Do your kids want to make gifts? There are plenty of Christmas gifts kids can make that you will actually want to keep – really! I know, we’ve all received those wonderful heartfelt gifts that our children make, but they sit in a drawer or on a shelf gathering dust.

Now your craft loving kids can create gifts and have fun doing it. That is a winning combination for all…especially when you can direct the kids and they can add their own ideas. Remember all of those recyclable items you keep all year? Now is the time to pull them out,  and take inventory. Start with making a list of the people your children want to make gifts for – then think about the types of crafts the children enjoy. Do your kids like to sew, cut out and glue?

In this episode I share some tried and true Gifts Kids Can Make that won’t break the budget, and best of all — you actually want to keep them! In addition, these gifts will become treasures.

If you are trying to save money using and repurposing household “trash” or recyclables is a great way to stretch your budget and turn that trash into a wonderful gift.

Complete guest blog post with details on Heather Bowen’s blog, Life of a Homeschool Mom

Favorite Christmas Gifts Kids Can Make:

Use these ideas as a springboard for creating your own, handmade gifts. These are truly Christmas presents kids can make that you will want to keep.

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

KiwiCo has monthly subscriptions of hands-on projects that make learning fun! Their core offering is projects that make learning about STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art, and math — accessible and are designed to spark creativity, tinkering, and learning. Some recent favorite crates are the Slime Lab, Physics Carnival, and Paper Circuits.

Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network is excited to be able to offer you the chance to try them for FREE. To learn more about their projects for kids ages 2 to 16 AND to redeem this exclusive offer, click here to get your first month free today (just pay $4.95 for shipping)

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Creating lasting holiday memories is easier than you think. Do you want to create that Norman Rockwell feeling when you think about Christmas? You know, everyone sitting around the table, smiling – clean and thankful. The children properly groomed and amazingly quiet, and the feeling that all is well in your life. Reality is a far cry from the picture-perfect holiday whether it is Christmas, the New Year, Easter, or Thanksgiving – plus all the celebrations in between. So, how does a parent do it without losing your mind? In this episode Felice shares some fun, tried and true ways to get into the true meaning of the holiday and leaving the rest behind.

To have a wonderful celebration it begins with preparing kids for what to expect and having realistic expectations yourself. Many times we expect perfection and often real life falls short. Here is my short list to make things go so much better when planning to attend a holiday event.

To create memories demonstrate these for your family:

Resources from Media Angels: For more on this, explore Christmas Planning Printables from Media Angels.

The post Creating Lasting Holiday Memories appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Educational play is a great tool to not only teach children but to encourage them to think. Children who think, create! Besides, let’s face it parents enjoy giving gifts that encourage learning. In this episode, we explore the criteria I use for purchasing educational gifts as well as the best and most long-lasting toys that will give your children years of enjoyment. The best news? You can pass these down to others or save them for generations to come.

Show Notes: Educational Play

Educational play is not just for little kids, but the younger you begin the better your children will enjoy toys that do something. The more interactive the better, and encouraging the children to be part of the experience makes it longer lasting. This is why blocks evolved into “Legos®” and they have built an entire industry and even a theme park here in Florida.

What is your pre-requisite for educational toys or educational play?

Categories for Educational Play:

These categories are ones that lend themselves to educational play. My favorites are dramatic play, physical play, cooking, musical, artistic and of course outdoor activities. I’m sure I’ve left out other ideas so if you have any, post them below. Use these as a springboard and I’m sure you’ll think of more ideas on your own.

Dramatic Play

Physical Play

Cooking:

Science:

Outdoor Play

Musical Play

Artistic Play

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor, Kiwi Crate!

KiwiCo has monthly subscriptions of hands-on projects that make learning fun! Their core offering is projects that make learning about STEAM — science, technology, engineering, art, and math — accessible and are designed to spark creativity, tinkering, and learning. Some recent favorite crates are the Slime Lab, Physics Carnival, and Paper Circuits.

Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network is excited to be able to offer you the chance to try them for FREE. To learn more about their projects for kids ages 2 to 16 AND to redeem this exclusive offer, click here to get your first month free today (just pay $4.95 for shipping)

The post Educational Play appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Here are the top 10 kid gifts that have made my list – and they are timeless. Some things on the list may surprise you. It is time to avoid the flashing lights in the stores and even online hype. What are the gifts that keep giving? What are the gifts that make memories? What is your criteria for gift giving? In this episode, I’ll share my secrets for selecting that perfect gift.

Show Notes: What Makes the Top 10 Kid Gifts:

Not every gift will make it to the top 10 kid gifts or even fit one of the categories below, however, these are things that I look for in selecting a gift for my immediate family and friends.

Criteria for finding that perfect gift:

Top 10 Kid Gifts

Great Gifts that didn’t make the top 10 list

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas – Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

The post Top 10 Kid Gifts appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Teaching kids the true meaning of the holidays? Why can’t you just let kids be kids? Does everything need a deeper meaning? I believe the answer is a resounding, “Yes!” Just because you delve into the real meaning of Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter – it does not diminish the beauty of the event.

People think religion means taking all the fun away – but having faith truthfully add wonder and awe. It takes something that could encourage children to be greedy and turns it into something that brings out the best in people, love, relationships, spending time, generosity, and so much more.

Holiday decorations are all over the place – Thanksgiving is still weeks away and yet Christmas decorations often dot the stores. How do you teach children the true meaning of Christmas when all around them colorful decorations are flashing for their attention?

How are you teaching your kids the true meaning of the holidays? Start with this list and add your owns.

Show Notes: Teaching kids the True Meaning of the Holidays

Other cultures/ traditions: Teaching kids the true meaning of the holidays

New Year’s Day – Feast of the Epiphany

Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights – an 8-day Jewish celebration of Maccabees and the fight of freedom. The dates correspond to the Hebrew calendar so they change every year, but it usually takes place beginning of December. You can explain the 8 candles – or 8 days are not about receiving a gift each day, but how they represent the miracles the Maccabees experienced.  Definitely read the book of Maccabees with your children – it is a wonderful example of God’s faithfulness and love.

Kwanzaa is a holiday that honors African heritage and ends with a large feast. Nickell recommends having your children research Kwanzaa’s importance to the African-American culture by finding books and stories, as well as speaking with people who celebrate the holiday. After researching and learning more about the holiday, create a Kwanzaa celebration.

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas – Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

The post Teaching Kids True Meaning appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finding movies that are fun, age-appropriate, and something everyone can agree on isn’t always easy. Whether you’re planning a family movie night, looking for clean entertainment, or wanting to incorporate movies into your homeschool, having a trusted list makes all the difference.

This curated list of 50 kid-friendly movies on the Vintage Homeschool Moms Podcast with Felice Gerwitz includes a mix of animated favorites, classic family films, educational picks, and meaningful stories that are worth previewing and watching together.

If you’ve ever spent more time searching for a movie than actually watching one… this list is for you.

Top 50 Kid Friendly Movies

Not every movie labeled “family-friendly” truly fits every family.

Before you hit play, consider:

Tip: Even great family movies can have moments worth previewing—especially for sensitive or younger viewers.

These are often the easiest wins for family movie night.

Why families love these:
They’re engaging, visually fun, and usually work for a wide range of ages.

Perfect for kids who love action, exploration, and big stories.

Why these work:
Adventure films keep kids engaged and often spark imagination and curiosity.

These are slower-paced but meaningful and memorable.

Why parents love these:
They’re rich in character, values, and great for family discussion.

Great for deeper themes and slightly more mature storytelling.

Why these are great:
They connect well with older kids and often highlight perseverance, identity, and purpose.

These are especially useful if you want to tie movies into learning.

Why homeschoolers love these:
They naturally connect to history, literature, science, and character studies.

Light, entertaining, and easy to enjoy together.

Why these work:
They’re simple, fun, and great for low-effort movie nights.

Some of the best kid-friendly movies include Toy Story, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, The Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables, and The Sound of Music. These films are enjoyable for both kids and parents.

The best family movies are engaging, age-appropriate, and meaningful enough that adults don’t feel like they’re just “sitting through it.” Movies with strong storytelling, humor, or heart tend to work best.

Yes. Movies can support homeschool learning by:

It’s best to preview movies when possible or research content ahead of time. Consider your child’s maturity level, sensitivity, and what themes you’re comfortable introducing.

You don’t need a perfect movie.

You just need one that:

Because sometimes the real win isn’t the movie—it’s the time together.

And that’s what makes family movie night worth it.

The post 50 Best Kid-Friendly Movies for Family Movie Night appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

What to do? How about some Halloween alternatives to enjoy with your family? Do you love creating lasting memories with your kids? You are going to love these ideas in today’s podcast. Today we are focused on the upcoming holidays and without a doubt, Halloween causes controversy on both ends – the people who love it and the people who hate it. If you are looking for some fun alternatives, then you won’t want to miss today’s episode.

Parents worry about avoiding Halloween because their children will miss out on the candy! Believe me since never celebrating Halloween in all the years I homeschooled and before that, our kids have no shortage of candy.

Fast forward and we find ourselves with a houseful of kids and we are ready to focus on some meaningful activities with our kids.

I live in an area that is not fall-friendly – living in SW FL we have some wonderful beaches and great parks, but nothing that gives you that fall leaf feeling! So one of the things I do each year in my own home is decorated for fall. I have purchased silk flowers and through the years my collection is enough to decorate the entire home. Everywhere I look, even as I am creating this podcast there are signs of fall!

Another thing is we focus on the themes of fall – yes, pumpkin spices and pumpkin bread. I just made pumpkin bread using fresh pumpkin and it was delicious! Secondly, I include the children in everything. It is great incentive to complete their school work when they know that they can help plan activities as well as decorate or bake. Even when they get older.

I’m going to take a quick commercial break and ….

Halloween alternatives come in all shapes and sizes to the extravagant to the smaller and I’ll begin with my list:

1. Fall festival at a church or park

You can even give back to the community. Donate bags of candy. Or donate the money you would use to buy all the candy to a worthy cause. Visit a nursing home or babysit for a friend so they can have an evening out – whatever you decide, include your children in the planning, especially if they are older. My children has some very definite ideas about hosting a party. In fact, after a few years of hosting parties at our home, the kids asked for a private party with just us! It was probably one of the most fun times we had.

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s episode and are ready to create some wonderful times with your own families.

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas – Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

The post Halloween Alternatives appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

In teaching kids forgiveness you are giving your children the tools or fundamentals of forgiveness but arguably one of the best gifts you can ever give them.

Please help us out – Please help share this episode with your friends! And, please give this show a star rating on iTunes (search for Vintage Homeschool Mom) or any podcast app on your smartphone. Thanks so much for helping share this show with your friends!

Here are the podcasts I did on the topic of forgiveness on our sister network, The Ultimate Christian Podcast Network, Forgiveness Podcast #10 and Asking Forgiveness  Podcast #11

Thanks to our Sponsor!

I’d like to thank our sponsor, Sony Pictures –Sony Animation along with Affirms Films brings the Christmas story to life through the eyes of the animals in The Star Movie.

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas – Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

Show Notes: Teaching Kids Forgiveness:

Do you teach your children to say, “I’m sorry – or will you forgive me” when they have hurt someone? I know if you are a mom or dad you most certainly have and I’m sure more than once! In life, people hurt you and even in the Bible Jesus tells us to forgive each day, 77 times!

But how do you explain this to your children? Today I’m going to explain how as well as give you some practical applications. Teaching kids forgiveness is not only possible it is amazingly practical and will make your life so much easier. Can you imagine? Kids that truly forgive?

Forgiveness, when it happens in the way that God designed, it is truly beautiful. You can teach your children that God forgave us our sins and so, gave us the perfect example of forgiving. You can also teach your children the Lord’s prayer, when we recite, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Here we are praying to the Lord to forgive us in the same way that we forgive others who have hurt us.

But, did you know there is a difference between forgiveness as a feeling and as a decision?

Teaching your children about forgiveness is really a two-fold situation. It is teaching your child to look for at forgiveness as a give and take. It is not one-sided. So, what do I mean by this? First, there is the person who has been hurt. We always say arguments take two people, at least right? There is a he-said, she-said. But either way, someone is hurt either physically or psychologically. Second, there is a consequence to our actions. We must be held accountable to what we do. If a child hurts someone physically or using words, the consequences tend to be different. Usually parents, and I know I did, give a harsher punishment to a child that hurts another. It is thought that using words is not as bad, however, words sometimes have the lasting effect.

But there is good news when teaching kids forgiveness! You are teaching your children that they don’t have to hold grudges forever, they can be set free and so can their siblings, friends or even you the parents.

In sharing with your children about forgiveness I have developed three points I discuss with my children…

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!”

You can’t punish a person who doesn’t care. Often if someone has hurt you it is because of a lack of relationship. You don’t –or you try not to hurt those you love. Often siblings fight and most of this comes from selfishness on the part of one or both. It isn’t necessarily malicious. However, the hurts that stay with us are often unfair and malicious. They are caused by those who really don’t care about us, or if they do they care in a superficial way.

Deciding to forgive releases you to go on with your life. You are not depressed or upset any longer – or if you are, continue to hand that person over to the Lord.

So how do you forgive?

The first step to reconciliation with another person is making the decision to forgive. The next step is asking for forgiveness.

Do your kids say, “I’m sorry.” First, it puts all the control into the person saying it. Secondly, often you will know by their tone of voice you know that they really are not that sorry? It is normally a formality. We make our kids say they are sorry for hurting another because they should! But, if it is insincere we are wasting their time and ours. It also teaches your child to be flippant about saying they are sorry without realizing the consequences.

That is why I taught my children to say, “Will you forgive me?” In that way the request is not in the hands of the offending child, but in the hands of the person who is hurt. That person must agree to forgive and release the other from the sin, and recognize they, while hurt – have made a decision to forgive. In this case both children can work toward healing of their relationship. Both are on the forgiving end. The one asking for forgivenes and the one giving it. Isn’t that beautiful! It shows God’s healing love.

Teach your children to ask the Lord to help them if they are still bitter from the hurt. Ask your children to pray for the “offending” person every day. Why? Because of Luke 6: 35-36 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

That takes prayer and eventually if you can teach your child to do this, they will grow up to be wonderful adults! Praying for your enemies works! The evil one does not want us to have peace in our lives. The evil one wants us upset and frustrated. When we are upset and frustrated can we move on with our lives – serve and do good for the Lord? No. We are held in bondage in one place.

Scriptures on forgiveness:

Colossians: 3:13

Matthew: 6:14-15

What are your favorite forgiveness scriptures? Make a list of these and pray them when you have difficulty forgiving.

The post Teaching Kids Forgiveness appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Show Time! Movie time with kids…

Episode 229

Movies are so much fun, they are a form of adventure, escape and experience we might otherwise not have in life – in this podcast we’ll discuss encourage creativity in your children and making movie time special.

Kids love to put on shows, puppet show or even made up plays. I know my two oldest put on more puppet shows than any other kids I know! They loved it. They had a captive audience, mom, and dad – as well as extended family.

Many kids love to watch movies, and the nice thing about watching them at home is you preview the movies before your kids see them, or at least fast-forward scenes you may not want them to view. I’ll share some fun ways to make movie night special with your family.

We will discuss both in this podcast.

I’d like to thank our sponsor, Sony Pictures –Sony Animation along with Affirms Films brings the Christmas story to life through the eyes of the animals in The Star Movie.

We’d like to thank our Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network sponsor Sony and their new movie, The Star, the Story of the First Christmas – Coming in Theaters November 17th!

Visit TheStarMovie.com to learn more.

Today it is difficult to watch movies or approve of movies that we as parents feel are acceptable to US and our children. Years ago my husband decided when we had young teens – around 13-15 that if a movie was not acceptable for them, we wouldn’t watch it – he felt it was garbage in and garbage out, let’s face it, some of the images and graphics in graphics whether online or in motion pictures makes a permanent impression in our minds.

In looking at lists of favorite movies I have to say on one list of the top 20 or top 50 I had to go to about #12 on one list and #8 on another before I found one I agreed upon.

Movies reflect a taste of what we like, whether it is romance, adventure, or action. So, how do we cultivate creativity with our children and make movie night fun?

I don’t get the toy and game magazines any longer, I guess the demographics in my family have caught up to the junk-mail people and they realize I no longer have little ones to buy for (well I do – grandkids – but you know what I mean!)

I saw so many great things to buy, especially if it was a catalog that had “throwback” toys – wooden puzzles, etc. However, the one thing that always caught my eye, and my pocketbook was anything that sparked creative play. I could do an entire podcast on creative play, it comes from my background in pre-school education. Young children learn so much through play, but so do older children.

Encouraging creativity in your children through play acting can also teach them practical skills in reading, writing and even math (timing).

I purchased several things for my children that they kept for many, many years. One of them was a tri-fold, stand-up puppet theatre set. It had a marker board on the outside where they could put the time of the show and the name, beforehand, they’d sell “tickets,” write the screenplay and act it out. In later years, they used it more for a set – they would create backgrounds of whatever play they were staging. It was super fun, and in big families, you always have a built-in audience.

Never letting anything pass without some type of documentation – I’m such a homeschool mom, I’d videotape these occurrences and document it for school! After all, writing a screenplay with parts should count, right? It was a great experience for the children.

What if your children are not creative? How do you spark creativity in your kids?

When my kids were young teens we purchased a conversion van with a TV – and VCR my kids were delighted. Not only were the chairs super comfy they came with stereo headphones. We took many day trips and longer vacations in that van and my kids loved it! The one thing I insisted upon were good wholesome kids movies.

Now, I’ll share some of my favorites with you, however, you may not consider any of these on your most watched list: We loved  the Swiss Family Robinson, Snowball Express, The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Sound of Music, and many more.

Look for the podcast of my TOP recommended movies – coming soon.

You can stream on websites such as Pureflix – here.

Use caution while looking at these site recommendations. Many good ones, but others we won’t watch.

Movies various sites (many I did not agree with)

Movies to watch with kids – use caution

More Recommended Movies – Use Caution

50 Kids Movies – Use Caution

Sensory friendly films for autistic kids

The post Show Time With Kids appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Episode:

As a young mom, Meredith yearned for a spiritual retreat alone, just her and God. When another mother offered to trade off days of babysitting so they could each spend the time running errands, Meredith decided to use that time to devise a retreat with the Lord. Learn how this turned into a precious time of spiritual growth and helped her mentor her family and friends. Meredith discusses the how-to’s in this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms

The Star Promotion here –

Show Notes: Spiritual Retreat Alone

The post Spiritual Retreat Alone appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.