Preschool

Ohhhh what a day we had had! It was a gorgeous Thursday. We spent the majority of the day playing outside, there were giggles and belly laughs and literally all the fun was had. We had a successful dinner- you know where you don't have to beg, bribe, and barter to get your kiddos to eat that meal that you have spent time, energy, and money preparing. The whole afternoon had been magical. It deserved a magical reward. So we offered up "Waffles House" (as the 4-year-old refers to it) the next morning for breakfast. He was ecstatic. "I DOOO LOOOVVVEEE the Waffles House!" He must have told us at least 500 times. We put the boys to bed, I...

School performances. Cue my anxiety for you, little guy. Weeks of practicing singing and hand motions and some cute dancing all coming to a head with a stage and an audience and loud unexpected noises that send you into panic mode. Tears, crying, refusing to participate, extreme panic and fear and struggle written all over your sweet little face. That was our old life. School functions meant meltdowns and frantic behaviors and leaving early because we were both emotionally drained and completely over any "fun" there was to be had. Until the day I asked you "Buddy, you practiced so hard! Why were you crying?" This day, last May, was magical because you were finally old enough to recognize and...

  One day at some point last school year, my then 3-year-old came home from his Pre-K3 class telling me about his "best BEST friend (insert girl's name)." They played together and had the BEST day! Talk about music to my vulnerable momma ears - you see, after Christmas break, we switched schools to a program that was geographically closer to our house even though we LOVED his prior school, we felt like it would be better for our family to be closer to where we lived. Just so there are no questions, we LOVE our new school too! Fast forward through his 4th birthday party where said friend attended with her mom. After chatting for just a few minutes, we...

School lunches! Whether you’re packing because you have to or because your picky eater just can’t handle school lunch, packing lunch can be a daunting task! How does one keep from packing PB&J every dang day?! We’ve got a little hack at my house! I’ve seen the awesome moms that have buckets of lunch approved items & the kids (or parents grab something from each basket for a well balanced meal. And it’s awesome, but our tiny cabinetry doesn’t allow for such a set up. BUT we have found keeping a list of each kids food preferences helps. Our lists are broken down into categories: veggies, fruit, grains, dairy, protein, sandwiches, snacks, & dips. Our kids eat a pretty good...

Disclosure :: this post is sponsored by Touchstone. Tips for Working with Pre-School Children with Autism Starting a new school can be scary for anyone — parents, teachers and kids are all adjusting to new routines and environments. If your child has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and is starting in a pre-school setting, your transition may be slightly different. Stay calm, and keep in mind some things you can do to help your child acquire the skills and resources they need for their ongoing development. Facing this challenge head on now is key as your pre-school age child will be advancing into a higher-level school setting before you know it. It’s crucial for parents to convey to teachers and caretakers exactly what...