Big Kids (5-10)

I loved sleep away camps when I was younger. I'd love some now! For me, not my kids. Someday, they will get to go too. Until then, I'm bookmarking this list of signs your child might be ready for sleep away camp by Sellabit Mum. She may have meant some of these in a tongue-in-cheek way, but I bet they apply to your kids. If so, send 'em off!  Read more

Several times this year, I have said to my husband, "I could never be a Kindergarten teacher." I think our son's teacher is amazing, because every time I go in to volunteer, I want to pull out my hair. How on Earth do they handle SO MANY QUESTIONS IN A ROW?! Colleen at The Ranunculus Adventure recently got to substitute for a full week and had an eye-opening experience. I laughed and then vowed to buy our son's teacher a great gift -- without the word teacher on it!  Read more

Last weekend, 14-year-old Ashley Long died after inhaling helium at a birthday party. If that sentence made you stop in your tracks, you're probably like every other person who tried to change their voice. I think of the movie My Best Friend's Wedding where the teen boys were hanging out, singing in funny voices. I don't think I knew that helium can kill you. Dori at Cleveland Homeschooler is helping get the word out about the dangers -- and imploring you to talk to your kids.  Read more

Does your child have that "one friend" that you just can't stand? Elizabeth at This Little Mama shares a litany of button-pushing childhood playmates that she's had to deal with in her recent post -- but the question still remains: How do you deal with kids that just aren't very nice?  Read more

I talk with a lot of the parents at my daughter's school (at least her old school). They generally had the same lament: I wish my kid would read more! I never had that lament. We were supposed to make sure our child read at least 20 minutes a day. I never really kept track of my daughter's reading. I didn't have to. She loves to read and slips it in every chance she gets.  Read more

Has the Tooth Fairy ever dropped the ball at your house? We're five for five at our house, but only because I sat straight up in bed at three o'clock one night having had a nightmare about the Tooth Fairy. Chicago Chick recently had the experience that all parents fear they might have to endure: the Tooth Fairy forgot to come.  Read more

My Kindergartener recently went on a field trip -- on the bus. He came home and told me that he sat very still and was super safe and then asked if he could ride the bus. I told him no, but it wasn't because of him. It was because of other kids. That's why I'm super jealous of Lindsay at Our Lives in a Nutshell: They have Kindergarten only buses! Her daughter is loving it -- and so is mom.  Read more

There's nothing quite as humbling as having your young child take you to task on a lesson you've tried to drill home with them over the years. Carrien at She Laughs at the Days recently was called out by her nine-year-old over a toy that he wanted to give to kids who need toys... one that she had planned on saving for a younger brother, saving as a legacy toy for future generations. She wondered what to do, what the lesson to teach in this specific case was. What would you do?  Read more

The school year is now in full swing. How's that workin' out for ya? If you're going through some tough stuff -- with your child, with a teacher, with the administration, with anything -- I strongly suggest that you read this post by Heather at Red Writing Hood. She talks about past struggles, about losing a Principal, and about not taking your child's struggles in school personally. It's an important post all around with many important lessons about our kids' educations.  Read more

We want our children to grow into compassionate human beings who are sensitive to other peoples' experiences and needs. Right? Capital Mom shared an exchange she had with her daughter's kindergarten teacher that I understand all too well. It's a "bad thing" to be "sensitive" according to some schools of thought. She shares why she wants her daughter to remain the way she is now.  Read more