Why Music is Important for Your Kids
(Editor's note: please welcome an entry from the Jaime at the Green Golly project. Thanks!!) “Music is important for the development of cultural understanding; it nurtures growth – spiritual, physical and intellectual growth – all of which lead to the greater...
Parenting Help: Take Time to Choose Consequences
It's okay to take your time choosing an appropriate consequence when a child misbehaves. Sometimes this feels like bad parenting, but that's just not the case. As the older boys are aging, I'm finding it more and more difficult to figure out how to handle misdeeds in...
Help Your Kids Beat the Bedtime Blues
(Editor's note: Lima shares some night-time sanity-saving strategies. Thanks Lima!) Bed-time can be battle-time for many parents. Settling your children down with a nice bedtime story seems a simple enough idea in principle. But when your child has dragged themselves...
FFYF: ArtPrize Edition
Hello, Heroes! Today I am taking the younger boys to the city of Grand Rapids to see some of ArtPrize, an amazing art competition that was begun here 3 years ago. Essentially, the public gets to vote for the artwork and choose the winner. This is offensive to some, as...
10 Apps That Will Teach Kids How to Handle Money
(Editor's note: Carol has a list of resources for teaching kids to handle money wisely. Thanks Carol!) Even before they reach school age, children are capable of learning quite a few things, and it often falls to the parents to get kids started with learning their...
TechnoBoy Goes to School
So. Being that I'm the parent of two 13-year-olds, we've been experiencing a lot of teen angst around here. Usually every summer follows a similar pattern: we're all sick of each other by June, but we have lots of fun and togetherness (and some time apart) and we're...
Study Shows Only 25% of Students are Ready for College
Chances are you've taken or at least heard of the ACT: a test most colleges expect high school students to take. ACT test scores can indicate whether a student is likely to earn a certain grade in first-year college courses. According to a study they published...
3D Pumpkin Craft
(Editor's note: we're into fall already! Chris has an easy craft for us to enjoy with our kiddos. Thanks Chris!) For a craft that makes Halloween fun, there's nothing like pumpkin carving. This craft is neat in that you can build a happy pumpkin and hang it the wall...
How To Get Your Boy Interested in Cooking
(Editor's note: please welcome Jocelyn who clearly knows what it takes to get boys interested in cooking. Thanks Jocelyn!) We all know how insanely romantic it is when we were asked out on a date and the man not only knew the difference between basil and balsamic but...
When Children Play, They Work
(Editor's note: please welcome Marina, writing about child development and play. Thanks Marina!) One of the biggest differences I have noticed in children today and in children of let’s say, my time, is in the way we play. While we still have kids who run around the...