Playing games is good for kids.  It increases their stamina.  It increases their skills.  Now some are saying that playing strategic games, like chess, will actually make kids smarter.  The problem that many of the researchers run into is that the smart kids are the ones that enjoy playing chess.  The question still seems to remain, are the smart kids the ones who like playing chess, or does playing chess make the kids smart?

It would make sense that chess would improve the intelligence of the players.  There is a lot that goes into playing the game.  Not only do you have to remember how each different piece works, but you have to keep up with where your opponent is and where they might go in the future.  It takes forethought and planning to survive a good game of chess.

There is also a lot of discipline to playing chess.  It is not a game that is over quickly.  It will take patience and endurance.  Both of these are great skills for kids of all ages to develop.

Chess is a fun (and quite) activity that every person should be able to participate in at one lever or another.  It may not make them smarter, but it is likely to help them understand that actions have consequences - even if it is just a game.

We are a home educating family.  This means that instead of sending the children off to others for most of the day, I teach them at home.  While waiting for them to get out of choir practice, one of the other mother’s in the group asked me how I could do it.  During our following discussion, she and the other public school moms talked about the long hours spent doing home work.

I was tickled that these women didn’t think they had it in them to homeschool their children.  Since they already spend almost three hours a night working on home work, they were already doing just that.  In fact, this is one of the reasons that so many people are turning to homeschool as an alternative.  They figure they are already putting in the hours.

The great thing about educating the children in my own home is that I can let them each learn in their own way.  My oldest son thrived with “Hooked On Phonics” and was reading by five.  My middle son just wasn’t that intrigued with reading.  Looking back now, I think he preferred to be read to by mom or dad because he got alone time that way.  Now he wants to read to us instead.

Each child learns in individual way, patterns, and timing.  Home educating gives the parent’s the flexibility and the time to work with them one on one.  Besides, if you are going to spend the time doing school work anyway, you might as well do the work you want to do in a way that your child will thrive.

Few people are born organizers.  Most have been taught by a parent, or someone else close to them, how to keep a house clean (for good or bad).  I was NOT taught how to clean.  Suffice it to say that I was a pack rat with enough clutter in my room (and in my life) that you couldn’t see the floor.  I had an excuse - really I did.  My mom worked and so she paid a housekeeper to do the laundry and the tidying up. 

My husband had a mother who was meticulous about cleaning.  He was use to the “woman of the house” keeping things right. We made a very interesting pair at first. We’ve both had to grow and give and change - but I would say that I had done the most (he would probably disagree).Over the last few years, I have learned how to clean and how to organize.  The best thing I have learned to do is let go of clutter. 

I’m doing everything in my power to teach my kids good habits for a clean and healthy home and life.  Do you love, will you use it, and can you find it a home are all things that my children are becoming intimately familiar with when it comes to toys or trinkets they want to bring into the home.  The good news is that it seems to be catching.  This morning, the 21 month old was picking up the floor and putting things in the garbage (fortunately the things belonged in the garbage).

The moral is that it is never to late or too early to de-clutter your life.

Birthdays around our house are a family affair.  For months before the big day, the kids discuss the theme for the party (mom and dad try to come up with creative ways to bring the theme to life for as little as possible).  Looking over the internet or through magazines can be a great source of inspiration, but the kids usually know exactly what direction they want to do.

So far, we have had a book party (held at the local library with books as the favors), a pirate party (where the kids went on a treasure hunt and made their own treasure chests), a Viking party (where they made shields and swords from card board), a Robin Hood party (this time mom did the craft with hand made felt “robin” hats), an Indian party (where a friend showed them how to play a native flute and they made spears and head bands), a safari party (where we put animal cut outs around the yard and they went on an “adventure”), and a 3-2-1 Penguins party (where they watched the latest release and mom made a replica of the spaceship for a cake).

Gift bags are a major no-no.  I hate finding all the little trinkets around our house after the boys have gone to a party.  Instead, we give them one nice thing or let them do a craft that they can take home.  We have yet to have a mother say “what, no little whistle and top?”

The best thing is that the kids enjoy preparing for their party (down to making their own invitations) as much as they enjoy the party.  They are also learning to stretch their imagination and a dollar.  I hope that we can continue our unique birthday tradition for years to come.

Christmas is creeping up on us, and now the big toys companies are having recalls by the dozens (or at least that is how it seems).  How are parents suppose to buy something that they can feel safe with their children using?  I think science toys and practical (wood working, crafts, etc) is the route that our family will take this year.

Since we live in a small home anyway, I usually try to find things that are going to be used up.  Experiments are a great source of entertainment, education, and excitement.  At certain ages, even sea monkeys are exciting for kids.  You remember those don’t you - the dried shrimp that you could put in water and watch “come to life.”  Children are fascinated by things like that.

Even my smallest child loves butterflies.  At only twenty months old, he will squeal with delight when he sees one flutter by the window.  I can only imagine his excitement when he watches them hatch from the cocoon. 

As for the older children, I will probably stick with home grown products this year.  It’s going to take more shopping and more creativity on my part, but I will sleep better if I know that the products they are using are safe.