that pairs effortlessly with everything from casual jeans to vacation dresses. The design is elevated by a 56mm lift, making me look way taller than I am (don’t dislike that at all) while providing a stylish silhouette without sacrificing the stability needed for all-day wear. These sandals cradle your foot and your arch perfectly. The cushioned cork footbed is more comfortable than anything I’ve worn in years. Pairing these with cute sundresses and my denim jacket for cool days. Kurosole Technology What sets these sandals apart is the patented KURUSOLE technology, which is engineered to dynamically to flex and hug your heel with every step. The responsive design helps protect the natural cushioning of the feet, which makes them perfect for anyone who needs relief from foot or back pain. The cork footbed and adjustable multi-straps ensures a secure, ergonomic fit that adapts to the movement of the foot. Whether heading to a summer brunch, taking a summer vacation to Europe or hitting an out of town event these are perfect. Finally cute shoes that don’t hurt your feet. Kurosole KURU Shoe Features KURUSOLE Heel Protection: The patented tech hugs and cushions your heels to absorb shock and ease joint strain. (I know this is true. You can feel it the second you put these on.) These are my new Kuru summer sandals: Shoes with Benefits Since receiving these and integrating them recently into my day to day, I see benefits. My hip doesn’t hurt and my foot is so comfortable in these. Kuru has a range of women’s and men’s shoes, runners and sandals. There are some boots too but I have no interest in anything wintery at the moment. The Range of Styles The new arrivals and slip ons have my full attention now as well because if these Loma Jarvi sandals are this comfortable imagine how great it would be to wear these slip ons daily. Also how cute is the regular Loma as well. The colours are FAB. Basically I have a running Wishlist of Kuru footwear that I want to try next. (Hello, Pineapple Coda? SO cute.) I suspect you will have the same issue once you start trying them and wearing them on a regular basis.

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Why Dream Pairs Boots Are My New Obsession

Paula — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:03:00 +0000

Is there anything more “Canadian” than the eternal struggle of finding shoes or boots that actually look cute but won’t leave you sliding across a frozen Tim Horton’s parking lot? I’ve spent years cycling through boots that are either “industrial-tundra-chic” or “fashionable-but-frozen.” Product was provided for consideration and affiliate links are included as a service to readers. I make a small commission via qualifying purchases. The last pair I had were great and a well known brand, don’t get me wrong, but sexy they were not. Fashionable, NO. Functional only and I feel like there’s space for both function and fashion in the winter. So, discovering Dream Pairs boots this month was magical for me. My Favourite Boots But this season, I finally hit the jackpot with Dream Pairs boots. Honestly, I’m a bit late to the party, but now that I’m here, I’m not leaving. I received four different styles—boots, runners, some mid calf boots and indoor, outdoor slippers—and they have all become my daily winter uniform. In fact, I loved some of these so much that I already grabbed a second pair of indoor outdoor slippers as a gift for my daughter who was already a big fan of the brand. “I trust that Dream Pairs are good quality.” 1. The Suede Boots: A Winter Game-Changer Let’s talk about the Suede Winter Boots first, because they were the biggest surprise. Usually, I’m wary of suede in our slushy winters, but these have been incredible. They are lined with the softest fur that honestly feels like a hug for your feet. Even on those mornings where the wind chill makes you want to stay in bed, these keep my toes genuinely toasty. The best part? They don’t have that “heavy” feel of traditional snow boots. They are stylish enough to wear with leggings and a cute oversized sweater for a coffee date, but sturdy enough to handle a trek through the snow to get the mail. These are my new apres-ski boots. Perfect for the run from the van to the lodge or the run down the street to the mailbox or the mall. Pro Tip: If you’re in Canada, I recommend a quick spray of suede protector just to keep them looking pristine against the salt, but they are treated prior to purchase. The quality of these for the price is unbeatable! 2. The Runners: From the Gym to the Grocery Store Next up are the Nortiv 8 women’s walking shoes. We are all picky about sneakers—they need to be supportive, not overly expensive but also extremely comfortable. My feet, knees and back demand good support. These are so sleek and lightweight. I’ve been wearing them for my indoor workouts, but I can see these transitioning into my favourite “running errands” or walking shoes. They have a cushioned sole that makes it feel like you’re walking on clouds, which is a lifesaver when you’re navigating the gym or any errands you need to do. Plus, the breathable mesh means my feet don’t overheat when I’m dashing around and working out. 3. The Slippers: The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor Hybrid Finally, the Dream Pairs Fuzzy Indoor-Outdoor Slippers. These are the MVP of my house winning the winter right now. We have hardwood floors on the main level of our house that get freezing in the winter, so slippers are a non-negotiable. What I love about this pair is the durable rubber sole. I can wear them while I’m making breakfast, and then walk right outside to take the recycling to the curb without having to swap shoes. They have a plush, luxurious feel that reminds me of high-end brands, but at a fraction of the cost. These are actually the warmest indoor outdoor shoes or slippers that I have ever had. 4: The Knee High Pull On Full Boots In numerous colours, these knee high pull on full boots are actually mind blowing. Love the style and the height. Love that there are several pairs of boots with wide calf fit options too if that’s what you need. And when these arrived and I spied the soft inner lining plus the pockets in the boots, I squealed for joy. I mean pockets in boots? Life altering fashion meets function. My Fave Features of These The Hidden Pocket: Perfect for stashing cash, key, or card, these women’s dress boots come with an inner pocket. These knee-high boots offer both style and function. Comfortable Height: With a 0.5-inch heel, these cute boots are ideal for long walks, shopping trips, or all-day wear. Sizing and Shipping Shopping on Amazon Canada can occasionally feel like a gamble and buying shoes, boots or clothing can be hit or miss for sizes. That’s my biggest issue sometimes, but the shipping was fast and the sizing was spot on for all of these. When I saw how much I was wearing my indoor outdoor slippers, I knew I had to get a pair for my daughter. It was either that or she was going to end up owning my pair. Just as an aside, my daughter, Payton says these are everywhere on campus and frankly the ease getting them on and off is a big deal for her due to arthritis. Why I’m Gifting Them Too It’s rare to find a brand that hits that sweet spot of: If you’re looking to treat yourself or need some trendy fashionable boots that you know will actually get used, check out the Dream Pairs storefront. Your feet (and your wallet) will thank you!

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So Where’ve I Been for the Last Year?

Paula — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 12:50:00 +0000

So Where’ve I Been this last year? Two years ago this week we were practically standing at the door ready to roll on our trip to Vermont I was writing here 3-4 times a week, a regular contributor to CBC Parents and Content Coordinator at Neighbours of Sunningdale. But the pandemic upended a lot of that. Travel ground to a standstill two years ago this week and that was that. What is a travel writer without the ability to travel? I pivoted fast to writing about pandemic parenting and that worked for several months. Frankly, that first year just being able to keep paying the mortgage was a big accomplishment. So, what about the last year though? For sure several of you have most likely noticed me writing less frequently. That’s because I took a new job as Digital media account manager at a digital media and marketing agency close to London, Ontario. (Side note: reach out of you need any marketing, communications or digital media/ social media marketing needs.) You can find me at 31st Line Strategic Communications. My New Occasional Office While a large portion of the last year has been remote work still, there was a chunk of summer and fall where I was in the office a couple days a week. That was actually pretty enjoyable and as you can see here some of my office colleagues are a whole lot of fun. None of us know what next year brings, but as lockdowns and the travel forecast clears I hope to share many more adventures with you again soon. And I hope to be able to return physically to the office again soon as well. To New Adventures I am still writing, but mostly I do that at work in the context of the campaigns that I manage. This year we have traveled in Canada and I am enjoying that of course too. Quebec is always a hit for us as a family in any season and ski season this year was no exception. Recently we returned from Mt Tremblant, which is the spot where we learned to ski many years ago, so it holds a special spot in our hearts always. The trails and the snow were both exceptional this season. Here’s to being able to share a bit more travel here this spring and summer. What Have You Been Up to? Are you planning any adventures? Did you make a career change during the pandemic?

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Why I am Celebrating Finishing the Pandemic School Year

Paula — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 19:15:45 +0000

Kudos to all the university, college and high school kids who finished this challenging pandemic school year. Here’s why I am celebrating that achievement. Pandemic learning was a huge challenge this year as was school in general. Socially, I feel like we haven’t given our kids enough credit for getting through the volatile and discombobulating pandemic school year they just had. Imagine being a teen or even an elementary child adapting to all of the stress and change that’s been thrown at them this year. If anything, I am surprised so many kept going to the very end of June. What I am Celebrating Last month, my oldest daughter finished her first year of university done during a pandemic and my youngest finished grade eleven. I know many of you parents know what I mean when I say well that was a year like no other. This past school year was chaos to say the least. Many high school students went back and forth all year. Two to three months in class and then boom back to at home remote learning through no fault of their own. Then when Covid-19 numbers dipped again some slid right back into the classrooms where smaller numbers of kids had been in cohorts. Finally, back to school and whoops suddenly Wave 3 of the pandemic hit in Ontario. The Only Constant Was Disruption The pandemic school year was nothing if not disruptive. At times, we nearly gave up here on high school because the pandemic school year was more than uphill especially since all supports vanished and suddenly I was basically doing the IEP here while juggling a full time job too. Ontario students of all ages had a year like no other. Parents did too. I know how hard that was and think it’s worth noting. Parents and students made the greatest sacrifices this academic year. But it’s over. Now let’s stay safe this summer, wear masks and get your second vaccines so school can return to some version of normal in September. We all owe that to kids and families in Ontario. For my University Student What a first year it was! She was literally on campus three times, two of those times were in the fall of 2020 for a social distancing paint night with masks on, to pick up something from the campus bookstore and join a study session. She hasn’t physically been on campus at all in 2021. Learning from home started as a huge adjustment and it was lonely at first but over time and by second semester it was clear she found a rhythm. Our University Year While people often took jabs at college and university students for spreading the virus, and there were numerous outbreaks in residences at Western University, this was not our experience. I don’t think a lot of students actually fell into the partying irresponsible group. The actual lived experience of many university and college students was pretty hobbit like and anxiety provoking. A lot, like Payton, were home learning all of their subjects from a corner of their bedrooms all year. Some students made it physically on campus two to three times to buy books or get their student activity card printed. Anxious Moments Anxiety impacted sleeping. My oldest worried often. So working on school all day in her bedroom was not conducive to restful sleep at night. And Yet They Adapted While it took several months for Payton to find her footing, she eventually did. Pandemic learning was less than ideal, but still she did it. By semester two I noticed a change mentally. She was reluctant and a bit depressed in September. As in, this is not what I signed up for but by January she was in the groove. Honestly, I was proud that she was making the best of it. Meanwhile in High School Here in our school district and province they segmented students into cohorts for consistency and size of classes. My youngest went to school some weeks for a whole two days, four hours each day. Ridiculous. For the rest of the week, classes occurred on Microsoft Teams or via Zoom style remote learning. By the end of the year they had given up. So, I decided we could drop the last course entirely. For a kid who loves sports, conducting all the sports at home online was a huge hurdle. It just wasn’t going to end well. My kiddo with FASD is a black and white thinker, and that’s part of the disability. So, doing sports without the team portion of it in person was a non starter. But We Did It So ultimately while both experiences were very different, we did it. We made it through the school year. Some of us emerged a little stronger and wiser and maybe more resilient. Some parents lost jobs as a result of the need to teach. Believe me, this is nothing I would wish on any parent or student. But here’s to making it through! ONWARDS to the Fall I am hopeful September is an entirely different and consistent school experience. Our kids deserve it and need it. Frankly, we do too.

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Eight Ways to Teach Gratitude and a Gratitude Jar Craft

Paula — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 15:30:00 +0000

Gratitude is a funny thing. It’s hard to teach at times, but such an important value to hold close for life. Without gratitude life can ring hollow. For me, gratitude ties in closely with mindfulness. That’s why I like this gratitude jar kids’ craft idea for families. I’ve talked about self esteem before and self esteem crafts that help kids to grow more self esteem, but what about gratitude? How do you build a sense of gratitude from a young age that permeates a lifespan? Eight Ways to Show Gratitude Here are several ways to help build gratitude in kids as they grow. Model Gratitude Talk about the things YOU are grateful for as a parent. This can be a simple way for kids to understand that there are many things to be grateful for daily. I find that this works in conjunction with mental health. It is also a bonding activity in some ways. When my kids were tiny I would often state: I am so grateful we adopted you and that would support positive adoption language as well. All good things. Share Something Sweet Giving helps kids and adults feel good about themselves and also it can help to show and make gratitude concrete. So bake those cookies, cupcakes or brownies and deliver them to a neighbour. Watch them light up. You get the distinct feeling of baking something nice and sharing something sweet with a neighbour. Share Your Time Volunteer together. Look for chances to give back to your community. You can also model this by volunteering yourself as an adult. When you communicate to kids that this is just part of being a member of a community they are more inclined to understand that over the lifespan and find ways to give back as well. List Five Things You Are Grateful For Each Night One of my daughters does this thing before bed sometimes where she comes in to see me and gives me a hug and then recounts five special things about the day. I enjoyed taking a walk with you. I’m grateful for seeing the neighbour’s dog and having the chance to pet it on our walk, etc. You get the idea. This small thing helps lift us up before bed. Some people do this daily at dinner as a family. It is also a trick the kids learned at camp one year. We love it. Start a Gratitude Journal Remember your childhood diaries? Well, a gratitude journal is a little like that, but by stating the positive things every day in the morning or at night and creating your own positive little journal, you can help to create and explore positive grateful sentiment. I like this idea because it is a positive space for everyone. Obviously kids and teens have their own version of this and it is simple to do. Mine is sometimes on my phone and occasionally I use this space to explore gratitude as I did here – 85 Things I am Grateful For. These are often very simple daily details but they make me smile. Scooter Kid for instance and Mindy the dog. Draw, Create, Make Something Beautiful Art has many therapeutic benefits. One of my kids is very much tiny making art as a therapy tool, so you can also help elevate someone else with this. Draw something and post it in your window to brighten the neighbourhood or paint a picture and deliver it by mail to a relative you haven’t seen recently. Pay a Compliment Show gratitude and share some joy by simply eating a kindness forward and paying someone a compliment. My youngest daughter is excellent at this. They tell random strangers how much they love their nails or hair or simply say have a great day. It all helps and the positive smile is rewarding. Make a Gratitude Jar Craft This gratitude jar craft is a great craft for families. Here’s how to make yours. Gratitude Jar for Kids You can do this gratitude jar craft a couple of different ways. Print these two sheets out and make it a fun little two dimensional drawing activity. Or, go get a mason jar and make it a fully hands on gratitude activity that resonates. I veer towards hands on here because that’s the kind of thing that’s always spoken to my kids. We’re a hands on kind of family. It’s how the kids learn. Finding Gratitude How do you find gratitude or how do you show gratitude? Sometimes I write down things I am grateful for. When things seem overwhelming I give that a lot of work. There are many days when it’s hard to find any reason to be grateful for anything especially during the pandemic, but doing these every week or even periodically can help to shift your mindset. That helps everyone in my family and I hope it helps yours too. Don’t Miss These Other Craft Ideas

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Getting Kids Inspired to Help with Earth Friendly Cleaning Products

Paula — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 12:18:00 +0000

This Earth Friendly Cleaning products post has been sponsored by Earth Brand which means I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is truthful. My kids are inspired to clean again. That’s a rare thing typically, but during the pandemic, cleaning has taken on even greater importance first of all because everyone has been trying to up their sanitation game. Second of all cleaning is actually fulfilling because we have found a fun and effective new lineup of earth friendly cleaning products. Cleaning with Good Conscience Obviously, during this past 15 months, and the many many lock downs here in Ontario, we’ve all had more time in our homes which means more messes. My typically tidy home seems to explode into disorder overnight. So, more cleaning is necessary. But it’s not all bad news. My teens, like many kids, have found the pandemic to be anxiety provoking, emotional and downright terrifying at times. WE have all coped with some of that uncertainty and emotional turmoil by doing a lot of different things. I have done a lot of walking and exercising. Sometimes the kids join me and sometimes they don’t. My one daughter spends way too much time getting lost on TikTok. My oldest does a lot of baking and cooking which is all well and good and yummy too. But that can be messy too, so more cleaning is involved after that mess. Payton, 19, has also been cleaning compulsively. There are definitely worse habits to have. In fact, a year ago my daughter launched into the pandemic with some manic Marie Kondo-ing of all her things, and over the months she has revisited that many times over. I’m not complaining at all. In fact, it has been helpful in some ways. Why Earth Brand? Earth Friendly Cleaning products from Earth Brand speak to all of us in my home. Earth Brand, a brand that clearly combines a little bit of science experiment, with pods that dissolve in the reusable bottles makes tidying up better for everyone. When Earth Brand arrived here, my kids were a little bit curious. The pods are separate from the bottles and they contain everything you need to get started. EARTH BRAND has a mission to remove single-use plastics from the cleaning routines of Canadians. That’s something we can all get behind. But interestingly it really resonated with my teens. I’ve been saying this for awhile now. Generation Z is committed to the environment and they are kind of fascinating to watch grow. They don’t back down on the causes that matter to them. They are passionate about brands that do better and they expect that. So, Earth Brand is a great fit for our family and for their future. Over 90% of plastic is not recycled – ending up in landfills, the environment and waterways. Each pouch of Earth Brand Pods can save three single-use plastic bottles from a landfill. They products are easy to use and fun with a fresh scent. Water represents over 95% of the weight of most cleaning products – and associated pollution as well. Did You Know? Canadians produce a lot of plastic waste; an estimated 3.3 million tonnes per year – with about 85%, or 2.8 million tonnes, ending up in Canadian landfills every year. Because of this, the Government of Canada has recently passed legislation that bans single-use plastics by the end of 2021. So, it’s time for all of us to start doing better. The Earth Brand pods and bottles are Green Seal Certified for sustainability, and are ensured 100% recyclable. What are Earth Brand Pods? Each Earth Brand Pod is a dose of concentrated cleaning solution in a fully-dissolvable, earth-friendly film. Once the pod completely dissolves in water, it provides 1 litre of safe but powerful and ready-to-spray household cleaner. It might sound silly but dissolving the pods in the bottles felt like a bit of a science experiment and we all enjoyed that. How are Earth Brand Pods different? Unlike some of Earth Brand’s competitors, these pods leave behind very little packaging waste so they are better for the environment. The pods completely dissolve in water, and the minimalist packaging is 100% recyclable. Further, you can use any bottle you have. There are no proprietary systems, just earth friendly cleaning. Where can I buy Earth Brand Pods? You can buy Earth Brand Pods on Amazon.ca and in retail locations across Canada. Have fun cleaning again and get the kids involved too.

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Take the 30-Day Sibling Challenge Now!

Paula — Mon, 31 May 2021 08:18:00 +0000

You’ve heard of drawing challenges and summer lego challenges and even affirmation cards for teens. But now I am sharing a 30-day sibling challenge for kids, and while it is mostly for kids to use, this is a little gift to you too as a parent if it helps to bring peace to your home. Isn’t that part of the goal daily? Celebrating Siblings Is there any relationship that is longer throughout the lifespan than siblings? Not usually. We grow up with them, they are our first playmates and then we learn to rely on them often throughout life. There are times when although we love them, we likely want to strangle both our kids and our siblings as well. But, you can help encourage positive sibling relationships sometimes with a lot of attention and care and reminders that we are all on the same team. One Team Approach Believe me. This is my mantra here. That’s why I thought this fun and positive 30-day sibling challenge could be a great tool for many of my readers too. We are all on the same team, I say on repeat often. But the years in between spent raising kids and youth who are siblings can be challenging for parents. Nobody fights more than siblings at times because they live so closely together. There are bound to be conflicts, arguments, spats and flat out brawls at times. While I haven’t seen any studies on this as it relates to foster care and adoption, I feel like here at my house the teens struggle with some mental health challenges that make their relationship more explosive at times than some neurotypical children who have not experienced trauma. However it’s important also to nurture the relationships between siblings because of that very thing. The sibling relationship is one of the longest and most impactful over the course of lifetime. So, remember that and help kids celebrate their brothers and sisters now. Building strong bonds now will help them later in life and that is vital to a lifetime of success even beyond their 18th or 20th birthday. Take the 30-Day Sibling Challenge Now Take the challenge with your kids or suggest it to them. This is probably best for a younger youth, or even 8-12 years olds. Pre-teens might be agreeable to participating but teens are so much more prickly, so the buy in could be a challenge in itself. Print Out and Start Now! This is a super simple means of printing out the 30-day sibling challenge. Just make sure your printer is loaded with paper and ink and hit download and then print. Easy peasy. If you like this, then please check out some of my other challenges and my summer activities for kids too. A Few More Ideas for Activities

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Time for Mom Camp With Summer Weekly Themed Activities for Kids

Paula — Wed, 26 May 2021 10:50:00 +0000

So, if this year is anything like last year then we might all be working on creative ways to keep kids busy. Why not set up your own version of day camp? Mom camp with summer weekly themed activities for kids. I mean when kids are little this totally makes sense. Here are a few ideas for summer weekly themed activities. If there are nine weeks of summer, there can be a lot of down days or a lot of “Mom, I’m bored” days. Don’t let that happen. Instead check the attitude and keep them off screens with nine weeks of planned summer weekly themed activities. This is exactly what my oldest daughter does when she is planning activities as a summer camp counsellor. She plots each day out with her coworkers and they each take turns coming up with these and with summery crafts. They have outdoor activities planned too. Last year, that was extremely well planned. Luckily, this year I have several great ideas that you can stagger to use over the nine weeks of summer when school is done. Actually my kids are way too old for this but I know that some of your kids are much younger. So, hopefully this can help you too. Themed Activities Can Help I believe that some of you know, my youngest has FASD and sensory processing disorder. That means she, over the years, has had a lot of school and social challenges. For years, we struggled and worked hard on staggering her into summer day camps. She had a reliable list of social activities that supported her beautifully up until the pandemic. But as you all probably are aware all of those were cancelled when COVID-19 protocols made that necessary. There are five activities each week and a theme of course that guides them. Summer of Mom Camp Start string with Week 1 which is Fruit week. Everyone love Lego – Week 2 is Lego Week Week 3 is Circus Week Backyard scientists be like —Week 4 is Mad Scientist Week Week 5 is all about Safaris Everybody is captivated by farms and agriculture. Don’t miss, Week 6 is Farm Week Space is one of our favourite themes for activities here too. Week 7 is Space Week Week 8 is Construction Finally Week 9 is Mystery Scientist Week Themed Weekly Activities can be expanded to add more activities and crafts daily. If you like this, do check out my summer challenges. Other Summer Activities Check out these Crayola pencil crayons to use when doing any of my activities. They are our favourites.

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25 Summer Things For Kids to Do Now

Paula — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:42:00 +0000

This year we are all about local activities again. If you are also still playing it smart and cautious then you know that you need to get kids motivated to get outdoors and exercise while doing so safely. Don’t sweat it. I have a great list of summer things for kids to do. Refer to it when you are stuck and pin it for later. Right now that might be a bit trickier than usual, but there are many summer activities for kids to do now safely as we wait for the pandemic to subside and vaccines to roll out across the country. Summer Activities for Kids Visit a Neighbourhood Spashpad Find a neighbourhood spashpad, pack a picnic lunch and go for the day. Don’t forget the sunscreen. Scavenger Hunt Check out my post on scavenger hunts and set your kids up with a clipboard and a pencil and then head out on a walk around the neighbourhood to see what you can spy together. Summer Observations Download this adorable summer observations for kids activity page and do it inside or outside. Sometimes I have given kids a clipboard and pencil and had them do these kinds of things outside too. It’s a good way to get them away from gadgets and computers. Go to the Park Everyone has a party nearby. Go find one and spend the afternoon, or morning swinging on swings and hanging out. Your kids will love having a huge green space to enjoy Find a Trail In 2020 we took all the walks and uncovered many trails that were new to us in the process. It was a bit of a positive side to the pandemic actually. At least we got outside and saw a bit more of our area and our city and frankly some of our trails are amazing. There are numerous apps that can help you find something perfect for your family. Go for a Quick Hike Find a nearby hiking trail or one that is age appropriate for your kids and your family. Also, numerous apps will help you with a hike. Camping My favourite part of the summer of 2020 was learning and committing to camping. We bought a tent and we booked a campsite and we LOVED camping in a tent. Tent camping is anything but fancy but there are some stunning Ontario Parks where you need not worry about social distancing expect maybe for in the restroom spaces. Stargazing at night was my favourite part of this experience. Backyard Campout With our tent set up on the back deck, the kids slept outside at least two weekends in the summer. It was a way of having fun and doing something uplifting in the summer months when we were clearly limited to our area. Highly recommend making this happen. Looking for fun summer things to do with kids? This is a hit! Activities like archery lessons from ArcheryUP could be another fun option to mix things up. Sidewalk Chalk or Sidewalk Chalk Murals We actually got in on this back last spring and summer because we were in lockdown then and we needed to get outside. So, sidewalk chalk messages and drawings were a fun way to just spread some joy. Paint Rocks There are so many cute rock painting ideas on Pinterest. We made so many in 2020 and left them around out neighbourhood. Plant a Garden Kids love to grow things. You might even enjoy building some planters and watching them nurture plants. Sunflowers and beans grow fast and are great things to start with if your kids are younger. They can watch progress daily. Swimming Find a neighbourhood pool that’s not too crowded and go for a swim—something that reminds me of the comfort and accessibility of Sacramento pools. Find a neighbourhood pool that’s not too crowded and go for a swim. I have never been more grateful to have a pool than we were in the summer of 2020. It is my oasis. It provided me with the opportunity to get in daily laps and exercise. Frankly, most of us used it this year. My one teen still found it cold, even when heated up to 85, so she was in it less than we were. But it was the best investment ever for us. Yoga Do an impromptu yoga session outside. Kids are excellent at yoga poses and really get into it especially when you tell them to pretend that these are animal related poses. That’s easy to do with several of the poses because they are animal themed. Make Ice Cream We did this last summer and it was so much simpler than I thought. Also, I loved that we knew everything that was in it. Making ice cream is a great addition to the list of activities and summer things for kids to do. Go Berry Picking There are so many U-Pick berry farms in southern Ontario. You should have no trouble finding one. Last season we visited several and grabbed all of the fresh fruits even making bread machine jam for the first time ever. SO GOOD! Bubble Party Make your own bubbles or go buy some bottles of bubbles and go blow them in the yard. They bubble solution is so simple to make. You really only need dishwashing liquid and water with a bubble wand of course. Hide and Seek in the Dark When my kids were small at our old house, we used to go outside after dinner and play what we called dark tag. It was Hide and Seek when it was getting dark and it was so much fun. The kids still remember that game. Of course, now we have a pool so we can’t really do that well anymore. Paint with Bubbles My daughter came up with this one. As a camp counsellor last year and the year before she was responsible for creating the activities and scheduling them in for specific theme days. One day they did bubble painting which is super easy. Drop food colouring into the bubble solution and paint. I mean first you grab a bunch of bowls or containers for the bubble solution and make sure to have some droppers or wands, or both. Put different colours of food colouring into the bubble solution. Give each child either a huge piece of mural paper or large rectangular sized white paper. Blow the bubbles with the colouring over top of the paper and wait for them to pop. This craft makes a really cute design. DIY Bird Feeder You don’t need much to make this happen. It can be as simple as some twine, a pop bottle and birdseed. Go Fishing My one daughter loves fishing. It is relaxing for her so we go probably once a season every summer. We have also been ice fishing before and that was pretty fun, even though we didn’t catch anything. Picnic Last year after we went berry picking we also had a picnic. It was Canada Day and to be honest it was super simple and very sweet. That made me happy. Constellation Walk Download the app – Skyview and go for a walk anywhere at night together. The app helps you to identify constellations easily. After that maybe you can spy them on your own. It has really helped me a lot. Fly a Kite Go Fly a Kite. Literally. Nothing makes you feel more like a child than flying a kite. Beach Day Our extended group of parents did a weekly meetup (with social distancing in mind) at the beach. We have several great beaches in southern Ontario. We often visited Port Stanley. Can’t skip the beach! This is a must do in the summer months. Kids and parents alike love the beach. Just don’t forget the sunscreen and the sand toys. Time Capsule Make a time capsule together and then bury it in the yard. Easy and fun activity that will also amuse you years from now. Garage Sale Get your kids involved in this exercise. Gather all of the things that you are no longer using and have the kids price them. They can help make the signs too and decide on the date of the event. If they are heavily invested in the work, then they should also be able to get part of the profits. Maybe they want to choose a favourite charity to donate their money to. Give them the option and it will be rewarding for all. Summer is Perfect for Kids…Even During a Pandemic With a little imagination and planning you can have a wonderful summer even if you need to stay close to home. I am hopeful we can all explore a bit this season. But, even if we are still waiting for vaccines and need to stay close to home, then this list can help you make the most of summer adventures with kids.

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