Spoons

Have you ever played the card game Spoons?  My family of 6 played for hours when I was growing up. It’s easy enough for little ones, yet suspenseful enough for older children.

Set up: players sit in a circle around a set of spoons (one less spoon than the number of people playing). From 1-2 decks of cards, deal four cards to all players. On each turn, a person picks up one card (from the discard pile or the draw pile) and discards one card. The object is to find four cards of the same number.

When a player collects four cards of the same number, he/she quietly takes a spoon from the center of the pile. At that point, all players in the circle may pick up a spoon, even if they don’t have four matching cards. The player left without a spoon loses the round.

If you don’t have any spoons, you can play PIG instead, with each player sticking out his tongue, instead of drawing a spoon.

Games are so great for bonding families together!

Games Galore!

Our family loves to play games. I love the habit, because games teach so many academic concepts, they strengthen character, and they build relationships.

Here are some of our favorites for young childrn:

Sorry

Ziggity

Letter Factory Game

Candyland

Cariboo

Hullabaloo

Memory

Don't Break the Ice

UNO Card Game

What are your favorite games for young children?

Family Card Games

Erica reminded me about the classic card game "Go Fish". She uses it as a fun way to teach colors, counting, taking turns... We like to play this game when we travel, because it's one of a million games to play with a normal deck of cards.

Other favorite card games include Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Rummy, SlapJack, and Speed. The adults in our family also love Spades, Nertz and Hearts.

Simple Ways Families Can Help Children Become Readers

Read to and with your children for 30 minutes every day.
Have a wide variety of books available to children.
Encourage children to look at books on their own and spend time reading together everyday.
Let your children see you read and write.
Use cooking as a reading tool – ingredient labels, recipes…
Sing and play rhyming games with your child.
Keep books and books-on-tapes in the car.
Carry a ‘book bag’ when you run errands.
Encourage your child to draw and write on her own.
Provide lots of writing materials-chalk, markers, crayons, and pencils.
Visit the library to peruse books and attend story time.
Talk with your children as you do daily activities together.
Restrict the amount and type of television your children watch.
Talk together about things that interest your child.
Introduce new vocabulary words when you talk with your child.
Read any time - on the bus, at the doctor’s office, or waiting in line at the store.
Read throughout the day – morning, afternoon and evening.
Make reading a special time of snuggling and attention.
Shelve books in an easily accessible place that is inviting to children.
Visit your local library story hour to build even more enthusiasm for reading.
Keep books in the car for portable and educational entertainment.
Find special reading places: under a shady tree, on a porch, in the park, or in a hammock.
Make a tent with blankets for a reading corner.

This is part of a handbook I wrote for parents called Reading for Life.  I'll gladly send you a free copy, if you'd like.  Just email me at ann@theassetedge.net.

Use your Personality to Pick a Volunteer Project

God created you with a thumbprint of very unique gifts and personalities. He designed you with a purpose, prepared to make the world a better place. Looking at your personality might help you find your niche for volunteering in the community. Here are some examples:

Adventuresome
Help with outdoor activities for a Big Brothers Big Sisters or a 4-H Club. Organize an adventure for the church youth group or a Young Life club. Plan a treasure hunt for children.

Builder
Make a puppet theatre box for children, help with home repairs for senior citizens, or build a Habitat for Humanity house. Help a single mother with yardwork and home repairs.

Comforter
Visit patients in the hospital, nursing home, or Ronald McDonald House. Volunteer as a crisis pregnancy counselor or answer calls on a crisis hotline.

Creative
Decorate a room for the Renewal House or the Ronald McDonald House. Paint a mural at a daycare center

Dramatic
Help children perform a simple drama, tell the gospel through dramatic stories, or read stories to children at a preschool.

Energizer
Coach a sports team, lead recreational activities for children, chaperone a youth group trip, or help at Vacation Bible School. Babysit for single mothers.

Funny
Visit senior citizen’s centers, dress up as a clown at a hospital, or help with puppet shows at the library

Hospitality
Host an open house or help with a fundraiser for a non-profit agency’s collaborating partners, clients or the community-at-large. Volunteer as a foster parent for children or animals.

Inspiring
Offer to give a motivational speech at a school, community center or church. Use arts and crafts to inspire other people. Read stories to children. Mentor a child.

Organizer
Help plan special events for a non-profit agency, or volunteer on their board of trustees. Tutor a child. Teach study skills to students.

Quick Thinker
Volunteer with CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), coach a debate team, or lobby congresspersons on an important issue.

Socializer
Visit with people with disabilities, read stories to children in a low-income preschool, or host a dress-up party for the Boys & Girls Club.

Thrifty
Teach money management and share shopping tips with singles, new families, widows, and former prisoners.

Wanna Be a Great Mom? Check out Jennifer Grant's new book, Momumental.

In a world of parenting blogs, books and pinterst posts that fuel my aspirations to be a supermom, Jennifer Grant’s new book, Monumental, gives readers permission for me to be an everday mom that loves her kids in a crazy, messy and loud home.

Jennifer is a great storyteller – she uses her mom memories to remind other moms about the mission and journey of motherhood.

Don’t read it if you’re looking for a how-to parenting book.  But if you’re looking for a mom who understands your trials and triumphs, and wants to hang out together, then pick up this book.  IT’s full of conversations I could imagine with best friends on a hike, beside a fireplace, or tucked on a porch swing. 

You will laugh and cry.  Remember and aspire.  You will be encouraged. 

This book is good for moms with kids in diapers or prom dresses – any mom who needs a dose of encouragement for the difficult (yet delightful) adventure of motherhood.

I received the book in this post compliments of Worthy Publishing via Handlebar Marketing for purposes of this review, however all opinions are my own.

Wanna win a copy of this book?  Leave a comment below, and I’ll randomly select a winner on May 14, 2012.

It's Raining! It's Snowing! Cabin Fever Busters for Families

I just wrote these fun ideas for ParentFurther, a national organization dedicated to empowering parents, and I thought you might like to see it, as well as their many other great resources.

When cabin fever starts to kick in, it’s time to get creative! Here are some fun ways to make indoor memories with your family when it’s cold outside. Get tips > 

Can a 4-year old write family rules?

My friend Kevin and his 4.5 year old daughter Caroline created their own set of family rules.

1. Always tell the truth
2. Do what your parents and people responsible for your care ask
3. Don't talk to strangers, but it's OK to say "hello" to everyone
4. Be nice to Jack
5. Keep practicing at your activities to get better
6. Have fun, try hard and help your teammates
7. No stinky tooties!
8. You get what you get and you don't pitch a fit
9. You need to try new things at least once
10. Always be polite

They numbered them, and memorized them together (they both have amazing memories!).  So if they are struggling with a hard day at soccer practice, Kevin can whisper to Caroline, "Think about #6, and she'll remember to try hard, do her best and help her teammates.

I love that they wrote the rules together!  I love that there's a simplicity and a silliness with the rules.  And I love their quest to be a family of character.  You can already see the impact their purposeful choices have had on her character, and she's growing into a beautiful young girl!

What are your family rules?  How did you create your rules?  How could you engage your children in crafting rules?

How Media Impacts Marriage, Family and Life

Courtney at womenlivingwell.org has been hosting a series on media, faith, and family.  She started today's post with this quote from Tim Challies, the author of The Next Story: Life and Faith After the Digital Explosion:

“Our lives have become saturated with sounds and images flashing in front of our eyes, blaring into our ears…At work we spend forty hours staring at computer screens. at home we watch television or visit our favorite websites. Between work and home we check our route on the GPS and dash off a few text messages. Even at church we watch our pastors on screens before returning home to watch sermons on the Internet. Life is mediated by the screen.” p.89

Check out her posts below:

Media and Our Walk with God
Media and Our Marriages

Media and Our Parenting – Part 1

Media and Our Parenting – Part 2

Media and Our Homemaking

Media and Our Friendships

Media and Our Health

Encouragement for parents

"A father's instruction and a mother's teaching are a graceful garland for your child's head and pendants for his neck."  (paraphrased from Proverbs 1:8-9)

Be diligent in your parenting.  Pray for your child.  Love your child.  Hug your child.  Teach your child.  Model good behavior for your child.  Encourage your child.

You are weaving a graceful garland to crown your child's head.
You are part of a lovely necklace which will adorn your child's neck.
God is using you to help your child grow to be more like him each day.
The path will sometimes seem overwhelming and dark, but be faithful to your calling.
Endure the road before you, and you will, in time, see God's glorious work revealed.

Blessings,

 

If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again, by Diane Loomans

"If I had my child to raise over again, I'd fingerpaint more and point the finger less. I'd do less correcting and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes. I would care to know less and know to care more. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites. I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I'd run through more fields and gaze at more stars. I'd do more hugging and less tugging. I would be firm less often, and affirm much more. I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love."

- Diane Loomans

Dads and Daughters - Free Copy of the Book by James Dobson

Get a free copy of James Dobson's new book, Dads and Daughters Thanks to Faithful Provisions for the heads up!

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

Check out this encouraging and inspiring letter from Generation Cedar: 

A Letter to My Children About Marriage

Resources for Parents - Parentfurther.com

There's a new parenting website in town - parentfurther.com.  They cover a range of subjects, from nutrition to sports to money to resolving conflicts to family fun to siblings to cell phones to bullying - and everything in between.  They divide their information into age levels, so caregivers can easily access ideas for children ages 0-18.  If you have a parenting question that's stirring in your heart/mind, this is a great place to explore possible solutions. 

Happy exploring!

Saylor Family Code

Our family has just adopted a family code, that we are striving to follow.  I like the idea, because it paints a clear picture of the family we want to have and the kind of character we strive to follow.  I'm able to use the phrases to encourage positive behaviors and correct negative behaviors. 

I wrote it, then asked my DH to give feedback, then shared it with the children to ensure their understanding.  Now it's posted on the bathroom mirror next to the kitchen and living room, so we each see it throughout the day when we're brushing teeth and washing hands.

Feel free to adapt the code, if you want to write your own family mantra.  I'd love to see what your write!

Love God

Love others

Do the right thing

Keep a cheerful heart

Speak words of love

Use hands to love others

Honor and obey parents and other adults

Be responsible with your things

Respect others and their things

Find ways to help and encourage others

Forgive others and seek forgiveness

Give thanks to God and others

Wisdom about Marriage, Homemaking and Raising Children

Here are some of the blog posts that I've been saving to share with you. I had grand intentions of writing comments on each one, but it doesn't look like I'm going to actually take time to do that. So I'll just share the links. The ladies that wrote these articles are filled with wisdom - I hope you get to enjoy them!

Marriage
How To Be a Treasure To Your Husband from Women Living Well Blog
Frugal Dates from Frugal Hacks
Letting Go of Unrealistic Expectations from Passionate Homemaking

Homemaking
The Making of a Homemaker from Desiring God Blog

Raising Children
Helping Your Children Get Along from Generation Cedar
Why it’s Important for Stay-at-Home Moms to Stay Home from Generation Cedar
Raising Your Children to Change the World from Women Living Well Blog

Great Resource for Moms

My favorite 'mommy' magazine is Family Fun. It is full of practical ideas that really work for my family. Recipes, games, crafts, creative activities, parenting tips and strategies for raising children.

My sister-in-law gave me a subscription this year, and I'm tickled pink to read it each month!

Even if you don't subscribe to the magazine, you can find a lot of ideas on their website - www.familyfun.com.

Striving for Godly Families.

I stumbled upon the Duggar Family's website tonight, while searching through some of Angie's favorite websites. I like this grid of character qualities that they follow, and I also like their House Guidelines. Both would be interesting tools to adapt for our own families! They also have a good list of web resources that they suggest for raising families of faith.

I also thought I would share their answer to the question, "What are your top five best parenting tips? (For parents with families of all sizes.)" that I found on their site:

1. Teach our children to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength, and memorize God’s word together as a family.
2. Teach them to have a servant’s heart, leading by your example. Love your neighbor as yourself.
3. Daily read the Proverb of the Day that corresponds with the day of the month and discuss it as a family.
4. Diligently keep up with each child’s attitudes and actions and ask what is going on in their heart.
5. Pray with them one on one letting them lead in prayer and then you closing the prayer time together.
6. Ask God to help you conquer anger because it can destroy your relationship with your children.
7. Praise them ten times more than you correct them.

It's so fun to learn from other families!

A Birthday Weekend full of Surprises

Today was my 3 year old daughter's birthday. I can't believe she's three!!! We had grand plans for the weekend, including soccer, a nephew's birthday party, weekend babysitting for friends, and my daughter's party with a few families. All of that came to a halt when my two of my kids (the birthday girl and her 7 year old brother) were diagnosed with swine flu Friday. The doctor gently informed me that our kids needed to be pretty much quarantined for nearly a week. Ugh!

Thanks to catching the flu quickly and medicine, we're doing fine. The kids are feeling much better, and we still had a great birthday celebration.

We started out the day by lighting a 'candle cake' at breakfast and singing to the birthday girl. Then we opened gifts about 10am, so the kids could play with the gifts before lunchtime. After rest/nap time, we celebrated with pink birthday cake frosted with a little princess on top. Then we had her favorite spaghetti dinner before popcorn and a movie night. It was a great family day that we all enjoyed - even without leaving the house.

While on the subject of birthdays, I wanted to share an article from my friend Aimee. "Simplified and Splendified" is full of simple ways her family has decided to celebrate birthdays. She is a whimsical, practical, creative and very loving mom - I think you'll enjoy reading her ideas.

Blessings,

10 Ideas for a Free Photo Collage

Photo collages are so fun to make - especially when they are free! Walgreens is offering a free 8×10 Collage today only (thanks for the tip Faithful Provisions).

Here are some ways you might use your free collage:

1. capture special family memories
2. a vacation collage
3. a year of memories for your child
4. pictures of people that love your children
5. a sports collage from your child's last sport season
6. a thank you gift for Grandma or Grandpa
7. a birthday gift for a friend with friendship pictures
8. anniversary pictures to celebrate the growth of your marriage
9. an extended family portrait collage
10. quiet time collage with pictures and scriptures that remind you to spend time with God

How might you use your free collage?