I'm a Mom - What's Your SuperPower?

You knew it would happen when you gave it to him, but you gave him the gum anyway. Now you have a big nasty wad of gum stuck in your carpet. Don't panic! We have some tips for how you can get the gum out of the carpet quick, easy, and best of all - without ruining your carpet in the process. Solution 1: Get Cold A common way to remove gum from carpet is by freezing it. Like most things that are frozen, gum gets very hard and becomes brittle. Once frozen, the gum will break apart into pieces with a gum scraper tool, plastic putty knife, or other safe scraping tools. After removing and vacuuming the gum, you may have to spot clean the area to remove any remaining residue or staining with an oil/grease/tar type solvent. Solution 2: Heat It Up Another method to remove gum from carpet involves using a hairdryer. Apply heat from the hair dryer to soften the gum. The softened gum should stick to a cleaning rag or plastic bag and release from the carpet fibers as you lif...

The finest preschools use play-based activities to teach young children. They understand that although children learn in many ways, young children tend to be highly active learners. They need to be left to work through the many uses of the objects they encounter to learn effectively. Although it may not look like it, every activity teaches a child something new. Parents need not be concerned as to why their preschoolers are playing instead of learning their A, B, and C’s. A play focused curriculum allows a toddler to participate in all activities and learn at a pace that is most comfortable for them. These lessons on how to interact with the world around them are critical to the development of life skills including patience, generosity, leadership, & friendship while providing a solid foundation for more advanced learning. You may be wondering – how is it possible that my child is learning when all I see them do in the classroom is knock over a block tower or play wit...

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Took a walk to get some groceries from the store with my 9-year-old daughter. The store is 1 mile away from my house. We brought one backpack. This is important. The walk started out pleasant. Not too hot, there was even a nice breeze. Got to the store and did our shopping... just $80 for groceries for the week. As it turns out, I severely underestimated how much I could get with 80 bucks (even though I am excellent at finding discounts and coupons l, so I should have known 1 backpack wouldn’t work) At the register, I quickly discovered that my puny backpack was not up to the task. So I bought a cloth bag to try to consolidate the groceries. Managed to leave the store with me carrying three heavy bags and The 9-year-old happily carrying the donuts that were on sale. For some reason, the temperature increased by several hundred degrees while we were shopping and that light breeze now felt like the air that comes out when you open an oven. We began our trek back, The 9-year-...

As a single mother with 4 children at home and a business to run, I simply didn't have enough time to clean my own home, keep up with my kids and manage my business effectively at the same time. It seemed every time I started cleaning, something new would come up that needed my immediate attention. Cleaning up after the kids go to bed felt like a punishment for putting them to bed. I was exhausted and running myself into the ground. Although I wanted to be that unicorn mom who keeps the house clean, the children entertained, holds down a full-time job, and somehow manages not to go completely bonkers after a week - I knew I couldn't do it. I needed help.  So, I hired a maid service . You see, I wish cleaning was fun… but it’s not. That’s why there are professional cleaning services. In all honesty, life is too short to spend 2+ hours a day cleaning your home just to make it look decent for unexpected (or expected) guests. I have more important things to do with my...

The first day of school is a major change for young children and their parents, especially if the child has never spent time in a preschool or childcare setting. It can be extremely stressful for everyone involved, but you can help your child adjust more easily to a more structured learning environment . Set a Bedtime and Stick to It Kids who get the correct amount of rest/sleep do better emotionally, socially, and academically in school. A good night’s sleep is a must for success at preschool and throughout their academic career. Create a Relaxed Morning Routine Start your family’s day off right with a relaxed, calm, unrushed morning routine. Although this may mean that everyone wakes up a bit earlier than usual on school days, it affords parents and children the opportunity to enjoy a healthy breakfast and time to get ready for the day at a more casual pace. By slowing down in the morning routine, everyone can start the day off in a better mood. Control Your Anx...

Toddlers love to spend time with Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa but sometimes it can be difficult to find activities that are both fun and educational without a high price tag. One standby I used with my daughter when she was still little was art. It didn’t need to be extravagant – often, we took a box of crayon shaped chalk and created murals on the porch or used objects we already had in the house to create our artwork. Here is a cute and easy art project for parents to spend quality time with their preschooler. Baby Bird’s Nest What You'll Need: Paper plate Shredded brown paper – you can use a brown paper bag 1 piece of colored paper (orange or any color your preschooler wants to use) Three pom poms (use the color your preschool likes) Three Popsicle sticks Googly eyes Brown paint (a small amount is needed) Paintbrush Scissors Glue Make It: Cut a paper plate in half and staple the rims together (leaving the top of the nest open). Paint the plate and let ...

Many camp programs take children as young as 3 years old - and while this might sound too young, you may want to reconsider that stance, especially if your child will be entering preschool or kindergarten in the fall. Introduction to School-like Structure Summer camp helps give preschoolers a preview of school. This is especially true for children who have not been in a daycare or preschool before. The change from laid-back, flexible days at home with a parent or caretaker to the more structured classroom environment can be difficult for young children. Summer camp introduces kids to ideas like following a schedule, learning group rules, taking responsibility for their belongings (backpack and lunchbox), and getting along with other children in a group setting.  Summer Camp Helps Ease Separation Anxiety Summer camp gives preschoolers a great "practice run" for children who don't have a lot of experience being away from parents and caregivers. Afte...

Critical thinking skills, or for that matter much of early-childhood education takes place right at home, months or years before children begin preschool. Kids learn to talk and to walk, to color and to cut with scissors as well as developing their critical thinking from the people around them. Children develop these important thinking skills as they learn to cooperate with their peers and when they learn to read short picture books by themselves. Though critical thinking is emphasized from pre-kindergarten to college or graduate school, it is a skill that parents can begin to introduce to their children from a young age. It is less complicated than the term implies. Here are three ways you can foster critical thinking skills in your little scholar: 1. Encourage Your Preschoolers Natural Curiosity Young children are naturally inquisitive. This starts very early in their lives, even before they can verbalize their curiosity, as they make discoveries about their environment us...

I remember when I took my now 9-year-old daughter to preschool for the first time. She was a happy, energetic social butterfly but I had read so many books and blogs on what I should expect during the first few days at school that I became a ball of anxiety. Would she cry and hold my leg, begging me not to leave her? Would she be scared or upset? How could I help my precious little girl get through such a major life event? As it turned out, I was making a mountain out of a grain of sand. My daughter was a bit timid at first but then she was eager to go play with the other kids. On the other hand, I was an emotional wreck, pulling her back to me for more hugs, kisses, and promises that I would be back soon. After a few minutes of me making a scene, she calmly patted my cheek and said "Don't worry mommy, I'm Ok. I want to play. Are you okay?" When I said I was okay and that she could go meet her new friends, she was off like a rocket to the nearest group of ki...

As a parent, I remember exactly how patient my daughter was as a toddler. Long story short - she had exactly zero patience. Too many shopping trips ended with me carting a screaming, struggling octopus of a child surfboard style under one arm while I desperately try to make it to the car with as few witnesses as possible. Typically, these events occurred as a result of making her wait for something she wanted. For example, I had told her she needed to wait until after dinner to eat a cookie. Her response... Yes, the world was ending because I told her to eat the tater tots that she had requested with her dinner before she could have a cookie. She was screaming in a fit WHILE she ate the tater tots. She would stop just long enough to chew her food and swallow before renewing her angry howling. Luckily we were at home during this particular tantrum occurred. My point, though, is that I wish I had come across this video when my child was much younger. I am happy to report th...

I will go ahead and put this out there in advance - this blog discusses one of many ways to redirect and discipline a child for their behavior. Discipline is an extremely difficult topic to address. It is an extremely personal decision, so naturally, everyone knows how to do it "the right way" and many people are more than happy to inform you that you are doing it wrong. I am not advocating for this or any specific discipline style, Instead, my intention is to provide a possible tool that you can use if it works for your child. Conscious Discipline is an emotional intelligence program where children learn to express their emotions, resolve problems with words, and work with others. It was developed by Dr. Becky Bailey, an author, and early childhood educator. It is designed to create an environment where the motivation to behave comes from the nature of the relationships a child has with others. The best way to discipline a child is something all parents think ab...

The United States becomes more diverse every year. Presently in the USA, children under 5 years old are now part of the rapidly growing minority majority . As these kids begin their journeys through the U.S. education system, educators will face an unparalleled level of diversity in classrooms that formerly had a higher majority of Caucasian students. A diverse classroom is highly beneficial for teachers and students . Instructors can take advantage of the distinct multiethnic experiences of pupils and incorporate these experiences into their lesson plans to make the learning experience personalized for each student. Students gain understanding about the various cultural experiences of their peers and how those experiences differ from what they see in their own homes. To take advantage of the cultural diversity in the classroom, experts recommend teachers attend cultural sensitivity and diversity training to enhance their ability to provide students with inclusive school exp...

Authorities in multiple fields agree, there is vital importance for students to graduate with a comprehensive understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). As early as 2007, leaders of education and industry concluded that the nation’s ability to revolutionize and flourish in the current workforce rests on a strong foundation based on STEM-related topics. But when should we start introducing children to STEM topics? And when we do, what is the best way to approach these subjects for younger learners? In all honesty, it is never to early to introduce STEM-related subjects. You don’t need specialized tools or teaching materials, either. Children are exposed to these subjects as they explore their world. With a little guidance, a parent or early education teacher can help young learners connect a wide range of STEM topics with the experiences they have daily. What is STEM? I tend to think of STEM as more of a philosophy than an acronym. It is a te...

I hope you took a few minutes to watch this video. This world can be a scary place for kids. It's a scary place for adults, too. On March 15, 2019, in New Zealand, a terrorist attacked and killed many people as they gathered to worship at their mosque. It was on the news pretty much 24/7 for several days and yes, it was a scary thing to see from afar for me, as an adult. Scary and sad. But how do we explain such things to our children when all we really want is to shield them from it? This video does a really great job explaining the attack and terrorism in a way that is more digestible for a child without being as terrifying as seeing it portrayed on the news. It isn't easy to talk about it, but it is necessary.

I like to think that I got pretty lucky with my daughter. Although she did go through a 'picky' phase as an infant because she detested jarred baby food and baby cereals with a fervor that I would never have thought possible of a 6-month-old, it didn't last long. I gave up on the jarred stuff and just started throwing a portion of my meal into the blender for her until she could chew the more solid stuff and she was happy. In fact, she became the opposite of a picky eater - she would try whatever was put in front of her. If she removed it directly from my plate, even better - it pretty much guaranteed she would want more of what I was eating.  Now she is 9 and her favorite foods include everything from ramen noodles to lobster (which she called monster until she was four). She loves pizza, mac and cheese, and sushi.  For my little girl, the only foods she avoids are the ones she can't eat because they make her sick... because that is the one place I didn't ...

Although it's been quite a while, I still clearly remember trying to teach my daughter how to use the potty. She was 15 months and HATED clothes. Diapers were things to escape from and leave in the middle of the floor for the dogs to bring to me. Even the ones with poo. After she created her poo wall art, of course.  I tried everything to keep the diaper on the baby. I put it on her backward. I tried adding a tape belt. I tried putting her clothes on her backward in addition to the backward diaper. I considered just releasing her naked in the back yard. (I didn't do it... on purpose... but I thought about it more than once). I believe it was after my neighbor brought me back my naked, screaming baby girl (who had somehow managed to open a window, knock out the screen and climb out so she could go for a jaunt in nothing but her skin in the 5 minutes it took me to load the dishwasher) that I finally decided I'd had enough.  Even though every book I had read on the subj...

During the preschool years, many young children will be able to recite or sing the alphabet. They may begin to recognize familiar letters, especially letters in their own names. Children who have been read to frequently pretend to read books to themselves or to their toy dolls and animals. They use their own words or phrases from the story. But preschoolers do not simply wake up one morning able to read and comprehend a story. It takes time and plenty of support from parents and teachers.  Here are some tips for helping younger children become readers for life. Read and reread your young child’s favorite books every day.  Reading books with rhymes helps develop a child’s awareness of the sounds in our language. This ability is associated with reading success in the early grades. An example is in the book “Green Eggs and Ham ”. The repetitive refrain, “I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them Sam I am.” is memor...

We live in a time when it is all too easy to feel stressed and overwhelmed, and even children are more frequently experiencing these uncomfortable states. When we teach mindfulness to children, we are sharing with them skillful ways of relating to life’s uncomfortable and challenging moments. The earlier we do so in their young lives, the greater the opportunity to help them cultivate resilience as they mature. Mindfulness Practice for Preschoolers is an approach of sharing mindfulness that draws on the elements of nature. Often, we reflect on the beauty and serenity of the natural world out there and overlook our own beautiful nature. This exercise introduces children to ways of seeing the strength and beauty of nature within themselves, offering a short practice to help relax and observe their experience . When we go outside we can see and feel so many wonderful things. Things like trees, and the wind, and the clouds, and the sun. In many ways, we are like these bea...

We know watching our kiddos jump around and practice their dance moves is possibly the most adorable thing ever. Seeing their happy faces and hearing their little giggles as they jump and play and try to follow coordinated music of dance classes with their uncoordinated limbs is an amusing and fun activity for all.  Children start moving to music very early. I remember when I was around 7 months pregnant - I was playing my favorite rock mix when Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody started playing and she went from semi-dormant to kicking like crazy. She also did it when Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" played. I may have considered it a fluke but even after she was born, those two songs made her kick her legs and wiggle around. When she started crawling, she would shake her little diapered bottom to the music. They were also the first songs she danced to when she started pulling herself to her feet. My point is - there is no such thing as too young to dance and early dance c...