independence Archives — What's up Fagans?

Leopard Print with Tie Dye – Why I Don’t Care What My Kids Wear (Most of the Time)

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When my twins were toddlers I spent a very long time trying to convince them both that clothes were worth keeping on for the duration of an entire day, especially during nap time, along with their diapers. But, they were unconvinced. They knew clothes were overrated and that going pantless, shirtless, diaper-less, and certainly shoeless was ...

What an Introverted Mom Really Needs

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It’s almost as if a revolution is starting.There are several articles going around the web these days about introverted mothers. You likely saw them on Quitrev and Scary Mommy. And all of a sudden, every single in introverted mom on the planet is out of the closet to affirm, “Yes, I need alone time to recharge and feel happy as a person.” By ...

How Kids Can Unload the Dishwasher Without Breaking Anything

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I am all for cleaning with awake kids, instilling the value of work, and having my children do chores. One of my five year old twins' chores is to unload the dishwasher first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, by having my young children unload the dishes by themselves, they have, on several occasions, broken cups, bowls, and plates. We've since ...

Physical Fitness for Kids: How to Build Endurance in Toddlers and Preschoolers

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Stride Rite for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Running, playing, jumping, skipping. They are the hallmarks of childhood. Most children seem hardwired to want to do them as soon as possible, and as often as possible, after birth. You don’t really need to teach children how to run and play, ...

Improve Your Family Life with a Basic Kids Chore Chart {Free Printable}

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Five months ago now, I posted a picture on Instagram of our first official basic kids chore chart that I crudely made by hand, laminated, and stuck on the fridge with a magnet. One of my main goals for homeschooling for preschool this year was establishing good chore and habits in my children along with life skills. And this simple, basic chore ...

Free Range Kids: Are they Neglected or Loved?

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There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about Free Range kids, CPS investigations, and allegations of neglect or abuse from their parents. While not everyone will choose to raise their children this more hands-off way, it's important to understand that most of the parents who claim to be of this parenting philosophy are not actually ...

Screen Free Quiet Time Ideas that Encourage Independent Play

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We made it a long time. We really did. But, my daughter Lisa, at four and a half years old, is officially done with taking a nap during the day. I am now presented with the new challenge of what to do with a preschooler for 2-3 hours while my other two children are (hopefully) taking a nap at that same time. I need to come up with some great quiet ...

Life Skills for Kids – How to Teach Them to Your Preschoolers

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Part of the reason I chose the Preschool curriculum I did (and you should too, it's only $20!) is because it emphasized teaching life skills for kids, like making your bed, using a knife and scissors, knowing your address and more.So, it has me thinking about what life skills kids, especially preschoolers should know, and some smart ways of ...

Regular chores for Three Year Olds

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My twin daughters are bright and capable individuals, and as such, are more than able to help out around the house, something I believe is their obligation as a member of this family. But, what are regular chores for three year olds? After some experimenting, we've figured out what our three year old twins can regularly help out with, and why we ...

How to Transition Twins to Toddler Beds

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My sister just recently announced on Facebook that she decided to move her 14 month-old son (who is almost as big as my girls!) over from his crib to a toddler bed because he could put his leg up on the crib rail. To which I said: "You're crazy! Keep babies in their cribs as long as possible! They can't get out and escape! It's great for ...