As moms, this time of year offers us an abundance of craft ideas to do with our little pumpkins…and all those cute little pumpkins at the patch, too! Harvest your child’s creativity with these 12 art activities for preschoolers for fall.

A Crop of Ideas Using, Well, Fall Crops

1. Pumpkin Patch Picasso – Grab a small pumpkin, some paints or stickers, and let your little one decorate. This is one of those art activities for preschoolers for fall that makes a great playdate idea, too.

2. An Apple-solutely Sweet Print – If apple picking is one of your family fall traditions, save one or two of those Crimson Crisps for this idea. Cut an apple in half at the core. Lead your child to dip each half in washable paint and press the apple-shaped stamp down onto thick paper or a canvas. Make more “stamps” with other fruits and vegetables traditionally harvested in the fall, such as potatoes, carrots, and celery.

3. Let the Good Times (or Corn on the Cob) Roll – Turn corn into a paint roller! Give your child an uncooked corn on the cob and invite her to roll it in paint. Then, let her roll the cob on a canvas. You can also cut the corncob in half and invite your child to use it like a paintbrush. It’s large enough for even a young toddler to grip and practice using those fine motor skills as she presses the end into paint and onto paper.

Just Gonna Leaf These Here

4. Let Fall Rub Off on You – Create a leaf rubbing using fall foliage. Place a leaf under a piece of white paper. Ask your child to gently rub a crayon on the paper to reveal the leaf pattern. Try it with different leaves and colors.

5. An Artful Hunt – Go on a Fall Scavenger Hunt and collect colorful leaves, sticks, pinecones, acorns, and other treasures your child finds to pocket along the way. Then use everything to make a nature collage together. Snap a photo to capture your creation. Or grab a plate and let your child pretend to be a chef, creating a culinary masterpiece from your scavenger hunt. Snap a photo like the influencer you are!

6. The Crown Glory – Collect leaves, twigs, fall wildflowers, and other natural finds to create whimsical fall crowns for your little prince or princess.

7. The Eyes Have It – Googly eyes just make everything better. Take orange, yellow, red, or brown construction paper and cut out large leaf shapes. Then use crayons and googly eyes to make leaf people. Glue on a craft stick and let the pretend play begin!

Hands Down Favorite Art Activities for Preschoolers for Fall

8. Your Child’s Handiwork  – Using a fall leaf-colored paint, paint your child’s hand. Then, lead her to press her full hand on paper to create a handprint leaf. You can also use our L VE YOU printable to create a fall-themed version for your home. 

9. Take a Dip into the Season – On a piece of thick paper, draw the outline of a tree trunk and branches. Then, let your child dip his finger in red, yellow, and orange paint before dabbing it on the tree limbs to create fall leaves. Instead of fingertips, you can also use cotton swabs or the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil.

10. A Trace of Fall –  Trace your child’s handprint on red, yellow, and orange construction paper.  Cut out the handprint “leaves.” Then, help your child glue the “leaves” on a paper plate to create a colorful fall leaf wreath. (Then try saying “Fall Leaf Wreath” five times fast for some added good times.)

You’ve Got This in the Bag

11. Puppet People – Using a small, lunch-sized paper bag, create scarecrow puppets. You’ll need crayons, stickers, and googly eyes, of course. Instead of scarecrows, you could create pumpkin puppets instead.

12. It’s the Great (Paper Bag) Pumpkin – Stuff a paper bag with crumpled newspaper or recycled mail. With the full bag, create a round shape. Then, ask your child to color or paint the bag orange. Paint on a green leaf or two at the top, or add some black cutouts for a jack-o-lantern effect. Try using bags of different sizes and create a pumpkin family!

And, hey, art activities for preschoolers for fall don’t need to involve lots of materials. Print these fall coloring pages, grab the crayons, and let your child create a masterpiece in the back seat while you drive around looking at the foliage together. You can even see when the trees will peak in your area.

Which art activities for preschoolers for fall do you love to create with your little one?

The post 12 Fall Art Activities to Harvest Your Child’s Creativity appeared first on iMOM.

Thankfully, we’ve all gotten better at this family travel thing. And our now-teenagers look forward to the games (mostly), even on 14-hour road trips. When you’re on the road again, plan on playing these 15 car games for kids to keep everyone entertained. 

5 Car Games for Kids Under 5

1. Puppetpoolza Party – Anything can be turned into a puppet. Using what you have on hand (See what I did there?), hold a silly conversation with your child. The first time I played this game, I used my child’s Lambie. Lambie talked with a heavy Southern accent and called everyone Pancake and Waffle. She asked my daughter all sorts of silly questions, messed up the song lyrics, and tried her hand at yodeling. That puppet calmed our toddler and made the trip fun for us all.  

2. I Spy – Yep. It’s a classic game for a reason. And while it’s not a new game for you, it is for your child.

3. Hello, Yellow – See how many yellow trucks your child can spot. Give out a small prize when he finds 10. And, yes, snacks count as prizes! Then, move on to another color and another prize, like coloring pages, stickers, or a familiar stuffed animal who “snuck into the car.”

4. Cars of Many Colors – See how many different colored cars you can spot together. Red, white, black, blue, yes! Purple? Maybe. Hot pink? Almost as rare as a Hawaiian license plate.

5. And the Letter Is? – List three words starting with the same letter. Really enunciate the words. Ask your child to guess the letter. For example, you say: Book, Bear, Banana. 

5 Games for Elementary

6. Name That Tune – Create a playlist. Include songs your kids love and your go-to songs. Shuffle the playlist and take turns naming the song. Increase the difficulty by requiring title and artist.

7. The Trifecta of Road Trip Games Printables – License plate game printable, check. Road Trip Bingo, check check. I Spy Alphabet Version, triple check!

8. Spot It – Pick five random things, such as a horse, a school bus, a church with a steeple, a construction sign, and a child asleep in a car. When someone in your car spots an item, she says, “Spot it!” and then picks a new thing for the list.

9. Minute to Win It (Car Version) – How many football teams, colors, Disney movies, instruments, pizza toppings can your child name in a minute? Add to the fun by asking your child to say how many he can name before attempting it.

10. Fortunately, Unfortunately – Make up a story together. Each person takes turns adding one sentence to the story. The first sentence starts with “Fortunately.” The next sentence begins with “Unfortunately.” Then back to “Fortunately.” For example: “Fortunately, we left the house early enough to miss most of the traffic. Unfortunately, we left the bathtub water running. Fortunately, our neighbor has a key to the house. Unfortunately, his dog ate it. Fortunately, you hid a spare key.” Unfortunately, this is one of those car games for kids you need to play yourself to find out what happens next.

5 Car Games for Tweens and Teens

11. Cows on My Side – This game works best with four people in the car. Split the car into two teams, the left side team and the right side team. Teams get a point if they see cows on their side of the road. Teams receive two points if they spot a cow doing something other than grazing. And a team earns three points for seeing an unusual farm animal on their side (llamas, yaks, etc). But, if a team spots a cemetery on their opponent’s side and says, “graveyard,” the opposing team loses all their points. The side with the most points at the end of the trip wins the game.

12. Hey, Mr. DJ – This one isn’t really a car game, but letting your tween or teen take over the music is an easy way to get to know your child a little better. Ask her about her favorite song of the moment. Why does she like that artist? How does she find new music?

13. Mental Dominoes – Start the game by saying a word. The next person picks a word somehow connected to the first one. Whoever goes next picks a word related to the previous word. For example, you say DOG. The next person says BONE. Then someone says DINOSAUR.

14. Team Trivia – Load up your phone with popular trivia apps like this one and this one, and let the fun and games begin. Split into teams or not. The only real rule is no Googling! And, hey, let the winner pick where you stop for lunch.

15. Movie Mania – Start by naming an actor. The next person needs to name a movie the actor starred in. The next person names another actor in that movie. Then, the next person recalls a different movie starring the new actor. If someone gets stumped, she’s out. Play continues until only the winner is left.

What are your favorite car games for kids?

The post 15 Family Car Games to Beat the Boredom Bug appeared first on iMOM.

So, of course, he introduced our daughters to modern-day treasure hunting while on a daddy-daughters outing. I didn’t even know about geocaching until they came home with a glow-in-the-dark bouncy ball and a small plastic puppy. But from then on, our kids wanted to search for treasures every weekend. If you’re looking for a family-friendly outdoor adventure, here are the basics of geocaching with kids to get you started.

Geocaching Basics for Families

Our girls found their first geocache in the parking lot of our local ice skating rink. That’s just one of more than 3 million geocaches to be found worldwide. Here’s how geocaching works. Start by getting a geocaching app on your smartphone. The app lists and describes the caches—or hidden containers—near your current location. 

The goal is to work together to follow the coordinates and clues in the description to find a specific container. Containers can vary in size, and most include a logbook to sign. The larger caches typically contain small items to trade. So, bring along something like a toy car, foreign coin, or even a trinket from a fast food joint so your child can pick a prize and leave one behind!

And, hey, if you find yourselves traveling along an interstate and need a new family road trip activity to try, many rest stops include geocaches.

Geocaching With Young Kids

We started geocaching with our girls when they were both under 5. My husband looked for locations on the app that were labeled “kid-friendly” in the description. Those geocaches tend to be easy to navigate and often include spots such as playgrounds, paved walking trails, and libraries. You’ll be surprised how many geocaches may be hiding where you already take your kids.

With young kids, pick the largest geocaches to find. Those containers can be easier to spot than the small ones and also tend to include the best trades. Those little treasures can be the best part for a child and can also prove to be a motivator to keep looking! So, remember to bring something to swap.

And while you’re out and about, looking for a geocache together is a natural time to introduce your young child to basic navigation terms and concepts: north, south, east, west, left, right, up, down.  

Geocaching With Elementary-Age Kids

As with young kids, look for geocaches labeled “kid-friendly.” However, you can also hunt for a cache that may involve a little longer walk or hike. Kids in elementary school are at a good age to look for geocaches that also include an educational component. Some caches provide information about local history, wildlife, or geography. We live near an area once known for gold mining. We learned more about it by following the clues of several geocaches. And, as an added unexpected bonus, one find included small nuggets of fool’s gold, which our kids excitedly traded up to receive.

Make the most of your treasure hunting in nature. Discuss the importance of being aware of your surroundings. Point out plants to avoid (hello, poison ivy!), where snakes like to curl up, or even butterfly cocoons out in the wild! Reinforce safety rules and guidelines, such as staying on marked trails, avoiding dangerous areas, and respecting nature. You can even add in a “cache in, trash out” twist by cleaning up litter in the areas you explore together.

For older kids, boost their confidence by letting them hold the phone and lead the hunt. That also gives them practice in using navigation skills. 

Geocaching With Tweens and Teens

It’s time to up your game! Geocaching with kids reaches a whole new level when you go with tweens and teens. Put their technology prowess to use (and encourage their growing independence and decision-making) by putting them in charge of using the app to find a cache, take photos of the experience, and log finds online. Challenge them to look for caches that involve “trackables” (items that move from cache to cache) and puzzle caches (finds that involve solving a puzzle to determine final coordinates). Or lead them to look for caches that involve hiking, climbing, or exploring off-the-beaten-path locations.

Also, geocaching can be a fun way to get to know your child’s friends better. Invite them to come along on a night caching adventure. Some caches are specifically designed to be found at night. Plus, your teen is a night owl now anyway! Or challenge your teens to create and place their own geocache.

What’s your favorite geocaching with kids tip?

The post Modern-Day Treasure Hunting: Geocaching With Kids appeared first on iMOM.

Kids love it when their parents get creative. Sometimes, a mom’s creativity comes from a need to cut back on spending, but the kids don’t need to know that. When you’re trying to get the kids out of the house but you’re working on a budget, try one of these 10 affordable family bonding activities.

1. Backyard Campout

Take the camping gear you may already have (or borrow some) and set it up in your back yard. Pitch a tent, roll out the sleeping bags, and roast hot dogs or marshmallows. For the full camping experience, don’t forget to tell stories or sing songs around the campfire with your kids.

2. Playground Championship

Get a list of every playground in town. Create criteria for kids to rate parks based on what they like best: the size of the equipment, necessary pieces, unique features, and the like. As you tour every park, have your kids rank them and keep a running leaderboard. Once you’ve tried them all, crown the best park with as much fanfare as possible.

3. A Cheap or Free Swim

Many pools have slow times when they lower their prices to try and get people in the water. Some will offer free swimming while others may have a one- or two-dollar swim weekly or monthly. Use Google to find out when and where to take advantage of a pool’s off hours. As a bonus, you may discover a new favorite family pool.

4. Backyard Waterpark

When you can’t get out to the local pool, find ways to turn your back yard into a waterpark. If you’ve got a backyard playset, add a sprinkler and an inflatable pool to make a waterslide. Create a slip-n-slide with a roll of poly sheeting, water, and dish soap. Want more water games? Here are 5 your kids will love.

5. Laser Maze

Take a roll of masking tape and some crepe paper or yarn to create a laser maze in one of your hallways. Kids have to try to climb through the maze without touching the “laser beams”—the strings of crepe paper or yarn—that zigzag across the hallway. For added effect, dim the lights and play the Mission Impossible theme as they navigate the maze.

6. Next-Level Fort Building

Whether it’s the leftover boxes from appliances, couch cushions, or an intricate setup of ropes and blankets, there’s no limit of ways you can build a fort with your kids. Level this activity up by giving your kids a set amount of time to build and decorate their own fort, and then have the whole family camp in them that night in the living room.

7. Yard Sales

Give everyone a few dollars and spend an afternoon going from yard sale to yard sale. See who can make their money go the furthest and who can bring home the most exciting or most valuable gift. Try this in a thrift store if it’s not yard sale season.

8. House Swap

Find another family who lives in another neighborhood or town and swap houses for the weekend. Spend the time acquainting yourself with everything you can in the other community: exploring parks, hiking trails, notable landmarks, and even the local church community.

9. U-Pick to the Table

Look up a u-pick farm in your area, and take your kids for an afternoon picking. Armed with the fruits (or vegetables) of your labor and a recipe, make a meal with your kids using the produce they’ve picked. You could also use this experience as inspiration to get your kids involved in your own garden in the future.

10. Volunteer

Family bonding activities connect you even more when you give back. There are always opportunities to serve others in places like food banks, soup kitchens, and nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Volunteering somewhere as a family will bring you closer together while making a difference in the lives of those in need.

What are some other family bonding activities you can do on a budget?

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Whether your goal is to move more or simply to sit less, we have some ideas to get your family moving. Check out our list of 11 activities for active families, and see how many you can cross off this month.

1. Walk to lunch (or brunch) and walk home.

If it’s possible, why not walk? Our town center is about a mile away, and everyone’s famished by the time we get to our destination. It’s a great opportunity to catch up on a week’s worth of happenings in your kids’ lives.

Walking is a great opportunity to catch up on a week’s worth of happenings in your kids’ lives.

2. Bike to church.

Empower your kids by showing them the bike route to church. It makes going to church an adventure and teaches kids they can get places using their own strength and muscle.

3. Use a paddle on the water.

If you’re in gator country, this may be more of an adventure than you’d like. But for others, paddling about and using your arms to move is an experience that everyone should try. But don’t expect to go fast. It’s tough, especially the first time, whether you’re canoeing, kayaking, or paddleboarding.

4. Spruce up the yard.

My kids have long griped about yardwork, but last fall, one of them said, “Hey, our yard looks pretty good.” Because we’d worked on it that summer as a family—trimming, weeding, cutting—we all felt some satisfaction with this revelation. The vitamin D and exercise were an added bonus.

5. Play basement games.

We keep our ping pong table in our basement. But I know a family who stores a table in the garage and rolls it out in good weather. Even if you assemble a net on the kitchen table and tap a ping pong ball back and forth, that counts in the category of what I call “basement games.” Other contenders are foosball, air hockey, and anything else too big to keep in a bedroom.

6. Walk to the nearest Little Library.

I love having a destination when I walk. And fortunately, we have several little book stands within a mile of our house. It’s fun to see what’s inside for the taking. Of course, I also like encouraging my kids to drop off books when we’re done. What goes around comes around.

7. Play backyard games.

Some libraries loan games like bocci ball, cornhole, and horseshoes. My favorite backyard game was badminton—until the net got caught in the wheels of the lawnmower. (Don’t ask.) Now my favorite is frisbee. Our dog can even play.

8. Make the driveway a place to play.

A couple summers ago, we jumped on the pickleball craze and bought a net for the driveway, along with paddles and balls. It’s a fun game, especially when the grandparents visit. What’s your family’s preference for the driveway—shooting hoops? Rollerblading?

9. Do a dog field trip.

We like taking our pooch different places to sniff and explore. And she always comes home ready for a nap. Now if only my kids would follow suit.

10. Play laser tag.

Before you say no, hear me out. I played laser tag at my daughter’s birthday party, and though I didn’t get a ton of steps in (to my surprise), I did do a lot of bending and crouching. In other words, I fired up my leg muscles, but hardly broke a sweat. Plus, it was SO MUCH FUN.

11. Explore a neighboring town on foot.

When you walk, you notice so much more. We recently visited a town about a half hour away and spotted interesting wall art along some narrow streets that we never would’ve seen by car. Seeing this little town up close made our world feel a little bigger. What town could you visit with your family?

Active families aren’t necessarily running marathons on the weekends but simply doing fun activities that get everyone moving. What does your family like to do?

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Studies show how beneficial outdoor play is for kids socially, mentally, and physically. (Did you know it can help prevent nearsightedness?) But when I tell my kids to go outside and play, I get whines of “But what do we do?” and “For how long?” And, if I’m being honest, between schedules, screens, and concerns for their safety, I think I’m partially to blame for their outdoor play deficit. So, how do we encourage independent play outside? Here are 7 things that will help move kids beyond the walls of our homes and into the fresh air.

1. Make your yard kid-friendly.

This takes some work, but it’s worth it. Tidy up the yard so you can have peace of mind when your kids are getting in some independent play. Recycle the rusty swing set, check for wasp nests, and make sure someone picks up after the dog (ew!). You’ll send the kids outside knowing the only potential danger is a sunburn. 

2. Make outside toys accessible and clean.

In a parenting misstep, we organized the garage and put the kids’ bikes in a spot neither of them could reach. They didn’t ride for three months. Out of sight, out of mind! Your kids are more likely to go outside and play if their glove and ball, hula hoop, sidewalk chalk, or scooter are visible and not buried under boxes or tools. And that plastic play set? Give it a good hose off now and then. 

3. Use an “I wonder” prompt.

My sons went from not wanting to go outside at all to playing around our oak tree for over an hour simply because I said, “I wonder if there’s anything living in that tree’s knot.” The words “I wonder” are hard for kids’ brains to resist, so try using them to prompt independent play outdoors. “I wonder how big that ant pile has gotten.” “I wonder how big you can blow bubbles with that wand.” “I wonder if you can jump and reach the top of the fence post.”

4. Snacks!

When my sister and I played outside, we’d eat those ice pops in plastic tubes. We’d snip off the top and suck down the purple or orange sugar water, leaving behind pale ice. What special treat could be your kids’ outdoor snack? You don’t have to give it to them every day, but try surprising them next time they’re playing, and they’ll taste the sweetness of outdoor play.  

5. Get to know neighborhood kids.

Research published in the National Library of Medicine found that outdoor play with other children is good for kids’ executive function, cooperation, social connectedness, and communication skills. Not sure if there are kiddos on your block? Start by simply getting outside. Take a lap or shoot hoops in the driveway; if kids are around, they’ll come out of the woodwork.

6. Limit screen time.

My son lost Sunday screen privileges because he didn’t turn in a math assignment. He grumbled the morning his sentence was to be carried out, but at the end of the day, he said, “Mom, I think it was a good thing that I couldn’t be on my tablet. We had a great day.” Little effort is required to be entertained via a screen, and an object at rest stays at rest. So try removing technology for one day of the weekend, and you might find your kids are eager to spend more time outside.

7. Get yourself outside.

Moms are like magnets for young kids. If I head outside with a folding chair and a book, my kids will be right behind me, and I bet the same is true for you. Grab your gardening gloves, and let the kids play in the sprinkler while you pull weeds (or after everyone pulls weeds). Getting yourself outside draws the rest of the family out and gives you a healthy dose of vitamin D, which can help stabilize your mood, boost immunity, and support bone health. 

Try making independent play outdoors part of your kids’ daily routine: Eat a snack, do homework, and head outside. If you’re nervous about letting them play independently, start small and set firm boundaries, like one trip around the subdivision with you on the other end of a walkie-talkie. They’ll love the freedom and take new adventures every day.

What was your favorite thing to play outdoors when you were a kid?

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The lunchbox note is a powerful thing. You have your kids’ undivided attention for the six seconds it takes them to read what you’ve written. So what’s a mom to say? I think there are 9 types of lunchbox notes that match different parenting styles. Which one sounds like the one you’d write?

1. The “Here’s My Chance to Remind You” Note

If you find yourself writing “Don’t forget to bring home your jacket!” on a lunchbox note, you’re the mom who faces the challenge of managing her little people head-on. You also know the occasional reminder works wonders. Never lose hope. Today might finally be the day he remembers his jacket, his lunchbox, and his notebook…

2. The Apology Note

“Can we put this morning’s fight behind us?” If you’ve ever included an apology or waved a white flag via a lunchbox note, give yourself a hug. You’re setting a great example for your kids that no grudge is worth holding when you love someone.

3. The “Make ‘Em Laugh” Note

“What’s brown and sticky?” The mom who slides jokes or riddles into her kids’ lunches knows that a good chuckle might be all they need to make it ’til the bell rings. Never give up on making your kids smile. Our kids need to see our silly sides. It’s a stick, by the way.

4. The Frazzled Note

“Ask your teacher for another copy of the permission slip! And tell her I’m sorry!” This mom might have to use a lunchbox note written on a napkin to get the job done, but she gets it done! This category also includes the mom who’s sent a grocery list with her kid and took the lunchbox note to the store.

5. The Plans Note

“4 p.m. practice, 6 p.m. dinner (burgers). Want to go for a walk at 7?” If you’ve ever put a schedule in a lunchbox note, you probably love a solid plan. Your parenting style is predictable and reliable, and that makes your kids feel safe.

6. The “Focus on Food” Note

“Eat your apple first!” The mom who uses a lunchbox note to talk to her kids about lunch is practical. She reminds her kids to focus on what’s in front of them and not worry about what’s to come. Carpe diem, kids! And carpe your apple because Mom’s tired of spending money on food that’s not getting eaten.

7. The Encouragement Note

“You’ve got this, kiddo! Show that math test who’s boss!” This is one of my favorite types of lunchbox notes. If you could include a little pom pom in your child’s lunchbox you probably would. Kids need to know someone believes in them, so keep cheering.

8. The Artsy Note

For an entire school year, I didn’t send a written note. Instead, I drew stick figure pictures on my kids’ brown snack bags. In hindsight, I think I may have been going through something… Anyway… The mom who chooses drawings over writing leaves her message open to interpretation. She has a go-with-the-flow type of parenting style. She lets her kids express their emotions, and she probably gives warm hugs.

9. The K.I.S.S. Note

If your typical note just says “i love u” or “muah!” you like to Keep It Simple, Sweetie. You have no agenda except love and affection. Or you’re just exhausted and have no words left. The good news is, a mom’s message of love is usually exactly what her kids need to hear.

Then there’s the non-existent note.

Many days, I think, “I should’ve written a note today. It would’ve taken 10 seconds.” Then I feel crummy. If this sounds familiar, and you beat yourself up for not being a “better mom,” stop right there.

You probably hugged your kids, fed them breakfast, checked to see that they were wearing mostly clean clothes, and made sure they got to school on time. You showed more love than you can fit on a piece of paper, so this self-criticism—cut it out. But also, literally cut it out. Our pre-written printable lunchbox notes are free. We have some for tweens and teens, boys, girls, holidays, end of the year, and even husbands!

What’s your typical lunchbox note message, and does it fit your parenting style?

The post Which Lunchbox Note Fits Your Parenting Style? appeared first on iMOM.

To help Thanksgiving move up on the favorite holidays list, I thought about what we could do differently. If your family struggles with enjoying this holiday too, maybe you can give Thanksgiving an overhaul this year by incorporating one of these 8 ways to turn it into a holiday you love.

1. Start a new tradition.

As a teen, I worked the holidays at a movie theater and on those days, my boss let my family see shows for free. I’d serve up the popcorn, make some money, and my parents and sister got a treat. We all liked the arrangement, and it lasted for a handful of years. What can your family do that’s different and will make this holiday one you love? Thanksgiving traditions don’t have to be the stuff of your childhood. Make new ones with the family you have now.

2. Have a parade party.

Parades have this old-timey feel to them, don’t they? If you’re lucky enough to live near a city with a Thanksgiving parade, why not attend in person this year? If you can’t find a parade in town, tune in to one on TV. Make it special by having breakfast on the couch and watching as a family. You might be surprised how fun this can be for kids.

3. Bake a pie—or a different sweet treat—with the kids.

My kids and I have baked an apple pie together for most of the last several Thanksgivings. Maybe your family would prefer to bake a cake on Thanksgiving? Or something fancy like scones or donuts? Do what makes your family happy and create a new, sweet Thanksgiving tradition together.

4. Decide on good enough dinner prep.

My husband makes Thanksgiving dinner and is the type of guy who enjoys the challenge of a new stuffing recipe each year. As for me, I’m just happy I don’t have to cook. Talk with your husband about what you both envision for the holiday. Be realistic. What people remember most from Thanksgiving is the company and whether their bellies are full. So, just make sure there’s enough, but don’t stress over whether it’s Michelin quality.

5. Combine travel with a tourist activity.

Does the Thanksgiving tradition of traveling on the holiday make your stomach hurt? Me too. Growing up, I hated sitting in someone else’s living room for hours while the adults talked. And as an adult, I find it just about as hard. So I’ve proposed to my husband that we combine our next trip with some sort of fun, touristy activity. I know there’s not a lot open on the actual holiday, but if you plan something for the day after, it might give you and the kids something else to look forward to.

6. Invite people you don’t know well.

Some of my most memorable Thanksgivings included untraditional guests—the elderly lady on our block, my son’s friend and his family, and my husband’s single coworker who got stranded in town last minute without dinner plans. Because we didn’t normally have holiday dinners together, these occasions became exciting very quickly. Think about who you can invite this year. New topics of conversation make things interesting!

7. Choose a friends-giving or self-giving activity.

I went to a “friends-giving” party a couple years ago, which was kind of like a potluck with various dishes—some Thanksgiving themed, but some dishes from the hostess’s Filipino background. I loved trying her plantains! If this is your kind of thing, host on the weekend before Thanksgiving so you’re free to do something else on the actual day. If you prefer something quieter, carve out time for some “self-giving” and whatever that means to you. It could be eating the leftover stuffing in front of your favorite TV show the next day. Or, it could mean taking yourself to a coffee shop for some quiet time to read. Either way, it’s a special treat. That way, when Thanksgiving looms on the calendar, you have something to look forward to.

8. Break with tradition.

I grew up with the white noise of football games on TV during Thanksgiving. These days, our family keeps the TV off. Why not break the tradition that bothers you and start fresh with your family? A friend of mine doesn’t even make a turkey (her family eats lasagna). If your idea of family fun isn’t board games or backyard touch football, pick something you like. Go on a bike ride. Decorate for Christmas. Do what makes your family light up when you say, “Thanksgiving’s almost here!”

For some fun ideas to try with your family, print out our Fall Family Bucket List.

Which Thanksgiving traditions do you love, and which ones would you rather give up?

The post 8 Ways to Make Thanksgiving a Holiday You Love appeared first on iMOM.

We want kids to be grateful all year long, but maybe during the countdown to Thanksgiving, we can emphasize it a little more by giving thanks as a family. Here are 23 ways for kids to give thanks this Thanksgiving.

1. Write a note to your teacher, thanking her for something she’s done this school year.
2. Draw on the sidewalk for everyone to see: “I’m thankful for my neighborhood!”
3. Bring an extra treat to lunch, and thank someone for being your friend.
4. Create a family gratitude poster and hang it in the kitchen.
5. After breakfast, look out the window and find something you’re grateful for. Tell your mom about it.

Help your kids give thanks with our 15 Thanksgiving prayers printable.

6. At dinner, have everyone say two things they’re grateful for that day.
7. Put a sign in the window, thanking your mail carrier for delivering the mail rain or shine.
8. Keep a gratitude jar and slips of paper on the kitchen counter.
9. Write an email of thanks to your pastor.
10. Start a daily habit of writing in a personal gratitude journal.
11. Give a little extra at church this weekend.
12. Leave a small gift on a neighbor’s porch and thank her for something specific like waving to you every time she sees you.
13. Call a grandparent and let them know you’re glad they’re your grandpa or grandma.
14. Offer to help a teacher today.

Want to see your kids give thanks to others? Get started with our Thankful Tree.

15. Text a friend or cousin who lives far away and let them know you appreciate them.
16. Thank your mom or dad for something he or she has done for you lately.
17. Do something kind for your siblings today and tell them you love them.
18. Gather up old clothes and toys to donate. Talk about the many blessings you have.
19. Say a prayer of thanks for five blessings in your life. Print our 15 Thanksgiving Prayers to get started.
20. Bring food into school ti share or take it to a food pantry to give to the poor.
21. Show thanks to your parents by helping with an extra chore around the house.
22. Read through the slips of paper in the gratitude jar or the list on the gratitude poster with your family.
23. Spend time at Thanksgiving dinner sharing how you’ve felt this month by giving extra thanks to so many people!

How do you help your kid give thanks to others year-round?

The post 23 Ways for Kids to Give Thanks This Thanksgiving appeared first on iMOM.

If you appreciate a good resolution, don’t miss out on the chance to enter the new school year with some smart ones. They’ll help make the year smoother for you and the kids. Pick your three favorites from these 10 ideas, and have a great school year!

1. I will keep school supply refills on hand in a predetermined spot.

Dry erase markers come in five packs, but your kiddo only needs three? Grab a shoebox or bin to store the extras and other supplies. You’ll have fewer “Mom! I’m out of ___!” moments. A great goal for the new school year that will benefit your budget is to make the best use of your resources.

2. I will make the kids pack their own lunches (or part of them).

I watched my son pour a cup of peanuts into a baggie, hold it up, and say, “This counts as protein!” Yes. I suppose it does. When your kids pack lunch, you’ll have to release control just a tad. Set parameters—a protein, something sweet, a dairy, and a fruit or veg. Then step back as they pack away. Use our Healthy Meal Planning printable as a helpful visual tool.

3. The kids will set their clothes out the night before.

Are the clothes sometimes in a pile on the floor? They sure are. But not having to dig through drawers or make decisions with sleep in your eyes is a better way for the kids (and you) to start the day.

4. I commit to fostering calm mornings.

You know that thing that sends you over the edge in the morning. Maybe it’s missing shoes, unfinished homework, or not getting your own hair done because someone else’s is “sticking up all weird.” Name it and troubleshoot with the kids. How can we make this better?

5. I will greet my kids after school with a pleasant attitude.

Whether your kids hop in your minivan right after the bell rings or you grab them from after-care at 6 p.m., let the first moment they see their mom be one of warmth and calmness. You never know what they faced in the hours away from you, but you’re the safe place they get to come home to.

6. I will let my child experience natural consequences.

School is a ripe environment for learning natural consequences. You just might have to sit on your hands or hide the car keys from yourself. If you see the bright red folder on the counter and you’ve already warned your daughter twice about not forgetting it, bite your tongue. School is about more than learning ABCs. Responsibility and accountability are valuable lessons, too.

7. I will push my child to advocate for herself.

You might need to help her rehearse the conversation, but allowing your child to handle issues with teachers, coaches, and friends without your intervention is worth it. When you get the scoop after school, resist correcting or coaching. Just say, “I’m proud of you for handling that on your own.”

8. We’ll make the most of our weekends.

Are you rushing around every weekend and exhausted by Sunday evening? Then make putting downtime on the calendar one of your goals for the new school year. Or do you veg so much that you’re forced to run on all cylinders on weekdays to get everything done? Then pick one thing to accomplish on Saturday. Whatever your goal is, make it a family affair.

9. I’ll recognize my whole child, not just his grades.

When grades get posted each week, it’s easy to scroll through and point out the good, the bad, and the confusing (I’m looking at you, new math!). This year, before you talk scores, ask your child a few character-based questions, like, “Who were you kind to this week?” “What struggles did you have to overcome?” and “In what area do you feel like you grew?”

10. We’ll be a “growth mindset” family.

Create a new vocabulary for your family. Swap “This is too hard!” for “With practice, this will get easier.” Instead of “I’m not good at this,” say, “What am I missing?” Replace, “I can’t” with “I can’t yet.”

Which goals for the new school year do you want to adopt as resolutions?

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