Parent Projects

Winter is raging on with no end in sight. The temperatures have been particularly low lately making bundling up to go outside a chore. As I mentioned in my last post, my son has really been enjoying playing board games.

For Christmas he got numerous games and puzzles from his grandparents and aunties. He especially enjoys playing his SpongeBob SquarePants™ Memory Game. Since he also loves playing with flashcards I decided to combine the two concepts and make a fun and educational memory game with my own personal touches. (By the way, our blogger Katie did a great post on flashcards for her daughter last year. This game is a little different, but the concept is similar.)

This memory or concentration game can be adapted for kids of all ages. You can begin with simple concepts such as shapes, numbers, letters, and colors and advance to more complex ideas involving math, grammar, or other languages. ...read more

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I don’t know about you, but by this time every year I’m ready for spring. I want to kick off my winter boots, get outside, and enjoy the fresh air and longer days. It should come as no surprise then that, as a kid, I loved Groundhog Day.  

There was something almost magical about Phil and his ability to predict when spring would suddenly … well … spring. Even though the weather didn’t always cooperate with Phil, the tradition still added a little bit of fun and anticipation to the last days of winter. ...read more

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As a kid, I loved vegetables (I think I told you guys about my love of tomatoes and fresh fruits and veggies in this garden signs post already). But I know I’m not the norm - it can be tough to force those leafy greens on kids! And since we adults are still trying to keep those New Year’s resolutions for healthy eating, what better time to teach our kids and families about healthy eating? ...read more

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Winter around these parts seems never-ending! When temperatures are low, cold winds fast and snowy mounds high, I have to be especially creative to find exciting things to do with my two and a half year old son. His attention span is very limited so it has to be something I know he will enjoy for more than just a minute!

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Holidays are a special time for families – especially the first few years of a child’s life. For parents, these years feel irreplaceable - even when you know the kids are too young to really remember all those special moments.

As the kids get older, I’ve started to take family traditions more seriously. My son is growing fast and is constantly learning new things, but he hasn’t learned to read just yet. So we came up with a fun project to help him create unique and educational holiday memories that I wanted to share with our loyal Out of Office readers! ...read more

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I can remember making all kinds of Christmas tree ornaments when I was in elementary school. Some were better than others. Probably the worst was a star-shaped glue mold that had multi-colored glitter in it and blazing red yarn that keep unraveling. Eew. I think we finally parted with it a few short years after it made its way home.

I even had a friend whose mom dedicated a whole tree just to the ornaments that her kids brought home from school. While I’m sure she adored their handiwork, I suspect that she didn’t want their rudimentary creations competing with her more sophisticated tree in the formal living room that had all the decadent store-bought ornaments. She was clever that way. ...read more

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When I was growing up my family had decorations for every occasion and season. In the fall, Halloween decorations are quickly replaced with harvest decorations. To us, decorations are more than objects; they hold our memories and give us a chance to reminisce. Many of them are handmade by me or my sisters when we were young and give us a good laugh. In my home, I have tried to keep the traditions of my family going while giving it a twist of my own. As you gather around the table and give thanks, I wanted to give you an idea to personalize your table setting.

My son brings home tons of art projects from daycare. I never knew a child’s handprint could be made into so many things! One of the most popular creations of the season is the turkey handprint. One way to preserve this adorable masterpiece is to use it on your dinner table for all your guests to see. Just make it into a coaster! Luckily a child’s tiny handprint is the perfect size for this festive decoration. ...read more

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Guest blogger Katie Nasche is a communications advisor for FedEx Office. Katie is a busy mom of two girls, and in her spare time, she enjoys baking and scrapbooking. Today, Katie shares with us some fun ideas for flashcards.

Now that my daughter is a first grader, school is serious business. She has spelling and reading tests and math problems. To help her learn, I decided to go with the tried and true method of flashcards.

There are some great websites with templates that make it easy to do your own. I like the free template from www.kitzkikz.com/flashcards because it’s double-sided, so you can put an addition problem on the front and the answer on the back.

...read more

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It’s that time of the year again: the leaves are changing, the newness of back-to-school supplies has worn off and we need to start coaxing our kids into wearing heavier jackets. What better way to “fall” into autumn fun than by exploring the seasonal changes with the kids? Taking a refreshing nature walk through the autumn landscape in a nearby park or even around your own neighborhood can be both educational and a great way to get some fresh air – all while getting out some of that pent-up childhood energy!

To make the most of a beautiful fall afternoon, why not do some arts and crafts to help your child learn not just about nature but also the changing of the seasons?

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Five of my six nephews (Yes, I said six!) are playing soccer this fall. We don’t live close enough to attend their games, but frankly, I’m having trouble keeping up with when their games are anyway! And it’s not just me…I know their mothers, fathers and grandparents are, too!

That’s when it dawned on me that we should make schedule cards for them. These simple cards serve as quick reminders and are a special keepsake for scrapbooks at the end of each season. Plus, for kids, they can be fun to trade like baseball cards or school photos. For convenience, the ones I’ve designed are business card sized so they slip into wallets or underneath sun visors easily. The schedule is neatly displayed on a grid, showing the date, time, location and opponent of each game.  ...read more

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