Mama Smiles

Joyful Parenting

MaryAnne at Mama Smiles Welcome to my blog! I'm MaryAnne, and I write about building a rewarding family life through mindful parenting and educational and creative family activities. Learn more.

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How to Make a Weighted Blanket Sewing Tutorial (Sensory Friendly)

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Tutorial for sewing a weighted blanket. Newly updated. A couple weeks ago one of my sisters mentioned that she wanted a weighted blanket for her son, who has some sensory issues.  Weighted blankets are pretty expensive, so I said I would look into how to make a weighted blanket. I slept on it for a couple nights, and came up with this very effective method. I was … [Read more...] about How to Make a Weighted Blanket Sewing Tutorial (Sensory Friendly)

Winter Fun for Kids: Bring in the Snow for Winter Sensory Play!

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Do you have kids who love to play in the snow, but they don't feel well or you just can't keep dressing them up to go out for two minutes? Try bringing in snow to play with indoors! Winter sensory play brilliance! We don't see much snow since we moved to sunny California, but back when we lived in Massachusetts it was a fixture of our lives for months on end. The kids … [Read more...] about Winter Fun for Kids: Bring in the Snow for Winter Sensory Play!

Visiting Miramar Beach and Setting Goals for May 2017

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Visiting Miramar Beach and Setting Goals for May 2017. Setting goals each month makes it easier to stay accountable. April was a hard month, so it was pretty amazing to end it by dropping the kids off for a one-night sleepover with cousins while Mike and I escaped to Half Moon Bay. This was our first time child-free since Emma was born in 2006! The kids had a blast with … [Read more...] about Visiting Miramar Beach and Setting Goals for May 2017

How Do I Get My Kids to Love Math? Simple Steps Parents Can Take at Home

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How do I get my kids to love math? Try these simple steps parents can take at home to raise kids who love math. "Lily, come fold laundry with me and I'll ask you some math questions!" This is my husband's weekend ritual with our seven-year-old daughter, but I remain slightly surprised every time she happily takes him up on the offer. For some kids - my daughter Lily … [Read more...] about How Do I Get My Kids to Love Math? Simple Steps Parents Can Take at Home

No More Sibling Rivalry! Successful Parenting Secrets to Raising Siblings Who Get Along

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No More Sibling Rivalry! Successful Parenting Secrets to Raising Siblings Who Get Along. One of my primary goals as a parent is raising kids who get along with one another. My kids may all love crafts and creating, but they each have their own, distinct personality. Distinct personalities mean we get personality clashes, and those clashes can lead to sibling rivalry! … [Read more...] about No More Sibling Rivalry! Successful Parenting Secrets to Raising Siblings Who Get Along