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Kara brings her quirky perspective to parenting, education, connection and at times, the randomness of the world. She is a mom of two, married 28+ years, former educator, parent blogger, and children’s author. Her goal is to simplify the life of moms and help them find connection.
Episodes
5 days ago
5 days ago
Banish "I'm bored!" from your next camping trip! In this episode, Kara shares 50 fun, screen-free activities for kids. From nature crafts to campfire games, this ultimate list will keep your kiddie crew happy, engaged, and loving the great outdoors.
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- Blog post: Anxious Kids: How to Understand and Help Them
- Blog post: 5 Stay-at-Home Spring Break Activities
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Teaching mindfulness to our children is a powerful way to empower them with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of growing up. In this episode, Kara shares how incorporating mindfulness practices into your child's daily routine can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve emotional intelligence, and foster a sense of calm and focus.
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- Blog post: Anxious Kids: How to Understand and Help Them
- News article: Two studies reveal benefits of mindfulness for middle school students
- Research paper: Low mindfulness is related to poor sleep quality from middle adolescents to emerging adults: a process model involving resilience and emotional dysfunction
- Research paper: Self-esteem mediates the relationship between mindfulness and well-being
- News article: Is Earthing Actually Good for You? Here’s What We Know
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Looking for summer fun? In this episode, Kara shares 60 summer bucket list ideas! With these ideas, you won’t have to worry about summer slipping away—you’ll have plenty of easy, fun ways to make the most of it and create memories your family will love!
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- Canva
- (Blog) Game Night: Fun, Family, and Memories
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(Blog) Open Up the World of Camping to Your Family in 10 Steps
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
Tuesday Apr 01, 2025
There are many benefits for our children to reading non-fiction. Non-fiction serves as a window to understanding our world. It also improves academic performance, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and knowledge expansion to name a few reasons to encourage non-fiction in early education.
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- 5 Reasons Nonfiction Books Are Important for Young Learners
- Why every child benefits from reading more non-fiction books
- Building World Knowledge: Motivating Children to Read and Enjoy Informational Text
- Discovery Education
- National Geographic Kids
- Smithsonian Learning Lab
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Sunday Mar 23, 2025
Sunday Mar 23, 2025
Anxiety in children is a growing concern, but by understanding its roots and learning practical strategies, parents can empower their kids to navigate challenges and thrive. By making small changes, we can collectively create a less anxious world for our children, helping our kids to find calm in a chaotic world.
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- Book: The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing https://amzn.to/41TBpUl
- Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health
https://www.cdc.gov/children-mental-health/data-research/index.html - Evolutionary aspects of anxiety disorders https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3181631/
- Blog: How much sleep does your child need?https://epicpublisher.com/parenting/how-much-sleep-does-your-child-need/
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Monday Mar 17, 2025
Embrace the joy of learning together - that is right - all of your kiddos can do the same projects and activities! In this episode, Kara shares 20 activities that lead into many more because learning together isn't just fun, it's powerful! When families share these adventures, it’s not just about the knowledge, it’s about the connections.
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Writing prompts are a fun and effective way to unlock your child's creativity and empower them to express themselves. In this episode, Kara shares 50 Spring Writing Prompts that can help your kids be inspired in a world of words and unleash the joy of writing!
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Monday Mar 03, 2025
Struggling readers often face unique obstacles that hinder their ability to enjoy reading. In this episode, Kara shares effective techniques that can help parents support their children’s literary development. By learning to decode, hear, and read aloud, your child experience the transformative power of books.
Mentioned links and resources in this episode:
- Blog post: 8 Easy Ways to Help Your Child Fall in Love with Reading
- Blog post: Engage Your Child in Reading with a Book Tracker
- Blog post: Create an Outdoor Story Hunt for Your Child this Summer
- Reading resource: 10 Research-Based Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children
- Blog post: Create a Kid’s Cozy Reading Nook
Connect with Kara here:
- Join Kara’s mailing list! (Get her special freebie each week, with links to her blog, podcast, and other finds!)
- Check out Kara's free resources and more on the Epic Publisher Website
- Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube
- Follow Kara on Instagram
- Epic Publisher on Facebook
- Epic Publisher on Pinterest