Ages & Stages

Meet Six Exchange Students Who Would Make Great Honorary Cajuns The exchange student program was established to encourage Americans to share their culture while experiencing a new one. At its core, it serves as a tool for international diplomacy. It's an incredible opportunity that you can learn more about here. As a local coordinator, I have the joy of reviewing exchange student profiles to find students who will fit in well with our vibrant Louisiana culture. As we approach the upcoming school year, I’d like to take a moment to introduce a few exchange students who are still searching for a host family and would be the perfect addition to a Louisiana family. Ambroise from France Ambroise gets an automatic honorary Cajun point...

Five Reasons Kids Under 10 Need to See Inside Out 2 My family loves Riley Andersen, her emotions, and the journey through her interior world as she adjusts to a new environment when her family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco. So we’ve put Inside Out on regular rotation in the past few months, getting ready for the sequel’s release. We’ve also watched “Riley’s First Date?” a Pixar “bridge” short from 2015 and charming addition to the story. In it, we see a boy arrive at the Andersen's house, to go skating with Riley and her friends. It’s another new landscape, and not just for Riley – the 5-minute delight gives glimpses into Riley’s parents' minds as they grapple with the...

Healthy Snacks For Toddlers Healthy snacks help manage your little one’s hunger and boost nutrition. Snacks may also help prevent overeating at meals, especially for our picky eaters. Snack time is also the perfect time to add more nutrients to your child’s diet. When picking out snacks, you should always choose food that are high in fiber and protein. Foods with these nutrients take more time to digest. Fiber comes from vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Protein comes from milk, meats, eggs, nuts, beans, cheese and nut butters. During snack time, I offer my daughter whole foods that provide energy and nutrition. Some of her favorite snacks are :: Bananas • are high in potassium and magnesium. They also contain carotenoids that are...

Disclosure :: this post contains affiliate links. Watch for Exploding Kittens and Flying Burritos :: Family Game Night Ideas Gone are the days of Candyland and Chutes and Ladders in my house, and I couldn’t be happier about it. Now that my kids are older, family game night has become much more exciting. If your family hasn’t made this a tradition yet or if you’re looking to take things up a notch, here are some games to consider: Exploding Kittens (ages 7 and up): This one is a fan favorite in my house, and despite the name, no kittens are actually harmed. Exploding Kittens is all about strategy, and unless you want to lose, your strategy needs to be to annihilate the competition. To...

9 Ways To Save On School Supplies School supply shopping was once my absolute favorite time of year... and then I became the person footing the bill for school supplies. Suddenly the joy and excitement of walking down an aisle of notebooks, folders, and colorful pens turned into dread. With inflation what it is today, money saving tips are always appreciated, but especially so when you're shopping for multiple kids while also trying to budget for uniforms, shoes, and all the other things that come with the start of a new school year. To save a few bucks this year (and hopefully some anxiety as well), I put together a list of tips when you tackle school supplies this summer! 1. Set...