• Home
  • About
    • New? Start Here.
    • Meet The Co-Hosts
    • Meet The Contributors
  • Sponsor
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter

The Mom Hour

Happier motherhood starts here.

  • New? Start Here.
  • Podcast
    • Recent Episodes
    • Complete Archives
    • Search By Topic
  • Blog
  • Ages & Stages
    • Babies
    • Toddlers
    • Preschoolers
    • Big Kids
    • Tweens & Teens
  • Shop

in Blog on March 21, 2022 by Ashley Schafluetzel

How To Keep Kids Entertained On Long Car Rides

Every year we take long road trips, usually at least once to a beach and often somewhere else. I also love going on day trips to explore fun places closer to home. I try to prepare as many fun things for my kids to do as independently as possible, so that I can focus on driving, navigating or just so I just don’t have to hear “Are we there yet?” over and over.

A long car ride doesn’t have to be difficult.

When thinking about how to entertain your kids on long car rides, it’s important to remember that kids have short attention spans. I have always heard that the child’s attention span lasts anywhere from 1-3 minutes per year of age. With that in mind, a 3 year old’s attention span could range anywhere from 3-9 minutes on a given activity. They may rotate back to an activity more than once, but they will need a wide range of things to cycle through.

Some of my favorite places to find in-car entertainment are Amazon, Target, Michael’s and the Dollar Tree. I stock up on some of the things mentioned below through out the year so we have a variety of different activities. Stocking up ahead of time also gives me time to make or organize the activities so I am not scrambling at the last minute. It is budget friendly, too!

Here are some of the best ways I’ve found to keep kids of all ages entertained on long car rides:

Babies:

When our kids were babies, we tried to plan our trips around their sleep schedule. We would leave a couple of hours before their bedtime and one of us would sit in the back to entertain them or play with them so they wouldn’t fall asleep early. About bedtime we would make a stop, walk around, stretch, change into pajamas, and then continue. The parent who had been in the back would move to the front and baby would usually fall asleep quickly.

Our 1st road trip with a baby! She was 8 months old.

As our kids got older, I would give them age-appropriate snacks, but I made them work for it. I used a Munchkin snack container (affiliate link) that they had to reach through flaps to get their snack out of. It kept them busy a little bit longer.  

Some of my favorite entertainment for little babies was any sensory-style hanging toy that they could grab and reach for. Anything that would make a crinkly noise, or squeak (affiliate link) – it is fun for babies to get reactions out of things. I would typically buy a new one before a trip, or hide an older one for a while before the trip so it felt new.

Cut up strips of fabric in a wipes container was something my older babies loved. I got a bunch of ribbons and textured fabric and placed it all in an old wipe container. Pulling it out was always exciting for them!

For little babies, singing or talking with them helped a lot. They also loved hand-held mirrors or baby board books. 

Toddler / Preschool Age:

Kids at this age just love opening, closing, putting things into other things and taking them out. One of my son’s favorite road trip toys was a “Simply Orange” juice container. We gave him things to put in and out of it – pipe cleaners, pom poms, straws, clothes pins, large buttons – anything I knew he couldn’t choke on. Putting items in and taking them out again kept him entertained far longer than I thought it would. An empty Parmesan cheese shaker bottle would be great as well.

I have seen others use a colander to thread pipe cleaners in and out of. Kids can also practice putting (non-choke-able!) beads on the pipe cleaners. This could expand into a wide variety of activities, including sorting colors and shapes – something preschoolers love to do.

Some of our magnets on a cookie sheet!

Magnets are a big hit as well. A cookie sheet and all sorts of magnets are a ton of fun. Melissa and Doug brand has many options, like these (affiliate link).

Velcro can be a ton of fun too! We’ve put Velcro dots on Popsicle sticks and let them create whatever they wish! Amazon or a store may sell things similar to my homemade ones! You can build letters, numbers and shapes pretty easily.

Craft kits are also fun! I love to get plastic bags or pencil pouches and fill them with fun craft supplies. Crayons, paper, stickers, mini notebooks – and let them go to town! Target’s Bullseye area often has fun prepackaged “Play Packs” (affiliate link), coloring books / crayon / sticker kits that mine enjoy.

Water Wow books (affiliate link) are a ton of fun and reusable, not terribly messy either.

I like to pay attention to the Target dollar spot, Michael’s and The Dollar Tree. They often have foam shapes, letters, animals or other different pieces for various activities.  I like to buy those, then save them for road trips. I’ll put them in a zipper pouch and make a busy bag.  I’ve used shapes as tan grams bags for both my toddler aged and big kids. I’ve printed a scene for the foam animals for imaginative play. They often have different felt activities, as well that could easily be put in a bag for a road trip! You could make your own felt pieces for activities that you may like.

Puppets allow for lots of imaginative play. We make easy puppets –  large Popsicle sticks with characters glued or taped on them can be a ton of fun. Ask my husband about the time we acted out “The 5 Little Monkeys swinging in a tree . . . teasing Mr. Alligator” on our trip to Chicago. Our kids  loved it! Anything on paper can be turned into a puppet with a Popsicle stick.

If you are feeling brave, a large pencil box, cookie cutters and play-doh are a hit. I put the box in a large plastic bag when we are done to help catch any extra mess or crumbs.

Mini figurines are another Target / Dollar Tree / Walmart thing to look out for. When I had animal figurines, I turned a little shoe box into a farm scene. I was feeling pretty creative, but my son loves to do this on his own now! He has fun turning boxes into other things, then taking his toys to his new scene to play.

Some of these activities can be used if you find yourself somewhere waiting in lines.

School Aged Kids:

My kids still enjoy craft kits. Sometimes I just buy all brand new “fun” supplies and let them go to town, or I make themed kits. Even a fresh notebook, stickers and writing tools are exciting at this age. I try to bring containers to hold everything for when they are done. Small travel-sized soap holders make great storage containers for crayons.

My kids still enjoy Water Wow and Imagine Ink books, and have begun to enjoy sticker by number or more specific activity books like I SPY or word-search type activities. (Affiliate links.)

And easy way to DIY your own activity books is to print word search, bingo, maze, scavenger hunt, crossword, or other activity pages on your home printer. Place them in a clear plastic binder sleeve and store in a 3-ring binder with a dry-erase marker. (Teacher tip: Crayola makes a dry erase marker that comes out of clothes easier than the Expo band).

Colorforms (affiliate link) come in a variety of themes. I pick out a few of my kids favorite ones, and let them play. 

My bigger kids have expanded the imaginative play with the popsicle stick puppets mentioned earlier.  Now, my kids even like to draw their own people on the large popsicles sticks to fit what they want to play.

When we feel brave, or know our trip may be extra long – I have loved bringing play-doh or kinetic sand – I get a big pencil box to hold it in. I put the box in a large plastic bag when we are done to help catch any extra mess or crumbs. It’s such a unique treat to play these things in the car – it feels extra special and fun!

A small LEGO set up for a road trip.

If you have a LEGO lover – get a large lego base board and attach it to a cookie sheet. Box up some LEGO bricks and enjoy building.

Tips For Keeping Road Trips Fun For All Ages

Keep things together as best you can. I like to put smaller items in pencil boxes or pouches, then put those inside a bigger reusable grocery bag or a bin of some sort. Have a designated trash container with extra bags. You can empty and start fresh anytime you make a stop. (It also comes in handy if someone gets carsick.)

Use a road trip map. I like to make a list of specific stops we may be making and display it in the car. We then move a little marker along as we go! It helps us all to see the progress we’ve made. It does not have to be fancy, ours is usually just the cities we’ll be driving through, written along a line.

Milestones help break up the trip. We put these up on post-its and take the post-it down when we meet a milestone. We celebrate various mile achievements (50 miles, 100 miles, 326 miles, etc.), or anytime we go into a new state. Sometimes we play a fun song, sometimes the kids get a small treat, sometimes we just cheer. We usually wing it – but it gets everyone’s attention for a few minutes and breaks up the monotony of the ride.

Look at your trip route ahead of time. See if there are parks or fun attractions near places you may stop. Take the time to burn some energy.

When stopping for gas or food, take your time. We walk around, stretch, do exercises and run. Burn that energy!

Technology time is always fine; we keep it limited so they don’t get crabby or car sick. Headphones for the devices are a lifesaver.

Remember, you aren’t going to get where you’re going fast. Take your time during breaks, if they get bored for a bit, it’s okay. If they eat a ton of snacks, it’s okay. A fun car ride to or from your destination can set the tone for an amazing trip!

Related

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: big kids, preschoolers, toddlers, travel

About Ashley Schafluetzel

Ashley and her husband live with their two kids, Ella and Jake, in Wentzville, Missouri. Both Ella and Jake were preemies (Jake was born three weeks early, and Ella was born three months early). Ella has Cerebral Palsy, along with some other conditions, and being her mom has taught Ashley so much. Ashley has been a kindergarten teacher for 11 years and it is her absolute favorite thing to do, even on the tough days. She loves the color pink, sparkles, her weekly sand volleyball games with friends, the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues and Mizzou!

deals from our partners


Shop Jane

When you click through these links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you (and we only partner with brands we’ve used and truly love!).

« Preparing Kids (And Ourselves!) For Summer Independence
Growing Kids, Year By Year (Ages 2-8): Episode 357 »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Featured Sponsors

On Instagram

themomhour

Top 10 parenting podcast hosted by @meaganfrancis (MI) & @powersofmine (SoCal). 8 kids between us, little to grown. Happier motherhood starts here.

The Mom Hour
Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes f Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes for February and March classroom projects! Valentine boxes and leprechaun traps are around the corner, and shoe boxes are so much harder to come by these days. Consider this a friendly head’s up from a mom who’s been there.

Want more help and tips, plus reassurance that you’re doing a great job? (You are.) Search for The Mom Hour in your favorite podcast app and hit subscribe!

#kindergarten #firstgrade #valentinebox #leprechauntrap #shoeboxcraft #roomparent #roommom #classroomvalentines #parenting #momlife #parentingtip #tipsformoms
Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for presch Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for preschoolers? Even for kids who want to GO GO GO all day long, having a built-in pause in the day can help develop independent play skills, encourage rest, and - of course - give caregivers a chance to reset as well.

Since this week's podcast episode is all about kids and alone time, we thought we'd revisit this resource on the blog by Sandy Hsu:

👉 How To Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine. 👈 

Sandy (@hopefulsmiles) give tips for implementing a successful quiet time routine AND rounds up products and activities that help make independent play more likely - even in young preschoolers. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#quiettime #parentingtoddlers #parentingpreschoolers #momoflittles #stayathomemom #stayathomeparent #activitiesforpreschoolers #activitiesfortoddlers #threeyearolds #fouryearolds #fiveyearolds #momlife #sahm #sahmlife
New episode! Does solitude come naturally to your New episode!

Does solitude come naturally to your kids, or are moments of solo play far and few between? Meagan and Sarah read some research recently that challenged us to think about the importance of alone time, and whether our kids get enough. In this episode, we dive into our own childhood memories, how our children embrace (or run from) solitude, and how challenging it is to find that just-right balance. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! With all the day-to-day planning requ New episode! With all the day-to-day planning required to run a household, it's easy to put longterm planning on the back burner. Today Meagan and Sarah share lessons we've learned (or are still learning) that help us look ahead at a whole year, quarter, or month at a time. From knowing ourselves and our seasonal rhythms to figuring out where they keep next year's school calendar, we've picked up a few things over the years, and we're ready to dive in for 2023. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Saturday! Been meaning to check out a deal y Happy Saturday! Been meaning to check out a deal you heard on our podcast? You're in luck because here's our sponsor roundup for January. Once a month, we use this space to thank our partners and remind you of their special offers. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight or search the brand name on our website. And when you do check out our sponsors + use our links and codes, it helps support our show! We also collect ALL our active promo codes in our email newsletter - which is full of our latest episodes and blog posts, personal updates, community news, and more. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today.

Shoutout to our NEW sponsors:
🍳 @caraway_home (10% off gorgeous, non-toxic cookware!)
💪 @futurefitapp (risk-free trial of 1-on-1 personal training!)
🔪 @prepdish (2 weeks free of healthy, prep-ahead meal plans!)
🎨 @minted (design marketplace with art, bags, gifts & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (deals on the easiest photo books ever!)
😍 @fabletics (2 stylish workout bottoms for $24!)

And welcome back . . . 
⭐️ @stitchfix ($20 off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off full-season calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on cute, comfy shoes!)
Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, high school registration. As we discussed in this week's episode, we still get all the feels when older kids meet cultural or developmental milestones - even if they cringe when we celebrate and share.

Would love to hear what you're celebrating about your older kids! Everything from learning a new skill to blossoming independence - leave us a comment! 

PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#parenting #parentingbigkids #parentingteens #parentingtweens #bigkidmilestone #teenagers #tweens #momoftweens #momofteens #momofteenagers
Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-d Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-digits, you find yourself staring a different milestone right in the (puffy) face:

It's been a decade since I was pregnant for the last time. 

This photo was taken the morning of my scheduled c-section, just a few hours before we'd meet our third and last babe. It's hard to remember, but I'm SURE I was ready to be done. Constant braxton-hicks, heartburn I hadn't experienced with the other two, food aversions that lasted the whole 39w5d, and physical exhaustion trying to keep up with a 2- and 4-year old: all part of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, but still nobody's idea of easy.

I don't miss it - being pregnant. Grateful to have had the experience, absolutely. But I've never really pined for another go-around, at least not seriously. Still, a whole decade removed feels as significant a milestone to me as does the notion that that double-dimpled babe will blow out ten candles this weekend.

Time, like, whoa. 

-Sarah
If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, you might be feeling overwhelmed by school tours, open houses, registration deadlines, or the all-too-common "red shirting question". That's why today we're revisiting an enormously detailed resource on our site: 

➡️ What Teachers & Educators Wish Parents Knew About Making School Decisions ⬅️

This piece is a collaboration between four educators on our team whose careers span preschool through middle school. They weigh in what what they wish parents knew about things like...

...choosing “the right school” 
...what it means to be “ready for kindergarten” 
...visiting a school for a tour or open house 
...learning to read 
...kids and friendships; playground politics
...making school decisions for a special needs student 
...becoming part of a classroom or school community 
 
Click this image at the link in our bio to get the guide. Bookmark it, send it to your co-parent or mom friends, and use it as a starting place as you wade through this tricky time of year! 

@lisaapayne4 @ashleydawn519 @thepaperdart @cafedumartin
C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s e C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s episode is number 400! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate hitting a big podcast milestone than talking about how we honor birthdays and milestone celebrations in our families – especially as kids get older. Join Meagan and Sarah as we offer insight into making birthdays special for big kids, tweens and teens; how kids getting older hits us differently as moms, too; and how honoring big kid milestones gets tricker, but still gives us all the feels. 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being a Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being available has been so fun! Listeners have told us that they're now able to re-listen to old favorites, or - amazing for us - share them directly with friends.

(If you missed it, previously, podcast apps showed only our most recent 300 episodes – less than half our catalog. The rest were only available on our website.)

Just for fun, we rounded up a few more of our team's favorite episodes from the early days of the podcast. Here are five MORE oldies that have stood the test of time, and that make for great entry-points to our early catalog.

You can listen from our website by clicking this image at the link in our bio – but EVEN BETTER, you can find the episodes in your favorite podcast app - just search by episode title, or keep on scrolling until you find them!
In Episode 399 we talked about using social media In Episode 399 we talked about using social media to purposefully FILL your feed with whatever is fascinating you lately. Maybe it’s owning chickens, maybe it’s needlepoint, maybe it’s training for a 5k. When those interests evolve, so can your feed. I mentioned loving the gray-growout influencers right now; and while I have no intentions of becoming one 😃, I did find enough selfies on my phone (dating from mid-Sept) to show you a little progress reel!

It’s OK to go through a phase for a phase’s sake. What’s making your feed fun right now? Cabins in the woods? School bus renos? Gardening tips? The randomer the better! -S
Do you have budgeting goals or financial dreams fo Do you have budgeting goals or financial dreams for 2023? We know families are experiencing rising costs and financial strain in all different ways, so this week we're revisiting a guide writer @sarahelimberg put together last year with the online resources - podcasts, apps, and social follows - that helped her start budgeting when she became a mom.

Click this image at the link in our bio to get all Sarah's great recommendations - including these five Insta-follows!

@thebrokeblackgirl
@thefinancialdiet
@thebudgetmom
@thefinancebar
@lauradadams of #MoneyGirlPodcast 

#budgeting101 #budgettips #budget #budgetmom #budgetingforbeginners #budget101 #financialwellness #finance #personalfinance #money #2023goals #financialliteracy #familybudget
Load More... Follow on Instagram

As Seen On

Today Parents

Send us an email

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Email hello@themomhour.com and we’re here to help!

looking for something?

Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes f Here’s your January reminder to save shoeboxes for February and March classroom projects! Valentine boxes and leprechaun traps are around the corner, and shoe boxes are so much harder to come by these days. Consider this a friendly head’s up from a mom who’s been there.

Want more help and tips, plus reassurance that you’re doing a great job? (You are.) Search for The Mom Hour in your favorite podcast app and hit subscribe!

#kindergarten #firstgrade #valentinebox #leprechauntrap #shoeboxcraft #roomparent #roommom #classroomvalentines #parenting #momlife #parentingtip #tipsformoms
Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for presch Looking to implement daily "quiet time" for preschoolers? Even for kids who want to GO GO GO all day long, having a built-in pause in the day can help develop independent play skills, encourage rest, and - of course - give caregivers a chance to reset as well.

Since this week's podcast episode is all about kids and alone time, we thought we'd revisit this resource on the blog by Sandy Hsu:

👉 How To Encourage Independence In Preschoolers With A “Quiet Time” Routine. 👈 

Sandy (@hopefulsmiles) give tips for implementing a successful quiet time routine AND rounds up products and activities that help make independent play more likely - even in young preschoolers. Check it out by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#quiettime #parentingtoddlers #parentingpreschoolers #momoflittles #stayathomemom #stayathomeparent #activitiesforpreschoolers #activitiesfortoddlers #threeyearolds #fouryearolds #fiveyearolds #momlife #sahm #sahmlife
New episode! Does solitude come naturally to your New episode!

Does solitude come naturally to your kids, or are moments of solo play far and few between? Meagan and Sarah read some research recently that challenged us to think about the importance of alone time, and whether our kids get enough. In this episode, we dive into our own childhood memories, how our children embrace (or run from) solitude, and how challenging it is to find that just-right balance. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! With all the day-to-day planning requ New episode! With all the day-to-day planning required to run a household, it's easy to put longterm planning on the back burner. Today Meagan and Sarah share lessons we've learned (or are still learning) that help us look ahead at a whole year, quarter, or month at a time. From knowing ourselves and our seasonal rhythms to figuring out where they keep next year's school calendar, we've picked up a few things over the years, and we're ready to dive in for 2023. Join us! 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Saturday! Been meaning to check out a deal y Happy Saturday! Been meaning to check out a deal you heard on our podcast? You're in luck because here's our sponsor roundup for January. Once a month, we use this space to thank our partners and remind you of their special offers. For our special promo codes and links, just tap our saved "Sponsors" highlight or search the brand name on our website. And when you do check out our sponsors + use our links and codes, it helps support our show! We also collect ALL our active promo codes in our email newsletter - which is full of our latest episodes and blog posts, personal updates, community news, and more. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to subscribe today.

Shoutout to our NEW sponsors:
🍳 @caraway_home (10% off gorgeous, non-toxic cookware!)
💪 @futurefitapp (risk-free trial of 1-on-1 personal training!)
🔪 @prepdish (2 weeks free of healthy, prep-ahead meal plans!)
🎨 @minted (design marketplace with art, bags, gifts & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (deals on the easiest photo books ever!)
😍 @fabletics (2 stylish workout bottoms for $24!)

And welcome back . . . 
⭐️ @stitchfix ($20 off your 1st purchase!)
⭐️ @theessentialcalendar (10% off full-season calendars!)
⭐️ @hiyahealth (50% off 1st order!)
⭐️ @kiwico_inc (50% off your 1st mo!)
⭐️ @athleticgreens (1yr of Vit.D + 5 travel packs!)
⭐️ @vionicshoes (free shipping on cute, comfy shoes!)
Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, Braces on, braces off. First phones, driver's ed, high school registration. As we discussed in this week's episode, we still get all the feels when older kids meet cultural or developmental milestones - even if they cringe when we celebrate and share.

Would love to hear what you're celebrating about your older kids! Everything from learning a new skill to blossoming independence - leave us a comment! 

PS - Listen to the episode in your favorite podcast app, or by clicking this image at the link in our bio!

#parenting #parentingbigkids #parentingteens #parentingtweens #bigkidmilestone #teenagers #tweens #momoftweens #momofteens #momofteenagers
Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-d Turns out, when your last baby approaches double-digits, you find yourself staring a different milestone right in the (puffy) face:

It's been a decade since I was pregnant for the last time. 

This photo was taken the morning of my scheduled c-section, just a few hours before we'd meet our third and last babe. It's hard to remember, but I'm SURE I was ready to be done. Constant braxton-hicks, heartburn I hadn't experienced with the other two, food aversions that lasted the whole 39w5d, and physical exhaustion trying to keep up with a 2- and 4-year old: all part of an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, but still nobody's idea of easy.

I don't miss it - being pregnant. Grateful to have had the experience, absolutely. But I've never really pined for another go-around, at least not seriously. Still, a whole decade removed feels as significant a milestone to me as does the notion that that double-dimpled babe will blow out ten candles this weekend.

Time, like, whoa. 

-Sarah
If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, If you're looking at school options for Fall 2023, you might be feeling overwhelmed by school tours, open houses, registration deadlines, or the all-too-common "red shirting question". That's why today we're revisiting an enormously detailed resource on our site: 

➡️ What Teachers & Educators Wish Parents Knew About Making School Decisions ⬅️

This piece is a collaboration between four educators on our team whose careers span preschool through middle school. They weigh in what what they wish parents knew about things like...

...choosing “the right school” 
...what it means to be “ready for kindergarten” 
...visiting a school for a tour or open house 
...learning to read 
...kids and friendships; playground politics
...making school decisions for a special needs student 
...becoming part of a classroom or school community 
 
Click this image at the link in our bio to get the guide. Bookmark it, send it to your co-parent or mom friends, and use it as a starting place as you wade through this tricky time of year! 

@lisaapayne4 @ashleydawn519 @thepaperdart @cafedumartin
C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s e C-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-e good times, come on! Today’s episode is number 400! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate hitting a big podcast milestone than talking about how we honor birthdays and milestone celebrations in our families – especially as kids get older. Join Meagan and Sarah as we offer insight into making birthdays special for big kids, tweens and teens; how kids getting older hits us differently as moms, too; and how honoring big kid milestones gets tricker, but still gives us all the feels. 

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being a Y'all's reaction to our entire catalog now being available has been so fun! Listeners have told us that they're now able to re-listen to old favorites, or - amazing for us - share them directly with friends.

(If you missed it, previously, podcast apps showed only our most recent 300 episodes – less than half our catalog. The rest were only available on our website.)

Just for fun, we rounded up a few more of our team's favorite episodes from the early days of the podcast. Here are five MORE oldies that have stood the test of time, and that make for great entry-points to our early catalog.

You can listen from our website by clicking this image at the link in our bio – but EVEN BETTER, you can find the episodes in your favorite podcast app - just search by episode title, or keep on scrolling until you find them!

Copyright © 2023 · Life, Listened
Development by Cipher