Kim Kankiewicz's Blog
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Scrapbooking is popular with many stay-at-home parents as a creative activity that can be done at home or with a group away from home. Creative expression and opportunities for social interaction are perhaps stronger motivations for scrapbooking parents than the desire to document our families' histories. Therefore journaling, or adding narrative text to our scrapbook pages, has to be convenient if it's going to happen at all.
My article Scrapbooking Your Family's Story offers eight ideas for journaling on the fly, as your story unfolds. Check it out, then share your own ideas on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
After finally getting a taste of playing outside, kids don't embrace the return of gloomy weather. What to do? Try the suggestions in Diane Laney Fitzpatrick's latest article, Rainy Day Activities for Kids. Fitzpatrick has a slew of ideas for repurposing stuff you already have around the house, like masking tape, cornstarch, and food coloring.
Looking for more ideas? I wrote my Indoor Fun article in the dead of winter, but the ideas are good for any kind of weather. Best of all, each idea costs $10 or less.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Much as you try to keep them out, your kids are bound to spend time in your office. Your work space presents special challenges for childproofing, but you can cover all the bases by remembering the letters in the phrase "CHILD SAFE." Read more in my article "Childproofing Your Home Office" and share your own childproofing tips on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Just as any movie comes from a particular perspective, every online review site represents a particular worldview or agenda. My article Family-Friendly Films describes several online review sites for families and includes comments about the mission and background of each site.
Do you know of other resources for families who want to keep movie viewing a positive experience for all? Post your suggestions on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Our culture wants us to believe that newer is better. In reality, you can find a high-quality secondhand version of almost anything your heart desires. This is certainly true of kids' items, which are often outgrown before they're broken in. I've found great deals on secondhand clothing, furniture, toys, and baby gear for my children. My article Saving Money on Kids' Stuff tells you where to find the best bargains. Check it out, then head over to the discussion forum and share your own ideas.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Read Diane's article How Kids Can Help with Chores for a list of tasks your kids can perform and some excellent ideas for motivating them. Not only does recruiting your kids' help lift the load from your own shoulders, it also teaches your kids responsibility and combats an attitude of entitlement. If you have additional ideas for getting kids into the housekeeping act, be sure to post them on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Thinking like a storyteller can go a long way toward turning so-so snapshots into professional-quality photographs. I recently spoke with a pro about her approach to photographing kids. Read what she had to say in my article How to Photograph Your Kids. Then head over to the discussion forum to share what's worked for you.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
My husband and I have been meeting with our gourmet group once a month since the start of 2005. We got our inspiration from another group that's been meeting since the members' kids were young - and two of those "kids" are now members of our group. Our parent group has stayed together because they've developed deep friendships that make them better spouses and parents - and they just plain like spending time together.
In the two years our own group has met, we've celebrated two births (and the recent announcement of another baby on the way), supported each other through the loss of loved ones, and helped each other move. It's fun to receive an invitation and recipes each month, to read about the theme the host couple has chosen and to speculate about the other recipes they've selected. But what we really look forward to is the fellowship with friends and returning to our homes encouraged and refreshed.
To start your own group, read Starting a Gourmet Group, then post your comments on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
Here's a recording from my mental tape:
Why bother staying home with your kids if you're going to spend the afternoon working? Macaroni and cheese with yogurt and a glass of milk - when's the last time you looked at the food pyramid, Kim? You got the kids to bed late again; no wonder they can't shake their colds. You're not interacting enough with the baby; you're depriving her socially and intellectually, and she'll be indifferent to you all her life.
Yeesh. If you can relate, wander over to my article on overcoming guilt. I've started using these strategies to halt that internal recording. Try them for yourself and share the results on the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
We've had snow on the ground for more than a month - very unusual here - and the forecast calls for more snow this weekend. Can anyone say cabin fever? After caving in and buying my son a new toy mere weeks after Christmas, I decided I needed more low-cost ideas for keeping him entertained.
The ideas I hit upon reflect activities I enjoyed as a child and have been equally popular with my son. Try some of the suggestions in my "Indoor Fun" article, and then share your own in the discussion forum.
Posted by Kim Kankiewicz
The menu feature of most workout DVDs allows you to tailor your workout to your fitness goals and your schedule. For example, you may choose to tone your arms for less than seven minutes or you may opt for an hour-long total-body workout. What's more, you won't need to purchase a lot of equipment or a gym membership. In many cases, all you need are shoes and handweights.
If you've attempted unsuccessfully to fit a exercise into your at-home day, give workout videos a try. You'll find recommendations in my "Best Workout Videos" article.