PreschoolFinder Blog

Thinking about home schooling?

February 25, 2009 – 9:51 am by Megan Spears

Before I had kids, I was one of those people who got irritated by screaming kids in a store. I never really thought much about what parents did, or how big their job really was, until I had kids. When my kids were born, I came to the realization that I really didn't care for who I was as a single person, in fact I would have hated me. You never understand until you are in someone else's  shoes. As a mom with two, I quickly became a big fan and admirer of moms and dads with lots of kids, now that I know the job.  Although, my sister tells me that once you pass three kids, you might as well have eight, it's all ...

Posted in Family, K-12 | 1 Comment »

Celebrating love with your kids…

February 13, 2009 – 2:28 pm by Megan Spears

Valentine's day has never been one of my favorite "holidays." Actually, it's always been a bit irritating to me... a specific day to tell those you love, that you love them. Everyday should be Valentine's day as far as I am concerned. However, since having my kids, I have found this to be a rather enjoyable day... to do extra special things for them... because I love them. With having boys, I have found they get embarrased when girls people tell them they love them or do something nice for them. We love crafty projects, and I blogged a few valentine ideas over at my "crafty" blog if you need some help in that department, but here, I thought I might share a few things we ...

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Chores for kids… how do you track?

January 28, 2009 – 1:39 pm by Megan Spears

Do your kids have chores at home? How do you keep track of them? Recently, my kids were looking at a magazine admiring a toy they wanted. In the past, if we have experienced extraordinarily good behavior, it wouldn't be unheard of for me to reward them with a new toy; however, they are getting older and good behavior (in my opinion) is expected. Which raised the question... "is it was time to institute some sort of chore/reward system in our house?" Now, don't get me wrong my kids have everyday chores that they are expected to do; however, I never track or "reward" them for doing work around the house. So, when in doubt,  I call my sister (mother of three teenage boys) to see what ...

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5 project for the kiddies…

January 15, 2009 – 8:15 pm by Megan Spears

With the cooler temperatures, it seems like we have been stuck inside the house a little more than usual. For some reason, this tends to make my kids a little stir crazy, so when the "craziness" starts setting in.... BREAK OUT A PROJECT. Do you mind the craft mess? I know lots of people who do... Personally, I don't mind a little mess or even cleaning up a mess, if it keeps the kids engaged and entertained.  I think it's important to allow kids to have some flexibility with the mess when trying to be creative... When we have a "in house" day, here are a few projects we breakout and enjoy: 1. Decopouge Box. We like to do these a lot... the kids cut out pieces of ...

Posted in Family, General | No Comments »

Organizing a birthday party

December 30, 2008 – 4:24 pm by Megan Spears

My youngest is getting ready to turn four years old in a few weeks. I love the fact that he is now old enough to tell me exactly what he wants for his birthday. The best part of having a party is seeing how happy they are that it's for them!!! This year, he decided he wanted a SUPERHERO themed party for 8 of his closest friends. I sent out the invites and told everyone to dress in their favorite superhero costume. We are getting a hulk cake (at least that is what he says today) and having a few games for the kids to play (target practice, obstacle course and find-the-hero-go-seek). Getting a party organized is really a big job. Here are some basic ...

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Winter Gear Up

December 16, 2008 – 2:23 pm by Megan Spears

We are in the throws of winter her in the Pacific Northwest. Recently, we have been faced with a cold snap that looks as though it doesn't want to go away. With little ones it's so important to keep them bundled! We are finally at the age where my youngest will actually keep the mittens on his fingers... The biggest problem with winter gear is that it's expensive and it never lasts very long... here are a few ways to help gear up for the winter months without having to drop big dollars: 1. Consignment/Resale Shops. I find that this has become my home away from home when it comes to shopping for winter coats, boots and snow pants. If you start looking in early fall, ...

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Keeping shoes organized!

November 12, 2008 – 8:52 am by Megan Spears

Shoes can have a tendency to create clutter in the home. If you live in a seasonal climate, it's easy to acquire various types of shoes for all the season; boots for snow and rain, flip flops for the beach and so on. The more people in the household, the more shoes we have to manage. For some reason, the entryway becomes the dumping ground for shoes; which then turns into a cluttered space. There is nothing worse than coming home with packages in hand or sleeping kids in your arms and you trip over a pair of shoes... it can drive a person nuts!! Creating boundaries and good habits can really make a big difference in keeping all those shoes organized. 1. Start with a home. ...

Posted in Family, General, Pre-K | 3 Comments »

Do you menu plan?

October 31, 2008 – 12:41 pm by Megan Spears

I just finished writing my menu planning meals out for the next two weeks. I talk about the importance of planning a lot, but sometimes you have to hear things a few times before it really sinks in. Do you menu plan? Some people think that menu planning is a huge waste of time, or that menu planning doesn't give you any rewards. Believe me, I was one of those believers!!!Since having started menu planning, I have managed to save about $50-$75 per month (not to mention the "out to eat" costs when I haven't done any preperation for dinner and we just decide out take out chinese), I save myself the stress of having to figure out the ever popluar "what's for dinner" question and finally ...

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How do you teach kids to organize?

October 26, 2008 – 6:47 pm by Megan Spears

How do I get my kids to be a little more organized is a common question for most parents. Really, it's one of two scenarios... we expect too much from kids or we don't expect enough of them. Finding that even ground can be a challengen, but entirely possible. I like to relate things to my own personal situation when asked questions about getting organized. Afterall, I have two boys... With my kids (3 and 5) who are both crazy different from one another, it's all about knowing their strengths and allowing them to feel the accomplishment and reward of completing a task. My oldest for example, is better at cleaning up his messes and following simple three step directions; while my youngest has a short attention ...

Posted in Family, General, Pre-K | No Comments »

Top Educational Toys of 2008 Under $40

October 20, 2008 – 12:00 pm by Kim

Learning through play is the best way to expand your preschooler’s mind and help them excel in school. This may be a bit of a head start on the holiday season, but here is a list of the best educational toys of 2008, all under $40 each. This list was created by the Goddard School for early childhood development. • Pengoloo This game features cute wooden penguins on a South Pole expedition. Players test their memory skills and race to match colored eggs and collect penguin pals. • DADO Squares Nominated as a candidate for the 2008 Fat Brain Toy Awards and winner of 7 toy awards this year, DADO Squares inspires thought and creativity in children. Children can construct 3D structures and stretch their spatial and design skills. • Rainforest Puzzle Play This toy ...

Posted in Family, General, Pre-K | 3 Comments »