How to Practice Puppy Care with Kids

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.

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

 

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One Simple Trick to Save Mom’s Sanity

Being a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) is no joke. It is emotionally, physically, and mentally exhausting. This is especially true because you are always on the clock. When everything starts falling apart, it can feel like you’re losing your mind. I can’t change the demanding life of being a SAHM but I can give you a simple trick to save mom’s sanity.

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 succulents, candles, and compass with text overlay: One Simple Trick to Save Mom's Sanity

[bctt tweet=”Being a stay-at-home mom is exhausting but this simple trick to save mom’s sanity can make it easier. #momlife” username=”diyadulation”]

Scenario: I’m making dinner and suddenly the baby starts screaming in the pack-n-play.

I run in to see what’s wrong and find my 2-year-old hitting him over the head with her stuffed Olaf. I put her in time-out for the behavior and sooth the baby.

As I’m making my way back to the stove, the 6-year-old is yelling up the steps to ask if his video game time is up.

After saying “No,” (for the millionth time) I rush back to the kitchen to find the pot of dinner overflowing on the burner.

I have to clean it up before the milky mixture ruins the glass stove top. A few minutes later, I remember I had put the toddler in time-out… How do you keep from melting down?

In the beginning I didn’t. Many nights were spent in tears from the overwhelming stress of it all.

Too many plates were wobbling and I felt like I couldn’t keep up. Then I came up with an easy trick to help balance it all a little more easily.

A kitchen timer saved my sanity and it will save yours too.

 

Some days mom life is just crazy-making. This $3 DIY and parenting tips are an easy way to save your sanity during those crazy mom days!

How to Use Timers to Save Your Sanity

Step 1

First, buy each child a kitchen timer. We use these timers but there are a ton of options.

Step 2 (Optional)

New systems are easier to implement with kids when they are involved in the process. Get the kids involved and on board with the timers by letting them decorate with stickers, nail polish, or paint.

Tip:

Step 3

Once they are decorated, it is time to put them to work! Here are 7 tips to use these timers and save your sanity.

Video Game Timer

Stop the constant badgering. In our house, our children are limited to 1 hour of video game play a day. Set the timer for one hour and when it goes off, they are done.

 

Child on Ground Throwing Tantrum

Time-Out Tracker

Set the timer for the allotted punishment and when it goes off, your child can get up and play again.

 

Toddler Sweeping Driveway

Clean-up Game

I love this game! It is great for children and adults alike! Set your timer for 5 or 10 minutes and race around to clean up.

This works best if you give each person a room and make it a competition to see who can get the most cleaned up in their 5 minute limit.

Bath Timer

If your kids love bath time like mine do, this is excellent. Set the timer for whatever predetermined limit you have allocated for their bath.

When the timer goes off, they will know it is time to get out of the tub. (They may still need some coaxing the first few times, but it will become easier if you are persistent.)

Mommy Time-out

Let’s face it, sometimes as parents we need a break to replenish ourselves, calm our tempers, or just some quiet.

Set the timer (I typically do 10-20 minutes) and let the children know that they cannot ask you anything or request anything of you until the timer goes off.

Again, it will take a few times before it becomes an accepted routine but it is totally worth the payoff.

Ready to Leave Game

With three small children, it is next to impossible to get out of the house on time.

Use this game to have the kids ready to go (closer) to on time. Give them 5 minutes on their timers.

In this time, the kids are to rush and get their shoes, coats, and anything else needed together (or on, depending on their age).

Once they have finished, they sit on the couch with their timers. This gets them all in one place and ready prior to needing to walk out the door.

Patience Training

I think we all could stand to learn a little more patience. Set the timers for 5-10 minutes and the children must sit quietly and patiently until they go off.

If the kids get too wound up and need to simmer down play the patience game.

Warning, though, don’t associate this as a punishment or they will associate patience with misbehaving.

Succulents and candle with text overlay: One Simple Trick to Save Mom's Sanity

This is one of the best purchases we have ever made. These timers will save mom’s sanity by helping you balance all of your rolls more easily.

In fact, this one simple trick works so well that I have extended it to other areas of my life especially with chores I don’t want to do.

When you know there is a definite end in sight it is easier to make yourself do it.

What other ways will you use this simple trick? I’d love to hear your ideas!

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How to Get Kids On Board Paying Off Debt

Don’t let mom guilt derail you in your goal to be debt free. Instead find out how to get kids on board paying off debt with these tips.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Close up of 5 Dollar Bill and Clay Pig with text overlay: How to Get Kids on Board with Paying Off Debt

 

[bctt tweet=”Don’t let #money incidents with the kiddos derail you from your #debtfree goal. Find out how to get kids on board paying off debt with these easy tips.” username=”diyadulation”]

You’ve made the decision to finally be debt-free and dig out of this hole you have made. You are budgeting regularly and throwing every extra penny at that mountain.

Then you are leaving the art show at school and the kiddos start begging for fast food because they’re hungry. Or your oldest is begging you for money for the book fair even though he already has at least 5 books at home unread.

These incidents don’t have to derail you in your goal if you find out how to get kids on board paying off debt.

I admit, my kids are my weak spot. It is so much easier to tell myself no than it is to tell my kids no.

If you ask them I’m sure they would tell you I say no all of the time because that’s how tiny humans are. When they want a birthday party or money for something at school, however, I am overcome with guilt about telling them no.

Unfortunately, the grandparents are not always helpful on that front making that guilt triple sometimes. You think, “They [your kids] didn’t create this mess so it’s not right to punish them.”

Believe it or not, you are not punishing them. The fact is that in this stage of our life they need to be told no.

It won’t kill them to have a small dinner for their birthday or forego that super cool eraser set at the book fair.

Yes, it is not their fault that you’re in debt but this is not a punishment. It is a temporary stage of life so that you can live even better in a few short years.

That is why it is so important to get kids on board paying off debt. It makes your life easier but also teaches them the valuable lesson of working towards goals and taking ownership of your mistakes.

 

Family Wearing Masks and Being Silly

Be Straight With Them

First of all you have to tell them like it is. Teach your kids what debt is, how you get it, and why it’s bad. Let them know your total debt and your plan for paying it off.

I promise you that even being a thousand dollars in debt will seem like a lot to them because they cannot fathom that kind of money. Keep this conversation simple for young children giving them short specifics.

Warning:

 

Hashtag Debt Goals Text

Make It Fun

Think paying off debt can’t be fun? Think again. It is easier than you think to make this fun for kiddos. This family even created a hashtag that they would say every time things come up that they aren’t spending money on.

Eventually their toddler even started shouting out the hashtag. This got the message across while still being fun for the kiddos. You can also have rewards for them every time you go to the store and they don’t ask for something.

These should be free things like extra game time on the XBox or 2 stories at bedtime instead of one. Create a list of ideas and share them with the kids before you leave the house to encourage the behavior.

 

Hand holding a Playstation controller with text overlay: Get Kids involved in the Rewards

Get Them Involved in the Goals

Remember when you set goals to help get you out of debt? Make these goals alongside your kids. Let them help pick the mini rewards that will keep your family focused for the long haul.

Later, when they ask for things you can remind them of the next reward coming for hitting your goals. That can be a fantastic incentive to keep them on track with you.

 

Little Girl Dressed in Crazy Outfit in Checkout Lane

Use Play Money

This tip is especially good for young children. Grab some of their play money and every time they ask for something and you say no, write the cost of the item down.

When you get home, count out the cost of the item with them in play money and put it in a jar. As the money in the jar grows, they will have a visual representation of the money they’re helping you save when they don’t get those items.

The fuller the jar gets, the more excited they will be.

 

Clay Pig with text overlay: How to Get Kids on Board with Paying Off Debt

You can use one or all of these tips to get your kids on board with paying off debt. You definitely want to do step one and be clear with them about what you’re doing and why. Everything else simply makes the journey easier.

One last warning, keep an eye on little kids when using terms like “watch the money grow”. When our 5 year old got a bank for Christmas and we told her she could watch her money grow she asked how often she should water it.

It was adorable but also makes you a little nervous about finding water in the banks. Don’t forget, paying off debt is a family goal not only a financial one.

What ways do you get your kids involved in paying off debt? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

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