Tag Archives: preschooler

The Great Stroller Debate—-Preschool Edition

A couple of years ago I lamented about toddlers and strollers. Traveling with my then fickle 2-year-old was a challenge because I was constantly debating whether or not I should bring the stroller with us. It was always a toss-up as to whether she would ride in it or spend the day running circles around it. I thought about that blog the other day when I read a post by another blogging mom railing on Gwyneth Paltrow. Said blogging mom wrote an open letter to Paltrow chastising her for allowing her 4-year-old daughter Apple to ride in a stroller while … Continue reading →

Does Your Preschooler Still Nap?

Do you hear that? It is the sound of the little kids taking naps, or should I say the lack of sound. The silence is so strange, after a morning filled with running and stomping feet, loud laughs and giggles, a few “he’s bothering me”s, and the thumpity-thumpity-thump of a basket of toys being turned over. Life with a preschooler is fun but they certainly keep you running, and when it comes to nap time, I think I need the break as much as my kids need the sleep. One question that always comes up in my moms group is … Continue reading →

Scratch Painting with Preschoolers

Here is a great rainy day activity that you can do with your preschooler. Not only is it fun, but it can be educational, too. Preschoolers can be creative, practice letters and numbers and learn how to hold a pencil. Plus, you’ll have some great artwork to hang on the refrigerator or send to the grandparents. The idea of scratch painting is simple. You start with a blank surface that is usually black, although it doesn’t have to be. Your child takes an implement, such as a stylus or dull pencil (although anything with a bit of an edge or … Continue reading →

Charity and the Preschooler

“Mommy, I thought charity was a girl.” That was my 4-year-old’s response after a man from our local St. Vincent de Paul non-profit thrift store helped unload the last bag of donated goods from our car. For weeks we have been organizing, purging and de-cluttering our home all in the name of charity. After I tackled the kitchen and living room I moved on to my daughter’s room. While she was busy crashing her remote control Jeep into towers of wooden blocks I dumped out a gigantic container of stuffed animals and asked her to help me make two piles. … Continue reading →

Our Field Trip

My two youngest children, a three-year-old and a two-year-old are happily napping right now, after a fun time on a field trip. I love field trips for little ones. It lets them explore different things as well as socialize. This field trip was sort of spontaneous. We went to a local botanical garden to which we own a membership, and we invited some friends along. There were three moms and a total of four kids, all in the two- to three-year-old range. Our first stop was to explore an elaborate cathedral-like tree house. The kids had fun running up and … Continue reading →

Punctuality, Sacrament, and Small Kids

One of the first acting principles I learned when I joined the church was not a gospel principle; it was the concept of Mormon Standard Time. As a punctual person, the constant lateness grated on my nerves. It took me well over a year to adapt to the more laid back approach. I suppose the Lord must have decided I needed to learn patience! Now that I have three children, getting out the door for anything – especially church – seems to take major effort. And given the fact that most of the Sacrament meetings I have attended start five … Continue reading →

Scripture Study Schedules

Does your family, like many, struggle with studying the scriptures together? Perhaps the problem isn’t desire but instead simple technical difficulties. A shift in your routine might make for a more pleasant, spiritual experience. We have often been counseled by our leaders to spend time as a family each day feasting on the words of Christ. Many times I have heard parents emphasize that even if your family grumbles through the study, the important thing to do is to build good habits. And I agree. Yet I wonder how much considering the individual needs and personality of our family might … Continue reading →