Creating an Atmosphere for Learning // a roundup post

I recently had the privilege to collaborate on a post about preparing a learning environment within the home that was featured on Redfin. Hope you'll take away some new ideas and a renewed sense of purpose for your home learning space!

School at Home

The first three weeks of August we were quietly homeschooling. It was never really something I had ever planned on doing but with the start date of school being pushed back I felt I needed to DO SOMETHING.

Farewell, First Grade

Kinsey has her last day of First Grade tomorrow and it feels like just yesterday I posted about her first week! 

First week of First Grade // Back to School 2017

My heart, how is Kinsey in first grade?! I swear just yesterday I was taking her to my work to start Preschool. Time is a funny thing.

Kinsey started school ridiculously early, like, the second day of August early and that is why it has been quiet on the blog this week; making that mind shift and getting everything prepared for a smooth transition takes some work.

I actually have been enjoying getting up at 6:20a every morning (ten minutes earlier than when I was working!) because it affords me ample time to get us all ready and out the door without feeling rushed. And since I get to put Brielana down for her noon nap, I also get to take some zzzz's, if need be!

Kinsey has rocked her first week of school. She came home on Friday with Student of the Week! It may have been a short week, but girlfriend owned it. She is in a smaller sized class (such a blessing) with a few of the same friends as last year and it is her teacher's first year teaching! Gotta love that fresh-faced enthusiasm. My favorite part is she didn't go overboard with the class supply list (you know what I'm talking about ;)

I also wanted to take a minute to sing some praises about using essentail oils to fight the onslaught of school germs. True story (thanks Facebook for reminding me) but this time last year, Kinsey was already sick. A full week of school and her poor immune system was overloaded. Well, this year I wanted to be proactive and it has been working!

I recently discovered Plant Therapy from listening to an old The Healthy Moms podcast (thanks to Laura for turning me onto Katie!) and really love their KidSafe line of oils. I got the KidSafe Wellness Trio and started diffusing Immune Boom about two weeks ago. I also mixed up some coconut oil with it and have been rubbing it to the tops of both girls feet before bedtime. I know I enjoy the nightly ritual, so I'm hoping its just as relaxing for the girls. Once we get into the flu season I know I'll be able to rely on Sniffle Stopper (rubbed onto the chest as a decongestant) and Germ Destroyer.

So here we are back in the swing of things. Everything lableled with Kinsey's name. New structure and routines. A new school year!

When does your kiddo go back to school? Are you feeling prepared?! I know a handful of mamas who are sending off their babes to Kindergarten, let the emotions flow and don't feel awkward if you cry; we're all dying a little inside every first day of school.

Linking up here.

   

   

Fun with KidloLand // A Review {plus a giveaway}

As an Early Childhood Educator I have a very strict personal guide when it comes to screen time; it has to have a purpose, it should be educational and it should also be fun. We don't use many apps but one I can vouch for wholeheartedly is KidloLand! 

KidloLand is an interactive app that shares thousands of songs, nursery rhymes, stories, games and educational activities catered to children 0-5 years old. When I write "interactive" I really mean it- Kinsey will literally touch everything on the screen just to get a reaction! She is almost more engaged in finding the "easter eggs" than she is having a story read to her (which we all know is one of her very favorite things #booknerds)

I'm pretty confident that Kinsey could spend every day playing this app and have a different experience each time. In her own words, "It's great! It has games, it's fun to have it. I like the songs, it has Cinderella on it." The song Lavender Blue is sung by Lily James in the live-action Cinderella, you know, "hey dilly-dilly" and when Kinsey realized it is was the same song she nearly flipped her lid! 

And bless Brielana's heart, she just hasn't been able to get her mitts on this yet (can we say little sister problems?) But she loves to watch as Kinsey is in control. One of these days she'll have the reigns all to herself.

KidloLand is available for download on these devices:

iOS (KidloLand) // Google Play Store (Nursery Rhymes For Kids) // Amazon Appstore (KidloLand)

I'm happy to share that KidloLand has generously offered three (3) month subscriptions for my readers so you can share the educational fun with your babes! Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway runs from Thursday, November 10th through Monday, November 28th. Open Worldwide. Three winners will be notified via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to KidloLand for sponsoring this post. We were given a 6-month subscription in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own, except when they were Kinsey's ;)

Linking up here.

   

   

First day of Kindergarten // Back to School 2016

I just got all the feels making a new "Elementary school" label for this post. Sigh. 

Well, it's happened. That First Day of Kindergarten has come and gone. Kinsey has been in school exactly 8 days (weird, right?! She started on a Wednesday and was sick last Monday, but more on that later.) My little girl is not so little anymore.

Interview printable here.

To prepare for this monumental occasion I had the first week's worth of school clothes picked out and lunches packed the night before. To say I went crazy and labeled everything is not an understatement. These Label Daddy labels are awesome! They come in all different sizes (these are the large) are customizable and can be laminated for extra protection. You can get yourself some labels and save 20% off using this code: USFAMILY20 at checkout. Good prep is thee only way, amen?!

water bottle // Label Daddy labels

Kinsey is attending the elementary school that I, Brian, my brother and my mom went to so the fact that the family tradition lives on completely tickles me. Being back on the campus brings back so many fond memories and I'm just so excited Kinsey will get to experience them for herself!

cardigan // booties 

For the most part she loves school (we are all still adjusting to those early morning wake-up calls.) She talks about making three new friends (though she only remembers two of their names haha), we all like her teacher and she absolutely loves the playground and recess. What I wasn't thrilled about was all the germs and those got us after only three days. THREE days. We may have set some sort of record with that. But I know everyone appreciated us keeping her home and not spreading them around.

The transition period has gone more smoothly than I had anticipated, praise hands. We are looking forward to a fantastic year: "Soaring high with Falcon pride!"

Linking up with Liz, Meghan and Stephanie.