Ages & Stages

Knock Knock Children's Museum :: A Must Visit for Kids in Baton Rouge Before I had my daughter, I considered myself “the fun auntie” – as I was the only one in my friend group with no kids. I would purposely buy toys that made noise with a bunch of pieces. Now, I am considering putting no toys on my daughter’s second birthday party invite because my living room looks like Six Flags right now. Seriously! I just cleaned out her toy bin and I swear there are still too many toys! Most are Montessori style, so they don’t make noise but whewww there are still a lot of pieces. I’m tired of tripping over toys! The worst is waiting for...

Disclosure :: this post contains affiliate links. Gift Guide for Kids Under 5 I love giving gifts. It brings me joy to see others delight in a gift I (my kids) have given. The only problem I had was that I didn’t always know what to get for little kids. What do I get my cousin’s one year old? My BFFs kid is turning 2, does she really want this loud, bright blinking toy that is “recommended.” We have a classmate party coming what should I get a 4 year old? Since becoming a parent, being invited to a bunch of kids’ parties and my kids getting gifts of their own I've found some go-to gifts. I’ve narrowed down some great...

Navigating Back to School Season Feelings As summer's warmth increases, the back-to-school season swoops in, bringing a whirlwind of emotions for my two little learners, Jack and Jacob. Jack, my seasoned third-grader, is oscillating between excitement and dread, while Jacob, my tiny kindergarten newbie, is bursting with anticipation. They are both excited about the light blue shirts. Jack's jitters are palpable as he worries about making new friends, tackling tougher homework, and, of course, showing off how high he can swing. Meanwhile, Jacob is bubbling with enthusiasm, eager to eat school lunch, learn to read with friends, and make art projects that will inevitably cover our kitchen table in glitter. As their mom, I'm caught in the middle, trying to reassure Jack...

Tips For A Back To School Stress Free Morning It’s that time of year again! With a new school year starting, mornings can sometimes be hectic. I have listed a few tips to help you on those stressful mornings. Hopefully these few tips can help your mornings run a lot smoother. Tip 1: Start the night before I find that preparing everything the night before makes mornings easier. Before bedtime let your child take their bath. Picking clothes out for the next day can also make your mornings go smoother. Another tip for picking out clothes - you can plan to pick out clothes on Sunday for the whole week, labeling them each day. This saves time in the morning and after...

Road Trip “Reads” :: Audiobooks for the Whole Family Hitting the road for that summer beach vacation, Thanksgiving trip to Grandma’s or Mardi Gras break to Disney World and looking for something to entertain the whole family? Try audiobooks.  Audiobooks are quickly becoming my favorite way to consume books. I’ve always dabbled in audiobooks, but recently I’ve been getting the audiobook and ebook for every title I read. I think audiobooks are a great tool to engage the whole family in a story.  I think we’re all looking for ways to connect with our kids in new and healthy ways. Reading is a great way to do so, but it’s not always easy to do. Summer reading or vacation assignments aren’t necessarily...