Tips For Helping Kids Achieve Their New Year's Goals

Although we still haven't shared our New Year's goals here on the blog, I have been thinking about it a lot and also wanted to get my kids involved. I love the New Year because it is a time to reset, reevaluate, and refresh.  My kids are naturally pretty goal oriented so I talked with each of them about what they wanted to achieve in 2019.

My oldest daughter made a "vision board" by printing out images, cutting out pictures from magazines, and writing goals or things she wanted focus on this year.  She came up with this idea on her own, which I just loved!  She has it hanging in her room to serve as a reminder.

Although my younger two had no interested in a vision board, they did talk about what they wanted to achieve this year and I also interjected some things that I thought they needed to work on, too.

Towards the end of 2018 life just happened. We got busy, so I got a little lazy as a mom, and let things slide that I normally wouldn't.  But, with the new year amongst us and the kids starting back to school this past Monday I wanted to do a hard reset.  Things like the way technology is used, the way homework and studying is done, and the focus of our very precious and very little free time.

I thought I would share some of the tips I am doing to help support my kids in achieving their 2019 goals in hopes that someone else who is ready for a reset might find a little inspiration!

5 Tips for Helping Kids Achieve Their New Year's Goals

1. Take Away Technology - Yikes!  I can't believe I even wrote those words. Now I'm not taking away their devices completely, but some big changes happened.  I found that they were spending way too much time watching YouTube, scrolling Instagram and messaging with friends when they could be spending that time in a more productive way. Now, this is totally the pot calling the kettle black because I am also guilty of spending too much time on social media (Instagram Stories are my weakness).  So the new rule in our house is that their phones, iPads, etc. are off limits when we are at home unless certain things are completed (see next tip below for the details).

We have plenty of time in the car getting to sports that they can use their devices and if they finish all their other responsibilities they can use it at home, but we are cutting back big time...especially during the school week.  This wasn't a shock to the kids. I had been telling them all during the break that things were going to be changing a bit when school started back so they were ok with it.

2. Make It Visual - In order to keep up with their responsibilities and tasks that are going to be good uses of their time, I wanted to create something that would give them ownership.  Not just me nagging at them to do something or saying "no phones."  Instead, they helped me come up with things they needed to do each day in order to achieve their goals.

Obviously homework and studying will help with good grades at school, cleaning their rooms will help keep me off their backs and practicing their sports skills will help them get on the teams they are aspiring for.  The reading part is for my own sanity because although they like to read at night in bed, I can't always be sure that we can squeeze that in.  Usually we get home pretty late after sports stuff so getting it done earlier in the day makes sure that they get it done!

I just created these quick little charts and personalized them for each kid.  I saved them so I can print off a copy each week.  They are taking ownership by checking the boxes and keeping up with what they should be doing. After all the boxes are checked and they have truly completed everything without rushing through it they can use a phone or iPad, if they choose to.

3. Get Organized - I am an organized person by nature. I come by it honest because my mom is super organized so it rubbed off on me.  I love making lists and I still keep an old-school paper planner that I swear keeps my life on track and keeps us going in the right direction each day.

My girls are starting to learn a lot of these organizational tasks and love keeping up with their schedules so I got them each planners for 2019 so they can keep up with what they have each day.

4. Get Involved - This one is on me as a mom.  While my girls are both very organized and great and keeping up with homework and tests, I found they still need guidance.  I'm getting involved by making sure they not only just looked over the information for a test, but actually know it inside and out. No more just taking their word for it.

Sports goals are going to be achieved with lots of practice and me actually getting out there and helping them with practicing is going to go a lot further to help them achieve their goals.  Of course, I could always find something to do inside like laundry, cleaning or answering an email, but when they want my help, I'm going to do my best to get involved.

5. Find What Motivates Them - I am not above bribery.  It works for some kids and mine are highly motivated by that carrot dangling in front of them.  I'll never forget when my Blondie seemed to have lost her competitive drive during soccer games.  She was four years old and used to score all the time then all of the sudden she just kind of ran along with all of the other kids.  Next game I offered her a dollar if she scored a goal and she scored twice!

If there is something specific they want (within reason) we are making deals that as certain goals are achieved they will be rewarded.  It might be as simple as a treat from the concession stand after a home run, a trip to get nails done after a new tumbling skill is accomplished or something bigger after a huge goal is met.

Do your kids set goals each New Year?  What are some ways you help them achieve their goals?

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Chores for Kids

Today I'm chatting all about kids and chores.  I am a firm believer that kids should help out around the house.  It's a big job to keep a household running and the responsibility of it all often falls on the mamas. During the school year when we have very little down time at home I do most of the work around here. However, summer is a different story!  The kids have more time at home and thus more time to help me out. 

I have always had my kids pitching in to do their part.  When they were just toddlers they would help put toys away and put their dirty clothes in hampers. As pre-schoolers the cleaning of the playroom continued and I also started teaching them how to make their beds and they would bring their plates over from the table to the sink.  Now that they are older there is no holding back on my part. My kids can vacuum, clean windows, dust, put away laundry and just about any household chore.

Some people feel differently about whether or not kids should get paid for doing chores, but I believe that if they are going above and beyond what is expected of them then they should be rewarded.

There are certain jobs or chores that they are expected to just do. Things like making their bed each morning, feeding our dog, putting away their laundry and cleaning their rooms are chores that they do not get paid for.

If they want to help out in other ways that saves me from having to do it, then I'm happy to reward them for their efforts! Plus, I think it is really good for kids to be able to earn their own money, learn about saving and spending on items they want with the guidance of parents.

A few weeks ago I decided it was time to retire our reward jars.  They served us well for several years, but my kids were ready for the next phase of chores organization and they are all super motivated to earn cold hard cash instead of the promise of a toy or treat.  Concession stands at baseball tournaments, vending machines at camps, and special items they wish for are all now within their reach.

I had the Mr. help me with this chores board and it was really so simple. We took a wooden board and he attached picture hanging wire to the back of it.  Next he drilled small holes for these hooks to go in and I tied jute twine across the board so I could clip different jobs available.  Now, the newness of this has worn off just a bit, but the kids are still checking it out and helping with lots of different things around the house.

Basically nothing is required, but if they would like to earn a little money, they can check the board, perform the job and come to me to request their pay.  So far this new system is working out just how I had envisioned it would.  They are happy earning some extra money and I'm happy not having do do all the work around here.  It's a win-win in my book!

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Books to Get Boys Reading

Okay this is totally one of those posts where I give you a little something and I hope you give me a little something. I need some major suggestions on books that help get boys to enjoy reading. More specifically - Cute reading. We've found a few books here and there that he seems into, and I'll share those, but I am up for any and all suggestions you guys have got!

This is Cute's last week of first grade and all year we have been on the struggle bus when it comes to encouraging him to read. Don't get me wrong. He loves books and stories, and being read to. But when it comes to reading himself? He has other more important things he feels he has to do.

If school were based on Lego building skills, ability to score soccer goals, solve multiplication problems, drawing ninjas with friends, or running the fastest during P.E. he would be an ace student. He excels in all other subjects, and I know he'll get there at some point. Reading is life skill you just need, kind of like tying your shoes (and that's a subject we'll save for another day), but he just feels zero desire to take any part in it.

So in the spirit of the "summer slide" I was hoping to get a little insight into what books you might suggest to keep him motivated. I have stumbled upon a few these last few months that seem to keep him interested and a few he gets excited about. So maybe this can be a bench mark for suggestions too?

I can't be the only mom on the struggle reading bus! So share any and all - you never know who it might help!

BOOKS THAT BOYS LOVE

(Or at least my little boy!)

Captain Underpants Series - Underwear and potty talk. Need I say more? This is full of potty style humor and has tons of illustrations to put a visual to the story. It makes Cute literally laugh out loud. We even watched the Captain Underpants movie as a reward after he finished the first one. Do I like potty talk? No. But do I like my son being interested in reading? Absolutely. Plus it's such a huge series, I'm not the only parent hearing all about giant potty people or Booger Boy. (Seriously, those are things.)

Dog Man Series - This series is written by the same author as the Captain Underpants books, so a similar type of humor, but with less actual potty talk. It follows a police officer who is half dog/half man and his crime fighting adventures. The pages are filled with comic style photos and Cute loves the flip-o-ramas included.  So far this seems to be the series he's gotten the most excited about, and he's already excited about the Lord of the Fleas that comes out this August. 

The Bad Guys Series - This series is fun! This follows the notorious "bad characters" of various tales (think Big Bad Wolf), and changes it up a bit. The bad guys all team up together to do good deeds, and each story follows their mishaps along the way. Cute has a few books in this series he grabbed from the book fair and even though there are less photos he still enjoys reading them a ton. 

Inspector Flytrap Series - This one we recently grabbed while running errands. It's a mystery series where the main character is a Venus Flytrap. It seems funny, but Cute hasn't sat down to read it through it's entirety. It has a few pictures in it, and tons of silliness so hoping he ends up liking this short series too. 

Mighty Marvel Chapter Books - We've had these for awhile, and while some of the words are tough it's a super hero book and in some boys' world that's all they need to motivate them. Cute loves look at these over and over and his teacher let him keep one in his desk all year to read whenever he liked. 

Magic Tree House Series - Several people have suggested these to me, and my mom purchased a few of them for Cute. I know there are tons of books in this series, and while Cute likes these being read to him, he hasn't been consistent quite yet on reading them on his own. There aren't as many photos as there are in other series so that could be the drawback? 

The Stink Series - Cute owns one book in this series, and he reads through it often, but when asked he doesn't seem interested in looking at another. The book series is based on Judy Moody's little brother, and follows him on some silly adventures. A super funny little series!

Pedro Series - Cute originally grabbed two of the books in this series because one is about being in first grade, and one is about soccer - two of his main interests this year. The book series is cute and kind of showcases the main character, Pedro, in some scenarios that make him uncomfortable and shares how he handles them. Filled with great messages for this age group! 

Okay, that's all I have in my boy book arsenal. What are some of your suggestions? 

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Getting Outdoors with BABYBJÖRN

We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday weekend! We spent a lot of our time outdoors soaking up these first few days of summer. Now that the weather has turned warmer, we are outside a lot more! I realize as a mom of three now, I need my hands free as much as possible when it comes to outdoor play. Baby wearing makes that so much easier, especially in situations that strollers aren't really useful. With The Cutes I used the original BABYBJÖRN carrier, but after long periods of time I found that my shoulders and back were so sore.  

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to test out the new BABYBJÖRN Carrier One Outdoors, and let me just tell you - it's awesome! 

Over the last few weeks I have put it through fairly rigorous testing, and it has far surpassed my expectations. 

I even tested it out with Little Cute, and trust me when I say she is a solid girl. 

And she drives a hard bargain when it comes to picture taking because she makes you still sing Frozen's "Let it Go" while carrying all 28 pounds of her on your back.

Complete with dance moves. That your husband feels the need to capture. If it can be comfortable though that, its a winner. :) 

To see my full review of the BABYBJÖRN Carrier One Outdoors check it out on Savvy Sassy Moms. 

You can also enter to win one as part of our #SummerScoop4Moms Giveaway!

Trust me - this is a giveaway you don't want to miss out on!

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Handwriting Helpers

Happy Monday everyone! That weekend went by waaaaaay to fast! This is a post that I debated on for awhile about writing, but thought it might be helpful to some. We are coming into the home stretch of the school year, and with Kindergarten on the horizon we've been involved in a lot of prep already for next year. Cute is beyond excited about all things Kindergarten, and can not wait to go to "big kid school", ride the school bus, and play on the "really really big kid playground". I love his enthusiasm for what is to come later this year.

In December, we had a meeting with Cute's pre-K teacher and discovered that he is lacking severely in his fine motor skills compared to his peers in some areas - handwriting being the biggest issue. Sadly, Cute became so discouraged and frustrated that at one point he flat out refused to even write the first letter of his name. After speaking with several professionals, and getting Cute the help we felt like he needed, we finally turned a corner. We've worked extremely hard on catching up these last few months, and we are so proud of him and the progress he has made. It reflects in his attitude as well. 

He still has a little road ahead of him, but I also recognize he is young and enthusiastic about school, and want to keep that great positive attitude up.  

At home I've found a few fun practice things that have helped him, and thought I would share my favorites with you in case you find your little one in a similar situation. These are also great tools if you would just like to practice working on those handwriting and fine motor skills. 

DRY ERASE BOOKS

A few months ago, our friend Sarah started working for Usborne, a great education based children's book company. She introduced me to the Wipe-Clean series, which in more ways than one has been a great helper. 

I ordered the Ready for Writing, Pen Control, and Mazes books. Each came with its own dry erase pen, and page is bright, colorful, and full of great prompts to get children to write and play games. 

I usually hand these to Cute in the afternoons after he has had some down time to play with, and he loves them. He never thinks of it as "work" because how entertaining each page is to him. He loves the challenge of being able to complete the mazes, create a picture, or even play matching games. 

They have been a great helper and one that he has enjoyed doing as well! There are several more in the series, and I plan on grabbing a new one or two to entertain Cute in the car ride for our beach trip and to be able to enjoy something new over the summer to keep up the encouragement.

Some time after Sarah introduced me to the Usborne Wipe-Clean series, and saw that it was something that was working as practice for Cute, I found this book. The Quack-a-doodle-moo! book is slightly more elaborate than the Usborne ones, but it has a ton of pages, some seriously fun games, and even comes with a variety of reusable stickers.

Cute loves the Quack-a-doodle-moo! book, and even Little Cute thinks it is funny when he is creating silly sentences or mixing up the different animal parts and noises.

I've heard great things about the Priddy Wipe-Clean series as well, but haven't picked one up yet. They have options for toddlers up to elementary school age, which would be great to go ahead and let L.C. try as well. It is definitely on my to-do list seeing how useful the dry erase books really have become.

And the best thing about the dry erase books is you can use them over and over and over!!


THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT
I think I was a little shocked when both his current school and his future school suggested a few apps that would help him with his handwriting skills. I mean, we already live in such an electronic based world, how the heck does an app help encourage his need to practice his handwriting.

After speaking with my mom, who has worked in the school system for over 20 years, including doing several stints in Special Education, she confirmed and suggested a few of her own. Go figure.

I learned that these apps in most schools across our state now, and that they are great for letter f and sound recognition.

Cute has tested them all, but by far the most helpful and the ones that engage him the most are these: 

• Starfall - In addition to great handwriting practice this is also a great app/website for practicing reading and math skills. Cute loves that he can earn rewards with through the app, and has actually picked up on a lot of the math. He also regals us daily with the educational songs that are part of the app. (Free through iTunes)
• Letter School - A fun tracing app that promotes letter, number, and sound recognition. Children are able to play four games and build on their skills by tapping, tracing, and writing from memory. Cute enjoys this app a ton, and freely enjoys being able to work through each number and letter game to earn coins and create his own little characters.  ($4.99 through iTunes) 
• Writing Wizard - This app is another winner, and Cute never complains when he gets to play it. It is a letter tracing based app, but I love it because you are able to customize it to your needs and check progress along the way. It's super helpful, but at the same time fun so that Cute doesn't feel like he is doing anything other than playing a fun game. ($4.99 through iTunes)

TOYS
When my sister, Aunt K, learned of Cute's needs she found him a few helpful toys to encourage practice as well.

By far Cute's favorite is the LeapFrog Leap Reader and Writing System. It came with a sampler book and she purchased the Talking Words Factory book. Set up is super easy, just a simple connection to your computer and a quick scan of the book, and everything is customized and ready to go for you.

I love that it is has dual usability, and that both reading and writing are addressed with it. It's small and compact enough that we can fit it in our bag pretty easily, and so far battery life seems to be great!

Cute loves to practice with it, and the fact that it gives him feedback is super helpful to me as well. For example, when he doesn't correctly complete a letter it asks him to re-try a few times before moving on. A super nice computer girl's voice asking him sometimes is waaaaay better than mommy asking him apparently.

In addition to the ones Aunt K gave him, we have the  LeapReader Deluxe Learn to Write Letters  book, as well as the Deluxe Learn to Write Numbers, and both combine both letter practice and simple games to encourage practice.  



PENCIL ADJUSTMENTS
When it comes to just simple old school writing we were given a few little tools to try. It's one of the few things that if we find that it works, he is actually allowed to take to school with him to use to write write with. This is great because then what we are doing at home will be familiar to him at school, and hopefully not create stress at school when it comes to this task.

We started with a half pencil and these have worked wonders for him when it comes to control and grip. Think of the golf pencil you get on a course or at putt-putt places. These smaller pencils aren't always what he wants to write with, but using them has definitely helped him improve his writing skills.

A pencil grip was a second thing tool that was suggested to us. Cute thinks this tool is more of a toy and fun than something that helps him, so it's nice to know that it doesn't bother him at all. I haven't let him bring them to his pre-k class though because we were warned that all the kids will want one once they see it. They have some super cute pencil grip options out there, and I thought it might make a great end of the year school goody too to pass out to his classmates - if anything just to think is neat and to familiarize them with it in case a student they are with next year has them too.  

And there you have it - our trusty handwriting helpers. I know we will be working on this through the summer in preparation for next year, and I will try to add anything that I find to be beneficial.

Hopefully this was helpful to some of you, and please feel free to share any tips or tricks that you have found helpful when it comes to getting your little ones practice those handwriting skills - I would love to hear! 

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