Well, with some intention and thought, creating a home library on a budget that everyone in your home can enjoy can be fun, not break the bank and leave you some walking room too.

Why is a home library important?

Keeping good books around is a vital part of encouraging kids to read. The better stocked your library, the more likely they are to pick them up and want to read them. The more they want to read them, the better readers they’ll be. They are the stories that help them fall asleep, and the books they reach for at story time. But it isn’t just the quantity of books–the quality of the books matters too.

Our home libraries are usually a combination of books we enjoy, books that show off what we aspire to be, and books that project what we want others to think about us as well. Building it can also reflect who you are at a given time, what your interests are and what phase of life you’re in.

When you get the right books in your library, they can become the books you treasure and go back to again and again.

Knowing your why

Simon Sinek is famous for helping entrepreneurs discover why they are in business and why they exist. It helps you figure out what you’re doing and move forward.

Well, the same can be said for your home library. These are a few questions you can ask yourself:
Why do you want one?
Why are you building it?
Who is it for?
What purpose will it serve?

The answers don’t need to be too deep. There isn’t a department of home libraries giving out permits or licenses. This is your thing, and it can be whatever you want, for whatever reasons you want. But, having an idea of what you do want, will help you not go crazy and buy everything you see just because it’s there.

My library of books has been a work in progress for most of my life. I’ve always loved books and had a large collection. But, when I left home for college I left most of them behind, as many people do. Then my parents moved, and most of them were “lost.” So, I’ve spent the majority of my adult life building my collection back up, adding favorites and finding new ones.

I want to have a home library filled with books from my childhood and teen years that I want my kids to read too. Maybe to pass on to them or my grandchildren some day. I want to be able to pick up a book at any time and be reasonably sure I’ll like it. It is for me and my family–perhaps my kids even more than myself–because I want them to love reading and have a varied collection.

See, not too difficult or deep. Once you know why you’re building a library, it’s easier to know what to add and be more selective about the books you’re choosing. This helps you save money by not wasting it on books you’re unlikely to enjoy.

Choosing books for your home library

When building my library, now I often go for quality over quantity. But, that has not always been the case. When my kids were little we were reading so many stories all of the time that I would often pick up anything that looked interesting or thought they may like just to give us more variety. Especially inexpensive ones. My goal was to have as many books as possible.

But, now my goal is to be a bit more careful in choosing and think about what my kids and I will enjoy rather than just adding a book because it was $2. Which is fine, because libraries aren’t stagnant. They should be constantly changing and growing depending on what stage of life you’re in, what the purpose of your library is, and what your current needs are.

When it comes to choosing books for your library, go back to your purpose and what types of books you like.

Are you a fan of mysteries? Of fiction, non-fiction, classics or romance? Do you want a large, varied collection, or a smaller more specialized one? All of these choices are up to you and what you want because your library is yours!

How to build a library on a budget

So, now you know what kind of books you want, and why you want to go about creating a home library. But, how do you do it without breaking the bank?

There are lots ways to go about it, but I’ll talk about just a few.

Remember when I said up there that I used to get LOTS of kids books? That was mostly through Scholastic Book Clubs. They have such great deals on books that it can be hard NOT to go crazy and get everything. Just remember your why. (Which, if it is to have as many books as possible, go as crazy as you want!) They’re a great budget-friendly option!

The books I am most likely to get are classics, award winners and popular series for my kids. That way I know they’ll be good quality, and they’re books I really want my kids to read. We are currently getting a monthly subscription box of books that I, and my girls LOVE, which helps us diversify and get books we wouldn’t normally find for ourselves too–but can return if they aren’t something we want to keep.

For myself, I rarely buy a book that I’m unsure of. I’ve either read it before, or I’ve read a sample and was intrigued by the story, or I’ve read a book by the same author and can reasonably assume I’ll like their other books too. I do pick up classic works that I haven’t read, but want in my collection because I feel like they should be there. I’ve gone through several of them during the past six months, so I’m happy I had them.

It isn’t very often that I buy a book at full price either. I love discount and second hand book sellers. They keep great books in circulation, and I get to add more books that I really want to my library for a great price.

Also, you don’t have to get everything at once either. Sometimes I forget this little fact and want sooooooo many. That’s why I keep a list in the notes app on my phone. I can search for books I want and add them when I have a bit extra in my book budget that month.

Finding Space for Your Books

Once you’re creating your library, space is definitely a factor. Even when you’re careful, adding too many books can be a problem if you have a small area. Having many different places for books can help with this. A bookcase in multiple rooms, shelves on the walls, or even in a basket.

And if they really are getting too unmanageable, it could be time for a book culling. Go through your books and pull out any that you just really don’t want anymore. Maybe you read it and didn’t love it. Or can’t even remember why or where you got it in the first place. Donating your books to the library or a charity is a great option. Or selling them to a secondhand book store can be even better.

As you create your home library, just remember the two most important things to think about are why you want a library at home and the types of books you want in it. With the answers to these questions in mind, you’ll be able to create an awesome home library over time that you and your family will love.

Save and Pin for later:

The post Creating A Home Library on a Budget appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

There’s just something about middle grade fiction that speaks to so many emotions. To the challenges and the process of growing up that make them essential reading.

I’ve also found that the character and plot development is often superior to many young adult and adult fiction books. Maybe it’s because they have to catch and keep a young person’s attention and so there has to be a real plot and interesting characters right away. Or maybe because they have to write more simply and straightforwardly than books for older people. Whatever the reason, I come away from my middle grade reads feeling satisfied. Like I learned something, gained valuable insights, or just had fun reading in a way that I often don’t with “grown up” books.

What makes must read middle grade book?

Obviously taste is subjective, and what one person loves another person could really, um, not. But, when books win awards for outstanding children’s literature, there’s usually a pretty good reason! Now, not all of these fall into that category, but many do.

A book is a must read if it has important life lessons that can help you grow and become a better person. The characters develop and change as the story goes along; and you as the reader grow and change along with them. The story often helps you as the reader look at the world from a different perspective.

All of these books are on this list because I feel they have these qualities. So, here are some of my must read middle grade books, in no particular order:

Witch of Blackbird Pond

Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, is one of my all-time favorite books. Speare is known for her historical fiction, and this one won the Newbery Medal in 1959.

It begins in 1687 and tells the story of Kit Tyler, an English girl born and raised in Barbados. She is the wealthy granddaughter of a prominent plantation owner. Kit travels to Puritan Connecticut to live with an aunt she’s never met and finds she doesn’t fit in with the very different way of life. She ends up meeting an old woman, who also doesn’t fit in, and they become friends. Will Kit learn to be more like her cousins, will she ever fit in? Prejudices and superstitions threaten from all sides.

I love it because it shows the strength of character Kit has. And that even though your beliefs may differ from someone else, judgments, prejudices and treating people badly just because they’re different is not ok.

Wrinkle in Time

Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle is the first book in a fantasy/sci-fi series that won the Newbery Medal in 1963.

It tells the story of Meg Murray and how she travels through space and time along with her little brother and friend to save her dad, who is a scientist, and has disappeared. They are helped by a neighbor who turns out to be a supernatural being. They travel to other planets and meet fantastic creatures on their journey.

It a fun story, full of challenges, surprises and requires a lot of emotional growth from Meg.

Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee, by Jerry Spinelli has been one of my favorites since I was about 12. It won the Newbery Medal in 1991.

This book covers themes of racism, inequality and how we have the power to come together as a community. It tells the story of Jeffrey, “Maniac” Magee who is an orphan boy looking for home when he stumbles upon the town of Two Mills, which is racially segregated east and west. He has a special talent for athleticism and being helpful to people, and becomes a local legend.

I love this book because instead of the main character really changing and growing a lot, its the others around him that he has a positive affect on. By being himself, and being ignorant of the tensions that divide his adopted town, he draws others together.

Wonder

Wonder, by R.J. Palacio is about a 10 year old boy with severe facial deformities who is entering school for the first time in 5th grade because his parents want him to experience the world and find a place in it outside his loving home. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell real friends from fake, to stand up for others in the face of bullies and to see people for who they are on the inside.

I love this book because it changed my heart and couldn’t wait for my kids to read it. It is filled with wit, wisdom and character-building precepts courtesy of English teacher Mr. Browne, that I think is a beautiful way for children–and adults–to find compassion for others.

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1978 and is a beautiful tribute to friendship and growing up.

It’s about 2 unlikely friends who create a secret magical–to them–place in the woods near their homes. Here they can play and rule in their land of Terabithia. Some of the book deals with bullying and understanding that people have stories that we often don’t know about, but should treat them kindly anyway.

SPOILER ALERT FOR PARENTS: Near the end of the book, one of the children dies in an accident and the other characters deal with their grief and guilt.

I love this book and recommend my children to read it because of the themes that it deals with and life lessons that the characters learn. From dealing with class differences, having compassion for others, and friendship, this story stays with you for a long time.

Tuck Everlasting

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt is consistently on lists of the top chapter books for children and has won several awards.

It tells the story of a wealthy girl in a small town at the turn of the 20th century. She is bored with her life, stuck behind the fence of her house and always made to act like a lady. One day she sneaks out to the woods across the road and sees a teenage boy drinking from a spring. She wants some water, but he insists she not drink it, and she isn’t happy about it. Finally he has to tell her why not–because it will give her eternal life.

The story is about immortality and how it may not be as great as it seems. It’s also about friendship and doing the right thing and what it means to be alive.

I love this book because of the simple, yet complex theme that it tackles and does so in such a concise and interesting way. It’s a short book, with prose that is easy to follow, but the story is engrossing and well done.

The Little Prince

Originally written in French by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince is a very short story with profound meaning about living life in the best way possible.

The story is told by a narrator, an aviator crash landed in the Sahara Desert. He’s trying to repair his plane when he meets “the little prince.”

The little prince has come from a tiny little planet where he lived alone with a beautiful rose. He decided to visit other planets to see if there was somewhere he might like better because he felt the rose wasn’t treating him well.

The book then describes the other planets and what he finds there, finally arriving on Earth and meeting the narrator. It’s largely a commentary on childhood versus adulthood and what makes life beautiful.

I love it because it’s simple, yet vague and can seem complicated at times. There’s symbolism and great life lessons to be taken from it.

The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry rivals Witch of Blackbird Pond in my favorites. Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1994 and is often read in middle school English classes.

It tells the story of a boy named Jonas as he approaches his 12th birthday in his Utopian community. Everything is planned out and organized to give citizens the best outcome.

After Jonas is given a unique job and learns from The Giver he begins to see his community isn’t all he thought.

I love this book because it is both exciting trying to discover what’s really wrong in this society. It’s also terrifying once you discover what is happening. It also shows you what can happen when one person is willing to stand up for what he believes in.

There are 3 other books in the series, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and The Son that follow the characters that Lowry wrote several years later that I highly recommend.

This list is by no means complete, but these must read middle grade books are a great place to start! What are your favorite middle-grade reads? Tell me in the comments below!

The post 8 Must Read Middle Grade Books appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

I talk in detail about the Kiwi Co line of subscription boxes in this post and a bit on our Educational Resources page, but this post is all about the Eureka Crate specifically and why we’re fans of it in our house.

What is the Eureka Crate?

I guess we should start with the most important question. What exactly is the Eureka Crate? It is a monthly subscription box sent to your door with a STEM related project inside that gives teens (and adults) a hands-on lesson in the design process and uses engineering skills to make things that solve real-world problems.

As the most advanced of the Kiwi Co lines, it’s meant for ages 14 and up, or kids with more advanced skills. Especially those who have experience with the Tinker Crate which is for 9-16 year olds.

Eureka Crate challenges brains, builds skills and encourages creativity.

What are the projects like?

Each month a different project of varying difficulty arrives in the mail. They vary between fun and more practical projects.

This is a 2-in-1 lantern that we actually used when the kids camped in the backyard.

This fun table tennis robot lets you practice your ping pong skills in a small space–without a partner.

He’s also made a desk lamp, a table fan and a lock box.

What comes in the box?

All boxes come with the pieces needed for the project, and a few spares.

There’s also the instruction book that gives step by step instructions with pictures.

Near the back of the book there is more about what went into the design, and how to take the skills even further.

Who is the Eureka Crate for?

This particular line is for teenagers and up because the projects are more involved and complicated than those in the Tinker Crate. It’s officially for ages 14+, though we have it for my 12 year old. But, he did have the Tinker Crate for a year and wanted something a little more advanced. He sometimes feels that the Eureka Crate projects are a bit too complicated/hard though.

The Eureka Crate is appropriate if your child is really advanced in engineering and building, has used the Tinker Crate line for a while, or is of the “appropriate” age.

How much does it cost?

The Eureka Crate, like all the others, is a subscription with a few options. There is monthly, which costs $29.95. If you get a 3 month subscription it’s $28.95/month. For 6 months the price drops to $26.95/month and the best value is the 12 month subscription at $24.95/month.

We opt for the 12 month subscription because I know we’ll want it that long anyway, and I like the nearly $200 in savings over the monthly price. We give it as a gift for a birthday or Christmas. We’ve also had grandparents contribute because they know we prefer quality activities over a quantity of toys.

Final thoughts on Eureka Crate

If your teenager is into building things, likes engineering, science or math, this box is a great option. It will help them learn more about those things, and give them practical applications–without you having to come up with ideas or find supplies all the time.

Here’s the final project:

The post Eureka Crate: Stem Engineering and Design Subscription Box appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

There are so many options when it comes to teaching our kids. Learning at home is where the greatest amount of time is spent. But sometimes it can seem like a burden, because we aren’t sure just what to do. Or how to do it. Or even have the energy to spend time planning and gathering materials and making it happen.

That’s why subscription boxes can be such a game changer. When you choose the right one, it can save you time and energy, plus help you teach your kids a little better.

Why Subscription Boxes For Kids

In general, a subscription box is sent monthly to your house and includes something for your kids to do. The point is to have something regular for kids to look forward to. It’s something for them to do, and often to learn and practice something they’re interested in too.

I was not an easy or early convert to this concept. But then I changed the way I thought about it, and now we get several different subscriptions for my kids–it’s one of my favorite things.

Finding the right one

The key to finding good educational subscription boxes for your kids is knowing what they’re into, and finding one that meets your criteria. It should be both fun for your child and keep them engaged and learning like you want.

There are sooooooo many options for most interests you can think of, for any age range–from babies to teenagers. Here are some of the categories your kids may like and what I recommend for each one.

For cooking I recommend Raddish Kids. It go into a whole lot of detail about it in this post, and even more in this one. I like it because it’s easy enough for kids to follow, especially because it uses pictures for its recipe cards. There is a monthly theme that’s often to do with cuisine from a different country, but sometimes follows the time of year–this month was all about lunchtime. And it comes with a high-quality utensil or cooking device to use with one of the recipes.

For reading and books we LOVE our Literati box. I did a lot of searching before deciding on this one, and am so glad that I did. All of the details about it can be found in this post, but basically you get 5 books each month that you can choose to keep or send back. The pricing is the same or cheaper than Amazon, so you know you’re getting a great price too. They’re all based around a theme like friendship or space or adventure. They come with a beautiful art print and little extra goodie (like a book mark, friendship bracelet, cootie catcher game, etc.) to keep. I like this one because the base price is a whole lot lower than other options, and I get a variety to choose from.

For all-around variety and value nothing beats KiwiCo and their line of crates. All the details about them are here in this post. They have different options for babies all the way up to teenagers, focusing on STEAM–science, technology, engineering, art and math. And you can switch between crates at any time. My son has tried the Tinker Crate and Eureka crate (for engineering) and my daughter will be getting the Kiwi crate.

For science we’ve used the Young Scientist’s Club based on the Magic School Bus and my kids love it. Everything you need to complete experiments is in the kit (except water) and there are 6-7 experiments to complete each month.

Kids have many more interests than these, so check our some more options at Crate Joy.

Making it cost effective

I was not on board the subscription train for a long time because I thought they were just expensive and not worth it. I thought I could find the materials and put things together myself for a whole lot less. Which may be true in some cases, but a subscription saves you so. much. time. And energy. And mental space. Because they’re put together by people who do this full time. Especially the ones I listed above.

But, to make it have the most value, you need to look at what you get and what you want them to get out of it carefully. The reason I chose Raddish Kids was because after looking at the other options (and there are many) I liked that it checked off my criteria. The emphasis on building skills and not just making things; the way it was presented; and what was included both in the box and online– dietary substitutions, and additional recipes.

Same thing for Literati–the base price is only $9.95, so it’s not such a large monthly investment. I also get several books for the same price as many other boxes that only include 1 book plus extra goodies we don’t need. My goal is building our library, not adding to our clutter.

Another way to make it cost effective is buying the full year subscription all at once. It’s almost always cheaper on a per box basis that way.

We then give them as birthday and Christmas presents. They’re gifts that keep on giving throughout the year instead of ending up in the corner after a few weeks.

Or, view the price as class or camp you may sign your child up for. You’re spending the same amount of money, but just for a different thing.

How to use your subscription box

The beauty of having something fun and engaging for your kids to look forward to is that you’re in charge of how and when they can do their box.

Want to reserve them for rainy days? Cool.

Want to let them open it up and start on their project as soon as it lands on the front porch? That’s cool too.

If you’re homeschooling or remote learning this fall, add it to their curriculum. It will give them a little something extra fun to do and learn.

The point is, there’s no wrong way to use your educational subscription boxes with your kids. The important thing is them learning and have fun–and you having the time, mental space and energy to use for things other than keeping your kids entertained all. the. time.

The post Educational Subscription Boxes for Kids appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

(I want to make clear that yes, I know that in the grand scheme of things, canceling a trip is not a big deal. But, it’s still disappointing.)

We are all a bit bummed, so we decided to make a virtual trip instead. And where else would we start but with the food? Because eating our way through a country is one of the best ways to get a feel for its culture.

Seriously, a lot of times whenever we go on a trip, trying local food is 90% of what we do, and bring back with us if we can.

Spain is one of the largest countries in Europe and has several different regions known for different things. Some for wine and grapes, some for beaches, others for ham so soft and tender it practically melts in your mouth.

To make our virtual food trip both authentic, and simple enough to actually make, we decided to use our Spain box from Raddish Kids. I talk about a lot in this post, but basically it’s an awesome themed box that arrives monthly full of delicious recipes, culinary quizzes, a high-quality cooking tool to be used for one of the month’s recipes, (like a spatula, tongs, masher, whisk, measuring cups, etc.) and some extras to help you learn more about the theme. I love that it helps me have fun while cooking with my kids.

Inside our Spain box the recipes were for Tapas, Spanish Paella and Churros. Tapas are small plates, like appetizers, meant to be finger foods. These were such a hit in our house we’ll definitely be making them again:

Dates wrapped in Bacon, Roasted potatoes and Pan con tomate (bread with tomato) They were all sooo good, and my kids loved them.

While this paella isn’t the most authentic version (there aren’t shellfish, thank goodness) it is pretty close, and definitely kid friendly. Those people at Raddish really do know what they’re doing.

And for dessert we used our included piping bag and made churros with chocolate sauce. I loved that my daughter could help and learned how to use a piping bag to make these .

Oh. my. goodness. They’re delicious! Ours are even gluten free and they turned out perfectly. The combo of the cinnamon sugar, and the chocolate is simply divine.

While eating I quizzed the kids about the different regions in Spain and what they’re famous for, and they colored them in on the included map. (Valencia for oranges!) We also practiced some basic Spanish words and phrases that were included. Since B and K already know them all because they’ve had Spanish for years, they taught them to C who hasn’t. It was fun watching them practice together.

We love all of our Raddish Kids cooking boxes because they make cooking together so fun and easy. The recipes are always delicious, and often more simplified and kid friendly than some strictly “authentic” versions of food. (Like with the Paella not having shellfish or their French Nicoise salad that doesn’t have tuna or green beans. But, I like these versions better myself, so I’m not complaining!)

We especially adore the boxes dedicated to a specific country because we love eating foods from around the world. This box was especially appreciated since it helped us feel a little better about not being able to be there in person–and everyone gobbled everything up too!

The post Cooking with Kids: A Trip to Spain appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

And no matter what kind of school your children will be doing, staying organized and keeping up with assignments and other commitments is an important life skill that can help bring order to this chaotic time in their lives.

These five ways to get your child organized for school are meant to help you create a path for success, less frustration and less stress this year.

Learn their homework style

As a person that loves structure and learning, I loved school. And I was a great student. I always did my homework and it wasn’t a big deal. But, my son isn’t. He struggles to get it done and to stay on top of things.

Obviously, this is a problem, but knowing how to change–and what to change can be difficult. That’s why it can be helpful to ask a series of questions to help you and your child make the most of their time.

• Where do they work the best? Not everyone works well sitting up straight up at a desk or at the kitchen table, but some do. So, where is best for your child? Is it at the kitchen table? On the sofa? Laying on the floor with their feet up on the wall? Outside on the grass? At a desk?
• What does the environment sound like? Is it quiet or can they stand some noise? Do they like music? What kind?
• Optimize for timing–some kids do well with coming home and getting straight to work. Some other kids need to have a snack, play a bit or do some other form of relaxing before they’re recharged enough to get to their homework. Do they need to do a bit of work, take a break and then go back to it?

Ask all of these questions for each child, because they’re likely to be different for each one. When I was a nanny a long time ago, one of the children had ADHD and needed music and a comfy chair to do his homework. His sister needed quiet and the kitchen table. This also follows true with my own children. My girls are fine at the table or a desk. One of them needs it to be quiet–though I’m pretty sure not as silent as she sometimes suggests. My son needs music and prefers sitting on a bean bag chair or the couch.

Create a routine

After you know their homework preferences and needs, you can create a routine around that. It will help them get everything done without so many reminders because they’ll know what to expect.

You can make this as detailed or as simple you want. You can simply outline what tasks need to be done and in what order, or give each one a specific time. For example, a very general routine for a child going to physical school could look like:

Wake up, get ready (list tasks if needed)
School
Snack
30 minutes down time
Start homework
Dinner
Free time
Finish homework
Bed

For a child staying home, it could look as similar or different as you would like.

Get a planner to help them “see time”

As a naturally organized person I love lists, planners, calendars and staying on top of things I need to do. My son with ADHD? Well, he is not. He forgets. He forgets anything that his brain doesn’t deem interesting enough. Unless it revolves around coding, creating video games or similar activities, it may as well not exist.

It leads to a lot of frustration on all of our parts. And as a middle schooler, with lots of assignments from different teachers and other activities that need to fill up his day, keeping him on track has been really hard.

I have been wanting to use a planner with him for a while, but haven’t found one that I liked. Which is why this year I was so, so, so excited when Order out of Chaos asked me to share about their new academic planner. They provided the planner, but all of the opinions are my own. It’s just what I needed to help him develop his time management skills and learn to keep everything organized. And seriously, it’s like my planning dreams have died and gone to heaven.

Now, I’ve been through a lot of planners. Some are good, some aren’t (at least not for me) but this one is pretty much all the elements and in a layout that makes so much sense!

It’s not often that you find a planner that’s actually won awards, and is created Leslie Josel, one of the top experts in the world on time management for students. Yeah, I know, right!?

This means they don’t just create planners that look cool, they’re a company devoted to teaching time management skills. There are lots of videos for parents and kids on how to do it, that also happens to create its own planner, using all of the techniques that they’re pros at.

And it shows. This planner doesn’t have all the extra stuff you don’t need, but includes all the things you do, with some pretty unique features that I haven’t seen before.

Get extra planner worksheets here to help kids understand time management better.

Here’s what it looks like in real life:

It’s simple, easy to use, and makes it easy for kids to see what they need to do and how to plan their time.

As I might have said a few times before, I’m in love with this planner, and I want you to be able to try it out too. So the awesome people at Order out of Chaos are offering 20% off with the code MCB20.

Teach them to prioritize

Teaching kids to prioritize their tasks is one of the most important parts when you want help get your child organized for school–and for life! One of the skills I used to teach my coaching clients is all about prioritizing, and it’s one that everyone needs.

Here are the basics, tailored to kids/students versus for adults

• Write out EVERYTHING they have to do, and everywhere they have to be for the week. If it’s an ongoing thing, you could add it for the month too.
• Look at deadlines for assignments or tests or quizzes and write them in a list
• Finally, add them to the planner in order of importance and how long they’ll take. After that, assign everything a day and time to be completed. If it doesn’t it won’t happen.

Here’s an example that my son could possibly have starting next month:

The blue outlined things are scheduled “events” or activities he has, and the rest of the time is where he has to do the homework assignments. So, we plugged them in based on that schedule and when things were due. When you have things scheduled in a prioritized way, it makes procrastination less likely because you have the thing scheduled, so you can just get it done.

Reassess/Revise as necessary

Let’s be real–no system or plan you create is going to be perfect at the beginning. Or, if it is, it won’t stay that way forever. Adjusting is something that just has to be done. Don’t be afraid to do it.

This could happen monthly or quarterly, or any time you just feel things aren’t working for some reason. Schedules change, and so do needs. As their organizational and time management skills improve, they may be able to take on more responsibility too.

Going back to school this year will we weird for everyone, no matter what form it takes, so it’s a great opportunity to form new habits. These tips will help you get your child organized for school, and give you some sense of control and calm as well.

The post 5 Ways to Get Your Child Organized for School appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

You may have heard me mention this before, but instead of typical toys, I like buying educational activities for my kids to help them learn and grow–while having fun!

But, finding the time to curate all of those activities and gather materials (some of which come in very big packages that will sit forEVER in our craft drawers) and putting it all together is pretty time consuming.

I’ve also mentioned before that I’m not super into subscriptions because they can be pricey with 3 kids on a monthly basis. I am, however, a fan of getting them for Christmas or birthdays because it’s a present that keeps on giving and isn’t forgotten in a corner the next week.

That’s where the Kiwi Crate and their educational activities for kids comes in.

What is Kiwi Crate?

It is a collection of 8 different monthly “Crates” or boxes, sent to your home filled with educational activities for kids related to STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Each month’s crate is different, and segmented by age group and/or interest.

I love this concept, because STEAM skills are so important for kids to learn today. They are the skills they need to succeed in the world of today–and tomorrow. Plus, it’s really cool to know how the world works!

Kiwi Crate’s dedication to educational activities for kids is evident in every line that they create.

For example, my son LOVES technology, building things, robotics and engineering so last year we got him the Tinker Crate because it is hands-on STEM projects for kids 9-16.

Each month features everything you need to complete a specific project, plus extra projects you can also complete, and loads of online resources too.

What types of crates are there?

Panda Crate for ages 0-24 months: This one is for the littlest learners. Each crate is designed to help babies learn by doing. Playing, exploring, and interacting with their care givers. This crate also grows with your child, with materials and activities specifically selected for your child’s age when you register. There’s a “magazine” for parents about the current developmental stage, activity cards to help facilitate play, and something for the child to use/play with.

Child development experts, educators and doctors, vet everything that goes into each crate so you can feel confident with everything you get!

I mean, how cute are these?!:

Koala Crate for ages 2-4: This one is for the preschoolers. The explorers, the adventurers, those discovering the world for the first time. Having a self-contained box is helpful at this age because like I said before, getting all the materials you need, and creating fun can be time consuming.

There’s a “magazine” that explains everything, with additional activities beyond the main one, and offers insights into your child’s development too. Each month’s theme is different, but is sure to be something hands on and fun!

Kiwi Crate for ages 5-8: This is the original. Designed to help kids learn and explore in a hands-on way. Each month is based on a theme and includes all the materials you need for a specific project. Past crates include the science of color and a treasure hunt. They include science activities, arts and crafts, and imaginative play.

Like the other crates, it also includes a magazine with information about the theme and more activities to do too.

Atlas Crate for ages 6-11: This one is new, and teaches kids to enjoy and explore other cultures! I am sooooo excited about this, because teaching my kids about other countries is really important to me.

Each crate is designed to give kids immersive, hands-on experiences that connect them with unfamiliar lands and people. Building a sense of global citizenship is a great by product.

When you register for the Atlas Crate, your journey begins with The World Crate, and you meet two “friends” Milo and Anya who help you learn about the world–even building a miniature globe of your own!

Doodle Crate for ages 9-16+ is for the artists and creators. These crates introduce fun crafting materials and interesting techniques. Kids learn to see how materials can transform and that they can use them in creative ways.

Each box contains everything you need to complete a project, plus extra ideas to continue your creativity with the materials.

Tinker Crate for ages 9-16+ is for kids who like to get creative in a scientific way. Kiwi believes, “STEM is a key to creative problem solving, a foundation for critical thinkers, and a pipeline to innovation.”

That’s what the Tinker Crate is all about. Each box contains a project that is simple enough to build, but requires creative thinking so they’re fun for different kinds of learners.

This is what we’ve found from the Tinker Crate. The projects are fun and unique. They caused my son to get better at following directions, building, and finding creative ways to do more.

Maker Crate for ages 14+ is for artists and designers. These projects are more like the older version of the Doodle Crate. Similarly, these boxes are designed for experimentation with materials and techniques in creating a craft project that is fun–and useful too.

Eureka Crate for ages 14+ is for kids that want to move beyond the Tinker Crate and engineer amazing projects. It’s all about hands-on lessons in creative applications of science and engineering principles so kids can solve a real-world problem. 

In addition, these projects are more involved and more difficult than the Tinker Crate ones, so make sure your child is closer to the age recommendation unless they have a lot of experience.

What are the Kiwi Crates Like?

My son LOVES getting his box every month. He loves opening it up and getting started building right away.

Each box contains everything needed for the project, plus the magazine with all the directions for creating the project. There are additional educational activities for the kids to play with too.

Their emails ah-maz-ing too. Each one has several links to so many other resources, extra projects, occasional virtual camps and more.

The projects are really interesting and the materials are high quality. Tinker crates and above have, projects that are useful, well made and can last a long time. With the other projects you’re likely to keep them for a few days and then recycle them.

My son is in the middle of creating a working lantern that he plans on using when we go camping.

How much does a Kiwi Crate cost?

Each crate is available for subscription lengths of monthly, 3 months, 6 months or 12 months. The longer you subscribe, the cheaper each box is. You can also pause or cancel any time, but, it will auto renew unless you cancel, so keep that in mind.

The price per crate varies by which line you choose. Most of the boxes start at $19.95 for one month and are between $15-25 for a 12 month subscription. The Panda is the least expensive and the Maker and Eureka are more because they’re the most involved and have higher quality materials.

The Cons

For younger children the projects require a lot of adult supervision and can include small pieces. However,the crates designed for older kids require less adult supervision. When you have multiple children, the cost can be a prohibitive factor, but having grandparents or other family contribute as a gift is a great idea.

Final thoughts on the Kiwi Crate

If you value creativity, hands-on activities over electronics, and fun as a form of entertainment and learning, you’ll love it. If your kids like something to look forward to, and have fun creating and playing with new projects, they’ll love it.

When it comes to educational activities for kids, Kiwi Crate definitely knows what they’re doing. Industry experts develop each box, and kid testers make sure they work, and that they’re high quality too.

While writing this Kiwi Crate review, I asked my son what his favorite thing about them is and he said, “It’s really fun to make things. I like how it gives me idea on how to expand on the basic project.”

I love that my son is learning valuable skills that he’s interested in too, and beginning to explore additional projects on his own.

Having lines designed for all ages and STEAM interests–both science and art is what sets Kiwi apart from other options. Plus, its easy to change lines if you need to. You can change your box if it isn’t quite right for your child at any time.

Get 30% off with code LEARN30 to get started creating today.

Like this? Pin it for later:

The post Kiwi Crate Review: STEAM Activities for Kids appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

I learned about this bucket list concept A few years ago when my kids were still really young. One of my good friends showed off her family’s Summer of Fun list and I was immediately intrigued. She’s super creative, artistic and always doing fun things. If that wasn’t enough, her poster not only looked picture perfect, the activities on it looked super awesome too.

So, I quickly borrowed my friend’s genius and got my kids thinking about what they wanted to do for the summer. The ideas were varied; some small and some large. Some easy to accomplish and others much more elaborate.

One of the items was getting a Slurpee. There was a 7-Eleven just at the end of our block and we didn’t get them year round. Only in the summer. Another was to go to a lake.

All throughout that summer whenever we needed something to do, we looked at our list and tried to make something happen. It turned out to be such a fun summer. When they started school in the fall they could actually tell people what they did over summer vacation and had the pictures and memories to prove it.

Making your Summer Bucket List

Creating your list is pretty simple. All you need is a poster board, a piece of paper or notebook, a pencil and some markers. If you want to get creative and make it more elaborate, go for it!

First–Brainstorming. Just think of ideas to add to the list. All ideas are welcome at this stage. I like things to be nice and neat, so I write the things on a sheet of paper or in a notebook in our brainstorming session.

Second--Narrow down your list. This can be hard for some kids, because they love their ideas. But, depending on how outlandish their ideas, this is where we talk about practicality and limits. It might be kind of hard to take a rocket to the moon or impractical to take a trip to New York City (my daughter’s idea from last year.)

Third–The length of your list will depend heavily on the types of things your kids pick. If they have lots of smaller ideas like visit the zoo, go to the pool, have a water fight, play a specific board game or watch movies all day, then you’ll be able to accomplish more than if they have bigger ideas that take more time.

When you have a reasonable list or 25-40 items, you can start writing them on your big poster. I write them in pencil first, then go over them with marker. But, you can write it however you want.

What’s next?

That’s it! Hang your list somewhere everyone can see it often. If your kids say they’re bored or don’t know what to do, (or you feel like everyone needs to just get out and do something) have them go check the list!

Summer Bucket List ideas

Here are some ideas to get you started:
1. Go get ice cream
2. Visit the zoo
3. Take a family hike
4. Visit a nearby lake or beach
5. Visit your favorite museum
6. Library story time
7. Camp in your backyard
8. Roast s’mores
9. Visit the local pool–or run in the sprinklers if they’re still closed
10. Include any planned family vacations
11. Play a board game
12. Put together a puzzle
13. Movie marathon
14. Reading marathon–complete with snacks and comfy pillows
15. Playing at the playground
16. Riding bikes or scooters in your neighborhood, at a park or somewhere else you like
17. Visit a local historic landmark
18. Play tourist in your hometown for the day–what are the highlights everyone should see?
19. Learn to cook something new. Try Granola, Banana Bread, Nicoise Salad, Fresh Pico de Gallo or Chex Muddy Buddies
20. Practice a new language. Spanish, Chinese and French are spoken in the most countries (or by the most people) after English
21. Read (determine a summer reading list–these or these could get you started)
22. Build a fort
23. Learn the constellations and watch the stars one night
24. Draw or paint a replica of a famous artist’s work
25. Write letters or make cards for family members that live far away

Have fun coming up with your own ideas and have a great summer!

Like this? Pin it for later:

The post Creating a Family Summer Bucket List appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

Animal Facts

1. Wombat poop is a shaped like a cube
2. Some baby animals have natural camouflage to protect them while their parents are away.
3. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.
4. Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur.
5. The giant squid has the largest eyes in the world.
6. Australia has the most amount of reptiles in the world (over 750 different species!)
7. Horses and cows sleep standing up
8. A hippopotamus can run faster than a man
9. Pigs can’t look up into the sky – it’s physically impossible.
10. Kangaroos can’t walk backwards.
11. A pet hamster can run up to 8 miles a night on a wheel.
12. Monkeys can go bald in old age, just like humans.
13. 99% of a panda’s diet is bamboo
14. If a Donkey and a Zebra have a baby, it is called a Zonkey.
15. Only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep when asleep and the other half stays awake.
16. The largest living animal is the blue whale, which can measure as much as 100 feet.
17. Sea Lions have rhythm. They are the only animal known to be able to clap in beat.
18. A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.
19. Cats spend 66% of their life asleep
20. Koalas sleep around 18 hours a day
21. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21 inch tongue
22. Cats have over 100 vocal chords
23. Camel’s milk doesn’t curdle
24. Cows can walk upstairs but not downstairs
25. Elephants are the only mammal that can’t jump
26. Hippopotamuses have killed more people in Africa than any other animal
27. An elephant’s ears are used to regulate body temperature
28. Reindeer hair is hollow inside like a tube
29. A group of rhinos is called a crash
30. A group of kangaroos is called a mob
31. A group of whales is called a pod
32. White cats with blue eyes are usually deaf
33. Giraffes and rats can last longer without water than camels
34. Cats can jump up to 7 times their tail length
35. Gorillas sleep 14 hours a day
36. The lifespan of a squirrel is 9 years

Bird Facts

1. There are more chickens than people
2. Owls can’t move their eyes from side to side
3. Hummingbirds can’t walk
4. Ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand
5. A group of owls is called a parliament
6. A group of geese is called a gaggle
7. A hummingbird’s heart beats at over 1,000 beats a minute
8. A duck can’t walk without bobbing its head
9. Hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backwards
10. African Grey Parrots have vocabularies of over 200 words
11. Birds can not live in space – they need gravity or they can not swallow.

Insects, Fish and Lizard Facts

1. Only female mosquitoes bite
2. Scorpions glow under ultra violet light
3. Ants stretch when they wake up in the morning
4. Snails take the longest naps, some lasting as long as three years.
5. Dragonflies have 6 legs but can’t walk
6. Goldfish can see both infrared and ultraviolet light
7. A crocodile can’t stick out its tongue
8. A group of frogs is called an army
9. An octopus pupil is rectangular
10. Frogs can’t swallow with their eyes open
11. A shark is the only known fish that can blink with both eyes.
12. The mantis shrimp has the world’s fastest punch.
13. Some sharks glow in the dark.

Like these? Save it for later:

The post 60 Amazing Animal Facts For Kids appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.

I am an avid reader. When I was two years old my mom put all of my books in the bottom drawer of my dresser so that I had access to them whenever I wanted. If I was being too quiet, she would come check on me only to find all of them spread around me with at least one on my lap open and me studying the pictures and trying to read the words.

So, when I became a mom I knew that I was going to raise readers too. I had grand visions of recreating what I loved to do as a toddler.

But you know what happens to grand parenting visions when you have real, live children…they don’t always look quite the same.

All three of my kids were early readers. My oldest likes to read often for fun and can often be found with a book in his hand. My youngest adores stories and has a goal to be the best reader in her class this year.

But the middle one. Oh my. She is the definition of a reluctant reader who needs lots of encouragement. Getting her to read just what she’s required is hard! She doesn’t want to do it and honestly, I’ve struggled because it’s not something I understand very well.

But, because books are so important in our family, these are some things that I have done to encourage my children to read and they’ve have helped her become a better reader and enjoy it more.

Encourage children to read by starting early.

This one is pretty basic. Because when they’re little, it’s pretty easy. Read to them every day as much as you can. Before nap time, bed time, and any time in between. You choose the books, and they mostly listen to what you read. Creating that habit and culture of books in your home is essential.

I mean, there could be some children like Matilda, Roald Dahl’s character who has parents who discourage reading, who still loves it anyway. But, you’re much more likely to need to encourage your children to read.

Some ways that I practiced this was by talking to them all. the. time. I kept books all over the house. We played games involving stories (I’ll get to more on that in a bit). And I just made books an expectation.

Though, like I said before, this worked with only two out of three. There’s still more to do.

Encourage children to read by reading aloud longer than you think

One of the most important things you can do is keep reading out loud to them, even after they can read for themselves. When my oldest was in preschool, I learned about The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It’s not only full of books for every age, but includes “proven techniques and strategies for helping children of all backgrounds and abilities discover the pleasures of reading and setting them on the road to becoming lifelong readers.”

The philosophy of the book is that you should always read to your kids–even when they’re big enough to read for themselves. Because it helps them learn how words are should be pronounced and the flow of language. One day they will be more likely to pick up books in the future.

We LOVED the suggestions in that book because the books are just so good. Some books I’d never heard of that became favorites, and it includes classics that I hadn’t thought of reading to him at his age.

As he grew as an independent reader we kept up reading together before bed and took turns reading every other page. That’s actually something we still do, even though he’s in middle school. We’re currently (slowly) working our way through Harry Potter.

Encourage children to read by understanding their point of view

If you have a child that just won’t read, or it’s a struggle all of the time, ask some questions to help them–and you–understand where their reluctance is coming from.
What are they feeling?
Are they reluctant because they are struggling to understand the words or pronounce them?
Are they nervous to make mistakes?
Are they too tired at reading time?
Can they see and understand the words?

We found out that with my daughter, she didn’t ever want to read aloud (so I would actually know she was reading and didn’t just look at the page) because she was afraid of making a mistake because she doesn’t like looking “bad” at anything.

So, we had some discussions about risk taking, and how it’s ok to make mistakes. Then, shortly after that, she told us that the words were blurry. Turned out she needed glasses, so once she got those, she’s dramatically improved.

Taking the time to learn what’s happening in their head can be half the battle.

Encourage children to read by letting them choose their books

This one is hard, but especially important when you’re trying to encourage children to read. We, as parents, often research books that we think will be good for our children, (you can see some of my favorite recommendations here.) Or have ones we liked in our own childhood. And sharing them with our kids is great. But, sometimes, much to my annoyance, my kids seem to love the books I hate the most. (Why do they do that!?!)

So, what to do? Let them choose what books they want to read–within reason, of course. My middle daughter loves graphic novels. I don’t. But, she’s reading, and some of them aren’t as bad as they look. My girls will read some of them again and again.

But when they aren’t into a book, well…it doesn’t go as well. When my son was about 8 I bought him all of the Percy Jackson books in a set through the school’s book fair. I was really excited because he was at the right age and level, and I figured he’d be excited too.

Uh, not so much. He wanted nothing to do with it! He told me he just wasn’t interested. Once my mind stopped reeling, I realized that most often, letting them choose appropriate books they want is better.

Now–this is not a blanket statement. We also have a “required reading” list in our house. It’s comprised of books that are just good and should be read. So far, my son has said he’s really glad I “made” him read all of the books and wishes he’d read them sooner.

Encourage children to read by setting reading goals

Sometimes you just need the proper motivation. We went through our home library with a reading chart and made a list of books that each child wanted to read, and some books that I wanted them to read. There are about 20-25.

Now, they know which books they want to read, I know what they want to read, and I can follow along with them. We can read together if they want, and they can earn extra screen time privileges or more allowance when they finish a book. They also have to read a minimum of 20 minutes per day before electronics.

Download a copy of our chart here:

Encourage children to read by exposing them to lots of books

I mentioned this a bit farther up, but exposing your children to lots of books is a great way to encourage them to read.
Beyond just reading to them daily, this can include regular trips to the library, visiting book stores to browse–or buying books to create your own library at home.

Visiting the library–it’s truly a great way to expose kids to books. When they’re small story time is fun, interactive and social. Depending on where you live, and your children’s ages, there are many programs, activities and possibilities to learn and explore at the library.

Book stores–ah, there’s just something about a book store that makes my heart sing. And, it’s another place your children will be surrounded by books. There’s so much diversity in a book store, and obviously it’s meant for you to pick books to take home and keep forever–which can be important for some kids. This is a great route to go if you’ve borrowed something from the library that your child loves and you want to have a copy.

It’s also great for creating your own home library! A place where your child’s books live so they can visit them any time they want. We’ve gone back and forth between keeping lots of books in the kids’ rooms, and having most of them in one central place. It depends on your kids’ ages, space, and where you think they’ll read more.

For creating a home library you can also consider a subscription book box. My “reluctant reader” is starting to look forward to her books each month and deciding which ones she wants to keep and which she’s not so into. Read more about our favorite one it here.

Encourage children to read by making reading fun

Reading should be fun. So make it fun! It shouldn’t be serious and disciplined. Tell made up stories, play story-making games (the series from Story Cubes is great), make a craft related to the story, make a food related to the story if possible. Just, make it interactive and they’ll be so much more likely to respond positively.

Encourage children to read by reading yourself

This one is pretty self explanatory, but it may need mentioning. Let your kids see you reading–something other than social media on your phone! Children learn by example, and by seeing a parent read for fun, they’re more likely to want to as well.

It could be anything–from a newspaper (do people still get those?) or a magazine to a novel in print or digital.

Another option is audio books. I don’t particularly like them, but they’re all my husband “reads.” And they can be great while you’re doing other tasks–like washing dishes, cooking, driving in the car etc. as long as it’s kid appropriate ; )

Encourage children to read by just doing your best

Raising children who enjoy reading is not guaranteed, no matter what foundation you give them. And sometimes they’ll look like they’re taking steps forward, but then go back. But, the important thing is progress and enjoyment.

Hopefully these ideas will help you along the way to helping you encourage your children to read and become a confident reader. Good luck!

The post How to Encourage Children to Read appeared first on Vibrant Mom Society.