Simple Families

Do you feel like you need some new screen time rules for your kids? There’s a good chance that your kids have consumed an increased amount of screen time during the pandemic. Whether it’s for work, school, or pleasure—we’ve all been home more and utilizing new devices in new ways. But what hasn’t changed is the self-blame and criticism we place on ourselves as parents for giving our children “too...

After our last episode, Educating Your Child in a Pandemic, I got a lot of questions. Today I’ll be answering your questions about returning back to school this year. Show Notes/Links: Link to First Name Basis episode on privilege White Fragility by Robin DeAngelo Hi there and welcome to episode 230. Today, I am doing a back to school question and answer session. After the last episode, educating...

Right now, many of us are thinking about back to school decisions. Educating your child in a pandemic is no easy task. Homeschooling? Distancing Learning? In-person school? Even if we are privileged to have a choice, making hard decisions for our families can feel agonizing. You may even lose sleep over it. That’s why I’m sharing the 9 things you need to know about educating your child in a pandem...

The toy industry sells us the story that our children need toys to be happy. In fact, we are sold the story that our kids need lots of new toys to be content. You may have come to believe that more toys=more joy and find yourself spending countless dollars attempting to prove this theory to be true. You aren’t alone, in 2020 the toy industry brought in over $95 million in global sales. These numbe...

We’ve all picked up on a few habits during this crisis–and some of those habits might not be serving us. Today I’m sharing more about my attempts to moderate caffeine, a habit that I’ve leaned on hard the past few months. I’d love to hear from you. Do you have any habits you are trying to moderate right now? The post Caffeine + Crisis Habits [Quick Wins] appeared first on Simple Families.

When we speak to our kids, words do matter. We don’t have to get it right all.the.time, but I like to use the same phrases repeatedly to help drive home important lessons. Therefore, I’m sharing the 10 exact expressions my kids hear on a regular basis. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most impactful. You can either listen along or read–in today’s episode, I’m sharing how I use these and wh...

In our house, we have three primary rules that guide the way we parent our kids. Today, I’m sharing the three rules and how we talk to our young children about them.  Here they are: Respect the rights of other people,   Protect and care for the environment (both inside the house and out),  Take only reasonable risks.  It can be really easy to fall into the trap of creating a lot of little rules, o...

Many of us have been decluttering our homes for some time. But what about our brains? Mental clutter is real. Parenthood can feel heavy. We are tackling the 10 reasons that parenthood feels cluttered and overwhelming. The post Mental Clutter 101 appeared first on Simple Families.

We are wrapping up our first year of homeschooling and I wanted to share my reflections with you. I know that many people are considering homeschooling next year due to the pandemic, but our family is planning to send the kids to school. Tune in to hear the things I loved about homeschool and the parts I struggled with as well. SHOW NOTES/SHOW LINKS All About Reading Math-U-See Exploring Nature wi...

Many people around the world are reentering and finding a new “normal” after several months at home. In today’s episode we are talking about what this might look like. This includes communication about your comfort level in socialization, finding the silver-linings, acknowledging the experiences of others, recognizing resilience in your children, and making space for partnership. Show Notes/Links:...

Are you wondering how to talk to young kids about race? I’m so pleased to welcome Jasmine Bradshaw to the podcast today to share her insights. Jasmine and her husband Carter are the voices behind the podcast First Name Basis. Her work is a resource that I will return to time and time again. Be sure to subscribe to her show and follow her on Instagram. Show Notes/Links: First Name Basis Podcast Fin...

Today I’m introducing a new format for summer. I’ll be intermittently sharing some shorter episodes like this one that include a few straightforward tips and tools that you can implement right away. We are going to start in the pantry, one of the spaces that took me the longest to get under control. Screenshot while you are listening to this episode and share your own favorite tips on Instagram, I...

I love you, I hate you. You always yell at me. You never cook anything I like. Young children tend to think in black and white. Their feelings can be big, bold, and intense. In this episode, we are discussing why this happens in everyday conversations. We will also discuss how we can help our kids to recognize the “in-between”. Show Notes/Links: Simplify Siblings – Confidently guide the sibling re...

Do your kids show a strong preference for one parent or the other? In today’s episode we are discussing why this dynamic exists and some tips for helping to balance things out at home. Show Notes/Links Simplifying Siblings Episode 160: Selfless or Selfish? The post Parental Preference appeared first on Simple Families.

In today’s episode we are chatting about high-functioning anxiety. Many of us experience challenges with fear, worries, and anxiety. I’m sharing more about my experience and some of my favorite tips and resources. Mental Health Resources: Betterhelp Immediate Help COVID-19 Mental Health Resources The post High-Functioning Anxiety appeared first on Simple Families.

Today we are talking about minimalism, money, and developing a spending plan. For years I was a budget-resister. I wanted nothing to do with having a budget for our family. But now I’m singing a different tune. The reality is, developing a solid spending plan for our family has been one of the most intentional things we’ve done in our path towards a simpler life. In this episode I’m also answering...

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, I am joined by Stephanie Seferian from the Sustainable Minimalists Podcast. We are chatting about realistically moving towards sustainability and raising kids to love our Earth. I’m also answering a question from Kara, she asked: How can I get my kid to take more risks? Part I: Eco-Friendly Families [@ 3:01] Part II: How can I get my kid to take more...

In times like this, it can be hard to explain the News to our children. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Andrea Barbalich, the editor-in-chief of The Week Junior. The Week Junior is a brand new magazine that simplifies the news for kids. Andrea and I are discussing how to bring discussions around the news and current events into our families. The post Kids + The News appeared first on Simple...

In today’s episode we are discussing how to develop a play space that is suitable for children of multiple ages. Do we really need baby toys? Can we find toys that grow with children? How do we balance safety and developmental needs? These are questions we are diving into in this episode. The post Q&A | How can I design a play space for kids of different ages? appeared first on Simple Families.

Not all reward sticker charts are created equal. In today’s episode, I’m going to explain how to use a reward chart effectively–and I will also explain why we don’t use them very often. How to Use a Reward Chart How to Use a Sticker Chart The post How to Use a Reward Chart appeared first on Simple Families.

You are enough. You are doing enough. In today’s episode, I’m taking a question that many parents across the world are wondering: Am I providing enough structure/educational stimulation for my child in this time of crisis? The post Q&A | Am I doing enough to supplement my kid’s education right now? appeared first on Simple Families.

Irritability. Potty accidents. Night wakings. Tantrums (child AND adult). Difficult behaviors can increase during times of stress. In today’s episode we are discussing the implications of stress and uncertainty on child and adult behavior. Because most of us are feeling it at this time, right? Show Notes/Links: Simple Families Foundations The post 5 Tips for Stress Behaviors appeared first on Simp...

Who could use a little quiet time right now? I see you nodding your head. Yes, me too. In today’s episode we are talking about initiating quiet time with young children. During this period of social distancing, even short periods of quiet time can be life-giving to parents who are all-hands-on-deck 24/7. Thanks for tuning in! The post Q&A | How do you get kids to do quiet time? appeared first on S...

We all know that it’s important to stay home right now–it is our social responsibility. The Weidner family is one of a million reasons this continues to be important. Today I am bringing you their story. Hillary and her husband Jordan are not strangers to social isolation–they were put on a year-long lock down after Beatrice had a liver transplant in the first year of life. We are talking about wh...

If you have bored kids driving you crazy right now, the easy solution might be to shower them with new toys and activities to keep them busy. But sadly, Amazon doesn’t have the answer to all our problems. An onslaught of new stuff will keep kids busy for a short period of time, but the feelings of boredom will emerge whether we like it or not. Today we are chatting about using shopping as a way to...