Our second interview is with Tara Wagner from TheOrganicSister.com. She and her husband Justin unschool their 10 year old son Zeb.

FAMILY HACK: Please introduce us to your family members–names, ages, and a brief description of personalities, interests, parents’ occupations, etc.–whatever you feel comfortable sharing.

Tara Wagner: My husband Justin was born in WI, but raised in Las Vegas. He works as a finish carpenter in the commercial sector doing lots of pretty work on the giant casinos. Someday he’d like to have a farm and a woodworking shop, but not until after we do some traveling. He’s the most laid-back in our family, but also the most adventerous. He loves homebrewing beer and riding his motorcycle.

I, Tara, was born and raised in Las Vegas. I went to public school until leaving in the 9th grade and deschooling through high school. I worked as an independent massage therapist and owned a massage company, but found much more happiness in choosing to stay home with Zeb. I’m usually the catalyst behind most of our ”beyond crunchy” choices, I live and breathe sustainability, and love photography and blogging.

Zeb is 10 years old and is a 1st grade dropout. He loves computers, video games and LEGOs. He is currently working on a production set for LEGO Star Wars movies and plans to begin making stop-motion animation videos out of his studio (aka, bedroom). He’s also interested in politics and would be happy to tell you his opinion on just about any social matter.

Right now we live in Las Vegas on an “urban homestead” in the making but soon we’ll be packing up and hitting the road in an RV, as we look for a new home and community.

FH: When and how did you first become interested in homeschooling? What factors were involved in your decision to homeschool?

TW: Even though I was technically homeschooled myself, the option never occured to me unti Zeb was struggling in school. It was his unhappiness and our fear of his “record” that first led us to homeschooling. What started as a temporary solution quickly became a lifestyle change as we found unschooling. In school, Zeb was stressed from all the pressure to perform, upset over tasks he saw no purpose in, confused over things he was not yet ready for and discouraged by the teaching methods. He was subject to scrutiny and judgement and folded under the pressure. Having him in a positive, supportive environment that allows us to learn at his pace and focus on his interests has given him room to slowly decompress and branch out. The deschooling process still isn’t over for him but he’s feeling more confident every day.

FH: What was your own educational experience like growing up? How did that experience influence your decision to homeschool your own children?

TW: Justin went through school like most everyone, doing what was needed without questioning too much or finding too much passion and fitting nicely in the average range. I loved grade school and was in the gifted program. Middle school brought about so much peer competition and pressure to fit in that I began to lose interest but it wasn’t until high school that I became bored with the work, disgusted with the environment and frustrated over the school’s indifference of either problem that I left.

At the time Zeb started school, very little of this was taken into account. In our minds, school was just what you did. But looking back we can see how school shaped our thoughts of ourselves, limited our ideas of what was possible and boxed us in. I wish I had been introduced to these thoughts when Zeb was younger but am glad we recognized the same things happening to him at school. It all played a part in our decision to unschool.

FH: How would you describe your homeschooling philosophy? Do you use a specific method or curriculum?

TW: We are unschoolers – living and learning without the use of curricula. We’ve found he learns best when we set up an environment that is conducive to growth, facilitate his learning by providing resources and experiences and then get out of his way. We build off his interests, and allow him to explore without time constraints or limits. Unschooling has empowered his sense of responsibility, freedom, respect and self-discipline. It’s also inspired us, as parents, to explore our own interests and have more fun.

Unschooling takes a large amount of faith and trust, as well as dedication and work on our part as parents. But living and learning together in a fun and interesting way has changed our relationships and our lives.

FH: Do you belong to any homeschool organizations?

TW: Not at this time but I’m hoping to begin working with a local group in establishing an educational resource center for homeschoolers in Las Vegas.

FH: Do you meet with other homeschoolers on a regular basis?

TW: Yes! We meet every week with our local unschooling group and spend the entire day playing at the park together. I’m not sure where I’d be without the wonderful support for the local mamas, papas and kids in our group. We also visit museums, zoos and other places of interest, participate in a hiking group, occassionally go indoor rock climbing, and meet for an annual camping trip with our local group, as well as go to nationwide unschooling gatherings.

FH: What educational opportunities or resources in your community have you made use of?”

TW: The library is on the top of the list, of course. In addition to their books and DVDs, we love to attend the free art exhibits, and community activities they offer. We also enjoy our local museums and facilities such as Springs Preserve or Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary. And being Vegas, we get to visit the numerous offerings of the strip and its many traveling events. We also love the Civil war reenactments, and the Ren Fair. We’ve volunteered in reestablishing habitat in a local marsh and Zeb volunteers regularly with his Grandma for Ronald McDonald House.

FH: Do you have a daily homeschool routine or does your daily schedule vary from day to day?

TW: Unschooling’s day-to-day routine looks a lot like anyone else’s Saturday or summer vacation. We get up when we feel rested, anywhere between 6am and 10am, eat when we’re hungry and pursue our interests in between. There are certain things we routinely do, but very little is scheduled.

FH: What does a typical day and/or week look like for your family?

TW: A typical day usually begins with Justin off to work before we’re awake. I’m usually up before Zeb and head out to the garden before it gets too hot to water, prune, harvest or feed the tortoises and chickens. Zeb and I usually spend our mornings online – blogging, playing World of Warcraft, watching YouTube videos or reading articles. We usually are back and forth from each other’s computers to share something cool or interesting or discuss something one of us is reading.

Then we might play games, build LEGOs, cook or bake something, clean up the house, listen to music, go to the library, visit a museum, go for a hike, ask and Google questions, play djembes (African drums), go to the park, visit family members, veg out, watch a movie, read, collect eggs, take and edit photos, color, draw or paint.

FH: What have you found most rewarding about homeschooling?

TW: Flexibility! We recently made the decision to sell our home and RV around the country for a year or more. That is something we’d never had the courage or ability to do without unschooling inspiring us to follow our own dreams. On top of that is the way it has helped us be better to each other – it’s not easy being around each other all day if we don’t enjoy each other’s company. Unschooling has also given us the courage to question everything and find solutions that may be outside the “norm” but work perfectly well for all of us.

FH: What have you found most challenging about homeschooling? What are the biggest stressors in trying to do a good job of homeschooling your children?

TW: Unschooling came naturally for us and hasn’t given us many challenges, at least in relation to his education. We see him learning and growing all the time and the proof is evident. However, unschooling challenges us to trust our child and parent from that place of trust. Trustful parenting didn’t come easy for us. As John Holt said “To trust children we must first learn to trust ourselves, and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted.”

Because unschooling and homeschooling requires you to spend a lot of time with your kids, it’s important to build healthy, respectful relationships. And since we came from typical upbringings, this forced us to re-examine our parenting skills and make some very important changes that we were able to ignore when he went to school.

FH: How has your homeschooling experience differed from your expectations?

TW: Hmm, I think we thought deschooling would take the “one month per year of school” as suggested. But for us deschooling really means healing from a traumatic experience, which we now realize doesn’t come with a formula or time-frame. Also, in the very beginning, I thought we’d be doing school-at-home. We tried it with Zeb but it just doesn’t fit his learning style.

And I don’t think I ever considered the possibility of how life-changing it would be. I assumed it would fit into our life at that time but instead it turned everything on its head, made us rethink our goals and refocus our priorities.

FH: If you have been homeschooling for several years, what changes have you found yourself making as you discover more about your kids as learners, and rethink educational goals and methods?

TW: All of the changes Justin and I made have been internal as we’ve grown to understand our own personalities better. We’ve been able to pinpoint our strengths and work to accept our weaknesses. We’ve been more flexible and willing to try new things. I’ve discovered our learning styles as well as our ”doing” styles (Justin is a visual-tactile learner who maps everything in his head then sits back and relaxes; I am tactile-verbal, have to discuss everything and write it all out; Zeb is kinesthetic-audible, learns through questions and answers and prefers group participation to working alone). All of our changes have been in finding ways to work with ourselves and each other, rather than against our own natures.

FH: Do you have a long-term plan for how long you will homeschool?

TW: For as long as Zeb is happy. We trust his choices and if at any time he decides to choose school we will fully support his decision.

FH: How has homeschooling affected your lives as parents? How do you balance homeschooling with your own need for grown-up time?

TW: As I mentioned before, we’re much better parents now – more patient, more accepting, more trusting. Spending all day with someone is the best motivation to creating healthy relationships. We enjoy the time we spend with Zeb and don’t differentiate between grown-up time and family-time. But as individuals, we all need time to ourselves or away from each other. Zeb spends most Friday afternoons with his Grandma, and plans sleepovers regularly with friends. Justin and I use that time to go on a date, visit friends, catch up on quiet time or sleep, or just relax alone or together.

FH: What challenges and benefits have you found in homeschooling more than one child? How has your family’s particular combination of ages, genders, personalities, interests, etc., shaped your homeschool as a whole?

TW: One of the challenges to having an only child is that Zeb doesn’t have a built-in playmate. He’s always been an independent child so it’s never been much of an issue until recently as he desires more than mom and dad to hang around. So we schedule regular playdates and sleepovers and maintain as much of a social life as any one of us can stand. Because we all have different social needs (introvert, extrovert, highly sensitive people, etc) it’s sometimes a balancing act. Pursuing our own individual interests and respecting each other’s boundaries takes practice but certainly creates an environment of trust.

FH: How do you make homeschooling work for your family’s schedule and lifestyle? Has a parent’s work/schedule changed to accommodate homeschooling? Does a parent work from home?

TW: I owned a massage therapy company prior to unschooling and sold it shortly after withdrawing Zeb from school. Since then I’ve worked off and on as a massage therapist, seeing private clients on occasion. Sometimes it’s a balancing act with our schedules but usually it’s dealt with like anything else – with flexibility. Justin’s work in construction means he’s usually home by early afternoon which opens up a lot of time to play or go places together. But because we don’t follow a rigid plan, and because we use every experience to learn from, it all becomes another educational moment.

FH: What, if any, misunderstandings about homeschooling have you encountered from your family, friends, neighbors, etc.

TW: Most people express concerns from a place of love. They only want what is best and have little understanding of unschooling or its possibilities. We’ve been told unschooling is a “detriment to society”, that Zeb will not be able to find a job, that he’s missing out on learning to handle bullies or go to the prom, and that he couldn’t possibly learn trigonomotry without public school. Sometimes I try to educate them on our methods and choices, sometimes I validate their fears and assure them I’m keeping a close eye on his “progress”, and sometimes I just agree to disagree and go on our merry way.

FH: How do you answer questions about your kids “socialization” ?

TW: Usually with something snarky like “I’d rather my son not learn his social skills from 30 other ten year olds.” Usually if they’ve met him, they know he’s well “socialized”, so the topic rarely comes up.

FH: What encouraging signs have you seen that homeschooling will prepare your children well for adulthood?

TW: Zeb is very confident in his choices. He doesn’t allow anyone to make choices for him and he always advocates for the little guy. He’s strongly opinionated and knows what he believes and why. He’s kind, gets along easily in most crowds and absorbs interesting information easily. I have no idea what he’ll choose to do at any time in his life but I wouldn’t be surprised if he was involved in helping people, working with animals or involved in politics. If he’s anything like us, he probably won’t settle on doing one thing.

FH: If you could pick a famous person, living or dead, to homeschool your kids for the day, who would you choose and why?

TW: Oh tough question! I guess it would depend on what week it was. This week I’d have to say someone like George Washington or Ron Paul, since he’s been immensely interested in politics and our political history. Maybe Steven Spielberg last week when he was working on creating his movies. And Jane Goodall, Michael Pollan or Rachel Carson for the times he’s worried about the environment, animals and his role in it all.

FH: What is your homeschool “dream scenario”?–if time, place, money, location, etc., were no object…

TW: Selling most of what we own, buying an old Winnebago and traveling the country for awhile. Wait! We’re about to do that next spring! Well, I’ll tack on traveling the world, too.

This is an ongoing series. Our first interview with Jen McKinnon is here. If you are a homeschooling family interested in being profiled, please contact us.

In that spirit, we’ve asked some homeschooling families a series of questions about how they homeschool, what challenges they face, how homeschooling fits with family life overall, etc. We hope you enjoy their stories as much as we did!

This is an ongoing series — if you are a homeschooling family interested in being profiled, please contact us.

Our first interview is with our always-inspiring friend Jennifer McKinnon from www.jenthemom.com. She and her husband Chuck homeschool four beautiful children…

FAMILY HACK: Please introduce us to your family members–names, ages, and a brief description of personalities, interests, parents’ occupations, etc.–whatever you feel comfortable sharing.

Jen McKinnon: We are a family of six, four children and two eccentric parents. Chuck, 36, went to school in Alberta Canada. He is extremely intelligent and for Junior High School was sent to a gifted school. He learned quickly that the school did more research about the students than providing a higher education for the students. It was at this school that he believed that education coincided very little with the reputation of the school and more with the style of teaching. Chuck is now a Usability Specialist working on some very exciting projects. He is working for a company that doesn’t have an office, allowing all employees to work from home. This allows us to strike a great balance between work and family.

I am 29. I am originally from North Las Vegas, Nevada. I grew up with very little money and in a neighborhood that was known for its violence and crime. I learned to fear going to school and realized that teachers and staff have very little control over the matters that are important and abuse their power over the things they can control. I have been a blogger since 2003. I have written articles for several birthing magazines in my area as well as a parenting site online. My eccentricities include being involved in organizations that support women’s right and at the same time taking great pride in my domestic abilities.

My oldest child is Jason,9. He is my builder. He loves Lego and is always adding to his Lego city. He has started moving into woodworking and built a go cart out of odds and ends from the garage. He’s also great at sketching drawings, gymnastics and learning breakdancing movies off of online videos. He has inherited impatience from both his parents and a distaste for math from me. I have had to learn to be creative with the way I present his schoolwork.

Jocelyn,7 is my voracious reader. She is an amazing reader and loves using her imagination to change the stories. She is reading Chronicles of Narnia right now. She’s also very gifted with her social abilities. She can be friends with anyone and loves them for their strengths and has patience with children that may need patience. Jocelyn learns things very quickly and enjoys moving on to new projects. For her I try to have a variety of activities available that I can pull out as she is ready to progress.

I also have two little ones. David is 3 and Laurelyn just turned 1. It’s a balancing act, trying to have time to teach the older kids and still be aware of what the little ones are doing. David is my tank. He’s all boy and likes to build and break things. He’s obsessed with tanks, monster trucks and construction vehicles. He loves to pretend and he’ll walk around all day pretending to be a soldier or a monster or a superhero. Laurelyn is my baby. She was the first baby I was able to have at home with a midwife. She’s adorable and I love snuggling her and playing with her.

FH: When and how did you first become interested in homeschooling? What factors were involved in your decision to homeschool?

JM: Chuck and I talked about the possibility when Jason was an infant. We weren’t sure if conventional schooling would be best for our kids. We didn’t trust that the public school system had our child’s best interests at heart. When Jason was in first grade things started to get difficult with his teacher. Jason was struggling badly enough for me to take him to the doctor who said that we had a very stressed six year old. The teacher was in her first year and she was struggling with all of the personalities in the classroom and some of the children were struggling because of it. We decided to pull him out of schooling and homeschool him before he gave up on learning all together.

FH: What was your own educational experience like growing up? How did that experience influence your decision to homeschool your own children?

JM: Chuck felt that the time spent in schools was a waste of time that he could have spent actually learning. I felt that schools were a place of insecurities and abuse of power.

FH: How would you describe your homeschooling philosophy? Do you use a specific method or curriculum?

JM: I believe we are eclectic. We do some unit study work and some book work and some unschooling approaches as well. I try to use all different approaches to schooling because I have such different personalities in our home. We are all readers so we do a lot of reading each day. This year we are using more books than we ever have before. I fell in love with Susan Wise Bauer and now we are using her Writing With Ease. My kids love map work and they love learning about the figures of history so we’re also using her Story of the World curriculum.

We’ve also decided to use Saxon Math every day and there has been some switch flipped in my kids’ heads because they’re loving it so far. I’m ordering Jessie Wise’s First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind as well so I’m looking forward to that coming in the mail. I love buying my homeschool books online. Who on Earth wants to go shopping with a brood as big as mine?

FH: Do you belong to any homeschool organizations?

JM: I belong to our local community homeschooling organization and I participate on my homeschool board yahoo forum.

FH: Do you meet with other homeschoolers on a regular basis?

JM: I wish I met with other homescholers more often but I find that we’re always meeting with kids wherever we go. Being part of the community homeschool association allows us to attend regular social gatherings as often as we want.

FH: What educational opportunities or resources in your community have you made use of?”

JM: We frequent the library weekly at least and we visit our Science Center regularly. The kids participate in some of the classes and field trips that the local community association puts together like fencing, gymnastics, camping as wells as trips to the Zoo, local farms. Homeschoolers seem to be community oriented and our local homeschoolers are trying to make it easier for locals to get information and access to local growers. This has been a great learning experience for the kids about our own consumption and how our food is grown.

FH: Do you have a daily homeschool routine or does your daily schedule vary from day to day?

JM: We try to stick to a schedule as long as the schedule serves us and not the other way around.

FH: What does a typical day and/or week look like for your family?

JM: Generally we have a schedule. After breakfast Laurelyn has a nap, David watches a movie and the older kids and I start school. By the time David’s movie is finished the older kids are involved in their different projects and are less likely to be distracted by him. We go outside for the afternoon and do hands on learning with the different subjects the kids especially interested in on any given day.

Our weeks looks busy every other day. I try to have every other day be a slower day so the kids don’t get burnt out from all their after school activities.

FH: What have you found most rewarding about homeschooling?

JM: I love the freedom. We can go to the fire station because one of the kids wants to know what the firemen wear to keep them from burning in the fires or we can read all day and putt off our ‘book studies’ until tomorrow. I love the self confidence that homeschooling has given back to my kids, especially Jason. I love watching one of my kids find a question they want answered and searching for the answer on their own. They know they can come to me if they want but they also know that they have all the ability they need to find information. I am proud of my kids every day for their ingenuity.

FH: What have you found most challenging about homeschooling? What are the biggest stressors in trying to do a good job of homeschooling your children?

JM: My time is no longer divided by long quiet spaces while the kids are at school. I have to manage my personal time very well or I will easily get behind. My biggest stressor is having the ideas for our homeschool day organized so that I can be ready with information and activities when they’re minds are ready to absorb it. I worry that I’m not doing enough.

FH: How has your homeschooling experience differed from your expectations?

JM: I thought that homeschooling would be like a full time job, just like it is for public school teachers. I expected to be working on homeschooling constantly. I have found that once my first year and a half was over and I had gotten over my fear of failing my children that I am more than capable and I can do I with less time than I expected. I know now where to go and what I want to do to be prepared for school in the morning. It’s actually a lot easier that I expected and it’s much easier than having them in public school because my time is mine to manage.

FH: If you have been homeschooling for several years, what changes have you found yourself making as you discover more about your kids as learners, and rethink educational goals and methods?

JM: I’ve only been homeschooling for 2 ½ years but so far I’ve discovered that book work is not the best approach for my kids. If we are going to use a book we don’t do every lesson from front to back. Instead we pick and choose and as soon as they have grasped the concepts we move on to the next lesson we choose.

FH: Do you have a long-term plan for how long you will homeschool?

JM: My plan is to homeschool as long as it is working for my kids. If they are still learning and developing a love for learning then I will homeschool until they’re going off to university.

FH: How has homeschooling affected your lives as parents? How do you balance homeschooling with your own need for grown-up time?

JM: I think homeschooling has been great on my marriage. Chuck is very supportive and he is extremely appreciative and impressed with everything I do for our family. It allows him to appreciate his good fortune in marrying such a wonderful and humble person, don’t you think? Chuck and I balance our school, work and family time by making our Friday night dates very important. If for some reason we can’t go out then we set aside some time to watch a movie or go for a walk.

FH: What challenges and benefits have you found in homeschooling more than one child? How has your family’s particular combination of ages, genders, personalities, interests, etc., shaped your homeschool as a whole?

JM: We have a relaxed and fun environment because that’s the only way to keep the kids’ attention when there’s two little kids that need my attention as well. We also have to be relaxed because we get interrupted by snack time or nursing time or nap time or snack time again. I love having several ages and personalities though because it keeps it fun and I am always needing to find some new way of doing things. It makes it enjoyable for me as well. I like change.

FH: How do you make homeschooling work for your family’s schedule and lifestyle? Has a parent’s work/schedule changed to accommodate homeschooling? Does a parent work from home?

JM: My husband is now working from home so that we can better take advantage of the local independent advantage of homeschooling. I can homeschool the kids from anywhere so we might as well do some traveling, right?

FH: What, if any, misunderstandings about homeschooling have you encountered from your family, friends, neighbors, etc.

JM: I have started having people do pop quizzes on my kids but I quickly point out how rude that is. I feel like I have been met with lots of support although I don’t have any friends who have started homeschooling.

FH: How do you answer questions about your kids “socialization” ?

JM: I’ve only had people who don’t know me well ask about social interaction. People who know me know that my kids get plenty of social interaction.

FH: What encouraging signs have you seen that homeschooling will prepare your children well for adulthood?

JM: My kids are self starters. They decide they want to see something or build something or know about something and they set off to get it themselves. They have also had great opportunities to learn about their community because we are out in the community more often then if they were in public school.

FH: If you could pick a famous person, living or dead, to homeschool your kids for the day, who would you choose and why?

JM: My mom. I believe that children need to feel loved in order to learn and the only person who can love my children almost as much as I do would be my mom. She’s also a natural teacher and fun to boot.

FH: What is your homeschool “dream scenario”?–if time, place, money, location, etc., were no object…

JM: My dream scenario would be us living in France temporarily. Chuck will be out getting pain au chocolats for breakfast while the kids and I started our homeschooling day. We will do school on a blanket under a shady tree while the little ones are playing in the garden. When Chuck gets back we all sit together eating our breakfast and discussing what we’re learning about. We end school with lunch and then spend the afternoon exploring the area and learning about the history of where we are. That would be perfect!

This is an ongoing series — if you are a homeschooling family interested in being profiled, please contact us.

There is hardly ever a need to pay full price for kids clothes — even the super nice wear-to-a-wedding ones. Kids grow so fast that their clothes are usually “used” before they are barely worn. So, today we’ll cover 5 ways we dress our kids for a fraction of the full price tag.

1. Easy Amazon Deals

Amazon.com offers huge discounts on clearance items. The trick has always been finding them. We’ve made this a snap with the links below.

Amazon.com Baby & Kid’s Clothes Discounts
90% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
80% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
70% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
60% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
50% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
40% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.
30% OFF – Baby & Kid’s Clothes.

2. Clothing Stores – The Markdown Schedule

Clothing stores such as GapKids, Old Navy and Target drop prices dramatically when they need to make room for new inventory. I’ve managed to buy stuff for my kids at 50-90% off by shopping off-season for the upcoming seasons. This is a great way to stock up on socks, tights, underwear, basic T-shirts, and other items that are impossible to find used. Grab a winter coat in February for $5, and you won’t be rushing out with your credit card next year at the first hint of snow.

All major retailers have a markdown schedule. Here is Target’s schedule. Note: This may vary from store to store. Ask a store employee about your particular location.

TARGET’s WEEKLY MARKDOWN SCHEDULE
Monday – Infants, Kids Clothes and Electronics.
Tuesday – Women’s Clothes and Domestics.
Wednesday – Men’s Clothes, Garden, Toys, Health and Beauty
Thursday – Lingerie, Shoes, Housewares, Sporting Goods, Luggage
Friday – Cosmetics, Hardware, Auto, Home Improvement and Jewelry

TARGET’s AFTER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
All holidays except Christmas follow the 3-3-2 rule:
The first 3 days after the holiday are 50% OFF.
The next 3 days are 75% OFF.
The next 2 days are 90% OFF.
After that it goes to salvage.

Below are some examples:

4th of July
July 5 = 50% OFF.
July 8 = 75% OFF.
July 10 = 90% OFF.

Halloween
Nov 1st = 50% OFF.
Nov 4th = 75% OFF.
Nov 7th = 90% OFF.

Other retailers may have slightly different schedules. Chat up an employee at your favorite store to get the inside scoop. Don’t forget to check retailers online coupons for updates and surprise sales.

3. Ebay For Box Lots

eBay! hosts another plethora of clothing options. Again, it helps if you’re willing to buy off season. The bargains here are usually in the “lots” of several items, and people trying to clear out the closet or get rid of inventory rather than make a huge profit. Narrow your search by size, gender, and specific brands that you like (e.g. gymboree girl 3).

4. Thrift Shops – The Designer Secret

Thrift shops are a great place to find really expensive, high-quality kid’s items in pristine condition. Why? Because people tend to “preserve” these designer items, not letting their kids wear them. I routinely find gorgeous stuff with the tags still attached. Since I’m only paying a couple bucks for it, I’ll definitely let my kids wear it!
Prices are low because the items are donated and the selection spans seasons, sizes and styles so you can afford to be quite selective. Warning: Knowing this little secret will turn you into a complete clothes snob. Once you know where to get Ralph Lauren for a few bucks, you’ll never buy clothes at Walmart!

THRIFT STORE TIPS:
1. Think Twice.
It’s very easy to get carried away when the prices are so low. So, think twice before you buy — no matter how cute and cheap they are.

2. No Returns
Usually the return policy at thrift shops is minimal to non-existant, so make sure you check for missing buttons, broken zippers and stains before you buy.

3. Consignment Stores
Consignment shops offer pre-screened, generally more-organized, high-quality items with a heftier price tag. Sometimes worth it, sometimes not.

5. Yard Sale Strategy

The best bargains are found at yard sales. Most of the time the seller just wants to get rid of stuff so the prices are rock bottom. Seek out sales in the Volvo-driving neighborhoods and your kid will soon have a designer wardrobe for less than the price of a nice bottle of wine.

YARD SALE TIPS:
1. Go early for the best selection.
2. Go late for the best prices.
3. Don’t be afraid to make an offer — “Can I take all of these for $5?”

General Bargain Hunting Tips:

Think Ahead.
If you’re willing to shop off-season and ahead a few sizes, you can get great quality at bargain prices, and avoid those last-minute expensive shopping sprees. Invest in some plastic storage bins, make some labels and you’re all set. Organizing this stuff is essential — otherwise you’ll end up buying more than you need and not using it.

Keep A “Need List”
Keep track of sizes and clothing needs in something you keep with you, like a small notebook or PDA. The next time you’re in a thrift store wondering if your son has rainboots for spring, or what size they should be, you’ll have the answer without going home and digging through the closet.

What’s Your Secret?

Do you have a tip to share? Let us know your deal snagging secrets.

NOTE: Although this list emphasizes homeschooling, (since that’s what we do) it’s not limited to information only useful to homeschoolers. Regardless of the form of “school” you’re using, your kids are learning all the time — and so are you.

Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense
The author is not only a wonderful novelist, but also a public school teacher who teaches his own children at home. Inside this slim and beautifully readable volume are thought-provoking insights from the both perspectives.

Guerrilla Learning: How to Give Your Kids a Real Education With or Without School
Author, Grace Llewellyn, is a go-to guide for those with a bent toward “unschooling”. Even if you weren’t previously inclined, this might change your mind.

The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
The same author as above — helpful information for people homeschooling/unschooling with teenagers.

The Natural Child: Parenting from the Heart
A beautifully simple parenting guide that encourages you to follow your instincts and common sense. If you’re tired of “methods”, this might be for you.

The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom
The title says it all.

Teach Your Own: The John Holt Book of Homeschooling
This list would certainly be incomplete without some wisdom from John Holt (aka: The Godfather of Homeschooling).

Instead of Education: Ways to Help People do Things Better
In this more recent and lesser known book, John Holt once again challenges the educational status-quo and offers ideas for how to give your kids a creative and self-motivated love of learning.

The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost
This book just might change the way you think about EVERYTHING. (If that doesn’t spark your curiosity, you deserve a life of monotony.)

Einstein Never Used Flashcards: How Our Children Really Learn–and Why They Need to Play More and Memorize Less
Memorize less, play more, and emulate Einstein? Sold! The authors (also psychologists) of this book validate what many parents know by instinct (but can forget): kids need to play and explore; kids are learning all the time; hurrying intellectual development doesn’t work out in the long run and can actually be counter-productive. Don’t make your kids’ learning about scores and tests, as these provide only a narrow view of learning and development.

A Child’s Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play
From the inside flap: “Even for very young children, unstructured creative time in the classroom is waning as teachers and administrators are under growing pressures to measure school readiness through rote learning and increased homework. In her new book, Vivian Gussin Paley decries this rapid disappearance of creative time and makes the case for the critical role of fantasy play in the psychological, intellectual, and social development of young children.”

Beyond the Rainbow Bridge : Nurturing our children from birth to seven
A Waldorf-inspired guide for living happily with young children. Even if you don’t know a lot about Waldorf education and/or don’t completely subscribe to all the principles, the ideas in this book can be helpful for any parent who wants to provide a peaceful environment and learning that goes hand in hand with “the natural rhythms of everyday life”.

Heaven on Earth
A wonderful Waldorf guide from a teacher/author in our own hometown of Charlottesville, VA.

How to Talk so Kids Can Learn
The author of classics “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk” and “Siblings Without Rivalry” presents ideas on communication specific to education.

The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling
A book that dares address the “S” word. Buy this for your skeptical in-laws.

Real-Life Homeschooling: The Stories of 21 Families Who Teach Their Children at Home
One of the most valuable sources of information for homeschoolers is other homeschoolers. Hearing the wildly varying tales of how other people homeschool can be inspiring and reassuring to newbies and old pros. The author of this fun collection of family profiles focused on DIVERSITY — if you think homeschoolers are all alike, think again.

During the coming year, Family Hack will be presenting a series of profiles on homeschooling families. Let us know what you would like to hear about from these families.

We consider ourselves pretty savvy, but this week we fell prey to one of the most sinister perils of traveling with children…Grandparents.

These slow moving creatures wield unorthodox weapons such as Ice Cream and the constant use of the word “Yes”.

An example of this horror came during our current visit to San Diego. I found our 2 year old standing in her Grandmother’s family room, face buried in a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. No spoon, no napkin, just a tongue and sheer bliss.

When questioned, Grandma’s defiant response was “I asked her if she wanted a spoon and she said no”.

What’s your Grandparent horror story, and more importantly, how did you get even?

A new baby — one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is diapers. A minimum of two years of them. It’s one of the automatic expenses and hassles of modern child rearing. But, since we’re in the habit of questioning common assumptions, we have to ask the question: is there another way? Of course. Parents in other parts of the world and throughout history haven’t had the diapering, or even laundering options that we have. What do they do?

Elimination Communication

One of the answers is EC (i.e. elimination communication). I used to have a negative bias toward EC on the premise that it was simply early potty training — a throwback to the 1950s when our fore mothers were instructed to give solid foods at two weeks of age and potty train around the first birthday. Now I understand that EC is not so much about early potty training, but about not diaper training — an entirely different concept.

EC involves tuning into your baby’s elimination needs and trying to help them keep clean and dry through heightened parent-child communication, rather than simply putting something hyper-absorbant on them and forgetting it for a few years. While not everyone’s lifestyle can accommodate this method, it does make a lot of sense, and is a healthy option for babies and the earth. It is also possible to incorporate parts of this method into your baby’s life, even if you can’t do it completely. Check out the following books and links for more information.

BOOKS:
Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene
The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative
Infant Potty Basics: With or Without Diapers–The Natural Way

LINKS:
Diaper Free Baby
Natural Family Online
Natural Wisdom

Cloth Diapers

Another baby-friendly, earth-friendly, and budget-friendly option is cloth diapering. Once you get the hang of it, washing diapers isn’t really that big a hassle — and you can also go with a diaper service if you really can’t handle that part. Check out the National Association of Diaper Services website to find a service near you.

Cloth diapering today needn’t involve the pins and plastic pants of our grandmothers experience. Velcro and snap-closure “diaper covers” or “wraps” allow you to diaper a squirmy little one without trying to use a sharp object at the same time. “All in one” cloth diapers, are as easy to use as disposables — you just don’t have to throw them away after one use! They even make disposable diaper liners that allow you to transfer the poopy mess to the toilet without any dunking — especially great if you cloth diaper while traveling.

All the cloth diapering options can be overwhelming at first. Fitted or flat? Velcro or snap? Sized or one size? Wool? Cotton? Hemp? Organic? And what the hell is a “pocket diaper?”. The good news is that with all the options out there, a little research will yield a cloth diapering system for almost any budget and lifestyle. You may not be able to save the world, but covering your child in something soft and comfy and not dumping thousands of diapers in a landfill is a good place to start. Check out the following links for more information on cloth diapers.

The Diaper Hyena
The definitive cloth diapering resource site: includes product reviews, diapering techniques, diaper-making information, and sources for WAHM-made cloth diapers.

Real Diaper Association
A non-profit organization providing cloth diapering support and education — an invaluable resource.

The Poop on Eco-Friendly Diapers
An article from Wired Magazine that delves into the good the bad and the ugly of disposable, cloth and the new “biodegradable” diapers, and the implications of their use in environment, health and business.

Mothering Magazine’s wonderful archive of cloth diapering articles.
Also check out mothering.com’s discussion forum for cloth diapering info from other parents.

The Diaper Pin
Product reviews, forums, and how-tos.

The Diaper Swappers
A forum for moms looking to buy/sell used and homemade diapers.

The Daily Unfinisher
A blog post recounting one woman’s “switch to cloth diapers”.

Where to Buy Cloth Diapers

Barefoot Baby
Wild Flower Diapers
Baby Kicks (specializing in natural hemp fiber products)
Katie Kisses
Baby Works
Baby’s Abode
Green Mountain Diapers

“Why do they call it homeschooling if we’re never home?”
— A favorite bumpersticker

I grew up (and was homeschooled) in a rural area, where it took an hour to get anywhere and an average of two hours to get the place you needed to go. My parents figured out in pretty short order that if we didn’t take advantage of our time in the car, I wasn’t going to have much in the way of formal education. Car time evolved into one of the most focused and structured part of my homeschooling life. In fact, I think one of my main motivations to get my driver’s license was to get away from algebra.

I’ll occasionally hear my homeschooling-parent friends lament a day of travel or errands as a day “lost” from homeschool. Of course, I find myself thinking “what are you talking about? That’s the best time to do schoolwork. Hey, the kids are strapped in; they can’t get away!” Of course, in all seriousness, homeschooling on the road does present challenges: reading and writing, probably the backbone of a lot of your school activities at home, are difficult, if not just impossible to accomplish in a moving vehicle; reading can cause carsickness, and writing with anything sharper than a crayon is probably a bad idea. But, if necessity is the mother of invention, these limitations should only inspire us to greater creativity. I’m firmly convinced that travel time is a great homeschool opportunity. Here are some good resources to jumpstart learning on the go.

Contain The Car Chaos:

You don’t really need any complicated gear in order to learn on the go. However, a few simple items that provide you with a work surface and/or containment for your educational paraphernalia can be very helpful.

Travel Tray
This handy travel tray straps around your child or their seat–easy to use in the car or on a plane. I especially like that it has a lip on the edge to keep things from rolling off.

Backseat Organizer Tote
Great for keeping things within your child’s reach, so you don’t need to keep retrieving when you’re supposed to be driving.

Portable Learning Tools and Games:

Personally, I’m not a big fan of electronic games and toys. Even the good ones are too easy to overdose on. Some of them can be quite handy though for letting a child study and play certain kinds of games, even when you aren’t available to participate. I’ve found that keeping a few electronic toys and games in the car is a good compromise; a time limit is built in and the novelty of having them in a limited space and time makes them all the more valuable for holding your child’s interest.

Math Wrap Ups
These are a wonderfully compact and portable, easy-to-use, self-correcting math practice tool. Available in different levels for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Geosafari Laptop
We’ve got the big “desk top” version of this, but now they make a laptop version that is much better for the car. Don’t let the name “Geosafari” fool you, they cover way more than just geography.

Math Whiz
A little gizmo for independent math practice.

Magnetic Sodoku
Good brain exercise. Check amazon.com for magnetic travel versions of your favorite games.

Audiobooks:

Car time is a wonderful time to share great music with your kids. Don’t overlook other audio resources though. Car time is also great for learning foreign languages, and listening to history and literature. Check your local library for children’s audiobooks; you can also rent or buy from sites like Booksfree.com
, RecordedBooks.com or download from iTunes, Audible.com or Simply Audiobooks .

As your child gets older, you can utilize audio courses from The Teaching Company or through RecordedBooks.com. These recordings give you access to lectures from great professors at colleges and universities around the country—in your car, whenever you want—and for a fraction of the price of tuition!

But, in the meantime, some of our favorite audio resources for elementary-age homeschoolers:

Story of the World Audiobook
A history series often utilized by classical homeschoolers, but a great read/listen for others as well. There are also supplemental activity/workbooks available.

Beethoven Lives Upstairs CD
A great way to expose your kids to great classical music, including interesting stories about the source. Check out others in the classical kids series.

Jim Weiss’s Shakespeare for Children CD
Seek out other cds by Jim Weiss: everything from Robin Hood to Greek Myths to bedtime stories.

Fun Spanish for Kids CD
We really enjoy these fun language-learning cds from Beth Manners. There are three cds available in both spanish and french.

Magic Tree House CDs
Kids love these time-travel adventures: good for beginning independent readers; also a great listen in the car.

Misc. Travel-Friendly Activities:

Geography Sticker Book
Even though more traditional pencil-on-paper workbooks will usually be left at home (don’t worry, your kids probably won’t complain…), there are a lot of great resources out there in the area of educational coloring books, stickerbooks, etc. Check out Dover Publications for hundreds of ideas in one spot!

Lyra Beeswax Crayons

We especially like block crayons for travel, since they don’t roll away!

String Games Around the World
Unless your kids start tying the strings around each other’s necks, this is a good, safe, game for the car (optimally, involving a lot of quiet concentration!). Check out other Klutz books for more travel-friendly games and craft projects.

Brain Quest for the Car
The Brain Quest cards seem to be made with travel in mind: they’re a great compact size and come in a variety of subjects and grade levels. Perfect for a family quiz game in the car.

Although we’ve only scratched the surface of travel-friendly education methods here, hopefully you’ve come away with some good ideas to try—whether you homeschool or not! There are a lot of other good ideas out there—please share yours in the comments.

Our Mobile Family Video.
This video post explains a lot about our wacky family. Including how I started working remotely, how many days we knew each other before getting hitched, and the steps we take to preserve the freedom and mobility we had before we had a traveling circus to tote around with us.

The video was recorded in response to a request from author and vagabond Tim Ferriss. He asked people who had read the 4-Hour Workweek to post a YouTube video explaining their success with Lifestyle Design.

5 Ways to Get 90% OFF Designer Kid’s Clothes.
Tricks we use to dress our offspring for the cost of a Carne Asada Burrito. Mmmm…Burritos.

One Magic Word Slashes 50% OFF European Car Rentals.
A slick tip about how a French tax dodge can save us tourists big money.

10 Essential Packing Rules when you’re Traveling with the Kids.
Hannah whoops her “traveling with kids” judo on us.

Something Down The Drain? Retrieve it Without a Wrench.
An accident that turned into a post. The next day the thing went viral…splattered all over the net.

How to Rent Dirt Cheap Luxury Apartments — Anywhere in the World.
How a little negotiating mojo can get you a lot of bang for your traveling buck.

Slacker Parent and Travel-Friendly Child — Yes, they go hand in hand.
We don’t care if you’re not Martha Freakin’ Stewart. Grab the rugrats and go already…geez!

Travel Tip: Cheesy Bus Tours.
Do the tour first…it has a silver lining.

Finally, we want to say thanks for all the comments and great tips. We really do appreciate it. In 2008 we’ll be writing more about our remote work style and homeschooling, among other things. Of course there might be a bit of talk about childbirth as we get closer to our May arrival. Bear with us…we’ll make it as sugar-free as possible.

Many parents are going into this year’s holiday shopping season with confusion and apprehension following the rash of toy recalls and concerns over lead and otherwise contaminated plastics.

So what are the concerns about?

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or vinyl
PVC is used in some soft and flexible plastics. PVC also contains lead as an additive—and there are no standards regulating the amount. Children who play with PVC toys are exposed to lead, as well as phalates, which have been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. The European Union, fourteen other countries, and California have already banned the use of phalates in children’s products.

BPA (bisphenol A)
BPA is used in some hard, clear plastics. Used to make plastic baby bottles and other food containers. BPA mimics estrogen and has been linked to multiple diseases and developmental problems.

How can we avoid these dangerous plastics?

All recently recalled toys were made in China. Buy domestic or european made toys whenever possible.

Trust your instincts.
If a price looks too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid cheap plastic toys. If you suspect that something you already own contains lead, you can buy an affordable color-change lead test at most hardware stores. However, be aware that this type of test only indicates lead on the surface (e.g. lead paint) and not the inside of the toy.

Check for recalls at www.recalls.gov or www.cpsc.gov (the website of the Consumer Products Safety Commission).

Check recycling codes on plastics and avoid #3, 6, and 7 and V.

Value beyond Safety

So, how do we judge a toy’s value beyond whether or not it is a physical danger? In this age of rampant consumerism, how do we find toys that nurture our children’s developing minds and bodies? The smart people at TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Childeren’s Entertainment) have these helpful suggestions for finding truly valuable toys.

“Toys have enhanced play value when they…

• can be used in many ways.
• allow children to be in charge of play.
• appeal to children at more than one age or level of development.
• are not linked to video games, TV or movies.
• can be used with other toys for new and more complex play.
• will stand the test of time and continue to be part of play as children develop new interests and skills.
• promote respectful, non-stereotyped, non-violent interactions among children.
• help children develop skills important for further learning and a sense of mastery.”

Toys that meet these qualifications for us:

Brio Shape Sorter
Shape Sorters are great for learning colors, shapes, and developing hand eye coordination–plus they just appeal to young children’s obsession with sorting! We love this version in new modern colors.

Brio Doll Pram
These little pushcarts are a quite versatile toy and well worth the space they take up. You can ditch your doll stroller, toy shopping cart, and walker toys–this will serve all masters. Our daughter enjoyed this version from Ikea.

Organic Cotton Soft Doll
This is the perfect first doll–good size for little hands, no hard parts to poke you in your sleep, and 100% safe even if it ends up in your child’s mouth. To top it off, they’re quite a good price, especially for this quality.

Tea Set
Kids love to have tea parties and this tin version of the classic tea set is a great alternative to porcelin for younger children or children with younger siblings. Check out all the great pattern variations–including Curious George!

Little Helper Broom Set
Imitation is a huge part of childhood play–and, of course, encouraging it is also a great way to keep your little ones happy while you do your work. If you get your kids one of these, you might find that they take over the sweeping for you!

Museum ABC Nesting Blocks
These beautiful nesting blocks from the Metropolitan Museum of Art are a surprisingly versatile toy. The pictures make them a 3D art book, and they serve as stacking, nesting, and building toys. Your child will find many other uses for them, such as garages for their toy cars, houses for their dolls, or bowls for their play food…

Melissa and Doug Pizza Party
For a toy with a rather finite purpose, this gets an amazing amount of use. Kids love to put on the velcro “toppings”, slice the pizza, serve guests, take orders, etc., and do it all over again.

Melissa and Doug Wooden Vehicle and Traffic Sign Set
These wooden vehicles and traffic signs will provide hours of entertainment, especially when combined with a whole city made of blocks!

Wooden Cook Top Playstove
This is a lovely alternative to the ever-popular monstrous plastic play kitchens that seem like such a good idea, but then take up half our kid’s room. This is small enough for use even in a small apartment, and it even folds up for transportation or storage.

Radio Flyer Rolling Pony
A classic kid-powered ride-on toy. Plus it’s a pony. Say no more.

Tinkertoy Classic Set
Classic Tinkertoys—at a great price.

Dollhouse Doll Family
Dollhouse dolls make for lots of imaginative play–with or without a dollhouse. We like these sets that include grandparents, parents, and kids.

Animal Magnets
Magnets are a great way to keep little ones occupied while you’re working in the kitchen. Look for the set that will hold your child’s interest–options include: dinosaurs, farm, vehicles, etc.

Natural Toy Specialty Sites:

Here are some sites that specialize in natural toys and offer a wide variety of european and american made products:
www.oompa.com
www.northstartoys.com
www.maukilo.com
www.islandtreasuretoys.com
www.kidsqualitytoys.com
www.naturalpod.com
www.rosiehippo.com
www.walkingsticktoys.com

Keep in mind that no matter how much love and thought you put into selecting your child’s toys, they will still probably spend more time playing with the box and wrapping. You may just want to stop fighting it and make some room in your child’s play space for these wonderful “non-toys” that seem to be so much fun.

With the holidays fast approaching, it seems like almost everyone I talk with is stressed about bringing their kids on a plane ride, and trying to figure out how to encourage them to be on their best behavior. As with everything else, a little advance preparation and having a few tricks up your sleeve won’t guarantee perfect behavior, but it sure helps!

Here are my top 10…,make that 11 tips for enabling young children to behave well on a plane.

1. Information is King

Good behavior starts by helping your child understand exactly what is going to happen. Without building things up too much, you can begin to talk about the trip a few days before you leave (even for kids as young as one year old). Talk about where you’ll be going (e.g. grandma’s house) and how you’ll be getting there (on a plane). On the day of the flight, lay out exactly what is going to happen. For example: first we’ll take a taxi to the airport, then we’ll go through security, and then we’ll get on the plane and fly to grandma’s . Even very young toddlers understand more than you think, and even if they don’t understand the details, they’ll understand that there is a plan and that everything is ok.

2. Set Expectations

At each stage of the trip (especially through security) point out what is happening, and explain to your child what you expect of them. “Look, there’s the conveyor belt, we get to put our shoes, sippy, and lovey on the conveyor belt and then we will get them on the other side.” Knowing what is expected of them (before they’re in trouble) will help keep your child from getting stressed out and loosing it. Books can help de-mystify travel too, one of our favorites for travel is Planes Board Bookby Byron Barton.

3. Become an Advance Planner & “Do-er”

Do everything earlier than you think you need to. Pack earlier, check in online, get your child ready early, leave earlier for the airport, etc etc etc. Nothing riles up a toddler more than parents who seem to be anxious or in a rush. When something does throw a wrench in the works, you’ll be able to be patient knowing that you have a little extra time.

4. A Well-Fed Child is a Content Child.

Bring some hearty (not sweet) snacks and pack them where they’re easy to reach. Here are some of our favorites: Ritz crackers spread with peanut butter, freeze dried fruit, peanut butter sandwiches, cheese slices. Remember that any liquids need to be packed separately, so it’s easiest to avoid bringing liquid snacks like applesauce.

5. Divide and Conquer.

Send one parent ahead to do some of the trickier tasks (checking baggage, buying snacks, pre-board & install car seats, etc) while the other waits nearby with the kids.

6. Run Them While You Can.

A kid who has been cooped up too much already is not going to sit well on a plane. After you’ve cleared security, give your kids some time to run. Many airports have play areas, so be sure to ask the gate agent for details. If there’s no play area, you can often find an empty gate area to play in.

7. Clear their Ears.

Takeoff and landing are hard on toddlers because they don’t know how to clear their ears. Bring a sippy or a cup with a lid & straw so that your child can drink milk or water during takeoff (try to avoid juice as the sugar will only make the flight more difficult for everyone). Not every airline has milk on board (and some reserve it for coffee only), so buy some in the airport or bring some powdered formula from home.

8. Expectations are Everything (Part II)

Expect that you’ll spend the entire flight tending to your child (or children). If you start off on the right foot, the kids will be delighted with the extra attention, and you’ll feel rewarded when they do get in some independent play time or a nap (instead of bitter when they don’t).

9. An Engaged Child is a Happy Child.

Bring a variety of toys, books, and music (even a one year old can use adult earbuds). Be creative. Make toys out of everything around you. Barf bag puppets, scavenger hunts in the airline magazines, old fashioned seatbelt buckles. Teach yourself a few new finger rhymes (e.g. where is thumbkin) and games before you leave home. When it comes to toys, our rule of thumb is one new toy per hour that we expect our children to be awake. Introduce toys one at a time, making sure that your child has exhausted its play value before moving on to the next. There’s nothing more fun than unwrapping gifts, so try wrapping each toy before you leave home. While I’d never spoil the kids like that at home, it’s useful to have them associate long play rides with fun .

10. Bring the Binky

Don’t forget (or check) your child’s comfort object, whatever it might be. Travel is stressful. They’ll need it.

11. Sleep is Golden

If you think that your child is sleepy, do everything you can to create a comforting, sleep inducing environment. Sing quietly or play music (with headphones) for them. Go through their sleeptime ritual, and them that it will be a long plane ride, and they’ll have more fun at grandma’s house if they get some sleep now.

When all else fails, remember, it’s not whether your child is the best behaved on the plane. it’s whether anyone else’s child is worse.

Related Links:
Ten Tips for Keeping Your Child Busy on a Plane
Ten Great Travel Toys you Already Have at Home
Helping Your Baby or Child Sleep on a Plane
Flying with Babies, Toddlers and Kids
Ten Essential Packing Rules when Traveling with Kids

About the Author:
Debbie is the mother of two delicious kids, 1yr and 2.5yr, she loves to read, eat, and travel. Debbie shares her experiences travelling with kids, and her travel advice, on her blog www.deliciousbaby.com