Breaking old habits is hard and if you didn’t start your kids out eating healthfully, it’s hard to get them to enjoy doing so.  To avoid fighting a battle at every meal and snack time, I usually change things out slowly, making swaps:  changing an unhealthy food for a new healthier alternative.  Here are my favorites.

7 Easy, Healthy, Kid-Approved Snack Swaps

100% Organic juice with no additives for regular juice

The main idea here is to get rid of all those additives.  If you ever flip over a bottle of juice and read the ingredients, you’ll usually find a ton of added sugars, flavors and dyes.  Last time I checked, fruit was pretty sweet on its own and didn’t need all that stuff, so why give it to children?  What you want to find is a juice that 100% juice or at least 100% natural with no added sugar.  Some people don’t like to purchase juice from concentrate, but if your budget, like mine, limits you to that, it’s okay.  Making small changes is better than making no changes.  If possible, buy organic, especially when purchasing a juice made from one of the dirty dozen foods, like grapes. 

While these juices are a bit pricier, their popularity is causing a lot of grocery chains to offer their own versions that don’t break the bank.  My grocery store tends to charge a bit more than a dollar extra for store brand organic juices, which makes it easier not to break the bank.  Also, since these juices are so sweet on their own, they’re incredibly easy to dilute with a little water, which can stretch your money a little farther.

Almond Butter for Peanut Butter

The first time I tried almond butter, it was grainy and awful.  But I mentioned it to a friend who had made the switch and she said “oh, that brand?  That brand is gross.  There are way better ones out there.”  A few years later, I did try again after reading various reviews of other brands.  She was right.  There are a number of almond butters that are amazing.  So amazing, in fact, I don’t think our family will ever go back to peanut butter.

Our family’s favorite is the MaraNatha brand.  There are quite a few choices and though the Creamy No-Stir one isn’t the healthiest of them all, it is our family’s stand out favorite.  It’s creamy and sweet and delicious.  If you’re a bit hungry or just craving sweets, a small teaspoon of it is completely satisfying.  

Almond butter goes great with sliced apples, celery and my 9-year-old’s favorite:  pretzels.  If your family likes almond butter and you want to try another nut butter, I’ve heard great things about cashew butter and hazelnut butter (not Nutella).  These two can be much harder to find though and typically have to be ordered online or purchased at a specialty shop.

Roasted Seaweed instead of Chips

If your kid is a bit daring and willing to try new things, you’ve got to give them some roasted seaweed.  These snack packs are found in the chip aisle and also with International foods and come in a variety of flavors.  You can get them plain, salted, sweet or spicy and the crispy texture combined with choice of flavor makes a great substitute for chips.  It’s roasted, not fried an entire pack is usually only about 60 calories.

“Simple” yogurts instead of regular or kid-branded ones

Have you ever read the label of a kid’s yogurt?  There’s a ton of frightening stuff in there:  chemicals you can’t pronounce and tons of dyes because kid’s won’t eat it if it’s not a circus color, right?  Flip over a “simple” yogurt and you’ll find exactly what should be there:  the same fruits listed on the front of the package, milk and maybe some other natural, easy to pronounce stuff.  It’s a no-brainer.  Not only that, but neither of my kids ever noticed when I made the switch to the simple yogurts:  The flavor is still great without all that added junk.

Organic mac n cheese instead of store brand

I’ll admit that Kraft is getting better about this and I hope this is a trend we’ll keep seeing with big companies.  While we haven’t tried the new Kraft macs yet, we have been buying organic mac from a couple of other companies for a while and my mac-addicted kiddos claim the organic stuff is way more delicious.  The two favorites in my house are Annies and Back to Nature.  Both are amazing and both can be purchased at warehouse stores (Annies at Costco and Back to Nature at Sam’s), so the cost of them becomes about the same as buying a name brand, non-organic variety.

Hummus instead of ranch dip

While ranch dip is delicious and you can purchase low-calorie or low-fat varieties, hummus is all natural.  Not only that, but hummus is a great source of iron.  This is really important if your child doesn’t eat a lot of meat or has an iron deficiency (My own daughter is both).  There are some delicious varieties of hummus at the grocery store or for even more health benefits, you can make your own.  It’s super simple and comes out delicious (and it’s great at parties).  Pair it with pita bread, crackers or veggies.  And for more iron-packed goodness, serve it with orange juice: it will increase iron absorption.

Home made chips instead of store bought

I know this one looks a little scary, but it’s not too tough.  Store bought chips are usually fried and are covered in who knows what kind of flavorings.  For an amazingly delicious and easy to make alternative, you can pick up one of this Top Chips Maker for around $15.  Simply slice your potato, sweet potato, squash, etc. and place on the ring.  Then cook it in the microwave and you’ve got instant, fresh chips.  My pickiest eater loves these more than anything he’s had store bought, and from him, that’s a huge endorsement.

So what are some healthier swaps you make for your kids snacks? 

The post 7 Easy Healthy Kid-Approved Snack Swaps appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

How to Make a Green Smoothie Create Your Own Health Arsenal: Build A Strong Immune System & Treat Symptoms Naturally Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites

I’m not the kind of mom who does elaborate crafts with her kids. Projects that require preparation a day or two in advance are rare for me.

(This has more to do with my personality type than the worth of elaborate crafts!) 

That’s not to say that I don’t love doing creative projects with my kids, though. We sew together, paint together, and just generally create together. But our art times are more spur-of-the-moment ideas.

So, I love a good project that uses supplies I have on hand and very little work to get started. 

This craft is just that kind of project! 

My kids made these “sticky Christmas trees” two years ago, and to look back at these pictures now is crazy! No more baby faces for either of my boys. 

Reminiscing aside, this is a great craft for preschoolers, and maybe even toddlers with ambitious mothers. It requires very little craft skills from the child. Simply decorate the tree with various colored materials and it’s done! 

How to Make “Sticky Christmas Trees”: 

Cut a piece of contact paper in the shape of a Christmas tree and glue it to a piece of construction paper. We used white paper, but I think they would look even better on a colored sheet. 

Set out various craft supplies that your child can place on his Christmas tree. Colorful buttons, pom-poms, strips of yarn, sequins and so on work well. Glitter for the brave, or devil-may-care type. Also, an egg carton works really well for making everything accessible and contained. 

Give your kid(s) time to create and have fun and see what they come up with. Remember, process not product! 

Don’t forget to display your child’s beautiful art! If you make these with your kids, I’d love to see them! Tag me (@lisaburns3) on Instagram or show me on Facebook! 

Christmas is a week away and I really hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Christmas!

What kinds of crafts do you make with your kids this time of year? 

The post Sticky Christmas Trees :: An Easy Preschool Holiday Craft appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Felt Fall Banner Fun & Easy Family Activity: Resurrection Eggs Thankful {A Printable for Giving Thanks}

Written by Courtney @ A + Life, Contributing Writer 

December always has a way of sneaking up on us, doesn’t it? I know for our family, with homeschooling, November birthdays, and Thanksgiving, before you know it- December is here! And if we aren’t careful, it can be really easy to get swept up into the massive consumerism of the holiday season and completely miss out on the opportunity to share with our girls the REAL reason we celebrate in the first place.

Jesus, of course! So here are four things that our family does to make sure to keep Jesus at the forefront of all of our celebrating. 

4 Ways To Celebrate Jesus 

Celebrate Advent

Is there anything more beautiful than celebrating the advent season? We make sure to have our family present in church every Sunday during the holiday season. Our kids sit in the service with us, so they get the chance to see our candles being lit, hear the progression of the Christmas story, and the beautiful worship music all preparing our hearts and minds for the wonderful celebration of the birth of Jesus! We also count down to Christmas with…..

Truth In The Tinsel

Have you ever heard of Truth In The Tinsel? It is a wonderful program for the 24 days in December leading up to Christmas to help teach the Christmas story to our littles through hands on crafts and stories. Each day gets a verse, a craft, and an activity to help them remember all of the special details that happened before our Savior was born. We have done Truth In The Tinsel for the last few years and it has been such a blessing to our family! I recommend it to every family I know who has small kids. They love it! 

(PS. If you don’t want to do a craft every day, they have an option to just buy a pack of coloring page style ornaments. So you can still teach the story but have an easy craft to do! Perfect!)

Operation Christmas Child

OCC has been such a blessing to our family! We really want Abigail (and Mabel as she grows!) to learn to GIVE to others, especially those in need. Taking the focus off of themselves and the things that they want or can get, it helps them to turn their eyes to others instead. And as Christian parents, there is almost no better and more tangible way for us to teach them the concept of “loving your neighbor” than through OCC! We love to shop year round with those sweet kids in mind. It has been really neat to listen to Abigail talk about mailing “the little girls” gifts and to go shopping and see her thinking about what they might like. We shop for little toys and craft supplies, toiletries, and other fun things little girls like Abigail would like. Every year we also choose to track our boxes so we can find out where our boxes are going. Last year they went to Mexico and the year before that they went to South America! 

Three Christmas Gifts 

Another way that we keep Christmas from becoming completely overwhelming and about the presents- we only do 3 gifts for each of our girls. As they get older, we plan to incorporate more of the symbolism of Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh into their actual gifts. But, for now, we simply choose three items we know they would love or need to represent the 3 gifts the wise men brought to Jesus. Abigail loves that and we love the opportunity to have just one more way to point her to Jesus this Christmas. 

How do you incorporate Jesus into your Christmas celebration with your family?

The post 4 Ways To Celebrate Jesus This Christmas appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Leading Little Ones To Love God’s Word Blessing Others Through The Fruit Of The Spirit Five Fun Fall Activities For Children

Last year was our very first year homeschooling our oldest daughter, Abigail. While, both my husband and I were homeschooled growing up, going from homeschool student to homeschool parent and teacher can be kind of overwhelming!

We tested the waters of homeschool pre-k and absolutely loved it. So, this September, we officially started homeschool Kindergarten! Or, Spena School, as we call it. We have been at it for almost two months now, so I thought it would be fun to share some of our favorite things to use in our school days(aside from lots of coffee for Mom, a bumbo seat for the baby to chill out in, and lots of outside time to burn extra energy for Abigail) 

Our Must Have Homeschool Supplies:

1. Tons of Crafts

.

If there is one thing that makes my daughter happiest, it is the ability to create something with a giant pack of markers and an even more giant stack of paper. Construction paper, markers, crayons, scissors, glue, paints, and tape are all kept close at hand and always readily available to help stretch her big, BIG imagination.

2. Books, Books, and more Books

We finally got our act together and joined our local library! It has been absolutely wonderful for our school year. We go every Thursday for story time, return our books, and check out a whole slew of new books that sound interesting, fun, and coordinate with our curriculum’s theme for the week. (Things like, Nest, Apple, Leaves, Moon, Sun, etc.) 

3. Youtube

It is amazing to me all of the knowledge that we have right at our fingertips! As soon as Abigail asks a question, if we can’t find it in our books at hand, all it takes is a quick search to figure out the answer. We listen to all sorts of classical music and learn about the composers, watch videos about animals, and learn new life lessons from video shorts that appeal to both me and her! We love taking a brief break from sitting down to dance around the kitchen to music(our favorite- Eine Kleine) and youtube makes it incredibly easy for us to do that. 

4. The Jesus Storybook Bible 

My personal favorite book to read through with the girls is the Jesus Storybook Bible. It is written in words that the girls can understand, but it speaks to all of our hearts in incredibly profound ways. At the end of the day, it’s all about Jesus and every single story- as the book says- whispers His name. I love being able to incorporate that into our school days. One of the biggest, best, and most wonderful blessings about doing school at home! 

We absolutely love homeschooling and have been so blessed by the gift it has been to our family. 

What are some of your absolute must have homeschooling supplies?

The post Our Must Have Homeschool Supplies appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

5 Homeschool Tips for Wiggly Kids Reinventing the Cold Lunch Five Fun Fall Activities For Children

Written by Courtney @ A + Life, Contributing Writer 

It is hard to believe that we are already one month into the fall season and that before long (if not already!) we will be bombarded with all things Christmas related. But, today, I wanted to share about some of our very favorite fall things to do with our daughter, Abigail.

This time of year is perfect for being outside all day long! The crisp autumn air, the bright sun, the sights and sounds of fall, all make for a wonderful outdoor experience. There are SO many fun things that you can do, but here are just a few of our favorites! So, without further ado, I give you:

Five Fun Fall Activities For Children 

1. Visit A Pumpkin Patch 

The one thing we always make sure to do in the fall is to visit our local pumpkin patch! It may be small and quaint, but we love walking around and selecting our pumpkins and mums, taking a small hay ride, capturing a few special moments on our camera, and letting the farmers teach our little girl all about pumpkins. 

2. Watch An Outdoor Movie 

This has been a new addition to our family fun, but recently my husband, Jim, acquired a small projector to play movies on. We set up a comfy place to sit in the backyard, hang up a big white sheet, and enjoy making our very own drive in of sorts in the back of our house! Projectors are pretty easy to rent and borrow, so I highly suggest getting your hands on one and giving a backyard movie night a try this fall! 

3. Backyard Camping

If you’re already in your backyard for a family movie night, why not also set up a tent and have a camp out as well? I’m not much(read: NOT AT ALL) for camping, but if the weather is right and my own personal bathrooms are close, you can get me out there  

4. Play In The Leaves

We aren’t fortunate(or are we? enough to have large trees in our yard capable of being piled up and raked, but Grandma’s house sure does! There isn’t anything more quintessential childhood than running and jumping and burying yourself in a massive pile of leaves.  

5. Roast S’mores

And of course, what is fall without a roaring bonfire, toasted marshmallows, and s’mores to enjoy? Getting sticky, sweet, and messy together make some of the most fun memories!

This is my list, but I would love to hear yours! So tell me, 

What are some of your favorite fall activities to do with your kids? 

The post Five Fun Fall Activities For Children appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

7 Summer Activities to Strengthen Your Family and Improve Your Health 5 Reasons Electronic Devices are Hurting our Kids Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites

Written by Kari @ Living Strong Wellness, Contributing Writer 

It seems these days that good, restful sleep is hard to come by. Not only with adults, but children as well. As this is not an exciting fact, it is a reality and I believe we have a wonderful variety of natural options to help us.

For instance, there are herbal teas, essential oils, supplements and something I want to share with you today – magnesium butter.

Ahhh, this stuff is amazing. Why do I love it so much? Because it provides our body something that is lacking so severely in today’s generation – magnesium.

There are many benefits of healthy magnesium levels. To mention just a few:

1. Magnesium helps muscle and nerve function. Serving as calcium’s vital partner, magnesium will allow calcium to do it’s job to build muscle growth.
2. Magnesium plays an important role in gut health. Without good levels of magnesium aid in the absorption of copper, potassium, vitamin D and zinc. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which will lessen the risk for diabetes.
3. Magnesium can help lower blood pressure or keep blood pressure low by allowing your muscles to relax, contract and push blood through the arteries and veins without force.
4. Magnesium helps melatonin (the sleep regulating hormone) stay balanced, which allows for more peaceful sleep.
5. Magnesium can help balance stress hormones, eliminating stress and tension and allowing for a more relaxed state of being (which in return will help with rest as well).

The list goes on and on, but those five points alone should get people’s attention when it comes to supplementing with safe sources of magnesium. Data from 2012 stated that 48% of the American population, 79% over the age of 55, were deficient in magnesium. This isn’t good, especially when it is such a vital mineral and nutrient for our bodies.

Along with taking a liquid mineral supplement, we use magnesium butter every evening before we go to bed. We just spread a thin layer either behind our knees or on our inner arm (where the skin in thin) and that’s it! I have made this for several family members and friends and they all love it and can tell a huge difference in their quality of sleep (especially the adults…go figure)!

The recipe is simple and last a long time on the shelf! We always use it, so we go through a 4 ounce container in about 3-4 months (three of us use it). Since the recipe doesn’t contain water, it would probably last a good 6-8 months if kept clean (wash hands before using the butter) and can always be extended to 12-18 months or longer if refrigerated!

You can make this recipe ‘naked’, meaning adding no essential oils, or you can add your favorite calming and sleep inducing oils such as lavender, cedarwood, vetiver, ylang ylang or sandalwood! If you are using therapeutic grade essential oils, only use a total of 40 drops of oils combined for this amount, which is one cup.

The end result with the color will vary depending on the type of shea butter you use. We use a raw shea butter that has a deep, deep yellow tone and rich scent and amazing benefits that trump refined and bleached shea butters.

Whipped Naked Magnesium Butter

What You’ll Need:

• 3/8 cups virgin coconut oil
• 3/8 cups raw shea butter
• ¼ cup magnesium oil (how to make it yourself)
• ¼ cup almond or jojoba oil

What You’ll Do:

1. Melt the virgin coconut oil and raw shea butter over low heat just until it’s all liquid.
2. Add the almond or jojoba oil, pour into a medium glass bowl and allow to cool to room temp. You can leave on the counter for an hour or so or you can stick it in the fridge to speed up the process. I like the fridge :o)
3. Using a hand mixer or immersion blender, take your room temp oil mix, turn on the blender and slowly add the room temp magnesium oil.
4. Mix or blend this until it is creamy. You can’t have any separation, which means, no water droplets anywhere. This can take a few minutes if the oils are room temp. If they are too warm, it will take longer.
5. Place the bowl in the fridge for around 30 minutes. You want to see it starting to harden and solidify.
6. Once it’s solidifying, remove the bowl and using the mixer or blender with a whisk attachment, whip the mixture until light and fluffy! If you are adding essential oils, do it during this step.
7. Store in a glass jar or container and place in a cool, dark place.

I hope you enjoy the wonderful benefits of this magnesium butter that is safe for you and your entire family!

What is your favorite natural solution for calming and peaceful sleep?

The post Whipped Naked Magnesium Butter appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Create Your Own Health Arsenal: Build A Strong Immune System & Treat Symptoms Naturally Immune Strengthening Herbal Tea Blend Tropical Delight Smoothie

Written by Karen @To Work With My Hands, Contributing Writer

It was one of those Friday afternoons.

School should have been finished early on that day. We worked hard all week to plan it that way – and that would have pleased me.

But, one distraction after another, and there we were, wrapping things up at nearly 4:00. Those days happen.

The swirling list of what I had hoped to accomplish during that “extra” afternoon was crashing hard against the clock and the approaching dinner hour. Clearly, my plans were not going to happen.

Just one more thing, and we’d head out the door to get at least a few of them done. 

Then there was yet another interruption. I chose to ignore my growing frustration, but it was slowly winning.

“Can you just let me finish up, okay?”

Translation: “Please don’t keep talking to me right now. Doesn’t it make sense to you that if you will give me peace for a few minutes I can get finished much quicker and that trip to the store to buy that toy that you’ve waited for all week long and have your money all gathered together for would happen sooner?”

That’s really what my curt question asked. And, she knew it. This is the ugly truth.

I looked up into the eyes thinking perhaps this wouldn’t take too long to listen to, and then I could get back to what I was trying to finish so we could go, so we could get back, so I could cook dinner…

There was anticipation in the eyes – eyes full of hope and inspiration. What was this about?

We had spent some time in our early afternoon planning which co-op classes they would each like to take this fall, and one in particular had strummed a chord in our daughter’s heart.

“Do you know what the first thing is that I’m going to learn when I go to sign language class?”

“What’s that?”

“God loves you.”

Her eyes danced with tender joy. Mine dropped with shame.

Yeah, I had pretty much blown it.

That “one more thing” to do had triumphed for the time that I should have invested fully into my daughter instead. I had made the wrong choice.

Ouch!

So, what do you do when you fairly blow it with your children? 

Apologize and ask forgiveness.

Humbling ourselves before our children when we have wronged them doesn’t make them respect us less – it encourages them to respect us more. 

When they see that their parents are real people, just as capable of sin and in just as much need of grace as they are, it increases their respect and fosters the truth that we all, regardless of our position in life, need Jesus to sanctify our hearts. 

Seek to restore or re-do if possible. 

Thankfully, in my situation, I was then able to listen fully to what my daughter had to say and to encourage her that the attitude she was trying to share with me was very good.

Sometimes, however, the moment is lost and you simply can’t go back: you missed that butterfly that has now flown away, you realize that in your haste to get the next thing done, you punished the wrong child for an offense, you missed the deadline for something your child had asked to do.

In these situations you’ll have to use them as opportunities to learn a lesson yourself.

Perhaps you could remember that butterfly the next time your toddler repeatedly pats your leg while you are busy. 

Maybe you’ll purpose to take more time to get the the bottom of a matter and determine who is really at fault, rather than just trying to take care of things and move on to the next thing.

Or, perhaps you could write down the request and make yourself a deadline, setting a reminder on your phone so that you can give them an answer in plenty of time.

Pray for forgiveness, guidance, and strength.

We’re children too, after all, and are in constant need of grace form our Heavenly Father. He knows our every weakness, our flaws, our missteps, yet loves us unconditionally and desires for us to be in fellowship with Him and in a right relationship with those around us. 

When we run to Him with our failures and needs, He is faithful to forgive us, to cleanse us, and to work in our hearts the fruit of His Spirit, making us more like Christ.

Blowing it with your children is not pleasant, but it does happen to all of us. When we fail, if we have hearts that seek to be humble before God and before our children, we can enjoy restoration and the return of joy in our relationship.

Do you have other tips for making things right when we blow it with our children?

The post What To Do When You Pretty Much Blow It With Your Children appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Going from being a Stay at Home Mom to a Working Mom {My Motherhood Story} You ARE Enough Toddler Quiet Time: a daily routine to give everyone breathing time

Written by Lydia @ Frugal, debt free life, Contributing Writer

A school bus rolled by my house this morning. I was sitting at my desk reading my emails, sipping a cup of coffee when I heard the tell tale sound of a diesel engine rumbling down the road. Is it back to school time already?

A quick glance at my Facebook feed filled with smiling faces in fresh school uniforms or holding up newly-minted backpacks confirmed it. Even for those of us whose children aren’t yet school-aged (or in my case I am preschooling at home this year) back-to-school season can still be crazy.

Our calendars become packed with activities, lessons, practices, church events and life can just feel out of control. Today I wanted to share a few things you can do to bring sanity to your household when things get busy.

5 tips for Smoother, Happier Mornings

1. Plan to eat.

Do a quick scan of your pantry, freezer, fridge, etc. and make a meal plan for the week. This not only saves money, but it also saves you a lot of sanity. There is no 5:30 p.m. rush when you’re totally deprived of energy and order a pizza or make spaghetti… again.

2. Plan to dress.

Even if you’re a stay-at-home mom and your children are home with you all day plan to get up and get dresses in the morning. Layout something to wear that makes you feel good that isn’t yoga pants (unless yoga pants just make you feel special. Then rock them sister, rock them).

Lay out a skirt and a cute top or a stain free shirt and a pair of jeans. It’s so much easier to face the day when you know what you’re going to wear and it isn’t covered in vomit or breast milk stains.

3. Clean your kitchen.

I know, I know. It sounds like I am telling you to do MORE housework than you’re already doing, but trust me. When your day is hectic the last thing you want to do is walk into a dirty kitchen first thing in the morning. Load the dishwasher, wipe down the countertops and set out your coffee mug the night before.

4. Make a prioritized to do list.

Grab a notebook or your phone and make a simple list. Write your list according to most to least important. I actually do this the night before. That way when I start the day I already know what needs to get done.

5. Pack a snack.

If you’re hauling children from library time, a church meeting and then to the grocery store someone is going to get cranky. So pack a snack. I usually grab an apple, some string cheese and some pretzels and throw them in my purse or the diaper bag. That way I am prepared for a cranky hunger meltdown, even if it’s my own.

Don’t stress this can be a really fun time of year.

In what ways do you make your mornings run smoother?

The post 5 tips for Smoother, Happier Mornings appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Schoolwork Station 5 Homeschool Tips for Wiggly Kids A Sneak Peek into How We “Do” School 2014-2015

Written by KT @ One Organic Mama, Contributing Writer

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of sugaring up the kids with whipped cream and candy – BUT – this was fun, they had to work for their whipped cream AND it was super easy.  

When I was in my last few weeks of pregnancy, a few months ago and getting outside with the kids for physical activity has been a challenge! It is easy to send them outside – but they like when they have a task or when I am out there with them this was a super fun task – and they got to enjoy their hard work!!! 

Mason Jar Whipped Cream

• 1 mason jar with a lid
• 2-3 TBS of (organic) whipping cream
• TINY sprinkle of (organic, raw) sugar *or stevia
• TINY drop of vanilla extract
• LOTS AND LOTS OF SHAKING.

I sent the boys to the yard to run and shake their jars… expending any energy that could possibly be gained with the sugar in the whipped cream.  They had a blast!! It might take some adult shaking – but all the kids got their jars pretty close and ready to be put on some FRESH strawberries that are just coming into season!  

It made a great addition to our movie night on Friday!!   Because their little hands are warm, and because they are going to have to shake it longer than an adult would (or a mixer would) – chill the cream and jars well (I put both in the freezer).

What’s the best thing you’ve made in a mason jar? 

The post All Shook Up: Fun Homemade Whipped Cream appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites Baking at Christmas Time Family Chef Night {and H2W}

Some studies suggest that kids are spending over 6 hours a day using electronic devices, which includes TV, computers, mobile devices, video game consoles and music systems. Whoa… that is CRAZY!!

Extensive research has been conducted to establish the effects of these devices on kids. The findings of these studies show that there are both positive and negative effects. However, there are more negative effects since regular and overexposure to these devices can negatively affect the minds of children and hamper their development.

What do we do??? In our house, the rule is 30 minutes per day to use electronics, whether TV or iPad and 1 hour on the weekends or in the summer. 

Here are some of the negative effects of kids using electronic devices:

Negative impact on health

Using electronic devices can have a negative impact on the physical health of kids. Sitting for many hours before TV, video game consoles or computers can lead to obesity, sleep disturbances, dry eyes, headaches, muscular diseases, carpal tunnel syndrome, postural disorders and skeletal conditions in children. Other negative health effects include increased heart rate, high blood pressure and agitation.

Another major concern in spinal damage from looking down too much. This is a biggie for us since my husband is a chiropractor. 

Bad social development

Many research studies have shown a correlation between aggressive behavior and watching movies or playing video games with violence in them. Indulging in movies or games with a lot of shooting and killing can increase anger in kids, leading to depression, aggressive behavior and antisocial tendencies. Another disadvantage is that it limits the social life of the child when he/she is hooked to a computer or video console, affecting the development of their social and communication skills.

Affects Focus

If a child spends many hours using electronic media, it affects his/her ability to concentrate on studies. No wonder so many kids have trouble in school!

Unlike (most) adults that have good organizational and time management skills, most children find it difficult to shift their focus and attention from these devices.

We can see this in our own children. If my husband or I are on our phones or iPads, our children are curious and want to see what we are doing. They even stop what they are doing to come find out. 

The fact many children own mobile devices these days and can carry them to school even makes things worse. (No, our children do not have one and won’t for a long time!!!) This can be a big distraction, and research show that kids who frequently play games, watch movies or access their online accounts find it hard to concentrate on their studies, resulting in lower grades, skipping school or dropping out of school.

Bad influence

Kids often watch commercials that instill ideas into their minds about what they have to use rather what they actually need. I see it every time we watch tv together…. “Mom, I want that!”  It also creates a superficial image to which kids look up to as the only goal to find satisfaction. This can lead to health problems such as bulimia or anorexia. 

Exposure to sex at an early age

I hate to say it, but kids who use internet devices can intentionally or unintentionally come across porn sites. This could drive them into being sexually active at early ages, create issues for future spouses and so much more. There is such an issue with this in our culture that sadly our culture doesn’t even think it’s a problem. 

It is not that children should be kept away from electronic media, because it exposes them to a lot of positive things too. My kids love listening to Pandora and playing different learning apps or just for fun ones, but what we need to do is teach our children the importance of organizational skills, time management and how to use these devices in a meaningful and safe way.

We teach our kids that they can use electronic devices or watch tv when all the other important duties, like chores and homework are done, some days they don’t get to do any at all and some days it’s a half hour or so.  In the future, I think we’ll come up with some sort of reward system where they can earn time. 

It’s inevitable, they are going to use electronic devices, we just need to teach them how. 

What are your thoughts? Do you set limits? Have you seen negative effects from electronics in your child/ren?

The post 5 Reasons Electronic Devices are Hurting our Kids appeared first on Day2Day Joys.

Related posts:

7 Summer Activities to Strengthen Your Family and Improve Your Health Five Fun Fall Activities For Children Protein Packed Nut Butter Bites