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13 Ways for Stay-at-Home Moms to Save Money

June 12, 2017 | Leave a Comment

When I became a stay-at-home mom in 2014, I felt a pang of guilt for no longer contributing financially to the family. Then, as the weeks of staying home progressed, I discovered something incredible. I had a new superpower. I was so much better at saving money! Not to say I was perfect, but by simply spending the lion’s share of my days caring for little ones AT HOME, I saved loads. Let’s take a closer look at some of those practical ways for stay-at-home moms to save money.

13 Ways for Stay-at-Home Moms to Save Money

Since a mom is involved in so many transactions throughout the week, I thought it’d be best to look through these money-saving tips in categories.

Kids and Babies

Don’t buy all new. The minute you become pregnant, you are inundated with offers for bright and shiny things. Everyone will tell you how to keep your baby out of peril. Each piece of advice will be different. Your greatest weapons are:

Research
Common Sense

Research may show you that buying a car seat new is a wise investment. It may reveal used clothes make a lot of sense for growing babies. Common sense may show you that the French chandelier in your friend’s baby’s nursery doesn’t have to show up in yours, too.

Find out if you qualify for a free breast pump. The government may give you a free breast pump or provide you with a reimbursement. I highly recommend checking it out.

Be strategic about the professional photo sessions. Social media creates so much pressure for parents to create “perfect moments” during each chapter of their children’s lives. Don’t get swept away in expensive photo sessions unless you’ve planned for them and have the budget available.

Food

Load digital coupons. So many stores offer digital coupons. They’re handy and often apply to checkout automatically.

Make your own baby food. I am not a DIY maven. However, when I started researching the health benefits of making homemade baby food (and that getting started wasn’t that hard), I gave it a go.

Once your baby is ready for solids, try mashing a banana or pureeing some superfoods. Freeze them in an ice cube tray for long-term!

Consolidate your trips. Try as I might, I always end up overspending or impulsing buy at the grocery store. Limiting my trips is one way I combat that problem. Another is by ordering my groceries online via ClickList or Shipt. That way, I’m not tempted to overspend and save so much time, too.

House

Pay extra on your mortgage. It’s amazing how much money people can save on their mortgage by paying an extra $100 per month. For example, if you had a 30-year mortgage of $165,000 at 4.5 percent, you’d pay an estimated $135,971 in INTEREST. By paying $100 extra each month over those 30 years, you’d only pay $105,547 in interest. That’s over $30,000 in savings!

Try BankRate’s free amortization calculator here.

Unplug. You can save a lot of money over time on your utilities simply by unplugging your appliances and shutting off your lights. If the weather is nice, shut off the thermostat and throw open some windows.

Reduce extra payments like your phone bill, cable, entertainment subscriptions. What can you trim back in your budget? Can you drop cable? Can you renegotiate your phone bill?

Build an emergency fund. Having money set aside for the unexpected will save so much money on emergency swipes of the credit card.

Selling and Earning

Sell your used goods. Today it’s easier than ever to sell your household goods to others. Check out these seven apps that’ll help you turn your secondhand stuff into cash.

Earn gift cards to cover Christmas. Swagbucks is one of the most popular sites for earning gift cards. You can watch videos, conduct searches, shop online, or do surveys to earn gift cards for places like PayPal, Amazon, and Target. You won’t earn a living, but it’s a great way to cover birthday presents, weddings, or Christmas.

Start a side gig. If you’re a stay-at-home mom looking for a way to make serious money from home, please check out my recent post “14 Profitable Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs Online (That Are Worth Your Time).” It outlines several cash-generating ideas from remote jobs to becoming an entrepreneur.

Ways for Stay-at-Home Moms to Save Money – Part II

I’ve been piling up resources and tips like this for the last three years after my own debt-free journey with my husband. We went from broke and clueless to budgeting and conquering our financial goals – like me becoming a stay-at-home mom – with the steps you’ve read in this article.

If you dream of the day you can stay home with your kids but could use a roadmap like I did, check out “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint.” This eBook tells my story of beating debt and beating the odds to stay home when we only had $2,000 to live on each month.

It also includes 150 strategies to chop your debt, save money, earn from home, and afford your dream of becoming a SAHM.

If you liked this list of ways for stay-at-home moms to save money, “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” is this plus steroids.

Click here to learn more!

Your Turn: Share with us a few ways for stay-at-home moms to save money in the comments below!

This post contains affiliate links.

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Check out these bonus resources created just for you!

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Make sure you bookmark or pin some of these resources for later!

14 Profitable Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs Online (That Are Worth Your Time)

June 5, 2017 | Leave a Comment

If you dream of staying home with your kids and want to work from home, then it’s likely your finances will make a significant change. That’s only natural, but planning ahead as you search for stay-at-home mom jobs online can be crucial to a successful transition.

I made that switch in 2015, launching my own part-time freelance writing business. I have two young children under my care and work 12 to 15 hours a week earning $1,500 to $2,500 per month. None of this just happened, so the last thing you’ll hear from me is that it’ll be easy.

But if your goal is to stay home, and your whole family is willing to put in the sacrifices and commitment, then this dream can become a reality.

14 Cash-Generating Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs Online

I write in the personal finance and work-at-home mom niches multiple times each week, so I’ve got an ongoing list of places that pay you to work at home.

You’re likely tired of hearing bloggers promise quick six-figure success as a work-at-home mom because that’s simply not the norm. I’m also not going to talk about taking surveys because those require large quantities of time and typically generate a few gift cards each month.

Where to begin?

You may need to start with something in your field of interest that doesn’t generate the ultimate income you’d like. Just getting your foot in the door and starting up that experience is so important.

Let’s take a look at these job opportunities for SAHMs:

Remote work for companies

Every year, Forbes publishes a top 100-list of companies offering remote jobs. To ensure they bring you the most valuable information, they study the current marketplace, job trends, and validity of these companies. If your skills lie in one of these industries, check out Forbes’ list of potential remote jobs:

Computer and Information Technology
Medical and Health
Government
Finance
Customer Service
Education
Training
Sales

Virtual Assistant

If you have a knack for organization and administrative duties, then you’ve got the potential to make serious cash as a virtual assistant. Seriously, this is a stay-at-home mom’s bread and butter. So many online entrepreneurs have irons in the fire and need help running the many details of their business. Some responsibilities for a virtual assistant might include:

Answering emails
Scheduling appointments
Managing invoices
Managing blog content
Sharing content on social media
Designing graphics

What can you earn? According to Payscale.com, virtual assistants earn anywhere from $10 to $28 per hour. Your hours are very flexible and the work is remote, so you can conduct all of your business from the comfort of your home.

Alternate VA Jobs

Social Media Manager – Average annual salary according to Payscale.com: $47,472.
Graphic Designer – Average annual salary according to Payscale.com: $41,764.

Freelance Writer

Got a gift with words? Hundreds of sites hire writers to create relatable and informative content for their blogs. For example, here are 28 parenting magazines and blogs that pay contributors. If you’re a mom, then take a look at what’s being published on those sites and see if something inspires you to tell your own story.

Another great way to get started is by Googling your field of interest + “write for us.” Some writing niches include:

Nutrition
Adoption
Personal Finance
Organization
Marriage
Travel
Fashion

What can you earn? When I started my freelance writing business in 2015, I earned peanuts while I learned the ropes. That changed as my skills and quality of writing improved. According to Payscale.com, most writers earn $10 to $58 per hour. I speak from experience when I say that pay scale is totally accurate.

Alternate Writing Jobs

Proofreader – $11 to $30 per hour
Transcriber – $9 – $25 per hour
Blogger – You won’t likely generate an income with your blog right away. But some very profitable ways to monetize are: Ads, affiliate sales, sponsored posts, and selling your own products. There several good instructions for how to get started – one good site to read is here.

One of the most profitable affiliate niches is in online trading, you can easily become an affiliate by visiting a broker’s site like this one.

Teach via Video

Do you have a specific skill you can teach to others, like how to sing? Perhaps you’d like to educate others in your area of work experience like how to file your taxes, become a photographer, or give a speech.

For example, one of my daughter’s favorite things to do is draw. When she was three and couldn’t draw more than a stick figure, we found a YouTube channel called “Art for Kids Hub” where easy-to-follow drawing tutorials are published every day.

By the end of my daughter’s first lesson, she’d drawn her very first robot. Since then, she’s filled a notebook, cover to cover, with drawings from this YouTube channel.

Watch the tutorial: How to Draw a Cartoon Robot

What can you earn? There is no definitive wage for educational videos. It’s all about creating your brand and giving your audience fantastic content every time. For example, Art for Kids Hub has more than 600,000 subscribers and receives millions of views on its tutorials. YouTube pays ad revenue per 1,000 clicks. Some YouTube educators make millions with their channels. Others break even. It’s all about getting eyes on your videos.

Alternate Online Teaching Jobs

Create a course – Selling a course on your website or Udemy.com can become a great passive income. Some courses are $10 and some are in the hundreds.
Become a coach – Teach people one-on-one in your field of expertise. For example, life coaches can earn anywhere from $11 to $120 per hour according to Payscale.com.

Online Shop Owner

Can you create a product and sell it online? Etsy and Shopify are two great platforms for this. Product ideas include:

Jewelry (earrings for men, men’s leather bracelets)
Customized T-shirts
Hand-Crafted Decor
Calligraphy
Baby/Kids Accessories

What can you earn? The income scale is difficult to measure due to the vast array of business possibilities. Here is one company that earns $70,000 per month selling on Etsy. You’ll need to know how much time it takes to create each product and to price them accordingly. Online marketing plays a huge role here, too. It’s likely a competitive market.

Flipper for online garage sales

Online pickers are getting better and better at finding hidden gems in garage sales, on eBay, and on social media. If you can spruce up a worn down cabinet or reupholster a chair, you may be able to upsell those items for a nice profit.

What can you earn? One woman I interviewed said she bought some old clay bowls in a Facebook buy, sell, and trade group. She purchased them for $0.50 to $1, then cleaned them up and added a fresh coat of paint. They sold for $15 to $20 each.

Direct sales/MLM online

If there is a product you believe in and want to become a consultant from home, then online is the ideal marketplace for you. Products like LuLaRoe, Norwex, or Young Living sell best through the power of word of mouth. Where is everybody talking these days? Facebook.

One word of caution: This is a heavily saturated marketplace. Don’t annoy your friends. If you believe in your product, then get out there and talk your heart out, but do so in a tasteful and non-aggressive way when it’s very likely your friends have been “pitched to” by others from the same company before.

What can you earn? Each company will tell you the earning potential for contributors. That information is not disclosed online. There is typically an upfront investment to acquire the merchandise, then a set timeframe in which you need to sell a certain amount of product. Bonuses may be issued if you exceed these goals.

What’s my next step?

1. Find like-minded stay-at-home moms in the same fields of interest. Getting real-life feedback on what these jobs are like is crucial to understanding how you’ll build your business.

For example, if you want to blog, join blogging groups on Facebook. If you want to sell LuLaRoe, pick a consultant’s brain. Follow websites or social media celebrities that talk about the topic you’re interested in.

2. Financially prepare for this transition. The #1 reason I was able to launch an at-home business was because of the financial steps my husband and I took before my business launched. How could I run a business when we couldn’t run our budget? How could I quit my full-time job while I spent the time it took to develop my career at home when we owed thousands of dollars in debt?

Our very imperfect journey had many ups and downs, but we overcame the lion’s share of those financial hurdles. Today, we are debt-free minus the mortgage and comfortably live on my husband’s modest income while we use mine to save for emergencies, traveling, and paying extra on the house.

Your Turn: If you could work from home doing something you enjoy, what would it be? Share with us below!

This post contains affiliate links.

Are you a stay-at-home mom? Check out these bonus resources created just for you!

How to Afford Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

May 29, 2017 | Leave a Comment

When I was pregnant with my first child, every day held excitement about the future. But I couldn’t quite shake the weight I felt on my shoulders when I thought about returning to work six weeks after her birth. I wanted so desperately to stay home, but simply couldn’t imagine how to afford being a stay-at-home mom.

It just doesn’t come up much in school, does it? “Living On Half Your Income 101.” Yeah, not so much. Today’s culture often says things like “Put it on credit” or “You deserve more” or good ‘ole “YOLO.” But some dreams involve spending and earning a whole lot less.

And they sure are worth it.

See, my husband and I really needed a roadmap, some kind of guidelines to help us navigate these tumultuous waters.

If that’s you, then let me encourage you. Our “get-your-financial-act-together” journey started in 2011. In 2012, my husband and I paid off $22,000 to become debt-free right before our daughter’s birth. We stockpiled as much as we could into our emergency savings and learned to continually live within our means (MUCH harder than it sounds!).

This led to one of the happiest days of my life. It was in May of 2014. I was 30 weeks pregnant with our second child and kept having labor symptoms when I’d work on my feet all day at my job. Rather than risk a premature delivery, that became the catalyst for our leap of faith.

That was the day I quit my job and officially became a stay-at-home mom. I waddled to my car with astonishment stamped on my face. It really was happening.

You need to understand the primary reason for this astonishment. We would now be living on less than $2,000 a month. It seems impossible that we could have done this (especially if you knew how bad we were at budgeting when we were single!). The thing is, we hustled our hineys off and no longer had debt. We’d been budgeting like paupers and renting from family instead of rushing into a home we couldn’t afford.

Even on such a small income, we really were ready. Hence my amazement.

Every dream is different. And that’s OK.

Your dream may not be to stay home. That’s totally fine! If you love working outside the home, then embrace that and enjoy your work. Nor are you required to generate an income if you do decide to stay home full-time. Let’s just get that out there.

So many of the steps we took as a couple had very little to do with me making extra money from home. They set an important foundation that centered around three major components:

Communication
Changing habits
Financial freedom

Let’s pull back the curtain a little further and explore what I mean.

How to Afford Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

Here are some practical first steps you can take in your journey toward spending more time with your kids!

Step #1: Kick debt to the curb.

When my husband and I committed to paying off our outstanding debt in two years instead of seven, we forced ourselves to:

Budget every month
Snip our credit cards and always pay with debit or cash
Live intentionally on less
Communicate in healthier ways about money

For example, the biggest way my husband and I melted debt was to intentionally begin living on his income. It took months, but eventually, we were able to apply every dime from my paycheck toward debt.

After that, our small income became that much more powerful. Imagine what you could do with your money if you didn’t have any payments. That one thought spurred us on.

Step #2: Save for the unexpected.

Saving for emergencies is the most powerful way you can create financial stability in your home. Smaller emergencies like an oil leak can be covered in the “auto repair” portion of your budget. But what if your income-generating spouse loses his job? That buffer is the difference between you remaining a stay-at-home mom through that transition or scrambling for work alongside your partner.

A great place to start with a savings buffer is $1,000. More can be accumulated once you’re out of debt, but that first $1k is your Kevlar vest against calamity.

Step #3: Act.

We covered the basics. Whether you’re a mother or would like to be one someday, you can begin this journey today. It’s time to choose your next step and ACT.

A great place to start is a conversation with your significant other. This plan requires openness and commitment from both of you. It’s also going to take time. Best to start the conversation now.

For example, when I messed up the budget, I knew I could approach my husband about it instead of burying my head in the sand like I’d done in the past. We worked through many problems that way. Extend grace. Talk about your dreams. Re-commit.

Another great next step is to further your education. Try joining a Facebook group that centers around whipping your family finances into shape. The added support is tremendous. Here are two great groups you can join:

Build on the foundation.

If you’ve read this far, it means you’re dead serious about your dream of becoming a stay-at-home mom. That’s awesome.

I believe you can do it, but this is just the framework. It’s not going to keep the rain or wind out of your house. To add siding, insulation, a roof, and even some shiplap if that’s your fancy, then I strongly encourage you to check out my eBook called “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint.” In it, I expand my story on climbing out of debt and achieving my dream of staying home. I also walk you through 150 practical strategies that my husband and I used (and still use today) to communicate better, chop debt, and save money.

This is the roadmap I wish I’d had when we first dreamed of transitioning into a single-income family.

Also, if you do want to earn money from home, “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” includes dozens of ideas to sell your stuff, earn gift cards or cash from home, or build an online business. My business didn’t happen until nearly two years after I became a SAHM. Since then, I’ve made nearly $20,000 just working part-time as a freelance writer. I know without a doubt that this business wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t safely transitioned into a stay-at-home mom first.

Ready to take your journey toward staying home to the next level?

Grab your copy of “The Stay-at-Home Mom Blueprint” today.

Your Turn: What advice would you give someone on how to afford being a stay-at-home mom? Share with us below!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Image Credit: AI Photography

Hungry for more financial tips for stay-at-home moms? Look no further!

Here are 8 of the Best Kids Books On Audible

March 27, 2017 | Leave a Comment

We all know reading to a child is paramount to his or her development. In my experience as a mother of two, I’m always on the hunt for fun, new ways to teach my kids. One of our favorite ways is listening to audiobooks. Therefore, I put together my top 10 list of the best kids books on Audible.

There are several benefits from audiobooks that I would like to share with you.

Kids learn to sit still. A byproduct of your children sitting in one place and paying attention to the narration of a book is that they’ll develop a stronger habit of sitting still. Even my two-year-old has shown improvement in his ability to sit quietly when the need arises. This comes in handy when you’re in a public place such as a waiting room or classroom.

Also, audiobooks expand a child’s vocabulary. Children are often introduced to new words in context and with their pronunciation. Often these books promote education, behavior, language, mathematics, etc. It also gives your child a fresh form of media besides a screen.

While reading to your child at bedtime is a vital bonding experience, audio books for kids create another dimension of imagination and education without the addictive side effects of screen time.

Let’s take a look at some great audio books my kids enjoyed over the last few years.

8 Memorable Audio Books for Kids of All Ages

EARLY LEARNERS – 0 to 5 years

1. “The Little Engine That Could” by Watty Piper

Despite its small size, the little engine used the power of positive thinking to conquer a mountain. This lesson is great for every generation of kids and can be enjoyed on audio with the rich tones of Mike Ferreri narrating.

2. “The Peter Rabbit Collection” by Beatrix Potter

This beloved classic exposes your children to the adventures of Peter Rabbit and his woodland friends. On Audible.com, you can now enjoy the entire Peter Rabbit collection for a very low price.

3. “The Cat and the Hat and Other Dr. Seuss Favorites” by Dr. Seuss

What was your favorite Dr. Seuss book as a child? Well, now it might be available on Audible for your whole family to listen. These best-sellers have stood the test of time for six decades.

Not to mention, this collection of audible stories is narrated by:

Kelsey Grammar
John Cleese
Dustin Hoffman
Billy Crystal
And More…

GRADE-SCHOOLERS – 6 to 11 years

4. “The Wizard of Oz” by Frank L. Baum

This classic story is so enjoyable to listen to, due to the dynamic narration performed by award-winning actress, Anne Hathaway. She brings an “all-in” devotion to each character that will capture your kids’ attention (and yours, too!).

5. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling

Why am I putting one of the most popular children’s books on this list? Two words: Jim Dale. Never have you heard an audiobook until you’ve been read to by award-winning voice talent, Jim Dale. Even as an adult, I get a kick out of J.K. Rowling’s great storytelling and Dale’s diverse collection of voices for the memorable characters in Harry’s world.

If you believe your child is old enough for the thematic elements of this book, then give the audiobook a shot.

6. “The Kid Who Only Hit Homers” by Matt Christopher

Do you have a ball player in your family? I don’t know of anyone who wrote better sports books for middle readers than Matt Christopher. I’d finish a story, and feel a strong impulse to grab a ball and glove and speed off to the park.

One of Christopher’s most popular stories, “The Kid Who Only Hit Homers,” is available on audio with a full cast of narrators.

7. “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien

This dramatized audiobook is the narrated telling of Tolkien’s bedtime story about the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. Follow his journey with a whole slew of dwarves as they head toward the Misty Mountain in search of their long-lost treasure – guarded, of course, by a fire-breathing dragon.

8. “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly

This is the true story of the African-American women who helped the United States win the space race. Shetterly’s book became a movie in 2016 and sends an important message to young people that their minds are precious, no matter their color or gender.

Reading is a delight that can last a lifetime. Help your child understand the many layers of literature and the skills he or she will need to get lost in a story and enjoy the endless worlds waiting on the pages.

Bonus Reading: “Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Wants to Give Your Child a Free Book Every Month”

Got your own list of best kids books on Audible? We’d love to hear it!

If you’re a stay-at-home mom, make sure you bookmark or pin some of these great resources for later!

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Wants To Give Your Child a Free Book Every Month

January 9, 2017 | Leave a Comment

Did you enjoy watching Reading Rainbow as a kid? Turns out, the popular educational show was much more than children’s entertainment; it was a movement. For 20+ years, the show did its best to inspire children of all ages and walks of life to pick up a book and read. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library picked up the same torch to inspire young readers all across the world.

How important is it for children to read?

We’ve all heard the saying that “leaders are readers,” but the importance of literacy goes much deeper than that. According to a study by the US Department of Education, 32 million adults in America can’t read. Another study shows that two out of every three students who don’t proficiently by 4th grade could end up on government assistance or in jail.

Statistics like that drove people like Levar Burton and Dolly Parton to make a change. With Reading Rainbow, kids learned from books read and discussed on TV. In Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, new books show up right on your doorstep.

What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?

In 1995, Dolly Parton cast a vision to grow children’s love for reading in her home state of Tennessee. Regardless of their family’s income, Parton sees to it that every child receives a quality, age-appropriate book to read every month.

Over 20 years later, more than 80 million books reached young readers in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Author’s Note: I recently went through the sign-up process and discovered that my region is not currently eligible. Upon further research, I discovered that organizations partner with Parton’s foundation to fund the expense for books in their specific regions. Therefore, be aware that not all locations qualify.

What Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Could Mean for Your Family

In an age when children are parked in front of screens for up to 11 hours a day, a resource like this may tip the scale on that balance. Imagine a new book showing up in the mail for you to read each month.

If this is an initiative you’d like to support or you’d like to sign your child up today, check out Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library for instructions on how to donate.

Other Ways to Save Money On Children’s Books and Promote Reading In Your Home

If your region isn’t eligible, don’t give up. Here are some more money-saving options for your young reader:

Weekly storytime at your local library
Reading contests at school or the library
PaperBackSwap.com – Trade your books with other members for a small trading fee.
Book swap parties – Invite some other parents to your home and ask them to bring any children’s (or other genres of) books they’d be interested in swapping. Lay them all out on a table, draw numbers, and take turns picking from the “new inventory.” Get your kids involved, too!
Consignment sales – Books are often sold for $1 or less.
Garage sales
Audiobooks – You can check these out for free at the library. They include a book for children to use as they listen along.

For more on reading for your kids, or reading to your kids, check out these great articles.

The Importance of Reading to Your Child
A Fun and Economical Way to Get Kids Interested in Reading: Comic Books
Here are 8 of the Best Kids Books On Audible

What were some of your favorite books to read as a child? Tell us in the comments below!

7 Screen-Free Activities for Preschoolers

November 14, 2016 | Leave a Comment

The last thing you’ll ever hear me say is that I’ll never let my kids use technology. Part of their world will always be tied to it. However, I don’t want them to become overstimulated and addicted. To put up healthy boundaries, here are several screen-free activities for preschoolers – since both of my children are that age.

These activities have worked in my family. Now it’s my turn to hand them over to you.

I notice subtle changes in my children’s behavior when they’re in front of a screen for too long. After doing some research, I now understand better what those changes are.

Or more importantly, what they could become.

What does the research say?

Preschoolers don’t reflect the more serious side effects of too much technology, but the average child eight years and older is spending 8 to 11 hours per day looking at a screen, according to the NY Times. What suffers as a result?

Emotional connect. Reasoning skills. Coping mechanisms. The ability to process thoughts, anxieties, and problems.

All those developmental skills are under attack when screens dominate a child’s day, according to this report from NPR.

The earlier we create boundaries for our children’s time with technology, the better their transition into adulthood will be.

7 Screen-Free Activities for Preschoolers

Read books.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Establishing a daily reading habit with your child is a great way to advance his development away from screens. To change things up, try attending a reading time at your local library or purchase some nonfiction books (i.e. a picture dictionary or a book all about what your child loves most).

We keep a basket in between the children’s car seats so they can pick out a book to read on their own while I drive.

Listen to audio books.

One my kids’ favorite activities is listening to audio books. We pull up “reading chairs” so they know it’s time to sit and listen (you could also cut out cardboard circles with their names on them or set out folded blankets).

The library offers lots of variety when it comes to audio stories for kids. Turn the pages for the children until they get the hang of it and can follow along by themselves.

This activity promotes sitting still, listening, learning by spoken word, and early reading along.

Make believe a favorite character.

During an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, my children watched the characters try on several different costumes and parade around the play room. Once we shut the TV off, my kids instantly wanted to be like those characters, so we grabbed some play clothes and made it happen.

This activity helps kids develop their imagination, and helps them understand that not all fun happens on the other side of a screen.

Bring mess-free travel crafts.

Screen-free activities for toddlers especially come in handy in the car. Have a basket of mess-free crafts, book or toys can help them learn to occupy themselves without DVDs or iPads.

One of my go-to examples is the Melissa and Doug Paint with Water book. These last a long time, help your children learn hand-eye coordination, and never leave a mess behind.

They also make great birthday presents for other children. Find them here.

Build something.

Whether it’s a fort made from couch cushions or a castle made from LEGOs, building something is immensely beneficial to your preschooler. It’s like you can see the smoke rising from the wheels turning in their brain as they problem solve each piece of the puzzle or tower.

My favorite toy that helps my children develop these skills is the Mega Bloks Big Building Bag.
It’s an 80-piece set of easy-to-use building blocks that can be added to over time and at any age.

Getting outside.

Staying active is next to impossible while a child is hooked up to a screen. Just like you can create a reading time every day, try to take the kids outside each day. You can take them to the park, for a walk, to the zoo, the pool, on a field trip, or just out to the driveway with some sidewalk chalk.

Study the world together.

Last Christmas, my husband and I gave our children a globe. Over the last year, we’ve looked at it together and studied the numerous intricacies of our world. Yes, you can download Google Earth for free, but studying a 3D globe in a group is different. The children can feel the earth. They feel the mountain ranges, spin the planet on its axis, and wrap their arms around its round shape.

Being able to study that together creates a discussion format that wouldn’t likely happen through an app.

For more ways to keep your kids busy without putting them in front of a screen check out these articles.

8 Simple Rainy Day Activities For Kids
Three Inexpensive Spring Break Ideas
How to Save Money On Kids Toys

What screen-free activities for preschoolers does your family enjoy?

Image Credit: Frank McKenna (UnSplash)

This post may contain affiliate links.

The Importance of Reading to Your Child

August 6, 2014 | Leave a Comment

When we were in the hospital after I delivered my daughter one of the things that was given to us was a cloth bag with a few children’s books in it. When I asked what it was she explained that the hospital gave out this package to all new families as a way to encourage early reading. I thought it was crazy that they would need to even need to implement such a program (thinking about the cost of the program) but the program coordinator was the first to open my eyes to the growing issue of children simply not being exposed to books anymore.

Reading in the Digital Age

Kids aren’t getting read to, out loud, as much anymore. With the growing use of electronics especially, digital programs are replacing time with mom and dad and reading good old fashion books. Most pediatric societies argue children should have zero screen time until at least age two, some even older citing kids should have zero screen time until the age of five to seven. Screen time including television, computers and all other electronic devices.

While I do agree that screen time should be seriously limited, my daughter, being two years old is allowed to watch an episode or two of her favorite show. Where I draw the line though is introducing her to a computer or tablet device, especially to replace time she reads books.

Reading Aloud – The Old Way

My house is overrun with children’s books. We have hundreds of them, and it drives me crazy sometimes but listening to my just two year old run around the house yelling her ABC’s at the top of her little (ok, not so little) lungs makes me happy and reminds me why we have so many books.

We started reading to her as part of her daily routine which we implemented from a very young age. While she was really young, and not so active and on-the-go, we would read and look at books all day long, I mean what else could she do?! Now that she’s a very active toddler and outside playing and with other kids, we still set aside time to read every day.

She gets quiet time and books at a minimum before her nap and bedtime which, given how busy we are, is more than sufficient for me and much more than most kids are getting unfortunately. In a recent study, parents who did not read to their children on a regular basis (almost 50% of children by the way) cited not having enough time in the day to do it. To which I argue my husband and I both work full-time, have other responsibilities and side jobs, there is no way I could ever justify not having five to ten minutes a day to read to my child.

I’m not totally hating on technology but studies have shown that reading (old school) books out loud with pictures and words develops children much more than any electronic. Children who are read aloud to every day are stronger academically and have a much broader vocabulary. Benefits aside, I wouldn’t trade my evening reading and cuddle time for anything in the world, it’s my favorite part of our day!

For more on reading, and how to make sure you spend the best time with your children doing so, check out these great articles.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Wants To Give Your Child a Free Book Every Month
A Fun and Economical Way to Get Kids Interested in Reading: Comic Books
Here are 8 of the Best Kids Books On Audible

Do you read aloud to your children?

Free Comic Book Day this Saturday

May 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment

I have mentioned in previous posts that I have been a life long comic book fan. My cousin introduced them to me when I was in 3rd grade or so and it blossomed into I cherish. It taught me to love reading and worked my imagination to it’s fullest.

Every year, the comic book industry puts on a special event called Free Comic Book Day. Most comic stores participate. This one time every year the comic stores can purchase a specific selection of comic books for very cheap (pennies on the dollar) as long as they give them away for free on free comic book day. Comic stores typically have events surrounding the day with other giveaways going away and comic creators showing up to sign books and meet their fans. This year, Free Comic Book Day is this coming Saturday (May 7, 2011).

How to find stores participating in Free Comic Book Day

It’s a great event for families looking for something cheap and different. If you aren’t sure where the closest comic book store is, use the Comic Book Store Locator Service to see if there is one near you that is participating in this event. If you can find a store close by, take the kids, have some fun, introduce them to the wonderful, creative world of comic books for Free!

You can read more about it at FreeComicBookDay.com

Do you read comic books? Have you gone to a Free Comic Book Day event in the past?

The Old Woman and The Wine Jar; An Aesop’s Fable

April 19, 2011 | Leave a Comment

An Old Woman found an empty cask that had once contained a fine old wine and that still retained the fragrant smell of it’s former contents. She greedily placed it several times under her nose and, drawing it backwards and forwards, said, “Delicious! How nice the Wine must have been when it leaves behind so sweet a perfume?”

The memory of a good deed lives on.

Photo by Pixabay

How have you used this fable to teach your children?

The Lion, The Fox, And The Ass; an Aesop’s Fable

April 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment

The Lion, the Fox, and the Ass formed a party to go hunting. After a successful hunt the three celebrated over a hearty meal. The Lion asked the Ass to divide up the booty. The Ass divided the proceeds into three equal parts and asked his friends to choose their portions. The Lion, in great indignation, tore the Ass to pieces. he then asked the Fox to divide the booty. the Fox gathered almost everything into one pile, leaving only a tiny bit for himself. “Oh, friend,” said the Lion, “who taught you to make so equitable a division?”

Happy is the man who learns from the misfortunes of others.

Image from Fotopedia

How would you use this fable to teach your children?