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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, hands-on learning, and creative family activities. Learn more.

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

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Sewing tutorial on how to make a weighted blanket. Detailed instructions on how to make a blanket for autim to help with sensory issues, anxiety, Parkinson's, and more. This weighted blanket sewing tutorial has been updated several times to reflect feedback on how best to make a weighted blanket from my readers. I would love to see your photos if you make a blanket … [Read more...] about How to Sew 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!

Family Volunteer Day: Simple Ways to Volunteer as a Family

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Family Volunteer Day is a great way to move the focus from getting to giving during the holiday season. I love these simple ways to volunteer as a family. Sponsored post. Every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Disney and generationOn sponsor a Family Volunteer Day. This year they’re sponsoring this post to raise awareness about the event and to help families see … [Read more...] about Family Volunteer Day: Simple Ways to Volunteer as a Family

A Storytelling Routine to Help Kids Get Ready for Bed

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Help kids get ready for bed without fussing thanks to this brilliant storytelling routine. Perfect for over-tired kids who are resisting sleep. I wouldn't say that any of my children are exactly fans of bedtime, but five-year-old Anna finds it especially despicable. This is particularly true when she is excessively tired, and desperately needs to sleep. Thankfully, my … [Read more...] about A Storytelling Routine to Help Kids Get Ready for Bed

How to Organize a Family Move to a New Home

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Tips on how to organize a family move from one home to another. How to stay organized and keep the move as low-stress as possible. Our family is super excited to move from the condo we’ve lived in for the past four years into a single family home this month! It’s a move that has been pushed from one month to the next all year. Now it’s finally happening! Some of our … [Read more...] about How to Organize a Family Move to a New Home