A year ago, I had the privilege of sharing an early review of The Chosen's newest season, expressing my excitement for the world to experience the powerful episodes leading up to the Triumphal Entry (Palm Sunday). If you haven't heard yet, The Chosen is now in Season Five, moving even closer to the cross, beginning the profound events of Passion ...
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Introducing Colors and Shapes the Right Way {Transcript #69}
This transcript has been lightly updated for clarity. Melanie Co-host 00:00 On today's podcast, I get to pick Heidi's brain about why teaching colors and shapes is important, how we do it, and include some great play-based learning ideas. So, join us for this interview-style conversation that I get to have with my friend Heidi. Heidi Host ...
How to Avoid the “Shoulds” and Fully Enjoy this Holiday Season
If you’re an intentional person, chances are you’ve already started planning the perfect Christmas activities for your family—the ones that will help your children or grandchildren fall in love with baby Jesus, make good choices, and someday reflect back on your efforts with deep appreciation. But if you’re a procrastinator, you have plans to pull ...
Thanksgiving Challenge: Building Gratitude Through Play
Introducing the "Thanksgiving Challenge: Building Gratitude Through Play" Game! This Thanksgiving, I'm excited to present a special challenge game that will not only build lasting memories but also foster an attitude of gratitude in both you and your child(ren). Plus, provide some accountability and encouragement. So, let's dive right into the ...
Let This Holiday Season Be Different
As we roll into the busy holiday season, now is the perfect time to be intentional with our families or students. This season offers countless opportunities to "impress" (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) the love of God and love for others on the hearts of our children or students. Whether through simple acts of kindness, fun traditions, or creating meaningful ...
Play-Based Learning Made Easy for Busy Parents
Oh, the mom guilt. Social media is flooded with posts that invite the enemy to sit beside us, whispering, "You're not enough. You're not doing enough." I witnessed this several years ago when my son's doctor, a mom herself, showed defeat in her eyes when talking to my son. She felt like she was failing her own children. I invite you to read this ...
How to Teach a Child to Draw
This popular post has been updated from 2010. Bubs didn't seem to enjoy drawing. Whenever he was asked to draw something, his attempts often resulted in scribbles. I knew that at his age, he should be able to draw basic pictures of people, animals, and scenery, but something was holding him back. Bubs faced severe delays in both fine motor ...
Simple Ways to Encourage Kindness in Your Kids
When my kids were young, we spent a lot of time in the car waiting for various activities to begin or end. Instead of turning on screens, I kept a classic or award-winning chapter book or a Bible in the car to read. One was The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. This very interesting story is about a china rabbit named Edward ...
How Chores Can Help Reduce Child Anxiety
Growing up on a farm, work was a significant part of my life. Whether it was loading livestock into the trailer, preserving vegetables from the garden, or cutting thistles when the grass was waist-high, there was always something to be done. It took everyone working together to stay on top of it. However, I believe that working together has many ...
Teaching Kids Responsibility Through Chores {Transcript #14, #59}
This transcript has been lightly updated for clarity. Heidi Franz Host 00:00 Recently I was introduced to a new book called Kit and the Missing Notebook by Chris and Lindsay Wheeler. In the book they introduced the idea of teaching a child to cook to help with their anxiety. And in reading over the author's notes I realized cooking ...