How to Practice Puppy Care with Kids

by // Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post from Charlie Tractor™. All ideas, projects, and opinions are my own.

At some point your kiddos are going to ask for a new puppy. A family pet is a great way to teach kids responsibility but it is a huge undertaking. Find out how to practice puppy care with kids before taking the leap into pet ownership.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Collage of little girl holding puppy care chart, a puppy in the grass, and Charlie Tractor and Pickles Book with text overlay: How to Practice Puppy Care with Kids

[bctt tweet=”A family pet is a great way to teach kids responsibility but it is a huge undertaking. Find out how to practice puppy care with kids before taking the leap into pet ownership.” username=”diyadulation”]

I have seriously been considering getting another dog lately. It doesn’t help that the kids beg me for one constantly.

However, while we are paying off debt isn’t the right time for us to take on more expenses.

Instead of waiting for that final debt payment to take the leap, we’ve decided to start practicing now. That’s why I’ve come up with these tips for how to practice puppy care with kids.

 

Charlie Tractor and Pickles Children's Book

Little girl sitting and reading a book

Charlie Tractor™ and Pickles

Start with this adorable new children’s book about a little boy and his new puppy. It is written by sisters Katie and Carrie Weyler who grew up in Ohio with a family of 5 kids.

 

Open Charlie Tractor Book

Story Synopsis

“Today is a very exciting day for Charlie Tractor™. Charlie is going to the animal shelter to pick out a dog! Now he just has to figure out what to name his new friend. Children will love getting to know Charlie’s new pet in this fun story for dog-lovers.”

Charlie Tractor and Pickles is the first book in a series of books based on real events from the sisters’ childhood. The books follow the adventures of Charlie Tractor™ and his family. They are so much fun for the entire family! Learn more about this adorable and fun children’s book series here!

 

Child coloring a picture

Child holding coloring sheet

Discuss the Responsibilities

After you have read Charlie Tractor and Pickles as a family, it’s time to talk about the responsibilities of pet ownership. Make this a fun experience by printing out this free printable coloring page for kids.

As the kids color, talk about how to care for a new puppy. This includes:

Bonus:

 

Little girl holding pink puppy care chore chart

Put It Into Practice

Lastly, put everything kids have learned into practice.

 

Pink and Yellow Puppy Care Practice Chore Chart

Orange and Teal Puppy Care Practice Chore Chart

Step 1

First, print out these free printable puppy care sheets. There are two color options for your kiddos:

Step 2

Next, grab a stuffed puppy dog. If your kiddos don’t already have one (or one hundred), pick on up at the Dollar Tree.

Step 3

Also get a food and water dish for the practice puppy. You can simply use 2 plastic bowls you already own for this. No need to go out for any fancy dog bowls.

Step 4

Once everything is set up, have kids perform tasks on the printable checklists each day.

 

Little girl sitting and reading a book

Tips:

  1. When the kids take out the practice puppy, set a timer for 2 minutes before they can come in. This will help them get used to the time involved.
  2. Go for actual walks with the kids and practice puppy every day.
  3. Empty out the food and water bowls each night for kids to refill in the morning.

 

Puppy in the grass with text overlay: How to Practice Puppy Care with Kids

I’m so glad we read Charlie Tractor and Pickles to start this awesome journey. Now we have a plan for how to practice puppy care with kids and get prepared to be pet owners again.

This is a great way to ease into pets while you finish paying off debt. Don’t forget to grab your copy of Charlie Tractor and Pickles today! It is the perfect book to start the puppy conversation with your kiddos.

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Puppy in the grass with text overlay: How to Practice Puppy Care with Kids

 

More Ideas You’ll Love:

 

DIY Kids Drawer Organizer from Pink Poster Board

by // Leave a Comment

Why is it that kids’ socks and underwear drawers are always a disaster. I swear I organize them weekly and yet they immediately get tossed about. Start corralling the chaos with this easy and inexpensive DIY kids drawer organizer.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Welcome to the Drawer Organization Blog Hop! For the entire month of April, 12 bloggers will be sharing the process of cleaning and organizing one drawer in our homes each week. For the fourth and final week of the drawer organization blog hop we are busy in the bedroom. Today we’re sharing our best tips and DIY projects to organize those bedroom drawers.

Drawer Organizing Blog Hop - Bathroom

My Pinterventures • Intelligent Domestications

DIY Adulation • Domestically Creative • Cookies Coffee and Crafts

Domestic Deadline • Across the Boulevard • Michelle James Designs

Mom Home Guide • Centsably Creative • Olives & Okra

 

Organized Child's Drawer and Pink Drawer Organizer with text overlay: DIY Kids Drawer Organizer from Pink Poster Board

 

[bctt tweet=”Find out how to finally organize your child’s dresser with this easy and inexpensive DIY kids drawer organizer.” username=”diyadulation”]

My daughter’s top drawer is seriously the worst in the house. She has lip gloss, stick-on earrings, and hair ties mixed in with socks, underwear, and tights. My hope is that this easy system will help her easily organize and find the items she needs daily.

 

Messy Child's Sock Drawer

Materials

Step 1

Lay your poster board on a cutting mat.

 

Flexible tape measure on pink poster board

Indentation on Pink Poster Board Showing Measurements

Step 2

Measure 3-4 inches from one of the short sides of your poster board. Mark the measurement in 4 to 5 places across.

Step 3

Next, use your ruler as a straight edge along the measurement marks and cut across your poster board.

 

Pink Strips of Poster Board on a Blue Cutting Mat

Step 4

Continue measuring and cutting until all of your poster board is in strips.

 

Glue Sticks laying on a strip of pink poster board

Step 5

Now, pull one strip of poster board and add a strip of hot glue to the left side edge.

Note:

Step 6

Add a second strip of hot glue to the center of the strip of poster board and press the second strip of poster board on top of it.

Step 7

Lastly, add a third strip of hot glue to the right side of your strip of poster board and again press the second strip to it.

 

Glue Sticks laying on a strip of pink poster board

Step 8

Next, add 2 strips of glue where pictured on the top of your second strip of poster board and immediately press a third strip of poster board on top of it.

Step 9

Repeat steps 5 through 8 until all of your strips of poster board are attached.

 

Pink Drawer Organizer

Step 10

Now pull apart your organizer.

Tip:

Pink Drawer Organizer inside of a Wooden Drawer

Stick-on earrings, lip gloss, and perfume in green pencil box

Cllose Up of Organized Child's Drawer

Since this organizer doesn’t take up the entire drawer, I also added a pencil box and small plastic cup. The pencil box is now holding her stick-on earrings, lip gloss, and perfume. The cup holds bows, hair ties, and barrettes.

Organized Child's Drawer

Organized Child's Drawer with text overlay: DIY Kids Drawer Organizer from Pink Poster Board

Can you believe you can create this DIY kids drawer organizer for under a dollar? I’ll come back and update you on whether baby girl actually keeps up with it. Until then, it’s time to check out all of the other awesome bedroom drawer organizers from my friends.

 

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Organized Child's Drawer and Pink Drawer Organizer with text overlay: DIY Kids Drawer Organizer from Pink Poster Board

Freezer-Friendly Easy Jambalaya | Movie Monday Challenge

by // Leave a Comment

It is time for this month’s Movie Monday challenge and we are gearing up for Mother’s Day by focusing on mom. More specifically, we’re creating projects and recipes from our moms’ favorite movies. For me, that means creating something for Undercover Blues and this freezer-friendly easy jambalaya is just the thing.

If you haven’t seen this movie, get ready to laugh your pants off. It is hilarious. The movie follows 2 spies on maternity leave in New Orleans. They get talked into doing one more mission and hilarity ensues.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Collage of photos of homemade jambalaya with text overlay: Freezer-Friendly Easy Jambalaya

 

[bctt tweet=”Nothing beats the deliciousness of the dish straight from the bayou, this freezer-friendly easy jambalaya is a fantastic way to get your NOLA fix!” username=”diyadulation”]

Of course, with the movie taking place in New Orleans there are a ton of fun options for what to create. I have actually been there and while I loved everything, I especially fell in love with the food. It is amazing being at the Jazz Festival just walking around with jambalaya and freshly cooked crawfish. (Couldn’t bring myself to suck out all of the insides though… eek.)

 

Pot of homemade jambalaya

While nothing beats the deliciousness of the real thing straight from the bayou, this freezer-friendly easy jambalaya is a fantastic way to get your NOLA fix. This recipe makes 2 batches so when you make it, immediately cut it in half and freeze the second batch for another dinner.

When you’re ready to eat the frozen batch, pull it out to defrost the night before. Then simply warm it up on the stove over medium-low heat. Done!

 

Pot of homemade jambalaya

Ingredients

Step 1

First, cook your rice according to the package directions. I love yellow rice for this dish but minute rice works just fine too.

Step 2

While your rice is cooking, slice your smoked sausage into discs and cook with frozen onion and pepper blend in a large pot over medium-high heat until cooked through.

Step 3

Next, turn heat to medium-low and add your butter to the pot of sausage, peppers, and onions. Stir until melted.

Step 4

Then add your cooked rice to the pot and mix well.

 

Close up of homemade jambalaya

Step 5

Lastly, stir in your Cajun season and simmer for 5-10 minutes to let the flavors incorporate.

Note:

 

Pot of homemade jambalaya

Pot of homemade jambalaya with text overlay: Freezer-Friendly Easy Jambalaya

We usually serve this delicious freezer-friendly easy jambalaya with cornbread muffins for a hearty meal. The kids don’t even fight us on the peppers (which is miraculous). This will easily become a new dinner staple for your family and you get 2 meals in one!

Don’t forget to snag your copy of Undercover Blues now. Pop it in the DVD player for a hilarious night full of fun and laughter! Now it’s time to see what my friends are creating. Find out what Mom’s favorite movie is and how we created with them at the links below!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:25]

See where I’m linking up!

Don’t Forget to Pin It!

Collage of photos of homemade jambalaya with text overlay: Freezer-Friendly Easy Jambalaya