Simple Backyard Play

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of playing in the backyard with my siblings. I cherish the memories I am creating with my children in our little backyard.

The backyard is nothing fancy yet we make something fantastical out of it.

They mix up a batch of mud soup.

When Your Boy Wants Pink, Sparkly Shoes

A lot of parenting dilemmas are complicated with no black or white answers.  Parents have different solutions to the exact same scenario.  And there may not be one answer that works for every child and every family.

One such parenting issue is boys wanting to wear girls clothes.

Outdoor Play & Healing

Outdoor play has helped heal my children. I have no data to prove it.

I know it in my heart when I observe my children playing outdoors. I see it in how they have grown in positive ways during our time together as a family.

Outdoor play advocates like Richard Louv support the possible healing benefits of outdoor play for childhood trauma.

It is not understood exactly what component of outdoor play is valuable to children.

Is it being surrounded by the incredible beauty of nature?

What to Expect when Adopting a Child

To become an adoptive parent, we had to take parenting training classes. Part of the adoption training informed us of the realities of adopting a child from foster care.

The Question More Pediatricians Should Ask Parents

When my kids go to their annual pediatric appointment, I answer a lot of questions about their diet, activities, and environment.  At my 4 and 5 year old's well check visit the doctor asked, "Is your child enrolled in any extra curricular activities after school?"

The Best 5 Minutes a Day

Like most mothers of school age children, I feel like our mornings are rushed getting the kids fed and ready for school on time.  It is easy to get caught up on keeping to a schedule that you find yourself lacking time to connect with your children.

5 Ways Outdoor Play Develops Positive Behavior

Outdoor play is more important than formal schooling for preschoolers because it helps children develop self discipline.  Preschool children need to learn how to manage their own behavior in order to get the most out of elementary school.

While unstructured play is wild and crazy at times, I am convinced that daily exposure to the outdoor play environment is helping my children control their behavior better.

During outdoor play, I notice my children practicing positive behavioral habits that will help them succeed in school.  Here are five habits of self discipline that my children are working on while playing freely outside.

#1 Problem Solving