Mom Life

✨ Comment the word KIWICO and I’ll send you th

✨ Comment the word KIWICO and I’ll send you the link to check out @kiwico_inc for yourself! (It’s amazing 😍)

Use code APOPOFYOU for 50% off the first crate of a monthly subscription and/or 20% off your first Panda Crate!

Roo got the Koala Crate for ages 3-4. Mo and Fin both got Panda Crates for ages 0-36 months. The quality and intentionality of these crates are seriously incredible!

As a mom and former teacher, I’ve committed to reducing screen time and focusing on independent play, multi-use toys, outdoor time, and creativity. Recently, we purged over 500 items in our house, including almost ALL of the girls’ single-use toys, to streamline our daily tasks and create a calmer home.

KiwiCo activities have been a game-changer in this journey, helping our kids develop into:

• Analytical Thinkers: Breaking down tasks and understanding the “why” behind them
• Creative Thinkers: Engaging with imaginative projects
• Critical Thinkers: Tackling challenges with problem-solving
• Reflective Thinkers: Evaluating work to see what went well and what could be improved
• Collaborative Thinkers: Communicating and cooperating on projects
• Innovative Thinkers: Coming up with new ideas

We’re changing our lifestyle to avoid our kids becoming passive, dependent, and distracted thinkers. KiwiCo has provided our girls with play experiences that nurture well-rounded thinkers all while making learning fun and engaging (and helping us keep the calm and order in our home we’ve worked so hard to achieve!)

#kiwicopartner #kidsactivities #learnthroughplay #homeducation

✨ Comment the word GUIDE and I’ll send you the

✨ Comment the word GUIDE and I’ll send you the link to my Morning Bin Guides! 11 full weeks of themed, easy-to-follow plans. Check them out to see if they’ll help make your family’s mornings more structured (and smoother!) without screens 👏🏼

As a former elementary school teacher, I’ve strategically included learning objectives AND developmental skills for your preschooler in EVERY SINGLE BIN.

Color, shape, number, and letter recognition, matching, sorting, problem-solving, scissor skills, tracing…(just to name a few!)

PLUS, every bin includes a fine motor, sensory, AND cognitive activity. I’ve even recommended a themed interactive book for each day’s bin to help keep them independent. 🙌🏼

WANT TO HEAR MORE??

Comment YOUTUBE and I’ll send you the link to this FULL video where I answer some of your most frequently asked questions ⬇️

1. Are you only homeschooling your girls for elementary school?
2. What activities are you doing with Fin (13mo)?
3. How to make a morning bin?
4. How did you and Jimmy meet?
5. I’m overwhelmed with the messes my kids make. Advice?
6. How do you store all of your morning bin activities?
7. What activities do you suggest for 18 month olds?
8. How do you do it all without feeling overstimulated?
9. What age do you start morning bins?
10. How to create a daily routine that works?

#stayathomemom #homeschool #screentimealternatives #preschoolactivities #learnthroughplay

✨Comment the word GUIDE and I’ll send you the

✨ Comment the word “GLUE” and I’ll send th

✨ Comment the word “GLUE” and I’ll send the link to the Elmer’s Creations website straight to your inbox so you can check out all of the activities for yourself!

Did you know that @elmersproducts created Elmer’s Creations as a resource for busy parents to get creative with their kids at home?

The Elmer’s Creations website is completely free to use and lists SO MANY creative and sensory activities using Elmer’s Glue. Each activity on the website includes directions, step-by-step videos, and supply lists.

Elmer’s Hands-On, Brains-On approach to learning is what I’m all about. The girls led the way as we created the Lightning in the Bottle project using Elmer’s Glow in the Dark Glue. They were amazed!

But it got even better when we had a family dance party that night which really brought the jars to life!

#elmerspartner #elmerscreations #readysetcreate #kidsactivities #familytime #qualitytime #intentionalliving #preschoolfun #sahmlife #learnathome #learnthroughplaying

Here’s a little bit of my heart…🫶🏼 I kn

Here’s a little bit of my heart…🫶🏼

I know the life I want my family to live. I have a clear picture in my mind. I want calm. I want intentional. I want my girls to thrive and become exactly who they were put on this earth to be. I want my husband and I to grow as individuals as well as together despite the stress parenting can bring to the surface.

We aren’t there despite how hard I’ve tried. We’ve been swept up by mainstream society and busy culture. I’m the queen of trial and error. I’ve found strategies that work well for us. I use them. I’ve shared them with you and I stand by them. But they haven’t been enough.

I know where we want to get is going to take a complete lifestyle change, but I’ve been stuck behind an obstacle of fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of failing. Fear of screwing up our kids.

I’m confident. I’m strong. I know what I want. But somehow I’m stuck.

I attended the @heav_va conference this weekend and it’s been a catalyst for me. I’m ready. I’m inspired. But I’m starting small.

Here’s some changes I’m making as soon as I get home:
- canceling our Netflix subscription
- reducing the number of clothes we have (specifically the girls)
- donate unused toys
- move some toys outside
- move some daily tasks outside
- replace TV with music

I’ve known each of these things need to happen. But I haven’t had the strength to take the plunge. This is where I’m starting, but we have a long way to go. I am so excited to share our journey to find OUR calm. And maybe I can help others seeking the same. ✨

✨ Comment OUTSIDE and I’ll send you the link t

✨ Comment OUTSIDE and I’ll send you the link to Ginny Yurich’s book 1000 Hours Outside @1000hoursoutside

During my time as a public school teacher, I witnessed some things in the mass education setting that have motivated me to learn as much as I can about alternative paths of education for my own children. 👀

I’m at the @heav_va Homeschooling Convention this weekend seeking answers to the most common questions/concerns about homeschooling as well as any other options that are available outside of mass education.

I attended Ginny Yurich’s 1000 Hours Outside seminar and left so inspired that I bought her book!

Here’s some of my favorite quotes:
1. “A slowed down childhood will still produce well-rounded kids.”
2. “1000 Hours Outside is about intentionality. It is about finding the moments we didn’t know we lost.”
3. “We can do less - enroll less, rush less, chauffeur less - and yet still gain more.”
4. “Though society is rapidly changing, child development is not.”
5. “Schedule blocks of nothing.”

Which are those quotes do you resonate with the most?? 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5?

✨ Comment HOMESCHOOL and I’ll send you the lin

✨ Comment HOMESCHOOL and I’ll send you the link to HEAV’s FREE 52-page Homeschool Beginner Bundle

Things I learned in the @heav_va Introduction to Homeschooling seminar…

- Homeschooling is an individually tailored aproach to education
- Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, but 34 states have specific laws regulating it
- There are 3.7-5 million homeschoolers in the US as compared to 49.6 million public schoolers and 5.5 million private schoolers
- The #1 reason for homeschooling
is concern about public school environment followed by moral instruction, enhanced family relationships, and accomplishing more academically
- Socialization is more than getting along with others but also adopting a set of values and beliefs from who a child is around the most
- Homeschoolers participate in an average of 5.2 activities/week
- Homeschoolers score an average of 126 points higher on SATs
- The average cost of homeschooling is $600/year
- Homeschoolers perform 34% higher than public schoolers on standardized tests
- Benefits of homeschooling
• individualized curriculum
• one-on-one instruction
• opportunity to overcome learning gaps
• fewer classroom distractions
• no tedious busy work
• learn at individually appropriate pace
• immediate feedback

As a former public school teacher, I will be the first to say there are pros and cons to BOTH paths of education. As a mom of three pre-schoolers, I feel it’s my responsibility to gather as much information about ALL of our options before deciding what’s best for our family.

What’s your opinion?? Would love to hear stories about either path. Good and bad!

But how CUTE did this turn out?! (Also secretly ho

But how CUTE did this turn out?! (Also secretly hoping we didn’t bring a zillion ants into our house 😅)

✨Comment the word BUTTERFLY and I’ll send you this butterfly template!

✨Comment the word MESH and I’ll send you the link to these Amazon mesh collecting bags. We also use them at the beach to collect shells!

#kidsactivities #summeractivities #outdooractivities #keepingkidsbusy #learnathome #getcreative #kidscreativity #preschoolcrafts #summercraft #summercrafts

Don’t miss the rest of this summer craft series!

Don’t miss the rest of this summer craft series! There’s so much more where this came from! 👏🏼

Seriously though…crafting and learning activities are the girls’ and my love language so we will be getting creative all summer long ☀️

✨ Comment the word “TRAY” and I’ll send you the link for our favorite silicone crafting trays by @tivitray - Use code KATELYN10 for 10% off

✨ Comment the word “DROPPER” and I’ll send you the Amazon link to these eyedroppers perfect for little fingers

✨ Comment the word “TABLE” and I’ll send you the Amazon link for our learning table by @guidecraft_official

#kidsactivitiesathome #kidslearn #keepkidsbusy #summercraft #getcreative #summerkidscraft #summerkidsactivities #preschoolactivities #momsofinstagram

Summer craft or intentional cutting practice? 🤔

Summer craft or intentional cutting practice? 🤔

✂️ Comment the word “SCISSORS” and I’ll send you more ways to help your child practice cutting AND the link to the best training scissors on the market

#kidsactivities #cuttingpractice #preschoolcraft #summercrafts #summerkids #summerpreschool #learnathome #teachermom #preschoolmom #teachingkids #finemotorskillsactivities