Author: Sarah Lyons

The day your child was born is a day to celebrate and make them feel special. Birthday parties are fun, but they can be a lot of work and the costs can quickly add up. If you decide to skip the birthday party, it doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate big. Here are some ideas to make sure your child’s birthday is special: Create Anticipation As the birthday approaches, build anticipation by talking about it and planning what the day will hold. You can create a special countdown by making a paper chain and tearing off one chain per day, or…

When I look back at each important moment in my life – the day I learned to drive, my graduation, my wedding, the birth of my first child – she is always standing in the background, smiling and cheering me on. More importantly, she was part of the other not-so-monumental moments in my life, like when I got stung by a bee, when the kids teased me, and when I cried my way through my first broken heart. My mom was always there to support me through all the moments, big and small. Now that I have been a mom…

Playdates are an important part of childhood. They offer time for kids to interact socially without the structure of school or extracurricular activities. They also help kids learn to share, socialize, and play freely while still having support from their parents as needed. Children with special needs are no exception and benefit from playdates as much as their peers. While they may take a little more planning and patience, it is well worth the effort for everyone involved. Here are some tips for hosting a playdate with kids with disabilities: Be Open Our natural reaction may be to avoid talking…

Children learn to read at their own pace but if your child is struggling to make significant progress as compared to their peers, it may be possible they have a reading disability called dyslexia. According to Mayo Clinic, “Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how to relate to letters and words. Dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.” Symptoms of dyslexia may include: Speech delay, trouble learning words, problems forming words correctly or reversing sounds or words that sound alike. Reading well below the expected level for…

Last year my husband and I set a goal to set up our will and estate plan. This forced us to look at who would become guardians of our children, what would we do in the event of one spouse’s death, when and how would our money be allocated, and more. These conversations were tough, simply because of the subject matter. Although this process wasn’t enjoyable, I’m so glad we checked it off our list because we can both rest assured that our kids will be taken care of, and our affairs are in order if needed. As we begin…

As Thanksgiving approaches, it is nice to reflect on and appreciate our blessings. In our family, each member writes down something they are thankful for on Thanksgiving Day, and we read them aloud at dinner. This is a fun exercise that teaches our children to show gratitude for things otherwise taken for granted. We enjoy that daily pause to remember what we are grateful for; but, what about every other day of the year? How do we teach our kids to be grateful all year long? Model Gratefulness The easiest and most effective way to start teaching your children gratitude…

When it comes to homework, it can seem impossible to get kids motivated to start or stay on task. It can be especially frustrating when you know your child is smart and capable, but they aren’t willing to put in the time and effort it takes to get the grades you know they can. As parents, we want our kids to put their best effort into their schoolwork without having to pester them and have the situation affect our relationship in a negative way. Here are some tips to help motivate your kids to stay on task: Establish Clear Expectations…

School mornings can be stressful for both parents and kids. They can be very hectic, with limited time to eat breakfast, get dressed, gather belongings, and get to school on time.Here are some ideas for families to lower the stress and create a smoother school morning:Backpack SolutionAfter the kids have completed their homework, have them pack their backpacks. Parents can sign permission slips, go through school papers, and gather any supplies needed for school the next day and pack them up. Does your child have their gym uniform and band instrument? When everything is ready the night before, there is…

Transitioning your child to becoming an older sibling is both exciting and challenging. While adding another child to the family provides your older child with a lifelong friend and playmate, the soon-to-be big sibling may feel reluctant to share their turf. Many parents worry about how their child will react to a new baby in the house and do their best to reassure their big kid that they are still very much loved and an important part of the family. There are some things you can do to make the transition easier for everyone. Here are some simple do’s and…

Have you ever seen the kids sleeping in strollers at the mall or even an amusement park, clearly not bothered by the noise or what is going on around them? Before I became a mother, I assumed getting a child to nap was as simple as giving the child a space to rest. A dozen years and six kids later, I have learned the hard way that it is rarely that simple. Nap time can be a battle between parent and child that leaves you feeling exhausted rather than rested. This leaves parents searching for suggestions to make things go…