The Real Kathy Lee Kathy Lee

On today’s show I talked about Christmas presents for young learners. Well-meaning adults often focus on the amount of presents under the tree, but this year I want to encourage them (and you) to focus on quality toys and presents instead.





Quality Wooden Blocks – I mention Constructive Playthings on the show and they have great products. Honestly, my favorite are Community Playthings and their website is www.communityplaythings.com Sooo worth the money!

Books – Good books are a must! For little ones, focus on board books with beautiful (real, when possible) pictures. Rhyming books, silly books, read –alouds are great for children, as they get a little older. Check out this link…http://time.com/100-best-childrens-books/





Kits – Create different kits for a great present that will keep your kids engaged. You can decorate plastic containers with lids for easy storage and cute presentation.



Exploration Kit- Nature journal (blank notebook), bird / flower books, pencils, magnifying glass, collection containers, tweezers for collecting bugs and such.

Art Kit- Check out www.discountschoolsupply.com and www.lakeshore.com for quality art products for kids. Paper (large and small sizes), blank canvas’, pencils, paint, brushes, stickers, collage materials, and glue are all great in an art kit.

Bath Kit- Shaving cream, brushes, scrubbers, soaps, squirt toys, and even a new tootbrush.

Baby Doll Kit – baby dolls, blankets, small bucket for bathing, baby wash cloths, baby soap, bottles.

Sensory Kit- slime materials (glue and liquid starch, waterbeads, play-doh ingredients, textured items)





Grocery Store and such  - www.ana-white.com has a great plan for a grocery store/flower shop/post office/puppet stage… If you are not a woodworker, fill a small grocery cart with a cash register, a receipt pad, and some empty food boxes. My kids loved this cash register and it can be found from a variety of retailers.







Tent / Space for One – Creating a cozy space for one in your home is of benefit to you and your child. Many retailers have tents that can be purchased. Also include some cozy pillows, a few books, and maybe a small container of manipulatives or even a simple memory game.





Playhouse – Try and find something general enough that children can pretend with people or animals. Check out this treehouse dollhouse from www.landofnod.com.



Also, we’ve been having fun playing but I want to do more read alouds. The only thing is that my youngest is just too noisy. Is that something about discipline or just age? Should I do read alouds when he’s asleep?





Amanda asked, “ Do you, and if so HOW do you find time for yourself to avoid burnout? I feel like I can keep it together for a couple of weeks – getting up early to get a jump on the day, spending much needed time with the Lord, being patient and sweet with the kids (LOL!), saying yes and playing skillfully, keeping up with laundry and cleanup, cooking meals… by 3rd week I start feeling spent and the laundry starts slipping, I’m inclined to order dinner out every night and my best-laid school plans fall behind. Do you have a strategy for self-refreshment?



I loved answering all of these questions on the show. If you have questions for me, submit them via FB or instagram (The Real Kathy Lee) or message me through the website.

Find a way to #sayyes today.

 









Enjoy this podcast? Check out these podcasts on preschoolers!

Rediscovering the Joy in Motherhood with Kathy Lee

On this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with one of my favorite homeschooling moms on the planet. Keri Vasek is the mother of three muddlings and opens up to share her journey of losing her joy (and rediscovering it). You will see in this episode just why I call my show The REAL Kathy Lee and often refer to myself as a hot mess!



In this captivating episode, I am thrilled to engage in a heartfelt conversation with Keri Vasek, a remarkable homeschooling mother whose journey of rediscovering joy resonates deeply with me. As the host of "The REAL Kathy Lee" show, I've had the privilege of meeting inspiring individuals, but Keri's story is a true gem.



Keri, a loving mother of three, candidly shares her personal odyssey, one that many of us can relate to. She speaks candidly about a time when she felt like she had lost her joy, a sentiment that often plagues parents and caregivers amidst the demands of daily life. Her honesty is refreshing, reminding us that it's okay to embrace our "hot mess" moments.



Throughout the episode, Keri's resilience and authenticity shine through. Her journey towards rediscovering joy is a testament to the power of self-reflection, perseverance, and the supportive community that homeschooling can provide. As Keri opens up about her experiences, listeners are bound to find inspiration in her words, understanding that even in the midst of chaos and challenges, there is a path back to joy.



So, tune in to this episode of "The REAL Kathy Lee" to witness Keri Vasek's touching story, and join me in celebrating the beauty of embracing our authentic selves, imperfections, and all.



 



 





Thank You to our Network Sponsor – CTC Math!

This week, the second top podcast episode of all time!  Let's Get Organized!

Things don’t always work out as planned, but I have learned that it is usually for a good reason. I hope that is the case with this week’s episode. I was scheduled to talk to my good friend, Mary Ann Kohl (author and process art expert). However, Mary Ann had to cancel so I called up my buddy ASH-A-LEE in Nashville. We decided to chat about one of the topics I get asked about THE MOST, organization.



People often think that because I am the queen of “say yes” and “get messy” I have a very messy house. Not true. Well, it CAN get messy. However, I am best when my house is organized and everything has a place. Just this week, I tweaked the organization of my pantry. See below.







I shared some basic thoughts about organization on today’s episode.



* Find a place for everything and make that place known.

* Minimize your stuff. If you haven’t used it in a year, chances are you are not going to use it. This goes for clothes, shoes, toys, and kitchen utensils.

* Less is BEST. As parents we are guilty of thinking our kids need lots of different toys. False. Choose quality over quantity and rotate toys in and out.

* It is easier to say yes when everything has a place (ie – paint supplies, legos, etc…)

* Organizing children is easier in an organized space.

* Have children work together in order to free of individual time with each child. I love that Ashley sent me the following pics a few hours after our podcast. She immediately implemented some of my suggestions. Way to go Ashley!



 



I hope you make time to connect with your kids today!!



Want to get organized, be sure and check out the monthly freebie from Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network: Printable Checklists







Special Thanks to Our Network Sponsor – Route 60



Thank you to this podcast episode sponsor:  Route 60 – The Biblical Highway. In theaters September 18th & 19th only. Please check the website to learn more about this wonderful movie.

What if we could turn back time?

Seriously. What if we could turn back time? That was a topic of conversation.



THSC in The Woodlands is always a fun conference. One of the reasons I love it so much is that I get to hang out with two of my favorite ladies on the planet, Arlene and Jamie. We even wore the same NAME on our nametags all weekend and enjoyed the confused looks we received.







We decided it would be fun to chat about the things we would tell our young selves (if we could) about this homeschooling gig.



We definitely had some laughs and shared some pretty cool stuff.

Here are the highlights:



* Lighten up.

* Don’t try and do everything.

* Only plan for the next year.

* Don’t compare.

* Trust your gut.



Homeschooling is a journey. It is a marathon. Some days will be great. Some days will be disastrous. Hang in there. We all agreed that we are thankful we did and think our kids would say the same.



If you aren’t a part of a co-op or moms group, start one. We all need like-minded people around us to encourage us on the tough days. Contact your state or local homeschooling organization if you aren’t sure where the cool homeschool kids hang out in your area.



 



You’ve got this!



Thank you to this podcast episode sponsor:  Route 60 – The Biblical Highway. In theaters September 18th & 19th only. Please check the website to learn more about this wonderful movie.





Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!



Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

What if I think my child needs a diagnosis?

This is a common mom-question and today on Momfessions we're going to tackle that topic. Thank you to today's sponsor: CTC Math.



I have the coolest friends. Sometimes I forget that they are even more amazing in their careers. This is the case with my friend, Lei Rhyne. Not only did she homeschool her kiddos for several years, is beautiful and funny, she is also a psychometrist… say that three times fast. When she mentioned to me that she helped families who saw their children struggling, I wanted to know more.

In This Episode: What if I Think My Child Needs a Diagnosis?

In this episode Lei shares the full process involved of having your child tested and diagnosed, putting your fears to rest. She explains the first meeting with the Psychologist, the fact-finding mission that usually involves a couple of days of testing and observations, and the results of meeting with both the Psychometrist and Psychologist.



I think one of the best parts about getting a diagnosis from Lei her team at Fresh Start Mind is the fact that in the end, parents will be armed with the information and tools needed to help their child succeed emotionally, socially, and academically.



If you suspect that something is not quite right with your child socially, emotionally, or academically, you should consider giving Lei or another qualified educational consulting team a call.



You’ve got this!







Find a way to #sayyes today.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my podcast and leave a review on iTunes!!!



Thank you to The Homegrown Preschooler for sponsoring this Podcast! Check out the blog post Kathy mentioned, Farmhouse Schoolhouse, to read more about A Year of Playing Skillfully.

Also, to thank you for listening, you can receive a 10% discount on any purchase at

The Homegrown Preschooler by using the code, THEREALKATHYLEE.

 

Why are ages and stages important???



So that we can set developmentally appropriate expectations.



Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) is an approach to teaching grounded in research on how young children develop and learn and in what is known about effective early education. Its framework is designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development.







Our Sponsor! I want to thank Route 60: A Biblical Highway for sponsoring this podcast. Please check out the link here. Route60.movie





Check out this presentation on Ages and Stages from Kathy Lee by clicking here!

The best way to teach children in a developmentally appropriate manner is through PLAY…

In short…PLAY builds the brain, develops the whole child, and contributes to children becoming who they were meant to be.

“Play is a vital way for the brain to integrate its divergent parts and build complex synaptic connections. This is key to brain stabilization, organization, and development. “ - Stuart Brown, MD

“When children play, their brains are engaged in numerous pattern-seeking processes that construct, organize, and synthesize knowledge.



These processes Include:



Sorting

Ordering

Classifying

Counting

Patterning

Measuring

problem-solving

organizing

comparing

describing

storytelling

Inventing

constructing

deciding 

explaining

mapping

cooperating

experimenting

imagining

questioning

creating

symbol making



What is the role of a DAP Teacher/parent?



Observe

Facilitate

Encourage

Have realistic expectations

Focus on progression rather than perfection

Remember



“Childhood is the world of miracle and wonder, as if creation rose and bathed in light, out of darkness, utterly new and fresh and astonishing. The end of childhood is when things cease to astonish us. When the world seems familiar when we have gotten used to existence, one has become an adult.” - E. Jonesco

“Every stage of development is complete in itself. The 3-year-old is not an incomplete 5-year-old. The child is not an incomplete adult. Never are we simply on our way, always we have arrived!   Enjoy now!” - JC Pearce