Are you building a wood rocking horse? Chances 
are, if you’re a woodworker, you’ll at some point make a rocking horse or hobby horse for some little family member. Here are some pointers for getting started on a project that may well become a family heirloom.
Archives for Positive Parenting Tips
Build a Wood Rocking Horse
Published by admin on February 2, 2012
The Homeschooler’s Winter Change-Up
Published by admin on January 25, 2012
If you ask homeschooling families what they love the most about home education, you will probably hear “flexibility” more often than anything. Flexibility to teach what they want (within state standards of course), when they want, how they want, etc. Being able to change what we need, when we need it.
Winter holiday breaks are a good opportunity to really evaluate how your homeschool year is going, and to make changes if you need to. Why is this time of year such a good opportunity for this?
Building a Kid-Friendly Backyard
Published by JesseLangley on January 23, 2012
One of the joys of childhood is being able to run 
around in the backyard. It can be a place for adventure, imaginative play, and a child’s first introduction to sports. Whether you just moved into a new home or you’re simply preparing your yard for a new arrival, there are certain steps you can take to ensure that your backyard is kid-friendly and appropriate for hours of fun.
Safety
How Your Parenting Style Can Damage Your Child’s Chances of Happiness
Published by admin on January 18, 2012
Parenting styles play an important role when it 
comes to the future happiness of a child. The manner in which a parent interacts with a child will have influence over their character, self-confidence and positioning in society.
Many parents unwittingly make mistakes that may damage a child’s chance of happiness. Here are some tips on what to avoid. How Your Parenting Style Can Damage Your Child’s Chances of Happiness continued »
3 Reasons Families Choose Homeschooling
Published by admin on January 16, 2012
Homeschooling is as individual as the people who do it. 
There are many reasons why families choose homeschooling as the way to educate their children. But what motivates them to take a path that is still considered odd in many circles.
Religious Reasons
Tips For Parents Raising A Child In A Foreign Culture
Published by Guest Author on December 30, 2011
For any person, raising kids is probably the biggest challenge they’ll ever face in their lives. When you raise kids in a foreign culture, the challenge grows multifold. Expats find themselves constantly battling with challenging situations while raising their kids. Your kids will feel rootless; they may feel that they don’t belong anywhere. They’ll feel removed from the activities in their home country, while feeling unable, or perhaps unwilling, to participate in a different culture. If you’re an expat raising your kid in a foreign culture, these tips might help you cope better.
1. Your kids might be missing their friends and are, in all likelihood, rebelling against living elsewhere. Don’t push them to make friends, as though you’re trying to make up for their loss. Let them know that you left your friends, coworkers and jobs behind as well. When they see that you’re in the same situation as them, they’ll come around.
Tips For Parents Raising A Child In A Foreign Culture continued »
Recess: Vital to Healthy Child Development
Published by admin on December 28, 2011
Ask most students what his or her favorite 
time of the school day is and “recess” often tops the list. While some 40% of all U.S. school districts continue to cut recess time to add more classroom time to the day, more and more studies indicate that recess is just as important as any other time of the school day when considering the holistic needs of children. In fact, the surgeon general recommends that elementary aged children get at least one hour of aerobically active exercise most days of the week. As students get older they should have at the very least 20 minutes of aerobic activity several times a week.
While regular physical activity is important for growing bodies, there are a number of other reasons why recess is a vital part of overall student health. Consider the following: Recess: Vital to Healthy Child Development continued »
What to do if you Weren’t Invited to the Royal Wedding
Published by Guest Author on December 28, 2011
So you weren’t one of the 1,900 lucky recipients to receive a gilded invitation to the wedding of the century on April 29th…what now? We’ve got a few options for you, some less felonious than others, but no matter which route you choose you’re sure to have a smashing good time. Well, as smashing a good time as one can have before noon…
What to do if you Weren’t Invited to the Royal Wedding continued »
My Kid Is More Than a Number and So Is Yours
Published by JesseLangley on December 27, 2011
As it stands now, your child’s performance on 
standardized tests and IQ tests will be the primary factors affecting his or her future education. Although it may be convenient for the education system to separate children into gifted programs and intermediate classes, it fails to address the distinct learning styles and talents that vary from child to child. Unfortunately, this means that many children with talents in areas not included in this limited academic realm may not be able to discover and foster the development of their unique talents until later in life. On the bright side, recent shifts in opinion may change these rules forever.
Beginning with the most salient example, the use of the SAT score for college admissions has recently been challenged by author Joseph Soares in his new book SAT Wars. In the book, Soares points out that children from higher socio-economic backgrounds have a significant advantage on the test because they have better opportunities to prepare with private tutors and other costly studying tools. Furthermore, he found that high school G.P.A. was significantly more reflective of student success in college than an SAT score.
Why Your Autism Spectrum Child Needs a Rocking Horse – Vestibular Stimulation and the Autism Spectrum
Published by Guest Author on December 25, 2011
One of the major problem areas for our son with Aspergers is his need
for vestibular stimulation. From the time that Z could locomote, life has been a significant challenge for us because he would spend most of his time running around the house at top speed, banging into the walls, falling on the ground and laughing maniacally. These activities have always brought him endless delight and as a young boy, he was never happier than when he was careening around at speeds that were highly concerning to us as his parents. Z was a very active boy from the get-go and at the time my husband and I just chalked it up to, ‘he’s a boy’. Now we know better.
for vestibular stimulation. From the time that Z could locomote, life has been a significant challenge for us because he would spend most of his time running around the house at top speed, banging into the walls, falling on the ground and laughing maniacally. These activities have always brought him endless delight and as a young boy, he was never happier than when he was careening around at speeds that were highly concerning to us as his parents. Z was a very active boy from the get-go and at the time my husband and I just chalked it up to, ‘he’s a boy’. Now we know better.Since Z’s diagnosis with Aspergers 5 months ago, we have learned that his careening around is actually a common behaviour for kids on the autism spectrum and we can do something to help him! What a relief, because the behaviour that was cute, (if not slightly odd) at 18 months, was getting downright dangerous at 6 years of age. It was so simple, Z was just seeking sensory input from a vestibular standpoint.
How to Make Preschool Drop-Off Seamless as Possible
Published by Guest Author on December 25, 2011
On Sawyer’s first day of preschool, he hung his backpack in his cubby, hugged me around my waist, and nuzzled his cheek beneath my rib. “Goodbye Mama,” he said. I patted his back. We separated. I waved, hot from withholding tears. I’d been so focused on preparing him for school that I neglected my own heart.
“Parents should remember that they are the adults,” says pediatrician Natalie Geary of ModernMums.com. “If you’re going to cry, wait until you are out of your child’s earshot. Don’t subject children to it.” I took a few deep breaths, remembered how much I liked Sawyer’s teachers, and calmed myself with the words I’d incanted to my son. I’ll see you at pick up.
How to Make Preschool Drop-Off Seamless as Possible continued »
TV and Children Behavioral Problems
Published by Guest Author on December 22, 2011
It has been studied and argued that too much television viewing can be 
harmful to children. It is contributing to childhood obesity and violence. Too much television can also cause behavioral problems in children.
A large part of the problem isn’t the television itself; it’s what the children aren’t doing because the television is on. Most children will stop playing to sit and watch the television. This means they are not active and not using their minds for play. Play is important work for a child. It teaches many life skills children need such as social skills, coping skills, using their imagination, and learning.
The ABCs of Organizing Kids for Back to School
Published by Guest Author on December 22, 2011
The transition from summer to school can be ch
aotic and disorganized, but it doesn’t need to be. These simple tips will help you and your kids organize for a new back to school schedule.
A is for Avoiding Distractions
10 Easy Ways to Improve Your Home Decor
Published by Guest Author on December 18, 2011
Whether you are a design guru or someone moving into your first apartment, there are many ways to really make a house a home. From buying living room sets to choosing carpeting, here are a few tips to making your living space more homely:
1. Lamps and Accessories- If you are very casual about interior decorating but would still like to improve the look of your rooms, buying lamps and small decorative items (photo frames, holiday ornaments, paintings, etc) are the easiest things to do. Not only can they be cheap, but also versatile in the way you arrange them around your home. This type of décor is safe and the easiest to implement, as these items will have little installation if any and you are free to change them as often as you wish. These small items are more related to personal taste than anything so people will more often than not praise you for these subtle choices.
3 Healthy Food Ideas for Kid's Lunches
Published by Guest Author on December 17, 2011
Kids may not readily believe it, but the lunches they make 
and take to school can be nutritious and fun. These simple tips will help your children stay healthy while enjoying their lunches during each school day.
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