Simple, All-Natural Applesauce Recipe

Simple, All-Natural Applesauce Recipe

A simple, kid-friendly recipe for all-natural homemade applesauce — doesn’t require any special equipment.

How and Why to DIY

How and Why to DIY

I am no creative genius, but since having kids, I have found time and again that making something myself was better than buying.  Generally, I make it myself if it is 1) cheaper, 2) better quality, or 3) better tailored

Raising City Boys Outside

Raising City Boys Outside

We live in a major urban center, and at this point, we aren’t even allowed chickens in our neighborhood.  We have to actively seek out opportunities for our boys to get outside, to spend time around animals, to learn how

Toddler Fine Motor Practice

Toddler Fine Motor Practice

A look at what our second son is up to at eighteen months: Fine motor skills are on this guy’s mind daily as he works to understand and manipulate the world around here.  Recent conquests have included mastering the zippered

Cooking with a Preschooler: Fall Edition

Cooking with a Preschooler: Fall Edition

Thanks to a big crop of Mackintoshes from my parents’ house, we are up to our ears in apples at the moment.  Just another great opportunity to get my three-year-old busy in the kitchen!  Last week, he picked apples and

Gardening with a Preschooler: The Strawberry Experiment

Gardening with a Preschooler: The Strawberry Experiment

This summer for one of his projects, my three year old has been diligently caring for a strawberry plant. He waters it, keeps it clear of weeds, and on three separate occasions has had the supreme delight of picking a

Gardening with a Preschooler: Strawberries

Gardening with a Preschooler: Strawberries

An update on our three-year-old and his gardening project: We wanted our preschooler to take more ownership of our family garden this year, and as he is in a big “all by myself” phase, we decided that he needed a

Preschool in the Kitchen: Hummus

Preschool in the Kitchen: Hummus

My three-year-old loves to help out in the kitchen.  He’s now at a point where if I get out my mini-chopper, he runs over and asks me what we’re making.  This is an appliance that terrified him just a few short

If You Don’t Have It, Make It: Woodshop Edition

If You Don’t Have It, Make It: Woodshop Edition

While we are a far cry from homesteaders, we would like to instill in our children some sense of self-reliance.  Rather than run out to the store and buy every little thing, if it’s at all possible for us to

Threading: Fine Motor Skills

I’ve seen this activity suggested on Pinterest, but this was our first time trying it.  We used 18 mm plastic beads, regular spaghetti stuck in a little blob of Play-Doh, and an enthusiastic three-year-old.  On top of building those fine