Kids really do not need iPads. Having raised three, I just can't stand seeing devices in public places. There is a whole world around them that they're missing. We didn't have a TV in our car for years and we were constantly traveling to see family. We packed books, audiobooks, sketchpads, and travel games. And they spent lots of time look out the windows, playing I Spy or just using their imagination.
Yes!!! My kids are 3 and 6 months and we do not do screens!! My 3 year old loves to build, loves insects, loves to play with our doggie, loves puzzles, and LOVES BOOKS!! Our house is fill with books and I am so proud my husband and I been able to be so strict with this!!
I love this podcast so much and how much wisdom this couple brings to Christian families. We did no screen at all for 6 months. My husband and I do not have parents to help or any help, we have 3 kids (now expecting our 4th) we traveled Europe with no screens as well for 3 months. I loved how it caused us all to engage and such. Coming back home to routine we added tvs to our home. We learned balance. We use iPads for long flights with entertainment that add to their education and values. Balance has been beautiful, and we absolutely enjoy the time that we give our kids limited screen because we’re able to spend some time being productive. Balance has been beautiful, and it’s very true that every season is different. We’re in a season where my pregnancy is hard and it’s unrealistic that my husband will be able to engage the kids the way I do , the screen saves him. But I love the idea of a screen free life. I hope that this is encouraging for those that can’t have a fully screen free life 🤍 love Elisha and Katie! Keep doing what you’re doing 🥰
Haha I see one of my questions made it on the thumbnail. One about reading at the park. 😂😂😂 love how you made the questions look disgraceful. Can’t wait to listen tonight!!!
Your comment (around 26 minutes) on talking about the sermon reminded me of one way my parents facilitated our paying attention during the (15-20 minute) sermon: pictorial notes! (These work best when the sermon is based on a lectionary text or story/parable.) Starting when the child can write, s/he has a notebook page divided into 6 parts by gridlines and draws pictures and/or marks how many times the pastor mentions a certain term or name within the sermon. Later on, in some traditions, a child may be required to submit sermon reports, or else just continue to take notes for memory on their own.
I couldn't agree more about the benefits of bedtime and naptime(s) being regimented. It provides structure and recovery to everyone's day. The parents need to remember that they are largely in control of this, and the whole house will be better off if people are getting structure and rest. I've watched too many parents run themselves into the ground with years and years of co-sleeping or whatever to think otherwise.
19:56 wait... you said you sit "In the stroller"? I bought an independent GPS for my teen to use while driving and a Gabbwireless phone. A "smart" parent says no to "smart phones" especially for boys. I've told him his future wife and him can decide when smart phone is appropriate.
The world is interesting enough and if it isn’t there is a problem! We went to a Christmas lights walk at night with our awestruck baby and I was shocked to see another baby in a stroller watching something on an i-pad strapped to the stroller! I was like: “What about the amazing lights?!” 😂😢
So many good questions. TV. My baby, 5th born, watched waaaay too much TV. I was so busy with the others, she tended to slip through the cracks. She is 22 and we were recently talking about what shows she watched. I was guessing like 5. I remembered Reading Rainbow and Word Girl and a few others. We only had 2 channels o think, Qubo and PBS. She literally wrote down over 30 titles! I could not believe it. We started off our first 5 years with no TV, but when my Dad went missing, I needed a " babysitter" while I was occupied on the phone and fax machine trying to figure out what happened to him. I had minimal support with my 3 and 1 year old children and TV was a lifesaver. But when life settled down, we never got rid of it. Their Grandma even bought us one of those little TVs that only play videos. We should have dumped the TV and used the video player minimally.
Would you guys share a living room tour? We sold our TV before moving states and haven’t bought a new one. We are loving it but I don’t know how to set up our new space. We just have a rug and a couch, no joke.
Not sure if it helps , but I got some preloved beautiful magnolia paintings a few years back when i got rid of my tv and they still make me so happy to look at and sort of elevate the room even though there are coffee stains over our credenza (also transitioned from calling it a tv stand to a credenza haha)
Yes, kids do not need entertainment! Thank you for saying this. My kids rarely see a screen and certainly never interact with a touch screen. They are constantly engaged with each other and what's around them. On long car rides, they have books and often sing or just talk about what they see outside. They don't ask for screens because they literally don't know it's an option. When they do see screens, they seem worse behaved anyway so...I don't need that extra work lol.
I asked the question about the naps. Will be doing something much earlier with our second kiddo. I've heard Katie's sleep training method but since it involves baby sleeping tummy down only I know we won't be doing that method unfortunately.
I did her method to some extent, but not the stomach sleeping as I’m personally not comfortable. Consistency is key I noticed and I had to put up with fussing but not ever screaming.
The method doesn't require stomach sleeping. It's just old school and more effective in the first couple months when babies startle easily and wake themselves up. Most of the time, somewhere between 2 and 4 months they will learn to roll over and sleep on their stomachs anyway.
May I suggest Moms on Call for sleep training. Both my kids went through it and by 3 months were sleeping 12 hours at night and had a great nap schedule. I am expecting it and doing it with my third. Highly recommend it. No sleeping on tummy unless baby is ready and rolls there.
my 4yo still naps usually 1.5-2 hours i just try to make sure my kids get alot of physical activity after nap so they will sleep at their usual bed time with no issues.
I like how you say to address that behavior like another fidget/tick when boys are young and innocent but there is a growing conversation regarding sexual abuse and possible signs. I don't mean to turn this in a whole other directions but I'm curious to know from you both. At what point would you look at that action as a behavior to help your son break, as now a serious sign that something concerning could be happening? Constantly touching your own private area can be a sign of SA and I know professionals say to watch and identify other telling behaviors as well. You already seem to be so intentional and careful about your kids but unfortunately this problem has been growing in such an unfortunate way and devastating so many families. Would love to hear your thoughts!!
My toddler loves music? We’re always blasting some music in the car. Is this like bad equivalent to screens and stuff? Kids music on Spotify; I download audios of Christian kid music and we listen to it everyday.
The iPad craze is so saddening, especially for small children. My 3yo's gymnastics lets out 30 mins before her older sister's, so there is a 30 minute window where she and a few other kiddos are in the sitting area waiting for their siblings to finish. EVERY other child sits on an iPad for that time... once upon a time they'd be making friends 😢
I love listening to your podcasts and I admire your wisdom and way of raising your kids but....what's wrong with dancing? Dancing is such a beautiful thing !!!
I love all your ideas! My problem is I only have one child so she has no one to play or talk with than me. How much of your Club material would help me be able to take a step back and still help her grow
On that last note, YES!! Please do an episode on family planning again! About to have number 5 and struggling with that same idea!
Kids really do not need iPads. Having raised three, I just can't stand seeing devices in public places. There is a whole world around them that they're missing. We didn't have a TV in our car for years and we were constantly traveling to see family. We packed books, audiobooks, sketchpads, and travel games. And they spent lots of time look out the windows, playing I Spy or just using their imagination.
Yes!!! My kids are 3 and 6 months and we do not do screens!! My 3 year old loves to build, loves insects, loves to play with our doggie, loves puzzles, and LOVES BOOKS!! Our house is fill with books and I am so proud my husband and I been able to be so strict with this!!
COMPLETELY AGREED WITH WHAT YOU SHARED!! Praise God our kids are not in front of screens like the majority of kids.
I love this podcast so much and how much wisdom this couple brings to Christian families. We did no screen at all for 6 months. My husband and I do not have parents to help or any help, we have 3 kids (now expecting our 4th) we traveled Europe with no screens as well for 3 months. I loved how it caused us all to engage and such. Coming back home to routine we added tvs to our home. We learned balance. We use iPads for long flights with entertainment that add to their education and values. Balance has been beautiful, and we absolutely enjoy the time that we give our kids limited screen because we’re able to spend some time being productive. Balance has been beautiful, and it’s very true that every season is different. We’re in a season where my pregnancy is hard and it’s unrealistic that my husband will be able to engage the kids the way I do , the screen saves him. But I love the idea of a screen free life. I hope that this is encouraging for those that can’t have a fully screen free life 🤍 love Elisha and Katie! Keep doing what you’re doing 🥰
Also my kids are 5, 3, and 1 🥰 busy busy
Haha I see one of my questions made it on the thumbnail. One about reading at the park. 😂😂😂 love how you made the questions look disgraceful. Can’t wait to listen tonight!!!
yes do another episode on trusting God no matter the family size! 🙌🏼🙌🏼
Your comment (around 26 minutes) on talking about the sermon reminded me of one way my parents facilitated our paying attention during the (15-20 minute) sermon: pictorial notes! (These work best when the sermon is based on a lectionary text or story/parable.) Starting when the child can write, s/he has a notebook page divided into 6 parts by gridlines and draws pictures and/or marks how many times the pastor mentions a certain term or name within the sermon. Later on, in some traditions, a child may be required to submit sermon reports, or else just continue to take notes for memory on their own.
I couldn't agree more about the benefits of bedtime and naptime(s) being regimented. It provides structure and recovery to everyone's day. The parents need to remember that they are largely in control of this, and the whole house will be better off if people are getting structure and rest. I've watched too many parents run themselves into the ground with years and years of co-sleeping or whatever to think otherwise.
19:56 wait... you said you sit "In the stroller"?
I bought an independent GPS for my teen to use while driving and a Gabbwireless phone. A "smart" parent says no to "smart phones" especially for boys. I've told him his future wife and him can decide when smart phone is appropriate.
I tried to post about Gabbwireless about 3x recently, and yt kept bot deleting the comments. Lol
The world is interesting enough and if it isn’t there is a problem! We went to a Christmas lights walk at night with our awestruck baby and I was shocked to see another baby in a stroller watching something on an i-pad strapped to the stroller! I was like: “What about the amazing lights?!” 😂😢
So many good questions.
TV. My baby, 5th born, watched waaaay too much TV. I was so busy with the others, she tended to slip through the cracks. She is 22 and we were recently talking about what shows she watched. I was guessing like 5. I remembered Reading Rainbow and Word Girl and a few others. We only had 2 channels o think, Qubo and PBS. She literally wrote down over 30 titles! I could not believe it. We started off our first 5 years with no TV, but when my Dad went missing, I needed a " babysitter" while I was occupied on the phone and fax machine trying to figure out what happened to him. I had minimal support with my 3 and 1 year old children and TV was a lifesaver. But when life settled down, we never got rid of it. Their Grandma even bought us one of those little TVs that only play videos. We should have dumped the TV and used the video player minimally.
Would you guys share a living room tour? We sold our TV before moving states and haven’t bought a new one. We are loving it but I don’t know how to set up our new space. We just have a rug and a couch, no joke.
Not sure if it helps , but I got some preloved beautiful magnolia paintings a few years back when i got rid of my tv and they still make me so happy to look at and sort of elevate the room even though there are coffee stains over our credenza (also transitioned from calling it a tv stand to a credenza haha)
Yes, kids do not need entertainment! Thank you for saying this. My kids rarely see a screen and certainly never interact with a touch screen. They are constantly engaged with each other and what's around them. On long car rides, they have books and often sing or just talk about what they see outside. They don't ask for screens because they literally don't know it's an option. When they do see screens, they seem worse behaved anyway so...I don't need that extra work lol.
Agreed. We do cards and travel games (but that's been known to start wars). We do food. Tons of snacks. The car gets trashed, but it's effective.
I asked the question about the naps. Will be doing something much earlier with our second kiddo. I've heard Katie's sleep training method but since it involves baby sleeping tummy down only I know we won't be doing that method unfortunately.
I did her method to some extent, but not the stomach sleeping as I’m personally not comfortable. Consistency is key I noticed and I had to put up with fussing but not ever screaming.
The method doesn't require stomach sleeping. It's just old school and more effective in the first couple months when babies startle easily and wake themselves up. Most of the time, somewhere between 2 and 4 months they will learn to roll over and sleep on their stomachs anyway.
May I suggest Moms on Call for sleep training. Both my kids went through it and by 3 months were sleeping 12 hours at night and had a great nap schedule. I am expecting it and doing it with my third. Highly recommend it. No sleeping on tummy unless baby is ready and rolls there.
Do your older kids nap too? My first-born dropped her nap around 3.5 years old.
my 4yo still naps usually 1.5-2 hours
i just try to make sure my kids get alot of physical activity after nap so they will sleep at their usual bed time with no issues.
She's said in previous episodes she will let her older kids have quiet time during the younger ones naptimes.😊
True. They nap or have quiet time from 1-3pm, and that’s her break time.
I like how you say to address that behavior like another fidget/tick when boys are young and innocent but there is a growing conversation regarding sexual abuse and possible signs. I don't mean to turn this in a whole other directions but I'm curious to know from you both. At what point would you look at that action as a behavior to help your son break, as now a serious sign that something concerning could be happening? Constantly touching your own private area can be a sign of SA and I know professionals say to watch and identify other telling behaviors as well. You already seem to be so intentional and careful about your kids but unfortunately this problem has been growing in such an unfortunate way and devastating so many families. Would love to hear your thoughts!!
My toddler loves music? We’re always blasting some music in the car. Is this like bad equivalent to screens and stuff? Kids music on Spotify; I download audios of Christian kid music and we listen to it everyday.
The iPad craze is so saddening, especially for small children. My 3yo's gymnastics lets out 30 mins before her older sister's, so there is a 30 minute window where she and a few other kiddos are in the sitting area waiting for their siblings to finish. EVERY other child sits on an iPad for that time... once upon a time they'd be making friends 😢
Is it good to train just before bed
I love listening to your podcasts and I admire your wisdom and way of raising your kids but....what's wrong with dancing? Dancing is such a beautiful thing !!!
Is this an episode from April 2024
I love all your ideas! My problem is I only have one child so she has no one to play or talk with than me. How much of your Club material would help me be able to take a step back and still help her grow
Do any of your kids struggle with bad dreams or being scared at night?
Hi, I would love to know where you got your bookcases shown in background on podcast. Do you have a discount code?