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By Shawna, on February 3rd, 2013 
The kids love window decor – so much so, that we still had a few of those vinyl Easter clings on the sliding glass door til Halloween, when of course, the Halloween clings went up… and then Christmas… and come January, we needed something new. January is rather barren of cute window clings.
Chey and I were browsing the kid-art supplies in the local discount store when we discovered Crayola’s Window Markers and Window Crayons. In an effort to change things up, some of the “Crystal Effect” Window Markers came home with us. We love the . . . → Read More: Scribbling on the windows
By Shawna, on November 23rd, 2012 
Best part of homeschooling – playing games and calling it school.
Learning to play Nine Men’s Morris aka Social Studies. Did you know the Vikings played nine mens’ morris – or a very similar game – on their ships?
By Shawna, on November 4th, 2012 
Like many families, we spend quite a bit of time in the car – but since we’re a one-car family these days, most of our time isn’t driving, it’s waiting. Still, there’s that perpetual question: how do you keep the kids busy – and well-behaved – when they have to sit in the car?
Travel games, puzzle books, etc, those are all possibilities – but with the holidays coming up – and road trips looming in your future, let me tell you about one more little tool to have up your sleep when the Wiggly Critters in the . . . → Read More: Activity Bags
By Shawna, on November 13th, 2011 
With our computer-driven society, we all know that it’s essential for today’s children to learn to type – and the younger they learn, the easier so many other tasks become.
My daughter, Cheyenne (9), has been using computer since she was 2 or 3, but only in the last year or so has her typing moved from a slow hunt and peck to something a bit more efficient.
Cheyenne recently had the opportunity to try out Keyboard Town Pals, software with a straightforward, yet far-reaching concept: teach kids to type, make . . . → Read More: Keyboard Town Pals
By Shawna, on October 27th, 2011 
Say Anything Family is the newest family-friendly game from award-winning Northstar Games. With the tagline “What hilarious things will YOUR family say?” it promises an interesting, unique experience with every play.
For 3 to 6 players, Say Anything Family is aimed at ages 8 through adult. (I’d qualify the younger end of the age range by saying that players should be able to produce simple phrases for their answers – an adult could help them read the questions, and even write the answers for them, but keep in mind that it will slow . . . → Read More: Say Anything by Northstar Games
By Shawna, on October 25th, 2011 
We have a new favorite board game in the house!
We recently received two board games from Northstar Games to review, and today I’m chattering about Wits & Wagers Family. (I’ll be talking about Say Anything Family on Thursday, but there’s a link further down the page if you’re curious before then!)
On the box, Wits & Wagers Family says it takes 2 minutes to learn, and 20 to play. In my experience, that usually means that it’ll take you at least 15 minutes to figure out what to . . . → Read More: Wits & Wagers by Northstar Games
By Shawna, on October 18th, 2011 
If you frequent the same places online that I do, you’ve seen the ads for Always IceCream, and maybe even thought about letting your daughter try it out. I’d meant to, but kept putting it off. It’s created for girls age 7-12; there would always be time later, right?
And then Cheyenne saw one of those ads, and asked if we could take a look at it. By then, I was aware we might get it as a review, and asked her to wait just a little bit longer. So she was thrilled when she . . . → Read More: Girls Scream for Always Ice Cream
By Shawna, on February 18th, 2011 
These days, I don’t have any reluctant readers in my house. Reluctant to put the book DOWN and go do chores, yes. Reluctant to read, no.
But, it hasn’t always been that way.
I learned several years back that the real key to creating a reader is that they must want to read.
And how do you make them want to read? Let them read what they like. What they enjoy. What they find fun. What they want more of.
And next time, it’s a little easier.
With a child who can read, who has . . . → Read More: A Solution for Reluctant Readers from Kid Scoop
By Shawna, on October 29th, 2010 
Buckets-O-Fun has been providing yucky-but-fun materials for group events for the last several years, but soon, they will be adding a new line of products – affordable science projects for all ages.
*** Check out the picture gallery at the end! ***
We recently experimented with four Yuck products: Chunky, Sticky, Saucy, and Snowy. Provided with small samples, each about a tablespoon in size, and a instructional brochure with experiment instructions, it was enough to experiment and play with, and yet not require a large area or significant . . . → Read More: Yucky Science Fun by the Bucketful
By Shawna, on July 22nd, 2010 
Today the Homeschool Crew is stopping by Travel Kit island, the savior of harried parents who need a vacation from their vacation, after hearing “are we there yet?” way, way, WAY too many times. Sneak past the cover – quick, before the kids notice! – and follow me.
Over here – down this dark path, is the entrance to the page-jungle. Let me share the secrets that you must know to be successful as you fight the boredom tiger and avoid the wriggling monkeys.
This ebook has 90 “leaves” chock-full of color . . . → Read More: TOS Crew Review: Travel Kits
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