The holidays are hard for most children and adults. But for children navigating Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, or ADHD, the large groups of people, over stimulation, and changes in routine can send the whole day into a downward spiral. I learned—many times after the fact—that the best way to help my children (and myself) was to prepare for ...
Christmas
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 ...
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 ...
My Christmas Prayer for You
During this Christmas Season, May You Find... Love that never fails, never grows weary, and that has no end - the love that satisfies. Joy - the unspeakable kind that can only be understood deep inside, because it is a joy so deep, that every sorrow should come to pass. Peace inside out - peace that grants you serenity to hear the tender ...
How to Teach Your Child to Receive a Gift
My kiddos loved to open presents when they were young. I cringed as each bow came off. Sounds crazy that I wouldn’t enjoy watching my young children open gifts. But in reality, I feared birthdays and Christmases wondering what shocking statements my children would make upon unwrapping a gift. This was especially true of Bubs and Little Man ...
How to Stay Happy and Holy in the Christmas Crazy
As parents and teachers of little kids, the Christmas season can feel particularly overwhelming. We want to foster a holiday season that keeps Jesus the focus, but we also want to have fun and create lasting traditions. Can we find a balance somewhere in there? Heidi and I recorded a Parenting to Impress Podcast episode dedicated to helping you ...
Happy Birthday Jesus Party {Giveaway}
With the vast commercialism of the holiday, Christmas can feel like the whole world is shouting at my children to want more things. As a Christ follower I know this isn't what God desires for Christmas, but that doesn't mean it's any less overwhelming. So what's a Christian to do? How are we, as parents and teachers, to teach our children and ...
Christmas Pretzel Bites and Poem
I love simple, kid-friendly recipes that provide ample amount of learning opportunities. Christmas Pretzel Bites are just that. Supplies Pretzels - I use the twist pretzels, but you may use round or square shapes as well.Rolos or Hershey Kisses - Rolos add caramel to the deliciousness or use a variety of Hershey Kiss (except for ...
Giveaway: Miss PattyCake’s Christmas Review
In my 10 years of having a home full of babies and preschoolers, my ears were exposed to a plethora of preschool-geared DVDs. Some of the products were turned off, never to be used again. Others were solid at the core, but the delivery lacked quality. And then there were those products that my kids and I really enjoyed. If we would have had ...
Happy Birthday, Jesus! Party Ideas
Update: The holiday collection at ABCJesusLovesMe now includes a Happy Birthday Jesus Workbook to help you plan and enjoy a birthday party just for Jesus. Celebrate Jesus' birthday with fun activities, meaningful conversation, and yummy cake to help children ages 3-12 understand the significance of Jesus' birth. Create a new tradition with your ...