I spent last week making final plans for our homeschool year, our most “plugged in” year yet. I think that most of us with school-aged children must be facing something similar, and I am very grateful for our online schooling options. My middle school and high school kids will all be taking online classes (I can tell you more about that in my next post if you’d like.) However, it has always been my goal to minimize screen time, and I can’t pretend that screen time in recent months at our house has been minimal. So much has gotten in the way of my ideals this year. This pandemic and the financial consequences of it that are requiring us to work more, extreme weather making outdoor play unpleasant-too brutally hot and dry for weeks followed by weeks of too much rain and nasty humidity, and being just plain stressed, overwhelmed, and discouraged at the state of everything. My goal heading into this fall is to be more intentional when I can, to spend more time planning ahead for unplugged activities for my younger kids (while structuring screen time with my older kids so that they don’t sit looking at one all the time!) but also to give myself grace when things don’t go as planned. Mom’s mental health has to be a priority as well. Please don’t forget to take care of yourself, even if that means letting your little guys watch shows in the afternoon while you read a book or catch up on work.
Over the years, whenever I have fallen into allowing more screen time than I’d like, which in my experience leads to kids not knowing what to do with themselves other than more of the same, I have sat down to make a list of activities. Some of them only require me to set out the materials, and some require me to be a part of them. Maybe two lists would be good? Activities with mom, and activities without. I have collected many books full of ideas over the nearly twenty years I’ve been parenting. I first started making these lists when my oldest son was a baby who didn’t sleep and I didn’t know what to do with him. I was twenty-two when he was born and the days were long.
When my friend, Rachel Wolf, started working on The Unplugged Family Activity Book, she had no idea how timely it would be. So many of us are looking for fresh ideas right now, or even new takes on familiar ones to help us get through these months. Rachel sent me a copy a few weeks ago and it’s a beautiful, inspiring book. The activities are divided seasonally and I always love it when a book is organized that way. When I pull out my stack of activity books to work on my lists in the coming weeks, hers will be at the top. Right now, we have loads of marigolds blooming and Rachel’s summer flower bunting project was a perfect afternoon activity for Mabel. She loved carefully threading the flowers, and I love that I will be able to use the dried marigolds in my dyepots this winter.
Rachel would like to give one of you a copy of her book as well! For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. I will close comments and randomly select a winner on Friday.
The winner is Bethany, who commented, “I would love a copy of this book! I would also love to know what your own activity list includes if you ever were up for writing a post about that. :)”
I’ve emailed you, Bethany, and will hopefully write that post sometime soon!
This looks like a lovely book! I’m adding it to my wishlist. Thanks for the giveaway!
Perfect timing! So many parents are turning to outdoor activities for their children – and staying away from crowds. We’ll use this for sure.
The floral garland is so lovely, I can almost smell it. Marigolds used to smell bad to me, but now I think they smell nice. Also totally relate to the screen time, combination of heat/lockdown/etc. Thanks for the chance!
I love the idea of making a list of activities to turn to! This will be our first year homeschooling and I am really worried about screen time between school and general entertainment purposes. My goal this year is to be more intentional with each of my kids, especially my 9 year old daughter, as I tend to focus more attention on the younger ones. I will definitely be checking this book out!!
Oh, I so need a new resource since we are coming back to homeschooling after a few years and my youngest has an electronic addiction that needs curbing.
This one is going on my list for sure! Gorgeous photos as always, Ginny!
What a great book idea! We’re a homeschooling family; always on the lookout for fresh ideas. 🙂
I would love to have this book! We are homeschooling a couple of our kids for the first time and resource like this would be wonderful.
Your post about balancing screen time, being intentional, and being outside as much as possible this year, resonated with me so much! Thank you for your thoughtful insights and the chance for this giveaway. This book looks like the perfect addition to our school year!
Sounds like a lovely resource!
I love your idea of a list of activities. I need to do this for a list of outside activities. I am finding that it is more difficult to get my older kids outside because they get “bored” hmmm
Would love this book! Thank you for sharing!
I would love a copy of this book! I am homeschooling both my kids this year, one of whom has Down syndrome. We are serious about limiting screens this school year, so I need all the help I can get!
Looks like a wonderful book! Would love the chance to win, especially since I’ll be starting my homeschool journey with 4 kiddos?
This book looks and sounds gorgeous. We all can use some extra inspiration after being home so much. Thank you for the giveaway!
I have 2 daughters ages 9 (10 next month) and 11. We are homeschooling for the first time this school year. I am trying to be open to what may come and flexible so that we can shift and adjust where needed. This is hard for me as I am a type A+ and like to have a set in stone plan. I need to learn how to use the electronics to our advantage and when to unplug it all and find something else!
I woke up this morning to the sound of the television. My kids, who were once part of a NO screen family are now ALL screens it seems. This pandemic has really done me and kids in. I was too stressed at the start of it and was all too happy to let them zone out in front of a screen so I could have some breathing room. Months later, I’m mourning our old lifestyle and wondering how do I get it back??? I loved your comment about kids who are on screens have a harder time figuring out what to do. That’s been my dilemma. Nothing makes them happy now but computer games or cartoons now. I’ll check out this book!
My sweet boys are moving to Arizona this week. Their parents are going to need a lot of support while figuring out how to best school them ( dealing with an IEP). I will not be able to physically support them (previously provided daycare) but I am praying hard and looking for resources to hopefully help them during this trying time (Covid job loss). Please do share schooling related information if you have the time.
My granddaughters are ages 3, 5, and 6 so this book is perfect!
Love it! Something I’ve been looking for and never thought to look in a book!
What a lovely book that couldn’t be more timely. I would love this book for my daughter who is at home all the time. They only have one car that her husband uses for work. She is always trying to come up with fun activities around nature. Thank you Ginny for all your openness and inspiration of the years I have followed you. You have a beautiful family.
Reading your posts these many years brings me peace. Family is everything and you have nourished yours with abiding grace.
My thoughts exactly !
That looks like a wonderful book! I have a niece and nephew turning 3 in a couple weeks – I’m thinking this would be a wonderful addition to their birthday baskets that Mom would appreciate just as much!
Thank you Rachel and Ginny for this lovely book giveaway!
This book looks great, and with quite a bit of screen time being our reality this fall for our older two, these activities I’m sure would be a nice break from that. Thanks for the chance!
I too am always got me out of my head…win-win!looking for activities that require no screen time, but like you 2020 has been on of swirling stress for me and my family. Last weekend did a great project outside, they loved it, I loved it and it got me out of my head…win-win!
I have borrowed this book from the library and it has some wonderful ideas! Would love to own it.
WOW!, that comment was not proofed read…sorry. Slash thru ‘got me out of my head’ in first sentence! ;-{
I am new to reading your blog and I love that it always reminds me to slow down. Such an important reminder you shared that us mamas need to stop and take care of our mental health. We live where summers are over 100 for weeks on end and there has been to much screen time. However I am giving myself grace. Soon enough we will be back to our homeschool routine. Thank you for sharing your insights.
What a wonderful idea! Would love to be included in the drawing for the book!
I think many of us with school-aged children are feeling the same. I’ve always been homeschool-curious so I’m trying to see all of the upending of plans as a gift, but boy is it tough sometimes. I will have to check out this book for some ideas!
Thank you for this great book idea. I’d love to give this book to my sister who is raising two of her grandchildren.
I would like to win a copy of her book myself and let her know that I will surely buy one if I don’t win. Your little girls top is so pretty did you make iy and if so what pattern did you use.
Your sentiments are felt so strongly here too. Whew, what a year this has been … and is still shaping up to be. I love the idea of making a list of activities to do when screen time seems like the only option. It is very easy to fall into too much usage of the “electronic babysitter” especially now. A timely book from your friend, indeed!
I would love a copy of the book. She lives in GA where there are very little restrictions hence keeping her kids home. She would devour something like this
Catie
This book looks wonderful and would be just the thing we could use as we head into our first year of homeschooling.
I would love. Copy for my daughter she’s homeschooling in GA where they don’t have many restrictions. Hence keeping her kids home. She would love it
Thank you for this giveaway! My grandchildren and I would love doing projects from the book. Sounds great!
Hi Ginny,
This looks like a helpful book for these long, hot days of August. Thank you for sharing helpful resources in your posts. Thank you, Rachel, for offering your book as a giveaway.
I would love to win the book. Your post makes my think back to our homeschooling days pre-internet. I will muse about projects we did ask my daughters ones they remember and recommend.
Take care!
I always love your photos. This book is really comprehensive! Do you know where Rachel lives in WI? That’s where I grew up. 🙂
I would love a copy of this book for my grandsons. What a challenging year this has been for all. Thank you for the opportunity.
I loved the pictures of your little one threading the marigolds. For some reason it reminded me of photos my daughter took living in India where they use marigolds to make flower leis. So bright and cheerful amid a lot of poverty.
This book sounds wonderful! My daughter is a homeschooler of her seven children and cherishes new ideas – I’d live this book for her!
I need this book! I tried to start school up earlier this summer so our days would have done structure while it was too hot and humid to be out but I was so pregnant and tired I gave up after one disaster of a week. The kids have been getting more and more screen time ever since. Especially since the older ones are clever enough to do things like clean the entire downstairs without my asking in order to guilt me into letting them play Minecraft. Hopefully the baby will arrive this week and we can get back into a screen free routine again ?
Cristina, so much of the same happening here (minus pregnancy!) Prayers for you and the upcoming birth!!! Love, Ginny
The book looks lovely! I’m going to have to get Kateri on a flower project like this, she’d love it!
Mabel misses Kateri!!!
Thank you for hosting this timely giveaway and to Rachel who is giving away one of her books!
what a wonderful fun project! the book looks amazing…thanks for the opportunity 🙂
I love the marigold idea and the idea of unplugging more. Thank you for sharing.
I would love to have a copy of this book, for myself and my daughters! Thanks for a chance to win a copy!
That book looks fantastic! Always looking for more ideas:)
Hello,
I’m also getting ready to homeschool and online school for the first time! I would love this book as a resource.
Just wondering if you will have more sachets available for sale? They are perfect!
Yes! I am working on them now, and hoping to update the shop next week! Thank you!